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Chosen no: R-1067 a, from: 1888 Year. |
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Be Not Entangled Again.
"Stand
fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled
again with the yoke of bondage."--Gal. 5:1.
Few get truly free from errors and
superstitions, because few seek earnestly enough the voluntary enslavement to
Christ, referred to above. Stepping out of one error and bondage of
superstition, they step into another because of their own weaknesses. As we
have already shown, none are strong enough to stand alone, and there is but the
one we can lean on, and not be taken advantage of and deceived, enslaved and
bound again, all our present surroundings being imperfect or evil.
All such enslaving, binding entanglements are
deceptive; they all appear harmless or even beneficial, else few would be thus
entangled. One of the very deceptive entanglements of our day, which hinders
more than all others together, perhaps, that fullness and closeness of
heart-fellowship with Christ, the only Master, is the prevalent idea that in
joining the one church, whose names are written in heaven, we should
also join some one of the numerous earthly organizations which each claim to
represent that one true church, and whose creeds each claim to represent the
"one faith"--"the faith once delivered unto the
saints."
The impression is freely given, and is generally
received, that to fail to become bound to some earthly sect, is to fail of
membership in the one true church. The innocent soul, freed from Satan's
service through Christ, is told truly that it cannot stand free alone, but
instead of being pointed to Christ as the only Master and to the Word of
God as the only rule for faith and service, they are pointed to the
various sects as representing Christ, as appointed by him to receive their
services, and they are pointed to the doctrines of these sects as taking the
place and showing the real meaning of God's Word.
To become a probationary member of [R1067 : page 5] the one true church, "whose
names are written in heaven," the conditions are first, a realization of
our own imperfection and condemnation as sinners; secondly, of Christ's full
atonement for our sins; thirdly, implicit faith in his love and goodness and in
all his exceeding great and precious promises, however beyond the range of human
skill or thought; and fourthly, a full consecration to him as our Lord and
Master. These are the only conditions of our acceptance in the true
church and they imply fullness of consecration, to do and be whatever our
Master may desire, as we shall continually seek to grow in his grace and in the
knowledge of his will. But to become a member of one of the earthly
organizations, (churches), means to bind one's self beforehand, to believe and
do neither more nor less than is stated in their creed and "covenant."
This leaves no room for the spirit of the truth
to guide into all truth, and to show us things to come (John
16:13); no room for growth in grace and knowledge; and as a
consequence, the new member, if he shall remain faithful to his covenant with
the sect he has joined, can get no nearer to a full understanding of the truth,
and no nearer to a full consecration, than the other faithful members of the
same sect. He is bound by a creed seldom understood, and by a supposed
interpretation of the Bible, framed by fallible men in a time of great
ignorance and superstitious fog, which originated in Papacy in the dark ages.
When thus bound they are led to believe that
every service rendered to such organizations, composed for most part of
"tares," is service to the true church, the "little flock"
of overcoming and fully consecrated believers. They suppose that money spent in
cultivating sectarian pride, is sacrificed to the Lord; that fairs, suppers,
and many worldly and questionable schemes to get money, are work for the Lord,
and for the truth; they suppose that time and energy spent in getting repentant
souls, and many others not repentant but merely alarmed, into these sects,
where they will be blinded to a higher consecration, and bound and held back
from growth in grace, knowledge and love,--this they are deluded into supposing
is "working for Jesus!" Alas! how sadly some are thus, in the name of
the Master and in the name of the true church, entangled, misled, yoked up to
error, and hindered from hearing his Word, and from following in his footsteps.
A fellowship with the world, and the spirit of the world, and worldly follies,
extravagancies, manners, customs and views, is thus substituted for fellowship
of saints under the deceiving titles of Church and Christian.
Whoever has gotten free from such entanglements
and has found the Master and submitted all to him, should take heed indeed that
nothing--neither Protestant nor Catholic, church or priest, shall come
between his heart and the true Lord and Teacher, Christ Jesus. And it should be
the chief and most enjoyable service to the free, to lead others out of bondage
of Sin and into the service of Christ. But, touch them gently as you seek to
set them free! Remember that they have learned to love the galling yoke and
chain; and some at least wear it lovingly and patiently, supposing that the
Master placed it on them. Apply the oil and wine, to strengthen and molify, and
touch their weak sore-spots as gently as possible. The true ones are deceived,
enveigled sheep belonging to our own one fold, and the Master seeketh to lead
them into it, and you are his messenger. Be wise for his sake and theirs.
Then, too, there are other bonds of error,
outside the pale of the great organizations which claim to be the living church
but are dead. There are forms of error purporting to be the light of advanced
truth, which only the elect will probably escape, in this evil day. Their full
consecration, and faithfulness to the Master, will keep them so near to him
that no such plague shall come nigh their dwelling. Being filled with the truth
and with the spirit of the truth they will quickly discern error, so that it
will have no power to entrap and enslave them.
To all, therefore, who have separated themselves
from former entanglements and who desire to continue to stand fast in the
liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, we would say, Let us live very near
the fountain-head of truth; imbibe its spirit freely; take a firm and positive
stand for truth and be faithful at any cost. The Master we would thus obey, our
sure and safe Guide, will be with us to the end. He will never leave us nor
forsake us, nor suffer us to be tempted above that we are able to bear, but
with each temptation provide also a way of escape.
"A
thousand may fall at my side,
Ten thousand at my right hand;
Above me his wings are spread wide,
Beneath them in safety I stand.
"His
truth is my buckler and shield,
His love he hath set upon me;
His name in my heart he hath sealed
E'en now his salvation I see."
[In our October issue we hope to examine the
question of THE TRUE CHURCH, and the liberties and restraints of its members.]
W.T. R-1067a : page 4 - 1888r