j Hl y ' vi Wd a a . 1 é U

ONE OF MY FIRST THOUGHTS AFTER I ASSUMEB YOUR PULPIT AND ONE THAT HAS RECURRED™

TO ME TIM#® AND TIM® AGAIN IS HOW DIFFICULT IT MUST BE FOR MEMBERS OF THIS CHURCH TO

HAVE ANY CONCEPTION OF THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH--THE CHURCH: HOW HARD IT MUST BE TO FEEL \~
‘\
A SENSE OF BELONGING AND UNITY WITH ALL OTHER CHRISTIANS. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT IS ae
AN
L-
PREVALENT THROUGHOUT CHRISTENDOM IN CONGREGATIONS OF EVERY SIZE AND TYPE. PEOPLE '
|
SECOME SO INVOLVED IN THEIR LOCAL DENOMINATION THAT THEY TEND TO FORGET THAT THE
\

PARTICULAR DENOMINATION OR CHURCH IS JUST A SEGMENT OF THE LARGER BODY WE CALL THE ee
in

CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST--THIS INCLUDES ROMAN CATHOLICS, BAPTISTS, LUTHERANS AND METHO-

DISTS AND THE DYER UNION PROTESTANT CHURCH. A CHURCH LIKE OURS ISUNDER A PARTICULAR

DISADVANTAGE BECAUSE THERE = NO LARGER VISIBLE INSITUTION OF WHICH WE CAN SAY WE ARE
NO i
A PART, HAVING(OUTWERD pai with other churches ‘4 like interests AND LIKE BELIEFS LT

IS VERY SASY TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE ALL IMPORTANT FACT OF A CHRISTIANITY THAT IS A
UNITY BECAUSE OF ITS COMMON LORD AND SAVIOR. THE OTHER DISADVANTAGE IN FERLING AN

Wo" \ ESSENTIAL ROLE IN THE CHURCH UNIVERSAL HAS TO DO WITH SIZE, SMALLER CONGREGATION SUCH
SSSENTIA :

word han BE

AS THIS ONE FIND ft asivernma TO BE in us SPONSORS OF A MISSIONARY, IT IS USUALLY

f
SEV 7 > UU Ridew 5 Mudge —- Oo ‘2
aif ity es aoe = ri hl 27 a wflere e ves f

Va
(A FIN NANCIAL IMPOSSIBILITY TO MAKE GREAT CONTRI E BUTTONS 10 PIRISVELBNOES/ ? ROLY THERE

eX t nes SSEMS TO Bx(H0 TIES WITH THE ENTERPRISE CHRISTIANITY IS ENGAGED IN--IN THE WORLD TODAY.

|
a leo"? - post seuBeuce
oe i WILL DEAL WITH THESE SPECIFIC PROBLEMS THAT FACE THIS CONGRSGATION LATER—LET IT

ye ‘& tLe sex
4 —— SUFFICE HERE AT THE ONSET TO SAY THAT WE MUST CONSTANTLY BE ON GUARD AGAINS! THE TiN -

—~ DENCY TO CONSIDER OUR FELLOWSHIP HERE AS AN "OUR GANG BRAND OF CHRISTIANITY." FOR WHAT
at da es
me a m4 \

(Ce ed att

fl)

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(> .o¢ the
a ae:
Jes A

Af ove
2e ak 5 rece
IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN DYER UNION CHURCH IS THE FACT THAT WE ARE PAST OF THE MILLIONS

CK NST
WHO HAVE FOUND IN JESUS op NaanEtH THEIR LORD AND SAVIOR AND WHO ARE XX WITNESSING /

TO THIS FACT AS MEMBERS OF HIS CHURCH.

7 c “y
ITs sat +AicAa
me ot the gf ce es(crs ¢

IN THE OLDEST COMPLE TE STATEMENT OF THE cy FRSTTAN FAITH, THE APOSTLES! CREED es, Bed A
SAY THAT WE BELIEVE IN THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH, AND BY THIS WE MEAN --HOLY-~ESTABLISHED
BY OUR LORD HIMSELF AS THE CONTINUATLON OF HIS MINISTRY ON EARTH,--CATHOLIC--THAT IB

ES UNIVERSAL, ALL INCLUSIVE AND TO WITNESS TO ALL OF MANKIND. BY THE HOLY CATHOLIC
{> Le ie Sue A ch LAA ‘4 e
CHURCH We MEAN THE INVISIBLE INSTI TION BEHIND ALL LOCAL GONGREGATIONS, COUNCILS,

PRESBYTiRIES AND DIOCESES THAT BINDS US ALL TOGETHER AS RECIPIENTS OF GOD'S GRACE

AND FORGIVENESS.

