| The Watchtower Says... |
| Early Watchtower Position on Sects and Divisions 1. “We are in fellowship with all Christians in whom we can recognize the Spirit of Christ, and especially with those who recognize the Bible as the only standard. We do not require, therefore, that all shall see, just as we do in order to be called Christians; realizing that growth in both grace and knowledge is a gradual process….” Zion's Watch Tower, April 1882 === 2. “Question: ‘Would not an earnest, aggressive organization (or sect), built upon Scriptural lines, be the best means of spreading and publishing the real Good Tidings? We must have fellowship and sympathy. Union is strength. It is not the skirmishers that win the battle, but the disciplined and solid battalions.’ “Answer: ‘... the natural man cannot understand how a company of people, with no organization which they can see, is ever going to accomplish anything. As they look upon us, they regard us simply as a few scattered skirmishers-a ‘peculiar people’-with very peculiar ideas and hopes, but not worthy of special notice. “But, though, it is impossible for the natural man to see our organization, because he cannot understand the things of the Spirit of God, we trust that you can see that the true Church is most effectually organized, and in the best possible working order. The apostle Paul urges all to unity of faith and purpose (Phil. 3:15, 16-Diaglott.) All led by the same Spirit may and do come to a knowledge of the same truth. Under our Captain, all the truly sanctified, however few or far separated in person, are closely united by the Spirit of Christ, in faith, hope and love; and , in following the Master's command, are moving in solid battalions for the accomplishment of his purposes. But, bear in mind, God is not dependent upon numbers (See Judges 7, as an illustration). “Recognizing this organization, which is of the Spirit, and desiring no assimilation whatever with the worldly, who cannot see or understand it, we are quite willing to bear the reproach of a peculiar people. We always refuse to be called by any other name that that of our Head-Christians-continually claiming that there can be no division among those continually led by this Spirit and example as made known through his Word." The Watch Tower (3/1883) === 3. "New readers in all parts of the country are constantly inquiring: By what names do you call yourselves? Are you Primitive Baptists? Are you Missionary Baptists? Are you Universalists? Are you Adventists? Are you Primitive Methodists? etc., etc. We have several times tried to make clear our position, and now endeavor in a few words again to do so. “We belong to NO earthly organization; hence, if you should name the entire list of sects, we should answer, No, to each and to all. WE adhere only to that heavenly organization-"whose names are written in heaven." (Heb. 12:23; Luke 10:20.) All the saints now living, or that have lived during this age, belonged to OUR CHURCH ORGANIZATION: such are all ONE Church, and there is NO OTHER recognized by the Lord. Hence any earthly organization which in the least interferes with this union of saints is contrary to the teachings of Scripture and opposed to the Lord's will-That they may be ONE. (John 17:11.)" The Watchtower 2/1884 === 4. “Beware of ‘organization.’ It is wholly unnecessary The Bible rules will be the only rules you will need. Do not seek to bind others consciences, and do not permit others to bind yours. Believe and obey so far as you can understand God's Word today, and so continue growing in grace and knowledge and love day by day.” The Watchtower 9/15/1895 === 5. “Some have consecrated themselves to a sect, and have received a sectarian spirit of love for the sect, devotion to the sect, service and sacrifice for the sect, etc.” Studies in the Scriptures, vol. 5, 194 === 6. “There is here a clearly drawn line of distinction, not only between the believers and unbelievers, but also between the consecrated and the unconsecrated. However, the line is to be drawn by each individual for himself— so long as his professions are good and reasonably attested by his outward conduct. It is not for one member to be the judge of another, nor even for the Church to judge, unless, as already pointed out, the matter has come before it in some definite form, according to the prescribed regulations. Otherwise the elders, or representatives of the Church, should set before those who assemble themselves these terms and conditions—(1) faith in the blood; and (2) consecration to the Lord and his service, even unto death. They should then invite all who are thus minded and thus consecrated to join in celebrating the Lord's death and their own. This, and all invitations connected with this celebration, should be so comprehensively stated as to leave no thought of sectarianism. All should be welcomed to participate, regardless of their faith and harmony on other subjects, if they are in full accord in respect to these foundation truths—the redemption through the precious blood, and a full consecration unto death, giving them justification.” Studies in the Scriptures, vol. 6, 473 === 7. “What can we think would be the language of the Apostle if he stood with us today in the flesh, and witnessed the present division into various denominations? Assuredly he would tell us that it indicated a large measure of carnality—a large measure of the spirit of