(November 2003 Edition)
Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-16, Luke 24:45-48 and Acts 1:7-8 all record what has been called the “great commission,” and John 21:8-11 describes a symbolic catch of fish which has the same purport. This “commission” to preach the truth about Jesus Christ worldwide was initially given to the eleven surviving apostles on a Galilean mountain top, even while some of them still “doubted” that the person in their midst was really their risen Master (Matt. 28:17).
Who else could the instruction to preach have been given to at that time? No one doubts that “the eleven” were meant to carry it out. But very many followers of Jesus in the 20 centuries since then have deduced that ordinary baptised believers are excused from any responsibility to actively preach the gospel, at least beyond their own immediate circle. Evangelism and worldwide missionary work, it has been said, either ceased to be required at all after the apostles died, or all preaching must be controlled only by ecclesiastically ordained or self-appointed councils, committees or individuals who, as we say in the Caribbean, “run things.”
Acts 8 totally refutes this notion. As a result of persecution following the martyrdom of Stephen, “all except the apostles were scattered. Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went” (1,4). How strange: the very men entrusted with the mighty task seem to have left it to everybody else!
“Each one teach one”
Holy Scripture and contemporary secular history agree on the scale, the mode
and the achievements of the Christian expansion of the first and second
centuries of our era, that is to say, how Christ’s followers carried out his
instructions. The facts are irrefutable, frankly acknowledged even by the
enemies of the truth. This expansion was based upon a principle that was
used very successfully by one Caribbean Ministry of Education to foster
literacy: “each one teach one.” Within 35 years of Jesus’ ascension
to glory, networks of ecclesias believing and preaching “the things
concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ” were
vibrantly established in at least 24 national provinces of the Roman Empire,
at least five independent nations beyond its confines, and with some
exploratory preaching activity ongoing in several more.
History and tradition indicate that, after the initial reluctance of Acts 8, “the twelve” did eventually spearhead Bible mission activities in some quite far-flung countries, including the apostle Andrew in barbarous Scythia (now the Ukraine), and the apostle Thomas in distant idolatrous India. But by and large the apostles both as individuals and as a group shared their role with others in both preaching and pastoral work during their lifetimes. Evangelism in the apostolic age was not organised from Jerusalem, Antioch or even Rome by a special cadre of preachers and pastors. As Jesus foretold, it grew “spontaneously” from a tiny mustard seed into a great tree (Mark 4:31-32).
The model, Thessalonica
We know exactly what the model of organisation was. Within a very short time
of the founding by Paul, Silas and Timothy of the ecclesia in Thessalonica,
the capital city of Macedonia, all three could write in this way to “the
church of the Thessalonians:” You became a model to all the believers in
Macedonia and Achaia. For the Lord’s message rang out from you not only in
Macedonia and Achaia―your faith in God
has become known everywhere! (I Thess. 1:7-8).
It is evident that in the apostolic age missionary work depended greatly on the initiative of individual members, including sisters. When Priscilla and Aquila heard a visiting preacher in Corinth, “they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately” (Acts 18:26). There is no evidence at all that Priscilla (who is named first, you may notice) was asked to do what she did by any missionary organisation. Sponsorship of preaching by individual ecclesias under providential guidance was a characteristic mode of operation. Antioch – itself a relatively new “mission” ecclesia – “placed their hands on” Barnabas and Saul and sponsored what has been called the “first missionary journey” – quite erroneously so, in fact, since several ecclesias had been established independently in the province of Cilicia before that time (13:3; Gal. 1:21).
It may be that the missionary founding brother of an ecclesia had some semi-official supra-ecclesial authority, at least for a short while. But it is most striking that in the one very serious case when use of such authority might have been justified, it was deliberately not used (II Cor. 10:7-12). This decision was because an “appeal by the meekness and gentleness of Christ” was far, far preferable (v.1). It was because Jesus had urged that an authoritarian attitude be replaced and superseded by one far better: Show proper respect to everyone: love the brotherhood of believers (I Peter 2:17).
Antioch, refugees from
persecution
The case of Antioch is quite fascinating, as it reveals some of the secrets
of success of the early Christian missionary endeavours. There is, in fact,
almost a 21st century Christadelphian touch to it. The ecclesia was
established by refugees from religious persecution. Clearly, they did not
need the apostles’ or anyone else’s sanction to do this, for “the Lord’s
hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the
Lord.” The ecclesia in Jerusalem, hearing about this development, sent
Barnabas to Antioch. Was the purpose of this visit to direct the new
brothers and sisters, and issue instructions from mission headquarters? Luke
tells us in Acts 11:23: “When he arrived and saw the evidence of the
grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord
with all their hearts.” That is how the brotherhood has been designed by
the Lord Jesus, its head, to operate. Just like that.
Acts 15, “council” or
“conference”?