. Some. ( trfAc =
(opsonantg- OF THE CHURCH HAVE ona SAID TH&T JESUS NEVER INTENDED HIS FOLLOWERS TO FE

ORGANIZED, THAT THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH WAS FQUNDED ON A FALACY--AND THAT TRUE CHRISTIANITY
IS TO BE FOUND OUTSIDE THE CHIRCH, NOT IN A GROUP OF SQUABBLING, ARGUING, SINFUL MEN.

A QUICK LOOK AT THE NEW TESTAMENT SHOWS THAT FROM THE BEGINNING THE CHURCH wAS/T [rie

renee % tade le/¢ fA: ? naga ve ’
de mare Ta#eé

COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS, A CORPORATE BODY. | IN THE FIRST CENTURY, FOLLOVERS OF CHRIST

ray

cr Hic \ of ie

oy fuller i yeu Hn / ihe tat ACHIECOM Ag Cf o-bis

wer® "| Pept COMPELLED TO GATHER TOGETHER TO WORSHIP, SING HUMNS, AND TO CELESRATE THE "LOVE
FEAST." FROM THIS CAME THE LATER COM UNAL LIVING EXPERIEMENTS WHERS ALL LIVED AND

soor SHARED FOR THE GOOD OF ALL. THERE Is NO DOUST ABOUT IT, ONE OF THE MARKS OF THE =f.
ee KZOWME | tLea KO - ee prere ;
x. deed 7

CHRISTIAN LIFE WAS MEMBERSHIP IN A NEW MwNTTY AND TODAY THE CONCEPT IS STILL VALID. )

b el f f fy 1
bo é : Le . + f otose es CCT tical Fly
, SF CTH L443 Le ha ; ff / 'g r

UnretY. Cove net ns Xe

—

, ( (OF THE DESERT FROM WHICH ISRAEL SPRANG. THE CHURCH, AS THE COMMUNITY OF THE REDEEMED,

BEING A GHRISTIAN INVOLVES MEMBERSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS THE SAME AS IT

DID 2,000 YRS. AGO. THE NEW TESTAMENT DESCRIBES THE LIFE OF THIS SOCIETY AS LIFE IN

Meant
THE SPIRIT. THE H#S8REW WORD FOR SPIRIT ORIGINALLY DEVOTED "WIND," THAT MIGHTY ENERGY

IS (THE NEW ISRAEL OF GOD. IT IS(A BODY, WHOSE HEAD Is CHRISTY AND WHOSE MEMBERS ARE

INDIVIDUAL BELIEVERS. IN SHORT, CHRISTIAN LIFE IS NOTCACCIDENTLY CORPORATE, IT IS

Nor LIFE IN A COMMUNITY OF 3 'LIEVER BECAUSE FIRST CENTURY) CHRISTIANS FOUND STRENGTH IN

fi Fd

NUMBERS=--IT IS SO BY ITS VERY NAT'RE AS THE BODY OF CHRIST, Too wer ® all al
OUCe : eveloy eacd One
in (‘Ss Altace =* pod Creu ?

