HISTORY OF THE GRACE BRETHREN MOVEMENT

HISTORY OF THE GRACE BRETHREN MOVEMENT

The rich heritage of the Grace Brethren began with its founders, Alexander Mack and others, creating a unique blending of anabaptist (with its focus on a personal faith, baptism of believers, and an emphasis on the local church) and pietist (the desire of individual Christians to live for Christ in daily life) teachings. All this is built on the rock of Jesus Christ and personal salvation in Him, and on a strong commitment to the Bible including the ordinances of baptism and communion. The group has usually been "progressive" meaning that they were flexible in methods in order to aggressively reach the lost.

1.        Alexander Mack in 1708 in Schwarzenau, Germany, broke the ice on a December day and baptized eight people in the Eider River forming the German Baptist Brethren.

2.      Religious intolerance fragmented the group. Years later many came to America in search of religious freedom. They gathered in Germantown, PA, in 1729. The Progressive flavor of Peter Becker (pastor) and Christopher Sower (printer) were strong and noticed by Benjamin Franklin who commented very favorably on their reason for lack of a creed.

3.    The Revolutionary War forced the Brethren into the wilderness of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana due to refusal to fight for either side. The group became Amish-like in rules, dress, and sense of community; it also lost its progressivism. George Wolfe led the Western Brethren.

4.    In the 1880's, the Old Orders wanted to retain the Amish-like community (and German language) now threatened by the "civilizing" of the mid-west. These peaceful people wanted no changes in their community or practices. The Progressives started Ashland College (OH) and were, under Henry Holsinger, asked to leave the Brethren Church (Church of the Brethren) because they were too progressive.

5.    The more progressive Progressives wanted to start a missions organization in 1909. They started "under the elm trees" in Winona Lake and have grown to 950 churches in 15 countries (in Europe, Africa, Latin America, and Asia) with a classic "success" in the Central African Republic, which is the most evangelized nation in the world.

6.    The Progressives split in the late 1930's over the Biblical direction of Ashland College. Grace Seminary and the FGBC were formed and headquarters from Ohio to Winona Lake, Indiana, with Dr. Alva J. McClain as leader of the Grace Theological Seminary. Dr. McClain introduced American Fundamentalist doctrine emphasizing the absolute inerrancy of the Bible, the distinction between the church and Israel with the related impact on its view of the pre­-tribulational return of Christ and the need for church planting missions. Pastor Jim Custer from the Worthington, Ohio Grace Brethren Church initiated a series of contacts with the Ashland Brethren leaders to dialogue the split of the late 1930's. On March 7, 2001, a meeting of Grace leaders and Ashland leaders met on the Ashland University campus for prayer, confession and healing.

7.      Since the Progressives went with the Grace group, it tripled its number of churches (especially due to Grace Brethren Home Missions) and members until 1980 when factions caused a focus on internal issues. These issues revolved around the amount of conformity of practice and stemmed from a desire by some to introduce the fundamentalist perspective (militant, conformist, separatist) to replace the progressive perspective of the church. A small group, called the Conservative Grace Brethren Association, eventually splintered from the Grace Group in 1992.

GLOBAL WARMING - ITS TRUE CAUSES

GLOBAL WARMING – IT’S CAUSES

(According to God)

“Fire, and hail; snow, and vapors; stormy wind fulfilling his word.” Psa. 148:8

 

With the international initiative to get the supposed warming under control they are giving evidence of what God labels a depraved mind (Rom. 1:2). And with the use of these depraved minds they attempt to get the public to think they understand the causes of this supposed condition and their causes changes as time progresses. They in the past attributed it to things such as the wars and bombs being exploded, the sending of rockets into the atmosphere, the industrial advances with the pollution causing deterioration of atmospheric elements. The list is long and has changed once more. None of the causes of this purported condition is attributed to God. Even God’s gift to man Rush Limbaugh doesn’t credit the Giver of good gifts to the phenomenon men are witnessing, therefore God, Who has exerted control of weather since the creation has labeled their intelligence of that of a fool (Rom. 1:22). The sad thing is they think they are wise and some give them credit for this supposed state of the planet.

