The Signs of the Times
January 10, 1895
Disunion the Result of Unbelief
Every true disciple of Christ is to win souls to Jesus Christ by manifesting his Spirit and doing his works. The Lord has not placed any man upon the judgment seat to find fault with and to condemn his brethren. The prayer of Christ for his followers just before his crucifixion was to be a standing warning signal against the doing of anything of the kind, because the influence of criticism and judging of others would not gather with Christ but scatter away from him. Jesus prayed: “Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory [character] which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” ST January 10, 1895, par. 1
O, that our minds were expanded so that we might take in the significance of this statement! The love that God has for those who believe in Jesus is to be demonstrated as the same love with which he loves his Son, by the unity of the disciples with Christ. They are to manifest forth to the world his character, cherishing that tender love one for another that will bear to the world the credentials of the power of Christ to link heart to heart in the strongest bands of fellowship and brotherhood. But the fact that the prayer of Christ is so lightly regarded, that so little effort is put forth to cultivate unity among those who profess to believe in Jesus, makes manifest the fact that the spell of Satan is upon the church. He who is full of criticism of the brethren, does not represent the oneness for which Christ prayed, but is displaying variance, discord, and disunion. If one brother errs from the truth, the Lord has given direction as to what should be done by the church, and by its individual members. No one need make a mistake or stumble. The Lord says: “If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone; if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church.” ST January 10, 1895, par. 2
It is not to be told to the church until the previous directions have been faithfully and tenderly carried out; but it is never to be published to the world. Satan and his angels will make all that is possible of differences in the church to make of no effect the saving grace and power of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let there be no divisions among the professed children of God, for in union there is strength. ST January 10, 1895, par. 3
Christ is so greatly misrepresented by those who claim to believe in him, who disregard his prayer for the unity of his followers, that angels are amazed. The angels of God are commissioned to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation, and it is their business to bind heart to heart by the golden chain of love that links each soul through Christ to God. All, all are to be bound together, brother to brother with Christ in God. The instruction for this time is, “Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.” ST January 10, 1895, par. 4
Our individual work is to surrender ourselves to God, that we may be purified, ennobled, and sanctified through the truth. We need to cultivate and strengthen that faith which works by love and purifies the soul. No one need to make a mistake. Jesus has plainly revealed to us what are the requirements of genuine religion. He says, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you.” The human agent cannot comprehend this command or obey it unless he is continually a partaker of the divine nature, having a living realization of the great sacrifice made for him, that through faith in Christ he need not perish but have everlasting life. Jesus said, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” It is our privilege to bear the divine credentials to the world that the Saviour, in whom we believe, is the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. We shall do this when we who stand under his banner present to the world a united front. But what must be the grief of Christ and heavenly angels when they behold us doing exactly opposite to that which he desired! What must be his feelings as he sees his professed children paying no heed to his prayer to his Father that they should all be one, as he and the Father were one! “This is my commandment,” he said, “That ye love one another as I have loved you.” “These things,” he says again, “I command you, that ye love one another.” We must live the requirements of God in Christ Jesus. We must arouse and be in earnest. ST January 10, 1895, par. 5
When you discern evil in those who profess to love God, you are not to close your eyes to it, but do just as you have been directed to do in the word of God,—deal faithfully and in a Christlike manner with those who are erring. Flatter no one. Do not link up closely with a few just because you think them congenial, to the exclusion of others who need your help and sympathy, for this savors of hypocrisy and partiality. In doing this way, faults are left unreproved and excused in those you esteem your friends, while those who follow the Lord more closely are neglected and passed by, and some who are in greater need of help, of tender words of encouragement and sympathy, are left outside your circle. A union of this kind is not a sanctified union, and reveals the fact that those who are linked in it need the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. ST January 10, 1895, par. 6
There was never a time when the world needed a more plain and decided testimony against moral wrong than today. Deal faithfully with those who are inconsistent, and labor to restore such an one, in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Study the word of God critically and prayerfully. and you will receive divine enlightenment. All that God requires of us is that we shall live up to all the knowledge he has given us. We are to live upon the word of God, not upon the defects we see in the characters of others. To live upon others’ errors is to do that which is fatal to spirituality. Do not set yourself up as a judge of others. Look to Jesus, talk of Jesus. Dwell upon the great plan of salvation, and keep the mind guarded lest you think and speak evil of others, pronouncing judgment upon them. ST January 10, 1895, par. 7
Let everyone who has named the name of Christ seek by all means to establish and to preserve the unity for which Christ prayed. Let there be harmony among the followers of Christ. The reason of disunion is found in the fact that unbelief has darkened the mind, and the hellish shadow of Satan has fallen athwart the temple of the soul. It is Satan's purpose to cut off every ray of light that comes from the Light of the world to illuminate and brighten the human soul. Instead of beholding the defects of humanity, turn your eyes to Christ, until, charmed with his beautiful character, you become changed into his divine image. ST January 10, 1895, par. 8