YOU HAVE ALL HEARD THE STOCK REPLY FROM HESITANT MEMBERS THAT THEY CAN WORSHIP Ae |

GOD AS WELL AT HOME, OR LISTENING TO A SWEVICE OVER THE RADIO, OR IN THE WCODS--AS HE

rei CF fi. oa ad
( ie (STi é as CHA AN

CAN SITTING IN A SSuY SANCTUARY. ALTHOUGH THEIR IS A LOT TO SAY FOR /ANDIVIDUAL 'S

Yor TH : LYS
HY COUNTERENG THGIR LORD &X@ME ALONE, FACE 10 FACE) THIS KIND OF TALK CRsATES A DIVISION
' Ta. 7

|

THAT IS SIMPLY INTOLERABLE. GOD CAN BE SEEN IN NATURE,’ AND PRAISED FOR HIS MAGNIFICENT
7 Woe lage 4ee

HANDIWORK--BUT OUR BELIEFS CONCERNING HIM, ouR\ CONFESSING AND WITNESSING MISSION ama /S

tx sttucs

(INEXTRICABLY INTERWUVEN WITH THE PAST AND PRESENT FUNCTIONS OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS

., 2 confusing
CHRIST. THE CHURCH OR THE COMMUNE TY PRESENTS THE LORD TO EACH INDIVIDUAL: THE BEAUTY
~~

we

Ne
OF CORPORATE WORSHIP LIS IN THE FACT THAT WE GATHER AND SING OUR PRAISES AS.A GROUP, WE ENE

ENRICH #ACH OTHERS' EXPERIENCE OF WCRSHIP BY OUR ENDEAVORS BUT AT THE SAME TIME ARE WE

he

j ff .
ENCOUNTER OUR LORD P& SONALLY, INDIVIDUALLY FACE TO FACE. ALTHOUGH CERTAINLY nor UT

—

Wwe ak ~ |

/TURE IN =VERY INSTANCE { PHENK WE CAN GENERALLY CORSLIE ‘THE PERSON WHO CHOOSES TO STAY

HOME SUNDAY MORNING, SITTING IN THE BACKYARD READING THE FUNNIES WHILE LISTENING TO
A SERMON ON THE RADLO AS NOT BEING INCHE DEPTHS OF ULTIMA TE CONCERI.AS IS THE TYPICAL ' li

yy

ee

4

PIOUS CLAIM. PUTTING IT AS BLUNTLY AS POSSIBLE A PARTIAL OR COMPLETE REJECTION OF THE

CHURCH IS A REJECTION OF (PART AND PARCEL\OF CHRISTIANITY. ~ ~ ee |

we rd : . x =

AT — S CH CEICAL DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH MAY S#EM TO BE AT VARIANCE WITH THE

SS F

FACTS « ADL xG TALK ‘ABOUT ONE HOLY, CATHOLIC CHURCH, THE BODY OF CHRIST Ig flcE-—
BUT THINGS JUST AREN'T LIKE THAT. ROMAN CATHOLICS CLAIM THEY HOLD THE K#YS TO HEAVEN,
PROTESTANTS IN THE REFORMZD TRADITION FROWN ON ROMAN LEGALISM, ANGLICAN FORMALISM AND

EVANGELICAL ENTHUSIASM=-AND FUNDAMENTALISTS ARE POSITIVE THAT EVERYBODY ELSE IS GOING

/

ve + Ae of, Pf af?
pes nor ALPES Zo J (Oh &

STRAIGIT TO HELL. INDEED THE CHURCH, IXNOT LIKE THE SHAMLESS ROBE OF CHRIST BUT, a M2
PATCHWORK QUILT.2 ANT BEFORE WE THINK ABOUT THE MANY PITFALLS ENDURS) BY CHRISTIANITY

AND THE WIDE VARIETY OF INTERPREEATL ONS, LET US PAUSE TO REMEMBER THAT WE ALL CALL JESUS GH

“ LA ay si
A.

CHRIST OUR LORD, WE ALL ATTEMPT TO OVERCOME OUR\ INHERENT SINFULNESS ‘BY PETITIONS TO OUR

HEAVENLY FATHSR. ~SOMBHOW, VERY WAWGE VAUGELY AT TIMES, BUT SOMEHOW WE ARE UNITED, THE

+43 Noudés uf) por ot -
Pca 4G 56 (ue, Lisl = 7 Kes

JO

FODY OF JESUS CHRIST ON EARTH. ar,
Pr auc re Serer
THE PICTURE THE CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN CHURCH PRESENTS HAS BEEN ILLUSTRUED IN Two

/
by xi bd
ener

+ % *b

:f ‘HAVE MADE PROGRESS AND AT TIME EXISTENCE SEEM TéPOSSIBLE BUT THE MUTILATED MAN NEVER

hy

be

STRIKING ANALOGIES THAT DEMONSTRATE AT ONCE THE BASIC UNITY OF THE CHURCH AND ALSO
THE GRAVE DIFFERENCES THAT SPARATE ITS MEMBERS.

