The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-11-29
Church of Christ
BASIS ON WHICH ALL CHRIST
IANS CAN UNITE.
V. E. Hoven, Minister.

] we noticed in our last study that
human creeds are at present the sole
hindrances to Christian unity. Take
away these hindrances and the work
is done. They have been added to the
Bible as foundation for the different
denominations upon which to rest.
By removing these creeds the Bible
only remains, an d thus we have COM
mon ground, for all of us believe it.
Every scripture inspired of God is
also profitable for teaching. for re-
proof, for instruction which is in
righteousness; that the man of God
may be complete, furnished compile
tely unto every good work" 2 Tim.
3:16, II. If these creeds do more than
that, they do too much; if they do less
than that, they do too little; if they
do the same as that, they are super
fiuous and should be taken away.
/ invite your attention to universally
admitted facts. In the first age of the
Church Of Christ, the sect spirit was
rampant. The Jews were divided into
discordant sects-Pharisees, Saddu-
Gees, Essenes and Samaritans. The
GENTLE world was divided into vari-
ous scots of philosophy and almost
endless varieties of religion. The
Jews were barbarians to the Gentiles,
the Gentiles were dogs to the Jews.
Yet the apostles preached the same
gospel to all and gathered out of all
fhocn m hrr h1.OA hnW Whnnd
which was one in Christ. What the
gospel has done once, it can do again.
No hindrance to this, except Christ
ians themselves.
Let all opinions be held privately.
When we come to the passage, "My
Father is greater than l." let us not
speculate upon the inferiority of the
Son, build theories and form creeds on
those theories and cause wrangling
spirit among our brethren. Let US
ever and always speak in the language
of the Book. If my Methodist brother
wants to hold to the opinion that
faith alone" saves, let him do so but
not teach it unless he finds it in the
Bible. II my Baptist brother still
wants to hold the opinion that repen-
tance comes before faith in saving the
sinner. let him do so. That should
not keep us apart. Those who hold
that sprinkling or pouring is valid
baptism, that the Mourners bench and
anxious seat are necessary to salvation,
let them still keep these opinions but
not teach them. unless they are found
in the Bible. While there is but Zone
faith" there may be ten thousand
opinions; hence, if Christians are ever
to be one, they must be one in faith,
not 10 opinion.
Do people want Christian unity?
There cannot be right-thinking and
right-loving person who does not
want it. In view of the cost of saliva
tion and the order from the Head of
the Church to hasten with the good
news to the ends of the earth, we GER
tainly have no time for civil war.
Before the great naval battle Of Ira
falgar. Admiral Nelson called Cap.
Collingwood and Cap. Hardy. who had
been deadly enemies, and commanded
them to shake hands as he pointed to
the French feet and said: "Gentle-
men, there is your enemy" Ihe Mas.
ter stands before us with pierced
hands. With one, He points to Satan
and says: 'There is your enemy,
and with the other He points to the
vast, white harvest field and says;
"There is your harvest; together cast in
your sickles, for ye are my fellow
workers." "The good fruit of tht
churches oneness; it will be an evi'
dence of Christianity. Matthew
Henry, Presbyterian. ''The one name
we ought to have is Christian. -
Joseph Parker, Congregationalist ~
pray you leave my name alcne. and dc
not call yourselves Lutherans but
Christians. Martin Luther. "Woul6
to God that all party names and un'
scriptural phrases and forms which
have divided the Christian world were
forgotten. John Wesley. Others
could Ee added. but these are enough
to show that those who love the Chris
and are leaders in this great woTlt
work do not want division.
The Church of Christ, represented
in your city, is the only church in th'
world pleading for war to cease among
the people of God and for all to unite
upon the Bible alone. On this we art
misunderstood. We are looked upoi
by our religious neighbors as heresy
hunters, fault-finders and fighters; tha
we are looking for something in tn
denominations to fight and make wa
over. But let them understand tina
we are striving to do away with thes
divisions that cause i'll feeling between
the people of God and that we com
bringing the olive branch of peace
On our banner is inscribed the mottt
cleaned from the Savior's prayer lie
us all be one. that the world may be
lieve.'
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