Now, since God's desire is to gather His saints together on earth into one testimony unto the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, on the ground of the "one body," the question arises, “Does God have more than one testimony to the truth of the one body?” In the light of what we have presented from Scripture in the previous chapters, we do not believe that the Spirit of God is gathering Christians into various fellowships (federations of meetings) to express that truth, without those groups being in fellowship with each other. As mentioned in the previous chapter, if the Spirit of God is doing this, He is the Author of the Christ-dishonoring divisions in the Christian testimony! This could not be so, for it would be a contradiction of the very truth that He is seeking to lead Christians to walk in. Christ does not have one body in fact, and many bodies in testimony. Therefore, we are quite certain that there could only be one divinely owned testimony to the truth of the one body.
To see the inconsistency of supposing that the Spirit of God would lead to more than one gathering center, the following illustration someone once gave is helpful. “If we were to go back to the beginning – to the day of Pentecost – when the Spirit of God came down and united the 120 into one body, and all of them were gathered together to the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ; suppose Peter has a quarrel with John, and they decide that they are going to set up separate fellowships. Then there would be a company that would follow Peter and a company that would follow John. Could we say that the Spirit would lead some to go to one, and some to the other? And, that the Lord would be equally approving of both? We do not believe that the Lord would sanction both fellowships with His presence in their midst, for in doing so He would be condoning practical division in the church. If He did, He would be the Author of confusion.” Indeed, men may form more than one expression of this truth by setting up schismatic tables, but we don’t believe that the Spirit of God would lead Christians to do so. "Is the Christ divided"? (1 Cor. 1:1313Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? (1 Corinthians 1:13)).
We believe, therefore, that Scripture teaches that there could only be one divinely owned expression of the truth of the one body on earth which the Lord, not men, has set up. If heresies or sects (independent breaks in fellowship) develop, it is because of the will of the flesh (Gal. 5:2020Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, (Galatians 5:20)), not the will of God. All the saints were together in the beginning. If the Christian profession is all divided into various sects today, it is the result of ignorant or willful men forming these independent groups.
Paul showed the Corinthians where these things begin. They usually start with differences of opinion and judgment. “Now I exhort you, brethren, by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all say the same thing, and that there be not among you divisions; but that ye be perfectly united in the same mind and in the same opinion” (1 Cor. 1:1010Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. (1 Corinthians 1:10)). These differences of opinion will lead to contentions or “strifes.” “For it has been shewn me concerning you, my brethren, by those of the house of Chloe, that there are strifes among you.” (1 Cor. 1:1111For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. (1 Corinthians 1:11)). Then, if strifes are not judged, they will lead to “divisions,” or “schisms” (the same word in the Greek) amongst the saints. “But I speak of this, that each of you says, I am of Paul, and I of Apollos, and I of Cephas, and I of Christ. Is the Christ divided?” (1 Cor. 1:12-1312Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? (1 Corinthians 1:12‑13)) These divisions, or schisms, are internal rifts among the saints meeting together. But even more serious than the foregoing is what Paul shows will develop out of internal divisions among the Lord’s people. If these are not judged they will lead to “heresies” or “sects.” “I hear there exist divisions among you, and I partly give credit to it. For there must also be sects [heresies] among you, that the approved may become manifest among you” (1 Cor. 11:18-1918For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. 19For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. (1 Corinthians 11:18‑19)). A “sect” or a “heresy” (the same word in the Greek), is an outward split among the saints, whereby a party detaches itself and meets independently. What starts out as a difference of opinion, leads to strife; and that will produce a schism or an inward division among the saints, which left unjudged, leads to a heresy or a sect – an outward spilt among the saints.
Imitation
Some mistakenly think that since there is only one way for Christians to gather – according to the pattern in the Word of God – and that if a company of Christians were to come together along those lines, then they must be divinely gathered to the Lord's Name. A person might walk into such a meeting of Christians and come away saying, “These people meet just like those gathered to the Lord’s Name; therefore, they must be gathered to the Lord’s Name.” However, there is more to being divinely gathered to the Lord’s Name than that. It is certainly true that there is only one way for Christians to meet together, but if conducting meetings according to the Scriptural pattern was all there was to it, then people could break away from those whom God has gathered to the Name of the Lord Jesus, and set up a fellowship independently, seeking to practice what the Word of God teaches concerning assembly order, and thus, they could be considered as being on the right ground of the assembly! If that were the only criteria, then the many heretical divisions among those who are called “brethren” could be considered as gathered to the Lord's Name, because many of them seek to follow the pattern for gathering given in the Word of God.
