Alan Eyre “Forbearing One Another In Love”

Bro. R. Paterson of the Concord ecclesia, Virginia, which later merged with the present Good Hope ecclesia, was the great-grandfather of Bro. Ian Powell and great-great grandfather of Bro. Chris Powell of the Chatswood ecclesia in Australia. At a time when serious differences of attitude were developing in the brotherhood, he issued a sober warning through the "Christadelphian" magazine. Its message is just as valid for the Caribbean and North American ecclesias in 2001 as it was when published 125 years ago.

I Hope that the brethren everywhere will carefully ponder and pause before they entangle themselves in barren strife. Let us by all means fight for the truth and sacrifice everything, if need be, on its behalf. But let us be very sure that it is the truth and not profitless abstractions we are fighting for. Many matters are too high for us. We may talk about them, using big words, and appearing very profound, but we can neither understand nor settle them. It is the duty of all to accept those things that the Father has revealed to us in their plainness and simplicity, and not to tear the flock in pieces with bootless jangling. In expounding the Scriptures in the various ecclesias there will, of course, be very many differences manifested by the brethren; still, provided the elementary principles of the truth are held in common, there is nothing to prevent harmony, unity, and love prevailing. It is utterly wrong for any brother who holds a strong view upon any abstract point to attempt to force his brethren to speak and think precisely as he does.

There is no doctrine which more demands the exercise of forbearance on the part of the brethren one toward another than that of God-manifestation. Jesus is presented to us in two aspects — as the manifestation of the Eternal Father by the Spirit, and as the Son of Man, made in all points like unto his brethren, and perfected by obedience through suffering. Both aspects are equally important and true, and if we hold one of them in such as way as to deny the other, we forsake the truth. But in entering on the details of the subject, an infinite variety of thoughts and expressions inevitably arises. Some brethren, while not denying the human, dwell on the divine side of the Christ; while others again, while believing Jesus was the manifestation of the Father, incline towards an extreme the other way. Where a right spirit prevails, such brethren bear with each other, and endeavor with mutual, kindly persuasion to attain unto greater oneness.

But what is the result when the ecclesia is converted into an arena where each side attempts to force, by regular stand-up fighting, its way of thinking on its neighbor? Nothing but confusion and the raking up of all the evil passions and feelings of our nature, instead of righteousness, peace and joy.

The enemy, both in connection with the truth and outside of it, has surely had enough in this direction already to cause him to rejoice without such wanton playing into his hands. Avoiding crotchets and hobbies, let us patiently continue in the work of spreading the knowledge of the truth and the building up of the brethren.