Articles

"Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3)

"Neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure" (1 Timothy 5:22)

The doctrine of fellowship commences in the Old Testament with the separation of Cain, who slew his brother, from his parents and the rest of their progeny. Abraham was told to come out of Ur of the Chaldees, and he and his descendants were told to become "strangers and pilgrims on the earth" (Heb 11:13Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.). Not only is the doctrine of fellowship the sharing of something by a group of people, but it is a doctrine of exclusion of those who do not share that same something.

Israel, (Yahweh's ecclesia in the Old Testament), were commanded to eradicate the inhabitants of Canaan and not to make marriages with them. The reason being, ...it will work like leaven to corrupt the whole."For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly" (Deut 7:4). Yahweh knew that where sin is allowed to remain within a community, it will work like leaven to corrupt the whole. This was the case when "the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose", and it has ever been so. This is why children of Belial (wickedness) were to be put to death, as were adulterers, "so shall thou put away evil from Israel" (Deut 22:22).

There is no doubt that we are called to separation from evil. Yahweh said to Israel, "Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy" (Lev 19:2). The word holy is translated from the Hebrew qadosh which means to be separate, or set apart.Fellowship...is just as importantly an isolating of a group of people When Nadab and Abihu transgressed Yahweh said "I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified" (Lev 10:3). Again, the word sanctified comes from the same Hebrew word qadosh, meaning to be separate, or set apart. Just as Yahweh set Israel apart from the other nations, and they were commanded to set themselves apart by living lives acceptable to Yahweh, so we are commanded to set ourselves apart from the world and its evil practices. "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light" (1 Pet 2:9). The same command is given to us, "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy" (1 Pet 1:15 & 16). So fellowship is not only a coming together of people into one body — it is just as importantly an isolating of a group of people from those who do not share their beliefs and aspirations. As we would expect, the Spirit through the Apostle Paul puts it perfectly, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" (2 Cor 6:14).

Jacob was told that he would be fruitful and would become a "multitude of people" (Gen 28:3Gen 28:3 And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people;).  The word multitude is from the Hebrew qahal meaning an assembly called together. Stephen, in his defence before the Sanhedrin, calls the generation of Israel which came out of Egypt "the ecclesia in the wilderness" (Acts 7:38Acts 7:38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:).  Just as Israel were "called out" of physical Egypt to be an ecclesia, so we are an ecclesia, and have been called out of spiritual Egypt. But just as there were false prophets among Yahweh's Old testament ecclesia, so there have arisen false teachers among the ecclesia of today (2 Pet 2:12 Pet 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.).

A Change in Belief

Until the re-union with the Suffolk Street Fellowship in 1957 the Central Ecclesias had always maintained the principle of withdrawal from any ecclesia which harboured wrong teaching or wrong behaviour, and which refused to correct the situation.  "A fence around the truth"Bro. Robert Roberts called this principle of withdrawal of fellowship for error, whether from individuals or an ecclesia, as "a fence around the truth". Sadly, this fence has been broken down, and the excuse of ecclesial autonomy is applied even where an ecclesia departs from the Birmingham Amended Statement of Faith — a statement of beliefs which is supposed to be common to all Central ecclesias, and upheld by all the ecclesias within that Fellowship.

The Christadelphian for July 1945 contained the following quotation from Bro. Roberts, who was commenting on Deuteronomy Chapter 13, 'Communities were to be dealt with on the same principle as individuals. If it were reported that any one city had commenced to serve other gods (v. 12, 13Deut. 13:12-13 If thou shalt hear say in one of thy cities, which the LORD thy God hath given thee to dwell there, saying, 13 Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known;) then said Moses, shalt thou enquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought among you, thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein' (v. 14, 15Deut. 13:14-15 14 Then shalt thou enquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought among you; 15 Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword.). The comparisons drawn in Peters epistle between false teachers in fleshly Israel and spiritual Israel is evidence that this Mosaic enactment contains a lesson for us. The use of sword or anything destructive is out of the question; a practical protest by refusing to fellowship is the full extent of permitted action. The command to enquire is not at variance with the New Testament injunction: it is in harmony with it. When, therefore, it is reported that any brother or ecclesia is following false doctrine, it is not only permitted, but it is obligatory on other brethren and ecclesias, to enquire, and make search, and ask diligently, to see whether it be true, and the thing certain. "Other ecclesias cannot co-operate without complicity"If it is, the responsibility of their position leaves no option but that of repudiating complicity with the evil.