Although such groups could point to the Scriptures for everything they do, that in itself does not mean that they are divinely gathered on the ground of the “one body.” Why?—Because there is the matter of the Spirit's corporate action of gathering. It’s possible that such a company is a mere imitation of the Scriptural way of gathering, engineered by the will of man. The great question is, "Has the Spirit of God been the Author of it? Were they gathered by the Spirit?" It may have been done with good intentions, but if it has been set up independent of the Spirit's action, it is schismatic and heretical, and could not be owned of God as being on the true ground of the assembly. It is one thing for Christians to meet together after a Scriptural pattern, and another thing for them to be doing it as gathered by the Spirit on the ground of the "one body." G. V. Wigram said that it is possible for a situation to arise where Christians will put the truth of God on one side and the Spirit of God on the other side. This subject that we are considering could be an example. Christians can come together along the lines of the Scriptural pattern for a local assembly, but it could still be a separate effort from the work of the Spirit of God.
Let us remember that Jeroboam set up false centers in Bethel and Dan. The one in Bethel was “like unto” the center in Judah, and even though it bore the resemblance of that which was found at the divine center it clearly didn’t have the Lord’s approval – for a man of God was sent by the Lord to cry against (denounce) it (1 Ki. 12:32, 13:1-2). This shows that trying to imitate the pattern of God’s way does not necessarily meet with God’s approval. And again, when Zerubbabel and Jeshua, and a remnant of Jews came back from Babylon, there were people in the land who claimed that they sought Jehovah “as ye do,” but the remnant at Jerusalem refused them because they saw their claim to be false (Ez. 4:2). If there was imitation in Judaism, we know there will be imitation in Christianity too (2 Tim. 3:88Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. (2 Timothy 3:8)).
The principles we have already looked at in the Scriptures (in Chapter 1) show that when the setting up of Christian assemblies is of the Spirit, then it is done in fellowship with the already existing work of the Spirit who is gathering souls to the Name of the Lord Jesus (1 Thess. 2:1414For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: (1 Thessalonians 2:14)). In this way, “the unity of the Spirit” can be kept. Following this principle, brethren gathered to the Lord’s Name have sought to give the "right hands of fellowship" (Gal. 2:99And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. (Galatians 2:9)) to new gatherings, so as to maintain one collective expression to the truth of the "one body." But it is false to think that just because a group of Christians meet like those gathered to the Lord's Name that they are automatically on divine ground; and, therefore, we are justified in breaking bread with them. If they are on independent ground, and we join them, it would be to support outward division in the testimony of the church.
Schismatic Groups Of so-called “Brethren”
The divisions and outward breaks in the Christian testimony have all had a beginning. If a person is seriously thinking of being in fellowship with a company of Christians who profess to meet on the principles of the Word of God, they should inquire as to what its origins are. Every meeting of Christians has a history. W. Potter said, “What is the origin of such and such a meeting? Why are they meeting in separation from others? Is their position a Scriptural one?” These are good questions to ask.
The erroneous idea that God would own more than one expression of the truth of the "one body" is not new. From the early 1900’s there have been pamphlets propounding this line of things circulated by those who have sought to amalgamate the various divisions among so-called “brethren” into one fellowship. They later became known as the KLC fellowship (Kelly/Lowe/Continental), even though they do not formally take that title. Those from this amalgamation do not believe that there is one divinely owned practical expression of the truth of the one body. They believe that the Lord’s Table could not be in only one place, or among only one fellowship of Christians. They think that the Lord is in the midst of any Christian company so long as it meets according to the Scriptural pattern. They believe that He is in the midst of such companies condoning their existence, even though those companies may not be in practical fellowship with one another. Some of these companies have divided off from one another previously. We have personally heard a leader among that group say: "We believe you are gathered by the Spirit to the Lord’s Name on the ground of the one body, and have the Lord in the midst as we do. It's just that we’re not in practical fellowship with one another." It is not hard to see why they would hold this view. They have had to do away with the truth of the one gathering center in order to carry out their plan of uniting the various splinter groups among brethren.
