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Fellowship, Unity and Divisions
Berean/Dawn/Watchman/Maranathan/Old Paths Separatist Fellowship Doctrine
"We do believe we are in fellowship with all in our community who share the emblems."
Jim Phillips, Berean"We do believe that all Berean Christadelphians are in fellowship with each other, without exception."
Jim Phillips, Berean
Unity Documents of Interest
What's Wrong with NASU? (HTML format).
Some Unamended Replies to NASU have been posted here: http://nasureplies.bravehost.com/
1981 Unity Movement Rejected. See the reason why and how the same problem exists with NASU.
This is a NASU mailing that was sent only to Unamended households. Notice the less than forthright statement on resurrectional responsibility in answer #1? So the question for Central brethren is, is NASU honestly representing your position? Not in this mailing. The question for Unamended brethren is, is NASU honestly representing the Central position to you?
NASU leaves the problem of "implementation" of "unity" to the future. The NASU committee has not been willing to say how NASU would work... But isn't this begging the question? NASU is supposed to bring about "unity". This can only be done by specifying HOW. Yet, in an clever turn, the NASU committee has decided to put the very work it is supposed to be accomplishing to the future -- AFTER this initial vote on whether to proceed passes or fails!? Does anyone think "implementation" will end up being be anything less than an "open door" policy between the two groups?
How far are some brethren willing to go when it comes to fellowship? Here you will see that a NASU Committee member is teaching at the Church of God gathering. Another Central brother is listed as a primary teacher as well. You will see that the Church of God is a descendant of Dowieism in this document so that the current ignorance is not just an ignorance of Biblical doctrine but of Christadelphian history as well.
I wonder... why do we allow these unelected self-appointed "unity" committees to threaten both communities with fresh division every 5 or 10 years? Every unity movement that has tried to establish it on the basis of plainly stated doctrinal positions has failed.
"In the latter-day history of the Truth there have been several divisions caused through the introduction of a false doctrine. As brother Roberts pointed out not long before his death, the main divisions were caused by attacks on the fundamental truths of Christ’s redemptive work. The 'no will' theory was in effect a denial of Christ's trial and perfect obedience. The 'renunciation' theory was in effect a denial that 'Christ came in the flesh.' The 'theories of inspiration' attacked the Word and therefore made a direct attack upon Christ. The divergent views regarding resurrectional responsibility were never treated as serious until in an attempt to formulate a coherent theory it became plain how closely the matter was connected with the redemptive work of Christ." (The Christadelphian, 1923, Islip Collyer, p. 261-262)
It is clear to me that the NASU committee members do not understand the issues involved and therefore do not realize how the matter is connected with the redemptive work of Christ.
Fellowship
What does it mean to fellowship the sufferings of Christ?
The Principle of Fellowship
"Our fellowship is with the Father, and with His son Jesus Christ. . . . God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His son cleanseth us from all sin' ( 1 John 1:3-7 ). The teaching of this important passage is:
"'Light' is a figurative expression for knowledge, truth, wisdom, and righteousness; and 'darkness' represents ignorance, error, folly and wickedness; where the one reigns, the other cannot be. The mind of man is by nature 'darkened' ( Rom. 1:21 ; Eph. 4:18 ); only by divine instruction can the darkness be superseded by light: 'The entrance of thy words giveth light: it giveth understanding unto the simple' ( Ps. 119:130 ). 'If they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them' ( Isa. 8:20 ). To 'walk in the light' is to act in harmony with the Word of God, and before anyone can do this he must be satisfied as to what constitutes the Word of God." (The Christadelphian, 1886, page 126)
"Some accept the truth in part, but are either unable or unwilling to receive it in its entirety. They believe in the kingdom but reject the Bible doctrine of death; or they hold the mortal nature of man but do not receive the restoration of the kingdom again to Israel; or they accept both, but deny the judgment; or believe in the judgment, but deny the kingdom; or accept all three but reject the apostolic doctrine of Christ’s nature and death, and so on. Such persons are generally what is called very 'charitable;' that is, they are willing to connive at any amount of doctrinal diversity so long as friendliness is maintained. They are lovers of peace. Peace is certainly very desirable when it can be had on a pure foundation: but the charitable people referred to are not particular about the foundation. They will compromise the truth in some one or other of its integral elements for the sake of personal harmony. This is a spurious charity altogether. We are not at liberty to relax the appointments of God. The exercise of 'charity' must be confined to our own affairs. We have no jurisdiction in God’s matters. What God requires is binding on us all: and the faithful man cannot consent to accept any union that requires a jot or tittle to be set aside or treated as unimportant. Such a man cannot consent to form a part of any community that is not 'the pillar and ground of the truth.'" (The Christadelphian, 1876)
