Editorial September 27, 1924 Issue

"Be of one mind"

Duncan Sinclair

The Christian Church had not been long in existence when discussion broke out among its members. Doctrinal points began to be disputed, and the old weaknesses of the carnal mind asserted themselves in jealousy, malice, envy, impurity, and such like traits. The evidence of these unregenerate qualities greatly disturbed the apostles; and so we find Paul making strong appeals to those at Corinth and Rome who had espoused the Christian faith and who called themselves Christians. In his second epistle to the Corinthians he writes, "Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you;" while to the Romans he says, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God," continuing, "Be of the same mind one toward another." "Be of one mind"! That was the secret of the comfort and peace which it was the right of every one to possess who followed Christ Jesus in his understanding of the God of love.

The history of the Christian Church since its early days likewise bears witness to many a schism, to many an internal dissension, to many a lapse of many of its members from the Mind of Christ, which, surely, should be expected to pervade the thoughts of all. So great, indeed, did dissension become at times that ruptures often occurred, sometimes eventuating in persecutions as vile as any which have darkened the pages of heathen story. And these dissensions have come about—they have always come about—because certain Christians ceased to "be of one mind," because they lapsed from the truth and failed to practice those spiritual graces which the Master taught and exemplified, allowing themselves once more to be "conformed to this world."

The question will present itself, Will Christians ever sufficiently "be of one mind" to be able to dwell in constant loving unity with each other? The fact that they have not succeeded as they should in the past has frequently brought ridicule and skepticism and distrust upon the religion founded by Christ Jesus from the nations of the world who have not yet reverently named the name of Christ. And it cannot be said that the evidence is very great that those of whom better things were to be expected have done their duty in rectifying what is undoubtedly one of the darkest stains on Christian history.

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