Being in isolation #5 Isolated Biblical figures and Confessional isolation

A demographic isolation is what comes not only to the Belgian Christadelphians but to many of this faith group because there are just not enough Christadelphians all over the world. That is a fact we do have to live with.

The small numbers of areas in which Christadelphians are located with congregations and the movement of our modern society, we find the causes for the situation that so many individual true believers or family units find themselves isolated. They find themselves in an area where there is no place for them to worship and where they cannot enjoy the strengthening and encouragement of fellowship with those of the same confession. And that strengthening living active real tangible community is an essential part of growth in an easier way than in seclusion.

When we manage to spread the true faith, we shall have to be conscious about the growing amount of isolated people. In the last two centuries, the Brethren and sisters in Christ as Christadelphians could find themselves in small communities where they could happily meet with each other at each other’s homes and later also in worship or church halls.

In our present work climate youngsters do have to go to places where there is a job and shall have to go to live in areas where there is no ecclesia in the proximity. When no ecclesia in neighbouring villages it can be very tricky to travel many miles regularly to find some time together with fellow brethren and sisters. In the present economical situation, having several crisis’s, several people even have to move so far or come to live in such remote areas that they come to live in isolation from any ecclesia.

Cain slaying Abel by Peter Paul Rubens

For many English Christadelphians such a situation of isolation may be new, but let us not for a moment think that the problem of the isolated confessor is something new in the history of the Church. Nay, rather it is a characteristic feature of confessing believers since the beginning of time. Confessional isolation or aloneness manifested itself already in the second generation of men.
Abel found himself estranged religiously from his brother Cain. In that case the confession remained the same, but Jehovah caused it to be known that the hearts of the two worshippers were far apart. After Abel’s death a religious division developed between the Cainites and the Sethites. As time passed the Sethites became an ever smaller minority until in the days of the flood the family of Noah had become an isolated island of confessors in a world of mockers and scorners.

When the march of civilization continued after the interlude of the flood, the situation of isolation for the sake of loyalty to the Truth again became characteristic of the lives of believers. Abraham must have felt that loneliness and isolation, for the command of his God caused him to separate even from his own family. Think of young Joseph isolated by force from the fellowship of believers in his own family, even though they lived and acted contrary to their own profession. For more than twenty years he bore that isolation until he was able to develop a spiritual fellowship within his own family.

There is loneliness, an inescapable isolation from the company of the world and even from men of religion, which accompanies the child of God on his journey through this life. Think but of the lonely efforts of an Elijah as he sought to restore to Israel the true worship of the Most High.

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Preceding article

Being in isolation #1 Baptists making an important choice

Being in isolation #2 Looking at the word “Isolation”

Being in isolation #3 Gathering and Sharing

Being in isolation #4 Man’s greediness, slackness, internet, friends and social contacts

What and why Ecclesia

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Additional reading

  1. The hands of God’s wrath
  2. Companionship
  3. Agape, a love to share with others from the Fruit of the Spirit
  4. United people under Christ
  5. Keeping an ecclesia in modern times
  6. Christadelphians or Messianic Christians or Messianic Jews
  7. Small churches of the few Christadelphians
  8. Who are Christadelphians
  9. What are Brothers in Christ
  10. Jehovah can make him stand
  11. Why the church keeps losing it’s grounds.
  12. Doubting and going astray
  13. Learn how to go out into the world and proclaim the Good News of the coming Kingdom
  14. Be an Encourager
  15. Bringing Good News into the world
  16. Integrity of the fellowship
  17. Intentions of an Ecclesia
  18. Christadelphian Auxiliary Lecturing Society in changed times
  19. Be Honest
  20. It is Today

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Further reading

  1. Does Your Congregation Have Decision Fatigue?
  2. Church World
  3. Clergy Shortage or Pulpit Shortage?
  4. Why do congregations exist?
  5. Intergenerational Ministry Can Change Your Church: 5 Ideas
  6. Now Available: The State of the Episcopal Church in America
  7. Spiritual Resources for Retirement: What Congregations Can Do
  8. We Don’t Want Perfect, We Want You.
  9. Too “Jesusy”
  10. Exciting News & Upcoming Changes!
  11. Women in His Presence
  12. Out Of Shape?
  13. An Open Letter to my Baby Sister
  14. Christian Movies
  15. Laying it down
  16. When Our Pride Prevents Our Purpose (guest post) 
  17. Colossians 4:1-18 – July 30-31
  18. Companions
  19. Iron Sharpens iron!
  20. IF gathering 2016
  21. Infection
  22. Aloneness is not the function of other people
  23. Loneliness…
  24. This Is The Difference Between Being Alone And Feeling Lonely
  25. Everyone dies alone
  26. Defining Aloneness (Mendefinisikan Kesendirian)
  27. The Aloneness Of The Human Being
  28. “Alone for a Walk”.
  29. Beauty in Aloneness
  30. At Home in Aloneness…
  31. Your Beautiful Aloneness 
  32. Live with your loneliness, live with your disgust
  33. Love, Freedom, Aloneness: The Koan of Relationships
  34. The Importance of Mental Health in Relationships
  35. Ties that Bind No Longer
  36. When the child comes out of the shadows
  37. My Isolation is an addiction
  38. fevers
  39. Three Thoughts for Thursday [100a]
  40. Disconnected
  41. The Isolation Gem
  42. Finally on the outside, looking in…
  43. Day 79 Aloneness and Recovery… Admitting the Problem, Grieving and Finding Support
  44. Day 83 Soul Crushing Closeness and Aloneness
  45. Everybody is lonely, and that is great news!
  46. Breaking free of abandonment and neglect
  47. Making Changes
  48. Travelling deep into emptiness
  49. We all are Lovers!
  50. Giving 100 Percent
  51. Cain and Abel; The Lesser Known Story
  52. The Choice is Yours
  53. 3 Don’t When Reading Genesis
  54. Daily Verse Reading – Gen 6:5–8; 7:1–5,10
  55. Noah: Faith in the Face of Unbelief
  56. Noah Found Grace In The Eyes Of God
  57. Modern Noahs – God’s Call to Commitment
  58. He is the God who shut the Ark
  59. Focalization in Genesis 8

