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Chosen no: R-4878 a, from: 1911 Year. |
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You Are A Catholic!
In the sense that the word catholic
signifies general instead of sectarian, the charge would be correct; but we are
not Roman Catholic any more than Anglican Catholic. Nor were Jesus and the
Apostles Roman, Greek or Anglican Catholics. They were catholics in a broader
sense. And we strive to take a similar position, ignoring national as well as
sectarian boundaries and lines and authority. The broad term Christian, without
any limitations, includes the catholic or general thought and is quite
sufficient for us and, we believe, should be sufficient for all of the
followers of Jesus.
But someone will ask, When you speak
of the one true Church, do you not necessarily mean the Roman Catholic Church?
Oh, no, my friend; there were plain Christians before there were Roman Catholic
Christians or Christians of any of the other various branches. We refer to the
one Church which Jesus and the Apostles established on the foundation of their
teachings as found in the Holy Scriptures. It did not ignore doctrines, but
admonished that we should contend earnestly for the "faith once delivered
to the saints" (`Jude 3`), which would be sufficient for the man of
God.--`2 Tim. 3:17.
The one Church of Christ,
inspired by the true faith, the true doctrines of the Bible, will be bound
together by the cords of love, fellowship, brotherhood, "that they all may
be one as Thou, Father, and I are one." (`John 17:11.) As our Heavenly
Father and our Lord Jesus do not need to be bound together by fear or threats,
so likewise the true members of the true Church will need no such bondage to
make them one in spirit or in doctrines, for, as the Master said, "Ye
shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free." The secret of
this true union is that each member of the true Church is fully consecrated to
God and His service and is a saint striving for perfect mastery over his flesh and
is begotten of the Holy Spirit and its holy desires for righteousness and
truth, taught and providentially overruled and guided to a knowledge of His
will and an understanding of His Word. Thus "they shall all be taught of
God." This is the Holy Catholic Church. All of its members will be
taught of God.
Ah, you say, such a Church of saints
would not number four hundred millions as we now boast!
No, we reply; it would be as the
Master declares, a "little flock" in comparison to the masses of
humanity and the masses of Christianity. But that "little flock"
would be burning and shining lights in the world, as the Master declares. The
human organizations for benevolent, educational, charitable and other good
works there might still be, but, disillusioned, they would no longer style
themselves churches, but would know that there is but the one Church.
When we learn to look from the Bible
standpoint we see that inside and outside of all the different sects and
parties and creeds of Christendom there is just such a "little flock"
of saintly footstep followers of Jesus. These are the true Church as God sees
it. The human institutions called churches, while containing some of these
members of the true Church, are merely social clubs and not churches. There is
but one, and it is scattered everywhere, and yet, "The Lord knoweth them
that are His." --`2 Tim. 2:19
W.T. R-4878a : page 356 - 1911r