PICTUR. IN YOUR MINDS A MAN WALKING DOWN A ROAD. THE MAN REPRESENTS CHRISTIANITY
AND THE ROAD HISTORY. THE UNFORTUNAT# MAN IS HAVING QUITS A TIME STRUGGLING DOWN THE
ROAD SECAUSE HE IS ON CRUTCHES AND HAS TWO VERY KXNWEGX INSUFFICIENT LEGS. THE ONE
LEG IS VSRY LONG AND STIFF AND UNABLE TO BEND. THIS OF COURSE IS THE ROMAN CATHOLIC
CHURCH WITH ITS UNINTERRUPPTED PAST OF UNCOMPROMISING LEGALISM, THE CRUTCHES REPRESENT
THS DOCTRINES OF PAPAL INFALLISILITY AND TH IMMACULATE CONCEPTION. THE OTHER IEG IS
NO BETTER--IT I5 QUITE SHORT AND THE ENLARGED FOOT HAS HUNDR4US OF TOES ALL MOVING
INDIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. THES OF COURSE IS THE SONRY PLIGHT OF CONTEMPORARY PROTESTAN-
TISM. AS YOU CAN IMAGING THE MAN'S PROGRESS IS NEGLIGIBLE AS A MATTER OF FACT--
BECAUSE OF THESE STRANGE LEGS HE SEEMS ONLY TO BE ABLE TO WALK IN CIRCL&S.

IN THE OTHE’. ANALOGY A LOOK AT CHRISTIANITY IS COMPARED TO A TRIP TO A MIRROR GALLERY,
WHERE CURVES IN THe GLASS SURFACH CAUSE THE MIRRORS TO PRODUCE QUITE DISTORTED REFLECTIONS
SOME REFLECTIONS ARH SHORT AND FAT, OTHERS TALL AND THEN, SOME HAVE BIG HuADS ETC. AND

FT 7 Fr TO Map T a oe
YET THEY ARE ALL REFLECTIONS OF THE SAM THING. am suck Were

iy
i Al¢
pan”

THESE TWO EXAMPLES VERY CLEARLY PORTRAY OURPLIGHT. SHEMINGLY(. IRRESOLUBLE CONFLICTS

CEASES TO STRUGGLE DOWN THE ROAD AND REGARDLESS OF DISTORTI(,,
MIRRORS

6.

ARS REFLECTING THE SAME OSJECT. HUMAN SINFULNESS AND FRAILTY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
DIVISIONS WITHIN CHRIS TIANITY AND YET CHRISTIANITY REMAINS. IN A REVIVAL TENT, THE
CATHEDRAL OF ST. JOHN THE DIVINE OR THE LST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF CHICAGO THE
GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST IS OF FERED TO SINFUL HUMANITY, A SANCTUARY F(R THE WORSHI> OF
GOD IS PRESENT — THIS IS THE CHURCH. _(” ZL

FOR A MOMENT I WOULD LIKE TO RETURN TO THE MIRROR GALLERY AND EXAMINE THE DOMINANT
CHARACTERISTICS OF AND THE MAJOR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO MAIN RuFLECTIONS OF ‘HE

e |

« / Lf fo ff
Cmts? . Cone ey PO AC ares |=Thiy secfeuce reeds

( IN THE FIRST MIRROR THE CHURCH IS VISIBLE AS A GREAT AND IMPRESSIVE INSTITUTION.