When such a statement is tested by the principles of the Word of God, as we have looked at in previous chapters, we find that it simply cannot be possible for both companies to be on the same ground and still be in separation from one another. First of all, the groups of Christians that have gone into this amalgamation have all been in fellowship with those gathered to the Lord’s Name on the true ground of the church, but have had their beginning by refusing to bow to an assembly decision that was made in the Name of the Lord Jesus. They have rebelled against certain assembly decisions down through the years, and have gone out from the divine gathering center. Then, after being off in a division for some time, they got this idea that they should try to amalgamate similar groups together. Having done so, they are now saying that they are gathered to the Lord’s Name at the Lord’s Table – just as those whom they have gone out from many years ago. The only difference, they say, is that we are just not in practical fellowship. We ask, “How could this movement be of God?”
It’s inconceivable to think that such a group could be on the true ground of the assembly when their starting point has been altogether wrong. How could what started in rebellion and departure from divine ground turn out later to be on divine ground, just because there has been the passage of time? Could the Lord sanction with His presence a company that severed itself from the saints gathered to His Name, whose starting point was the refusal to bow to an assembly action that He had bound in heaven? In order to accommodate each group that joins this amalgamation they have had to compromise certain truths relating to the special difficulty that that new group adopted when they left the divine center. One truth that has been compromised, in every case, is that the Lord’s Table could only be in one place – that is, among one fellowship of Christians.
A second thing that shows that this KLC fellowship could not be on the same ground as those at the Lord’s Table, whom they left in division many years ago, is that they will occasionally receive a person who has left or has been put away from those at the Lord’s Table. This is a practical denial of the confession that both fellowships are on the same ground, because (as we have already seen) when a binding decision has been made in the Name of the Lord Jesus, it is to be bowed to by all on the ground of the "one body." For one assembly gathered to the Lord's Name to receive a person that another assembly similarly gathered on the same ground has excommunicated is setting aside the action of the Holy Spirit in binding decisions and is a denial of the unity of the body. If both fellowships were on the same ground they would recognize one another's actions. (It’s true that at times the reverse has happened – those excommunicated from such groups have been received among those gathered to the Lord's Name. But this is because the gathered saints at the Lord’s Table do not recognize the actions of such groups to be bound in heaven by the authority of the Lord, because the ground those groups have taken in division is a schismatic man-made thing; and the gathered saints do not make accept the claim that both companies are on the same ground.)
Now, if the KLCs really want both companies to be in fellowship together (as they say), then all they need to do is to acknowledge that they have taken divisive ground by leaving the Lord’s Table, and have gone out with those groups that have rejected various assembly decisions that have been made down through the years. If they would repent and return to the divine center, all could be healed. Then they could have what they say they desire. Of course, their returning would have to be on an individual basis (Isa. 27:1212And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt, and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel. (Isaiah 27:12)). Those gathered to the Lord’s Name cannot be asked to overlook the case of these sad departures and to amalgamate with this movement, for in doing so they would be condoning the rebellion. “If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before Me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as My mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them” (Jer. 15:1919Therefore thus saith the Lord, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them. (Jeremiah 15:19)).
To be together surely is a good desire. We should all be on one ground, but it cannot be achieved by compromising the truth of the one gathering center. Getting back to the point of departure and acknowledging the wrong of not bowing to an assembly decision is the only way of divine healing. This should be confessed; and not merely in a general humiliation over the low state that has divided the saints. The correct principle for healing all divisions among God’s people is repentance and a return to the point of departure. The problem is that acknowledging the wrong of not bowing to assembly decisions made in the Name of the Lord is too humbling. We all know how difficult it is to humble ourselves. J. N. Darby said that submission is the great healing principle of humanity. He also said that humility was the secret of fellowship and pride was the cause of division. Instead of getting back to the point of departure, those in this movement would rather labor to bring brethren together from various splinter groups, on the wrong principle of amalgamation, and at the cost of giving up the truth of the one gathering center – the Lord’s Table.
