BRETHREN PEOPLE AND THE CHRISTIAN ORDINANCES

BRETHREN PEOPLE AND THE CHRISTIAN ORDINANCES

 

lb. They have sought to emulate the simple, Bible-believing example of the early church.

Every part of the Word of God, therefore, is regarded as equally inspired.
Every part is profitable for doctrine, reproof, and righteousness.
They have sought, therefore, to rightly divide the Word.
No command, however infrequent, has been deemed insignificant.
This is true of ordinances and other practices.

         2b. Brethren do not attach merit or mystical qualities to forms and symbols.
These symbols are not mediums of Christian grace, nor is the grace communicated simultaneous with the doing of them.
They are material signs of spiritual realities.
But, this does not mean that these forms and practices should be minimized.

        3b. There is a place in Christian conduct for the practice of Christian ordinances.
It will be the purpose of these articles to guard the student from two dangerous extremes:
      (1)  That ordinances are sacraments that must be obeyed in order to have spiritual life and blessing;
      (2)  That the ordinances are therefore of such little consequence that they may be regarded with little concern.

These two extremes are dangerous because they mark a general trend in at­titude toward the Person of Christ and His work, past, present, and future.
      (1)  To regard them as sacraments is to lose sight of the value of Christ's work and its communication by grace.
      (2)  To regard them lightly is to discount the authority of the one who gave them, and to miss the profound intent and meaning as they point to the person and work of the Trinity.

It will be the business of these articles to guide the student away from these errors and keep the middle of the road which in this case is the path of truth.