a

IT IS A FELLOWSHIP OF BELISVERS TOO, OF COURSE, WHO HOLD(THE TRUE FAITH eo Ganap
LP eret (ae i

IN THE SACRAMENTS. BUI ITS SPECIFIC DIFFERENTIA LIES IN A CENTRALIZED ONGANIZATION

WHICH HERE IS AT A MAXIMUM. - STH AND ADMINISTRATION THIS CHURCH RESEMBLES A

dt MCSA ee 2

STATE, AND WHAT IS MORE, AN ANTOCRACYL. IN THIS CHURCH THE UNDERLYING THEORIES OF

POLITICAL AUTOCRACY ARE RRXEARHERXSX PUSHED TO THEIR LOGICAL END,
foot Wwordung rs 7

DIVINELY GUARANTEED INFALLIBILITY OF ITS HEAD. THIS CHURCH IS CHARACTERIZED BY AN

ABSOLUTE AND UNCOMPROMISING LEGALISM. IN THESE TERMS THERH CAN BE NO SALVATION OUTSIDE

OF ITS DOORS. LOYALTY TO CHRIST IS DEFINED AS OBEDIANCE TO HIS VICAR ON HARTH. INSTEAD

OF THINKING OF THE CHURCH IN TERMS OF GOD, THIS SYSTEM THINKS OF GOD IN TERMS OF THE CHURCH

AND THROUGH ITS DIVINELY GIVEN SYSTEM OF MEDIATION ALONE, MAY THE SINNER FIND FORGIVENESS.

Ve

THE VERY ESSENCE OF THIS CHURCH LIgS IN ITS RULING HIERARCHY RATHER THAN IN THE

PERSONAL FAITH OF ITS MEMBERS. NOWHERE 1S THIS DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH STATED MORE /s
s

= <a ale aa eceal
fio Use LAS ANYVT]S ,

EXPLICITLY THAN IN AN ENCYCLICAL OF SRM POPE PIUS THE X aN INSPIRED UTTERANCE OF FEB.

EXIXX 1906.

THE CHURCH IS THE MYSTICAL BODY OF CHRIST, A BOY RULED BY PASTORS AND TEACHERS,

A STOCIETY OF MEN HEADED BY RULERS HAVING FULL AND PERF&CT POWiRS OF GOVERNING,

INSTRUCTING AND JUDGING. IT FOLLOVS THAT THIS CHURCH IS ESSENTIALLY IN UNEQUALK

SOCIETY, THAT IS WD SAY, A SOCIETY COMPROMISING TVO CATEGORIES OF PARSON: PASTORS

AND THE FLOCK, THOSE WHO HOLD RANK IN THE DIFFERENT DEGREBS OF THE HIERARCHY AND

THad MULTITUDE OF THE FAITHFUL, AND THESE CATEGORIES ARE SO DISTINCT IN THEMSELVES

THAT IN THE PASTORAL BODY ALONE RESIDE THE NECESSARY RIGHT AND AUTHQRITY TO GUIDE

AND DIRECT ALL THE MEMBERS TO THE GOAL OF WHE SOCIET } AS FOR THE MULTITUDES IT
t{ WAS NO OTHER RIGHT THAN THAT OF ALLOWING ITSELF 10 BE LED AND, AS A DOCILE

FLOCK, TO FOLLOW ITS SHEPHERDS."

THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT IT--THE CHURCH IS THAT HELRARGHICAL STRUCTION OF PASDRS,
PRIESTS, BISHOPS, CARDINALS AND POPE, AND APART FROM THESE MEN, THESE MEDIATORS BETWEEN
GOD AND HAN SALVATLON IS IMPOSSIELE. MY PURPOSE IS NOT TO ENGAGE IN A POLEMIC ATTACK
ON ROMAN CATHOLICISM BUT I CANNOT RESIST THE COMMENT THAT THE DOCTRINE OF A MEDIATOPICAL
PREESTHOOD IS UITERLY ALLEN TO THE LETTER AND PSIRIT OF TH NEW TESTAMENT, SALVATION
THROUGH BISHOPS, PRESBYTERS, THROUGH ANYTHING EXCEPT THE FIGURE OF JESUS VHRIST IS AN
OUTRIGHT DISTORTION OF THE FAITi. IT IS A RETURN TO THE L2GALISM THAT IS SO TYPICAL OF

ALL, MEN,WE CA:NOT UNDESSTAND, OR DON'T TRY TO UNDERSTAND THAT THROUGH JESUS CHRIST

fREFZY «ma jor Lheotoqiced gred(ein
SALVATION WAS OFFERED TO ALL MEN FOR Hs ASKING.” GOD'S GORGIVENESS AND FULFILLING GRACE

IS AVAILABLE TO EVERY ONE--WHY MUST WE TRY TO EARN IT BY LIVING BY A SET OF SO VERY FINITE

RULES? OR TO GUARANTEE IT BY SETTING UP ONE OF OUR MEMBERS 0 MEDIATE ON OUR BEHALF?