It has been well documented that J. N. Darby, C. H. Mackintosh, etc. held to the truth of the one Lord’s Table, where Christ is in the midst as the divine gathering center. There is also plenty of evidence to show that many of the leaders that perpetrated these divisions also held the truth of the one Lord's Table, but have given it up since they went off into division. As an example, when S. Ridout was asked why the brethren that supported Grant in that division hastily broke bread the very next Lord's day after he was put out, he said, "We believe that in 1884 many of us, before the division, had the common thought that WE had the Table exclusively, and must not allow it to lapse a single day. This we think had something to do with the haste of breaking bread, without intermission, at Craig Street, Montreal." A few months later, he wrote another letter on "what constitutes, or characterizes the Lord's Table, stating that no one company can claim the exclusive possession of it." Here, Mr. Ridout admits that they used to hold the truth of the one Lord's Table, but have since given it up.
And again, a quotation from a Grant publication in 1914 says, “But perhaps the biggest item on the credit side of our ledger, if one may be permitted to compare, when all is so precious and vital, is the truth that no company of Christians, not even ourselves, can claim a monopoly of the Lord’s Table, or of gathering in the Name of the Lord. Had this truth been known thirty years ago, perhaps division might have been averted.” Here again we have an acknowledgement of once holding the truth of the one gathering center, but having given it up. Then, having abandoned the teaching of the one gathering center, they call their departure a great “truth.” What a sorry bit of self-congratulation and glorying in one’s shame.
Furthermore, we find N. Noel (a brother connected with this amalgamation) laboring for many pages in his “History of the Brethren” – actually departing from the objective of his book in giving us a history – in an attempt to prove that there is no such thing as the Lord’s Table being in one place, and that there is no difference between the Lord’s Table and the Lord’s Supper. You can see that he has a real “bee in his bonnet” as he tries to convince us of his point. Our comments on the two aspects of the assembly and the Lord’s Table, in the previous chapter, clearly show that J. N. Darby and other early brethren certainly don’t agree with him. Were those earlier brethren deluded in those teachings that they held, and for which they paid so high a price? Were Mr. Darby and others of their time all wrong on this point? Were S. Ridout, N. Noel, etc. walking so closely with the Lord after declension had set in on the remnant testimony that their spiritual discernment exceeded that of the earlier brethren? It should be quite obvious that the earlier men had spiritual understanding and discernment beyond those that came after them – including ourselves. They also possessed spiritual gift beyond any known to us today. Cardinal truths advanced by such expositors should not be lightly cast aside.
We now ask, “Who is it that has changed their ecclesiastical doctrine? Who is it that has given up the truth that has been so graciously recovered to the saints by those gifted men whom God raised up for that purpose?” Those who seek to uphold the things taught by our earlier brethren have only sought to keep “the good deposit” of truth (2 Tim. 1:1414That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. (2 Timothy 1:14)) that was recovered to the church. It has been handed down to us by a previous generation of faithful men. Admittedly, it has been held with much weakness, but it has been our great aim. We are reminded of Paul’s exhortation to Timothy as to the things that he had heard from Paul. He was to commit “the same” truth to faithful men who were to be able to teach others also. We emphasize the words “the same,” for Paul was instructing Timothy to teach others “the same” things he had been taught by Paul (2 Tim. 2:22And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. (2 Timothy 2:2)). He was not to alter it to his liking and then pass it on, for then if he and others did so, the truth that Paul gave would soon be lost.
The plain fact of the matter is that these amalgamators have had to do away with the truth of the one gathering center to get the various splinter groups of brethren to go along with their re-union. We don’t mean to be offensive or accusatory in pointing this out, but this is exactly what has happened. In fact, it seems that whenever someone leaves the Lord's Table, afterward they believe that the table is not in one place.
