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About Christian herald. (Portland ;) 1882-18?? | View Entire Issue (July 20, 1883)
2 ÖHRTSTTA.TST -------------------- -------- —--- - tural at the present time ? To in the church, I' did not say one these questions the Advocate makes word against elders and deacons. no reply. Now we see no use in Now if the plain statement that arguing something he does not “about all the ecclesiasticism we deny, and if he does not intend to have is comprehended in our meet theTssue fairly, then we do cherislieTrdoI, a plurality of elders not care to wraste more time with and deacons in every congregation,” it. If weekly communion is not is not saying “ one word against Scriptural, let him say so, and we elders and deacons,” then we con will proceed to defend our practice. fess wo do not understand the Let him also tell us what is Scrip- meaning and force of the English language.—It-- was—th io- -wh oles a le" .iairaL.-AVewautsometliing sweep at the divinely appointed along here. 2. For the command for immer officers of the church, as we under sion we pointed him to the commis stood it, that we called a remnant sion, and asked, “ Did Christ com of the Papacy ; and w’e are still of mand immersion in his last com the saine opinion. But as our mission ?” As w’ell as we remem brother disavows any attack on ber, he answers this by denying these, officers, of course, we aceept that Christ commanded the specific his correction, and proceed to Lis’ act of immersion. . Now brother, real position as he defines it. this is not the question. The Just what our brother means by question is simply, Did Christ in this “our modern deacon ” and “ minis commission command immersion ? ters of the gospel ” is not very plain Will the Advocate answer yes or to us. If he means that those no ? We say yes. Now we ask called deacons in some of our the Advocate to state definitely if churches jw’ho are appointed to there was any' thing else- command carry around the bread and wine ed ? If so, what w’as it ? We and whose duty seems to end with pause for de/inite answers to these ¡his simple’ act, are nowhere questions. ____ described in the -New "Testament, ¡hen he is probably correct. But if PERSONAL MENTION. le means that there was no particu- We learn that Bro. Bruce Wol ar class of officers described in the verton lias a fine girl baby at his. New Testament whose official duty it was to logk after and attend house. We congratulate him on simply to the secular wants and in his family addition. We look for terests of the congregation, and lots of good contributions to the that the “ deacons ” described by H erald from his pen now. Paul were all public proclaimers of The wife of Bro. L. B. Wilkes the gospel, or evangelists, then we has just come from Mo. to Califor think he is very much mistaken. nia to be with her husband. This On the other hand, we submit that indicates we suppose that Bro. W. there is not an intimation in the intends making California his per New Testament that teaching or preaching was any part of the manent home. official duty of the deacons. That We are sorry to learn that Bro. there was a particular class of R. B. Neal, of the Worker, Louis officers in the church called deacons, ville, Ky., is quite unwell, He is is certain, for Paul, while giving improving and will soon be at his their qualification, speaks of their post as usual. using the office of a deacon. Now are we to understand that these ECCLESIASTICISM. official servants of the church were It would seem that our brother, all public teachers and preachers “ Christian Missionary,” was a little of the word, and that there is no unfortunate in the use of his langu such thing as the office of deacon age o the other week in which he (diakonos) as has been understood said, “ About all the ecclesiasticisin and taught from the beginning of we have (and it would be well if we this reformation ? Our brother had none for there is none in the seems to place deacons on an equali New Testament) is comprehended ty with “ clerks,” “ trustees,” etc. in our cherished idbl, a plurality of Do we read of the office of clerks elders and deacons in every con and trustees in the Bible ? and are gregation.” In reply to our criti these to be selected and ordained to cism of this statement, “ Christian their work like the deacons and Missionary ” in another qolumn of elders ? The latter are divinely this issue says: “Now while I appointed; the former are human don’t want ecclesiasticism or idols and unknown to the Bible. HKRALD “ Christian Missionary ” thinks no power attaches to the person by virtue of his official position. Well, are not the elders to RULE ? If so, by what authority, if not by vidllg of their official position ? Or do we understand that all alike are to be rulers ’ His allusion to feet-washing has been sufficiently dwelt on in our columns. If there was no differ- TTTCF“betw6cri this institution aiid the institution of the Lord’s supper, then we can deal with both of them in the same way. Hence we can observe thepf the Lord’s supper without observing the act itself which Christ instituted. This is exactly the view Henry . Ward Beecher takes of it; hence he says that milk and cheese will answer him as well as the emblems the Lord used, and these can be par taken of once a year or every week just as will best suit his fancy and convenience. It is only the sub- stauce.lui ♦ is after. It-is truethat Jesus instituted both, but it is also true that the one was instituted for the church, while the other was a private affair depending so far as the act was concerned on the cus toms of the people in that age and designed simply to teach a lesson of humility. This is the reason w hy we can observe the principle taught in feet-washing without re taining tlie specific act itself under all circumstances, while the Lord’s supper being a church ordinance, can not be retained in substance w’ithout doing the thing command ed. Hence while wre believe in feet-washing (and a good deal of it) we prefer to attend to it in private. If our brother wishes to observe his part of it in the public assembly, he will please excuse us, for indeed we do not see how he can avoid this conclusion while he holds his pre sent view of the subject. But he thinks neither the language nor idea of “church ordinance ” is in the New Testament, and thus he tries to convict us of inconsistency. Well, Paul talks about the “ordi nance of God ’ and the “ ordinances of divine service,” and we naturally suppose that some of these are in the church of God. Hence the idea of “ church ordinance ” must be in the New Testament, to say the least of it. When we observe the lesson taught in the institution of feet-washing we observe all the Savior purposed in the command, and we do it because he has com manded it. We still contend, therefore, that we should observe nothing for which we do not have a positive command, a plain precedent or a logical and necessary inference ; and when we have such e v id enc e, Wft a re .n o t neglect any institution or make any substitutes. SUFFERING FOR CHRIST. Peter says, “If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed! 'but Tet him glorify God on this behalf. Io suffer as a Christian is to suffer for Christ and his cause, and this is a suffering which no Christian may expect to es cap e: The world is under the influence of the evil one, and he who would be a Christian must stand firm in op position to all evil.. This will not only bring opposition but trials through which he must pass. The true Christian has buckled on the armor of God and volunteered for life, und he who w’ould obey tlie orders must fight the battle to the thing as a compromise or failure. He knows that Jesus is his leader, and that .He has suffered and died for every soldier of the' cross. Hence he fully makes up his mind to meet and overcome opposition^ to pass through trials, and to suffer for Christ at the hand* of his op- poscTS. But ¡¡Tail of tins he is not ashamed nor cast down, for he knows that God is his friend and Jesus his exemplar. He knows the prize cannot be obtained without a race, nor the victory won w’ithout a fight. Hence he glorifies God on this behalf. He realizes that he is suffering for Christ and not for self, and in this thought lies .his strength of endurance when he is brought face to face with the trials and difficulties of life which throng his . pathway from time to time. But in the days of Peter, and so it is now, some men and women seem to think it strange that they are called upon to suffer for Christ. To all such the apostle continues : “ Beloved, think it not strange con cerning the fiery trial w hich is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you; but re joice inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye-be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye ; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you ; on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.” These are" consoling words to the child of God as he passes through