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HISTORY AND HERESY ON
THE CHRISTIAN PATHWAY
[An adaptation of the paper: Church Condition In A Brief
Historical Outline, by this writer in 1980 and updated 10/03. This outline seeks to set forth that testimony which is believed to have faithfully continued to represent the mind of God, rather than a history of all the Christian sects and systems, which were organized by men to serve the various interests of the founders. - R. L. DeWitt, 11/05
There are decisions to be made as a new believer walks the Christian pathway through this world, and more so in this present day with so many voices, and new sects being formed every year. The decisions are about following the Word, or reasoning in our own mind and indulging our own flesh.
In the beginning believers in Christ continued steadfastly in truth and with one accord (Acts 2:42-47; Rom.16:16). The apostles taught them and admonished them, but there began to be a falling away (Rom.16:17-18). When the apostles departed, many Christians embraced human innovations and much of Jewish traditions, and there was generally little regard for the counsels of God (II Tim.4:1-8).
About 500 A.D.+ continued disregard by Christians for sound doctrine (Titus 1:9), not continuing in the Spirit (Gal.3:1-3), and allowing leaven (I Cor.5), gave rise to false teachers and more ritualism; then in time the Roman Catholic Religion of popery arose with hierarchy, cerem- onies, and wickedness. In those "dark ages" true believers were scattered, and the faithful ones could only meet in secret because of the terrible persecutions (Acts 20:29). At that time the written Word of God was not available to all.
About 1500 A.D.+ God revived the gospel message widely, after isolated attempts by faithful servants to preach the message in many places from about 1000 A.D. Man's "reform" brought forth denominationalism with continued hierarchy, rituals, and inventions patterned after the RC religion, but new boldness in the gospel---though facing persecutions and slaughter of faithful saints by the religionists. Martin Luther was the principle protester against the Roman Catholic Religion, and others were then embolden to speak out. Many godly saints rose up and stood for the Lord. There was a protest movement and attempt at reformation, which soon became separation. The Word of God then began to circulate as more copies were made.
About 1800 A.D.+ after the gospel had been spread abroad, God began to call faithful be- lievers out of the denominated sects which had developed in form like the Romish religion, and with exercise to return to His Word and depen- dence on the Holy Spirit (Matt.18:20). In 1827-28 there were those who came together in homes in Ireland then England in simplicity like the early church, as members of the "one body" (I Cor.1:2; 12:12), to just continue "steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2:42). They recognized the priesthood of believers (I Pet.2: 5-10). This was a new work and revival by the Spirit and much sound ministry was written, which is available today. A lovely fellowship prevailed. The movement was blessed and spread rapidly to revive precious truth worldwide.
Original brothers among them were J.N.Darby, Edward Cronin, William Hutchinson, and J.G. Bellett. Later, William Kelly, G.V.Wigram, C.H. Mackintosh, and other capable students of the Word became associated with this "brethren movement", as it was called from 1827.
Satan hated this new work of God and soon raised up the flesh. An independent spirit came forth. Some brethren arose "speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them" (Acts 20:30). A number of saints went out to form new and compromise gatherings back with denom- inated systems. A faithful testimony continued, however, in spite of the falling away.
"Fundamentalism" then arose among the denom- inational sects seeking to preserve the gospel there. It also preserved man-made traditions. A so-called "pentecostal" system came out of that, which denied the eternal security of believers and promoted signs and emotional experiences. Satan also began to raise up many wicked Christ rejecting systems, cults, and religions to imitate and confuse (II Cor.11:13-15).
In the present day the saints are quite scat- tered. Major denominational sects are now amalgamating. The Christian "fundamental" sects are overlooking differences and merging together. Some Christians shun any order and are seeking to have an experience as a "free- spirit". There remains, however, that testimony that God raised up in 1827--- expressing the "one body" worldwide in the scriptural order, gathering to the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ alone, and waiting upon the Holy Spirit. They recognize the ruin in the church is to our collective shame, and are not occupied with forbidding the unions and popular ways (Mark 9:38); rather, they continue in the path, desire the honor and glory of the Lord, and "all the counsel of God" (Acts 20:27). Though weak in numbers they are holding fast "Till He comes". Does the reader know about this?
Choices for the saints today are many, if one approves of sectarianism. They can find liberal church groups, conservative groups, political and social groups, all kinds of entertainment and religious ideas; or they can seek the scriptural path and recognize that God has maintained His testimony from that revival of the 1800's. Even within that good revival there are splinter groups following after men and certain doctrines. We are all failures in obeying and following our Lord, but we ought not to fault God and dishonor Him for our failure.
