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Overland Monthly / OV121 - Pastor Russell's Reply to Cardinal Gibbons' Sermon
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OV121 PASTOR RUSSELLÂ’S REPLY TO CARDINAL GIBBONSÂ’ SERMON
CARDINAL GIBBONSÂ’ sermon, widely
published, attracted a great deal of attention amongst Protestants as
well as Catholics. What will Protestantism say to this? was the query.
We have heard but one Protestant response, and that, properly enough,
from the pen of the best and most widely known Protestant minister in
the world—Pastor Russell of Brooklyn Tabernacle, New York. We place his
reply immediately following Cardinal GibbonsÂ’ presentation, assured
that it will be interesting to our Protestant, as well as our Catholic,
readers:
Pastor Russell Congratulates the Cardinal.
It falls to my lot to respond to Cardinal
GibbonsÂ’ sermon on "A Plea for United Christendom," in which he urges
very forcefully that there is but one Church, and that, therefore, all
Protestants should abandon their sectarian attitude and join the Roman
Catholic Church. The reply falls to my lot, because, although I stand
free and independent of all Protestant sects and parties, my brethren
of the ministry in various denominations of Protestantism would find it
rather awkward and difficult to acknowledge that there is but one true
Church, and, in the same breath to acknowledge that their denomination
is no more that one Church than is any other sect. I am very pleased
with Cardinal GibbonsÂ’ kindly moderation in the handling of the
subject. It contrasts very forcibly with the terrible times of the
past, when Roman Catholics on the one hand and various Protestant sects
on the other, waged an indirect and internecine strife to the death in
the name of God and of our Redeemer and of righteousness. Surely what
all intelligent people need is to abandon foolish prejudices,
hypocrisies and superstitions of the past, and to come together as true
followers of the Nazarene. Everything which points in this direction is
to be appreciated, whether coming from the lips of Cardinal Gibbons or
from others. Surely we should all desire the Truth, and desiring it,
should seek it in GodÂ’s Word, of which the Master said, "Thy word is
Truth."
Agrees with Cardinal Gibbons.
I am pleased to say that I agree most
heartily with Cardinal GibbonsÂ’ presentation in almost every
particular. Unquestionably sectarianism is wholly out of accord with
the teachings of the Scriptures. Assuredly St. Paul rebuked the
Corinthian brethren because they presented a divided front, saying, I
am of Paul; I am of Apollos; I am of Peter, etc. St. PaulÂ’s reply to
this was that it was proof of carnality, of fleshly minds and proof of
an unspiritual state. All Christians are coming to realize
this—Catholic and Protestant—although it is but a few years since some
claimed that sectarianism was a positive advantage; that it led to a
greater zeal and energy in the Divine service than if all were agreed.
All who are conversant with history understand what I mean when I say
that God has been pleased to permit an illustration of—first, a united
Christendom, and, secondly, a divided Christendom. For long centuries
there was practically but the one Church in Europe, the Roman Catholic.
The results were surely not all that could have been desired. That
unity of Church brought neither secular nor religious education, nor
did it bring to the world the Millennium promised as the great
desireratum of humanity. Rather in that long period we see that
ignorance and superstition held the reins. During the last few
centuries we have had the opportunity of testing the division of
Christendom into various sects and parties. While the results are not
satisfactory, while the condition is not what GodÂ’s Word prompts us
OV122 to desire and expect, this divided
condition has certainly tended toward greater freedom of thought,
greater liberty from ignorance and superstition. So, then, when we
think of the Church, both Catholics and Protestants agree that we
should not desire such a unity as prevailed during the period in
history known as "the dark ages." The unity we seek and pray for is a
knowledge—enlightened and more sanctified unity, which will not require
to be maintained through the arm of civilized power, and the rack and
thumb-screw and stake. Our prayers and desires should go up for the
kind of liberty mentioned in the Bible—"the liberty wherewith Christ
makes free"—"the liberty of the sons of God."
The Perplexing Question.