Commenting on this the editor, Bro. John Carter wrote, "If an ecclesia is known to persist in teaching wrong doctrine, or retaining in fellowship those who do, other ecclesias can only avoid being involved by disclaiming association.....other ecclesias cannot co-operate without complicity. Harmony in essentials has ceased to exist, and behind a facade of union there is really disunity." In Deuteronomy 13 no doubt those who were opposed to the men of belial would be given the opportunity and warning to flee from the city before it was destroyed. Yahweh did not say that if there were aged or sick folk in that city, then the city was to be spared for their sakes. If they wished to avoid being destroyed with the men of belial the elderly and sick would have to get out whatever the difficulties — even to be put on ox-carts, or carried bodily out. The innocent members of the city would have to leave their homes in order to survive! Yahweh did not say to the faithful of that city, stay in the city to try to strengthen it against error. The command was "Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein." "If an ecclesia is known to persist in teaching wrong doctrines, or to retain in fellowship those who do, other ecclesias can only avoid being involved by disclaiming fellowship"As Bro. Roberts points out, the city typifies the ecclesia, and the lesson is plain that all faithful brethren and sisters must flee out of an ecclesia which has become corrupted by wrong doctrine or wrong behaviour, and other ecclesias must dissociate themselves from the erring ecclesia.

In 1952 Bro. John Carter was in North America, and helped to draw up an agreement between the Central Ecclesias and many of the Berean Ecclesias as a basis for the Berean Ecclesias to rejoin Central. Clause 3 of that agreement read, "If an ecclesia is known to persist in teaching wrong doctrines, or to retain in fellowship those who do, other ecclesias can only avoid being involved by disclaiming fellowship" (The Christadelphian 1952, page 376). Thus, the Scriptural principle of defilement by contact was still being practised by the Central ecclesias.

In 1953 a Berean ecclesia in U.S.A. wrote to all the Central Ecclesias in Britain requiring them to confirm that they upheld the terms of this agreement. "Should any depart from any elements of the One Faith, withdrawal shall take place after the procedure requited by Titus 3:10, 11 has been followed. If an ecclesia is known to persist in teaching false doctrine, it is the duty of other ecclesias to dissociate themselves from such an ecclesia."In reply, Bro. Carter wrote, "We agree with you that these resolutions clearly set out the established attitude of all ecclesias in the Central fellowship, and there seems to be no point in confirming a position which has been recognised for many years" (The Christadelphian, 1953, pages 216/7).

In 1957 re-union between the Central and Suffolk Street ecclesias took place upon the basis of a Final Statement which included the clause, "Should any depart from any elements of the One Faith, withdrawal shall take place after the procedure requited by Titus 3:10, 11Titus 3:10, 11 10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; 11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself. has been followed. If an ecclesia is known to persist in teaching false doctrine, it is the duty of other ecclesias to dissociate themselves from such an ecclesia." We see that now the principle had been watered down to the effect that ecclesias were not required to "disclaim fellowship", but to "dissociate themselves" — a more ambiguous phrase.

Since 1957 the principle of withdrawal from an erring ecclesia has been eroded by the claim that all ecclesias are autonomous, and this autonomy is now taken to cover doctrine and behaviour, although the very existence of a (supposed) common Statement of Faith denies this.

Bro. Roberts and Winking at Error

 In The Christadelphian for September 1885 Bro. Roberts published an article on fellowship in which he made a number of points, three of which are quoted below:-

8. That we are not at liberty to receive any one who denies or refuses to believe any of them (the elements of the truth), because the receiving of such would open the way for the currency of their principles among us, with the tendency of leavening the whole community. "A man himself believing the truth, but willing to wink at its denial among those in fellowship... becomes, by this willingness, an offender against the law of Christ"The elements of the Truth are so mutually related that the displacement of one undermines the foundation of the whole.

