Pioneer Articles
These articles, though addressing problems from a different time in history, relate to the same principles for which Qodesh stands, that of separation from false doctrine and those who subvert the Truth of the Scriptures, which are just as important today as they've always been, simply because God's Truth never changes. His commandments and the principles we've been given to live by are set in stone, so that Yahweh's ecclesia may be undefiled and that He may walk among us seeing "no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee".
The Nature and Conditions of Fellowship in the Truth
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- Written by: Robert Roberts
- Category: Pioneer Articles
The truth is professedly and confessedly a "narrow" thing. Jesus declares this in saying "Strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life." This "way" he afterwards speaks of as "the truth," saying, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free;" and also, "every one that is of the truth heareth my voice."
The narrowness of the truth is one of the obstacles to its general adoption. People do not like to be fettered either in doctrine or practice. It is also one of the causes of the active tendency to corruption which has manifested itself among those embracing the truth from the very day it was apostolically established at Jerusalem. It is inconvenient to be under restrictions in our dealings with fellow men in the truth or out of it. If it were a question of choice, we should all prefer absolute freedom. But no one recognising Christ as the supreme teacher can think of freedom in the matter. This policy is so contrary to natural friendliness that it is easy to drift away from it, and to invent theories that will relieve us from its unpleasant obligations.If we make freedom our rule, we can only have the freedom of those who set Christ aside altogether, saying in the words of the wicked "Our tongues are our own: who is Lord over us." None who truly know Christ would desire this freedom. All who sincerely accept Christ will recognise his law as paramount, however irksomely it may work in some of its present relations.
Read more: The Nature and Conditions of Fellowship in the Truth
- © The Christadelphian Magazine & Publishing Association, Birmingham.
The Time for Withdrawal
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- Written by: Robert Roberts
- Category: Pioneer Articles
God has been pleased to subject those who desire to conform to His word to what sometimes amounts to painful embarrassment, by having required of them things that at first sight are incompatible with one another. They are to do good to all men, and yet to be not unequally yoked with unbelievers. They are to be "in the world" and yet to "come out from among them and be separate". They are to love their enemies and yet to love not the world. They are to be patient with the erring and yet to abhor that which is evil, and not to bear with men that are evil. They are to think no evil and yet to try professors. They are to submit to wrong and yet to refuse even to eat with men called brethren who espouse wrong doing, or error. They are to show hospitality and yet to receive not into their houses those who bring not the doctrine of Christ.
Read more: The Time for Withdrawal
- © The Christadelphian Magazine & Publishing Association, Birmingham.