So, then, dissatisfied with the sectarian
divisions, and strife, and equally dissatisfied with the compulsory
union of the past, and, convinced, nevertheless, that the Bible teaches
the unity of the Church, we ask: How may this scriptural unity be
attained—the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace and love, which
maintains its own liberty and grants the same to others? Where shall we
find; How shall we obtain; by what process shall we accomplish this
unity? We agree with the Cardinal that our Lord speaks of himself in
the Scriptures as the one Shepherd of the one flock of this Age and the
Supervisor of the one fold. We agree that there is but the one Church,
for whom the Master prayed during his dying hour—"That they all may be
one in us." We agree also that the Apostle speaks of the one Church,
likening it to a human body, over which there is the one Head, and of
which all are members. We agree that there are not many bodies, but
one; not many heads, but One. We agree, also, that there is but the one
true Vine of the FatherÂ’s right hand planting, and that this refers to
Christ, the parent stock, and to his true members, the branches. We
agree, also, that as there is only one Lord, so there is but one faith,
and, additionally, that there is but one baptism. Agreeing with all
these Scriptural premises laid down by Cardinal Gibbons, we must,
nevertheless, dispute his conclusion, that this one Church which Christ
declared he would build upon the rock of Truth, and which would grow to
a glorious temple composed of living stones, of which St. Peter was
one, is the Roman Church, just as we disagree with our Baptist friends
when they tell us that the Baptist Church is the one Church.
Equally we disagree with our Presbyterian
and Methodist, Lutheran and Congregational systems when they each
protest that they fill these requirements—that they are the one Church.
Our contention is that every one who turns his back upon sin; who
accepts of Jesus as his Redeemer and Savior, and who approaches the
Father in full consecration through Jesus, and who receives the
beginning of the holy spirit of God—all such are the brethren of Jesus
and sons of God whether they join the Roman Catholic, the
Congregational, the Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian or other human
systems. Our contention is that none of these human systems, Catholic
or Protestant, is recognized by the Bible—none of them is recognized of
God. They are all human institutions—originated by men and maintained
by men—sometimes good men and sometimes bad men have had to do with
their organization and its maintenance. Indeed, we hold that such a
reformed, consecrated believer is equally a child of God in whatever
denomination he may be, or if he be outside of all denominational walls
or creeds. It is our contention that the various creeds of Christendom
have been so many stumbling blocks and hindrances to honest souls who
sought their God and the light of his Word. True, they may have
assisted in some particulars, as well as they may have done injury in
other respects. All the same, none of these institutions has Divine
authority. None of them is sanctioned by the Word of God, the Bible.
They are one and all built upon false assumptions.
Which is the True Church?
According to the Bible we may all find
the answer we are seeking—an explanation of what and where is the true
Church. In the Scriptures it is described as "the Church of the
Firstborns, whose names are written in Heaven." (#Heb 12:23  .) Will our Protestant friends claim that their Church roll corresponds to that written in
OV123 Heaven in the LambÂ’s Book of Life?
Would Christian friends of any denomination dare to make such a claim?
Most assuredly, No. We all realize that at very most the various sects
and parties of Christendom are composed of wheat and tares, and that,
so far as human judgment can discern, the tares are vastly in the
majority.
The Scriptures declare that the Lord
knoweth them that are His! The intimation is that no one but the Lord
certainly, truly, knows which are the true sheep and which are the
goats in sheepÂ’s clothing. We are exhorted not to judge one another.
"Condemn not that ye be not condemned."
Each heart is Scripturally exhorted to have its own fellowship with
God, not through synods or presbyteries, not through priests or popes.
Every branch is to be vitally united to the Vine; every Christian,
every member of the true Church, is to be vitally united to Christ. In
that very parable our Lord declares that every branch in him that bears
not fruitage of the Spirit in love, the Father will cut off in
membership. Thus from the standpoint of Divine wisdom and knowledge,
the Church of Christ in the earth is composed only of saints—only of
those who have fled away from sin, who by faith have laid hold upon the
Redeemer and who have consecrated their lives unto death in the Divine
service—and of these only such as maintain this standing and bring
forth the peaceable fruits of righteousness. So, then, without
attempting a personal identification of the branches of the Vine, we
may surely know that they are very few. We may surely know that the
nominal membership of the various sects contain comparatively few of
these saintly ones, who alone have Divine recognition as being "the
Church of the Firstborns whose names are written in heaven"—fruit
bearing branches in the true Vine—living stones in the temple of God
imbued with the Holy Spirit—active members in the Spirit-begotten Body
of Christ. To this conclusion the words of Scripture agree, assuring us
that "strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto
life, and few there be that go in thereat."
They assure us again that these favored
few number not many great, not many rich or learned, but chiefly the
poor of this world, rich in faith, heirs of the Kingdom.
They assure us that this Kingdom class
must all be footstep followers of Jesus; as he said, "If any one would
be my disciple, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow
me, that where I am, there shall my disciple be." And again He said,
"Fear not, little flock, it is your FatherÂ’s good pleasure to give you
the Kingdom."
Christian Union Never Lost.