9. A man himself believing the truth, but willing to wink at its denial among those in fellowship in any of its essential elements, becomes, by this willingness, an offender against the law of Christ, which requires the faithful maintenance of the whole. Faithful servants of Christ cannot unite with such, on the ground that though he hold the truth himself, such a man is responsible for the error of those whom he would admit, and therefore becomes the channel of a similar responsibility to those who may endorse him in fellowship:- He that biddeth him God-speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

10. That it is the duty of the friends of the truth to uphold it as a basis of union among themselves by refusing to receive either those who deny any part of it, or those who would receive those so denying.

In the ecclesias today we see the tragic results of a Central Fellowship which is unwilling to cleanse itself of error!

In the same year Bro. Roberts wrote, "There would soon be no truth. Such was the remark of a sister a few days ago, in reference to the effect of complying with a proposal that had been made to the ecclesia with which she was associated. The remark embodies a thought well worth consideration of all who favour the lax theory of fellowship which some are disposed to advocate. If it be true that we are not responsible for the doctrines of those with whom we helpfully assemble, why should we come away from the churches and chapels? Why sacrifice the advantages and comforts of popular communions if it is only the Father we fellowship, and not those with whom we may identify ourselves? The theory is a mischievous one, and it will work mischievous results in the long run if it obtain currency." Sad to say, the theory mentioned above has "gained currency", and in the ecclesias today we see the tragic results of a Central Fellowship which is unwilling to cleanse itself of error! But "What saith the scripture?"

Put Out Without the Camp

Under the Law of Moses, if a man was found to be leprous, or defiled by the dead, he was to be put without the camp until he was clean, "Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and whosoever is defiled by the dead: Both male and female shall ye put out, without the camp shall ye put them; that they defile not their camps, in the midst whereof I dwell" (Num 5:2 & 3). The lesson is plain, that any brother or sister who defiles the ecclesia by their actions must be "put out without the camp"Leprosy typifies sin, and what happened to Israel happened unto them "for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come" (ensamples: or, types) (1 Cor 10:11). The lesson is plain, that any brother or sister who defiles the ecclesia by their actions must be "put out without the camp".

Even a man who had come into contact with a dead body had to be "put out without the camp". Although the man had not sinned, he became defiled by contact with the dead, for death, as the consequence of sin, stands closely related to it, and so the man who touched a dead body was judged unclean. To quote Bro. Roberts, "The presence of death - the touch of death - means the presence of sin" (The Law of Moses, page 263). Contact with death stood for contact with sin - and it made a man unclean! To quote Bro. Roberts again, "Contact with death made a man defiled" (The Law of Moses, page 264). If a Nazarite came into contact with a dead body all the days of his vow of separation were lost. We read in Num 6:11 & 12, "And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, and make an atonement for him, for that he sinned (Hebrew - chatta - trespassed) "Personal friendship often interferes with a clear and healthful discrimination of duty in divine matters, and so the guilt of an offender against God may cleave to us.....There is such a thing as being partakers of other mens sins" (1 Tim 5:22)by the dead.......but the days that were before shall be lost, because his separation was defiled." We are Nazarites, and have made a vow of separation. The lesson is obvious that, if we associate with those who practice sinful ways we have "sinned by the dead", our separation has been "defiled", and we break the conditions of our vow! Bro. Roberts puts it very clearly in The Law of Moses, Page 284, "Personal friendship often interferes with a clear and healthful discrimination of duty in divine matters, and so the guilt of an offender against God may cleave to us.....There is such a thing as being partakers of other mens sins" (1 Tim 5:22). We may 'sin by the dead' while not sinning in our own action." This is clear teaching by Bro. Roberts of defilement by contact.

