Brethren Movement

[1watchman]

While most Christians have heard of the major religious organizations, denominated sects and cults of Christendom, few know about the revival of circa 1800, and the universal fellowship established in AD 1827 and referred to as “the brethren movement". It is in many towns and cities worldwide.

While there seems to be a trend today toward mega church gatherings and various new independent gatherings with popular names and innovative ways, some believers in Christ want to know of a fellowship close to the scriptural order as found in Acts and the Epistles. This was and is the intent of this Christian fellowship.

The history shows that recovery of church truth in the early 1800’s has continued to express a scriptural order for God’s testimony in the world. It is not popular nor entertaining so is not often accepted, but many saints worldwide have embraced it as true to God’s Word.

This fellowship mostly avoids taking any name or practice not given by God in His Word. Some of us believe it is the most scriptural gathering of believers in Christ in the world, but I know many Christians would not accept that. So, I then just commend them to God and not press the subject on anyone.

It should be noted that there were a few other new efforts to return to the Word of God for church truth in circa 1800, as God moved to recover His testimony, though they did not continue to stay clear of denominational entrapments, such as appointed leaders, various innovations, entertainment, carnal involvements; and some groups that set rules and control of people's lives.

There were those who wanted their own versions and innovations, so some went out from this revival of 1827 in later years and started some variations (which denies the truth of expressing “the one body"). God was surely working in circa 1800 to recover His testimony after the tyranny and bondage of the Middle (“dark”) Ages --about AD 500 - 1500.

The problem hindering “unity of the faith”, as God shows, is in Christians not wanting to hold to the Word only, and they will sometimes try to have a form of gathering kind of like the truth, but keeping the things they prefer and are popular. Many who approach this truth want to keep a mixture with all believers who want the world and the flesh to be allowed in an assembly. We really need to bow to God and His Word.

One can read much about this fellowship at Bible Truth Publishers in Addison, IL. or the website: BibleCounsel, and see if it seems true to the Word and of some interest.

 

[OzSpen]

While most Christians have heard of the major religious organizations, denominated sects and cults of Christendom, few know about the revival of circa 1800, and the universal fellowship established in AD 1827 and referred to as “the brethren movement". It is in many towns and cities worldwide.

While there seems to be a trend today toward mega church gatherings and various new independent gatherings with popular names and innovative ways, some believers in Christ want to know of a fellowship close to the scriptural order as found in Acts and the Epistles. This was and is the intent of this Christian fellowship.

The history shows that recovery of church truth in the early 1800’s has continued to express a scriptural order for God’s testimony in the world. It is not popular nor entertaining so is not often accepted, but many saints worldwide have embraced it as true to God’s Word.

This fellowship mostly avoids taking any name or practice not given by God in His Word. Some of us believe it is the most scriptural gathering of believers in Christ in the world, but I know many Christians would not accept that. So, I then just commend them to God and not press the subject on anyone.

It should be noted that there were a few other new efforts to return to the Word of God for church truth in circa 1800, as God moved to recover His testimony, though they did not continue to stay clear of denominational entrapments, such as appointed leaders, various innovations, entertainment, carnal involvements; and some groups that set rules and control of people's lives.

There were those who wanted their own versions and innovations, so some went out from this revival of 1827 in later years and started some variations (which denies the truth of expressing “the one body"). God was surely working in circa 1800 to recover His testimony after the tyranny and bondage of the Middle (“dark&#8221 Ages --about AD 500 - 1500.

The problem hindering “unity of the faith”, as God shows, is in Christians not wanting to hold to the Word only, and they will sometimes try to have a form of gathering kind of like the truth, but keeping the things they prefer and are popular. Many who approach this truth want to keep a mixture with all believers who want the world and the flesh to be allowed in an assembly. We really need to bow to God and His Word.

One can read much about this fellowship at Bible Truth Publishers in Addison, IL. or the website: BibleCounsel, and see if it seems true to the Word and of some interest.

