A Critical Autumn
(Editorial - October 2002)
This fall is a very important time in the history of the Christadelphian community in North America. Major unity efforts are coming to a climax between members of the Amended and Unamended fellowships and between members of the Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith (a small community of some 700 believers, not the 20,000 member General Conference) and the Christadelphian Amended fellowship.
Discussions between the two Christadelphian fellowships have received greater publicity in this magazine than has the second effort. That is true for a couple of reasons. Those involved in the North American Statement of Understanding (NASU), actively sought the cooperation of the Tidings in publicizing their initiative. And the NASU proposal involves two Christadelphian fellowships which have long rubbed shoulders on this continent.
There is, however, much in common between the two initiatives. Both involve communities which find their roots in the 19th century work and teachings of Bro. John Thomas. In both cases, all those involved in the reconciliation efforts believe that the principles and precepts of scripture declared in the Birmingham Amended Statement of Faith (BASF) -- positive clauses, doctrines to be rejected, and commandments of Christ -- are true.
The household of
faith
Acceptance by all involved in current unity efforts of the BASF as declaring
Bible truth may come as new information to some and needs a word of
explanation.
From the start, the NASU has straightforwardly declared that both the BASF and Birmingham Statement of Faith (BSF) set forth truth. That comes as no surprise because the historical Christadelphian dispute has not been about the truth of the amendment to the BUSF, but whether or not the point specified in the amendment should be made a test of fellowship. Yet it may come as a surprise that those of the small CGAF group seeking reconciliation with Christadelphians accept that the BASF (all three parts) sets forth true Bible teaching.
If you have never read the BASF, please do so; and if you have read it, please review it. The issues involved this fall are far too important for any of us to act without some personal effort. Upon reviewing the BASF, you’ll realize that anyone accepting as truth the precepts included therein is not part of the apostate system of Christianity.
Let’s be clear about this. The traditional errors of Christianity gone astray are clearly ruled out by the BASF. Anyone accepting it, who has been immersed upon such understanding and is willing to act upon the precepts contained therein, is part of the household of faith. It’s important we realize that. Sometimes we feel if we ease up a little on some doctrinal or fellowship position, the next thing we’ll be doing is fellowshipping those of any and every Christian community. Such thinking is misguided and blocks any reconciliation.
We must keep this straight: this whole unity effort is plainly and simply about reconciling members in the household of faith.
Stopping the sin
One reason our problem continues is that we’ve never fully acknowledged the
sin of division. We’ll misquote verses such as, “There must be heresies
among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you”
(I Cor. 11:19), and twist Paul’s stinging irony to say divisions are
necessary in the ecclesia to maintain the purity of the faith. Nothing
could be further from Paul’s exhortation to Corinth: “For ye are yet
carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions,
are ye not carnal and walk as men?” (I Cor. 3:3).
Division is a work of the carnal, fleshly mind. Of course we must stand up to false doctrine. Yet when all involved believe the BASF sets forth true Bible teaching, we’re not protecting the faith, we’re practicing carnal behavior.
Look at the works of the flesh in Galatians 5. Time after time division is perpetuated by “discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and such like” (Gal. 5:20-21 NIV). In the course of being involved in unity matters for many years, we can remember where each of these sins was practiced, and not always by the other person. In fact, all of us involved need to examine ourselves and face up to our own role in perpetuating the sin of division.
One God
Everyone involved stubbornly rejects the doctrine of the trinity. Because
of our stand, each of our groups has been labeled a cult by theologians and
evangelists around us. Yet it is exactly this fact, that there is one God,
which demands we unite. Because there is one God and Father of all, there
is one body, one spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism. There
are not gods many and lords many, each of whom has his own faith and
followers. There is one God who manifests Himself in the one Lord Jesus
Christ providing one way of salvation.
God wants the peace of unity not the discord of division. For that reason He created in the Lord Jesus one new man of Jew and Gentile, reconciling both to Himself through the cross. And in that one cross He put to death the division.
We worship the one God who wants reconciliation, not hostility; unity not separation; accord not antagonism. For us to perpetuate division is to deny one of the great principles of the very God we worship and love. Our keystone belief in the oneness of God thus demands we effect unity.
Ignoring Christ
As our appearance before the judgment seat of Christ draws near, we all take
pause and wonder what’s going to happen to us. We consider the parables of
the pounds and talents and realize doing nothing is fatal, so we redouble
our efforts in the Lord. We consider the virgins with no oil in their
lamps, so we rededicate ourselves to Bible reading. We hear the indictment
of the goats, so we send cards, help the destitute and visit the sick.
But what if the imprisoned, and sick and needy are not in our fellowship -- do we ignore them? Look carefully at the Lord’s words: “I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me” (Matt. 25:45 NIV). If we are able and do not do for one of those who are Christ’s, we are ignoring the Lord. Yes, we may do for some, that is good. But those whom we ignore are the problem.
We’ve heard it said that this parable is about nations of the world and not about the called-out ones. Such an interpretation is dangerously wrong. To the sheep in this parable, it is said: “Take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.” There’s no way that can be the nations who survive as mortals into the kingdom. Further, the summary statement is: “Then they [the goats] will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous [the sheep] to eternal life.” This parable is a clear warning to ourselves not to neglect any who are in the household of faith.
Let the other
person make the first move
Is that what we’re going to say to the Lord? You mean we would say we
continued in carnal behavior, ignored the oneness of God and neglected
Christ’s brethren because others wouldn’t do the right thing? I don’t think
so.
This is a critical time for many in the North American household. Let’s make it a time of progress and great joy.
Don Styles