New Groups Seeking to Follow the Scriptural Pattern For Gathering
The idea that God might have more than one divinely owned testimony to the truth of the one body, yet not in practical fellowship with each other, is a touchy point with some. In this vein of thought a number of hypothetical questions have been asked with regard to new groups of Christians seeking to meet on divine principles. The following is an example. "If a group of godly Christians who did not know of those gathered to the Lord's Name learned something of the truth of gathering, and, upon separating from their former ecclesiastical associations began to meet together simply in the Name of the Lord Jesus, acting on all that they knew from Scripture as to the function of the assembly; would they be divinely gathered on the ground of the ‘one body’ and have the Lord in their midst according to Matthew 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20)?" It has been said, “We cannot limit the Lord from working where He wants to. If He chooses to work in other places it is His sovereign choice.”
Now it goes without saying that God works independently of the saints gathered to the Lord’s Name. He can and does exercise souls about the truth of gathering. But because they are exercised about the truth, and seek to practice what they know from the Word of God concerning it, it does not necessarily put them on the ground of the “one body.” We certainly agree that God must be working with such Christians as in this supposed case, for they have been brought to see a good deal of truth concerning assembly order. But to assume that such a group of Christians are automatically gathered to the Lord’s Name on the ground of the "one body" overlooks the qualifying principles mentioned in Chapters 1 and 3. Namely, that they need to be in fellowship with other assemblies of believers similarly gathered with whom they can express this truth practically in matters of reception, discipline, letters of commendation, etc. How could they practice the truth of the “one body” as a group meeting by themselves? How could a few well-meaning Christians who come together for worship and ministry meet all the conditions laid down in Matthew 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20)?
We are also told that if believers meet on Scriptural principles, but are not connected in practical fellowship with those already gathered to the Lord's Name, being unaware of the gathered saints, that they would be divinely gathered on the ground of the “one body.” But if such a group learned of those gathered to the Lord’s Name, and did not link on with them in practical fellowship, only then would they be regarded as not being on the ground of the “one body” – because being put to the test they would not walk in the truth they professed. However, this seems to make the matter of knowledge the criteria for being gathered on the right ground. Suppose a group like this were meeting together for 30 years before coming in contact with others meeting on the same principles; and they didn’t want to link up with them. Are we saying that they were truly gathered by the Spirit, with the Lord in their midst for 30 years, but now, because they would not link up with others to practice the truth of the "one body," the Lord, at that point, would cease to be in their midst? Or are we saying that they never were truly gathered to His Name in the first place? Now if such a test is required before it can be known whether a group has been truly gathered by the Spirit, then we cannot say that any such group is gathered before they have this test of coming in contact with those already gathered to the Lord's Name.
We have also heard it said that the Spirit of God would not bring Christians together on the ground of the "one body" apart from those already gathered to the Name of the Lord Jesus in areas where God has already established a testimony to this truth. And that believers exercised by the Spirit in these cases would be led by the Spirit of God into fellowship with those already gathered on the ground of the "one body" in that area. But in remote areas and other less privileged lands, such as China or Russia, the Spirit would lead them to form a fellowship where they would be on the ground of the "one body." Now if this were true, then the Spirit of God has been working contrary to the Word of God, which clearly says that He would "gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad" (Jn. 11:51-5251And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; 52And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. (John 11:51‑52), Matt. 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20)).
We are certain that the Spirit of God will not work contrary to the Word of God. On one hand, it is said that we should not underestimate God's grace to gather His saints wherever He wants to, but on the other hand we limit His power to link them together in practical fellowship so that the truth of the "one body" might be visibly expressed in the earth! This reasoning makes distance and communication a hurdle that the Spirit of God cannot overcome. If there is any limit to the Spirit's work it is only that of the Word of God, for the Spirit of God will never work contrary to the Word of God. When the Lord sent out the apostles He said, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." He also said, "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth" (Matt. 28:18-1918And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (Matthew 28:18‑19)). This shows that the Lord has "all power" in "all nations." Distance is no obstacle to God. We must not limit His power to work according to the principles of His Word when He gathers His saints to the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, regardless of where they are. He carefully brought the saints together into practical fellowship in the early church when travel and communication were far less developed, and He can still do it today. "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" (Gen.18:14). "I know that Thou canst do everything, and that Thou canst be hindered in no thought of Thine" (Job 42:22I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. (Job 42:2)). To accept this will take faith on our part.