"It is a monstrous conceit that 'the only discipline the ecclesia can enforce in these times is against false doctrine, and not against immorality of conduct.' Such a rule as this, approved by any society of professors, would make it a fellowship of iniquity. For myself, I would not belong to such a body of evil doers. The conceit is itself false doctrine, and therefore, a matter of discipline. Such a dogma is symptomatic of immorality in the holder. An ecclesia should, at least, aim to keep itself free from corruptions that are in the world through lust, though it may not succeed to the extent desired. To fellowship iniquity knowingly, and without rebuke, makes us partakers of the guilt." (John Thomas)
"John opens before us considerations powerful to strengthen us in our determination to adhere to Christ in the midst of all the difficulties. 'That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his son Jesus Christ , and these things write we unto you that your joy may be full .' The fellowship here referred to is a joyful thing—not possible of being seen in all its significance till the veil is removed that meanwhile separates from the Father's presence. It is a very different thing from the 'fellowship' of ecclesial phrase, which is often a sheer endurance and great trial of affliction—as intended for the discipline of the true children. True fellowship is a state of being a fellow of, a state of being in close companionship and congenial intimacy with another. It amounts almost to identity. Association is a pure satisfaction bordering on ecstacy; separation a cause of the reverse experience. The grounds of it lie in identity of view, taste, feeling, principle, and aim. It is because there is little of this identity, that there is little of pure fellowship in the present evil state. There may be any amount of association without true fellowship, though true fellowship craves association. There may be nominal fellowship that is sincere enough without being real. The obligations of duty may lead to it without the heart tasting the sweets of it, for lack of the mutuality of the conditions out of which it springs. This is speaking of the fellowships of probation, but this is all preliminary. The true fellowship which the apostles have been sent to create, is that fellowship with the Father and with his son Jesus Christ, which will be triumphantly established in a multitude upon the earth at last on the basis of incorruptibility of nature. The mind turns to this with solace and comfort in the midst of the terrible evil of the present state. It lies ahead like the bright and hospitable shelter of home at the end of the weary traveller's journey over the storm-swept moor." (The Christadelphian, 1895, pages 53-54)
About Fellowship -- fellowship vs. Fellowships
1) If there is only One Faith, One Hope and One Baptism wouldn't, logically, there be only One real Fellowship?
2) Is that One Fellowship man-made or the creation of God?
3) If "Our fellowship is with the Father, and with His son Jesus Christ" and "if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another" then fellowship, according to the Bible, begins with the relationship between an individual, God and His Christ. Responsibilities then start with the individual and radiate outward. The focus is not on a Church Institution, but on a relationship between individuals, God and His Son. Our position towards others then is not centrally controlled but rather, exercised locally radiating outward to the extent that responsibility, opportunity and any authority allow. The sectarian fellowship position starts by defining the boundaries of the community and working inward. It attempts to centrally control all perimeters of the community, centrally authenticates all claims as to who is in and who is out. By its practices it claims that once the perimeters are "defended" then the individual is in fellowship with God.
4) Does anyone really believe that the man-made name you have written on your "fellowship card" (figuratively speaking) determines if you are in or out of fellowship with God? Does anyone so believing have a single Scripture reference to support this position?
5) Did Paul advise brethren who remained loyal to the truth to "start a new fellowship" when "all Asia" turned against him? According to the position of sectarians, Paul must have "fellowshipped errorists and wicked persons" by not behaving as they say we should behave today.
6) Did the Lord Jesus Christ advise the faithful brethren of any of the seven ecclesias of the Apocalypse — a minority in most of those ecclesias — to "start a new Fellowship"?
7) Is there a single verse in the Bible that ever advises someone to "start a new Fellowship". If the truth is already established, as is admitted by Christadelphians of all fellowships to have occurred circa 1847, is there a valid Scriptural premise on which to "start a new Fellowship"?
8) Does the Spirit of God ever advise men to "go where they feel the most comfortable"?