the world. This does not mean that all connected with these systems are carnal and wholly without the spirit of the Lord. It would, however, signify that in proportion as we have the Spirit of the Lord, and in proportion as we are freed from the carnal mind and its leadings and influence, in those same proportions we will feel out of sympathy with the divisions which we see about us…” Studies in the Scriptures, vol. 6, 82 === 8. “Not only do we deprecate the taking of any human name, but we deprecate any name that is or might become a sectarian or party name, and thus separate some of the Lord's people from all others who are his. We would avoid the special use of the term ‘Christian Church,’ or the term ‘Church of God,’ as these names are used to identify particular faiths and communions amongst the Lord's people. Rather, we would use and answer to all the various Scriptural names, Disciples, Church of God, Church of Christ, Church of the Living God, Church at Corinth, Church at Allegheny, etc.” Studies in the Scriptures, vol. 6, 83 === With regard to the Great Company or Great Crowd of Revelation 7:9… 9. “Instead of teaching that the saved of our race will all be saved to the same thing, the Scriptures show two degrees or kinds of Heavenly salvation, and two degrees of kinds of earthly salvation. In the second chapter of Genesis the stream which went forth from the Garden of Eden was divided into four parts. This is a Scriptural recognition of the fact that from Adam, the original fountain of life, will flow four streams: The Little Flock, who are to sit down with Christ in His Throne; the Great Company, who are to stand before the Throne, having the palms of martyrdom without the crowns of glory; the Ancient Worthies, the Jewish fathers, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Daniel, etc., who are to be made princes in all the earth; and the world of mankind, who will constitute the subjects of the Kingdom over which the Ancient Worthies will rule. The same lesson is taught in the division of the Levites into four camps, each located on a different side of the Tabernacle. It is also taught in the Apostle’s statement in 2 Tim 2:20, that in God’s Great House, there will ultimately be found four classes of vessels to His praise.” Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 7, 134 === 10. “If, in these tests of faith and character, we come off victorious in the Lord’s sight, we shall not need to be of those who wash their robes and make them white in the blood of the Lamb, in the great tribulation with which this Age will close, but shall keep our robes unspotted so that they will not need such a general cleansing.” Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 7, 136 === 11. Less faithful but forgiven are the sectarian “followers of Paul or Apollos, Cephus or Luther, Calvin or Wesley” … In one parable, the Lord styles this class a wicked and slothful servant. He does not deny him the honor of being a servant. He does not charge him with becoming an enemy…. The Great Company (Great Crowd) are heavenly “heirs of salvation” who do not “receive a full reward.” “Because they have not lived up to their covenants… (they suffer)… thirst, hunger, snake-bites… (They are) “spotted and soiled by contact with the world” and accordingly experience “the utter wreck of Babylon the Great and receive some measure of her plagues.” Therefore they must “wash their robes and make them white in the blood of the Lamb." Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 7, 134-141; Zion’s Watch Tower 1907, 315ff. === 12. “Luther, the leading spirit of the reformation, did not stop with one error, but attempted to throw out many others… “Calvin, Knox and others … did a great and valuable work which has since borne more good fruit than many seem to see… “Those called Baptists represent another effort at cleansing the Sanctuary… “The Wesleys and their colaborers, oppressed by the prevalent coldness and formality of their day, endeavored to cast out some of the cold formalism naturally resulting from the union of church and state, and to show the necessity of individual holiness through personal faith in and union with Christ… “Unitarianism and Universalism, though likewise embodying errors, have also been attempts to cast out defiling errors… “A later reform is known by the name of "The Christian Church" or "The Disciples…" “Another reform, and in some respects the most thorough of all, had its start shortly after the last mentioned, as referred to briefly in the preceding chapter. Mr. William Miller, “While we have mentioned but a few of the reformers and reform movements, we must not be understood as rejecting or ignoring others. Far from it: the reform has been general, and all true, earnest Christians have had some share in the work of cleansing.” Studies in the Scriptures, vol. 3, 109-115 === 13. “That ‘Miller movement,’ as it is slightingly called, brought also an individual blessing to the ‘holy people’ who participated in it: it led to a careful searching of the Scriptures, and to confidence in God's Word above the traditions of men; and it warmed and fed and united the hearts of God's children in unsectarian fellowship; for those interested were of all denominations, though principally Baptists. It is since that movement ended, that some of these have organized and bound themselves as new sects, thus blinding themselves to some of the