It seems that the problem with this whole hypothetical question, as it is so often with most ecclesiastical errors in the church, is that there is a lack of faith in the Spirit's power to gather Christians together universally unto the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Charge of Sectarianism
Nonetheless, the idea that God has one divinely owned testimony to the truth of the one body, on earth, sounds too exclusive for some. But it really shouldn't seem strange to us, for the whole revelation of Christian truth is exclusive. Think of what the Christian faith must sound like to those of other religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam. They look at Christianity and say, "So you Christians think you're the only right ones – that you're the only ones that are going to heaven!" They might look at Christianity as proud, arrogant, and exclusive – but it is the truth of God. We can only bow our heads and humbly thank God for the grace that has led us to the One (the only One) Who is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life:" Who said, “No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (Jn. 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)). The way of salvation and eternal life are very exclusive. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other Name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:1212Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)).
Others think that those gathered to the Lord's Name have become sectarian for believing that God has one divinely owned testimony to the truth of the one body on earth. We ask, “How could they become sectarian for holding these things when it is what they have held since the middle of the nineteen century after the truth had been recovered?” It is not some new idea. Either the movement has been sectarian from those early days or it is truly on the proper ground of the assembly, and is owned of God. Others warn, "Be careful of the pride of position." In a sense, they are right! Pride is a terrible thing, and we certainly do need to be on guard against "the pride of position." But being gathered to the Lord’s Name is not being on sectarian ground; those whom the Spirit has gathered are at the center where Christ is in the midst.
It is said that we should not speak of ourselves and of other Christians as "us" and "them" because it is not in keeping with the truth that we are all "one body." It is true that we should never speak in a proud "holier than thou" attitude when referring to others, as John did (Mk. 9:38-3938And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. 39But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. (Mark 9:38‑39), Isa. 65:55Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day. (Isaiah 65:5)), but it is not wrong to say "us" in relation to other believers, because the Lord Jesus Himself did. (Mk. 9:4040For he that is not against us is on our part. (Mark 9:40)) How else could we distinguish those whom God has graciously gathered from those who have not been gathered? If the grace of God that has gathered us to the Name of the Lord Jesus was properly understood in our souls, it would not make us proud – it would take the pride right out of us! (Compare Eph. 3:88Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; (Ephesians 3:8)) What have we to be proud about anyway? If those gathered to the Lord's Name are a testimony, they are a testimony to the fact that the whole Christian testimony, of which they are a part, is in ruin!
It is also said that it is presumptuous pride to declare that we are at the one gathering center God has in this world. Again, this very well may be right. It would be inconsistent with the spirit of Christian grace to declare or proclaim such a thing, just as it would be out of character for a Christian to proclaim that he is an evangelist, a pastor, or a teacher, though he might be. A Christian should not proclaim that he is at the place of the Lord's appointment; though he may believe with conviction of heart that God, in grace, has brought him there. It is not pride; it is faith.
Our Responsibility Toward Those Who Are Not Gathered
It may be asked, "What then is our responsibility toward those who are not gathered? Shouldn't we tell them something about the truth of the assembly?" Our answer is yes. All of the truth is for all of the church; both those gathered and those scattered. We are to make it available to every seeker. We should be "ready always to give an answer to every man" who asks "a reason of the hope" that is in us (1 Pet. 3:1515But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: (1 Peter 3:15)). Paul received all that came to him seeking the truth (Acts 28:30-3130And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, 31Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him. (Acts 28:30‑31)). A type of this is found in the book of Ezekiel. He was to "shew the house to the house of Israel" (Ezek. 43:1010Thou son of man, show the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern. (Ezekiel 43:10)). That is, he was to show them the pattern of the house of God so that they could see the order of it for themselves. We are, likewise, to give the truth of the church to the church. However, we need to be in communion with the Lord as to when and how we give the truth of gathering to someone. By indiscriminately spreading the truth of the assembly to everyone we meet, we might inadvertently give what is “holy unto the dogs” and cast “pearls” before “swine” (Matt. 7:66Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. (Matthew 7:6)). A “swine,” in Scripture, is often used to describe a false professor. A “pearl,” in Scripture, refers to the assembly (Matt. 13:45-4645Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. (Matthew 13:45‑46)). And this truth is exclusively church property. Truth concerning the assembly must be disseminated carefully. May we be guided by the Lord in this service.