God labels their supposed understanding of this purported condition as futile speculations and that of a fool (Rom. 1:21). I point out how the Bible characterizes a fool in Psa. 14:1, “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.” Goes along with the condition Paul describes in the first chapter of Romans that leads up to the depraved mind condition. Godless works that goes along with their Godless condition, and the bad things which they now have labeled as good ends with Godless thinking.

                Again creations order can only be interrupted by God Himself. New Orleans and the Philippines have had displays of His control over the environment and weather. His control either makes one stand in awe or crouch in fear. And these are warm up exercises for what He says is coming at the end of man’s rule (Matt. 24:29). Global weather will make severe displays later to minds incapable of reasoning the causes (Rev. 16:21).

                The reprobate mind will not attribute these displays of judgment to the God Who keeps giving chances for the repentance of those who fail to give the glory to Him (Rev. 16:9). The cause which makes God wrathful is the lawlessness and immorality that increases as time goes on (Matt. 24:12; Rev. 19:2).

Man’s destiny is chosen by his use of probation while here on earth. There is a moment when the Divine authoritative command goes forth and probation ends. Where a man is at that moment, his character becomes fixed, not in degree but in direction-and the divine word is never spoken, until I have irrevocably chose for myself the direction I wish. (Rev. 22:11) A man’s destiny for eternity is by his choice.

GOD WRITES POEMS

GOD WRITES POEMS

 

“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:” Rom. 1:20

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”  Eph. 2:10

There are two recorded and described in the NT. The Greek word used that tells of the poems is poiema. In Ro. 2:10 we are said to be God’s poiema. The word is translated “workmanship”. We are His workmanship, His poem. And also in Rom. 1:20 the creation is also said to be another of God’s poem. The translation says “the things that are made.” The greatest poem ever wrote is 1st creation spoken of in Rom. 1:20, but greater still is the 2nd of redemption in Eph. 2:10.

Creation is God's poem. Not a piece of work but a piece of work which is perfect, the thought of rhythm, of orderliness and beauty. Everything He does is of order and full of beauty. Disorder is not of God but Satan.

And then there is the redemption of lost souls that is another work of beauty where His most beloved Son came to die for those that didn’t even recognize Him, and they still ignore Him today. The Word of God is a beautifully written message of hope that is seen to be craving for things of despair. They are without excuse.

FIRST AND LAST ERROR

FIRST AND LAST ERROR

 

“Command therefore that the sepulcher be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.”  Matt. 27:64

The last error resurrection shall be worse than the first which was the Virgin Birth. Both brought Christ to this earth with a mission. To those whom Satan speaks through as these men allowed, the thoughts of the most evil one knows there is only one thing worse than the first coming of Jesus Christ brought about by Virgin Birth to this earth and that is the second coming  for His ruling the Kingdom of God made possible through resurrection (Rom. 1:4). And not only Jesus Christ but all those who trusted in His gospel message. Here Jesus Christ was accused of what Satan must do in the end where God the Father allows for him to return to this earth from a deadly head wound.

Paul says that the followers of the devil with their depraved minds and thinking are given over (Rom. 1:28) to do those things that are unrighteous, wicked in their hatred of God (Rom. 1:29-30). Many today follow his lead and don’t even acknowledge him, let alone acknowledge the Virgin Birth and the Resurrection is too much to believe was true and of the One that both were speaking.

REPROBATE DEPRAVED MIND

REPROBATE DEPRAVED MIND

 According to God that is a mind that perverts truth to the point that although they know right from wrong, they suppress truth (Rom. 1:18) so they might perform unrighteous and indecent acts. The attributes of God have been seen by them, His power and divine nature, and they exchange these truths for a lie (vs. 25). Having desires that stem from their hearts they worship the devils perversions rather than the Creator of the devil. Their hearts having impure desires, men desiring men and women desiring women, God finally punishes them by turning them over to their improper acts. They think in their depraved minds that this punishment is actually a blessing. They find joy in these dishonoring entertainments. They become filled with all unrighteous deeds, wickedness, greed, evil; filled with envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, hatred; they become gossips., slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful, and encourage others and applaud them who do likewise. Now that is a reprobate mind.