From this standpoint we perceive that the
great masses, Catholic and Protestant, are not, and never were, the
Church of Christ—they deceived themselves. They have been children of
this world, not spirit begotten New Creatures in Christ; they have not
been living stones in the temple, not branches of the true Vine, not
members of the "little flock." They have been worldly people with
religious sentiments and good desires who misunderstood that great
teaching of the Bible—. that only the sanctified are in Christ Jesus,
called to be saints. What has been done by these large numbers of
well-meaning but mistaken people in the way of organizing churches,
lodges, banks, etc., had nothing whatever to do with the great
organization which God effected eighteen centuries ago, and which has
persisted as a unit in the world ever since. The true Church has never
been divided, because each member of it is united with the Lord, the
Head, and, through Him, united to every other "member of his Body,
which is the Church," the "little flock." In this one Church, there has
always been maintained one Lord Jesus, one faith, His Word of promise,
one baptism—the baptism of consecration into His death—to suffer with
Him that, by and bye, we may reign with him.
The Hidden Mystery.
Does some one say, Where is the history
of this Church? We answer, in the language of the Apostles, that "the
world knoweth us not, even as it knew Him not." The world of JesusÂ’ day
were the professed religionists; yet they knew not the great religious
Teacher and Redeemer whom God had sent, and they crucified Him.
Similarly all the way down, the great religious teachers of the various systems have not
OV124 known, have not recognized the
"members of the Body of Christ" a bit more than the Jews recognized the
Head of that Body. This is the very point which St. Paul emphasized. He
declares that the fact, as well as the philosophy, of the Church being
members of Christ is to the world—both the religious and the
irreligious world—a hidden mystery; it is outside of their philosophy,
their theory, their understanding. Hence it is that the most saintly
characters, both in Catholicism and Protestantism, have been martyrs,
as Jesus was, as St. Stephen was, as all the Apostles were, and all the
faithful during the intermediate centuries were, and as some may yet be
if an outward union be effected such as once prevailed—in the "Dark
Ages."
Counterfeiting the True Church.
If now we declare that, to a certain
extent, the true Church has been counterfeited, both by Catholics and
Protestants, let no one take offense and suppose that we are wishing to
speak unkindly. We do not charge that these counterfeits of the true
Church were made knowingly or intentionally, but merely that the
Church, coming under the control of brilliant minds not
spirit-begotten, not heaven-enlightened, misread the Word of God,
misinterpreted it, and followed their misinterpretations.
Notice, for instance, the Roman Catholic
Church. The average Roman Catholic does not know that he is not a
member of the Church. But Cardinal Gibbons will not deny it, nor will
any of the ecclesiastics. Their teaching, most explicitly, is that the
Church is composed of the Pope and the other religious instructors, and
that the common people are not members of the Church, but, as they
style them, "children of the Church." Thus, the Catholic Church
appropriates to itself the words of Jesus respecting the "little
flock," etc.; they apply those Scriptures to the clergy, and not to the
congregation. This is the secret of PapacyÂ’s great mistake. In their
ecclesiastical system they have a counterfeit of the true Church. And
because the Scriptures declare that the LordÂ’s faithful "little flock,"
"the Church of the living God whose names are written in Heaven," will
remain with Christ, therefore Papacy claims, on the strength of that
promise, the right to reign with imperial power and Heavenly authority
over its kingdoms of earth. And it has been PapacyÂ’s endeavor to carry
out this erroneous reasoning, and to make good its counterfeit of the
true Church and her work, that has led to so many grievous
difficulties, persecutions, wars, turmoils.
The True Reign of the Saints.
If Papacy has the counterfeit of the true
Church and the counterfeit of the true reign, what does the Bible teach
respecting the genuine? This: That the faithfulness of the unknown,
disesteemed, rejected of men, saintly followers in JesusÂ’ footsteps,
constitutes their schooling, testing, preparation for a share in the
Kingdom with Christ their Lord. When the full number of the elect
Church, predestinated of the Father, shall have been thus gathered out
of the world and finally glorified—then the Kingdom to which they are
heirs will be established, and they shall be joint heirs with Jesus
Christ their Lord, King of kings and Lord of lords. His Kingdom will
rule the world, not by guns or swords, not by racks or burning at the
stake and inquisitionary torments, but by heavenly power, which then
will have full control of earthÂ’s affairs.
Children of the Church.
What our Catholic friends have is merely
a foreshadowing—or, shall I use the harsher word counterfeit—of the
Truth respecting the Church as a mother and certain children. The
Scriptures teach that, in the new order of things, when Christ shall
take to himself his great power and institute his Millennial Kingdom
for the blessing and uplifting of mankind, he will have a Bride—the
Church—"The Bride, the Lamb’s Wife." (#Re 21:9.)
