The Church of Christ--Its Unity--Christ's Church under His Personal
Supervision--Rules of Admission--No Others Available--Apostleship
the Chief Authority--Other Authorities and Ministers--Necessity of
These--The Church Progressive--It Casts off Evil-Doers--Brotherhood of
Its Members--Mission of the Church.
The Church of Christ is an organized body, consisting of those
who believe in Him and have shown their faith by obedience to the
initiatory ordinances of His gospel. It may contain many branches, but
they will all be connected with the main body, and will all have the
same characteristics; that is they will hold the same doctrines and be
animated by the same spirit. No matter how many sections of the Church
there may be, or how widely they may be separated geographically, they
will be governed by the same rule of discipline, and be under the
direction of the same head.
The Church of Christ must be established under His own supervision,
and according to His commandments. A society of persons professing to
believe in Him, but organized without any communication from Him, is
not and cannot be His Church, whatever its members may call it, or
however sincere they may be in their intentions. Some suppose that
every one who believes that Jesus is the Christ is, by virtue of that
faith, a member of His Church. This is a palpable error. As well might
it be assumed that all who believe that the Order of Masonry is a
correct form of brotherhood, are by that belief made members of the
Order.
All societies have some established regulations for the admission of
members. The Church of Christ is no exception to the rule. But the
initiatory rites in His Church are prescribed by Him, and no one has
the right to change them or substitute others in their place. They
are uniform for all people, of both sexes, of every race and of every
grade of society. The churches established by men have various modes
of receiving members and of conducting church government. This is one
proof that they _are_ the churches of men, and not of Jesus Christ.
We have already explained the first principles of the gospel which
must be received and obeyed in order to obtain a standing in Christ's
Church. Those who have believed, repented, been baptized by one having
authority for the remission of sins, and have been confirmed by the
laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, are thus made
members of the Church of Christ. And this is the only way of admission.
All who have not complied with these rules are outside of the Church
and can get in by no other door than this appointed entrance. Christ
will not accept the devices and ordinances and ceremonies ordained of
men. They are not His, and are of no force or effect so far as the
kingdom of heaven is concerned, either in this world or in the world to
come.
Christ is the head of the Church, as man is the head of the woman.
But as the woman has also a head to her own personality, so has the
Church. The apostleship is the principal governing authority thereof.
When Christ ascended on high, the earthly headship devolved upon His
apostles, of whom Peter, James and John were the chief. There were also
the seventy appointed by the Savior as His traveling ministers, and
He gave other officers to the Church, such as evangelists, pastors,
elders, bishops, teachers, deacons, etc. All these were under the
direction of the apostles, who were inspired, and instructed, and led
by Jesus, even after His ascension, and were filled with the Holy
Ghost, which bears record of the Father and the Son.
A church which has not inspired apostles nor prophets, cannot be the
Church of Christ, for these are essential to its full constitution. All
the officers we have named are necessary, in their various positions,
to the complete organization of the "body of Christ."
Through these appointed servants of God, the members of the Church are
instructed in their duties, led along in the path of truth, admonished
of their faults, rebuked for their transgressions, brought to the
unity of the faith, corrected of their errors, and when they become
evil-doers, and reformation is not probable, disfellowshipped from
communion or excommunicated from the Church.
The Church of Christ is progressive. That is, it advances in the
knowledge of the truth. As fast as its members are prepared for
additional light, through the practice of principles already revealed,
new manifestations are given, for the growth of all who will receive
the truths unfolded towards the fullness of the stature of Christ
Jesus. Old truths are not discarded, but new truths are added, and
clearer light is thrown upon what was previously known. Thus the Church
advances and prepares its communicants for a higher sphere when they
pass away from the plane of mortal existence.
But while it casts off no truth, it eliminates from itself, by natural
process, everything obnoxious to its health and vitality. Corrupt
and wicked persons occasionally find their way into its sanctuary;
some, after being washed from their impurities, turn again to their
filthiness, and others become rebellious and discordant. These
incongruous elements are gradually separated from the body. For the
Church is a living thing, and casts off that which does not assimilate
or which is inimical to its growth, harmony and progress.
The members of the Church are all united by a fraternal bond. They
are all brethren and sisters, no matter what their condition in life,
no matter of what nationality. Indeed nationality is swallowed up
in fraternity. They are no longer Jew or Gentile, English, German,
Danish or American, they are all one in Christ Jesus. They are no more
Catholics or Protestants, Dissenters or Episcopalians, but are baptized
by one spirit into one body, and in all essential principles have one
faith, and are joined together in the same mind and the same judgment.
The Church of Christ in this and every other age, is connected with the
Church of previous ages. That portion behind the vail works in harmony
with the new Church in the flesh, and its members, whether in the body
or out of the body, move to the common end: the establishment of the
kingdom of heaven upon the earth, the spread of the principles of the
true Church, until "every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that
Jesus is the Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Then the Church will have filled its mission--to preach the gospel,
administer in its ordinances, unite the Saints, manifest the things
of God, establish righteousness, bring together the heavens and the
earth and make straight the path for the Lord Jesus. And the vail of
the covering will be taken away; the Church of the Firstborn will be
one in all things beneath and above; evil will be swept from the earth;
and truth, peace, harmony and praise will glorify this planet and its
inhabitants, who will know God, from the least even unto the greatest.