Church State Union, Part 2

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A brief consideration of an Old Testament prophecy which will prove of much value and insight in regards the ecumenical movement is found in Isaiah 8 Verses 9-13:

"Associate yourselves, O people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear all of ye far countries: gird (bind) yourselves (together), and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves and ye shall be broken in pieces. Take counsel together, and it shall come to naught; speak the word (for unity), and it shall not stand: for God is with us. For the Lord spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying, Say ye not a confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A Confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread." (AV)

In Verse 9 we find the forecast that the people will want to associate themselves (to enter into union; unite, as a friend, companion, or ally). It also states that they would "gird" themselves. Gird means bind. It is clearly the same binding in bundles to which our Lord refers in the parable. But the Lord declares through the prophet that all their attempts would ultimately meet with destruction.

Ultimately they would be "broken in pieces," and their counseling would not produce the ends they desired.

And why not? Because God would not be with them! He would be with "us" (Isa 8:10) —the true Church. In Isa 8:12-13 the Lord counsels the true Church as to what its position should be:

"Say ye not a confederacy" — don’t participate in the union.

“A confederacy is a league or covenant, a compact or alliance for mutual support or common action. “In union there is strength," is everywhere the expressed sentiment of the day. Confederacy -- Union--is the watchword in civil, social, and religious circles. This sentiment now so common has grown out of the felt necessities of the times, and the fear of coming trouble and danger.”

"Neither fear ye their fear or be afraid"

What is the fear of denominationalism?

Their fear is that their influence is waning; their fear is that they are losing the support of the people; their fear is that society is collapsing. Indeed, their fears are well founded! But they know not that the Lord has decreed the destruction of the denominations and even the social order itself so that He can establish His righteous kingdom on earth in the place of the present corrupt order of things. The true Church, understanding what the Lord is doing, does not fear. It rejoices to see the evidences of the nearness of the kingdom. (Psa 97:8)

HOW CAN UNITY BE BAD?

Very often the advocates of church union quote from our Lord’s prayer as recorded in John 17. Here Jesus prays for his Church and asks the Father that "they all may be one." (Verse 21) Jesus’ desire for the unity of the Church, however, could only refer to the true Church, the wheat. If he desired unity for all now, why would he have said that he would separate the wheat from the tares?

Jesus’ prayer does have an answer, however. The true Church is united—and it is united in the way which Jesus wanted: by the Truth. That is what he requested in John 17:17. Notice that Jesus asks that they be "sanctified" by the truth. Sanctified means separated! (Set apart) The true Church (wheat) is to be separated (sanctified) from the false church (tares) by the truth. It is not to be united to the false church just for an outward show of unity!

The desire for unity in the ecumenical movement is a desire based on error—on misinformation.

The so-called churches, not understanding the true and whole Gospel (See “The Other Half of the Gospel”), want everyone in harmony now, thinking this to be God’s way to improve the world. But God’s way to improve the world is the establishment of His kingdom on earth which will do away with all error. This kingdom cannot function fully until the true Church (Abraham’s seed) have all been separated and glorified. Then they will bless all the nations of earth even as God himself promised to Abraham So many years ago. God never breaks a promise.

Continued with next post.

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