The Gospel Messenger – 1887

It does seem to us that brethren might be profited by a calm and affectionate interchange of thought one with another, even though they might differ on some points. But if each writer sets up his peculiar view of any point of doctrine as the standard of orthodoxy, and makes it a test of fellowship for any one to differ with him, then on the same principle he becomes a self-constituted tribunal, before which he censures, tries, condemns and expels members from church fellowship and communion at the Lord's table. One assumption of authority leads to another, and another, until, if not checked, there is no telling how much one may assume over the rights of others. When an individual member of the church, whether private member, deacon, preacher, or as editor of a paper for Christian correspondence, assumes the right to charge his brother with uttering blasphemy, or of upholding infidelity, or of slandering the church of God, and also assumes the right to declare non-fellowship and expel his brother from communion, without even stating one solitary sentence that has been spoken or written by such brother, it is high time for the church of God to pause and consider whether such an assumption of authority and dominion over its members will bear the scrutiny of God's word. The inspired man of God says: "But with me, it is a very small thing to be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self; for I know nothing by myself; Yet, am I not hereby justified; but he that judgeth me is the Lord." The Lord judge between thee and us, brother.--M.