For more than three fourths of a century, the responsibility question has been a source of trouble and division in the Household of Faith. While endeavoring to solve this question, an extreme position was taken by a number of brethren regarding the nature and sacrifice of Christ, which led to another division in the brotherhood in 1923. The position was taken by some that Christ’s nature was different from ours, and that He did not offer for Himself. It is not our intention to discuss this doctrine, for it has practically disappeared as far as we can determine. However, the responsibility question is still with us, and although some claim that it, too, has died out, there is abundant evidence that such is not the case. The belief that only baptized persons will be raised from the dead, together with its kindred teachings regarding alienation and Adamic condemnation, have been considered a serious error for more than eighty years, and has steadfastly been held of sufficient importance to cause it to be made a test of fellowship. The Birmingham Central Ecclesia made a strong resolution regarding this matter in 1898, and as far as we can determine, have never rescinded that resolution. American ecclesias have always refused to fellowship with those who teach these doctrines, and, although some progress toward reunion has been made, the subject has not been settled as yet. Our Southern California Committee has steadfastly maintained that they will not fellowship those who believe and teach these doctrines.
In this article we would like to speak of responsibility in a broader sense. Believing that when we know right from wrong, we are responsible, we realize that for those of us who know the Truth, there is no avoiding our responsibilities. We are faced with the fact that each of us will stand face o face with Christ when He comes back to call us to His judgment seat. There is no escape, we must give an account of our life, whether good or bad.
What are our Responsibilities?
Let us consider some of our responsibilities as brethren and sisters of the Lord Jesus Christ. First of all, what are our responsibilities to our families? When we took the marriage vow we said, “I will keep myself only to thee as long as we both shall live.” We promised faithfulness, “in sickness and in health, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, till death do us part.” This is indeed a solemn vow. We have been told that our marriage is a type of Christ and the church, and it is both sanctified and holy. How can we break such a holy union ? What excuse can we give for abrogating a vow so solemnly made? There is only one cause in Scripture that permits the dissolution of the marriage contract, and even then we must forgive if the offender seeks such forgiveness. “If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:15). In the act of baptism we are washed clean from our sins. We wish to be entirely forgiven when we stand before our Master, but such will not be the case if we do not completely forgive those who trespass against us. Bitterness against a brother or sister of Christ is sin, but apart from that will bring heartaches and sorrow to those who hold it. How wonderful it is to forgive and to be forgiven! How terrible it is to hold grudges and bitterness in our hearts!
What about our responsibilities to our children ? We brought them into the world and God will hold us responsible for them, too. Broken marriages often bring tragic results to the children. They are likely to go one way or the other, to remain with one parent or the other. Can we, then, simply break up our marriage and walk away when they need our help and guidance? Does not our example influence them to do as we have done? Do we want their marriages to fail? Have we set them an example in our homes that would make them wish to become Christadelphians? How happy is the family that can be together; how heartbreaking is separation!
Am I my Brother’s Keeper?
What about our responsibility to our brethren and sisters ? Can we, like Cain, ask, “Am I my brother’s keeper ?” If we see a brother or sister going astray, what should we do about it ? How many times we hear of our failings and wrongdoing from others to whom they have been repeated, instead of the accuser coming to us and telling us about them. If the law of Christ were obeyed, the great majority of personal offences would be overcome. Jesus said, “If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone . . . ” (Matthew 18:15). We know the other two steps, take two or three brethren with you, and if the matter cannot then be solved, it must be brought before the ecclesia. In many cases the first two steps are never taken. We tell everyone else about the trouble, but Never go first to the offender. In a few cases, not only does the matter fail to come before the ecclesia, but an absolute refusal is made to any request for such a meeting. We do not always realize the unhappiness that comes from holding grudges against another person. In many cases he does not even know that we are offended, because we have not told him. How wonderful it is to forgive and forget! Again we quote Christ’s words: “If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Will we Defend the Truth?
What about our responsibility to the Truth ? Are we willing to defend it against error, even though that error may come from someone prominent in the brotherhood ? Are we willing to heed the words of Jude, and “contend earnestly for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints?” (Verse 3). Are we concerned when we occasionally read articles in one of our own magazines that cast doubts on the foundations of our faith? Are we alerted to the danger when we see evolution taught in the public schools and some churches, and the Bible account of creation described as a myth or vision ? If the first few chapters of Genesis are untrue or symbolic, how can we believe any other part of God’s Word? How can we reconcile the genealogies of the Bible with the claim being openly made that Adam lived more than ten thousand years ago? Are we worried when we hear brethren being condemned when they disfellowship those who say that neither belief nor baptism are necessary to salvation? We, as brethren and sisters of the Lord Jesus Christ, have the custody of the only light that now shines in this dark and godless world Are we going to protect it? Shall we hold it high in the certainty of those things that are most surely believed among us ? How can we protect the Truth? It cannot always be by exposition, although exposition when properly done can have a far reaching effect There comes a time, when, if we are to be faithful, we must make a decision to part with the teachers of error There comes a time when we must heed the command of Paul who said, “From such withdraw thyself’ (1st Timothy 6 5) We must do all in our power to exhort, reprove and rebuke with all long-suffering and meekness But there comes a time when these cease to be a virtue In our own lifetime more than half of the clauses of the Statement of Faith would have been violated, had it not been for the courage of faithful brethren who stood firm for the Truth Unless a greater strictness is soon practiced, the Christadelphians may be in danger of becoming just another church If we go to the judgment seat without the Truth in its purity, we will go empty handed
If we think that everything is not as it should be, we might call upon some of the leading brethren to give us a statement as to the correctness of disfellowshipping those who say that only baptized persons will be raised from the dead But that might cause considerable confusion, for it is indeed a difficult problem to solve If the brethren should answer “yes,” they will be obliged to leave some of those they now fellowship, and if they answer “no,” there will surely be some who will refuse to fellowship with them Let us make a new appraisal of the situation and see what can be done We do not advocate division except as a last resort If sufficient effort is made by the majority of the brethren and sisters, a correction of the problem can be accomplished But if the average brother and sister is disinterested, then error will increase until there is a possibility that the Truth may be lost Let us be sure that we have the Truth, and then to zealously protect it, for it is the Truth alone that will make us free.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One