<< Back |
Chosen no: R-537 d, from: 1883 Year. |
Change lang
| |
Our Sect.
Webster defines sect to mean "A part
cut off," "Hence a body of persons who have separated from others by
virtue of some special doctrine, or set of doctrines, which they hold in
common."
Since we hold to a set of doctrines delivered to
the saints by Jesus and the Apostles, and since we separate and cut ourselves
off from all other religious jurisdiction and control, therefore it follows
that we are a SECT. We "separate from sinners" and "have no [R538 : page 3] fellowship with the unfruitful
works of darkness." (Eph. 5:11; 2 Cor. 6:17). Because there is no concord between Christ
and Satan, nor between a believer in Christ and an unbeliever in his ransom and
Lordship, therefore we obey the Lord's command, "Come out from among them
and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean, and I will
receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and
daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." (2 Cor.
6:17,18).
In doctrine we hold firmly to the glad tidings
preached by Jesus and explained by the Apostles, and will receive none other,
even though it should be delivered by an angel from heaven. It is briefly
stated by Paul thus: "I delivered unto you first of all, that which I also
received [first of all], how that Christ died for OUR SINS
according to the Scriptures." (1 Cor. 15:3).
This is the basis; and built upon it, is our realization that we are justified
and cleansed from all sin in God's sight, by his offering or sin-sacrifice who
"died the just for the unjust." Realizing this, "we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins." (Eph.
1:7). All who accept of their share in this atoning sacrifice are
properly termed Christians.
This was the faith of the early church. True,
they progressed beyond these first principles to the use of the "strong
meat," and to a comprehension, with all saints, of the deep things of God;
but the "babes in Christ," and those "who, by reason of
use, had their senses exercised," were all one family--"all one in
Christ Jesus." The more advanced in grace and doctrine bore the
infirmities of the weak, each and all seeking to grow in grace and knowledge
more and more. Where this apostolic rule was observed there could be no sect,
no division in the body. It was only when error began to develop in the
congregations that Paul wrote to some: I hear that there are divisions (sects)
among you, and I partly believe it; for it is evident from what I learn of the
worldliness and error coming in among you, that there would of necessity be
divisions; for those true to the Lord could not have fellowship with such
unfruitful works of darkness, but must rather reprove them. (1
Cor. 11:18,19).
But while divisions were objected to in the true church, while all the apostles taught that there was one Lord, one
faith, one baptism and one body-- church of Christ--yet this church was a sect itself--a split off from the Jewish church--which was cast off and left
desolate, and it was also separated from the world. It was "the sect everywhere spoken against." (Acts 28:22). Thus, we
see, that Christians are a sect or separated class--separate from the
world--separate from sinners--separate from all others, in that they accept of
Jesus, and salvation through his blood. But there should be no schism or
division of this sect; all who are of it should be one. There is one fold and
one Shepherd. (1 Cor. 12:25).
It is not remarkable that Satan should seek to
divide and separate the sheep and to put up fences, such as the denominational
creeds prove to be, which would hinder some of the sheep from following the
Shepherd into green pastures of fresh and living truth. This would be but
wisdom on his part. But it is strange that he should be able to fetter the
reason of so many, that they should think it a mark of spirituality to say, I
am of Luther, a Lutheran; I of Calvin and Knox, a Presbyterian; I of Wesley, a
Methodist, and so on; while Paul, on the contrary, to some of his day, who were
in danger of this spirit of sectarianism, said: While one saith, I am of Paul,
and I of Apollos, and I of Peter, are ye not carnal? Is it not in direct
opposition to the spirit of Christ to think or act thus? "Is Christ
divided?" Did Paul or Peter or Knox or Calvin or Wesley or anyone else
than Christ die for your sins and redeem you? They, as servants
of Christ and the church, should be esteemed very highly for their works' sake,
but to name the Bride after any other than the Bridegroom is manifestly
improper.
