The Christadelphian Advocate, 1931

Standing or Drifting – Which? A Warning Note

By H. Ernest Hardy

In the early days of the Truth (since revived by Dr. Thomas) Christadelphians proclaimed the saving knowledge of Jehovah with an assurance born of conviction. They were united in mind and purpose and prided themselves upon the fact they could always give a “Thus saith the Lord,” for what they believed and taught.

Today (1931) there is indecision and a growing sentiment that the old ways were wrong, and the line of demarcation is gradually being removed. So many are boasting of “Their Liberty in Christ” and this professed liberty seems to give them license to put any construction they choose upon the scriptures, irrespective of first principle foundations. It would seem that the revelation God has given us in regard to salvation should be so understandable (and I believe it is) that we can come to definite conclusions, and as a body, have a foundation for our teachings that are unassailable.

Our writers in times past have written very lucidly of God’s plan of salvation. Dr. Thomas was very explicit when he wrote of the “Things concerning the Kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ.” Most Christadelphians understand the things concerning the Kingdom of God but when it comes to the things concerning the Name (the things that are necessary to be believed and acted upon, in order to obtain a place in the kingdom) there is a great divergence of opinion.

The Christadelphians (as a body, or organization) came into existence through the efforts of Dr. Thomas. They believed he rescued the Truth from the superstitions of Christendom (so-called) and that his teachings were founded upon the Word of God. If the time has come when we have lost confidence in is interpretations – well that is the privilege of anyone, but do not let us tack any teachings on to the name that do not belong there. Let us promulgate them under some other name. Let us be fair.

The name Christadelphian will not save anyone! If the teachings of Christadelphians are not in accord with the teachings of Christ, then the name must suffer. Why the agitation to change the teachings and retain the name? When it comes to the saving knowledge, I believe we owe this knowledge to a great extent to the labors of Dr. Thomas. The good man was not inspired, and he certainly was human and made mistakes, and upon matters of prophecy time has shown that in some cases he was mistaken, but time has also shown that in many cases he was right, and remarkably so.

There is a tendency among us to belittle the knowledge we have gained through our early writers, and we are being exhorted to get our neck out of the yoke of such bondage. As a Christadelphian we never considered our neck under any yoke of bondage of man, for we always believed, and still do, that the saving knowledge as originally taught by them is the gospel that saves. The one-ness of mind and unity of faith is being destroyed.