Much is being said here of late on the subject of unity. Recently a religious paper came to me with its pages filled with articles from various writers on this subject Many good things were said and denominationalism was condemned in no uncertain terms, showing that in many things they differed from the word of God and so caused the divided state of religion today.

But the thing that bothers me most is the divided condition of our own brethren — many going around and teaching for "doctrine the commandments of men." Unity that is different from the doctrine of Christ is not the unity for which Christ prayed. It does no good to pray for unity without working for peace, righteousness, and joy in the Kingdom of God.

James says that "the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." But a righteeous man will work righteousness; he will obey God; he will avoid untaught questions—knowing that they gender strifes; he will, for the sake of unity, leave off those things that would cause his brother to stumble or become weak (Rom. 14).

In order for us to have unity we must have a single rule and all walk by this same standard. "Let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same things," (Phil. 3). This must be Christ’s rule, for man cannot make a rule that all will agree to be safe. Hence, we are told in Col. 3:17, "Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord." Unity cannot exist between those who recognize the supreme authority of Christ and those who do not. "If any man have not the spirit of Christ he is none of His," (Rom. 8:9). Again: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (Phil.: 2:5). We are to be governed by the mind of Christ, follow His teachings. When we accept Christ as the supreme head and authority of the Church and act, think, and speak as He has commanded, then we will be "perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." But when we follow after things that were never heard of for 1900 years after the ascension of Christ, we are not guided by the mind’ of Christ.

Nowhere in His word did Christ give His people the authority to use instruments of music in the worship, nor to divide the assembly into classes to be taught, using human literature as their text books, and women teachers over such classes; plurality of cups and loaves. These last named innovations have crept in in my day, and are nowhere hinted at in the New Testament.

These things do not come from the teachings of Christ, and they are the things that are keeping God’s people divided. Why should we pray for unity and practice the things that cause division? We do not have unity until we think, act, and speak alike. We must be "like-minded, having the same love, of one accord, of one mind," as we read in Phil. 2:2.

Loyal Christians should urge, as never before, the Bible as the only rule of faith and practice, and the only possible ground of unity among the disciples of Christ. Whatever is more than the Bible is too much, and anything less is not enough.

If you are not a Christian you should obey the gospel and become one.

If you are wearing a denominational name you are causing religious division; if you are worshipping God to the tune of a musical instrument, supporting the Sunday School with its modern equipment, using more than one loaf and one cup on the Lord’s table, you are causing division among the people of God.

All of these, and any other innovation can be left off, and if we will quit practicing such things then we can all think, act, and speak alike; and we will have that much talked of and prayed for UNITY.