Creeping Traditionalism
In my last article Brethren: The Increasing Rebellion I pointed to the changes taking place among educated young people among the Assemblies. Several factors push them into this direction, and one of them is the increasing traditionalism in the assemblies.
By "traditionalism" I mean a tendency to adhere in an inflexible manner to what was there yesterday, the day before yesterday, and the day before. For example, if only two songs were sung at the start all these years, anything less than that or more than that is immediately seen as anathema. If clapping of hands has been always absent, then someone who claps is seen as a weirdo, and so on.
I am not advocating that everything be broken down for that would be anarchy. Nor am I advocating an inflexible "order of service" for that would make us no different from the nominal churches. On the contrary, we need to regain the spontaneity that characterized the early brethren. Thy had both an order as well as flexibility. Unless we regain that healthy balance, we can expect in increasing defection from the assemblies. [Tambourine, Public Domain Image]
Brethren: The Increasing Rebellion
The number of young people who wish to call themselves Brethren, but who would prefer to reject the ideals and doctrines for which the Brethren stand, is on the increase.
There are several streams of people who want the identity but not the ideals or doctrines. One of them is a group of young people schooled in all the wisdom of this world and its philosophies. They vouch by the Bible and Jesus Christ but it is a postmodernist Bible and Christ, which is none other than the Hindu (Vedanti) interpretation of the Bible and Christ.
Unfortunately, very leaders of the assemblies have understood this change. Worse, as these young people become increasingly vociferous, the leadership does not understand how to tackle them. The words these postmodern young brethren use is so loaded with sweetness that what lies under it goes unnoticed. Thus they are able to seduce an increasing number of young people to their fold. Unless steps are taken now, their influence will become irreversible soon.
Calvinism and Arminianism
Calvinism and Arminianism, One-sided Theology By CH Mackintosh: We have lately received a long letter, furnishing a very striking proof of the bewildering effect of one-sided theology. Our correspondent is evidently under the influence of what is styled the high school of doctrine. Hence, he cannot see the rightness of calling upon the unconverted to “come,” to “hear,” to “repent,” or to “believe.” It seems to him like telling a crab-tree to bear some apples in order that it may become an apple-tree.
The New Age Movement
The New Age Movement By Dr. Johnson C. Philip & Dr. Saneesh Cherian: New Age” is a term seen frequently in personality-development books and magazines these days. They claim that we are in an age when humans can take total control of their bodies and minds. Contrary to what the name suggests, the New Age Movement is a very ancient Cult, and they claim it to be “New” only to deceive people. Plenty of Christians have become spokesmen and agents of this movement without realizing it for what it is. The New Age Movement has its origin in Satan who promised to Eve that by eating the forbidden fruit, she would become “like God”. Realizing this promise is the basic promise and quest of this movement.
The pursuit to become like God became an organized movement with Nimrod and the Tower of Babel. There one observes the seeds of the first one-world religion and government, both contrary to the course of human history as decreed by God. Consequently, God dispersed this movement. Yet Satan, the architect of this movement, continued in his struggle to raise up another all-world religious and political union. The story that unfolded in the millennia that followed is quite complex, but what one needs to know took place only in about one century.
The High Cost Of Reformation
The High Cost Of Reformation By Dr. Johnson C. Philip
We stand at a turning point of history today. Several historical events and movements have completed a significant amount of time in history. It is now time to take notice of what all we have achieved and what all we have lost. An awakening is an immediate need.
The historic Protestant Movement has completed five centuries of existance and growth. The New Testament pattern assemblies known as the Brethren have completed a century in India. Both the movements brought freedom from spiritual bondage and tyranny. The Protestant movement brought freedom, and the assembly movement brought an unparalleled era of diligent Bible studies. If spiritual momentum is to continue, we must once again capture the essence of both these movement.
Who Is An Authority?
Who Is An Authority, Jay N. Forrest
“Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine” (1 Timothy 5:17).
Not all options are created equal. It is unfortunate that many do not realize this. One opinion is not just as good as another’s. There are some who think that they are an expert just because they did a little study in the Scriptures. It is amazing the arrogance that some people have concerning their own opinion. They act as if they were infallible popes. A little knowledge puffs up, but a great wealth of knowledge leads one to humility. For the larger one’s pool of knowledge, the greater one’s shores of ignorance.
The Root of Rebellion
The Root of Rebellion, J. Vernon McGee
Now Korah…took men: and they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD? (Numbers 16:1-3)
The Idolatry of Rationalism
The Idolatry of Rationalism, Jeremy Swanson
“It is not sufficient for everyone to obey and to listen to the Divine message of the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City. In order to propagate that message among the heathen, nay, in order to understand it as clearly and as fully as is humanly possible, one must also consider to what extent man could discern the outlines of that City if left to himself, to the proper exercise of his own powers.”
– Leo Strauss, The City and Man
These words of prominent twentieth-century political philosopher Leo Strauss are a clear manifestation of his rationalistic spirit, of his rationalistic desiderata. But let’s make this personal: I fear that the impure, unsubmissive, hidden corners of our hearts find a certain needfulness or security in the desiderata of Leo Strauss’ rationalism. May the Holy Spirit be with us as we compare the spirit of these words of the man Leo Strauss with the Word, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May the Word of God pierce to the bone and marrow; may the contact not be mere external superficiality, mere “argument.”
Is The Brethren Movement Dead — 2
By: Dr. Johnson C. Philip
[There are a number of pulpit-speakers and one-man publications in India that have been creating a feeling of bitterness and rebellion in the hearts of young believers against the Assemblies. Motivated mostly by greed, these people only stand to gain if the assemblies are spiritually weakened. Assemblies have spiritually and materially nurtured these men, but in turn they have no loyalty to the Assemblies. Here is the second in a series of articles that takes an in depth look on what these people have been doing to destroy the testimony that was established by great men in India a century ago — The Webmasters]
Church historians have repeatedly accepted that it is the Brethren Movement that made the Bible an open book. With their emphasis upon the priesthood of every believer, and the repeated emphasis that each believer-priest should exercise his spiritual gifts, this movement brought forth an era of great understanding and teaching of the Scripture.
Is The Brethren Movement Dead — I
Dr. Johnson C. Philip
[There are a number of pulpit-speakers and one-man publications in India that have been creating a feeling of bitterness and rebellion in the hearts of young believers against the Assemblies. Motivated mostly by greed, these people only stand to gain if the assemblies are spiritually weakned. Assemblies have spiritually and materially nurtured these men, but in turn they have no loyalty to the Assemblies. Here is a series of articles that takes an in depth look on what these people are doing to destroy the testimony that was established by great men in India a century ago — The Ed]
Almost every Christian likes and defends his church, but it seems that for some reason many Brethren believers are turning against their own fellowship. Articles like “Are The Brethren Dead”, and “Why The Brethren Are Dead”, etc. are making appearance here and there in minority or rebel one-man publications. Many believers, mostly those who do not have much idea of the Assembly Heritage in India, are quick on reading these rebellion-fostering publications to denounce the whole movement, only to lavish praises upon Pentecostals or other such non-assembly groups. Worse, the animosity against the assemblies among the assembly believers has been increasing, and if this is allowed to continue, soon we will reach the point of no-return. Thus now is the time for self-examination and restoration.
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