Document: James White, “Gospel Union,” The Review and Herald 4, no. 22 (December 6, 1853): 172. HTML, PDF.
Contents: “There can be no real gospel union without union of sentiment, interest and action.”
[p. 172]
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Gospel Union.
Nothing can be more desirable than gospel union in the church of Christ. Jesus prayed that his people might he one, and the holy apostles have left the church many affectionate and stirring exhortations to seek for unity, and pure, fervent love for one another. “Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard; that went down to the skirts of his garments: As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.”
There are efforts frequently put forth to secure union among different denominations holding widely different sentiments; but such union is seldom permanent. We might here refer to union meetings of two or more denominations for the conversion of souls. The apparent union might last until the time came for the converts to be gathered into the churches. But the lambs of Christ must then be separated, and taught different man-made creeds. Church must be arrayed against church, and cold, party feeling arise in the breasts of those who so recently drank from the one pure fountain of love. Such union is not gospel union. And there can be no real gospel union without union of sentiment, interest and action. How instructive and impressive the prayer of our Saviour:
“Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” John 17:17-21.
Here Jesus prays that his people may be sanctified through the truth. What is truth? The answer is given in his prayer, “Thy word is truth.” Truth is a unit. It flows in one strait, even channel, and not in some six hundred and sixty-six, to suit the many religious associations. The word of God is not yea and nay; that is, yea, it is so, and nay, it is not so; but it is yea and amen. It was the design of Heaven that the church should share the Comforter fully—be led into the plain testimony of the word of God, and consequently, be one.
Mark well the reason offered in our Lord’s earnest prayer for his followers, why the church should be one: “That the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” Why do poor sinners doubt that God has sent his Son to save them? Why is the world filled with infidelity? Because the professed followers of Christ have not been one. Human wisdom, unaided by the spirit of truth, has sought the way to heaven. It has sought out a strange confusion of creeds. Men have “forsaken the fountain of living water,” [the Bible,] and with their broken cisterns that can hold no water, [their Babylon of creeds,] they have blocked up the very gate of heaven against a world of sinners.
There is power in the gospel. God did send his Son to die that poor sinners might be saved from their sins. The Spirit of truth has come into the world, and has reproved and enlightened the sinner. Angels have wept over the fallen condition of man; but the gospel, and the plan of salvation have been rendered almost powerless, by reason of the discord among Christ’s professed followers. If the church had always been one, in sentiment, in interest, and in action, the world would have been constrained to believe, and God would have been glorified. But now she is fallen. The last plagues are about to be poured out on Babylon. They will fall in fury upon the heads of the mass of professors, now stained with the blood of poor sinners, who have been kept from the Saviour by their confusion of unscriptural doctrines.
The same principles of gospel union are taught by Paul, as are found in the prayer of Jesus. He says “Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus; that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God.” Rom. 15:5, 6.
Notice in particular the Apostle’s ground of union. “According to Christ Jesus”—which was this, being sanctified through the truth, which is the word of God, the church would be one as the Father and Son were one. Paul would not have any man barter away the truth for union, neither would our Lord.—Without the truth there cannot be scriptural sanctification, without it there is no salvation. But through the word, the church may be sanctified, then be like-minded one toward another, and with one mind and one mouth glorify God. The true church will arrive at this state of consecration and harmony before Jesus comes, as may be seen by the following text:—
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and same, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry for the edifying of the, body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: that we be no more children, tossed to and fro,” &c.
The gifts and callings of the gospel were designed to secure the unity and purity of the church; and were it not that these are promised, we might despair of a fitness to meet our coming Judge. And we are by no means to rest in idleness, and wait for the Lord to do this great work for the church. Let us take hold of the work in earnest, and God will help us mightily. Let us obey the words of the holy Apostle:—“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment.” 1 Cor. 1:10.
“If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” Phil. 2:1, 2.
“Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you. Greet one another With an holy kiss.” 2 Cor. 13:11, 12. See also, 1 Pet. 3:8; and Phil. 3:16.