9) Does the Spirit of God ever counsel men to make decisions on fellowship based on avoiding problems, or persons, which they do not want to face?
10) Did Paul advise the faithful Corinthians to "start a new Fellowship"? Isn't there an obvious difference between "having no fellowship" and starting or joining a new Fellowship?
11) There are some who contend that an (essentially) pure worldwide community is necessary so as to not "fellowship errorists and wicked persons." If the premise of this position is true, then it must be true that they fellowship adultery when the adulterer keeps his sins hidden from the community. If it be claimed that other men are not responsible — and not in fellowship — when sin or errors are hidden or unknown then the worldwide-pure fellowship position is conveniently selective as to when worldwide-pure fellowship occurs. By what means does fellowship in such a case occur or not occur? And does the breaking of bread need to be repeated when fellowship is interrupted by sin? To claim that fellowship with errorists occurs when faithful brethren break bread thousands, hundreds, tens or fractions of a mile from errorists is to believe that Christ and Belial, despite the words of Scripture, can be joined when the worldwide perimeters are not kept "pure". Likewise to admit that Christ and Belial cannot be joined is to admit that the worldwide "pure" fellowship position is false.
12) Fellowship practices tend to one of two extremes and are the result, not of Scriptural design, apostolic practice, or the practice of early Christadelphians*, but the inheritance on the one hand from Churchy liberalism and on the other Churchy sectarianism.
New: 13) If "the doctrine of fellowship" (as defined by sectarian Fellowships) is a first principle as some have claimed, then Fellowships who hold this to be a first principle should never accept Christadelphians from other Fellowships without baptizing them first -- or at least strongly counseling and urging candidates to be rebaptized. But in fact they, as a matter of routine behavior, accept Christadelphians from almost any Fellowship without doing so. So, by their own behavior, is it a first principle or not? Or is it only a convenient device to keep themselves away from those they do not wish to be associated with?
14) Can sectarian fellowships demonstrate how their practice of 'withdrawal' is not in fact, as a matter of reality, excommunication?
* Despite claims to the contrary. Early Christadelphian fellowship was not sectarian or ever focused on enforcing a worldwide "purity" and was never under a delusion that such a thing was possible. Local responsibility extending its influence as far as was possible was always the documented practice.
Divisions
We are told
that "division is fundamentally wrong",
that "division is evil"
and that
"we must get rid of divisions".
How then is it that the very first act of God's power in developing a new creation was to
"divide the light from the darkness" (Genesis 1:4)?
Again, we are told,
God is calling out of the gentiles "a people for His Name" (Acts 15:14).
This demands division. And so also, Christ plainly stated that
he came to bring division within a man's own household
(Matthew 10:34-36; Luke 12:52-54).
The Scriptures plainly teach that the division
God is creating
is between flesh and spirit;
truth and lies;
sound doctrine and error;
obedience and disobedience.
The Truth's imposter, reasoned out by the thinkings of the flesh,
would get rid of all divisions under the pretense that divisions are always the work of the flesh
whereas the truth is that
they are the only way God can accomplish His purpose with His creation.
Those who hinder this work by preaching a false unity (Isa 8:11-20)
should instead preach the sound doctrine that brings God's unity
(Rom 15:4-6; 1Co 1:10).
The Suffolk Street leaven, a hangover from the cup of Dowieism,
is now actively preparing
the unenlightened and disobedient majority
to be spewed from God's mouth
(Rev 3:16; Matt 20:16; Matt 7:13; Matt 22:14)
When men have learned the Truth,
and are willing to obey it in the tribulations it will bring,
only then will they learn the blessedness of God's work
in dividing light from darkness.
"Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem... And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken. Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion. And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." (Isaiah 8:12-20 )Divine Unity
Zephaniah 3:9 For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.
John 17:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
Philippians 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together.
1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.
Romans 15:6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
The Fleshly Forgery of Union -- Fit For Divine Destruction
Genesis 10:10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
Genesis 11:4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
Genesis 14:3 All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.
Isaiah 8:12 Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.
Daniel 2:42-43 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.
Revelation 18:3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
The Side-Effects of Division?
"Division is doubtless a barrier to enquirers: but we have never found that enquirers of earnest purpose are long obstructed by mere human circumstances in their determination to find the way of God and walk in it. (Robert Roberts, The Christadelphian, 1894)
JP of the Bereans: