Where are the Plymouth Brethren
- By bbbbbbb
- Looking for a Church
- 14 Replies
Okay! Here is part 2 -
I think everyone in my family has, even my 21 yo son who was just saved 1.5 years ago! To our shame we’re not turning the world upside down, but we do have a heart for the lost.
I am delighted to hear that! Would that all of us see these opportunities and find the joy of personal evangelism!
That’s a good point…we can’t judge hearts so we can’t know for sure, but there should be a clear testimony at least, even if it’s just “I don’t know who He is but one thing I do know: I was blind, but now I see.”
I agree. Fred Hill was very helpful with me at EBGH. He coached me in putting together a testimony which the other elders might accept. As it turned out, it fell flat, and they decided to leave me with the children in the back pew. I was a perplexity to them. I attended faithfully, kept all of the rules, and they could not figure why I, an apparent wolf in sheep's clothing, was attempting to invade the flock.
One of the problems is what happens with unbelievers and other sinners who do "break bread". Unbelievers are already condemned, so if the Lord slays them or afflicts them with illness, then it would be a sign that they are actually believers (cf. Hebrews 12:7-11). That is why when believers do suffer calamities of varying sorts, there are a lot of accusations regarding sin, as in the case of Job. When unbelievers suffer the same things, many believers simply think that that is just a foretaste of what is coming to them in the end. If nothing happens to these folks, and nothing happens to the assembly or its members, then all seems to be well. In one assembly (Cedar Rapids) where I was in fellowship, there was a young man with three young daughters who regularly and cruelly beat his wife. This went on for some years before anyone knew a thing about it. When it was finally discovered, he was coerced by the elders into giving a half-hearted public confession. The beating continued after that so that he was eventually excluded, whereupon he migrated to a Baptist church where he was welcomed with open arms.
It’s so interesting that you noticed this – I did too in the tight meeting in Maine! It seemed to be a requirement of their testimonies that there be an immense and intense spiritual battle. I had more of a “Damascus road” experience when I was saved and I sometimes wondered what they thought of that.
Yes, I had very much of a "Damascus road" experience, as well. As it turned out, it did not fit the proper mold for a testimony in East Boston. Curiously, another aspect that was expected from me at EBGH was the confession that this was the one and only church in Boston (the other gospel halls were not within the city limits of Boston) and that any other meetings of Christians were not legitimate because "the Lord only places His name in one place" and that is where the sign says "Christians Gathered to the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ". Fred Hill was adamant about that point and I assume that he did not invent it.
I think everyone in my family has, even my 21 yo son who was just saved 1.5 years ago! To our shame we’re not turning the world upside down, but we do have a heart for the lost.
I am delighted to hear that! Would that all of us see these opportunities and find the joy of personal evangelism!
That’s a good point…we can’t judge hearts so we can’t know for sure, but there should be a clear testimony at least, even if it’s just “I don’t know who He is but one thing I do know: I was blind, but now I see.”
I agree. Fred Hill was very helpful with me at EBGH. He coached me in putting together a testimony which the other elders might accept. As it turned out, it fell flat, and they decided to leave me with the children in the back pew. I was a perplexity to them. I attended faithfully, kept all of the rules, and they could not figure why I, an apparent wolf in sheep's clothing, was attempting to invade the flock.
One of the problems is what happens with unbelievers and other sinners who do "break bread". Unbelievers are already condemned, so if the Lord slays them or afflicts them with illness, then it would be a sign that they are actually believers (cf. Hebrews 12:7-11). That is why when believers do suffer calamities of varying sorts, there are a lot of accusations regarding sin, as in the case of Job. When unbelievers suffer the same things, many believers simply think that that is just a foretaste of what is coming to them in the end. If nothing happens to these folks, and nothing happens to the assembly or its members, then all seems to be well. In one assembly (Cedar Rapids) where I was in fellowship, there was a young man with three young daughters who regularly and cruelly beat his wife. This went on for some years before anyone knew a thing about it. When it was finally discovered, he was coerced by the elders into giving a half-hearted public confession. The beating continued after that so that he was eventually excluded, whereupon he migrated to a Baptist church where he was welcomed with open arms.
It’s so interesting that you noticed this – I did too in the tight meeting in Maine! It seemed to be a requirement of their testimonies that there be an immense and intense spiritual battle. I had more of a “Damascus road” experience when I was saved and I sometimes wondered what they thought of that.
Yes, I had very much of a "Damascus road" experience, as well. As it turned out, it did not fit the proper mold for a testimony in East Boston. Curiously, another aspect that was expected from me at EBGH was the confession that this was the one and only church in Boston (the other gospel halls were not within the city limits of Boston) and that any other meetings of Christians were not legitimate because "the Lord only places His name in one place" and that is where the sign says "Christians Gathered to the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ". Fred Hill was adamant about that point and I assume that he did not invent it.
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