If Our Task Is To Be Accomplished By Francis A

If Our Task Is To Be Accomplished
By Francis A. Schaeffer
From Reformation Review, April, 1954, pp. 11-13

Unity already exists between all true Christians. We have one Father, one Saviour, and are indwelt by one Holy Spirit; there is one body, one calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism. The I.C.C.C. is an attempt to find outward expression of that unity which already exists.

Section I

But the true unity which already exists is not among all those who use the name Christian. It is clear from Scripture that this unity is limited to those who profess from the heart;

a. The infallible and authoritative Scripture

b. The Scriptural Christ

And it is also clear that in a Council of Churches if there is to be Scriptural oneness, the ecclesiastical units which make up that council must be those which maintain these same two points in a practical fashion. Maintaining these two points in a practical fashion has an internal and an external aspect.

a. - Internal - These two points must be set forth with clarity in the creed of the ecclesiastical unit; and discipline must be exercised to maintain that creed.

b. - External - The ecclesiastical unit must not be in affiliations which in practice deny the importance of these two points.

To try to find an outward expression of Scriptural unity on less a basis than this is to think that we can play with the holiness of God.

Section II

But if we are to realize our great task of establishing an outward expression of the unity which already exists between true Christians, our emphasis cannot stop with a consideration of the limitations, important as that is; we must also emphasize the need of the correct frame of mind and heart in those of us who, by the grace of God, do come within the circle of those limitations.

Two sets of verses show us a great deal as to what our frame of mind and heart must be if our task is to be accomplished.

The first is found in John 13:34, 35: - "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another".

Our love for our fellow-Christians is to be measured by the standard set by the love of Christ for us. First then, in quality it is to be no shallow, half-way emotion. In quality it is to be measured by that love of Christ for His people which took Him to the cross and made Him willing even to reach that dark moment wherein He cried, "my God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?"

Second, in extent our brotherly love must also be measured by Christ's. He loved all His sheep, and we must love all true Christians as our brothers in Christ. We must love the true Christians across all geographical, national, racial, denominational and credal boundaries.

If we do not thus love, according to these verses, then men, including fellow-Christians, have a right to judge that we are not the disciples of the Christ who gave us this command.

The second passage is in John 17:11, 21: - "And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are". "That they all 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".

These verses are in the midst of Christ's High Priestly prayer. What a solemn moment that was! And in the midst of it Christ sets forth the apologetic by which the world has a right to judge if Christ is truly the Christ -- true Christians are to be one.

This oneness is obviously neither just organizational (as the Roman Catholics would have us believe); nor is it just that of the mystical union of believers. This oneness, according to these verses, is to be wider than any organization which has existed, at least from the earliest days of the Christian church; it is to include all true Christians, and it is open to demonstration to a watching world.

We are to demonstrate before the world the oneness of all true Christians. We are to demonstrate that the division which has existed between man and man since the fall has, on the basis of our sharing in the blood of Christ, been partly mended in this present life among true Christians. We are to demonstrate that the words, "the brotherhood of believers" and "the communion of saints", are more than just meaningless slogans.

Section III

But this raises a very real question. How are we going to demonstrate this oneness with all true Christians when we must differ with some brother in Christ? And at times we must differ with Christian brethren, both in and out of the "separated movement", so as not to share in what appears to us to be their mistakes, or wrong doing.

It seems that the world has a right to expect that grace will be displayed in at least the following particulars when we must differ with true Christians:

a.- That we will differ with genuine regret and tears.

b.- That in the midst of the difference we will show forth that same loving restraint in our words and actions which comes so instinctively to us when we must differ with our natural mothers.

c.- That we will approach our differences seeking a solution of them rather than with a desire to win.

In any difference it is easy to compromise if acting in the flesh, but if the point is essential, compromise will not be acceptable before the eyes of the living and holy God. It is almost equally easy when acting in the flesh not to compromise, but in the midst of the difference to lose sight of the oneness of all true Christians and the love which should be manifested between them; but in the light of Scripture this also will not be acceptable. The God who is light and who is love demands that by the empowering of the Holy Spirit we never compromise even a jot or a tittle, and yet at the same time demonstrate the oneness of all true Christians and the love which should exist between us. This is quite beyond the power of the flesh to achieve; but the flesh in principles, methods, and attitudes is not sufficient for our historic task. It is only a humble walk in the indwelling Spirit which can hope to avail.

The limitations must be clearly defined and maintained; and our frame of mind must be correct if our task is to be accomplished.·