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are"

The Apostle Paul, in 1 Cor 3:16 & 171 Cor 3:16 & 17 16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are., writes that the believers are the temple, or dwelling-place of God, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are". Those who practice sinful ways are like the dead body - they defile those who associate with them in fellowship. Paul takes hold of this in 2 Cor 6:14-18, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?  and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial?  or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?  for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." Their actions will put them out of fellowship with Yahweh, and with His Son. How, then, can they expect to be in fellowship with brethren and sisters who are upholding the teaching of Christ?Like the Nazarite, we are commanded to be separate, and to touch not the unclean thing". If we do as we are commanded, then God will "receive" us, and be a "Father" unto us. The other side of the coin is that if we do not do as we are commanded, then God will not "receive" us, nor will he be a "Father" unto us, and we will not truly be his "sons and daughters". God said of Israel, "your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you" (Isa 59:2). The same will happen to those brethren and sisters who do not uphold the teaching of Christ in their lives. Their actions will put them out of fellowship with Yahweh, and with His Son. How, then, can they expect to be in fellowship with brethren and sisters who are upholding the teaching of Christ?

Lessons from the Past

Israel had failed to put away from among them the "men of belial", and had become contaminated by them, for Yahweh says in Ps 50:18, "When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers" (hast...: Heb. thy portion was with). Yahweh says that those who were not adulterers were nevertheless partakers or fellowshippers with them by association". "By having their portion with them they had become defiled by that association.

In Haggai 2:11-13 we read, "Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying, If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No. Fellowship with a holy (separated) person does not make one holy (separate). But fellowship with an unclean person makes one unclean, or defiled.Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean." The lesson is drawn between the principle of making holy or separate, and the principle of making unclean. Fellowship with a holy (separated) person does not make one holy (separate). But fellowship with an unclean person makes one unclean, or defiled.

Lot was told to get out of Sodom before Yahweh poured out His judgments on the city. And in Gen 19:15 we are told, "And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city". If Lot and his family had remained in Sodom, although they had not been perpetrators of the sins of Sodom, yet they would have been "consumed in the iniquity of the city". In fact, Lots wife remained in the city in her heart, and she was indeed "consumed in the iniquity of the city" - a clear case of defilement by contact - of suffering because of contact with the dead. Lot was warned against being consumed, not in his own iniquity, but in the iniquity of others. "Lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city"... "Touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins"... "Neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you"And his wife was actually consumed in the iniquity of others, because, although the angels had brought them out of the city, in her heart she had remained in Sodom.

When Korah, Dathan and Abiram rebelled against Yahweh's appointed leader, Moses, the ground opened up, presumably by an earthquake, and they went down alive into the abyss. And all those who associated themselves with them by standing by their tents, were also swallowed up. Moses had said to the people, "Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins" (Num 16:26). Those who were not implicated in the rebellion got away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram, for if they had not they would have been consumed, not in their own sins, but in "their" sins - the "sins" of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Here is yet another case where, if they had failed to separate themselves they would have become "partaker (koinoneo - sharer or fellowshipper) of other mens sins" (1 Tim 5:22).

When Israel captured Jericho Achan the son of Zerah took of the spoil which should have been devoted to Yahweh, as a result of this the anger of Yahweh fell upon Israel. "Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity" (Joshua 22:20). The condition laid upon Israel by Yahweh as a result of Achan's sin was, "Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you" (Joshua 7:12). In the case of Achan also we see others being involved in the sin of another. "Inaccurate ideas... that they are only in fellowship with those actually in their midst"The principle was remove that which offends against the Truth, and have no fellowship with it, or suffer rejection by Yahweh. If we fail to dissociate ourselves from those who sin against the Truth we become partakers (fellowshippers) of their sin.

Bro. Roberts wrote, "Some inaccurate ideas appear to be entertained by some on the subject of fellowship. They think they are not in fellowship with a meeting or ecclesia if they do not pay or receive a visit from it, and that they are only in fellowship with those actually in their midst. If this were correct, there would be no fellowship one with another in personal absence, whereas John declared this to have been the case with those from whom he was personally absent" (The Christadelphian, 1887, page 328). On another occasion Bro. Roberts said that fellowship "does not stop at the door of the meeting room".

