Letters to the Editor

Due to a variety of circumstances, we misinterpreted information regard­ing the reaction of the Bucks County, PA and Moorestown, NJ ecclesias in respect to the exchange of letters between the Echo Lake, NJ and Lancaster, PA ecclesias. The Bucks County

Ecclesia has written the following letter clarifying their position. Similar sentiments were verbally conveyed by Bro. Bob Faust, Recording Brother of the Moorestown Ecclesia. Our sincere apologies for our misstatement.

Dear Bro. Don,

Greetings in Our Master’s Name.

This letter is to correct the report on page 434 in the October issue concerning the position of the Bucks County Ecclesia regarding the action of the Echo Lake Ecclesia.

Our first full review of the letters appearing in the magazine’s October issue did not occur until Monday, October 2, one week after the publication date of the magazine. Our Arranging Board and membership have, as yet, stated no position on the developments described in the published letters. On October 16, we have sent a letter of inquiry to the Echo Lake Ecclesia requesting additional information.

Please share this correction with the magazine’s readership.

The Arranging Board of the Bucks County Christadelphian Ecclesia (Signed by Bre. Kevin Flatley, Charles Link, Jr., Daniel Phillips, Howard Schlicher, Sr.,

Paul Schlicher, William Septak.)

A number of events have occurred during recent months that cannot be coincidental. Surely the Lord is at work giving us opportunity to more faithfully serve the principle of the one body while preserving the one faith. We need to vigorously pursue this opportunity that we might realize in North America the blessings, already experienced elsewhere in the world, of a more unified community of believers.

Carnivores before the Flood

Dear Bro. Don,

I believe Bro. Martin Owen’s view (that there were no carnivores before the flood, pg. 340) is more in harmony with the scriptures. The first chapter of Genesis is the story of an almost perfect creation. It was “very good.” Genesis 1:30 was part of this “very good” creation; this was before Adam and Eve ate of the tree in the garden.

It would appear that no creature ate meat until after the flood. (We are not, however, told what was done with Abel’s sacrifices.) Even though God must have killed animals for the skins of Adam and Eve’s ‘covering,’ there is no indication they ate it.

The Lord God planted a garden for food and put Adam in it to till it and keep it. It was his for food, except for the tree of knowledge of good and evil. It is certainly not impossible for God to change the nature of an animal. Had some of them been created carnivorous, the creation would not have been “very good.”

I feel that Bro. Alan Hayward’s explanation (pg. 286) puts human scientific limits on the power of God, but I am sure that was not his intention.
J. Binch, Telford, PA

As we do so on a regional and local basis, however, we should realize we are in uncharted waters having no precedents to guide ecclesial actions. In such circumstances, we are even more exposed than normal to misunderstandings. We suggest such problems can be minimized if ecclesias in a given area keep each other reasonably well informed of developing situations.

Colors in the Bible

Dear Bro. Don,

Regarding an article on pg. 420 (10/95) on “Colors used in the Bible and their Significance,” I submit the following further observations.

The plan of God for man is in the rainbow —

Red – Hebrew adam, the old man of the flesh.

Orange – the color of fire, a symbol of trial and temptation.

Yellow – the color of gold, a symbol of tried faith.

Green – the color of new life, a symbol of immortality.

Blue – the color of heaven, a symbol of divine love.

Purple – the color of royalty, a symbol of kings and priests.

Whether Noah understood this symbolism as he looked upon the first rainbow, we do not know, but the out­line of God’s merciful plan for man is there in Bible symbolism. May we each attain the radiance of the gold of a tried faith in this life.

Sign Offs

Dear Bro. Don,

I appreciate your fairness in publishing my letter. We are still deeply puzzled at the motives of objectors to greetings and fearful of the influence of pharisaism in our body. But though our strongly-worded appeal to scripture (rather than tradition or the example of other magazines) has evidently failed, we respect your decision. We are not among those who cancel subscriptions or, as Bro. Thomas put it, kick their mulish heels if pet ideas are not accepted. Be assured, our prayers and support are with you in maintaining and improving what to many of us here is far and away the best general magazine in the brotherhood.