                The apostle John gave us an example of one like this. His name was Judas. Judas was one that suppressed truth. He knew of God and had things shown to him by Christ. He saw His attributes, had the creation explained to him, saw Christ calm waters, turn water into wine, etc. He was without excuse. Although he knew God in Christ, he did not glorify Him, nor was he thankful for Him. He had futile thoughts implanted by Satan (John 13:2), he had his foolish heart darkened. Professing to be wise, he became a fool. He bought into evolution instead of the Creator of the universe Who is Jesus Christ (Rom. 11:36; Col. 1:16). Christ therefore sent him out to do his deed as quickly as he could (John 13:27). At that point after leaving was God glorified by the separation of the tare from the wheat, symbolic of the judgment to come. He was filled with all unrighteousness, full of envy and murder in his heart, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful, who knowing the righteous judgment of God, gave the information to those who approved of his practice by accepting the ransom of a slave for his deed. A more clear picture of sin and the reprobate minds that perform their deeds for their master and lord Satan is not needed.

TWO USES OF THE BODY

TWO USES OF THE BODY

1 Cor. 11:23 “For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:”

Two separate uses of two bodies happening in one night but remembered for two thousand years. Judas was at this point using his body. And because Jesus lived His life in unbroken fellowship with His Father we are availed to use this ordinance to keep a life of unbroken fellowship. Because the Jews rejected their appointed King which was also their Savior, worship changed. We do not go to Jerusalem to go to the most holy place. Because the Gentiles were grafted into the vine the most holy place was moved also. The veil was rent, torn in two. The altar is no longer in Jerusalem. And most significant of all there is no more blood sacrifices. The writer of Hebrews explains that these continual treks to Jerusalem failed to achieve their purpose which was the perfection of the worshipper. This new way of worship was instituted the very night that his close friend as the Psalm names Judas, betrayed the King. That night He took a symbol of His body which Heb. 10:5 says was "prepared" for Him. That body was especially prepared by God for His Son. Thus the One Who hung on the Cross is differentiated from all other men, even in the matter of His physical life.

Heb. 10:25 “Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me.”

SECRET THINGS REVEALED

SECRET THINGS REVEALED TO HIS OWN

“The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” Deut. 29:29

“It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.” Prov. 25:2

Out of strange perplexities and trials, the God whose glory was that He had concealed things and yet had Himself been the All-Wise, had led them into better ways of life. Yet had not all this resulted from the fact that they had been under the rule of a king whose highest glory had been that of searching out the secrets of wisdom, in the fear of Jehovah! The words, however, have the widest application. They cover all life. When Solomon wrote this Proverb, it is possible that he was remembering a great word of Moses (Deut. 29:29). The philosophy is the same. The idea here is not that God maintains His glory by hiding things from man. It is rather that all the things so hidden the things concealed, the secret things are known to Him. He is the Ultimate in wisdom. That is His glory. That being so, man's true kingliness consists in his ability to search out these hidden things. That is the principle of all the triumphs of scientific investigations and it is the deepest secret of all advances in spiritual strength. If a man would reign in life, he must begin with the fear of Jehovah which recognizes the glory of His knowledge of hidden things; and he must continue in that fear which maintains the attitude of such right relationship with God as will make it possible for Him to reveal to him His secrets. "The friendship of Jehovah is with them that fear Him." (Psa. 25:14). See Matt. 10:27. Friends of God have truth shared while servants blindly follow direction. (John 15:15).

Not so with the unbelieving. The unsaved are Blind-Deaf-Dumb.

“That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.” Mark 4:12

State of the people who need to hear the gospel. State of the Jews that rejected Christ while on earth, foreseen by Isaiah. Even though they hear the truth it is not understood.