Christadelphians

From Freepedia

The Christadelphians are a nontrinitarian religious denomination of people who hold a different theology to orthodox Christianity. Although their current name developed in Britain and North America in the 19th century, they claim a long line of believers, going back to Apostolic times, who have always been committed to upholding the purity of the gospel as understood by the original Apostles. They are primarily found in the English-speaking world, but are growing elsewhere, with Christadelphians living in approximately 130 countries.

Contents

Beliefs

Christadelphians base their beliefs wholly on the Bible, and accept no other texts as inspired by God. Christadelphians believe that God is the creator of all things and the father of true believers. He is a separate being from his son, Jesus Christ. They believe that the Bible clearly teaches that the Holy Spirit is not a person, but the power of God used in creation and for salvation, and at certain times in history has been given to believers.

Jesus is the promised Messiah, in whom the prophecies and promises of the Old Testament (particularly those to Abraham and David) find their fulfilment. Jesus is the Son of Man, in that he inherited sin-prone human nature from his mother, and Son of God by virtue of his miraculous conception by the power of God. Although tempted, he committed no sin, and was therefore a perfect representative sacrifice to bring salvation to sinful humankind. God raised him to immortality, and he ascended to Heaven, God's dwelling place. Jesus will return in person to establish the kingdom of God on earth. His throne will be in Jerusalem and he will be king over the restored kingdom of God in Israel. Jesus will also rule over the whole earth.

People become disciples of Christ only by belief in his teachings, by repentance, and through baptism by total immersion in water. Although saved by faith in God's grace, real faith will manifest in works, thus the disciple should seek to live a life consistent with Bible teaching. Christadelphians point to clear teachings in the Scriptures that death is the complete ceasation of life. After death, believers are in a state of non-existence, knowing nothing until the Resurrection at the return of Christ. Following the judgment at that time, the accepted are given the gift of immortality, and live with Christ on a restored Earth, helping him to establish the Kingdom of God, and to rule over the mortal population for a thousand years (the Millennium). Christadelphians view the future Kingdom of God as the focal point of the Gospel taught by Jesus and the apostles. They point to fulfilled Bible prophecy, particularly as regards the nations, as clear evidence that the Scriptures can be trusted.

Christadelphians reject a number of doctrines traditionally held by the mainstream Christian denominations, notably the immortality of the soul, the Trinity, and the pre-existence of Christ - all of which they consider to be false teachings of manmade doctrines. They believe that where the words devil or Satan occur in the Bible, they should be understood as the inherent evil within man (aka sin) and his inclination to disobey his Creator. These terms may also be used in reference to specific political systems or individuals in opposition or conflict. Hell, is understood to simply refer to the grave to which all men go, rather than being a place of eternal torment.

Christadelphians believe the doctrines they reject were introduced into Christendom after the 1st century, and cannot be demonstrated from the Bible. They believe that many of the beliefs of mainstream Christianity can be clearly shown, from Scripture, to be in direct opposition to clear Bible teaching.

Christadelphians are conscientious objectors (but not pacifists), and refrain from involvement with politics, joining the armed forces, the police force, or other organised bodies such as trade unions. There is a strong emphasis on personal Bible reading, bible study, prayer, and morality. Congregational worship, which usually takes place on Sunday, centres on the remembrance of Christ in closed communion offered to all baptized members.

History & Organization

The name Christadelphian, derived from the Greek words for "Brethren in Christ," was coined by John Thomas. From the mid-19th century, there were groups in many parts of Britain and North America which held to the beliefs outlined above, and who were loosely associated with one another. They met under various names until the time of the American Civil War, when a group affiliation was required to register for conscientious objector status.

Christadelphians usually call their congregations ecclesias. There is no central Christadelphian organization or hierarchy. Ecclesias are autonomous to a degree and co-operation between most of them is based on a common acceptance of the Birmingham Amended Statement of Faith. Anyone who publicly assents to the doctrines described in this statement and is in good standing in their "home ecclesia" (if they have one) is generally welcome to participate in the activities of any other ecclesia. Christadelphians do not take communion or fellowship with any other churches.