One reason we should be careful in this matter is that it's possible to force the truth on people when they are not ready for it. Sometimes we can be so eager to give people the truth of the assembly that it turns into an argument. The consequence can be that they will be damaged concerning such truth; and thereafter, reject it without giving it space for consideration. W. Kelly said, "There was sufficient advance in truth in what the apostle [Paul] taught, but he would not run the risk of making a split among the saints in Jerusalem. Had he been indifferent to the state of the saints, he would have brought out all the heavenly truth in which he was so far beyond the others. But there are two things that have to be taken account of in communicating truth. Not merely should there be certainty that it is the truth from God, but it must also be suited truth to those whom you address. They might have needed it all, but they were not in a condition to receive it; and the more precious the truth, the greater the injury, in a certain sense, if it is presented to those who are not in a state to profit by it...this appears to be one reason why, in the epistle to the Galatians, the apostle never touches on those blessed truths. This wisdom of omitting them is apparent. Such truths would be unintelligible, or at least unsuitable, to souls in their state. To have developed them could have done them no good." See also Mark 4:3333And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. (Mark 4:33) and John 16:1212I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. (John 16:12).
Let us remember, the truth is for those who want it (Jn. 7:1717If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. (John 7:17)); though we may guide and instruct, we have no business trying to force it upon those who have little or no interest in those things. J. N. Darby said that he had never tried to coerce anyone into the path that he was walking (being gathered to the Lord's Name) who had not the faith or the conviction for it.
W. T. P. Wolston warned, "Don't pitchfork your converts into the assembly." Gathering Christians to the Name of the Lord Jesus is a work that God has never laid upon His people. In Luke 10:33-3533But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. (Luke 10:33‑35), we find that the Samaritan, who is a picture of the Lord Jesus, brought the wounded man to "the inn" (a picture of the assembly). We also read in Luke 22:10-1110And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. 11And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? (Luke 22:10‑11), that a man “bearing a pitcher of water,” who is a picture of the Holy Spirit, led the disciples to the place of the Lord's appointment. This shows that the work of gathering belongs to the Lord Jesus and the Spirit of God. He may associate us with Himself in that work, but it is all His work.
The danger in this area of service is that there is a tendency with well-meaning servants to enter a path of compromise in an effort to give people the truth. We are to love all of the children of God (Eph. 1:1515Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, (Ephesians 1:15)). While our love and concern is to go out to all the saints of God, our feet must remain in the path of obedience to God's Word which calls us to separate from the disorder in the "great house" (2 Tim. 2:20-2120But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. 21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. (2 Timothy 2:20‑21)). Just because we see people in various church denominations who need the truth doesn't mean that we are absolved of our responsibility to walk in obedience. We are not to forsake the principles of separation in order to reach someone. Let us remember that the whole work of gathering is the Spirit's work. We need to rest in the fact that God is sovereign and can reach people wherever they are. "The Word of God is not bound" (2 Tim. 2:99Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. (2 Timothy 2:9)). But because He uses His Word where He pleases (Isa. 55:1111So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)), it does not mean that we can walk anywhere we please in order to give it to them.
Our Responsibility Toward Those Who Have Left the Divine Center of Gathering
What is often more dangerous than "pitch forking" persons into the [local] assembly is going after those who have left the assembly.
When considering this subject of the Spirit's gathering, we need to understand that scattering is as much a work of God as gathering (Gen. 3:23-24, 11:8-9, 1 Ki. 12:2424Thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the Lord, and returned to depart, according to the word of the Lord. (1 Kings 12:24), 2 Ki. 17:20-23, 24:1-4, Jer. 15:1, 4, 31:10, Ezek. 36:19, 2419And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them. (Ezekiel 36:19)
24For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. (Ezekiel 36:24), Matt. 23:3737O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! (Matthew 23:37), Jn. 10:12, 1612But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. (John 10:12)
16And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. (John 10:16) Eph. 1:1010That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: (Ephesians 1:10)). At times, the Lord sifts His people. He tests them and sometimes He allows them to be scattered. Satan is the great divider and scatterer, and the Lord, by the Spirit, is the great Gatherer. However, the Lord, in the governmental chastening of His people may allow Satan to get in among the saints to do his work of scattering.
