Birth of a Reformation; Or, The Life and Labors of Daniel S. WarnerByers, A. L. (Andrew L.)
Religion
Birth of a Reformation; Or, The Life and Labors of Daniel S. Warner
Byers, A. L. (Andrew L.)
Church of God (Anderson, Ind.) -- History; Warner, D. S. (Daniel Sidney), 1842-1895
If it were not such a solemn thing, it were really amusing to
see how many are floundering about on the question of organized
divisions in Christendom. They admit them evil, predict their
downfall, and then, shrinking from the result of their own
admissions, they fly to their protection and raise the hue and
cry against those who bring the gospel of God to bear upon these
ramparts of sin.
L. Hawkins, of the Banner of Holiness, admits the design of
Christ is the spiritual and organic unity of all believers, and
that an advanced degree of holiness would demolish these walls of
separation, and then, as if alarmed at their fall, he pleads for
their toleration at present.
The Harvester adds, "Then let us hail every sign of real unity as
from the Lord, and, as holiness laborers, not be afraid when the
temporary shafting of denominationalism begins to give way."
So it is admitted that denominationalism is bolstered up with
temporary shafting. This reminds us of a pamphlet we read some
years ago, in defense of sect organizations. The writer confessed
that the denominations were not the real "house of God which is the
church of the living God," but that they were necessary scaffolds
for the erection of the house, and that when the house shall have
been completed, the scaffolds will all be taken down. Well, in view
of the prospects of Christ's speedy coming we prefer to keep off of
these old rickety, rotten-timbered scaffolds that are destined so
soon to tumble down and be consumed with all the rubbish of Satan's
invention. For our part we are ready for the sect shafting to give
way any day; for we are builded into the house of God itself, and
have nothing to lose or to fear. But many are not ready for the
catastrophe. While fearing and even predicting the fall of those
Dark-Age structures, they are unwilling to abandon them. They sit
trembling upon their lofty but narrow Methodist, Baptist, United
Brethren, or Presbyterian plank, while with one hand they try to
hold onto the walls of God's church. We can always tell whether
a man is resting upon one of these scaffolds or whether he is
building only on Christ, the sure foundation. If on the latter,
he has nothing to fear; if on the former, he is sure to command a
halt when he sees the true priests of God blowing the trumpets
about these walls. Such always think the time has not yet come
to abolish sects and denominations. "Oh! no! do not push against
our scaffold poles yet; be careful down there! Please don't lean
against that shafting, there is danger of its falling!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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