Gordon Clark: A MINORITY REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF CHRISTIAN CHURCHES (OPC Minutes)

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