Lightbearer.org - Bearing the Truth of the Everlasting Gospel

June 09, 2003

All Professing the Same Faith

Catholicism numbers some 270 millions of adherents, all professing the same Faith, using the same sacraments, living under the same discipline; Protestantism claims roundly 100 millions of Christians, products of the Gospel and the fancies of a hundred reformers, people constantly bewailing their "unhappy divisions" and vainly crying for a union which is only possible under that very central authority, protestation against which is their only common denominator.
- Catholic Encyclopedia (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12495a.htm)

The first step of apostasy is to get up a creed, telling us what we shall believe. The second is, to make that creed a test of fellowship. The third is to try members by that creed. The fourth to denounce as heretics those who do not believe that creed. And, fifth, to commence persecution against such.
- J. N. Loughborough, The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, October 8, 1861

Don't ge me wrong. We should be united. That's what the Master desires His disciples to be. However, unity cannot be achieved through creeds, decrees, general conference two-thirds majority vote, coercions, enforcements, etc. It is only when we submit wholly to the authority of God's Word can we be united.

And it all begins with love: love to God by listening to His only-begotten Son, as He commanded during our Master's baptism; and love to each other.

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