Be Ye not Partakers with Them

In Rom 16:17 Paul says, "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling contrary to the doctrine (teaching) which ye learned; and turn away from them" (R.V.). Those who introduce doctrinal error, or behaviour contrary to the teaching of Christ and the apostles, bring "occasions of stumbling" into the Brotherhood. The clear teaching is that we should "turn away from them", for such have no part in the Ecclesia of Christ.

When we are baptised we enter into a solemn covenant to keep and uphold and defend the complete Truth of the Scriptures. Those who deny any part of the Scriptures cannot be allowed to remain within the body of Christ. We only know that the scripture says those who "do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Gal 5:21)Adultery is an offence against the commandments of Christ, and remarriage is adultery. It is, therefore, a leprosy that must be "put without the camp". Under the Law of Moses adulterers were put to death! Today we put them "without the camp" until they repent, or until Christ passes judgement. To obey the commandment to have no fellowship with such is not to judge them, or to shut them out of the kingdom, but simply to obey the Word of Yahweh, who surely knows better than we do. The decision as to who will inherit the kingdom can safely be left to the Lord Jesus Christ. We only know that the scripture says those who "do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Gal 5:21).

Leaven is also a type of sin, and under the Mosaic Law it was forbidden to use leaven in the offerings. So, when instructing the Corinthian Ecclesia to "Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person"withdraw from the brother who had committed fornication Paul says, "Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened......Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person" (1 Cor 5:6, 7, 13). Todays Sons of God are allowing the practices of the flesh to invade the body of Christ, and, if not checked, the inevitable result must be that the leaven of sin will spread throughout the body. The Spirit through Paul commands them "And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus" (verses 2-5). Not only is disfellowship Yahweh's way (the only way), to preserve the sanctity of the ecclesia, but it is also designed to bring the erring member to their senses - to repent and return to the fold. We are commanded not to company, or even to eat, with those who transgress, "I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators... The only cure for gangrene is to remove it, or it will kill the whole body. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat" (verses 9 & 11). If we are not to keep company, and not to eat with those who walk disorderly how then can we break bread and share the Lord's table with them?

In 2 Tim 2:15-17 we read, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker". The Greek word rendered "canker" is "gaggraina" meaning "gangrene". The only cure for gangrene is to remove it, or it will kill the whole body. The lesson is clear that, if false brethren do not remove themselves, the body of believers must actively remove them. Otherwise the contamination will spread throughout the whole body, and destroy it!

"Ineffectual Shepherds"

The Apostle Paul warned of "grievous wolves" who would "enter in, not sparing the flock" (Acts 20:29). What does a faithful shepherd do when wolves attack the sheep? He drives the wolves away from the sheep, in order that the sheep may be preserved. While the shepherds show their ineffectiveness, the sheep are being torn to pieces!Are the shepherds of the Central flock driving out the wolves? The plain answer is, "No, they are not!" And while the shepherds show their ineffectiveness, the sheep are being torn to pieces!

We are told in Eph 5:7, 11 & 12, "Be not ye therefore partakers with them... And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret." In verse 7 the word partaker is from the Greek summetokos meaning a joint holder. In verse 11 the word fellowship is from the Greek sugkoinoneo meaning to be a joint partaker with. If we fellowship "the unfruitful works of darkness" we become joint partakers with those who practice them.

It is absolutely vital that we have no fellowship with such. That is why we read in 2 Thess 3:6, "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves Withdrawal of fellowship is a command of the Holy Spirit, not only to ecclesias, but also to individual brethren and sisters!from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us." Withdrawal of fellowship is a command of the Holy Spirit, not only to ecclesias, but also to individual brethren and sisters! If an ecclesia is unwilling to withdraw fellowship from a brother who is walking "disorderly", it is the duty of the individual members to withdraw their fellowship, both from the offending brother, and also from those who still fellowship him. 2 Thess 3:14 is also relevant, "And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed." Again, in 1 Tim 6:3 & 5, "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness.... from such withdraw thyself." This is not a command to ecclesias, but to individuals - from such "WITHDRAW THYSELF". Though this phrase in 1 Tim 6:5 is disputed it is in perfect agreement with the phrase "withdraw yourselves" in 2 Thess 3:6, and is included in the Received Text. Just as the man who came into contact with a bone or a dead body became unclean, so we are contaminated if we fellowship those who serve the flesh. We must "withdraw ourselves from such!" The "words of our Lord Jesus Christ" include the words "Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder" (Matt 19:6). It is absolutely clear that this is part of the doctrine which must be upheld, both in our individual lives, and also in our ecclesia.