And the Scriptures further represent that the glorified Jesus, who is
the heavenly Bridegroom, and the glorified Church, who is the heavenly
Bride, will, figuratively, beget children. That is to say, all through
the thousand years of the reign of righteousness the glorified Jesus
will be the everlasting Father, or Giver of everlasting life, on the
earthly plane to Adam, and all of his children who will accept it on
the
OV125 terms of the Kingdom. Then the
Church will be the mother or nourisher and caretaker of all mankind to
uplift them, instruct them, develop them, in the ways of
righteousness—to bring as many as will prove willing up to the full
perfection of human nature and life everlasting. All refusing this
uplift and rejecting the grace of God will be destroyed in the Second
Death. St. Peter tells us that their destruction will be similar to
that of the brute beast that perisheth.—#2Pe 2:12.
Are There Protestant Counterfeits?
Although Protestants repudiate the Roman
Catholic idea that the clergy alone constitute the Church, and that the
people are the children of the Church, nevertheless in many
denominations we see this insidious error in a slightly different form.
This is notably true of the Episcopal Church, which puts everything in
the way of government into the hands of the clergy and treats the
laity, to a considerable
OV126 degree, as though they were
children unable to comprehend spiritual things. The Methodist-Episcopal
Church follows closely in the same line of procedure. The Presbyterian
and Lutheran systems also quite particularly differentiate the clergy
from the laity, even though the laity be given some apparent
recognition in the ecclesiastical boards. This is done usually for a
reward or for the purpose of securing financial or legal advice. But
the laity is not supposed to have an equal standing with the clergy in
respect to spiritual Things..c. T. Russell, Pastor Brooklyn Tabernacle Congregationalists
and Baptists and Disciples most nearly recognize an equality between
the clergy and laity and that the entire Church of God, whoever they
may be, are a Royal Priesthood. Yet even with these congregational
bodies there is an attempt made to separate between clergy and laity,
and to hold all the spiritual power and authority in the hands of the
clergy. This is done along financial lines in the Congregational Church
through the so-called Congregational Union. In the Baptist Church the
ministers combine in what is known as a Baptist MinistersÂ’ Association,
which holds the reins over the people as parents over children, and
tells them whom they may call for a Pastor and whom not—whom they are
willing to ordain as their Pastor and whom they will refuse. Thus the
same spirit is manifested in all these earthly systems, and by it they
are all distinctly differentiated from the true Church and her
Scriptural regulations which declare, All ye are brethren—and One is
your Master, even Christ, and One is your Pope, or Father, even God.
So, then, we ask Cardinal Gibbons to
consider with us the Scriptural teaching which we have presented,
namely, that the Royal Priesthood is composed exclusively of saints,
regardless of whether they belong to their clergy or laity, or are to
be found elsewhere. "The Lord knoweth them that are His." We ask the
Cardinal to consider that this one Church is indivisible; that the
Heavenly Father is the husbandman of this true Vine; that he does not
suffer any to remain as branches, members, of the true Church unless
they bring forth the true fruit of the Vine. We ask the Cardinal to
consider the Scriptural teaching that this saintly class, already
vitally united with Jesus, are now the espoused virgin class mentioned
by St. Paul (#2Co 11:3),
and that they are waiting for the completion of their number when the
Heavenly Bridegroom, at his Second Coming, will receive them to himself
in glory.
By the power of the First Resurrection
they will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and be
with their Lord, and like Him. Then, as the Scriptures declare, will
come the marriage of the Lamb, "for his Wife hath made herself ready."
And shortly after that will come the Millennial Kingdom and the times
of regeneration mentioned by our Lord, when his faithful will sit with
him in the Throne and the regeneration of AdamÂ’s race, the giving to
them of new life from the Life-Giver, will begin.
As for the great and prosperous human
institutions which are more or less duplicating the LordÂ’s Kingdom all
over the world, these also, in the Scriptures, are called vines—the
vine of the earth, in contrast with the Vine of the Heavenly FatherÂ’s
right-hand planting. It is not for us to determine how much good and
how much harm these earthly churches, vines of the earth, have
accomplished. That the Lord will declare in his own season, but he
tells us that the grapes borne by these vines—anger, malice, hatred,
envy, strife, evil-speaking, etc.—will overflow the wine-press of the
wrath of God in the near future, and bring upon the world that great
time of trouble, which all may see upon the horizon and which the Lord
declares will be such a time of trouble as the world has never before
known. (#Da 12:1; #Mt 24:21.)
So, then, in some respects, we agree with
Cardinal GibbonsÂ’ discourse, and, in other respects, we have a certain
view of the situation, as just related.
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