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COOPERATION
Christ’s people should, as occasion
requires, organize such associations and conventions as may best secure
cooperation for the great objects of the Kingdom of God. Such organizations have
no authority over one another or over the churches. They are voluntary and
advisory bodies designed to elicit, combine, and direct the energies of our
people in the most effective manner. Members of New Testament churches should
cooperate with one another in carrying forward the missionary, educational, and
benevolent ministries for the extension of Christ’s Kingdom. Christian unity
in the New Testament sense is spiritual harmony and voluntary cooperation for
common ends by various groups of Christ’s people. Cooperation is desirable
between the various Christian denominations, when the end to be attained is
itself justified, and when such cooperation involves no violation of conscience
or compromise of loyalty to Christ and His Word as revealed in the New
Testament. Exodus 17:12; Exodus 18:17ff; Judges
7:21; Ezra 1:3-4; Ezra 2:68-69; Ezra 5:14-15; Neh. 4; Neh. 8:1-5; Matthew
10:5-15; Matthew 20:1-16; Matthew 22:1-10; Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 2:3; Luke
10:1ff; Acts 1:13-14; Acts 2:1ff; Acts 4:31-37; Acts 13:2-3; Acts 15:1-35; 1 Cor.
1:10-17; 1 Cor. 3:5-15; 1 Cor. 12; 2 Cor. 8-9; Galatians 1:6-10; Ephes. 4:1-16;
Phil. 1:15-18 |