However, there are some essential absolutes that must be established. The doctrine of Christ must be agreed upon as a constitutional necessity among every adjoining denomination whether Protestant or Roman Catholic (Heb. 6:1). Simply, Jesus is God in the flesh, God in the person of the Son. (See the explanation of the Council of Nicaea.) Second, the doctrine of Acts 15:28, 29 must be adhered to: to abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication. As far as fornication is concerned, sexual purity must be encouraged and required by all means. This is why I mentioned the exception of the adjoining denominations because the false leaders most likely would not be willing to agree and repent.
Third, as to doctrine, we should be willing to agree to go on to full growth (Heb. 6:1-3). However, it must be understood that no one, except Jesus, is without fault. James, a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, said in a book we consider divine and authoritative, "we stumble" (James 3:2)--he did not exclude himself.
Fourth, as to a more full respect to the second doctrine in an attempt to avoid any misunderstanding (from the perspective of Ex. 20:3, 4), since words are acceptable to all, and pictures or statues are not, then no graven images should be hung on walls, or monuments placed on the grounds. However, engraven Scriptures are not offensive and therefore are excluded (acceptable).
So, to summarize the adjoining of efforts, simply all that must be established is : (1) the avoidance of majority rule of any particular denomination, which rights, I suppose, each denomination may inherently forfeit by instituting the joint institution in a new name, for instance, "United Missionaries' School of Christian Education," or some other name, and (2) the agreement upon a simple, but holy doctrinal constitution that is yielding and tolerant toward others, and which attempts to avoid unrighteous offense (sermon #10). (See Acts 15:28, 29.)







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