8.
IT HAS BEEN ACCURATELY STATED THAT “AN INSTITUTION WITH OF FICIAL RULES SEEMS A ERTTER
SECUR TY RISK THAN A FELLOJSHIP WITH DIVINE GIFTS."

BUT NOW LET US LOOK AT THE OTHER MIREOR AND BEHOLD AN HQUAL DISTORTION BUT OF AN
EXACTLY OPPOSITE NATJRE OF THE ONE JUST DESGRIFED. THE EMPHASIS IN THIS CHURCH SEEMS TO
BE ENTIRELY ON THE INDIVIDUAL, TOTALETARIAN' IS QUITE FORGOTTEN, IT IS NOT A GREAT
CORPCRATE INSTI TUTE ON TAKING PRECEDENCE OVER THE INDIVIDUAL BUT THE REVERSE. THE BELIEVING

HAE
INDIVIOUAL BEING THE POINT OF IMPORTANCE OUTWARD INSTITUT ONAL FORCES AN DECIDEDLY
SECONDARY. THOS CHURCH CLAIMS 10 BE A FELLOwSHIP OF nvarvabuins WHO HAVE FALTH IN JESUS
CHRIST AND SEEK TO WALK TOGSTHER IN OBEDIANCE TO HIM. TMPRESSTON AS ET S&EMS THIS CHURCH
FEATURSS MANY DISTORTIONS AND DIFFERENCES AND TO AN oursbIE OBSERVER WOULD PROBABLY
SEEM NO LESS A DISTORTION THAN THE LiGALIS TiC TYPE,

400 YEARS AGO THE (NO MEN THAT WERE LARGELY RESPONSE BLE FOR Tdi PRUTESTANT REFORMATION

ESTABLISHED TH TONE FOR THE PROTESTANT CHURCH EVER SINCE, : MARTEN LUTHOR AND HULURICH

“Eke faye kb

ZUINGLE MET IN AN ATToMPT TO UNLTE THE TwO FACTIONS OF THE PROTESTERS: THEY AGRiED
ON 14 OUT OF 15 OF THE POINTS OF THE REFORMED FAITH, BECAUSE OF THEIR ELLIEFS AND

OPINIONS NEITHER ONE FOUND IT POSSIBLE TO COMPROMISE AND BAGH WENT HIS SEPARATE WAY.

Re Por ee OR,

THE LUTHERAN CHURCH EVOLVED FROM GERMANY, THE RaORED GitRCHES FROM SWITZERLAND,
DIFFERING SO ViRY SLIGHTLY BUT FROM THAT TL#E THE HPE OF A: UNTL BD PROTESTANTISH wAS

LOST. THE BAPTISTS APPEARED FROM A GROUP OF MEN WHO nureun ON THE METHOD OF BAPTISING

9.

AND CHURCH POLITY. ANGLICANS AND CONGRSGATIONALISTS WERE be R&SULTS OF INTERNAL ARGUMENTS
IN THE CHJRCH OF ENGLAND. THE M:THODISTS CHURCH HAD ITS BEGINNINGS IN THE EFFORTS OF

A MAN, JOHN WESLEY, WHO HAD NOT TIME FOR ANGLICAN ee PRESTYTERIAN pal IN

SCOTLAND AS A RESULT OF JOHN KNOX'S ADMIR:TION FOR JOHN CALVIN, &TC. ETC.

MEN ARE DIFFERENT, NO TWO ALIKE, EACH HAS OPINIONS THAT ARE CERTAINLY ACCURATE ALTHOUGH

‘ _- fee NLA ad .
— watitude s re-urord Da

THEY MESX DISAGREE WITH OTHERS, AND AHOVE ALL MEN ARE SO VERY, wager SINFUL. PROTESTANTISM
HAS PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PERSONAL OPINIONS, PR#FEHENCES, FOR THE WHOLE SCOPE OF

