THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS

"I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY, CATHOLIC (UNIVERSAL) CHURCH, THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS..."--Apostles Creed

All Christian doctrine falls into one of two categories: regarding salvation, they are either essential or non-essential.

Essential doctrines are those which are firmly believed by all Christians regardless of denominational affiliation. They involve such Bible truths as the INSPIRATION of the Bible so the Word of God is infallible and inerrant; the CREATION of man by the direct act of God;

the INCARNATION and VIRGIN BIRTH of our Lord and Saviour; and His sole ability to save men from sin.

Non-essential doctrines involve those which are not necessary to believe in order to be saved. These would include such doctrines as those pertaining to ESCHATOLOGY; CHURCH POLITY: BAPTISM, etc. For instance, a man may believe in a hierarchy of bishops and archbishops to govern his church and yet be a converted man. A Calvinist may be a brother in the faith as indeed may be an Arminian. The same God who receives such men into His Heaven ought to dwell in our hearts--and yet we should not be expected to play traitor to our own convictions.

In Essential doctrines, there must be UNITY; in Non-essential doctrines, there must be LIBERTY to disagree. And in all things there must be CHARITY. D’Aubigne, in his History of the Reformation, declares, "Christianity is distinct (from all other religions) because

it allows diversity in unity and unity in diversity."

Scripturally, there are only two reasons for Christians to separate fellowship one with another: one is moral impurity, the other is doctrinal impurity. "Doctrinal impurity", however, does not involve non-essential denominational peculiarities. For instance, this writer does not believe in infant baptism, but he recognizes there are converted men who love our Lord in sincerity and truth; therefore, he loves these men and would count it a privilege to die for them, --even though he does not agree with their theology. (See 3: I John

14-18). But he also believes he should be able to expect them to die for him.

Brethren who claim to be "FUNDAMENTALISTS" ought to be willing to espouse all brethren who maintain the fundamentals of the faith!

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"-- Psalm 133:1

AUGUST

16, 1859--The cornerstone for the Metropolitan Tabernacle is laid. This church in London, England will seat 5500 people with a possible capacity of 500 more, yet it will never be large enough for the crowds who come to hear its pastor--Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

17, 1505--Martin Luther, groaning under the burden of his sin, seeks salvation by committing his life to keeping the law of God by entering the Augustinian convent to become a monk.

17, 1727--The fire of God descends and the Moravian Revival begins. It will last 10 days having started in a class of 9 girls between the ages of 10 and 13 years. It has been conducted by Count Zinzendorf, and before it will end, it will spread to other girls, then to the boys, and lastly to the adults. These are the later followers of John Huss of Bohemia.

20, 1745--Francis Asbury is born. He will establish the Methodist Church in the United States.

22, 1572--At midnight, on this eve of Saint Bartholomew’s Day, the enemies of Christ in France will rise to murder 20,000 faithful followers of Christ. The massacre will last throughout France for a period of two weeks and will not end until nearly 100,000 saints "of whom the world was not worthy" shed their blood.

31, 1688--John Bunyan will die after ten days of illness and will be met by "an innumerable band" of saints and angels as he crosses the river of death. His last words will be, "Take me, for I come to Thee."

FORMING CONVICTIONS?

There are two things that ought not to influence you when developing convictions as to what the Word of God teaches: popularity, and personality.

Never accept a doctrinal position because it is a popular position to take. If you base your convictions upon the feelings of the majority, you will be wrong. The majority is always wrong. Righteousness and truth never have been popular. They are always in a minority, but beware, too, of accepting a doctrinal position simply because it is an unpopular one.

Neither should personalities enter in to what the Holy Spirit whispers in that still, small voice. You should never accept a doctrinal position merely because a notable personality accepts that position, just like you should never accept a position simply because that notable personality discredits that stance.