blessings due in the ‘harvest.’” Studies in the Scriptures, vol. 3, 194 === 14. “While those symbolized by the wheat are ever encouraged to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ made them free, and to avoid entangling alliances with open transgressors and with wolves in sheep's clothing, yet they were not to attempt to draw the line between the fully consecrated class (the wheat, the saints), and the tares who profess Christ's name and doctrines, and who to some extent allow these doctrines to influence their outward conduct, but whose heart desires are far from the Lord and his service. This judging of hearts, motives, etc., which is beyond our power, and which the Lord commanded us to entirely avoid, is the very thing which the various sects have all along endeavored to accomplish; attempting to separate, to test the wheat, and to keep out … tares or heretics… “Today we see what a mistake the various sects have made in not following the Lord's counsel, to let wheat and tares, saints and professors, grow together, without attempting a separation. Honest men in every sect will admit that in their sects are many tares, professors not saints, and that outside their sectarian bars are many saints. Thus, no sect today either can or does claim to be all wheat, and free from tares. Much less would any earthly organization (except Christadelphians and Mormons) be bold enough to claim that it contained all of the wheat.” Studies in the Scriptures, vol. 3, 138 === 15. “The tares would prefer to have the various sects judged as so many corporations, and in comparison one with another… But this they cannot do: the test of worthiness for the Kingdom honors will be an individual one—of individual fidelity to God and his truth—and not a trial of sects, to see which of them is the true one.” Studies in the Scriptures, vol. 3, 139 === 16. “While individual liberty must outwardly be recognized as never before, we see that really there never was a time when the bands were so thoroughly drawn, to bind all wheat and tares into the many bundles. There never was a time when arrangements were so close, and so restraining of all personal liberties, as now. Every spare hour of a zealous sectarian is filled by some of the many meetings or projects, so that no time for untrammeled thought and Bible study can be had. The principal design of these meetings, entertainments, etc., is sectarian growth and strength; and the effect is the bondage mentioned, so detrimental to the real development of the consecrated children of God, the wheat.” Studies in the Scriptures, vol. 3, 145 === 17. “Surely all know that whenever they join any of these human organizations, accepting its Confession of Faith as theirs, they bind themselves to believe neither more nor less than that creed expresses on the subject. If, in spite of the bondage thus voluntarily yielded to, they should think for themselves, and receive light from other sources, in advance of the light enjoyed by the sect they have joined, they must either prove untrue to the sect and to their covenant with it, to believe nothing contrary to its Confession, or else they must honestly cast aside and repudiate the Confession which they have outgrown, and come out of such a sect. To do this requires grace and costs some effort, disrupting, as it often does, pleasant associations, and exposing the honest truth-seeker to the silly charges of being a ‘traitor’ to his sect, a ‘turncoat,’ one ‘not established,’ etc.” Studies in the Scriptures, vol. 3, 184-185 === 18. “When one joins a sect, his mind is supposed to be given up entirely to that sect, and henceforth not his own. The sect undertakes to decide for him what is truth and what is error; and he, to be a true, staunch, faithful member, must accept the decisions of his sect, future as well as past, on all religious matters, ignoring his own individual thought, and avoiding personal investigation, lest he grow in knowledge, and be lost as a member of such sect. This slavery of conscience to a sect and creed is often stated in so many words, when such a one declares that he ‘belongs’ to such a sect.” Studies in the Scriptures, vol. 3, 185 === 19. “… if he still continues to grow in grace and knowledge and love of truth, and into an appreciation of the liberty wherewith Christ makes free, you may by and by find him outside of all human organizations, joined merely to the Lord and to his saints, bound only by the tender but strong ties of love and truth, like the early Church. 1 Cor. 6: 15, 17; Eph. 4: 15, 16.” Studies in the Scriptures, vol. 3, 186 === 20. “But no earthly organization can grant a passport to heavenly glory. The most bigoted sectarian (aside from the Romanist) will not claim, even, that membership in his sect will secure heavenly glory. All are forced to admit that the true Church is the one whose record is kept in heaven, and not on earth. They deceive the people by claiming that it is needful to come to Christ through them—needful to become members of some sectarian body in order to become members of "the body of Christ," the true Church. On the contrary, the Lord, while he has not refused any who came to him through sectarianism, and has turned no true seeker away empty, tells us that we need no such hindrances, but could much better have come to him direct.” Studies in the Scriptures, vol. 3, 187 |
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