"Errorists Within and Without"
If a Catholic learned the truth and was baptised, but insisted on attending, and participating in the Catholic Mass, would we break bread with such? The answer must be No! Now if a man was baptised into a Christadelphian ecclesia, but insisted it was right to take part in the Church of England Communion, would we break bread with him? We are recognising the principle of defilement by contact or association - that if we break bread with such an one we ourselves become defiled by that associationAgain, the answer must be No! We are recognising the principle of defilement by contact or association - that if we break bread with such an one we ourselves become defiled by that association. But what if a Catholic or member of the Church of England said, I have changed my beliefs, and now the only difference I have with you Christadelphians is that I believe natural Israel to have been cast off by God for good. Would we baptise such an one? Of course not! But we have such already in fellowship! If we refuse to fellowship the one, why are we prepared to fellowship the other? If a brother or sister insists on breaking bread with those within the ecclesias who are in error, does not the same principle apply, for we are still fellowshipping error?
The following quotes from the pen of Bro. Roberts are also applicable here. "He that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. This applies to all without distinction, and erects a barrier to fellowship with even some who hold the truth; for though they may hold the doctrine of Christ themselves, yet if they keep up a God speed If our ecclesia belongs to a group of ecclesias we are in fellowship with the ecclesias in that groupconnection with those who don't, by John's rule, they make themselves partakers with them, and therefore cut themselves off from those who stand for the doctrine of Christ" (Seasons of Comfort, 1879, page 115). If we are in fellowship with a man who is in error we are fellowshipping the error! It is not enough to say that because an ecclesia within our Fellowship has error we will not associate with that ecclesia. If our ecclesia belongs to a group of ecclesias we are in fellowship with the ecclesias in that group. Otherwise, their members would not be able to attend our ecclesia for the Breaking of Bread, and we would not be able to attend the Breaking of Bread at the other ecclesias within the group. And if within that group there is an ecclesia with a member or members who are in error, then we are in fellowship with that error.
Also, in the Christadelphian, 1885, page 305, Bro. Roberts says, "If others who believe with us are not strong enough to stop with us, but who prefer to "An ecclesia is responsible for the doctrine of its members"remain with those who corrupt the Truth by uncertain doctrine, we cannot be responsible for them. They say God speed to that which they condemn, and by Johns rule make themselves partakers of the evil." Also in the Christadelphian, 1885, page 437, "An ecclesia is responsible for the doctrine of its members. If a man bring a doctrine into the house of God contrary to those which it has received, we must steadfastly yet kindly withstand it. It cannot tolerate evil in any form. If it does, it becomes a partaker of the evil, and will not be held blameless by him who walketh in the midst of the golden candlesticks."
The remarks of Bro. Roberts about those who hold an erroneous interpretation of Revelation, such as the Futurist Interpretation, are also relevant here. He says, "It is impossible, therefore, to agree with those who would make light of the subject, and it is impossible not to sympathise with faithful men who cannot remain in any community where such nullifying doctrines are tolerated".