Doors Shut and Lamps Put Out

(2 Chronicles 29: verse 7, principally.)

"And they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered up burnt offerings in the sanctuary to...God."   2 Chronicles 29:7.

While I readily acknowledge that this scripture is addressed to a faithless Israel, and such must be the interpretation, it is my contention that the application of the above expression befits the present condition of the Christian testimony, both generally, and especially among those who "gather to the Name of the Lord Jesus alone."

I hurriedly own to that my knowledge of these things is limited in the main to W.S. England and Wales; but not without information from a good number of other countries including the U.S.A. and Canada, countries in Europe and other continents. What I have learned is sufficient to suggest the picture in my own locality is mirrored all over the world.

But what really distresses me is how many of the "Denominations" put us to shame; locking down later, or indeed not at all! They have opened their doors much sooner too. While many Assembly buildings remain shut temporarily? still, and others have closed down permanently. Our doors have been shut to fellow believers and a desperate world with hearts failing for fear. The light of our testimonies for the Lord has been extinguished. Our worship of, for, and to Him has been "adapted" to accommodate so-called legislation, such legislation as deemed "unlawful." Worse still, many Assemblies have adopted different "patterns" of practice in regard to the "Lord's Supper," even contending that "there is no pattern;" others have just simply ceased from the remembrance of the Saviour/Redeemer, altogether!

Now it is alleged that the use of"Zoom," and similar social platforms designed by this world, is "the Lord's will!" So we may lounge around at home, with no need for care as to how we dress or conduct ourselves during the "meetings." Furthermore, this should be the "pattern" of "gathering" from now on!  

For nigh on two years, we have barred perishing sinners from our places of witness, shutting the doors and putting out the lamps of that testimony. Numerous companies of saints have been scattered abroad due to the closure of those collective testimonies; while countless "seekers" have been unable to "find."

Unless we humble ourselves and own our abject failure before the Lord, where will this all end? What hope is there for revival in the hearts of individual saints, and entire companies of the Lord's people? It appears to be "very little." But we each have the responsibility to "keep His Word and not deny His Name." May the Holy Spirit write it large and indelibly on our hearts, for the glory of the Lord. 

A Personal Request 

On Wednesday 26th January I am to undergo a cataract operation if the Lord will, and although this is generally a routine operation, my cataract is very dense, and I am completely blind in my right eye. I need to be operated on by a Specialist Surgeon, as the operation is said to be "complex." I am trusting that the Lord will undertake for me, but feel happy to ask for His peoples' prayers as well.

Thank you in anticipation of your affection in Christ for one of His own. I hope to update you when I am able as my sight will be affected for one to three weeks apparently. Again all this is "if He will."

No Assembly Testimony 

I have searched quite extensively to discover whether there has ever been a Brethren Assembly in the Kingswood area of Bristol where I have lived for over thirty years. I had known the area for a good number of years before actually residing here, and never remember any suggestion of the formation of an Assembly. Indeed back in the 1970s, I preached in the open-air in this area and the surrounding districts. In that decade there were only two Kelly/Lowe "Exclusive" companies in Bristol, one in Bishopsworth and the other in the Staple Hill area. The same Assemblies continued into the eighties. Eighteen "Open" Assemblies are listed in 1951 and by 1959 the number recorded had increased to 23. None of the lists that I have been able to obtain have any reference to a Brethren Assembly testimony in Kingswood. I realise that the Assembly in Redfield, namely Milton Park Gospel Hall was a reasonable distance for believers to make their way there on foot, provided one lived at the nearer end of the Kingswood area. But most, if not all the other Meetings were too far to walk especially if there were children in their families; and bearing in mind that far fewer had cars in those days.

I also appreciate that Kingswood was a Methodist/Wesleyan stronghold from the i8th Century; those dearly honoured servants of the Lord having faithfully preached the Gospel with Holy Spirit effectiveness. Tragically these congregations are much depleted in number and far, far from the original teaching and practice of those long departed saints. but still no Assembly has ever been formed here.

It has an exercise laid upon my heart for many years, and now with the Covid pandemic causing the surrender of so many testimonies, individually and collectively, it lies yet more grievously there as an awful burden.

I am truly grateful to God for the fellowship enjoyed with Him, the Father, and with His lovely Son; and for the divine provision for the "twos and threes" gathered to the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, alone.

 

An Item of Brethren History

A Bookseller with over two million titles, I believe, contacted me by email this week. I was offered a personal invitation to attend a meeting to consider investment in the company. To my knowledge, I only ever purchased one book from them online and visited their physical outlet maybe twice some years ago, visits which would not be recorded.

I have no interest in any kind of investment and NO MONEY to invest: a really excellent client, I don't think!