One might decide it is hopeless and just stay home and read their Bible, but God exhorts us to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together (Heb.10:25). He has a path in unity, though there is always failure among men:
a) Gathering to the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ alone (Matt.18:20), not to popular personalities, which usurp the Lord, and sectarian systems---limiting other believers who want to hold to the Word of God.
b) Receiving "all the counsel of God" (Acts 20:27), "rightly dividing the Word of truth" (II Tim.2:15), not traditions, entertainment, creeds, rituals, and pledges; programs, religious ideas, emotional experiences, and unscriptural things which are for the flesh.
c) Expressing the oneness of the body of Christ in the world (Rom.12:5; I Cor.12:25), not independency, nor mergers and unions, organizational membership, etc., which is the deceit of Satan to divide the saints and compromise the truth.
d) Acknowledging the priesthood of believers (I Pet.2: 5,9), not titles, offices, hierarchy, dominion over the saints with selected ministers to lead, preach, and manage
("nicolaitanism", Rev.2:6), etc., which denies liberty.
e) Trusting the Lord and His Word as the only way--- authority and path for the Christian faith, rather than man's preferences or reasonings, which will lead one astray.
f) Worshipping collectively as is pleasing to God, rather than innovations for the flesh, which is pride and enter- tainment.
g) Appreciating the assembly and maintaining God's order and government, rather than the ideas and govern- mental ways of men, which is unprofitable.
h) Yielding to the leading of the Holy Spirit as in the early church (II Cor.3:17), not to ceremonies, schedules, plans, arrangements quenching the Spirit (I Thess.5:19), which
dishonors God.
If we cannot hold these things we will fall into
Satan's snare, and always divide and scatter the saints and dishonor our Lord. God never inten-ded that individual saints should act independent of the church and His order and government
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SOME FAITHFUL DEFENDERS
OF THE FAITH
There have been numbers of faithful preachers of righteousness who devoted their lives to witness in a public way from the time of the apostles, but some were outstanding down through church history as faithful defenders of the faith, who labored to restore the truth of God's Word. This restoration work began in earnest as papal Rome asserted greater control and oppression of the people. With the increasing suppression of the truth by the Roman Catholic Religion (circa 500 AD), God began to raise up chosen vessels to revive the gospel message, and by 1800 AD church truth. They had personal failures, as do all servants, but they had zeal and sought to do the work of the Lord. They often paid a great price to honor Him. The more notable men are mentioned here, and some comments are also added from A Brief Synopsis Of The Public History Of The Church, by G.H.S. Price.
- Compiled by R. L. DeWitt, 9/03; rev. 6/05
Peter Waldo (circa 1100 AD) - denounced
the papal system and the corruption in that
religion, and preached the gospel clearly and translated it into the common language. He spent his last days in preaching and hiding from his persecutors.
John Wycliffe (c. 1300 AD) - preached the
gospel boldly in England, and denounced the
RC religion and the Pope, and held to the
Word of God as the only authority. He was a
scholar and greatly honored, and respected throughout Europe. He translated the Bible
into a language for the people. His opposition
to the Pope and the religion of Rome spread
widely, and resulted in his persecution and
many attempts to kill him. He died in relative
peace from a stroke.
John Huss (c. 1400 AD) - a martyr in
Bohemia who was burned to death by papal authority for his stand on the Word of God only,
and his faithful preaching to many in those
parts.
Martin Luther (c. 1500 AD) - a RC priest and
the principle agent in the protestant reforma-
tion movement, who protested loudly directly toward the Pope, and printed a detailed list of charges against the papal system and prac-tices. His theme was "justification by faith" rather than the religion of Rome, and he trav-eled around Europe preaching everywhere. Having taught the Scriptures as a University professor and priest, he learned the truth of the Word. At first he sought to reform the RC religion, but soon realized that would not happen. His great zeal and prominence was used of God to propagate the gospel truth. The RCC sought often to kill him, but God pre-served him, and he ended his days in seclusion and translating of the Bible in 1546.
Ulrich Zwingle (c. 1500 AD) - was a RC
priest in Switzerland, who had his eyes
opened to the truth of the Bible, and he boldly preached the Word. He proclaimed that all
religious observances not found in the Word
of God should be abolished. He denounced
all religious authority that was written or
invented since the days of the apostles. He reportedly became involved in politics and
was a chaplain in the army fighting against RC forces, and was killed in battle.
John Calvin (c. 1500 AD) - He was a bold
preacher of the gospel, and was so strong in
his condemnation of Rome that he was
considered by the RC religion to be more
dangerous than Luther. He was in poor health
and lived a short life.
William Tyndale (c. 1500 AD) - Like many
other reformers he opposed the Pope publicly
and received excommunication and per- secutions, but his work was mostly quiet
writings and a good translation of the Bible together with Miles Coverdale. This was well-received everywhere. He was martyred at an
early age.
John & Charles Wesley (c. 1700 AD) - They began to preach personal piety and strictness
in one's life, and were called methodists by
many. John's simple message of the gospel
truth was not well accepted by the religious establishment of leading Christian gatherings,
which were spreading everywhere, so he be-gan preaching in the streets. Charles wrote
many hymns which were a significant testimony.
