companionship. God has recognized this desire. Jesus Christ soon
gathered around him chosen men, who were one with Him in heart and
soul, one with Him in His grand purpose to lift a world out of
sin. The story of Christ's and the apostles' lives reveals a most
remarkable affinity of spirit between Christ and them. They became so
much at one with Him that they gladly forsook every earthly prospect,
and became willing to die for Him, even as He died for them. Jesus
made a class called his "disciples," which was an inevitable result
of His salvation work. They were the members of the spiritual kingdom
which He founded. They were the members of the church which He built.
With His infinite love He had sought them, and with His atoning blood
He had bought them. He found them dying, and He gave them life; He
found them sinning and doomed to a devil's hell, and He redeemed them.
Having received so richly of Christ's blessing, all these saved ones
were drawn into a unity of soul and heart unknown in any organization
of man.
It was exactly for this that Robert and Mary Davis were longing,
at the time of our narrative. They had expected soon after their
conversion, to join some denomination. They had purposely set out
to see which church was right. They had supposed that it would be a
matter of a few weeks only, and then they would be safely housed in
their church home. But the more they searched, and the more of the
Bible they read, the less inclined they were to join any of the
churches about them. God was leading them, but it was some time before
the hand of the Lord was seen.
There was an awakening over all the religious world in the latter part
of the nineteenth century. Holiness, the key-note of Holy Scripture,
was being taught. Out of that holiness awakening grew a reformation
whose standard was "Back to the Bible" in faith and practice. Robert
and Mary Davis were strangers as yet to these grand movings of the
blessed Holy Spirit, but that Spirit was leading them on unerringly.
God desired to plant in Bethany His own glorious church, to be a
beacon-light, an ark of salvation, to the people of that community.
A series of events accelerated the progress of the Davis' toward the
ultimate truth. Their attendance at the various churches, and their
spiritual life, caused every pastor to consider them good prospects
for membership. It so happened that during the few days that followed
the last debate at the schoolhouse, three different ministers visited
them with this idea in mind.
On one fine day, Pastor John B. Jones, of the M.E. Church, drove up.
He was invited in, most cordially. After some casual remarks, Pastor
Jones introduced the subject of joining church.
"Do you contemplate uniting with any church in the near future?" he
asked them.
"Yes, it has been our intention to join soon," said Robert. "May I ask
a few questions?"
"Certainly," replied Mr. Jones.
"Does the Methodist Church teach holiness?"
"John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church," said Mr. Jones,
"taught holiness, and sanctification subsequent to regeneration. But
we do not preach much on that subject now."
"What I am thinking about," said Robert, "is this: I am longing for a
real church home, where I can feel at one with, and in fellowship with
real Christians. Pastor Jones, there are so many professing Christians
who are Christians only in name. I cannot fellowship them. They engage
in questionable practices; they are dishonest and tricky; they use
bad language; and their bent is more toward pleasure than religion. My
soul really craves a church home. Can you offer me such where I shall
have the fellowship I crave?"
"We need just such members as you and Mrs. Davis would be, Mr. Davis,"
said Pastor Jones. "Many of our members are not spiritual. I have
tried to arouse them, but it seems in vain, but if we had more members
like you, we should have a spiritual church. Old Mother Piercy claims
sanctification, and there are three or four who are praying members."
"I will pray about it, Mr. Jones," said Robert.
On the next day, Mr. Percy Johnson visited them on the same mission,
and on the day following, Mr. Claude Perkins came. To them, Robert
replied much as he did to Mr. Jones. All of them deplored the lack
of vital godliness in their churches and bewailed the lack of
spirituality among their numbers. It was a fact that on prayer meeting
nights very few persons were out to either of their churches. On the
outside, Robert could discern little difference between the various
denominations. He had learned that they held different doctrines, and
had different schemes of government, but as to the real church life,
the heart and soul of them, he saw little difference. He was about to
decide to join by casting lots, when something providentially started
his mind along another line of thinking.
Robert Davis suddenly bethought himself of the new religious paper.