In the past, the Lord sifted the children of Israel in the wilderness (Deut. 2:1414And the space in which we came from Kadesh-barnea, until we were come over the brook Zered, was thirty and eight years; until all the generation of the men of war were wasted out from among the host, as the Lord sware unto them. (Deuteronomy 2:14), 1 Cor. 10:55But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. (1 Corinthians 10:5)). He also sifted them in the land (1 Ki. 12:2424Thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the Lord, and returned to depart, according to the word of the Lord. (1 Kings 12:24), 2 Ki. 17:20-23, 24:1-4), and in a coming day, when He restores Israel, He will sift them again (Am. 9:9, Ezek. 20:33-3833As I live, saith the Lord God, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you: 34And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. 35And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. 36Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord God. 37And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant: 38And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the Lord. (Ezekiel 20:33‑38)). God does this in His ways with His people, and the Christian testimony is not excluded (1 Cor. 10:11-1311Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 12Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:11‑13)).
If a person who has left the assembly does not show signs of repentance, we do well to leave him with the Lord until such time there is that evidence. Surely we wouldn't say that the Lord is trying to gather those who go out in a division! He is plainly scattering them, even though they are His own. Trying to get people like this back into the assembly because “their place is there,” without this consideration, may be loving and well meaning, but it usually brings trouble with it. We are warned by Joab's attempt to get Absalom back into the kingdom before there was any change in him. It led to a major conspiracy and many fell in a battle that resulted from it. (2 Sam. 14-18) In the end, we find that it was Joab that killed Absalom. The very one who had tried to get him back ended up destroying him! The lesson here is that if we go after someone to get them back before there is a change, we will certainly not do them any good. Besides jeopardizing the welfare of the assembly, it may ultimately destroy the person in respect to that truth.
It is true that God would have us to look after those who have gotten cold or those who have strayed away from the assembly. The Word of God says, "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted" (Gal. 6:11Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. (Galatians 6:1)). The Lord remonstrated with the shepherds who would not go after the sheep that had lost their way (Ezek. 34:44The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. (Ezekiel 34:4)). Abraham went after Lot who had been carried away by an enemy when he was living in Sodom – a type of the world in its corruption (Gen. 14). The case of the attack on Ziklag is another example. David inquired of the Lord as to whether he should go after those who had been carried away by the Amalekites (a type of the flesh) (1 Sam. 30:88And David inquired at the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all. (1 Samuel 30:8)). The Lord told him to pursue them; and when he did, it was a success. He recovered all. See also James 5:19-2019Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 20Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. (James 5:19‑20).
Many other passages of Scripture could be quoted to show that we definitely have a responsibility toward the erring. But after repeated calls and visits, there comes a time when we need to stand back and ask, "Is this person in a state to be gathered, or is this just an effort of mine?" If God is not presently working to that end with such persons, we could be working against Him, or at least, getting ahead of His work in them. Our continual badgering of people who may not have the faith or conviction for such a path, may well be nothing but a work of the flesh. At some point, we need to leave them with the Lord until His work is evident in them. It takes communion with the Lord to know when we should go after certain ones who have gone away from the assembly. Some may be real troublemakers (Prov. 6:1919A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. (Proverbs 6:19)), and we need to be careful not to bring such ones among the saints. While we may have to leave people with the Lord for a time, we should never cease to pray for them (1 Sam. 12:2323Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: (1 Samuel 12:23)).
All Christians Will Be Gathered Eventually
There is a wonderful day coming when all the saints of God will be gathered together unto Christ at His coming (2 Thess. 2:11Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, (2 Thessalonians 2:1)). We look forward to that day with glad anticipation! Until that time, let us have confidence in the Lord that He will maintain His remnant testimony to the truth of the “one body.”
B. Anstey
1991/1994/2002/2004