The Redwood gazette., 1895-08-22
WHICH IS WHlCn7

WHICH IS WHICH?
a Minister Talks About Denomina-
tional Churches.
The remark is often made in this
day and age of multiplied denomina-
tions, Zone church is just as good as
another" Now lat US candidly exam
inc this language for short time and
see how it compares with the language
of Inspiration, the latter being conced-
ed from the first as the one that shall
decide.
This statement being true division
among true Christians is justified. Now
hear divine testimony on this point
Jesus, the Great Head of the church,
when he was having his last, loving
and tender conversation with his chos-
en- ones in the upper room, ere he was
nailed to the shameful tree the next
morning said, "Neither pray 1 for
these alone, but for them also which
shall believe on me through their
word that they may all be one; as
thou Father, art in me and I in Thee;
that they also may be one in us, that
the world may believe that thou hast
sent me-"
Here Christ prays for all those that
should ever come to believe in Him
that they might be one. And the ma
ture of the:one-ness,, is also set forth,
Gas thou Father art in me and I in
Thee" And there was perfect unity,
no strifes, no schisms, no parties. And
it was to be for great, overwhelming
ly great, purpose; "That the world
might believe that thou hast sent me. -
We all know that denominationalism
and sectarianism are the greatest
hindrances to-day in the way of bring
ing the world to Christ. You see it
right here in Redwood Falls. Paul,
an inspired Apostle, condemns this di-
vision in the strongest terms possible
His language cannot be understood in
more than one way by an honest per-
son. And his testimony clearly shows
that divisions as we have them to-day
is the fruit of the flesh instead of be-
ing the fruit of the Spirit, and conse-
quently a devilish and sinful thing.
But says one, care there not good
Christians in the different denomina-
tions?" I am glad to know that there
are some people in the denomination
al ranks who are actually trying to
honor and glorify God to the best OF
their ability. But they have not been
instructed along these lines and have
gone on in ignorance, but as soon as
the Word of God has been pointed
out to them they have stepped into
the fuller light. Many are those who
do not study for themselves, but as
soon as they are aroused to the need
of so doing they see their wrong posi-
ton and consequently abandon it The
fact that some good people are ignor
antly or otherwise sanctioning divi
sions in the church does not justify
divisions and schisms. How can We
who have given ourselves to Christ te
obey him any longer persist in violat.
ing his most tender wishes just be.
cause some seemingly good people
are doing SC? The very fact that
Christ condemns it is enough that we
should shun it as we would deadly
serpent.
Oftentimes after a union revival
meeting the pastors participating in
it will say to the converts, Nov you
have your liberty as to choice OF
church that you wish to join. OF
course we will welcome you to ours
but you have your choice. But be
sure to join some church." And this
language sounds so unselfish that it
receives the endorsement of both press
and public, in case that the editor
and the people are not conversant
with the Bible teaching on the sub
ject. Now how are these converts to
know which one of the churches (?) tc
join? Where will they go for their in.
formation concerning the different
ones? To the Bible? But it gives nc
information about any OF the various
denominational churches. To what
then, must the uncertain one go fol
the much needed intelligence? Well
-