I believe the following short contribution from Bro. Melvin Gordon and myself might be of interest and an inspiration to the younger ones.
Alan Eyre, Free Hill, Jamaica

Thank you for your kind words. We, too, are fearful of the traditions of men taking precedence over the prin­ciples of God. No doubt the Jews developed many of their customs from a zeal for righteousness. Unfortunately, however, when their customs led them into conflict with the Lord Jesus, they chose tradition over their Messiah.

The change we made was a carefully considered one after comments from several readers.

Open-Air Witness Finally Ends

The following was submitted by Bre. Gordon and Eyre.

Double Honor

“The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work in preaching and teaching” (I Tim. 5:17).

In June, an event took place that the worldwide brotherhood might well note with thankfulness to the Lord of the harvest yet with some sadness. Bro. Charles Lamb, beloved Jamaican elder, saint and preacher, now 94 years old, gave his last open-air witness at the market town of Mandeville, closing a remarkable chapter in the history of the Truth in this country and of Christadelphian preaching in general.

Rising from the waters of baptism in 1961, with a comprehension of the word already mature from years of prayerfully seeking the Truth, for the next 34 years Bro. Charles preached every week on market day virtually without a break to any and all who would listen. Over those years, hundreds of sensible and foolish questions were thrown at him, and his witty scriptural answers were legendary. For more than a quarter of a century, a faithful sister, Ruby Pinnock, was at his right hand in support, and her untimely death while actually “on duty” near the market last year was a crushing blow to the old warrior. But he refused to be discouraged and battled on alone through the whole of his 94th year, an effort surely unique in the individual and corporate witness of our body.

Bro. Charles has a quiet voice, so his audiences were always small and intimate. Yet never once in 34 years did he fail to draw Bible lovers who came regularly to listen to his vivid style of Bible exposition, spiced with penchant wit and teasing riddles. His final topic was “How I became a Christian and lost my way,” an unforgettable autobiography of a wonderful brother’s search for Truth, losing his own way and finding God’s way.

A deaconess of the Moravian Church, who had been for years a regular listener, traveled a considerable distance to support Bro. Charles’ last effort. She publicly testified that, though she could not bring herself to leave her own church, Bro. Charles was living proof that Christadelphians taught Bible truth more convincingly and consistently than any other denomination. Other testimonies were that the bishop of Mandeville was no match for one 94-year-old farmer with his Bible in hand, and that he had been “a light for a whole generation who came to that market.”

Though now at last bodily weakness has supervened, he knows that because he has confessed his Lord before men, his Master will very soon confess him before his Heavenly Father (Matt. 10:32).

Melvin Gordon of May Pen and Alan Eyre of Free Hill, Jamaica

How to Handle Slander?

Dear Bro. Don,

I am experiencing some amount of difficulties right now and I am not so sure how to handle them.

I have been accused of very serious sins by brothers in Christ.

I am not sure how to handle this because right now I only have disgust and dislike in my heart. It is going to take a very long time before I am able to get over this. If there was even an iota of truth in these innuendos I could somewhat understand, but there is absolutely no truth in any of these horrible things I am being accused of. What can I do to ease the pain this is causing me?

A sister

(Please note: we will maintain anonymity on request but we must know the writer’s identity.)

The most outstanding persons in the Bible are Jesus Christ and then probably David and Paul. All three suffered vicious slander that was totally untrue. We would suggest that you take each one in turn. Carefully read through the appropriate sections of scripture writing out the verses alluding to slander. In Christ’s case, read the gospels; for Paul, read through his epistles and for David read through I Samuel 15 to the end of II Samuel and the Psalms. Several of the Psalms are also useful for Jesus.

You will find such passages as the following:

The innocent and hunted David being slandered by the churlish Nabal — “Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master” (I Sam. 25:10).

Psalms speaking of endurance of slander — “Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes” (Psa. 119:23).

Jesus’ own family thinking he was beside himself — “And when his friends [mg. kinsmen] heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself’ (Mk. 3:21).

Paul alluding to a distortion of his message — “as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say” (Rom. 3:8).

You will find that careful reading of the word and actually writing out the pertinent passages has great therapeutic value and will restore your will to serve the Master with forgiveness of spirit and determination of mind.

Encouragement

Dear Bro. Don,

Hello and greetings in the gracious saving name of Christ. Favor, mercy and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God and Je­sus Christ our Lord.

Thank you dear brother for the encouraging words to keep up the “contending for the faith” for this is not just a “good thing” we like to do, but a commandment from the scriptures. Written in Jude v. 3, “Ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once [once for all] delivered unto the saints.” So we do well to follow scripture.

