Welcome to New Readers
(Editorial - October 2000)

A warm welcome to our Caribbean Pioneer readers.

By now all of the Caribbean ecclesias should have received a form seeking news from individual ecclesias. The form can be filled out and mailed to our P.O. Box 87371, Canton, MI 48187, or preferably news can be emailed to us at: editor@tidings.org. We encourage news from the areas we serve, for it helps to bind us into a true family in Christ as we come to know one another through mention of ecclesial activities and visitors. This is particularly important at the present time as the Christadelphian Bible Mission of the Americas is now serving the Caribbean brothers and sisters and the brethren in Canada and the States need to learn about our Caribbean brethren. There’s already a close tie because of the number of brethren who have emigrated to North America; hopefully the even closer mission relationship will benefit us all until our Lord comes.

This much is certain: the Caribbean Pioneer has already had a marked impact on the Tidings as we incorporate the Pioneer’s distribution list into our existing one. In addition to the Caribbean area itself, many addresses have been added in Australia, the UK, Europe, Africa and India and a dozen or so in North America. With so many new readers, we’ll take a moment to introduce you to the Tidings.

The Tidings
The Christadelphian Tidings (not to be confused with the Glad Tidings – a first principle magazine published in the UK) began 63 years ago as a Sunday school newsletter in southern California. From that humble beginning, it gradually grew into a fraternal magazine serving the North American ecclesias. Under the able guidance of Bro. Bob Lloyd (editor for 30 years), it was published every other month and included his Minute Meditation, the signs of the times and another article or two in addition to the ecclesial news.

Just before completing 30 years of service, Bro. Bob approached us and we agreed to assume the editorship in January, 1988. In 1989 the magazine became a monthly and added pages to accommodate additional material of biblical exposition and exhortation. In 1993, at the suggestion of Bro. John Bilello, a 12-member committee was formed initially to advise the editor and eventually to assume responsibility for the magazine. The hope was a broader base of involvement would lead to additional publishing ventures such as pamphlets and books.

We are pleased to say that the idea is coming closer to reality as the Tidings Publishing Company’s first book is currently at the printers in India – Parables by Bro. John Bilello. Plans are for Parables to be available at a reasonable price early in December.

Our new readers are coming into the middle of four series of articles, thus a word of background will be helpful.

Legalism and Faith
The longest-running series is that by Bro. David Levin on "Legalism and Faith." Bro. David plans to conclude this series by the December issue and then we plan to publish it as a book. As is readily seen from his name "Levin," Bro. David is Jewish and was raised in a Jewish family. He was greatly helped to rightly understand the scriptures while attending a Bible class during his university years led by Bro. Ted Sleeper of the Belmont Ecclesia. Given his background and very keen mind, Bro. David has some biblical insights which are of great value to the community. This particular series illustrates the point.

His theme was summarized in the first article: "The opposite of faith is not unbelief, nor is the opposite of the Son of God an atheistic sinner. The Bible contrasts faith not so much with unbelief, but with misbelief, misbelief of that particular stripe which corrupts faith by establishing a facade of pseudo-holy laws and rituals in its stead. The Bible sets forth the false belief of legalism, with its charade of holiness, as the opposite to instruct us in learning faith. It is from the base of legalism that the other failings of humanism -- licentiousness, materialism and idolatry – derive…Legalism describes a fundamental approach to life and religion. It is not in itself a creed or religious doctrine; rather, it is a pervasive principle that will color one’s perspective of many doctrines, including God, sin, salvation, righteousness, atonement, forgiveness, worship, and fellowship. Legalism relies on the ‘three R’s:’ Rules, Rituals and Rewards". Many have found Bro. David’s series to be of inestimable value in considering their own attitudes in seeking to live the gospel of grace.

The attribute of humility
In 1997, Bro. Tom Barling wrote three articles on humility, following it up with a consideration of humility in the character of Moses. Since then he has provided character studies on this theme with the last several dealing with humility in the attitude and behavior of our Lord. In this issue we have number 10 on the Lord Jesus, which reflects the wonder of humility exhibited by him who was and is Son of God, King of Israel, Savior of mankind.

Patterns in Psalms and Jewish Fables
We have been alternating two series which provide biblical insight based on extra-biblical writings. This month we have the fourth of Bro. Joe Hill’s articles on "Patterns in the Psalms." Some years ago, Bro. Joe wrote a series of articles on "The Jewish Bible Companion" which was based on hints here and there in ancient Jewish writings. Bro. Joe was led to look for the relevance of various sections of the Old Testament to be read communally at feasts and holy days in the life of Israel. In pursuing this line of thought, Bro. Joe has found patterns in the Psalms which make them more easily remembered and which help relate them to the sequence of events in Israel’s religious calendar. The value to each of us is that seeing the scriptural patterns helps us to better remember the word of God.

By way of contrast, the series on "Not Giving Heed to Jewish Fables," by Bro. Steven Cox -- deals with the background to the New Testament. We had opportunity to hear Bro. Steven’s ideas at an informal Bible school class and immediately saw how helpful they would be. Starting with the Apocrypha, which is found between the Old and New Testaments, continuing with the Dead Sea Scrolls and adding some points from Jewish writings of centuries just before the New Testament era, Bro. Steven painted an absolutely fascinating picture of the background to a number of obscure New Testament passages. While a busy young man, Bro. Steven agreed to submit some of his research to the Tidings so that our readership might have the benefit of some very interesting, and we think, useful ideas.

We hope you’ll enjoy the last half of both the series by Bro. Joe and that by Bro. Steven. And we again invite your own contributions to a magazine designed to promote fellowship through the exchange of news and through a deeper understanding of the word of God.

Don Styles

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