Those words which he read when he first saw a copy stood out before
him again:
"A Definite, Heart-Searching, Non-Sectarian
Religious Weekly
Published in the Interests of
THE CHURCH OF GOD."
"Mary," Robert suddenly said to his wife, "there is beginning to form
in my mind an idea of what a church ought to be. I suppose that text
in the Acts that you read this morning for worship, and that religious
paper, are responsible for it. These words paint a beautiful picture:
"'And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of
one soul: neither said any of them that ought of these things which he
possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great
power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus:
and great grace was upon them all.'
"This, it seems to me, is the kind of church there ought to be today.
Where is it? By the way, those words were written of the early church,
were they not? Yes, for see here, in Acts 2:47 it says, 'And the Lord
added to the church daily such as should be saved.' This description
is of the early church then.
"They were united, with one heart and soul; one holy purpose animated
them; one powerful motive brought them together. There were no
divisions among them, they all believed the same thing, and their holy
fellowship was complete. Everyone knew them as the disciples of Jesus,
and anyone under conviction of sin knew where to go for salvation. It
was a pure church. I suppose that there was not a sinner who dared
to profess very long among them. It was not a mixed multitude, part
saved, part unsaved, part trying to do God's will, and part with a
bent on pleasure and full of worldliness. They were all full of grace.
They were humble, too, and consecrated. They were not classified as
rich and poor--they were all brethren, and the wealthier members had
a care for the poorer members' temporal welfare. What a contrast with
the churches as they exist today! My heart longs for a pure, united
church which will bear the pure testimony to the world."
"Mary, do you suppose that there is any church today like the early
church was?" asked Robert.
"I do not know," said Mary. "It may be that there is."
"Do you suppose the 'church of God,' in whose interests this paper is
printed, can be that pure apostolic church?" said Robert. "What
should the true church be called, anyway? This paper says it is
'non-sectarian.' What is a sect? What does 'non-sectarian' mean? Say,
Mary, let us set this afternoon apart as a time of investigation of
what the Bible has to say about the church. What do you say?"
"Let us do that," said Mary. "We have not read the Scriptures at all
on this subject. Now, since we wish to find a church home, it would be
well to first search the Scriptures; probably the Bible will direct us
in this most important step."
CHAPTER SEVEN
WHAT SAY THE SCRIPTURES?
After dinner on that day, Robert and Mary Davis prayerfully and
reverently began a study on the New Testament church. They had not, as
we have intimated before, made any particular effort to ascertain
what the Scriptures had to say about this subject. It was not until
circumstances forced the issue upon them that any particular concern
about it entered into their minds. On this day, however, they began
a most earnest investigation of the matter. They had determined
beforehand to accept whatever the Scriptures had to say about it, and
to abide by their teachings.
"I have a concordance ready, Mary," said Robert, "so let us begin. May
God direct us in this Bible study."
"I shall bring the Scripture textbook and the Bible," said Mary. "I am
ready."
"I suppose that we may as well take the first text in the
concordance," said Robert. "It is Matt. 16:18."
"'And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I
will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against
it,'" read Mary.
"I have heard a few discussions about the 'rock' of this text," said
Robert. "Some affirm that it means Peter, others that it means Peter's
confession, and still others that it means Christ. I do not know which
is right, but I believe Christ is the real rock. Anyway, Mary, it
teaches that Christ did build a church, doesn't it? and that it should
not be overthrown. Read Acts 2:47."
"'Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord
added to the church daily such as should be saved,'" read Mary. "Then
the church was built by this time, wasn't it? 'And the Lord added to
the church,' Then I wonder if they joined the church? How did the Lord
add them?"
"I do not know," said Robert, "maybe there was no joining in that day.
It may be that as soon as they were saved they were counted members
of the church. There are several texts here in Acts about the church.
'There was a great persecution against the church which was at
Jerusalem,' (Acts 8:1); they 'ordained them elders in every church'
(Acts 14:23); Paul 'saluted the church' (Acts 18:22), etc. Well, there
was an early church, judging from these texts, which corroborates the
words of Jesus who said He would build a church."
"What was the name of that church?" asked Mary. "Are there any texts
that show what it was called?"
"Let us see. Here is a text--Acts 20:28. See what that verse says,"
replied Robert.
"'Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over
which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of
God, which he hath purchased with his own blood,'" said Mary.
"Here is another text--1 Cor. 1:2," said Robert.
"'Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are
sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in
every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs
and ours,'" read Mary.
"Here is another with 'church of God' in it--1 Cor. 10:32, and another
in Gal. 1:13; also one in I Tim. 3:5. All of these have 'church
of God' in them. Oh, yes, I skipped one text in I Cor. 15:9," said
Robert. "That is a good name. It shows that it is God's church."
"What have we learned so far?" asked Mary. "We have learned that
Christ built the church, and that it was named the church of God. What
else can we learn about it? I would like to know who the members were,
and how they were made members."
"Maybe there are Bible answers to these questions," said Robert. "See
Col. 1:24."
"'Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is
behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake,
which is the church.' This says the church is His body. Are there any
texts to explain that?" said Mary.
"Try Col. 1:18," said Robert.
"'And he is the head of the body, the church,'" Mary read.
"Read Eph. 1:22, 23," said Robert.
"'And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head
over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him
that filleth all in all.'"
"I guess we shall have to look up the word 'body' to find out just
what it is," said Robert. "Here is I Cor. 12:13."
"'For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be
Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made
to drink into one Spirit.'"
"Try Romans 12:4, 5," said Robert.
"'For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not
the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every
one members one of another.'"
"This makes it plainer," said Robert. "As I see it now, Christ's body
is the church, and the church is His people. That is logical. Just
like my body, it has a variety of members, yet it is just one body. So
Paul says the church is."
"How do persons get into this church of God? Mr. Jones asked us to
join the church. So did Mr. Perkins, and Mr. Johnson. They said that
they would open the door and receive members. But, Robert, I feel,
yes, thank the Lord, I know that I am saved, and yet I am not a member
of any church. How can this be?" asked Mary.
"I do not know about that, Mary," replied Robert. "Maybe you are a
church member, after all. Let us see another text. Yes, don't you
remember Acts 2:47, which said that 'the Lord added to the church
daily such as should be saved'? If salvation made them members then
why does not salvation make us members now? Why, Mary, surely it
does. This must correspond with Paul's saying that we read from I Cor.
12:13, about the Spirit baptizing us all into one body. I begin to
see now that we get into the church that Jesus built by being saved
through the Spirit, and that salvation makes us members of the church.
Well, praise God for these truths! They fit right into my heart."
"Now another point seems plain," resumed Robert, "the church, in order
to be pure, must have only saved members. And Jesus would not add any
but saved members. I see that."
"And more than that," said Mary, "if Christ adds the members, then
every Christian is bound to be a member, isn't he?"
"That must be right," said Robert.
"But that would make one big church, Robert, and you know everybody
cannot see alike about the church," said Mary.
"Why not, Mary? If Jesus built a church, and if He adds the members,
and if all the members are saved, and if the Spirit puts them all into
one body, and that body is the church, and if He named it, why then
would it not be the right church? I do not see how anyone could be a
Christian without being in this church," said Robert.
"Is not the church of God what Pastor Jones called the 'invisible
church' and are not all the denominations together the visible
church?" asked Mary.
"Invisible church! Why, was all that early church invisible, Mary?
Impossible! Paul persecuted the church, it says. There was something
visible to persecute, was there not? Paul wrote to the church at
Corinth. Surely there was something to write to. What puzzles me,
though, is where this church is today. It is plain enough that the
early New Testament church was visible, and that it was organized, and
had ministers and government. It had power and grace also, and it
grew rapidly, and spread over much of the Roman Empire even before the
death of the apostles. But where is it now? This is a mystery to me,"
and Robert was troubled.
"What have we found so far through reading the Scriptures this
afternoon?" said Robert. "Let us make a summary of the points we have
found, and write them down. Get some paper, please, dear. Let us keep
a record of our findings. We promised the Lord to abide by His words.
Jesus said one time: 'Thy word is truth'; so, whatever the Scriptures
say must be right."
"Here is paper and pen and ink," said Mary.
"Very well," said Robert, "thank you. Put down--
"1. Jesus Christ promised, or affirmed that He would build a church,
one which was to be His church (Matt. 16:18).
"2. That church was to stand forever (same text).
"3. The Lord added members to that church (Acts 2:47).
"4. Salvation made them members of the church (same text).
"5. The name of that church is, or was, the church of God (Acts 20:28,
and other texts).
"6. The church of God was visible in New Testament times (1 Cor. 1:2).
"7. The church was the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22, 23; Col. 1:24).
"8. The Spirit placed every saved one in this one body (1 Cor. 12:13;
Rom. 12:4, 5).
"9. Hence, it must have contained all the Christians.
"10. And, therefore, the apostolic church of true believers--the
spiritual body of Christ; and the church-members--the collective body
of worshippers, were identical. When you saw one, you saw the other."
"That is as far as we have gone, Mary. But we are not through the New
Testament yet. I was just counting, and there are about one hundred
texts in which the word 'church' occurs. But, it seems to me we have
learned a great deal. I can see plainly enough that there was only
one church in the early era of Christianity. All the ministers were
welcome in every congregation. They all went by one name. There was
probably only one congregation in any one city. I do not know whether
they had a class-book or not, but they were united in Christ. Well,
fold that sheet up, Mary; that contains the summary of our work this
afternoon. We may derive some value from it later on."
"But, I am really puzzled," continued Robert. "Something certainly has
happened to the church since the apostles' day. It is all divided now.
I believe some said that there are hundreds of denominations in the
world now. But I am determined on this--that I will not join any
church until this mystery as to its history has been cleared up, and
I can see definitely the will of God in the matter. It is possible,
Mary, that this church of God, which this paper stands for, may be
what we are looking for. It has a Bible name, which is one thing
In its favor. But we shall wait. I take my stand, here and now, God
helping me, for Christ's pure church. I will look until my dying
day to find it on earth, and will pray Almighty God to establish a
congregation of this church here in order that it may show forth what
God can do for men."
So powerfully was Robert moved that he proposed that they pray. In
prayer, Robert renewed his covenant to walk in all of God's light.
"Dear heavenly Father," he said, "we have been studying thy Word in
an effort to find out which church we should join. Lead us, guide us
aright in this matter, we pray. Our souls crave spiritual communion
with thy saints. Show us Thy people. Plant such a church as we have
found in the Scriptures and which we know existed in Bible times;
plant a congregation of Thy church in our midst, O Father. Do not
forsake us, but lead us. Amen."
CHAPTER EIGHT
ROBERT DAVIS' BATTLES
A month passed away rapidly. Robert and Mary Davis were making
arrangements to occupy the property bought from Jake Newby. Ever since
the little altercation over the removal of the chicken-house,
Robert had not seen much of Jake. As for Jake, he continued sour
and implacable. It was very hard for any Newby to take anything from
anyone, and yet, when they were on the right side of anything they
were bold champions for it. Some of the best improvements fostered
by the community had been initiated by them. Nevertheless, Robert
considered it best to avoid any further rupture of their relations.
Jake Newby felt keenly the outcome of the debates in the Fairmount
School. He did not like to see his father suffer a loss of his
prestige in the community. He nursed a secret grudge against Robert,
and determined that if ever an opportunity presented itself to his
liking, he would do something to humble him. He chafed especially
under the implication that his father was not a Christian, and if only
he could cause a downfall to Robert he would get sweet revenge.
Robert Davis was unaware of what was going on in Jake Newby's mind. He
had not counted on any bitterness over their little dispute.
A few days before Robert and Mary planned to move, Robert went over to
their new home to mow the yard and clean up a little. Jake Newby saw
him coming, and noticed that he was alone.
"Now is my time," muttered Jake to himself. So he strode over to where
Robert was.
