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From The Free Church Quarterly,
Vol. 2, No. 5; March 15, 1893.
Sometimes the truth of God is misrepresented by mis-statement; and at other times by being mis-called. If men cannot show Scriptural principles to be wrong, or are too careless regarding them to take the trouble to examine them, they content themselves by giving them a bad name. This is the easiest, and for a time their most successful way of evading the force of them, of excusing themselves for not supporting them, and of hindering their progress. Men who dislike the pure Word of God, and the faithful preaching of it, endeavour to conceal their real dispositions by charging those who "declare the whole counsel of God," and are satisfied with nothing less, with sectarianism. To them sectarianism appears to be worse than unsound doctrines, or unscriptural devices and practices; - and to some of them worse even than open profanity. Men who think nothing of doing their business, or seeking their pleasure on God's holy day; are sometimes severe on the pious and exemplary strictness of those who "remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." Men who prefer not to attend divine worship at all than to observe it without musical and other sensuous additions, call those sectarian who seek to worship God agreeably to the examples of the New Testament Church. Meetings for united prayer are arranged for by men who displace the "spiritual psalms, hymns, and songs" of Scripture, by the uninspired compositions which they like better, and make instrumental music an essential part of their programme, and then look down with a sarcastic smile from their liberal and charitable altitude on those who are so narrow-minded as to ask for more of the Divine, and less of the human, element in the proceedings. Other instances could be given.
It may seem strange that the word sectarian is usually applied in a disparaging sense, when there never were so many sects in the world as there are now. Indeed the fact is that if any one has any convictions of a religious kind at all, he must be in a sense sectarian - he belongs to a party. If he were to refuse to take a name he will soon be known by one. Attempts have been made to form undenominational churches, which have resulted in increasing the denominations. A certain religious brotherhood which professes to assail all sects, and refuses to take any discriminating title, a late great preacher is reported to have called "the most sectarian of all the sects."
A sect means literally "something cut off, or separated; hence, a class or body of men, in philosophy or religion united together, and separated from others, by holding a particular class of tenets." The word itself does not suggest anything reproachful; though commonly used thus. Christ was "holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners." Paul spake of himself as being, "separated unto the gospel of God." The godly man in the Psalms is said to be set apart by the Lord for Himself. The people of God are commanded thus "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing;" and this promise is attached to it - "and I will receive you and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters." Of a different class are those of whom Jude thus writes: "These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit" - "who walk after their own ungodly lusts."
But many inconsiderately accuse those of a sectarian spirit who closely adhere to the principles of the Divine Word; and the more devoted they are to these, the more sectarian do they deem them to be. They wish for concessions to be made to them. They seem to think that everything at least that is not essential to salvation should be held so loosely that it should be regarded as a matter of indifference whether it be maintained or not. According to this notion, we should not say, "I esteem all Thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I therefore hate every false way." According to this, Moses need not have been so particular in the building of the tabernacle as to make all things according to the pattern shown to him in the Mount. According to this, Shadrach, Meshech, and Abednego, need not have endangered their lives, and might properly have gone with the crowd, and appeared as the worshippers of Nebuchadnezzar's image, if they secretly only worshipped God. According to this, Paul need not have withstood his co-apostle Peter, for the breach of a principle, nor have been so much concerned about declaring to the Ephesians "the whole counsel of God." According to this, the martyrs should have endeavoured to effect a compromise with their foes. According to this, there should have been no disruption of the Church of Scotland in 1843. According to this, we should not be committed to any form of church government, or discipline, or formulated creed though found in Scripture.
Some people speak as if it mattered little what creed a person subscribed, so long as he holds it lightly or treats it like his coat, which he can put on or off as circumstances direct. A man who is faithful to his ordination vows is called sectarian; a man who is not is called a charitable man; for though he "rejoiceth not in the truth," - in the whole truth, yet he has too tender a regard for people's feelings to press any matter which is not agreeable to them. Presbyterian ministers and other office-bearers declare before God that they will, to the utmost of their power assert, maintain, and defend worship, doctrine, government, and discipline according to certain recognized standards. If they perform their vows, they will be regarded as sectarians by many who have no fixed principles, and esteem those who are like themselves. If they do not, they will be praised for being liberal. It seems to be of little moment what they swear to, if they do not adhere it. When they assist the propagation of views and practices which they have solemnly protested against, they are just the men for this lax generation. Even in politics if a man breaks faith with his constituents he will hear of it. In the commercial world, if men are not faithful to their masters they may expect dismissal. But in the Church men may be unfaithful stewards, and be thought more of for it - they may waste their heavenly master's goods, and be indulged by others for it; whilst those who remind them of broken vows are called bigots or sectarians.
Though this is so, grave inconsistency is connected with it. Strange as it may seem, it is not unusual to find men who censure faithful adherents to Scriptural obligations for obstinacy and mere party-spirit, commending Romanists and other superstitious devotees for their fidelity to their system. Strange that it should be thought a virtue to be tenacious of error, and a fault to "hold fast the form of sound words" according to Scripture.
Of the Christian Church the Jews in Rome said to Paul, that it was a "sect everywhere spoken against." And still the most intense devotion to revealed truth is spoken against, and those most practically loyal to Apostolic Christianity are regarded as a strait sect. Not only do non-professors of religion dub uncompromising faithfulness to Scripture with the title which is at the head of this article; but too often men who have taken the same vows slightingly refer to others who keep them in this manner. Christ has often been "wounded in the house of his friends." Duty to Him goes farther than merely to support as much of His truth as will save men. "We get men saved," is the poor reply we receive from some quarters, when insisting on observing all things which Christ has commanded. Does this mean that complete subjection to Christ's Word would hinder some from being saved? Or does it mean that it does not matter what evil is done if good be also done? Or that God's honour is not so much to be considered as men's safety? Who will subscribe to these questions? God may bring good out of evil, and has people among much surrounding ignorance, no doubt. But we are not to encourage the evil, or excuse the ignorance, though in endeavouring to set forth and inculcate the duty of obedience to the whole teaching of His Word we may be called self-complacent or sectarian. If His people shall see eye to eye when He bringeth again Zion, it should be felt an honourable work to promote that unity here, which will be perfect when all the members of Christ's body shall be conformed, to His likeness who is the Head.
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