Oh, that all could see that in God's sight there
is but one church--whose names are written in heaven--and that God cannot and
does not sympathize with or recognize any split in the real church. He does not
recognize the narrow creeds in which so many of the sheep are confined and
starving. As we have shown, he has placed but one fence around his fold. Inside
of it there is plenty of room, both for the lambs and the fully matured sheep
of Christ, to feed and grow continually.
A PARABLE.
Fix in your mind a picture of a fine large
pasture surrounded by a strong and high fence--the Law of God-- which surrounds
and keeps all the sheep within, but which recognizes no means of access to that
fold--justified condition--except Christ, the door, faith in whose
sacrifice for sin is the only way into the fold. All climbing into the fold by
any other way are thieves and robbers. This is the pasture provided by the Good
Shepherd for his sheep, for whom he once laid down his life. Into the true fold
of Christ quite a flock of sheep have entered. They belong to the true
Shepherd; but as we look before us at the grassy slopes, only a few sheep, a
little flock indeed, seem to be enjoying the liberty of the fold--the liberty
wherewith Christ hath made them free. Where are the others? We look and see
inside the door, on either side of the pathway, small enclosures. Over each is
written its peculiar name--Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, Second Adventist,
Roman Catholic, Greek Catholic, Episcopalian, Lutheran, etc. Looking at these
pens we find them to differ. Some are built like prisons with iron frames and
bars and chains, others less strong, and some are merely marked out "dead lines" over which the sheep understand that they must not go.
These pens are full of sheep, but they are weak,
delicate and sickly for lack of proper exercise and fresh, nourishing
food. They are regularly fed, but only upon husks, with occasionally a little
milk, but they eat without relish and get no good from it. Many of them are
leaner and poorer than when first they entered the fold, and some have become
blind. Strange to say all seem to be perfectly satisfied, each with his own
pen, and very seldom does one attempt to escape.
Perplexed to know why these should thus submit
to be penned, we watched to see how they were induced to enter the various
enclosures. As the sheep entered by faith the fold of Christ through the only
door, under-shepherds who had been appointed to help the sheep to find and appreciate
the pastures of the entire fold, had conceived that they knew better than the
Chief Shepherd how to manage the flock, and accordingly they had constructed
these various pens. Each class stood at the door of his own, and as the new
sheep came in, they tried to impress upon each, both by manner and voice, first
of all the necessity of getting into some of the many pens; and secondly, each
one tried to show the superiority of the one he represented. As a consequence,
nearly all the sheep which entered got penned, and only a few passed on to
enjoy all the liberty of the fold. The under-shepherds sought continually to
impress upon their sheep that the free sheep were heretics and en
route to destruction.
We watched to see what would be the end of this
matter, for we learned that the Chief Shepherd was expected by some, and we
knew that his coming would soon demonstrate whether he approved of this
dividing and imprisoning His flock. The under-shepherds mostly claimed
that he would not come for a long time yet.
Presently among the free sheep we heard great
rejoicing. We looked and found that the Chief-shepherd had come quietly,
unobservedly ("as a thief"), and was now recognized by some of the
sheep, and hence the rejoicing. Some of those imprisoned heard the Shepherd's
voice; they looked and listened, yet could scarce believe. It was indeed, the
voice of the shepherd as he tended and ordered his flock. All who were his true
sheep seemed to hear his voice condemning the penning process and saying unto
his sheep: "Come out, my people."
Some leaped the fences and gained liberty and
food from the Shepherd's hand. But some were so weak and faint for lack of
nourishment that they trembled with fear and dreaded the under-shepherds too
much to come out. We noticed outside the fences that some of the free sheep
brought food to the bars, and thus some of the weak ones were
strengthened and then came out. The under-shepherds, meanwhile, were alert with
redoubled vigilance, and by varying policies sought to keep the control of their (?) flocks. Some denounced and scoffed at those without, and threatened the
sheep within; and others redoubled the customary exercises, the "forms of
godliness."
We waited to see the outcome, and saw the
unfaithful under-shepherds bound and beaten with stripes, the prison pens all
destroyed, and the fold used as designed --the flock one, its name one, and its
head Christ Jesus.
W.T. R-537d : page 3 -1883r