We Observe Two New Features in our Brotherhood which are closely related. One of these we believe to be a cause for rejoicing and great thankfulness. The other we deplore as not being in keeping with our best Bible—based traditions, and this gives us very grave concern.
The worldwide expansion of the Christadelphian Brotherhood in the last few years is nothing short of amazing. Many of us would say that it is a miracle in the Scriptural sense of that word. In the twenty years from 1973 to 1993, the number of countries and nationalities in which there was Christadelphian ecclesial activity and local literature doubled, from 34 to 68. In the next ten years, from 1993 to 2003, the number doubled again, from 68 to 136. Networks of small `native’ ecclesias confessing Christ as the Way in their own national and regional languages now cover the earth. Even in the older Christadelphian centers where the membership tends to be aging, there are nevertheless significant areas where the truth has been revived and is flourishing. Who could have foreseen such a thing in these days like the days of Noah? Perhaps we should be looking for a second fulfilment of Matthew 24:14 and Colossi ans 1:6?
Yet there are danger signs to beware of. In letters and magazines received in the Caribbean, and no doubt elsewhere, there are increasing references to such and such brothers and sisters being members of “CBM ecclesias”. But surely, and fundamentally, there are no “CBM ecclesias”. There are only Christadelphian ecclesias, worldwide. There are ecclesias, indeed, which are fraternally linked with, and assisted by, various supportive committees bearing the name “Christadelphian Bible Mission” or something similar. But this does not, and cannot, make any of them “CBM ecclesias”. All light stands are founded by Jesus Christ and are his ecclesias, and his alone (Revelation 2 and 3). To treat certain ecclesias, and their members, as in some way “CBM ecclesias” is to defiantly usurp the authority of the Son of God who is the only Head of the Body (Colossians 1:18).
No committee or magazine chairman has the authority to overrule any ecciesia in determining the standing of a brother or sister before Christ. More and more attempts are being made by committees or their officers to dictate to ecclesias on the “genuineness” or otherwise of their members. Some of these ecclesias are far older and more mature than the committees! This procedure is utterly wrong, and will not be blessed by God. It is bound to cause discord among brethren, which is a thing which the Lord hates (Proverbs 6:19).
At this critical time, every brother and sister in the Caribbean should possess a copy of, and carefully read, The Ecclesial Guide — Caribbean Edition (1965). We are asking: are copies still available, and from where can they be obtained?
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One