Is ecumenism biblical? Should a Christian be involved in the ecumenical movement?

I now will answer your question why so-called brethren cannot unite with other Christians in service. Many are asking continually the same question; and recently, during the evangelistic work of Messrs. Moody and Sankey, it was thought strange, if not a proof of our being outside of the current of God's thoughts, that we did not actively take part in the movement. It is indeed argued by some that, even supposing we have the Lord's mind as to His Church, there is not sufficient reason (as it appears to them) why we should not have fellowship with others in service, when no church principle is involved. Such is your own difficulty, and I will try to meet it according as the Lord may enable me.

In a measure, the same principle applies to co-operation with believers who do not gather according to Scripture and with whom we cannot have fellowship in the Lord's Supper. If I cannot have fellowship in the Lord's Supper, can I really co-operate with them without running a serious risk of having to compromise the message I bring?

With all this, I gladly own a greater seeking after communion among those that are the Lord's. Yet I press that co-operation apart from the truth is not God's mind, nor are human and voluntary associations His method either. God's Church — not a union of churches, but a union of members with their living Head — is His association, and in this He has provided as well for the maintenance of His truth as for the true liberty of His people. If we will not take this, how can we ask Him, because He is gracious, to bless the make-shifts substituted for it? Is it "love in the truth" and for the truth's sake," where truth is set aside or compromised, in order to be together?

The oneness of which our blessed Lord spoke to the Father, recorded in John 17:21, is, that all His own might know in present communion oneness in the Father and the Son. In contrast to this, Scripture abundantly shows the utter failure of the efforts of religious-minded men for uniformity. So enamoured does the mind become by ideal uniformity, by some set of principles usually called divine, that it will pursue such in a spirit which is diametrically opposed both to the nature and character of the blessed God, harshness and cruelty often being used to enforce a particular form of uniformity, and faithfulness to God often pleaded to cover what is really a dishonour to His holy Name. Now the way of the Holy Spirit is to lead, to guide, to teach, and make known the positive truth of God, as it is revealed in His beloved Son, who has made the Father’s Name and the Father’s love known; and it is thus that exercised hearts are livingly led into the blessedness of present communion in oneness in the Father and the Son. It is the living communion of persons and not the harsh uniformity of mere religion.

If this be so, it is clear that the present divided condition of the Church is not according to the mind of the Spirit. It may be well, however, to look at some other scriptures bearing on this subject. In John 17 we find that, whether our Lord was praying for the disciples then with Him, or whether He enlarges the sphere to the whole of those who should believe on Him through their word, in both cases the first petition that He presents concerning them is — for their oneness. In verse 21 He prays, "That they all," that is all believers, "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." Here, then, the special object for which the Lord desires this oneness is that it may be a testimony to the world. No invisible unity can be this. The world can receive no evidence but that presented to it, and unless the oneness of believers is a thing discernible by the world, the testimony here spoken of is not given. The Church indeed was not formed when these words were uttered, but they were uttered in full view of the fact that the Church was soon to be formed; and the formation of the Church could not dissolve, but rather cement and define the oneness here spoken of.

And for what did He pray? "That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in Us: that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me" (21). Oneness in real fellowship of communion was His desire, and the burden of His petition. The Father is in the Son, and the Son is in the Father; hence full communion there must be between Them. The thoughts, the wishes, of the Father are the thoughts and wishes of the Son. No divergence of view, no conflict of opinion, can possibly exist between Them. A oneness, then, of communion between all believers, for that He prayed. And remembering that the company to be gathered out by apostolic ministry would embrace men of all ranks, and people of very varied nationalities, the need of the Saviour's prayer is at once made apparent. And the resulting consequence was one concerning the world: "That the world may believe that Thou didst send Me.'' Those formerly Jews, or Gentiles, or Barbarians, or Scythians, or bond or free, all united in one fellowship, owning and serving the same Lord — what short of Divine power could effect this? And if Divine power could accomplish it, what a testimony it would be to the Divine mission of the Son! That effect on the world He desired; and surely in early days, as long as all believers continued in the Apostles' doctrine and fellowship (Acts 2:42), there was that testimony. But how soon was the beautiful picture blotted! How sadly has it become marred!

Another point is: if cooperation weakens individual responsibility, it will weaken the whole church. I get the whole body in the church. There is the eye, and car, etc., each in its own place. Love unites in love and intelligence. The moment God puts Paul in subjection, then it was seen Paul was mighty, and the intelligence of the mind of God as to individual action. If that is not the case, there is no love in service. I see the Holy Ghost going before the church. Paul, in evangelizing, was the servant of Christ, and of nobody else. We are servants of the Lord, if walking in the same spirit; we have a common joy, and altogether free from all men as servants of Christ. Important to see individual responsibility — then I afterwards see the body, which necessarily involves cooperation. See Paul acting with the most perfect independence, and in the same epistle he speaks of going up to Jerusalem for counsel of the apostles about his ministry, In another place we have cooperation in regard to individual service. The apostate mind may like to be a centre; but a man conscious of weakness, depending on God, delights in cooperation and fellowship in service. Even an apostle found it sad to have no man like-minded.

I mourn these efforts to dislocate the united action hitherto carried out, but as yet will hope that we may not have the testimony that we have not enough of the power of God's Spirit to overcome the practical difficulties, but are obliged to confess that we give up the testimony to the unity of God's church in London. - 's practical independency, or congregationalism, I repudiate with every energy I am capable of. What I earnestly desire is, the cordial co-operation of brethren to maintain common order in one body according to the scriptures and the unity of the Spirit of God; and I earnestly pray that the beloved brethren in London may be kept in grace seeking it, in the faithful desire of union, and service in lowliness of heart, and I am sure of the faithfulness of God to help them, and carry it out in grace for them. May the Lord bless and keep them. I have laboured with them, and suffered with them, and trust the Lord that He will bless them in the unity of the Spirit of God. May they remember that there is one Spirit and one body.

In many denominations Christians come together to consider the Lord's work, to express their interest in it and to identify themselves with it. Is it necessary that we, as two or three or more gathered to the Lord's Name, are cut off from all gathering together for such purposes? I believe that wherever such a lack of gathering exists, it is a most serious lack. It tends to restrict our interest in one another and deprive us of much of the good that should come from the differences among us, which make mutual help so necessary.

Let God's people do likewise today; let there be interchange of loving greetings and visits between Assemblies. May diligent efforts be put forth by the Lord's servants and by local brethren in visiting and ministering among the Assemblies and making the saints acquainted with the activities, joys, sorrows, and needs of the various gatherings. Then let us all feel and share these joys or burdens and pray for each other. The work of those who give themselves to the service of the Lord and travel about among the Assemblies in the ministry of the Word is a very important and necessary service towards maintaining unity and promoting fellowship between Assemblies. Satan would also seek to use them in sowing discord. Of this they must beware.