The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-11-22
Church Of Christ
HINDRANcEs TO UNION.
V. E. Hoven, Minister,


divided condition is, "All can not
think alike" Is that true? God made
man and the Book man is to live by.
He so made both that there should be
no conflict between the two. If he did
not understand his business on this
point, then we may logically and le-
ultimately charge Him with an un-
pardonable blunder. He is. then, re-
spousible for these divisions. But who
dares make that charge? Again, If
we cannot think alike with God nor
fellow men. and are justified in doing
as we think, which means we have
right to do as we please, then the evil
doers of every description will have
no charges to face in the day of judg-
ment, for neither the laws of God nor
of man can touch him.
The church Of Christ stood united
for three hundred years after it was
founded. During that time men could
and did think alike. What hinders
them from doing the same now? If
men were monkeys then, and all those
monkeys could think alike; now that
they are fully developed men, ought
there not to be some Improvement?
Another excuse is that, "the Bible is
of private Interpretation. In one
sense. the Bible Is of private interpre-
tation in that the Church has no au-
thority to interpret it for me and force
that Interpretation upon me. In an
other sense, it is not of private inter
probation in that must interpret one
portion of that book in the light and
harmony of all the rest of it. must
allow God to think and speak. Here
is our trouble. We are asked to think
with God, but we assert our indepen-
dence. We ale told to speak as the
| Oracles of God speak, but we think
that the speech of a Council or a
Synod or Conference will do just as
we'll. The real hindrance to union is
the Creeds made by men. They have
human creed in 325 at Nicea. l. de-
clared against the Arians. hence sepa-
ration. The Roman Catholic church is
founded on that creed. The Lutheran
church has an article IN her creed de-
claring against the Anabaptists, there
for that creed caused division. Calvin
had notion about the DEGREES of God.
that a certain number, determined
from eternity. would be saved and a
certain number lost. He made creed
embodying that and other things, and
because of that creed. the Presbyterians
are separated from their brethren. 1t
is the same story about every denomi-
nation down the ages to the present.
Leaders in religion have taken scraps
of Scriptures, formed opinions on those
scraps and then made creed on those
opinions.
These creeds make void the Word
of God. The traditions of the Elders
in the days of Christ had the same
effect'upon Gods word, and He swep'
forever away human systems on divine
things when He said: SIN vain do they
worship me. teaching as their doctrines
the precepts of men," Matt. 1879
Every denomination is compelled tt
read the Bible through her creed. |
| mlu4btoI 40 Ouubou OJ Guy VA ehoo
churches, he must pledge himself t.
preach the Bible as that .particula
church interprets it Ey her creed if b
will not, out he goes. Not only doe
the individual lose his liberty. but th
, gospel has lost its power upon th
masses. Why does the Sword of th
Spirit seem SO dull? Because teacher
of human systems have SO long hacke
it against their traditions, wrapped
9 about with their creeds and discipline
: until the sinner can feel neither edg
nor point.
After all, where can human creed
: take a person? They are made for th
) purpose of taking men to heaven,
obeyed. But how can any human bt
ing make creed that will take any
r body to heaven, since the author of
E has never been there himself? On th
y other hand, Jesus said, 81 am th
1 way" "follow me, !" "No one comet
It to the Father but by me-" We al
d ever aeked to believe in Him and TO
J, low his teachings, not those of mer