Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-07-03
OLD-TIME RELIGION
BY BISHOP w. 4. GAMBLER

and only ground in faith in Christ through
the Word of God as delivered by the Apos-
ties; and is therefore not mere outward uni
formity, nor can such uniformity produce it."
He might have gone further and said what
has been said by a commentator equally
learned and devout that uniformity is the
negation of unity"
Ecclesiastical syndicates like commercial
trusts, rely on coercion and end in corrup-
ton.
Often they practice persecution in order to
promote their power.
Churches which aspire to be world
churches" always become worldly churches.
They dote on their bulk and depart from God.
They denounce denominationalism, yet all
the while they seek to build up their own de-
nominations by methods utterly foreign to
the spirit of Christian unity.
The unity of ancient Israel, Gods chosen
people, did not arise from the effacement of
all tribal lines, but by the cohesion and CO.
operation of all the twelve tribes, each serv-
ing in its own place and in its own way 1t
was bad day when some forgot this fact,
and Judah began to vex Ephraim and Eph-
rain in turn to vex Judah.
In the organization and promotion Of the
church of God national characteristics and
racial peculiarities must be regarded. They
are important factors In the Providential
government of the world. SO said St. Paul
at Athens God hath made of one blood |all
nations of men for to dwell on all the face
of the earth, and hath determined the times
before appointed, and the bounds Of their
habitation; that they should seek the Lord"
(Acts xvii: 2627.)
Churches may in the propagation of the
Gospel, set up missions in foreign lands, and
for the earlier years of their existence they
may supervise and control such missions.
But national churches should and will as
suredly, arise from them sooner later. 1t
body of Christ when it is so.
Bishop Westcott remarks, "It has been
nobly said that nations redeem each other
One supplies that which another lacks in
moral character and purpose; and the exist
ence of a deficiency in one place is not in
frequently the stimulus and the occasion for
the display of the corresponding virtue in
another. At least it is evident that we can
not understand how, with our present pow
ers, the full grandeur Of humanity could be
exhibited or developed except by the coexist-
ence of many peoples distinct and even an
tagonistic. And that which is true of hui
manity in a political and social aspect is true
Of it also in religious aspect. Separate
organizations appear to be as necessary for
the complete manifestation of the many sides
of Christian truth in relation to man, as
they are confessedly for the manifestation
of national life
To the same purpose speaks Dr. Stanley
Leathes, prebendary of ST Paul's, London, in
his excellent treatise on 1.-THE Christian
Creed" Discussing the unity of the church
he says 81 believe that there is one church
and that there can not be more. But then
it is unity that is coeXstent with endless
divisbility: as the body hath many members
so also is Christ, each member has it's own
collection of nerves, tissues, vessels, and the
like, which are characteristic of its peculiar
organization. Each member has it's own ap-
propriate mode of action, which can not at
will be changed for any other. In like man
ner we find frequent recognition of this
principle of divisibility in holy Scripture ST.
Paul continually alIudes to the many
churches of Christ. He speaks of all the
churches of the Gentiles; he speaks of the
churches of Macedonia, Of the churches of
God in Judea, of the churches of Galatia and
the like. lie implies that His own sphere
of labor was distinct from Peter. ST. John
also, in the Revelation, speaks of the seven
churches of ASIA and does so in terms that
show them to have been independent of one
another as regards practice, character, and
the like. And from this I derive a
most important inference-that the church
of Christ was from the first constituted on a
basis of variety and independence quite as
much as on uniformity I believe then
in the unity of the church, and by no means
in its uniformity. I believe that it's essential
unity is not and would not be secured by
any amount Of uniformity, less or greater
L believe that its unity is entirely distinct
from and Independent of it's uniformity"
Prebendary Leathes is quite correct in the
view which he thus clearly expresses
Enforced uniformity breathes the spirit of
domineering Prussianism eager to bring
all men and all things INTO subsection to it.
self. 1t engenders strife and conflicts and
bitterness.
Unity breathes the pure spirit of Christ
seeks not its own, envieth not. vaunteth not
itself, is not puffed up, and doth not behave
itself unseemly. From it spring the peace
able fruits of righteousness.