The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-06-25
FoR THE Central PREsBYrER1AN.
TIE CHURCH OF THE FUTURE;
Or, Shall the Visible Church be Longer TOl-
Grated on Earth 2


This question must be answered in the
negative, if the opinions of large number
of religionists of the present day become uni.
versally prevalent.
The editor of the New York Independent,
q paper having large circulation, can
scarcely issue single number without max
ing an open or covert attack upon the form
ularies Of religious belief, commonly known
as creeds, by which the different denOmina-
tions of Christians are distinguished from
each other. Many other influential journals
in this country and in Europe; and many
distinguished men and professed ministers of
the gospel, are advocating the Obliteration
of aIl lines of distinction between religious
societies, evangelical and unoyangelical, so
that there may arise from Sheir ruins one
grand Church composed of all who believe
that morality is a good thing, and that the
Bible is a pretty fair exponent of good
morals, excepting such passages as Lev.
XIV. 44-46. In recent number of the
Independent, the editor gives his hearty
eommendation to series of editorials on
Creeds, published in the CongregatiOnalist.
From them he quotes " the forms of Creeds
given in the New Testament, showing how
brief they are, and that they are confined to
the most elementary statements of Christian
faith" such as the confessions of Nathaniel,
Peter, Thomas, Paul, and the Eunueh. In
another editorial in the same number, he
says, g 1t has almost passed into prOverb,
that good Christians as they grow older,
grow less strenuous for their denomination
alism. Dr.. James B. Shaw has just preach
ed sermon -. which is well worth
reading" The editor, quoting from said
sermon, the topic of which ia "the Church of
the future" says, The time is coming, and
coming soon, when the different denOmins-
tions will take down their fences, and uu-
swing their gates. TIE Methodist will take
down his fence; the Baptist will take down
his fence. 0ne after another those things
which keep us apart viii disappear. There
will be no bars 10 let down. The editor
then goes on to say, ''Dr. Shaw says he came
into the ministry bit of bigOt, and that
he is glad if he has broken the she'll. He
does not believe aay longer all the bad stories
about the Pope and the Papists that used to
impose upon him"
If the desires and aims Of these latitudi
nsrisus should be successful, there will be
an end of the visible Church of Christ. Al
exander Campbell attempted to establish a
Church upon the "hberal principles above
named, but succeeded only in forming an
other sect more exclusive than most of the
Others, and one in which, according to his
own confession before he died, "there were
all sorts of persons preaching sll sorts Of
doctrines" While, consistently with his
published creed he admitted Universslists
and Unitsrians into his no-crsed Church, he
refused to hold Church fellowship with mil
lions of Christians who could not believe
that baptism By immersion was essential to
church membership and the remission of sins.
The editor of the Independent seems to
approve of the short creed contained in Pc
ter's confession, Thou art the Christ, the
Son of the living Gods" but in another Of
his editorials found IN the same number, he
decidedly objects even to such test of sal
walton, as being too exclusive He says,
''The Jewish Reformer wants some Christian
editor to answer the question, Does Chris
tianity teach thst all men who DO not believe
that Christ was Messiah will be eternslly
damned?' No God is no respecter oi
persons; but in every nation, ne that fear
eth him aud worketh Righteousness, is &C
cspted with him" Hence, the Jew profess,
ing to fssr God and to work righteousness
Rould be reeeiged- into %tbs -Cb%zeb-0f- tn
future" although he could not subscribe tc
Peters short creed. Into g the Church o.
the future" the Mormon alsO'ytdld have tc
be admitted. Polygamy is part Of his re
liqiOn, and thus he processes to fear God ant
work righteousness. He must judge what
according to has belief of the requirements o
God, are works of righteousness; and tbs
Church Of the future would act inconsistent!
with its creed, so to interpret the Bible as tt
decide what are, and what are not works o
righteousness; thus making a creed-boOl
larger than Webster unabridged dictionary
Besides, shall the Church of the future b
more exclusive than the Church of Whic
King Solomon was member a?
Oe course /" the Church of the future
could have no rules for the ordination Q
ministers, nor ordained tests of their qualif
cations to preach. Any person, male or f'
male, who prOfessed to fear God and to wor
righteousness, would have the right to preae
his or her particular gospel. The be;
preacher would be he who could attract tn
largest crowds, and convert the largest nun
Der to his particular creed. The devil wi
triumph over the ''seed of the woman, whe
this "Church of the future" shall swallow U
she seets of ChristendOm. ?. I. P.