1945. A MINORITY REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF CHRISTIAN CHURCHES. Minutes of the Twelfth General Assembly. The Orthodox Presbyterian Church. May 17-23. Pgs. 63-66.
A MINORITY REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE AMERICAN COUNCIL
OF CHRISTIAN CHURCHES AND THE SCRIPTURAL PRINCIPLES OF COOPERATION WITH OTHER
CHURCHES
TO THE 12th GENERAL ASSEMBLY. OF THE ORTHODOX PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
We do not believe that it is necessary to argue against
religious cooperation with unbelievers, those who deny the fundamentals of the
Christian faith, or against organic union with Christian bodies which we
believe are less pure in doctrine. On these two points there is in our
denomination general agreement. We believe also that there is general agreement
to the proposition that there must be cooperation with other truly Christian
bodies whom we believe are less pure insofar as such cooperation does not
compromise and impair what we believe to be true.
Concerning the last proposition there is a difference of
opinion as to what compromises and impairs what we believe to be true. Some of
us seem to believe that any cooperation with a Church which we deem less pure
is sinful while others believe that there is a wide area of cooperation with such
bodies on the basis of the great fundamental truths of Christianity as stated
for instance in the preamble of the constitution of the American Council of
Christian Churches.
“Whereas, it is the duty of Christian believers to make
common testimony to their glorious faith, especially in darkening days of
apostasy, the bodies forming this Council do now establish it as an agency
unreservedly dedicated without compromise or evasions a witness to the glory of
God and the historic faith of the Church universal, including adherence to
these truths among others equally precious: the full truthfulness, inerrancy,
and authority of the Bible, which is the Word of God; the holiness and love of
the one sovereign God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit; the true deity and sinless
humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His atoning death, “the
just for the un- just”, His bodily resurrection, His glorious coming again;
salvation by grace through faith alone; the oneness in Christ of those He has
redeemed with His own precious blood; and the maintenance in the visible Church
of purity of life and doctrine”.
We believe that the O.P.C. should affiliate itself with the
American Council of Christian Churches on the basis of this preamble, its
’constitution and its history to date.
Almost all ministers and laymen of the O.P.C. will readily
accede to the duty declared in the above preamble.
1. It is biblical. To all who hold the above doctrines we
must extend the right hand of fellowship in Christ. We must evidence the spirit
of cooperation in the service of Christ. Who would dare to anathematize those
who honor Christ and His Word? Who among us would say that we are to refuse to
bid God-speed to the servants of Christ who are contending for the faith once
delivered to the saints? If we admit that such men are brethren in Christ, what
casuistry can justify the refusal to obey the command of Christ that we should
love one another. How can we say that we obey this commandment if we refuse to
cooperate with our brethren in Christ in the struggle against an enemy which is
seeking to abolish true Christianity from the face of the globe. Our vocation
calls for a demonstration of lowliness and meekness and forebearing of one
another in love. We are laborers together with God. We are God’s building.
2. It is possible to make a common testimony to the catholic
doctrine common to the whole confessing Church embraced in the great ecumenical
creeds and at the same time maintain our distinctive reformed witness. This is
a council of Churches for common action against the enemies of God, to wit,
Modernism, Romanism, Communism, and any other ism which denies or compromises
the truthfulness of the above doctrines. It takes common action in behalf of
historic Christianity. It is not a union of Churches. It is not saying or
implying that we consider that our distinctive reformed witness is unimportant
any more than others in the Council think that their arminianism, immersion or
ritual is unimportant. It is a Council in which Bible-believing Presbyterians,
Methodists, Baptists and Independents remain such with all their hearts and yet
stand together as citizens of the Kingdom of God in conflict with the Kingdom
of Satan. It is a Council which is pledged not to do work which is generally
accepted as being in the ecclesiastical sphere. It is pledged to aid the
constituent denominations in their distinctive witness.
3. It is necessary for us to affiliate ourselves with the
American Council of Christian Churches. Unless Bible-believing Christians unite
for common action it is more than likely that the totalitarian trend fostered
by Modernism, Romanism, Communism and Fascism will destroy the freedom of religion
as we know it. We are faced with a life and death struggle which compels us to
join the A.C.C.C. or stay on the side lines and argue among ourselves with the
distinct possibility of either perishing or existing as a harmless and freakish
sect.
