There is but one society for the Christian to recognize, and to which he can really belong according to the mind of God. That society is the Church of God-the whole body of believers.
We find in i Cor. 14:an example of a Church-meeting, met together in a meeting open to any to take part, ed of the Spirit; excluding, therefore, the thought of official person conducting a service, or of a chairman fading a meeting. A servant of the Lord may preach to any who come to hear, and is then conductor of a meeting in a sense, as Peter at Pentecost, or Paul in the school of Tyrannus; but a Church-meeting for worship and ministry was open to all. The many members were recognized, and the Spirit indwelling each. Now thus meeting together, no society is formed. We would meet together in such a case simply as a certain number out of the whole Church in that place, in His name, taking no other; and when we close the meeting, and return to our homes, no new society has been formed, any more than would a few Christians meeting in a hotel-parlor for prayer form a new society by so doing. And whenever Christians assemble in a Church-meeting, to take the Lord's supper, or for any other object, it should never be done as a society, distinguished from other Christians.
As to ordinations and appointments, the Lord prepares and sends forth and guides and governs evangelists and pastors and teachers (Eph. 4:); and as to elders, who were appointed as bishops or overseers (Acts 20:28), the appointment was by apostolic authority (Acts 14:23), which does not now exist. To those who do this service of oversight we should be subject, but the Church never undertook to appoint them. Even deacons, selected on one occasion by the Church at Jerusalem, were "appointed " by the apostles, and even the selecting was by apostolic permission (Acts 6:3).
Power-authority-is from above, down; not the other way,-not to be usurped by us as we deem expedient.
Christians, therefore, all belong to a society already made by the Spirit, and with ministry provided for as already shown.
We should be led by the Spirit at all times, and so led to assemble together,-and simply in the name of Jesus- no other is needed; and we are commanded to put away from among ourselves any wicked person. Nothing is left to the will of man-nothing in which the way is not marked out plainly for us by the Word. What a liberty we have thus from self-imposed burdens and human regulations!-truly, the liberty of the Spirit in reality. The ignoring of this-of these two things-the
presence of the Spirit of God in each believer, and that He guides us by the Word, and that we must do nothing but what that Word enjoins, has led to confusion in the Church.
The same principles bear upon service. All that can be done by societies can be clone in fellowship with other fellow-workers, and with all the aid that such labor in common truly affords, simply as members of the one body of Christ-Christ the Lord as Chief, the Spirit of God as the power and unity. Thus two and two can go forth, or several brothers and sisters together can hold a meeting at a street-corner, or in-doors, and with the sweet and uplifting thought that they have entered into no compact but the one that united them forever to the Lord and to all His own when they first believed. How great is our salvation ! and how glorious the Church to which we all belong! how close the tie that forever binds us together, while varied the opportunities and many the members of the one body!
If the special object be to reach young men, what better way than to welcome them in the family circle and in the Church-meetings? but if a room of public resort-a reading-room is called for, opportunity is thus given for a work of faith. Let any one be so led, and others would be certainly led to help him by the same Spirit. And not only would all be done in harmony with the truth-no new society formed, but the exercise of heart, of faith, all the mingled blessings that accompany such testings would result. The soul would realize more the direct dealings with God that accompany the path of pure faith and individual accountability to God. And help given would be more in the love of the Spirit, and less from human obligations. So also as to special meetings and work to draw out and develop younger brothers and sisters in the churches (as Endeavor societies)-all could
be fully accomplished upon the principles of Scripture, and no new society formed.
If some members of a family were to make a society and compact apart from the rest, the breach would be felt at once. We Christians are all one family. Sadly divided we are, still the way remains open for the individual who would be faithful to the Lord and to His Word-for himself to adhere to the truth, and his reward will be great. (Rev. 2:, 3:)
The path of obedience and simplicity is one of obscurity, but it has with it the blessing which obedience brings. There is little show before men, but He "who is holy and who is true" says, "I know thy works." (Rev. 3:7, 8.) He commends the one who keeps His word and does not deny His name.
"And if a man strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned except he strive lawfully." Let it be fixed in the heart that we should not do any thing except we have directions for it in the Bible, and we will not "join" any society. We are already joined to the Lord, and to one another as the body of Christ, the Church (Eph. 1:22), by the Spirit, who came from heaven to abide in us at that Pentecost of the second of Acts. By the Spirit we are all baptized into the one body, (i Cor. 6:17 and 12:12, 13, compared with Acts 1:5 and 2:i, 4 and Eph. 1:22.) God has placed every one of the members in the body "as it hath pleased Him." (i Cor. 12:18.) It is a perfect body -a complete society, and every member fitted in his place by the wisdom of God, to act just as and where they are placed by the power and liberty and wisdom of the Spirit. "One is your Master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren." Any earthly chief, and the bonds of a society, are, however well meant, but something between the soul and Christ-a denial of the perfection we have in the commandments of the Word, and the unction of the Spirit, and the Lordship of Christ. Nevertheless, may we be forbearing toward those who differ from us, and give thanks to God for good works any where, and maintain love to all saints.
If we say we hold the truth, let us commend the truth by love and good works. It is well if we are walking in the way of obedience, for "every one that hath forsaken houses or brethren or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for My name's sake shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life; but many that are first shall be last, and the last shall be first." E. S. L.