The Palatka news and advertiser., 1917-03-30
> WHAT IS THE MATTER
WITH THE CHURCH?

Even Now United on Essentials.

Even Now United on Essentials.
Editor Palatka News:
am very glad that | succeeded
IN arouslng one criticism in suggest.
ing the discussion, What is the mat.
ter with the Church? If "OrthodoX
agrees with DR.. Cadman in the
thought that denominatlonalism is
the cause Of the loss of power in the
church, l must take issue with them
both.
In the first place | cannot admit
that the terms Church" and PROT
estantism" are interchangeable. "In
every nation he that fearcth Him and
worketh righteousness, is accepted
with Him" (Acts 1850 The
church to which | belong is neither
Roman nor Protestant. Holding to
the doctrine Of liberty of conscience
for all men, we cannot be consistent
ly protestant. We have our own con-
victions, but we have no quarrel with,
nor protest for those who differ from
us.
DR.. Cadman proposes to restore the
Church of God to unity and authori-
ty. AS far as unity is concerned,
the evangelical denominations are al
ready at unity in all essential points.
These may be briefly stated as fol-
lows:
We believe:
LIST. In God, Maker and Ruler of
Heaven and Earth, revealed as Faith
er, Son and Holy Spirit, equal in ev-
cry divine perfection.
End. In the Holy Scriptures as
His infallible word, which are able to
make US wise unto salvation. e Tim.
3:16-17.)
3rd. In the fall of man and his
as sinner, and in
Gods sovereign grace and love in his
redemption.
4th. In salvation in the name of
Iesus Christ.
5th. In the free offer of eternal
ife in the Gospel to all, and in the
ggrevated guilt of those who reject
9Th. In the need of regeneration
y the Holy Spirit, and of repent
nee toward God and faith in Christ
7th. In the justification of the be-
ever, through the blood and right
BUSINESS Of Jesus Christ.
Sth. In the sacred observance of q
le Lords day. [
9Th. In the present life as mans
1ly day of grace. J
10th. In the resurrection of the n
ody; the righteous to eternal life. -,
lie wicked to judgment and eternal I
1
AS to authority, those who desire
are welcome, but great body of r
nristian believers will tolerate no re- b
gious authority except the authori-
of the revealed word of God II W
ust be admitted that much evil has 81
rung from the abuse of Christian
'erty, but / contend that these v
uses are negligible as compared A
tn the abuses of ecclesiastical au- 2,
ority. CT
1t is popular nowadays to carp at
nominationalism, so called: but
len undenominational or interde- f
bodies shall have accom-
shed respectable fraction Of good nj
the race. rs compared with that tn
hieved by the denomnational bod to
:, it will be time to consider these |
ticlsms seriously. Il,
In my humble opinion, the real rea- 81
n for loss of power in the church bu
S in the neglect of the life of prav- as
The church has never learned pu
stupendous power which is within W.
reach but which is so criminallv to
elected. The apostolic church was es
church of prayer, and they did | ;
ngs. The average church member wi
these days looks upon PRAYER as a tir
m and more or less of a bore. A an
inc dynamic is at their service co,
they neglect it and the cause of pr
rist suffers in consequence. pr
Sincerely yours. ne
R. l.. BONSTEEI,. usi
atka March 10 1917 -