So John in his 2 Epistle, verses 9-11, states, "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine (teaching) of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine (teaching) of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine (teaching), receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds". This is obviously an instruction to individuals not to have anything to do with those who deny any part of scripture teaching, for if we do we shall become defiled by contact - we become a "partaker" of their evil deeds! Can we break bread with those who blaspheme? The question is too obvious to require an answer!It is clear that if we fellowship those who are walking disorderly we become defiled by that association, by failing to separate ourselves from error. Thus, Titus, in 3:10 & 11, says "A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself." The word subverted is from the Greek ekstrepho meaning turned out of the way. To change or deny the teaching of the scriptures is blasphemy, for Paul says in 1 Tim 1:19 & 20, "Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme." Can we break bread with those who blaspheme? The question is too obvious to require an answer!

"Errorists Within and Without"

If a Catholic learned the truth and was baptised, but insisted on attending, and participating in the Catholic Mass, would we break bread with such? The answer must be No! Now if a man was baptised into a Christadelphian ecclesia, but insisted it was right to take part in the Church of England Communion, would we break bread with him? We are recognising the principle of defilement by contact or association - that if we break bread with such an one we ourselves become defiled by that associationAgain, the answer must be No! We are recognising the principle of defilement by contact or association - that if we break bread with such an one we ourselves become defiled by that association. But what if a Catholic or member of the Church of England said, I have changed my beliefs, and now the only difference I have with you Christadelphians is that I believe natural Israel to have been cast off by God for good. Would we baptise such an one? Of course not! But we have such already in fellowship! If we refuse to fellowship the one, why are we prepared to fellowship the other? If a brother or sister insists on breaking bread with those within the ecclesias who are in error, does not the same principle apply, for we are still fellowshipping error?

The following quotes from the pen of Bro. Roberts are also applicable here. "He that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. This applies to all without distinction, and erects a barrier to fellowship with even some who hold the truth; for though they may hold the doctrine of Christ themselves, yet if they keep up a God speed If our ecclesia belongs to a group of ecclesias we are in fellowship with the ecclesias in that groupconnection with those who don't, by John's rule, they make themselves partakers with them, and therefore cut themselves off from those who stand for the doctrine of Christ" (Seasons of Comfort, 1879, page 115). If we are in fellowship with a man who is in error we are fellowshipping the error! It is not enough to say that because an ecclesia within our Fellowship has error we will not associate with that ecclesia. If our ecclesia belongs to a group of ecclesias we are in fellowship with the ecclesias in that group. Otherwise, their members would not be able to attend our ecclesia for the Breaking of Bread, and we would not be able to attend the Breaking of Bread at the other ecclesias within the group. And if within that group there is an ecclesia with a member or members who are in error, then we are in fellowship with that error.

Also, in the Christadelphian, 1885, page 305, Bro. Roberts says, "If others who believe with us are not strong enough to stop with us, but who prefer to "An ecclesia is responsible for the doctrine of its members"remain with those who corrupt the Truth by uncertain doctrine, we cannot be responsible for them. They say God speed to that which they condemn, and by Johns rule make themselves partakers of the evil." Also in the Christadelphian, 1885, page 437, "An ecclesia is responsible for the doctrine of its members. If a man bring a doctrine into the house of God contrary to those which it has received, we must steadfastly yet kindly withstand it. It cannot tolerate evil in any form. If it does, it becomes a partaker of the evil, and will not be held blameless by him who walketh in the midst of the golden candlesticks."

