Warren sheaf., 1911-10-12

#&$H u LIS ulSCuSSlOO
Of the question,
(which Is the
l(fASIQR RUSSflDl True Church?''
4 The vast audi
snce appeared satisfied that the true
Church had been properly located. The
audience, so far as could be ascertain
ed, was composed Of truth-hungry peo-
pie Of all denominations. Undoubted-
~ the question discussed has been
vital one for centuries. Some claim
that never before had an answer been
given satisfactory to Christians OF all
denominations. His text was, 1.-THE
Church Of the First borns, whose names
are written in heaven."-Heb. xii, %.
Numerous Scriptures were cited in
proof Of the speakers contention that
the Lord Jesus and the Apostles never
organized any but the one Church, and
the histories of the various denomina-
lions were referred to as proving that
nearly all present-day Christian denom-
nations were nonresident a thousand
years ago and hence none Of these de-
nominations could have been the one
referred to by the Apostle as the
"Church Of the Living God."-1 Timo-
thy iii, Is.
For a time, said the speaker, each of
the various denominations in turn pro-
tested against other teachings and
claimed to be the one Church Of Christ
which had been for centuries lost sight
Of. At one time these various denomi-
nations fought each other, prosecuted
each other even unto death, each claim
ing that the other was a false Church
and that itself was the true one. More
recently, however, the Christian mind
has broadened and deepened until now
we clearly see that God has sanity
people in practically all denomina tons.
The One Catholic Church
Pastor Russell freely admitted that
the Roman Catholic Church could
prove her existence long centuries be-
fore her sister and daughter organiza-
tions, but he disputed, nevertheless,
that the Church of. Rome could prove
her identity with the Apostolic Church
of the first century. On the contrary.
many Of the teachings of the Church
of Rome differ radically from those of
the Church of Jerusalem, represented
by the Apostles and their New Tesla
ment writings. And as for the cere-
monials, usages, customs, etc., no one
at all familiar with the two could sup
pose them to have even close rela-
donship.
The only conclusion we reach con-
sistent with the above facts is this:
That the original Church which Jesus
and His Apostles founded was cath
olic one-that is to say, general OF
universal Church, and not Church of
Rome, a Church Of England, a Church
of Sweden. Church Of Germany, nor
Greek Church. but universal
Church, catholic or general Church.
Protestants in general recognize this
and hence in their confessions gener-
ally claim to be ''The Holy Catholic
(universaD Church
The fact, however. is that none Of
these churches Roman, English, Bap-
list, Presbyterian. etc.) is catholic or
general. because none OF them in
cludes all of Gods people. TO admit
that any one Of these religious bodies
is the catholic or general Church Of
Christ would be to admit that it in
cludes all persons recognized by the
Lord as being members of His Church
We cannot. therefore, admit that the
term catholic belongs to any of these
denominations, not even the Roman
Catholic. The catholic Church of
Christ-the one which includes all who
are truly His+is not human organi-
zation, and it's role or rostra is not
kept on earth. To it alone apply the
Apostles words -"The Church of the
First borns, whose names are written
In heaven.e
"Household of Faith"
This family Of God, begotten Of the
Holy Spirit, are one with Him in
Spirit, in purpose, in intention. They
have the Faith once delivered unto
the saints faith in the Father, faith
In the Lord Jesus as His Son, mans
Redeemer; faith in the Holy Spirit Of
begetting, faith in the exceeding great
and precious promises Of glorious
things to come, and they have the
one baptism into the Body Of Christ,
which is the Church. Some Of them
may have seen and may have obeyed
the proper symbol Of this one baptism,
while others may not. But all these
recognize the true baptism and all par
ucipated therein baptism into Christ's
death. Romans vi, g
II we so see, let us strive to attain
Membership In the true Church The
steps are:
~ Faith.
a. Obedience to. the Invitation to