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Monday 8 August 2011

Bristol & District Assemblies


Bristol and District Assemblies
In 1959 (the earliest listing I have,) 25 Assemblies in the Bristol district were recorded. All shared a considerable uniformity in belief and practice. In the current "Assemblies Address Book," sixth edition 2006, 17 are listed, a significant decrease numerically, especially when the smallness of many of the gatherings is taken into account. Much more disturbing is the loss of the distinctive testimony once borne almost universally in the meetings. Coupled with closures due to "splits" within local Assemblies, some which could have and should have been avoided. Since 1969, or there abouts, I have seen the closure of at least 10 gatherings in Bristol. (If the mathematics do not add up it is because other meetings were commenced in that period.)
But to return to the "loss" suffered by the Lords' people in th Assemblies, not to speak of the loss to the Lord Jesus Himself.
Within the current list there are meetings that would never have been included in the (even relatively recent) past. They are being referred to as "progressive," whatever the nature of their defection from the truth they once held, or in some cases have never held. Many are "charasmatic" in character; many allow sisters to participate audibly in the gatherings; music, drama, even dance is a part of their "worship;" pastors are appointed; arbitrary decisions are made by "leaders" without any referece to the whole Assembly, or else determined by a democratic voting system; Many and various organisations, committees, etc. are set up; a hymn book of the lowest standard is used in almost every meeting; familiarity and flippancy, even in addressing our God, is quite commonplace; the use of modern translations of the Scriptures is now widely accepted; the buildings used for convenience in gathering are now frequently referred to as "chapels," or "evangelical churches," or something similar, with a view to disowning any connection with the past testimony!
This might appear to be merely a tirade born of frustration, (I am frustrated, I admit), but I just hope there are other brethren and sisters in this area who are as concerned as I am, and will pray with me for the intervention of the Saviour in this sad declension and departure from the truth. Please forgive the absence of references to Scripture, but this is just a "feeler" to see if anyone shares my distress.
If you would like to check on things I have said, suffice it to say, much of it is first hand knowledge, and some is readily found in local literature and on websites often "belonging"to a particular meeting.

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