Asking Lyman H. Johnson: What about a group claiming to be the One True Church who shuns dissenters

Lyman H. Johnson would vehemently oppose and strongly condemn a group who claim to be “The One True Church” and shuns everyone who does not agree with them. He would see this group as a prime example of the man-made organizations, damnable sects, and apostasy that he spent his life battling.

Here’s a breakdown of his likely perspective:

1. The True Church is Spiritual and God’s Work: Johnson consistently taught that the true Church of Christ is a spiritual entity, built and organized solely by God through the Word and the Holy Spirit. Its members are those who possess true faith, are born of the Spirit, have the law written on their hearts, and are known by the fruits of holiness. The names of its members are written in heaven, not on earthly church books. Man cannot make the body of Christ.
2. Rejection of Man-Made Organizations and Sects: Any society organized by man and called a church is a “stupendous fraud,” a “bogus Church,” part of “Babylon” (which means confusion and represents the false or fallen Church), and a “damnable sect”. These organizations rely on outward laws, money, and human heads (like popes, bishops, or elders) instead of Christ).
3. Claiming “The One True Church” is an Imposture: Johnson would see a human organization making this exclusive claim as an “awful imposture” or “blasphemous absurdity”. The true Church is universal, comprising all genuine believers, and is not limited to a single humanly defined group. Applying the name “Church of Christ” to a man-made organization is a “forgery”. He would argue that being “in Christ” by saving faith makes one a member of his Church, regardless of being outside any existing human organization. Conversely, one can be in a man-made organization and out of Christ.
4. Marking and Avoiding Dissenters (Exclusion) is Usurping God’s Role: This practice of shunning aligns with his strong condemnation of man taking God’s place as the judge and separator.

• • Johnson learned through his own experience trying to “purify the Church” in Rockton that man cannot do the separating work by voting or enforcement of human discipline. His attempts to shun members based on human judgment and rules were a “fatal error” and ultimately led to him and the praying members being voted out by outsiders in a society meeting.
  • He taught that it is God’s work alone to draw the lines and separate the false from the true, using His Spirit and Word. The faithful Word of God is the “gospel fan” that does this separating work.
  • Forcing separation based on human criteria (like agreeing with their specific understanding or rules) is described as “anti-christ” and “popery,” a usurpation of Christ’s judgment seat. He stated it is “cruel and wicked” to destroy a brother’s character or disfellowship them without a “plain sin or error manifest which all can see”.
  • He fellowshipped “a child of God wherever I find him,” regardless of whether they were entangled in sectarian systems. While God calls His people to “Come out of her, my people” (referring to Babylon/false churches), this is a call to separate from the worldly, carnal systems and their sins, not necessarily from genuine Christians who may still be in them.
  • He would see a group marking and avoiding others for disagreement as acting contrary to the love and unity Christ prayed for among his disciples, which is based on inward character and is without “partiality” or “respect of persons”. Disagreements on things not essential to salvation should not divide true Christians. A “heretic” (Greek: sect or choice) is one who causes division based on some chosen idea. Thus, the group itself would be demonstrating their sectarian nature by causing this division.

In conclusion, Lyman H. Johnson would declare that such a group is not the true Church of Christ but a man-made organization and likely a “damnable sect” or part of “Babylon”. Their claim to exclusivity and practice of shunning dissenters would be seen as evidence of their sectarian nature and a usurpation of God’s sole authority to judge and separate. He would argue that this approach is contrary to the spiritual nature of the true Church and the unity of believers in Christ, which is based on inward character and God’s work through the Word and Spirit.