“A False Interpretation Imposed Upon the B.A.S.F. by Misrepresenting Bro Thomas and Bro Roberts”

The Christadelphian, September 1947, John Carter

The Philadelphia and Buffalo ecclesias supported the teachings of bro Strickler that had caused the division between Central and Berean ecclesias in the 1920's. The Buffalo ecclesia was the ecclesia that retained bro Strickler in fellowship.

BUFFALO AND PHILADELPHIA.—We have received a circular of May 10, 1947, from Philadelphia, which quotes at length with approval a circular from Buffalo, in which is set forth the position of these two ecclesias with regard to certain clauses of the Statement of Faith. While claiming “unswerving loyalty and belief” of the Birmingham Amended Statement of Faith, the circular defines that belief by reference to a selection of extracts from the writings of brethren Thomas (1855) (Our Terrestrial System Before the Fall) and Roberts (1869) (The Relation of Jesus to the Law of Sin and Death). We have withheld Intelligence, buthave written these ecclesias giving bro. Roberts’ own explanation in 1877 (reproduced in The Christadelphian, Nov., 1944, page 127) of the article of 1869, from which it is evident a meaning is being attached to his words quoted in the circular that he did not intend. Bro. Roberts’ constant attitude on the subject in dispute from the time of the Renunciationist controversy is to be found in The Law of Moses, chapters 18 (The Consecration of Aaron and His Sons), 27 (Disease), and 28 (Death); The Blood of Christ; and in certain comments and a synopsis reproduced in The Christadelphian, Dec., 1937, which he drew up to meet theories he met in Australia. Of one of these theories to which he was opposed he wrote: “it is a plausible theory to the effect that we do not inherit death from Adam by any physical law, but merely by denial of access to the tree of life; that the sentence of death took no effect on Adam’s body, and therefore is not in ours: that, in fact, we are the ‘very good’ and uncursed Adamic nature that God formed from the ground in the first case; that our nature is not an unclean and sinful nature; that there is no such thing as sin in the flesh, or sinful flesh, or ‘sin that dwelleth in us’.” (Refer to “The Nature and Sacrifice of Jesus Christ” John Carter, The Christadelphian December 1937)

With regard to the extract quoted from Dr. Thomas in support of the Buffalo interpretation of the Statement, we have given them several citations from his works written before, at the time, and after the extract, which give the general teaching of Dr. Thomas in harmony with which his words in their quotation must be understood. We have also added several citations from other writings of Dr. Thomas and bro. Roberts; and have invited the two ecclesias to say if they accept the Clauses of the Statement as meaning the same as the teaching in the extracts quoted to them. The interpretation which is being imposed upon the Birmingham Amended Statement of Faith by the Philadelphia circular is contrary to that understood by others, and contrary to all other statements on the subject in all the writings of Dr. Thomas and bro. Roberts. We are prepared to interpret the Statement by the pamphlet The Blood of Christ in which, in our judgment, there is a clear exposition of the Scriptures on this subject of man’s nature and Christ’s sacrifice in relation thereto. (Ed.)

An Open Letter, September 1947, John Carter

“A Further Important Message to All Christadelphians”

Bro. A.D. Strickler took part in resisting the Andrew-Williams teaching. He did so by advancing arguments which contained the seed of his later teaching. In the intelligence from Buffalo in 1900 the error is there. In the contributions he made to “The Truth’s Welfare” which was published to combat the teaching of Brethren Andrew and Williams, his ideas, which since have caused so much trouble, are to be found. The fact — and we are seeking facts — the fact is, that in resisting one error, he swung to the opposite extreme! But brethren did not notice it because his aim was to demolish the Andrew error. I have read as carefully as, perhaps, any other Brother, what Bro. A.D. Strickler wrote. In his writings he seeks to emphasise the moral issues involved in God’s dealing with men, in opposition to the mechanical theories of J.J Andrew. He, however, contradicts certain aspects of the Truth, which we noted elsewhere, and which need not here take valuable time. Bro. A.D. Strickler is dead. But now, opposition by some Brethren to Bro. Strickler’s views had led to a swing back to the position of Bro. Andrew… I have more than once been told by correspondents, who were not supporters of Bro. Strickler’s views, that one of the difficulties of the position in the USA was that some Berean Brethren were themselves in an extreme position: an opposite extreme to Bro. Strickler, but still extreme.

Regarding the “Statement by the Buffalo Ecclesia” below, refer to bro John Carter’s article on “The Reign of Death” The Christadelphian, April 1938

The Christadelphian, August 1900 (referred to by bro Carter in "A Further Important Letter to All Christadelphians" in 1947 above)

“Statement by the Buffalo Ecclesia”

The Statement of Faith of the Buffalo Christadelphian ecclesia in relation to baptism. Some commands relating to unity.

1 Cor. 1:10.—“Now I beseech you brethren by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, that there be no divisions among you: but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” Phil. 2:2.—“Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” 2 Cor. 13:11.—“We ye of one mind, live in peace.” In view of these apostolic injunctions and also of the fact that there exists two minds among those claiming to be Christadelphians in connection with the first principles of the truth, especially so in relation to the object of baptism, it has been deemed advisable that the Buffalo Christadelphian ecclesia declare their faith in what they believe baptism accomplishes for the subject of it. Therefore, we, the undersigned, declare that we believe that we were baptised according to the command of the apostle Peter, on the day of Pentecost “for the remission of sins; ” understanding by this that our sins were sins that were past, being all the evil deeds of wicked thoughts and acts committed up to the time of our repentance and baptism. That we believe that the remission of these past sins removed the penalty of the Second Death that was due to us for them. That this penalty of the Second Death is the only condemnation that we are freed from at baptism. That we believe concerning those who know that they have sins that are past, and that the condemnation of the Second Death is the just punishment due for these sins, that if such persons believe “the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ,” and are not baptized, they will be raised from the dead to be judged and to suffer the penalty of the Second Death. That we do not believe that we are baptized for “Adamic sins,” “Adamic Condemnation,” “Inherited Alienation,” or “Federal Sins.” That we declare our separation from all ecclesias that deny our faith on these subjects.

(Signed),

Allen D. Strickler (and others)