But ignoring the invite, I decided to travel to the site to see if their warehouse was significantly better than the last time I visited. It was worse! Presumably, the reason why someone like myself would receive such an invite, a bolt out of the blue.

My wife drove me there and exercised considerable patience as I searched vainly for something, anything of interest. I found three or four books written by Brethren, all of which I already possessed and mine in significantly better condition. As a last resort, I went into a room where there was a collection of "antique, rare, and collectible" books. It basically meant that they were old!

But I did not come away completely fruitless. I found and purchased a book of bound magazines entitled "Wells and Pastures;" with a subtitle, "Wells of Salvation and Pastures of Satisfaction. For Old and Young." Vol. 11. But most interestingly it bore a comprehensive inscription:

Victoria Hall Sunday School 

Queen St. Exeter.

Presented by Mr. Heyman Wreyford

I am omitting the rest of the inscription apart from the date of this Sunday School reward, save for the date: 1891.

A very brief perusal afforded me a precious poem simply entitled: "A Question." The poem was attributed to A.M. (Perhaps Andrew Miller, but I have no evidence to support this suggestion.)  

Darwin and Lady Hope 

On seeing the above book title I was intrigued enough to purchase a copy. As far back as the 1990's I had read a review of another book, this one co-authored by two American writers wherein they outlined their personal understanding of the deathbed scene of Charles Darwin. They were thoroughly convinced that his recantation and his rejection of the "theory of evolution" he had so vigorously promoted and espoused was factual.  

L.R. Croft, the author of the above book was even more convinced that Darwin's deathbed revelation as recorded by Elizabeth Lady Hope was absolutely true. Researching the historical facts and sifting the truth from the various fabrications took him, it seems about twenty or so years. 

It appears to be an almost obsessional crusade for him to exonerate a virtuous Victorian lady, as she certainly was much vilified by Darwin's family and advocates; even to be hounded from England to find refuge in the United States. Croft felt that she had been the victim of awful character assassination and wanted to redress the balance.

His carefully acquired research material is relevant to the facts and appears to be painstaking, accurate, and its results clearly and objectively reasoned. His evidence is compelling. He is a sincere believer in the Lord Jesus, and on this basis alone he is to be believed. I am greatly convinced by his arguments. 

Its fascination for me lies in the various connections with some prominent believers among "Brethren." Reference is made to Sir Robert Anderson, J.W.C. Fegan, and P.H. Gosse. But the greatest intrigue of all is the revelation that Darwin had a Gospel Hall at the bottom of his garden! It was on the edge of his estate and was previously a reading room for the villagers. Darwin gave it to the young energetic believer J.W.C. Fegan whom he admired. The room became known as the Gospel Room, and subsequently as the Downe Gospel Hall!

Now as to the book in a general way. It is mostly very readable, but for its overly repetitive character. I would add that I can see the necessity for some of the facts being repeated. Another simple observation is the length of the book. It is relatively short actually, but there are numerous large gaps between lines as well as paragraphs! The pagination of the book may well have been halved! If this had been the case perhaps it would have cost a good deal less to buy.

Soul Sleep

Just a little over a week ago a brother told me of some believers who hold "soul sleep" to be the truth regarding the departed whether believers or unbelievers. I could scarcely believe what I was hearing. Strangely a number of other references to this delusion of the Devil came to my notice. The matter has so pressed upon me that I felt it to be incumbent upon me to refute this deceit by directing souls to the plain teaching of the Word of God. No such condition will be experienced by either the believer or those who die in their sins when ushered into eternity.

The Lord Jesus Himself spake the narrative found in the Gospel by Luke. (16:19-31.) He never suggests that it is a parable! And if it was such the teaching remains plain. But it is, without doubt, a brief history of the character of the two men. Lazarus a poor man, and an unnamed man of considerable wealth. (That the name of one of these men is recorded should add to the weight of proof that this is not a parable. Some of the most devious of false sects promote the parabolic theory to bolster their lies. Lazarus dies first, perhaps from his bodily weakness, hungry and "full of sores." Immediately upon his decease, we learn that he is in a place of unparalleled bliss and blessing. And simply because he was a man of faith! How do we know this fact? He is identified with Abraham as "the father of all them that believe." Romans 4:11.

"And the rich man also died and was buried;" and with not so much as a pause we read, "And being in hades lifting up his eyes, being in torments..." His body was in the ground, but his soul was in that place of anguish and agony awaiting the consummation of the judgement that will ultimately fall upon him when cast into hell, the lake of fire for all of eternity. 

In this passage of Scripture, we have the authoritative spoken word of Christ as to the destiny of souls at death. Saint and sinner. Final and irreversable.

