To-day there are many organizations claiming to be the church, and having various bonds of union; but we wish now to show upon the authority of God's word, what church, our Lord established, and what are its bonds of union; Secondly, we wish to show that every Christian should belong to that church; thirdly, the injurious effects of joining the wrong church; and fourthly, having joined the right church, what would be the results of losing our membership.
First, then, the church which Jesus began to gather during his ministry, and which was recognized by the Father at Pentecost after their ransom price was paid, was the little company of disciples who had consecrated earthly time, talents and life, a sacrifice to God. Theirs was a "voluntary association" for mutual aid; and this society was under the laws and government of Christ, its head or recognized ruling authority. The bonds were bonds of love and common interest. Since all were enlisted under the captaincy of Jesus, the hopes and fears, joys and sorrows and aims of one were those of the other; and thus they had a far more perfect union of hearts than could possibly be had from a union on the basis of any man-made creed. Thus their only union was of the Spirit; their law for the government of each was love, and all as a whole were put under obedience to the "law of the Spirit" as it was expressed in the life, actions, and words of their Lord. Their government was the will of him who said, "If ye love me keep my commandments."
There are two senses in which the true church of Christ may be considered: All who like the early church were fully consecrated to the doing of our Father's will, amenable only to Christ's will and government, recognizing and obeying none other—these, the saints, from the beginning of the Gospel age down to its close, when all of this class are sealed, constitute the "CHURCH OF THE FIRST BORN, whose names are written in Heaven." These are all one in aim, hope and suffering, and in due time will be joint-heirs with Christ Jesus to the great inheritance—heirs of the kingdom which God hath promised for them that love him.
The other sense in which this same class is recognized, is by counting a part for the whole; thus all the living of this class may be spoken of as the church; or, again, any part of this class of living followers who may meet together may properly be called the church; for, wherever two or three are assembled the Lord has promised to be among them. Consequently that would be a church meeting—an assembly of the "Church of the First Born." The general assembly will be, when all the church are made like, and glorified with, their Head.
Such, then, is our definition of the church of Christ. It is perfectly illustrated by Paul (Rom. 12:4,5) when he compares the church to a human body. In this figure the head represents our Lord, and all who are his constitute the body, over which the head rules. Jesus has been and always will be the head over his church as a whole; he is likewise the head and ruler of the entire living church, and in every assembly where two or three meet in his name (when his word is sought and heeded), he is the head, ruler and teacher.
If it be asked, In what sense does he teach? we answer, by exercising the qualities of the head, or teacher; by using one or more of those present as His mouth-piece in unfolding truth, strengthening faith, encouraging hope, inspiring zeal, etc., just as the head of your body can call upon one member to minister to another. But here a word of caution: If one becomes as useful a member as a right hand, he should take care that he assume not the position and authority of the Head, to put forth his own words and ideas as truth. He must ever remember that his highest honor is to be an index finger to point out, or a mouth-piece to express the will of the one Lord and Master. Be not puffed up; pride will paralyze and render useless. "Be not ye called Rabbi [master, teacher], for one is your Master [head] even Christ, and all ye are brethren." And let not the least member despise his office, "for if all were one member, where were the body?" "Nay, those members of the body which seem to be more feeble are necessary"—"God hath set the members every one of them, in the body as it hath pleased him."
How simple, beautiful, and effectual is God's plan of the "voluntary association" of His children.
This brings us to our second proposition, viz.: that all Christians should be joined to this association or incipient organization. In the light of what has just been said as to the class constituting the church which our Lord is calling, it is evident that if you have given up all your will, talent, time, etc., you are recognized by the Lord as a probationary member of the church, of which he is the head; and whose names are written in heaven. Thus, by consecration, we join the true church and have our names recorded in heaven. But says one: Must I not join some organization on earth, assent to some creed, and have my name written on earth? No; remember that our Lord is our pattern and teacher, and neither in his words nor acts will you find any authority for binding yourselves with creeds and traditions of men which all tend to make the Word of God of none effect, and bring you under a bondage which will hinder your growth in grace and knowledge, and against which Paul warned you, saying, "Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."—Gal. 5:1.
But say some: If it is not proper to [R1074 : page 6] unite with any of the present nominal churches, would it not be well to form a visible association of our own? Yes, this is what we have—a society modeled after that of the early church. We think we have come back to primitive simplicity. The Lord Jesus alone is our head or law-giver; the Holy Spirit is our interpreter and guide into truth; our names are all written in heaven; we are bound together by love and common interest.