I was pleased to hear you enjoyed the article on the “Lessons from God’s Creation” [see article in this month’s magazine]. Perhaps it may enter the heart of one mortal, then its purpose will be fulfilled.

Dear brother, the “Tidings” has been a big help for me and the brothers who are here with me. We enjoy the “Notes on the Daily Readings” and “Biblical Research.” And I’ve found the articles on “The Power of a Woman” to help understand much more about the women in the Bible. We pray the Lord bless you in your work, with the other brothers as well.

Our very small ecclesia is doing well. The Lord has blessed us with much but we have our struggles that we are trying to overcome. It’s great to know we will succeed if we keep Christ in the foremost for we can overcome with him. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phil. 4:13).

Well, dear brother, may God bless you and cause His face to shine on you with love in the hope of Israel.
Your brother in Christ,
Christopher Suggs, Jean, NV

Thank you for your encouraging words. They will greatly strengthen the resolve of all involved in producing the magazine.

How to Handle Slander

We have misplaced the address of the sister writing on this matter. A response has been received which might well prove useful but is not appropriate for publication in the magazine. If the sister who originally wrote would please send us her address, we would be pleased to forward the letter received plus any others that may come in.

The Hearts of the Fathers

Dear Bro. Don,

Brother Clyde Snobelen’s article on the breakdown of family life and the low morality in today’s world is a very timely warning for all Chris­tadelphians and especially for parents.

The cause of world conditions today is the lack of belief in God and ignoring the Bible as His inspired word. The United States, and other nations, looked down on the Soviet Union when they so proudly denounced God under communist rule. But are these nations any better? While other nations do not openly denounce God, they do so in rejection of His word.

In an article in the “Los Angeles Times” a while ago, a six-year-old boy asked his mother if she believed in God and she said she didn’t know.

He then asked if his daddy believed in God and she said that he did not.

To avoid being of the same frame of mind in practice if not in doctrine, Christadelphians need to use their Bible companions and have daily family Bible readings. If we don’t read the Bible, we will soon be no different from the godless world we live in.

There was a counterpart to Bro. Snobelen’s reference to the bishop’s attitude toward promiscuity in the Los Angeles area not long ago. An Episcopalian priest organized a bikini dance as part of the Sunday morning service.

Senator Bob Dole is being more condemned for speaking out against low moral standards than being praised for his courage. We are reminded of the word of God through Jeremiah 5:31 — “The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means, and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end of it all?”

AIDS rightly termed a plague

I was glad Sis. Booker spoke of AIDS as a plague for it surely is a very dangerous one. It might be encouraging for the brotherhood to consider that Christadelphians have escaped almost unscathed from three worldwide plagues in the past 77 years.

The first was the flu in 1918. Death was everywhere that year and very few Christadelphians were affected. Death was a very close occurrence then. There were no funeral parlors. In those days, the dead remained in the home till the funeral and a crepe was hung on the door to let people know there was a death in the house. I remember that year well. I lived in a very small town but I saw many crepes that year. There was not a death in our ecclesia or surrounding ecclesias.

Throughout the Christadelphian world, there were only a few fatalities. Our escape from that plague was wholly due to the mercy of God. There was nothing we could do to prevent it.

The next two plagues are different. The second plague was smoking. Before the awareness that smoking was a health danger, billboards pictured cigarette smoking as the ultimate picture of peace and comfort. Actors and actresses proudly displayed smoking as the “in” thing. All the while, Christadelphians condemned smoking as a dirty habit. Of course, some did smoke, but they were few. The result was that very few Christadelphians were affected with lung cancer.

Now we have the plague of drugs and AIDS. They are practically one as they are so closely related. The world knows how to avoid this plague. “Just say no.” But sin will prevail. While parents are urged to warn their children, the parents themselves are often suffering from their own promiscuity. Christadelphian parents have a great challenge in educating and warning their children as this plague may last until Christ returns. At present, I be­lieve we are not much affected by this plague. But will we continue to be unaffected? It is up to us.

We must do our Bible readings. Daily readings are a great barrier to this plague. Parents must warn their children and point out to them the warnings by Paul in Romans 1:27: “And likewise also men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was fitting.”

Above all, pray for God’s help in these evil days.