The Christadelphian June 1921, C. C. Walker

“Fellowship and Rejection of Elements of the Truth”

A brother draws attention to the following extracts from Seasons of Comfort, by the late Brother Roberts.

“It is as well also to recognise the fact that the principle which isolates us from popular communion isolates us also from the fellowship of all who reject any part of the truth. Some accept the truth in part, but are either unable or unwilling to receive it in its entirety. They believe in the kingdom, but reject the Bible doctrine of death; or they hold the mortal nature of man, but do not receive the restoration of the kingdom to Israel; or they accept both, but deny the judgment; or believe in the judgment, but deny the kingdom; or accept all three, but reject the apostolic doctrine of Christ’s nature and death, and so on. Such persons are generally what is called very “charitable”; that is, they are willing to connive at any amount of doctrinal diversity so long as friendliness is maintained. They are lovers of peace. Peace is certainly very desirable when it can be had on a pure foundation; but the charitable people referred to are not particular about the foundation. They will compromise the truth in some one or other of its integral elements for the sake of personal harmony. This is a spurious charity altogether. We are not at liberty to relax the appointments of God. The exercise of charity must be confined to our own affairs. We have no jurisdiction in God’s matters. What God requires is binding on us all; and the faithful man cannot consent to accept any union that requires a jot or tittle to be set aside or treated as unimportant. Such a man cannot consent to form a part of any community that is not the “pillar and ground of the truth.”—Seasons of Comfort, page 12.

“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 “Godspeed” connection with those who do not, 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, page 114.

The first meditation is on “Reproach,” and the second on “Love and Doctrine,” and the connection is obvious.