Do you inquire—How shall we know one another? We ask, how can we help knowing one another when the Spirit of our Master is made manifest in word and act, and manner and look? Yes, the living faith, the unfeigned love, the long-suffering meekness, the childlike simplicity coupled with the constancy and zeal of maturity, make manifest the sons of God, and we need no earthly record, for the names of all such are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Do the sick need visiting or assistance? These stand ready with consecrated time. Does the Lord's work require money?—These stand ready with consecrated means. Does his work bring upon them the reproach of the world, and of a degenerate nominal church?—These have also sacrificed reputation and all else to God.
But again, do you inquire, How shall we deal with one who walks disorderly in our midst? if we have no organization such as we see about us, how can we free ourselves from such, as the Lord requires us to do? We answer: Do just as Jesus and Paul directed.
Now, as in the early church, there are various degrees of advancement among the individual members, and Paul says (1 Thes. 5:14,) some are feeble-minded, comfort them; some are weak, support them; but while you should be patient toward all, warn the disorderly (those who are drifting away from the true spirit of Christ). Don't mistake the disorderly for the weak, and comfort them; nor for the feeble-minded, and support them, but patiently, lovingly, warn the disorderly. Whom does he call disorderly? Doubtless there are many ways of walking disorderly, but in 2 Thes. 3:11, he speaks of some who work not at all, but are busy-bodies, and says they should do as he did—work, that they be not chargeable to any; and if any will not work, neither should he eat. Thus he said he did, that he might be an example to others. He warns us also against immoral and unjust persons, and those who wrest (twist) the Scriptures and thus turn the truth of God into a lie. Then again, verse 14, after you have warned such a one, if he "obey not...note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed....Yet, count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother."
Again, our Lord gives explicit directions where there is a matter of offence between two brethren, Matt. 18:15,17: "If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone; if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother; but if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church (the company of brethren who assemble together); but if he neglects to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican." If, under the captaincy of our Head, we heed his commands, which we will do if we love him, how few will be the misunderstandings and difficulties among the brethren.
This association has its evangelists, pastors and teachers, appointed and directed by the Lord. They need no laying on of hands by the so-called Apostolic succession; for the "Spirit of the Lord hath anointed" all the members of the body "to preach," etc. (Isa. 61:1), and it is the duty of every member of the body to exercise his office for the edification of the other members. The true church are all priests, an association of priests and not an association under the control of a clerical or priestly class. (1 Pet. 2:9.) There is one great Bishop or overseer, who raises up and sends from time to time, his own special messengers to uncover truths, over-throw errors, etc.—Luther seems to have been one of these, Wesley another. But our Lord retains the Bishopric himself, as saith the apostle. (1 Pet. 2:25.) How complete is the voluntary union of the church of Christ with its heaven-written, love-bound and Spirit-ruled membership, and how sad the error of mistaking the nominal for the real church!
The importance of our fourth proposition need not be urged. It would indeed, be a dreadful calamity to lose our membership in the true church or body of Christ. And no member is out of this danger except when keeping a vigilant watch over the old nature, counted dead, lest it come to life again, and assert itself in the form of pride, selfishness, envy, evil-speaking—or what not? But if filled with love (the love that prompts to sacrifice) and clothed with humility, and under cover of the redeeming blood, we are safe in the church (the body), having the assurance that it is our "Father's good pleasure to give us the kingdom."
Yes, the kingdom is the glorious destiny of the true church—the "little flock"—now treading the pathway of humiliation and drinking the bitter cup of death. The glory that shall be revealed in us, doth not yet appear, except to the eye of faith, but the temptations and trials, are very apparent on every hand. "Let us, therefore, fear lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it."—Heb. 4:1.
Thus Paul warned others and thus he feared, lest (even after) having preached to others, he himself should be a castaway. (1 Cor. 9:27.) We may have our names cast out as evil by those of the nominal church, and yet "rejoice and be exceeding glad because our names are written in heaven." They may frown upon you and despitefully use you and say all manner of evil against you falsely; or they may seek to win you back by flattery, saying they cannot afford to lose your influence, you could do so much good by remaining among them, etc. Oh, how necessary in this "evil day" is the faith—
"That bears unmoved the world's dark frown,
Nor heeds its flattering smile;
That seas of trouble cannot drown,
Nor Satan's arts beguile."
Dearly beloved, let us again repeat the warning: "Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free, and be not again entangled with the yoke of bondage"—not even in the slightest degree.