Later in Luke's Gospel account, we have further proof of this blessedness that is the portion of the believer immediately upon death. Again the Speaker is Christ. There at Golgotha's tree, one of the malefactors that had been crucified alongside Him, his death imminent, exercised simple yet profound saving faith in the Redeemer. Entreating the Lord Jesus to "remember him," the Saviour responded in divine compassion, "Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise." Luke 23:42,43. This needs no explanation! If the thief did not follow his new-found Lord into that place of bliss and blessedness, immediately upon his death, then the promise of the Lord was absolutely hollow! Who would dare venture such a blasphemy? Paradise is the present abode of the spirits of the departed saints, "the dead in Christ." The promise of comfort to those who "fall asleep in Jesus," which necessitates their consciousness!  

Now as to those who "die in their sins." Without controversy, their immediate destiny after death is a place and a condition of uninterrupted and unmitigated torment. The writer to the Hebrews states unequivocally: "And forasmuch as it is the portion of men once to die and after this judgement;" establishing the immediacy of judgement falling upon the sinner thrust into an eternity of loss. (Please note, there is no definite article before the word "judgement," it is not specifically the Great White Throne assize, although that is obviously an irrefutable element of divine judgement to be pronounced on all who die "without Christ.) Hebrews 9:27.

I trust and pray that this might help to liberate some of the Lord's people who have fallen foul of this mendacious falsehood of "soul sleep." For the Glory of the Lord. 

"Zoom" is spelling Doom for the Assemblies

 It would not matter how I expressed my reasonings for the above title to this "Post." Its content will doubtless fall on many a deaf ear, and anger many saints no doubt. Be that as it may, there sadly is the need for the opportunity to be given to those who have a contrary view of so-called "virtual" meetings.

Right-back, very early in the first lockdown here in the U.K, many believers capitulated to extreme pressure from a few medically-minded and scientifically-disposed brethren in the U.S. and Canada.  Quickly adopting their continental brethren's dictates, and as quickly adapting the Word of God to meet the situation as interpreted by those brethren. All were based upon a very feeble medical understanding of the virus and on an ever-changing scientific basis. Worst of all man's wisdom was bowed to at the expense of the wisdom of God. Obedience to those in authority over us, "the powers that be," was demanded with the authority of the One who is Lord of all, pushed to one side to accommodate the advice of a handful of brethren from countries acting under a different legislature. Indeed here the legislation was deemed to be "unlawful!" sweeping away the constant cry of "civil disobedience." Furthermore, very few brethren took the time or made the effort to discover what the government had deemed mandatory and what was simply advisable. May I respectfully remind you that advice is not legislation?  

Immediately the vast majority of Assemblies here either closed their meeting places if they had not already done so, or determined to keep them closed until, well, WHEN? Countless local testimonies ceased almost overnight. And none that I know about in the S.W. of England and S. Wales have re-opened! But already a huge number of Assemblies have decided to close permanently, and many others are considering the same course of action. 

Now, perhaps none too soon I will address the subject of "virtual meetings." I DO NOT condemn them out of hand. As additional means of relaying gospel and ministry addresses, it is commendable and may well be blessed of God if for no other reason than that it is His Word. But what has been reported to me is alarming. Some have suggested that this is to be the "normal" way for saints to gather and that there is no need to return to the "old" way of meeting, i.e. face to face. More than once it has been said that when meeting "virtually" there is no need to dress properly, you can have your breakfast while the meeting is in progress, or pop out to make a cup of tea. You no longer need to make your way to the gatherings. It is so much more convenient. One brother told me in the course of a telephone call that he believed it was "the Lord's will" that we should meet in this way! 

Sadly the more I hear about this means of communication, the more distressed I become. I am the first to admit I do not have a huge amount of information, but sufficient for me to suspect that things are indeed so much worse. "ZOOM" means "DOOM" for the Assemblies of God's people!

I will not repeat what I reported a long time ago regarding the suggestions as to how we should celebrate the Lord's Supper, save to repeat I believed it to be a grotesque caricature of the "pattern" laid down in Scripture; and many of the practices at other gatherings, most having now abandoned meeting together since new government advice, were/are quite awful. I will not attempt to go into details.

Finally, I only know of one Assembly in England, one Assembly in South Wales, and one Assembly in Europe, where they have never deviated from their normal "assembling of themselves together!" It is of interest to note there has not been one case of covid-19 among them all. But they have all been vilified by their brethren! Why? Either because they are shamed or else envious. There is a need for us all to examine ourselves before the Lord and seek to know from Him if we should also have continued persevering "in the teaching and fellowship of the apostles, in breaking of bread and prayers." Acts 2:42.