Aleck
speaks of preconceived ideas.
Is there a Christadelphian who comes to the Bible with no ‘pre-conceived
ideas’?
Do not the teachings of John Thomas (like those of Joseph Smith, Charles
Taze Russell, Herbert W. Armstrong of other exclusive groups) determine the
preconception of Christadelphians?
Christadelphians that I’ve met ‘earnestly contend’ for the teachings of John
Thomas and Robert Roberts whom they hail as ‘pioneers.’
Aleck then grants concessions to Christadelphians and to Dr John Thomas.
Indeed, ‘all men make mistakes.’
However, there’s one mistake that God does
not excuse — falsely predicting the future. Deuteronomy 18:20-22
Dr. Thomas — Inspired
Aleck writes: ‘Unlike the Catholics which claim the Pope is infallible in his
pronouncements if he speaks ex-cathedra or Mormons who claim God speaks through
their spirit-guided president or Evangelicals who claim to be guided by the
Holy Spirit or Pentecostals who claim to have one or more of the Holy Spirit
Gifts or Jehovah's Witnesses who claim God speaks through the organisation,
Christadelphians do not claim to have the spirit, nor do they claim God speaks
through them. John Thomas never claimed to be a prophet and no balanced
Christadelphian would claim this for him.’
Consider some claims made by Christadelphians for the writings of John Thomas
and Robert Roberts:
‘
These books, and no one can disprove the statement, reveal to us, as no
other writings in existence do, the way of salvation –they enlighten, and
create faith ---solve problems and thresh out difficulties which perplex and
baffle the ordinary man –– reach an altitude in understanding which none of us,
ere Christ comes, can ever expect to reach, let alone excel. Emphatically we
can say of the authors of these books, “These men are the servants of the most
high God, who show us the way of salvation.” (Cover of Christadelphian
Instructor.)
Of John Thomas, Robert Roberts writes: ‘…
but for John Thomas, those who now
rejoice in the truth, would still have been sitting, like the rest of the
world, in “darkness and the shadow of death”. Dr. Thomas: His life
and Work.
While lip service is paid to the Bible, really two authorities have existed. I
quote: If such works as "Elpis Israel" and "Eureka" are neglected an essential
foundation for individual research and investigation is lacking',
Christadelphian Standards, p. 104. 'Let us also treat with scorn any suggestion
to hide or shelve the works of Bro. Thomas and Bro. Roberts', Christadelphian
Standards, p. 52.
See also ‘A Glance At The History and Mystery of Christadelphianism.’
http://www.netcomuk.co.uk/~pdover/histmyst.htm
<
next>
