The Duties of Church Members to the Members of Other Christian Societies
First. In those cases where the churches are of a different denomination.
1. We should not deride their religious opinions and practices.
They act conscientiously; and whatever is done at the dictate of conscience, is too sacred to be made the matter of ridicule. The way to bring the scorn of ungodly men upon all religion, is for religious people, differing upon minor points, to jest with each other’s practices.
2. Let us avoid religious bigotry and prejudice.
By bigotry, I mean such an overweening attachment to our opinions and denomination, as alienates our affections from Christians of other name, and leads us to conclude there is little excellence or piety, except in our own communion. Some Christians are so shortsighted by prejudice, that they cannot discern the most splendid exhibitions of moral excellence, if they are at the least removed from their own denomination. The consideration, that a man is not of their party, is sufficient in their evil eye, to dim the lustre of an example which angels admire, and to echpse that living luminary, which, to the eye of Heaven, shines with most radiant glory. Their moral vision has so long and so intently poured over the minute distinctions of party, as to have acquired a contraction of power, which prevents them from comprehending and admiring as they would otherwise do, the grander features of religion in general.
I know not a proof of true piety more decisive, and more pleasing, than that quick perception, and fervent admiration of the beauties of holiness, which lead a man to recognise and love them, wherever they are seen, whether in his own denomination or in others. “The evil to be deplored in the present state of the church, is the unnatural distance at which Christians stand from each other, the spirit of sects, the disposition to found their union on the wood, hay, and stubble of human inventions or disputable tenets, instead of the eternal Rock, the faith once delivered to the saints. Surely, surely, we shall find a sufficient bond of union, a sufficient scope for all our sympathies in the doctrine of the cross.”*
* Robert Hall.
Secondly. I shall now speak of the conduct of Christians to the members of other churches of their own denomination.
It does not unfrequently happen, that where two or more churches of the same denomination exist in a town, a most unhappy, unscriptural, disgraceful temper, is manifested towards each other. All the feelings of envy, jealousy, and ill will, are cherished and displayed with as much, or more bitterness, than two rival tradesmen would exhibit in the most determined opposition of interests. This is peculiarly the case, where two churches have been formed, by a schism, out of one. Oftentimes the feud has been perpetuated through one generation, and hasbeenbequeathed to the generation following. Can it be that these are churches of saints? Can it be that these are all one in Christ? Can it be that these are societies, whose rule is the word of Christ, whose conduct is the image of Christ, whose end is the glory of Christ!!
Shame, public, deep, indelible shame on such societies! Is it thus that churches quarrel, to find sport for their enemies? By all the regard which is due to the authority of the Lord Jesus, by all the constraining influence of his love, let such societies be impelled to terminate their hateful strifes, which are not more dishonourable to the cause of religion in general, than they are injurious to the interests of piety within their own immediate sphere of action. With what bitter taunts, with what sarcastic triumph, do profane and infidel spectators point to such scenes, and ironically exclaim, “See how these Christians love one another!”
Let us guard against this evil where it does not exist, and endeavour to suppress it where it does. Let us not look with envy and jealousy on the growing prosperity of other societies. Let us not consider their success as in any degree encroaching upon ours. If we succeed more in our own church, let us be thankful, but not boastful; if others take precedence, let us be stirred up to affectionate, holy emulation, but not to envy and jealousy.
A worthy minister, who used to preach a week day lecture in the city of London, heard a friend expressing his regret that it was so ill attended. “Oh, that,” replied the minister, “is of little consequence, as the gospel is preached by several others in the same neighbourhood; and in such a situation, for any one to be very desirous that people should come and hear the gospel from him, instead of others, seems as unreasonable, as it would be for one of the shopmen in a large shop, to wish all the customers to come to his particular part of the counter. If the customers come at all, and the goods go off, in so far as he feels an interest in the pros-L perity of the shop, he will rejoice.” Lovely and rare example of true humility, pure zeal, and genuine love to Christ! Look at this, ye ministers and churches, who quarrel with your neighbours, and scarcely speak well of them, because they prosper no less than you! Shall we feel mortified when immortal souls are saved, because we were not the instruments of their conversion? Shall we say, if loe cannot gather them into aur church, let them not be gathered? If two rival physicians, who had each as much as he could do, when the plague was ragmg in a town, looked with envy and grudging on each other’s success, what should we say of their spirit? But such a temper in these circumstances is far less criminal than the envious disposition of some ministers and their flocks.