The remarks of Bro. Roberts about those who hold an erroneous interpretation of Revelation, such as the Futurist Interpretation, are also relevant here. He says, "It is impossible, therefore, to agree with those who would make light of the subject, and it is impossible not to sympathise with faithful men who cannot remain in any community where such nullifying doctrines are tolerated".

The Ecclesia at Sardis

Yahweh is not the author of confusion, and cannot contradict HimselfThere is one passage which those who seek to remain in fellowship with those who walk disorderly always appeal to, and that is the Letter to Sardis in Rev 3:1-6Rev 3:1-6 1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. 4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. 5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. 6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.. However, as Yahweh is not the author of confusion, and cannot contradict Himself, neither the Letter to Sardis, nor the other six Letters can contradict the teaching of the rest of Scripture, which says that we should withdraw ourselves "from every brother that walketh disorderly". In Sardis the ecclesia were told to "strengthen the things that remain, that are ready to die". They were told to "repent". Then in verse 4 and 5 we read, "Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels."

Although the Sardis Ecclesia was dying, there is no mention whatsoever of wrong doctrine or immorality! "Thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead" (Rev 3:1). The few who had not "defiled their garments" were the only sign of life in an otherwise "dead" ecclesia. Bro. H. P. Mansfield, in the Expositor on Revelation, page 56, says, "The Lord does not specify any prevailing form of error or false doctrine". And of the "few names" of verse 4 he says, "This was the redeeming feature in this otherwise dead Ecclesia". Notwithstanding the general laxity of the Ecclesia, there was a little strength. Bro. John Knowles supports this view in his book, Hear What The Spirit Saith To The Ecclesias. He says (page 34), The only failure of the Sardis Ecclesia was one of increasing apathy"Despite all the appearances of vigour and vitality, the real state was that they were spiritually dead". He goes on to say, "Whilst the elders were warned that they were spiritually dead, there were some who were not yet dead but about to die". As the record suggests that there was no false doctrine or disorderly walk, the only failure of the Sardis Ecclesia was one of increasing apathy, the duty of those few still awake was not to stand aside, but seek to re-invigorate the Ecclesia. This would be completely in line with the teaching of the rest of Scripture, and would not deny the requirement to withdraw from error or disorderly walk!

The Letter to Smyrna, and the Letter to Philadelphia also contain no mention of wrong doctrine or wrong behaviour, but both mention a third party, which is called "the synagogue of satan". The members of the "synagogue of satan" claimed to be spiritual Jews, but were not! In both these cities the true believers were maintaining a lightstand separately from those who were in error.

We are told that the Ecclesia at Ephesus "hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate" (Rev 2:6). In view of this there is no way that the Ecclesia at Ephesus would have fellowship with an ecclesia which harboured those whom Christ hated.

"Rebellion and Blasphemy"

In Jer 29 the false prophet, Shemaiah, was contradicting the Spirit-given words of Jeremiah, and in verse 32 it says that he was teaching "rebellion against Yahweh". Today, there are brethren and sisters who are turning the words of Jesus on their head! Consider the following:-

We must stand aside from the works of darkness!!

"This is contradicting the teaching of Jesus! If contradicting the words of Yahweh through Jeremiah was rebellion, is not contradicting the teaching of Jesus rebellion and blasphemy?  WE MUST STAND ASIDE FROM THE WORKS OF DARKNESS! It is time for all brethren and sisters in the Central ecclesias, as members of a fellowship which is now so contaminated by false teaching that there is no hope of removing it, to consider whether they should remain in fellowship with error!

The words contained in 2 Pet 2:20-22 are especially powerful, "For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. "...the latter end is worse with them than the beginning"But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire." If after baptism, a brother or sister turn back to the sinful practices of the world, they are again ensnared by the flesh, and unless they are shown the error of their ways and repent, they will have besmirched their garment again. That is why the Apostle Paul, in 1 Cor 6:11, says, "And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." If we become unwashed, we are no longer sanctified, no longer justified. Let us faithfully divide the Word of Truth, and teach our brethren and sisters the truth of the matter. "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee (1 Tim 4:16). The wolves are already in the Central Fold, and the shepherds are unwilling to remove them! What must the faithful sheep do in order to survive?