John Darby (c. 1800 AD) - In the early 1800's
John N. Darby, who was a scholar of some
renown in Ireland, and a barrister, was con-
verted by reading the Holy Scriptures. In time
he became a priest in the Church of Ireland. God led him to see that Christ is the Head of the church, and there is a spiritual body on earth. He saw Christ as the gathering center, rather than religious sects and systems; and he saw the priesthood of believers in the "body of Christ" and the leading of the Holy Spirit, rather than the hierarchy of men, dogma, rituals, and innovations. He separated from ecclesiastical associations and human order, and began to meet with three others of the same persuasion in 1827 in accord with the plain scriptural order. Others also began to embrace this thinking, and Darby traveled about preaching in many places and writing much on church truth. This revival spread rapidly worldwide. Much has been written about this so-called "brethren movement" and the ministry of those early brethren which is available today. Besides Darby, who seems to have been a principle agent in this revival of church truth, some of his contemporaries were J.G. Bellet, G.V. Wigram, W. Kelly, C.H. Mackintosh, and a few other less notable teachers. There have been divisions, and all assemblies have not continued in the same universal fellowship, which Darby held was essential. He departed to be with Christ in 1882.
The writing by G.H.S. Price, as stated above, is a good
brief overview of the history, and is obtainable from
Bible Truth Publishers, P.O. Box 649, Addison, IL
60101, USA. The ministry of Darby and those asso-
ciated with the brethren movement (referred to by
some as Plymouth Brethren) is also available at the
same address. Readers are urged to also read Miller's
Church History---Original edition, and Foxe's Book Of
Martyrs. - RLD
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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there. Even among Israel, they had to learn to bow to God in the midst. If they had a difference with others and ignored the cloud above and the pillar of fire by night, they might go off into the wilderness and set up their own form of worship, but the cloud and the pillar would not follow them.
At this present writing, the original work of the
Spirit from that early time continues apart from
all the above separations, and some of us
know this ground of truth on which we are gath-
ered; though we would not boast, and pray that the Lord will keep us humble, faithful, and
from any further trouble until we hear the home
call. Does the reader desire to be on that or-
iginal ground and going on as pleases the
Lord? We would be pleased to help.
One may contact Bible Truth Publishers, P.O.
Box 649, Addison, IL 60101, or Bibles and Publications, 5706 Monkland, Montreal,
[One can read elsewhere of the origin and history of God's revival, often called "the brethren movement",
which we value. It speaks of all brothers and sisters in the Lord as one holy and royal priesthood.]
The name, "Plymouth Brethren", is a misnomer concerning that revival of church truth in the early 1800's. Outsiders in England (not connected with the so-called "brethren movement" and recognizing the rapid growth of it) began referring to these saints of God as Plymouth Brethren because of a large gathering at Plymouth, England. The name seemed to be widely accepted in the world because the early brethren them-selves refused to take a name, except what God has given us and what is common to all saints.
For about twenty years the testimony went on generally well, then Satan began his attacks to cause division. Apart from all the denominational sects (who have their own history of divisions), here are most of the major divisions and systems that formed out of the so-called "brethren movement" and continued, which have also
had numerous sub-divisions (not listed here):
* Open Brethren (OB) - the sect and principle by which the followers of George Mueller are known (which went off to form independent principles of gathering);
* KLC Brethren (Kelly-Lowe-Continentals) - a merger of these three division groups, which separately
had earlier left the fellowship;
* Grant Brethren - a following of F.W. Grant;
* Raven Brethren - a following of F.E. Raven.
* Some other saints also went out from the mainline to form their own fellowship, who were smaller gatherings; and, as stated already, many sub-divisions have formed out of all of the major divisions. One can see the papers on notable divisions within the brethren movement by this writer for more information.
Today, many believers within the so-called "brethren movement" like to hold names. The name: Plymouth Brethren (PB) is usually held by the open and quite loose line of the brethren. At one time all those not part
of the Open Brethren (OB) were called Exclusive Brethren (EB) by the Opens, but in time EB became proudly owned by many of the followers after Raven.
We should note also that some who separated from the denominated sects and appreciated the "brethren" teachings, refer to themselves as "independent brethren" Having little understanding of the movement, they usually mix-in the denominational doctrines. As an example, The Watchman Nee Movement descended from the Raven-Taylor Brethren and began to add pentecostalism.
Some of us have avoided all such designations, and seek to maintain that work of revival as committed to the saints in 1827. It might properly be referred to as the main line from that early time; notwithstanding that we are sometimes called by the name of an assembly we are associated with. We can get associated with names by outsiders, who do not recognize that God has in fact maintained that work He recovered in the early 1800's without a name, as from the beginning.
Every assembly has a history---we can know. We all must own our failure as members of the "one body" of Christ, but ever seek to go on faithfully in the path of God's good work and not be a part of sectarianism. As
the saying goes: "We should not throw out the baby with the bath water".
What is the problem with a name or having a separate gathering? It is sectarian because it makes a limited company (sect) out of that which God established as a universal truth in the world (the "one body" of Christ). Faithful saints will not want to take any name that divides them, and which God has not called us. It is His church (assembly) and believers are His, so we ought to follow the Word of God and bow to His government, rather than go off to join or start a new gathering every time we are not pleased about something. Where
would Israel have gone if they had left the pillar of fire and cloud that God established for the place of col-
lective worship?
Since this subject of God's revival and testimony in the world from 1827, is a large subject with a number of things to consider, this writer will be pleased to correspond with any who desire to inquire and "earnestly contend for the faith" (Jude 3).