There should be a spirit of mutual affedionhetween the members of different churches. They should love as brethren; and that this might not be disturbed, they should avoid, when they meet in their respective social circles, all invidious and uncharitable reference to the others. Nothing is more common than for the Christians of one society to make the circumstances and faults of those of another, the leading topics of conversation. Thus the coals of strife are kindled in these Christian parties, and every one present lends his breath to fan the flame. It is melancholy indeed, when our houses are thus converted into temples for the God of this world, the divider of the brethren; and our family altar is lent for an offering of scandal at his shrine. Ministers, and leading persons in the company, should always set their faces against this mischievous gossip. Ml comparisons between the talents of the ministers, and the respectability of their churches, should be carefully abstained from. This is sure to do harm. It is right for every church member to le attached! to his own pastor, and he may ver innocently think that his minister is the best preacher in the town; but it is insulting ard mischievous to express his opinion to those who prefer another. It is not unusual for the pulpit to be converted into a source of the most disgustingadulation, and for a ministerial sycophant txp flatter the pride of his flock, by telling them; how superior they are to all others in affluence hberaljty, and influence. Such fawning, to say nothing of its littleness, is exceedingly injurious. What is intended as a compliment to one church, is felt as an insult by all others in its vicinity. All boasting should be most conscientiously refrained from, both on the part of ministers and people. If they are in a state of spiritual prosperity, let them be thankful, but not vain-glorious. “Charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.” The apostle delivered a very keen rebuke on those who are the trumpeters of their own fame, when he said, “I speak not after the Lord, but as it were foohshly in the confidence of boasting. Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also, for ye suffer fools gladly.” Church members should never resent by coldnesSy and distance of behaviour, the conduct of those who leave their society, to join another in the same toym. They have a right to exercise their own judgment as well as we, and in their view at least, have as good reason for preferring the pastor to ^v.iom they go, as we have for continuing with th’i one they leave. They may separate too hastily, and not on sufficient grounds; but that is their concern, not ours. I have known cases in which both the minister and his flock have refused even the civilities of ordinary intercourse to those who have left their church to associnle with another. This is a most pitiful and unchristian disposition.
There are duties to be performed by the church in its collective capacity towards other societies of the same denomination.
1. We should own them as churches of Christ, cherish the most friendly and fraternal feelings towards them, and hold Christian communion with them, in all the duties of our common faith and practice.
Such appears to have been the feelings of the primitive churches. “The churches of Christ salute you.” Rom. xvi. 16. “The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you.” 1 Pet. V. 13. “Ye arc taught of God to love one another, and ye do it toward all the the brethren in Macedonia.” 1 Thes. iv. 9, 10.
2. We should receive their members when recommended to us, and freely grant honourable recommendations of our members to them.
“I commend unto you Phebe our sister, a ser-Tant of the church at Cenchrea; receive her in the Lord as becometh saints, and assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you.” Rom. xvi. 1. “They are the messengers of the churches; shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love.” 2 Cor. viii. 23,24.
3. We should ^co-operate with neighbouring churches for promoting the spread of the gospel, either by local or general institutions.
Many objects, of vast importance to the spread of the gospel in the world, can be accomplished by the union of churches, which cannot be effected without it. Union is power. Places of worship may be opened, the faithful ministry of the word introduced, and churches planted in dark benighted villages; while all the grand and noble institutions organized to save a perishing world, may by this means receive additional support. United fires brighten each Other’s blaze, and increase each other’s intensity; and thus the association of churches, enkindles each other’s zeal, and provokes one another to love and to good works. Nor is zeal the only Christian virtue promoted by such unions; brotherly love is cherished and excited. The presence of messengers from other churches at the annual meetings of our societies, produces a friendly feeling and brotherly interest, not unlike that which a family experiences, when gathered together at their Christmas party. One great end of assembling the males of the Jewish nation three times a year before the ark, was to keep up a brotherly feeling between the different and distant parts of the nation. Nothing is so likely to cherish the fire of love, as the fuel supplied by works of zeal.