Acts
15 is a very embarrassing chapter to the apostate churches. Nearly
every Bible has an uninspired heading The Council at Jerusalem. It
was nothing of the kind. Every one of the 24 occasions when the word
“council” is used in the New Testament it has a nasty connotation: the
purpose of convening it in every case was wicked. The apostolic
brotherhood did not have “councils.” In Acts 15, there was a very
serious issue, and it was dealt with in the spirit of Christ, which is the
spirit of love. The steps were: first, visiting delegates from Antioch
“were welcomed by the [Jerusalem] ecclesia, to whom they reported
everything” (v.4); then “the apostles and elders met” and there
was “much discussion” (v.6-7); finally, the “whole assembly”
was involved directly in the proceedings and in the decisions taken (v.12).
The policies adopted were not the fiat of a “council” or board of
directors. The “judgement” of James was offered to the “whole
church” for approval and implementation (v.22). Cumbersome? Humbling
to the flesh of would-be leaders? Indeed, but that is the way of Christ,
the only way he will approve. Unless his “commission” to preach is
carried out in love, it is worth nothing (I Cor. 13:1-3).
How can we reconcile this scriptural approach with “councils” whose every decision, however important, is made without any brotherly input from those ecclesias and brothers and sisters who are directly affected?
The way of Christ or institutionality?
Following Jesus’ teaching, including his humbling principles of turning the
other cheek, forgiveness, reconciliation, evangelism and ecclesial
organisation, is not easy. It involves self-sacrifice and
self-abasement. Human nature being what it is, it is evident that big,
tightly organised, multi-national organisations can radiate an aura of
success.
The Christadelphians
Christadelphians are called to a very different spirit. Brother John Thomas
insisted: “We have no professional lecturers. The word professional
carries pretension and honour with it, which are both alike foreign to the
simplicity and the modesty of the house of Christ, and forbidden by the
Master thereof. Every justified person, irrespective of office, is
authorised to preach, and therefore to immerse.” When he was a
physically tired old man in his 60’s, he could still write to a dear friend
and brother in Scotland, “I have not been specially called to go and cry
aloud and spare not, yet I do it earnestly. It is the duty of everyone that
can do it, to do likewise; for the commission is, ‘Let him that heareth say,
Come’.” When asked why we do not have a special cadre of missionaries
like other churches, Sister Jane Roberts expressed the same principle:
“Every Christadelphian is a missionary.”
Ecclesial autonomy
Ecclesial autonomy does not mean the absence of inter-ecclesial cooperation
or activity. Far from it. The fact that we will ultimately be saved as
individuals rather than because we are prominent members of a denomination
does not mean that we cannot and do not share the wonderful blessings of
loving ecclesial and inter-ecclesial fellowship. Quite the opposite.
Consensus, not direction, is our strength. Diversity in unity is our
greatest appeal and challenge to the world. We are, and are seen to be,
intelligent individuals with varying temperaments, not clones. Every single
historian who has examined the Christadelphian body has been amazed that we
have no pope, archbishop, chairman, or synod -- and not even a
headquarters. The principles of Jesus Christ do work when they are
followed faithfully!
A
carnal or an apostolic spirit, which is it to be?
The apostolic spirit is perfectly clear from II Corinthians 3:2: “You
yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by
everybody.” Our divine brotherhood is not a secret society, or a
multi-national corporation, whose inner workings are known only to a small
group of initiates in a board room. A brother or sister in Christ, whether
Australian or Albanian, British or Byelorussian, Uzbek or Ukrainian, has
totally “renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor
do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, we commend ourselves to
every man’s conscience in the sight of God” (II Cor. 4:2).
The value of plurality
There is strength and energy in diversity. For 50 years and
more
a happy
plurality of individual and combined efforts have shared the worldwide work
of the brotherhood in fulfilling Jesus’ “commission” and reaped the
blessed fruits: Gospel Publicity League, Gospel Proclamation Society,
Christadelphian Advancement Trust, Christadelphian Bible Mission,
Christadelphian Bible Mission of the Americas, Australasian Christadelphian
Bible Mission, Advancement of Scriptural Knowledge, Christadelphian Mission
to Israel, Auxiliary Lecturing Society, the Williamsburg Christadelphian
Foundation, and many others. None of these has ever been a threat to any
other. Inter-organisational jealousy and envy have no place. Let us pray
for many more like these to arise while we have time. We also enjoy a range
of interesting magazines telling us about God’s work on earth. We give
thanks to Him for them all.
It is our belief that thousands, indeed hopefully a majority, of brothers and sisters worldwide are shocked, dismayed and deeply troubled about a recent trend toward the notion that all preaching should be done by councils and committees which meet in secret. We want these things to be done by brotherly hands stretched across land, sea and air, led by teams of willing volunteers from within and among all the 126 nations of the world where Christadelphian lightstands exist in 2003, and among which the spirit walks. In this way it will be truly a brotherhood–wide enterprise in which the Lord of glory will be pleased to participate.
