Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-11-23
CHURCH UNION
ADVOCATED BY
REV. ". A. GUY
Platform of John D. Rookie
Teller, Jr., Means Compro-
mise of Conviction and Is
HOPELESS, Says.

A union of all churcheS WAS
urged by Rev. William A. Guy IN
a sermon at the Broadway Chris
tan last sunday, and a practical
basis outlined by him. The sermon
follows in part:
Christ's ideal for His church was
that it might be one, and that II
might remain one throughout the
ages. OF. his plan and prayer, we
have a record in Matt. 1915 and
in John I7:20-2l. This purpose and
prayer Of Jesus must yet be real
lied most hopeful sign of TINS
realization is seen in attitude or
leaders in all the great religious
bodies today. They agree that our
divisions are not only disgracefui,
but sinful both in the sight of man
and God. AS a result of this attl-
tude most earnest and sincere
effort is being made by church
leaders everywhere 10 find some
basis upon which the Christian
forces may unite.
Many platforms have been sug-
gested, but so far no man made
platform has been found that IS
big enough to meet the needs. The
federation platform has been suG-
gested and tried. Much good has
been accomplished by II. We have
gotten better acquainted with one
another as we have worked togeth
er in common tasks. But union and
unity do not always mean the same
thing. Christ did not pray for a
federation of denominations, but
an inner unity of spirit and pur-
pose That they may all be
one; as thou, Father art in me,
and | in thee" is his prayer. The
absorption method is frequently
suggested, which means, If all
churches accept our plan and our
church creed, then we would be
one" But very few denominations
are willing to be swallowed up by
a rival such a platform will never
succeed.
No Compromise.
THE most unscriptural platform
seems to be the one most frequent
ly suggested, namely, that of com
promise. 1t suggests that we have
conferences, talk over our differ
ences frankly, and then each of us
give up the thing that the other
does not agree with. You may use
the give and take method in pol
itics or business. but never in relig-
ion. If union could be secured on
such a basis. it would not be desir-
able, for it would not be Christian
union. The Christian part of it
goes when conscience goes. Christ
does not ask any man to compro-
mise his convictions.
"John D. Rockefeller, Jr., has
suggested a platform. His idea is
that the future shall develop a new
church, which shall be liberal and
broad enough to suit everybody, no
matter what his BELIEF, He says,
the religion of the inarticulate
will develop its own church, which
will be the church of the future.
He does not claim this to be
Christs church, in fact Christ has
of this church will be The Church
of the Living God so that all men
could be members of It; Christians,
Jews, Unitarians, or Mohamme-
dams. Remember, this is not
Christs plan, but John d. Rookie
fellers, Jr. All of these methods
would make union the first thing,
the basis of union a secondary
things. All of them mean COM
promise of convictions, and are
therefore hopeless.
Only One Platform.
There is one other platform
suggested. It is Christs platform.
The church was originally one. 1t
was united church, and power'
full church. When it lost its unity,
it lost its power and influence for
the kingdom of God. 1t lost its
unity by departing from the New
Testament pattern, and by substi-
tuting for Christ's plan its own
man-made schemes, creeds and
traditions. 1t can get back its lost
unity and its lost power only as IT
returns to the original basis, the
basis established by Christ for His
church.
This platform calls for no COM
promise of convictions. Neither
does it put forth any new scheme
or. invention. Instead, it calls for a
restoration; a restoration that will
restore Christ, in His authority, as
head of the church; that will re-
store the Bible as a sufficient rule
in all matters Of faith and prac-
tice; that will restore the ordi-
nances to the place given them in
the New Testament: that will re-
store the name and spirit of the
early church. When you restore
these to their original place in the
church, you have restored the New
Testament as planned by Christ
and az founded by the apostles.
This is not my church or your
church, but Christ's church.
Urge Union.
For such restoration we
plead. We urge the divided church
of today to consider Christ's plat
form for His church. We do not
urge you to come to our church,
or our plan, or our way, but to
Christ's way. Other foundation
can no man lay than that which is
laid, which is Jesus Christ. Il Cor.
3:11.
Thus only can the church get
back her lost unity. There is no
other way. Christ's platform is the
only basis that is broad enough and
strong enough to hold all OF us.
The church is a divine institution,
it can stand only on a divine basis.
Therefore, let US forget the things
of the past that have divided us,
L. ,ts,t