4. We should be willing to give and receive ADVICE in cases of difficulty and importance.
Of course, the independence of the churches, and the right of private judgment, should be vigilantly watched, and sacredly y)reserved. We have no dominion over each other’s conduct, any more than over each other’s faith. The idea of control, is as repugnant to revelation, as it is to reason. And we are to resist unto blood, striving against the usurpation of foreign compulsory interference. But advice does not imply control. The dread which has been felt of the simple act of one church’s asking the advice of a neighbouring minister, or an association of ministers, in cases of extreme difficulty, discovers a fear of domination, which is perfectly childish.
How consonant with all the dictates of reason, and all the proceedings of civil life, is it, for two parties in a state of litigation, to ask the opinion of a third; or for one individual in difficulty, to solicit the advice of another. When a minister and his flock are in some critical situation, let them jointly agree to lay their affairs before some two or three neighbouring ministers and laymen of sound judgment, for counsel and direction; and how often, by this simple, rational, scriptural process, would a society be brought back from the brink of ruin to peace and safety. But what if they should not take the advice thus given? They must then be left to themselves, and would be but where they were before. The disposition which scorns to ask, and refuses to take advice, savours far more of the pride of independence, than the love of peace; and of the temper which courts interminable anarchy rather than be indebted for the restoration of order, to the opinions and persuasions of another. Men which stand out of the mist of passion, can see more clearly than those enveloped in the fog.
5. We should take a deep interest in the welfare of other chui-ches, and in a suitable and proper manner express our sympathy, and afford to them our assistance.
We should at Qur church meetings remember in prayer, the cases of such as are in circumetances of affliction; and in the event of the death of a pastor, how consohng would it be to a bereaved church, to receive letters of condolence from neighbouring societies. There is one way, in which the most effectual help may be rendered by one church to another: I mean, pecuniary assistance granted from such as are wealthy to those who are poor. We are informed. Acts xi. 29, 30, that the disciples at Antioch sent relief, according to their abilities, to the poor saints in Judea. “Concerning the collection for the saints, as I had given orders to the churches at Galatia: Even so do ye.” 1 Cor. xvi. 1. I am aware that this is sometimes done out of a fund, raised by the joint contributions of the churches in a county or district association; but how great would be, the effect produced, if a church, in its individual capacity, were from year to year to send a donation to some y)oor community in its neighbourhood. What a lovely display of Christian feeling would this be! How would it endear the societies to each other! It would assist those to gain an efficient and settled minister, who, probably, but for such help, would only enjoy the precarious labours of occasional and incompetent preachers. The comfort of many faithful and laborious ministers would be thus promoted, and the kingdom of Jesus Christ enlarged.
Ye rich churches in our large cities, and in the country, who, without effort, can raise for your own pastors ample salaries, I appeal to your liberality, on behalf of those many churches scattered up and down the land, which are withering for the want of a little of that wealth, which you could spare, without lessening the comfort, either of your minister, or your families. I would not rob the funds of Missionary, or Bible Societies, to replenish the little store of gospel ministers at home; but I will say, that no foreign objects should be allowed to interfere with the claims of those deserving and holy men, who are labouring for souls amidst all the ills of poverty, and all the cares and woes which such ills must necessarily entail.
Where is the favoured individual, into whose lap the bounty of heaven has poured the abundance of riches, and into whose heart divine grace has introduced the mercy that is full of good fruits? here let him find an object worthy of his wealth and of his zeal. Let him become the nursing father of our poor churches. If he spend two thousand a year in this way, he may give forty dollars a year to fifty ministers. What a means of usefulness! How many infant churches would smile upon him from their cradle; and as they turned upon him, their eyes gUstening with gratitude, would exclaim, “My Father, my Father!” In how many churchbooks would his name be enrolled, amidst the benedictions and prayers of the saints!