almost axiomatic, that it is impossible to unite individual disciples, the units for which Jesus prayed, by uniting denominations, units that were condemned by Paul in 1 Corinthians. Union of unscriptual units can not make a Scriptural whole. If the Paul, Cephas and Apollos parties in Corinth had all agreed to work in amity, districted the city, and each respected the priority rights of the others, etc., yet remained partisans, they would have been heretics just the same.
The fundamental cause of denominationalism is lack of loyalty to Christ and respect for the authority of His word. The deepest need in the ranks of his professed followers is a new sense of his authority and absolute loyalty to Him. That will be the beginning of a return to His own teaching. So long as "conscience" and "inner consciousness" are accepted as divine authorities in religion, we may expect a continuation of divisions in the church.
I fear some worry to much concerning our responsibility in uniting Christians. My personal duty is to be one with Christ.
Being united with Him, I have a brotherly duty to all who are His, grouped together with me in congregational activities.
Our combined duty, with respect to the subject under discussion, is to prevent faction or heresy in the local church.
The New Testament authorizes nothing more in the line of organic union. Congregations were at liberty to co-operate in worthy enterprises, as we shall see, but, they did it without an authoritative body to control. The unity taught in Scripture is such a state as would obtain if churches were all
19