The Editors
Be Ready for the Lord
Watch and Pray
The importance of “watch and pray” cannot be overemphasised. It is the greatest prerequisite for being prepared to meet the Lord Jesus Christ when he comes the second time. This view was well dealt with by different speakers at our annual Easter weekend Jamaica Bible School. In our studies we found that among the various words that can be used for “watch” are: look, see, peep, glance, stare, and stand guard. Of these, the last stated seems to take priority over the others.
“Stand Guard”
True believers must “stand guard” so that the signs of Jesus’
appearance on earth are well understood and pondered in their hearts. A
soldier is always on the alert. His mind and eyes are wide open. He must
see and hear what is happening around him. Every usual and unusual sound or
movement is observed. Failure to “stand guard” means death, as the
enemy will catch him off guard. Jesus is our friend – our Saviour. He asks
us to “watch and pray” in order to be ready for him at his second
advent. If we disobey this command, it will be death for us, as our great
enemy is always ready to pounce.
He Asks No Less
Jesus asked his disciples to “watch and pray” so that they could be
strengthened to follow him, for their journey would be long and dangerous.
He asks no less of us today. If we will be Jesus’ disciples, we have to be
obedient to his words. Don’t let the cares of this world crowd our minds so
badly that there is no space for the Lord.
Watching And Praying
If we are watching and praying this will be reflected in every aspect of the
life we live. The true believer is full of mercy, kindness,
gentleness and inner beauty. There is nothing to hide or be ashamed of.
There is love and understanding among us. If one is overtaken in a fault,
he or she will accept correction with an open mind. Paul reminds us not to
burden our leaders too much as they watch over our souls (Heb. 13:17).
Correction wakes us up and keeps us on our guard. Can you “watch and
pray” when your heart is bitter, hurt and angry? Anger is like killing
with the gun. Are you still angry with your brother?
Obey His Words
In the sermon on the mount, Jesus warns us to build on the Rock (Matt.
7:24-25). It is not good enough just to listen. We must “obey”,
meaning apply his teaching practically in daily life. Jesus is not
interested in lip service. He wants a change of heart. Not everyone who
says to him “Lord! Lord!” will enter into the Kingdom of God. It is
only the doers of the will of the Father who are justified now and
will be exalted tomorrow (Matt. 7:21; Rom. 2:13). No one likes to be
separated. Most times the act of separation is painful. Jesus does not
want to be separated from us, but in the end the disobedient and rebellious
ones will be cast away to destruction.
A Call To Eternal Life
Many of us are less fortunate and poor in this life. Do we feel honoured
and uplifted to know that Jesus has called us to eternal life? It is time
for us to rejoice and be glad for the wonderful opportunity given to us by
the Lord. How often do we turn up our noses at the poor and needy? We even
judge them by the clothes they wear. That is what they did to our Saviour.
He was from an insignificant town in Galilee, which was considered as we in
the West Indies speak of “coming from country.” He was also a
“mere” carpenter’s son. But even to those who hated him, he offered
“better things.” In John 10:10, Jesus said, “I came that they might
have life, and have it more abundantly.”
The Empty Tomb
The record and reality of the empty tomb remind us that Jesus rose
triumphantly from the grave and is alive forevermore. Luke 21:36 encourages
us to “watch and pray” always, that we may be accounted worthy to
escape all God’s judgments that will come to pass, and to stand before the
Son of Man. There is a day appointed when our Lord will come and establish
his Father’s Kingdom on earth. Those who “watch and pray” will be
ready to meet our blessed Saviour. O how rich the promise!
| Call to each wakening band, | Hear ye the Shepherd’s voice. |
| Clear is our Lord’s command – | Would ye his heart rejoice? |
| Watch, brethren, watch! | Pray, brethren, pray! |
| Be ye like men that wait | Sin calls for ceaseless fear. |
| Still at their Master’s gate, | Weakness a strong One near. |
| Even though he tarry late, | Long as ye struggle here. |
| Watch, brethren, watch! | Pray, brethren, pray! |
Annette Johnson (May Pen), Jamaica
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Who drew his feet up into the bed and then breathed his last?
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Whose bed was made of iron and was more than thirteen feet long?
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Who took an idol and laid it on her bed, covering it with a garment, and putting some goats’ hair at the head? Why?
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Who was stabbed to death while on his bed taking his noonday rest?
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Who defiled his father’s marriage bed? What happened to him as a consequence?
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Who said, “When you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent”?
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Who said, “All night long upon my bed I looked for the one my heart loves”?
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What king had visions that passed through his mind as he lay on his bed? Who revealed them?
