Obscurity and Devotedness: Our Preferred Place Collectively and Individually [Leaflets]

Full Text of This Product

What is important is not "The Brethren" but the truth they have. … God could set them aside, and spread His truth by others—would, I believe, though full of gracious patience, if they be not faithful. Their place is to remain in obscurity and devotedness, not to think of "Brethren" (it is always wrong to think of ourselves), but of souls, in Christ's name and love, and of His glory and truth only—not to press "Brethrenism," but to deal with each soul according to its need, for Christ's sake. … Unworldliness, non-conformity to the world, self-denial, abnegation in love to others, is what is called for.

Let them walk in love, in the truth, humble, lowly, unworldly, and all for Christ, as little (and content to be little) as when they began, and God will bless them. If not, their candlestick may go (and oh, what sorrow and confusion of face it would be after such grace!) as that of others. …

Let them do the work of evangelists, making full proof of their ministry, humble, lowly, devoted and simple; because devoted in heart, and separated to Christ. As regards all the activity outside them, it is one of the signs of the times, and they should rejoice in it. … But it does not give their testimony at all. … I do not believe attacks on anything to be our path, but to be superior, and for the truth in grace. … Self-defence is every way to be avoided.

The Lord will answer for us if we do His will. … God has no need of us, but He has need of a people who walk in the truth, in love and holiness. "I will leave in the midst of thee, an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of Jehovah.” … The gospel we may, and must, rejoice in, yet it only makes the testimony of "Brethren" outside the camp more necessary than ever; but it must be real. … If "Brethren" fall in with the current Christianity inside the camp, they would be another sect with certain truths.

(Extracted from The Collected Writings of J.N. Darby, Vol. 31, pp. 371-4)

Lord let me wait for Thee alone,
My life be only this,
To serve Thee here on earth unknown
Then share Thy heavenly bliss.

J.N. Darby