The Assembly of God. Miscellaneous Writings of C. H. Mackintosh, vol. IIIMackintosh, Charles Henry
Religion
The Assembly of God. Miscellaneous Writings of C. H. Mackintosh, vol. III
Mackintosh, Charles Henry
Theology
Such is a true expression of the assembly of God, and we cannot
acknowledge aught else. Saints of God we can acknowledge, love, and
honor as such, wherever we find them; but human systems we look upon as
dishonoring to Christ, and hostile to the true interest of the saints of
God. We long to see all Christians on the true ground of the assembly.
We believe it to be the place of real blessing and effective testimony.
We believe there is a character of testimony yielded by carrying out the
principles of the assembly which cannot be yielded otherwise, even were
each member a Whitefield in evangelistic power. We say this not to lower
evangelistic work. God forbid. We would that all were Whitefields. But
then we cannot shut our eyes to the fact that many affect to despise the
assembly, under the plea of going out as evangelists; and when we trace
their path, and examine the results of their work, we find that they
have no provision for the souls that have been converted by their means.
They seem not to know what to do with them. They quarry the stones, but
do not build them together. The consequence is that souls are scattered
hither and thither, some persuing a desultory course, others living in
isolation, all at fault as to true Church ground.
Now, we believe that all these should be gathered on the ground of the
assembly of God, to have "fellowship in the breaking of bread and in
prayer." They should "come together on the first day of the week, to
break bread," looking to the Lord Christ to edify them by the mouth of
whom He will. This is the simple path--the normal, the divine idea,
needing, it may be, more faith to realize it, because of the clashing
and conflicting elements of the present day, but none the less simple
and true on that account.
We are aware, of course, that all this will be pronounced proselytizing,
and party spirit, by those who seem to regard it as the very _beau
ideal_ of Christian liberality and large-heartedness to be able to say,
"I belong to nothing." Strange, anomalous position! It just resolves
itself in this: it is _somebody_ professing _nothingism_ in order to get
rid of all responsibility, and go with all and everything. This is a
very easy path for nature, and amiable nature, but we shall see what
will come of it in the day of the Lord. Even now we regard it as
positive unfaithfulness to Christ, from which may the good Lord deliver
His people.
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