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Who was a paralytic who had been confined to his bed for eight years?
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Who was told she would be cast into a bed of suffering unless she repented?
Today I was told something that made me very sad. A lady who is not a Christadelphian, but who cares for several Christadelphians in a private nursing home, had expressed dismay that these Christadelphians seemed to be afraid of the Day of Judgment - and of the Judge. They were always praying, “And if it be Thy will, grant us a place in Thy Kingdom.” But did not Jesus say, “Fear not, little flock. It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom?”
Near the eastern shore of the Lake of Galilee, there once lived a man and his companion. One of them in particular called himself Legion because he suffered from a delusion that he had been ‘possessed’ by a whole army of demonic spirits. No doubt he had been told very often the same thing by other people too, so no wonder he came to believe it! This is what we know about them.
- They lived in the local cemetery, not in a house.
- They were so violent that no one could pass that way.
- They had been expelled from their home town of Gadara (Gergesa? Gerasa?).
- The local police had tried to keep Legion under guard, but had not succeeded.
- He had almost superhuman physical strength. No one was strong enough to subdue him.
- No one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. He snapped the handcuffs and broke the irons on his feet.
- For a long time he had worn no clothes.
- He had a very loud voice, and used it.
- Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.
- He believed in the Day of Judgment, but he was terrified of being rejected and tortured as a punishment for a life of sin.
- He knew Jesus of Nazareth well.
- He believed that Jesus was the Son of the Most High God, the Messiah, and the Judge of the living and the dead.
- He suffered from agoraphobia and must also have been in the advanced stage of a venereal disease (STD), probably neuro-syphilis. During my many stays in hospital I have seen and met several people who fitted the description in the Gospels perfectly. In fact, there is one on my ward right now who gives the doctors and nurses so much trouble.
Spiritually, Legion’s biggest problem was his terror of eternal damnation. He thought of Jesus, the promised Messiah, as a hard and unforgiving man, only concerned to condemn and punish sinners like himself and his companion. As the apostle John warns us, fear has torment, and so does hate. I am quite sure that he hated himself for his past life, hated his companion for dragging him into it, hated his friends for abandoning him, and worst of all, hated God for sending a host of evil spirits to torment him.
The fearful demons of law and its consequences made it impossible for him to appreciate the wonder of grace and forgiveness – that is, until Jesus converted and healed him. For has not Jesus come specifically to release the oppressed? (Lk. 4: 18).
Joy, not fear
Jesus’ aim was to convince these two tormented and terrified men that
God did not send His Son into to world to condemn the world, but to save the
world through him
(John 3:17). That was, and is today, a tough task.
Jesus’ method was to convince them that they didn’t need to fear him but to love him and follow him. They needed to be converted and believe that their disease was cured, their fears and their unclean spirits banished for ever, and to approach the Judgment Seat with eager anticipation of glorious immortality and not terror of torture. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship (Romans 8:15).
The pigs, unclean animals as they were, stampeded down a steep bank into the lake, and were drowned. Gone was the death-dealing law and its power to terrify. Gone were the terrible phobias. Gone was the life of sin. Gone were the brain-destroying diseases that sin had provoked. Jesus had two new disciples and a preacher of good news to all the region round about!
Do not cling to law
Yet the sequel was so sad, so terribly sad.
Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region, because
they were overcome with fear. So he got into a boat and left.
Astonishing! Fear left the mentally sick and overcame the sane. It is so sad when sincere people cling to their fears because they cannot face what health and freedom involves. They cling to law, as the Gadarenes clung to their swine, because they somehow feel that God’s love and grace are just too good to be true. Law gives a false sense of security, like pig farming, because its boundaries and limits seem well defined. Love and the spirit of God stretch to infinity.
So let us not be like the people of Gadara who seemed to prefer their herd of unclean pigs to the spectacular cure and conversion of their own unfortunate fellow-citizens. Don’t let us ever beg Jesus to leave us because we are happier without him!
Mary Eyre
Although things are not perfect
Because of trial or pain
Continue in thanksgiving
Do not begin to blame
Even when times are hard
Fierce winds are bound to blow
God is forever able
Hold on to what you know
Imagine life without His love
Joy would cease to be
Keep thanking Him for everything
Love imparts to thee
Move out of “Camp Complaining”
No weapon that is known
On earth can yield the power
Praise can do alone
Quit looking at what’s behind you
Redeem the time at hand
Start every day with worship
To thank is a command
Until we see him come
Victorious in the sky
We’ll run the race with gratitude
Xalting God most high
Yes, there’ll be good times and yes, some will be bad…but
Zion waits in glory, where none will ever be sad!“I am too blessed to be stressed.”
The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor.
The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything.
Love and peace be with you forever. Amen.
Selected by Jennifer Armond