Who Is Sectarian?

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     Are all persons who live in sectarian churches equally under the influence of sectism? No. There are probably some in all the sects who, in mind and heart, are converted to Christ, and who so reverence his word that they will bow to its teachings just in proportion as they become acquainted therewith. All such are in mind and heart not sectarians, though outwardly living in connection with sectarianism. Just as people can outwardly live in connection with the Church of Christ without being Christians so it is true that persons can outwardly live in connection with sectarian churches without being sectarians. "For they are not all Israel who are of Israel" (Rom. 9: 6), and so they are not all sectarians who are of sectarian churches.

     What shall we say of those preachers who denounce all persons who happen to hold membership in a sectarian denomination with a sentence of sweeping impeachment, as though they were all equally under the influence of sectism? We should say they are probably more sectarian than some whom they denounce. Their manner shows they are unscripturally exclusive, and this is one of the elements of sectarianism. -- Daniel Sommer in "Religious Sectism Defined."