Christadelphians don't have paid ministers. Most male members are eligible to teach and perform other duties, and these are usually assigned on a rotation, rather than having a designated preacher. Governance follows a democratic model (or more correctly a theocratic model), typically with an elected committee for each individual ecclesia. This unpaid committee is responsible for the day-to-day running of the ecclesia and is answerable to the rest of the ecclesia's members.

Christadelphians make a distinction between the roles of male and female members. Christadelphians believe the scriptures teach that women are not eligible to hold elected offices or to lead services. They are however generally allowed to participate in discussions, teach children, perform music, vote on business matters, and engage in most other activities.

Christadelphian ecclesias actively preach to their neighbours and co-operate at a regional, national, and international level in prosetelyzing. There are also ecclesially-accountable committees for youth and Sunday School work, military service issues, care of the elderly, and humanitarian work. These do not have any legislative authority, and are wholly dependent upon ecclesial support. Ecclesias in an area may hold occasional joint activities combining youth groups, fellowship, preaching, and Bible study.

Most children of Christadelphian parents are highly encouraged to become Christadelphians themselves, once they have reached an age where they are able to make their own decisions.

There are currently approximately 30,000 Christadelphians in around 130 countries, many as part of established ecclesias, preaching and worshipping in their local languages.

History of Christadelphians

In 1848 Elpis Israel was written by Dr John Thomas in which he expounded upon the one faith as found in the Bible. The body of people who became known as Christadelphians suffered two divisions early on in their history when two groups separated from the main body. In 1873 a group left and eventually became known as the Shield fellowship. Then in 1885 a dispute arose concerning the inspiration of the Bible. Those who believed the Bible to be only partially inspired left and became known as the Suffolk Street fellowship after the hall in Birmingham, England where they met. The main body of Christadelphians known as the Birmingham (Temperance Hall) Fellowship continued to believe that the entire Bible was inspired by God, while members of Suffolk Street believed that historical parts of the Bible need not be inspired. However the name ‘Christadelphian’ continued to be used as a general description of the main body of believers.

In 1923 a major dividing of the Birmingham (Temperance Hall) Fellowship took place over the issue of military service. The two groups were more or less evenly divided with one continuing to be known as the Birmingham (Temperance Hall) Fellowship and the other being known as the Berean fellowship.

It is at this point we must view the two fellowships separately because both fellowships now follow differing histories.

Birmingham (Temperance Hall) Fellowship

A union in the UK of the Birmingham (Temperance Hall) Fellowship and Suffolk Street fellowships occurred in 1957, thus forming what became known as the Central Fellowship. In Australia and New Zealand a union occurred in 1958 of the Central fellowship and the Shield fellowship (which was allied to the Suffolk Street fellowship).

The Old Paths Fellowship

The unions of 1957 and 1958 led to the formation of the Old Paths Fellowship whose members (from Central) could not accept back into fellowship members of these other fellowships considering that the reasons for separation in 1885 had not changed. The Old Paths continues to hold the original Christadelphian (and Birmingham Temperance Hall) Fellowship position to this day.

The Berean and Dawn Fellowships

A number of the Berean fellowship joined the Central fellowship in the 1950s around the time when these reunions took place, both in the UK and in North America. However many did not.

The Berean Fellowship continued unchanged after its formation in 1923 until in 1942 a problem of divorce occurred in North America. A minority supported divorce, whilst the larger body of Berean’s believed that marriage is for life and that divorce and remarriage is contrary to their view of bible teaching. Therefore to distinguish themselves from other fellowships they changed their name to the Dawn Christadelphian Fellowship. This fellowship has continued up until this present day with members in several different countries. In North America, Kenya and other places, the Berean Christadelphian Fellowship also continues to grow to this day.

Christadelphians from different fellowships associate with one another, and there are usually continuing attempts to resolve areas of disagreement. However although as a result of reunions, the body known as the Central fellowship now forms the largest group of Christadelphians, it needs to be noted that not all Christadelphians agree with the Central fellowships view that because of reunions they are a united body. Within this particular fellowship there are many 'sub groups' that despite the Central fellowships claim to have brought about reunions, still remain as separate entities under the overall umbrella of the name ‘Central’.

External links

  • Christadelphian Websites
  • Apologetics Comments on Christadelphians
  • Apologetics Index - Entry on Christadelphians
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