The battle is joined. The conflict is raging. The Federal
Council of Churches, modernist, pacifist and near communist is seeking to prove
its evangelicalism. This is the first time that the Federal Council has been
forced to face doctrinal issues. It is 2. It is squirming under the attack of
the A.C.C.C. It is using every weapon at its command to destroy the American
Council of Churches. And it has all the weapons used in the fight against us by
the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. and more.
The American Council has challenged the Federal Council
successfully as to its right to represent Protestantism in the realm of radio
and in providing chaplains for the armed forces. It has obtained recognition in
accord with the numbers it represents.
The American Council is fighting for the right of
evangelicals to preach on the radio. There are many schemes afoot to drive
Bible-believing preachers from the air-lanes.
The American Council has won the right for naval chaplains
to preach and act without being discriminated against.
The American Council is leading the fight against the V-12
program which denies theological students the privilege of attending a
Fundamentalist school.
The American Council is struggling against the Romanist
influence which almost wholly succeeds in keeping Protestant missionaries from
Central and South America.
The American Council is aiding in the protest against
American representation at the Vatican.
The American Council is continually fighting acts, or
proposed acts of Congress which would tend to destroy the doctrine of the
separation of Church and State, and to destroy the freedom of religion.
The American Council is trying to change the present
practice of keeping denominations and churches out of U. S. housing
developments.
The activity of the American Council has been recognized by
the Federal Council, The Christian Century, Time Magazine, the modernist heads
of some of the large denominations and the Congress and the Senate of the
United States.
It is the only agency through which we can effectively
engage in the great religious conflicts of our day.
The size and calibre of our enemies, the question of
religious liberty, the need for Christian education, the social and moral
questions of society demand united action on the part of Bible-believers. The
immorality and anti-Christian acts of noted figures demand a united protest.
Our world and life view demands that our isolationism be
ended. Christian love demands that we aid our brethren who are undergoing so
much for us. We need to remember that:
1. Affiliation with the American Council will not undermine
our distinctive reformed witness, on the contrary it will obtain a greater
hearing for that witness.
2. It is impossible to delegate ecclesiastical authority to
any Council. Ministers are always subject to the discipline of their respective
denominations or churches. Committees of the denominations must report to their
denominations. #Denominations can drop out of the Council or repudiate its
decisions at any time.
3. Departments of Evangelism, Home Missions, Foreign
Missions and Christian education are included in the by-laws of the A.C. of
C.C. in order to promote the witness of its constituents.
4. The enemies of the American Council, and our enemies
before 1937, are very clever in calling attention to what it terms the lack of
dignity and fairness in its methods. They have a difficult if not impossible
task to prove the charges.
5. One need not worry too much about the good o inion of
compromisers or those whose conservatism tends toward cold orthodoxy. Whose
friendship is important, theirs or that of militant Bible-believers ?
6. One need not worry about differences of opinion on great
issues dealt with by the Council. We would not want to be in a' Council that
dealt with safe and non-controversial matters. Such matters are not important.
When have we been noted for unanimity?
We contend that there is not one principle that should keep
us from affiliating ourselves with the American Council and that there are at
least three principles that can be adduced in favor of such an affiliation.
1. We should cooperate with other Christian bodies insofar
as such cooperation does not compromise or impair our distinctive witness,
2. It is our duty to help those who are fighting our
battles.
3. It is a duty to uphold the hands of Christian brethren
who are being smeared and maligned for Christ’s sake.
In addition we want to again call your attention to at least
three reasons why it would be wise to become a constituent member of the
A.C.C.C.
1. It would break our present isolationism.
2. It would take us out of the forum into the arena of
action.
3. It would help us escape that brand of conservatism which
is inclined toward cold-orthodoxy.
And finally - A fearful possibility awaits us if we do not
join in the battle. The enemies of freedom are growing stronger. If we do not
embrace this opportunity of fighting our enemies and God’s enemies, we as a
denomination, may not have another chance.
Accordingly, we recommend that the 12th General Assembly of
the Orthodox Presbyterian Church direct a committee of three, elected by the
Assembly, to take what action is necessary to apply for constituent membership
in the American Council of Christian Churches, and in the event that the
application is accepted, authorize the committee to represent it on said
Council until the 13th General Assembly.
SAMUEL G. ALLEN
GORDON H. CLARK
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