"Do you mean that I cannot have my chickenhouse, Robert Davis?" asked
Jake threateningly.
"Jake, you know that the chickenhouse was not reserved in our
contract," said Robert.
"You are a liar," shouted Jake.
"You are mistaken, Jake," said Robert calmly, but feeling a strong
impulse to strike his opponent.
"You are a liar, Davis, and you have insulted my father," said Jake,
at the same time shaking his finger dose to Robert's face.
Instantly, Robert's powerful right arm shot a blow directly at Jake's
jaw. It caught him square on the chin, and Jake went sprawling over
the lawn. Jake arose, thoroughly angry. He rushed at Robert like a
demon, but Robert quickly stepped to one side and caught Jake with
another blow. Jake then closed in on Robert and attempted to throw him
down.
Over and across the lawn they surged, trampling under foot the
shrubbery which Jake had planted to beautify the homestead. The men
were about equally matched in size and strength, but Robert's clearer
brain and strategy were too much for his opponent.
At last they fell in a heap, with Jake on top, and he was raining
blows upon Robert's face in token of his victory, when all at once
Robert gave a sudden turn and landed Jake underneath before Jake
was aware of what was happening. But by this time Robert's heart was
talking to him about the fight, so he merely held Jake down until he
gave up and promised to go home and not make trouble any more. Then he
let him up.
Jake shook himself, and started home. Robert was so upset that he
could not work. He sat down on the porch of the house and took a
survey of the affair. He became so engrossed in his study that he did
not hear the sound of falling footsteps, until they were close upon
him. He looked up quickly, and met the scornful gaze of Peter Newby's
hazel eyes.
"And so you have become a fighting holiness man have you? You were so
holy a short time ago that you could insult an old man like me with
your insinuating remarks. Now, maybe you will believe me when I say
that man can't live without sinning," said Peter disdainfully.
Robert was so completely whipped by his own conscience that he felt no
inclination to defend himself. Indeed, how could he defend himself?
"Now, young man, you ought to drop this holiness stuff, for there is
nothing in it--all bunk. Living above sin are you? Ha! ha! ha!" and
the old man gave poor Robert an explosive horse-laugh.
"Goodbye, holy Robert," said Peter, as he drove away.
Robert sat still on the porch. He began to wonder if this was the way
he was going to dedicate his new home, and if he had destroyed his
influence in the community. What would Mary think of him! Good, quiet,
godly Mary, who had always looked up to him as the embodiment of noble
and manly qualities. And Mary was cherishing a little one under her
heart, and preparing to receive a priceless treasure. What kind of a
father was he going to be, Robert asked himself. Shall I tell her, or
shall I hide it? Swiftly the thoughts ran through his mind while big,
cold drops of sweat stood out upon his forehead like beads of crystal.
Never before had he felt so thoroughly miserable. In his youth, Robert
had never been quarrelsome, but he had accepted challenges whenever
they were made. Since his conversion, however, he had lived a
consistent Christian life, and he had been very particular of his
conduct since God had shown him light on holiness and sanctification.
"I will kneel down here and pray," said Robert, out loud. This
decision was his response to grim Despair, who had now put in his
appearance with suggestions to give up all, go back into sin, quit
professing, and be an open sinner.
"Why try it any longer?" said Despair. "You can never face your
neighbors again. Give up. Give up. You have tried, and you have
failed. You are a failure. Your reputation is gone. You can never live
for Christ in this neighborhood. Get even with Newbys."
No sooner did Robert resolve, with holy determination, to defeat
Despair and pray, than he got upon his knees. And there, at the
doorway of his future home, he poured out his heart before Almighty
God, and vowed he would not go back any farther than he was, and that
he would strive, with all his heart, to do God's will.
As the sun began to go down behind the hills to the west of him,
Robert started home. Flecks of cloudlets began to redden, and the
denser strata of clouds took on a deep purple, as the western sky
blazed out in a marvel of beauty. And Robert thought, truly, that
"the heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth his
handiwork"; why could not man glorify Him better?