HUMAN EMOTLONS AND DRIVES TO INFLUENCES AND SHAPE DIFFERENT WAYS OF WORGHIPING

ReR GOR THE INEVITABLE HAS HAPPSNED~PEE SONAL PREFEREVCLS HAVE EXOOME ABSOLUTE AND

ETERNAL TRUTHS. IT IS SORRY INDESD THAT WE HAVE LOST SIGHT OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS

\eé erws 1 SUCH A DEGREE THAT SALVATION DEPINDS NOT ON BELIZF IN HIM BUT IN OBSDIANCE 1D A
\ (ONSET OF RULES, OR A METHOD OF BAPTISING, OR PARTICIPATION IN A SPECLFIC TYPE OF RITUAL.
Kp ‘ THE HISWRY OF ROMAN CATHOLICISM PROVIDES A N&AT SUTDY WHEN MEN CHOOSE THE OPPOSITE

/ MEANS WHERE INSTEAD OF OPPCRTUNITY HR PERSOVAL EXPRESSION AND AN UNADULDERATED EXPERIENCE

\Sran OUR CREATOR THHOWGH JESUS CHRIST, MeMBIRS MUST CONFORM TO i — AND STRICT

wel , Y Atteg?
‘ ‘ jf he yuna) emia” On Syactad Gi rea) ot wenw Cad led re SL

V/ SYSTEM OF RULNS AND MEDIATION THROUGH AN EQUALLY’SINFUL PRIESTHOOD ALONG THE SAME LINE

f

~~

PROTESTANTISM WHILE FROVI DING FOR PH: SONMALITY OL FFERENCHA AND INDIVIDUAL PR&FERENCES

SEEMS AT TIMES TO HAVE LOST THE M:ANING OF THE WORDS "CHURCH UNIVE:.SAL." I AM NCT

10.

ADVOCATE NG COMPLSTE UNITY OF ALL DENOMINATIONS UNDER ONE NAME, BUT I AM HOPEFUL FOR A
AMOM &

MORS TOLSRANT AND INTHLLICENT CONSID ERATION FOR FELLOW CHRISTIANS. THE HOLY CATHOLIC

CHUNCH CANNOT BE SEEN IN THE DYER UNION CHURCH OR IN LUTHERANISM OR CATHOLICISM OR ANY

OTHER HUMAN ECCLESIASTICAL INSTITUTION BUT RATHER THESE INSTITUTIONS ALL POINT TO THE

INVISIBLE FORCE THAT ANIMATES THEM, THE LIFE IN THE SPIRIT , THE INVISIBLE UNIVERSAL CHURCH

THE SPIRIT OF UNITY THAT IS EXPRESSED IN THE TITLE GIVEN THE CHURCH, TH BODY OF CHRIST.

Pi : 2 fe
-FZ spare ef at hat deo TY

IN TE BOY OF CHRIST/AS IN ANY OTHER BODY Hp Yeates AnE DIFFERENT AND DIVERSE,
HAVING DIsFERENT FUNCT. ONSAND NEEDS. THE ARM AND THE LEG ARE TWO ENTIRELY DIFFERENT
APPENDAGES BUT WHEN MOTIVATED BY IMPULSES FROM THE BRAIN THEY OPERATE IN ACCORD wITH
EACH OTHER, MUTUALLY AIDING THE FUNCTION OF THE OTHER, SO WE AS MEMEERS OF THE BODY
OF CHRIST AH& DIFFERENT IN ALL RESPECTS. BUT WHEN MOTIVATED BY THE HAD, JESUS CHRIST,

WE ARE RELATED AS THE MEMDHiS OF THE BODY A® RELATED. ALONE OUR SEPARATES TASKS ARE
FUTILE BUT TOGETHER, AS PARTS OF ONS BODY OUR FUNCTIONS TAKE ON NEW MEANING AND RELEVANCE.
OLIRANOS AND aS ON ARG THE KEY wORDS FOR A CHRISTIANITY THaT CAN WINES 0

. Ky FA
i, ‘ese Se fAtC Very weak LOOTE 7 Ch ac A ntregiacery Cee

THE WORLD. This Pewl as we | Ke - Loot | Leer break your
/ y

fhe. osdge, z Unity
IT IS CLEAR THAT THE CHU .CH CANNOT SSE ITS TRUE SHELF IN EITHER ONE OF THESE DIS-= Dishorke,

TORTING MIRRORS AND WHAT IS MOR TRAGIC 15 THE FACT THAT THERE IS NOX PERFSCT Min ROR

SPOTLESS AND TRUE IN DETAIL: ALL CHURCHES ARE SUBJECT TO HUMAN ERROR AND FALLIBILITY.