Watchman,

Can I presume that you are referring to the Christian Brethren movement that also is known as the Gospel Hall here in Australia? This is the movement started by J. N. Darby. This movement operates just like another denomination in our cities with various levels of tightness/legalism from chapel to chapel as each assembly is autonomous. There are those who are:

• Open Brethren and do not require women to wear hats, but the women are very much subjugated to the men and no women are allowed to participate publicly when the assembly gathers for worship.
• More closed chapels that are quite rigid in legalism – hats in church by women, very strong emphasis on submission of women (almost to the point of women being regarded as second-class Christians), no participation by women in open worship.
• The Exclusive Brethren. I went to primary school with EB children and the girls/women had to wear long hair (usually tied up in buns) and there were no TVs in the homes of these people. But I note here that they have a presence on the www. Interesting! This group has created quite a bit of controversy in Australia. See HERE and HERE. This is a story of one person who left an EB group.

I know something of this denomination because my late parents attended an open Brethren assembly. Even though it was an open assembly, when the church gathered, women were to remain silent in the alleged “open worship”. In my hometown where my parents attended the Brethren (my sister and husband also attend an open Brethren assembly in that city), there are four types of Brethren assemblies: (1) the largest is really into contemporary worship – I call it rock ‘n roll Christianity; (2) open traditional worship but the women remain silent except for singing hymns; (3) A very traditional assembly with women in hats and women silent during the worship – quite legalistic; (4) the Exclusive Brethren.

One thing I like about the Brethren assemblies is the open worship, but it is not open to all as the women must remain silent, except for singing. Every-member ministry is not possible in such an environment. It seems as though this verse is absent from their Bibles where wives are permitted to prophesy (1 Cor. 11:5). Where does that happen? At home or in the church? However, Brethren tend to be cessationists so no continuing gift of prophesy is acknowledged.

While the Christian Brethren are strongly evangelical (although I don’t see that with the Exclusive Brethren), they are very dispensational in the view of eschatology (pre-trib rapture) and extremely legalistic about the silence of women in the church. I have attempted to address some of these women-in-ministry issues in these articles:

• Women in ministry: An overview of some biblical passages;
• Women in ministry in 1 Corinthians: A brief inquiry;
• Must women never teach men in the church?

I don’t expect that these teachings in the links will be accepted by you if you come from a strict, anti-women-in-ministry, view that is evident in the Brethren Assemblies here in Australia.

I have many friends in Brethren assemblies in Australia who love the Lord deeply, but I can’t support their suppressive view of closing down women in public ministry. Many of them have very poor teaching ministries in the public services. Their elders who do the preaching need a lot of help in exegesis of the biblical text, sermon construction, and public speaking. In my 50 years as a Christian, I only know of one Brethren preacher who captivates my attention with his excellent expositions of the Word and that is Phil Thomas at Bundaberg Bible Chapel. I do not live in that city.

In Christ, Oz

 

[1watchman]

Hello Oz. Yes, this does refer to that revival of 1827 known generally as "the brethren movement". It appears you got a bad taste of it all from Open Brethren and the Exclusives ---both of which were splinter groups to follow man's preferences. I was with the Opens after leaving the Baptists many years ago, then learned of this original mainline group.

There was a continued fellowship holding to the original intent of God in the recovery of church truth for His testimony in the world. I am associated with that, and one can read about it at the BibleCounsel web site, and see literature at Bible Truth Publishers. I don't know of any such gatherings in Australia, except in Tasmania.

The various sects and the denoms. man has developed has corrupted the testimony, I believe, but God has prevailed with a gathering of saints to follow His Word --my opinion of course. I know the Opens and the Exclusives are big in Aussie land.

You may e-mail me from my PM if you would like to talk further about this. Look up always!

- 1 Watchman

 

[redeemedbychrist]

Raising this up again because I am part of the "so called Brethren"

We would probably be known of as the "gospel Hall Brethren"

Any others on this site part of a New Testament Assembly?

 

[1watchman]

I am the only one I have found with the Brethren. I am no longer with the Gospel Hall group (yet with the Brethren Movement), but I respect them as mostly seeking to honor the Lord. They are usually zealous for the Gospel. Look up always!

- 1 Watchman