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34 thoughts on “Being in isolation #5 Isolated Biblical figures and Confessional isolation”

    2. Some articles may wait already for publication, being scheduled for the next days. I looked for some references to your site, but that is like looking for a needle in a hay stag. In case there is again a referral to one of your articles let me know and give the title so that I can remove the link and shall not sent some of our readers to your site.

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        1. I checked the links in the article “Being in isolation #5” and did not find any to “justified and sinner”. Would you mind giving the name of your article to which we referred too please, so that we can take away the link?

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              2. We do not mind showing other visions, like your Lutheran vision, because we do believe in God calling the people and in the Body of Christ being made of different denominations where people can grow and find their way to God. Jesus being the Way to God. (Again according the Scriptures, which we do prefer to follow, instead of human doctrines.)

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              3. So I look at my blog this morning, and not only do you fail to do what you said, you left a message that attacked traditional Christianity and purported your cultic doctrines. (Specifically that Jesus is not God – which scripture clearly teaches He is)
                SO much for respect and not attacking people and doing violence.

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              4. Sir, from the article you gave I took away the link to your article. In my article I kept to the Biblical truth and I see no reason to adjust it to human doctrine, like the one of the Trinity.

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              6. Isaiah 9:6 –

                ANd your idea of a three headed God denies the concept present in scripture where God is three and One.

                Interesting you find you still have to argue this – trying to do violence to my belief system.

                I would highly susggest that a course in the early church father’s would help you – because your positions were argued in the past – and the errors pointed out. There is no heresy, no cult that is not simply a remake of another in the past.

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              7. I do not have to look at the churchfathers but have to follow God His Word & that is clear that there is only one God and that Jesus is the son of God, the son of man and the way to God. you may not believe that, but tat is your own choice.

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              8. Here is Isaiah 9:6
                6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
                Isaiah 9:6 (NLT)

                As to your claim you ignore the church fathers, your three headed dog analogy is from a heretic called Marcion. You will find your Christadelphian’s use much of his work, and despite a oath to do no harm – they to challenge and fight anyone who believes different.
                In one post you claim to like my Lutheran writing, then in the next mock and derides its beliefs, attcking it with a fervor that betrays your hostility and anger.
                The same bi-polar sense is seen in your telling me you would leave me alone – then messaging me again and again.

                Now – here is the Isaiah passage agin – so you don’t forget it

                6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
                Isaiah 9:6 (NLT)

                note the what the Son will be called – Mighty God Everlasting Father. Think on that.

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              11. Dear Sir, as soon as Mr. Marcus Ampe got to read your request he replied positively to it and took away the links to your article as you requested, so may we ask why you accuse him of not having done so?

                The reply Mr. Ampe gave was not an attacking one at all but giving a biblical founded reply of there only being One True God Who is One and not three. According to God, Who does not tell lies Jesus His only begotten beloved son. May we remind you of the following writings in Scriptures:

                Exodus 20:3-7 (TS2009)
                3 “You have no other mighty ones against My face. 4 “You do not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of that which is in the heavens above, or which is in the earth beneath, or which is in the waters under the earth, 5 you do not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, יהוה your Elohim am a jealous Ěl, visiting the crookedness of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing loving-commitment to thousands, to those who love Me and guard My commands. 7 “You do not bringa the Name of יהוה your Elohim to naught, for יהוה does not leave the one unpunished who brings His Name to naught. Footnote: aOr lift up, or take.

                Galatians 4:4-5 (TS2009)
                4 But when the completion of the time came, Elohim sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under Torah, 5 to redeem those who were under Torah, in order to receive the adoption as sons.

                Luke 1:30-33 (TS2009)
                30 And the messenger said to her, “Do not be afraid, Miryam, for you have found favour with Elohim. 31 “And see, you shall conceive in your womb, and shall give birth to a Son, and call His Name יהושע.a Footnote: aSee Mat 1:21. 32 “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High. And יהוה Elohim shall give Him the throne of His father Dawiḏ. 33 “And He shall reign over the house of Ya‛aqoḇ forever, and there shall be no end to His reign.”b Footnote: bSee Psa 2:1-12, Psa 89:14-34, Isa 9:7, Isa 16:5, Jer 23:3-6, Jer 30:9, Eze 37:24, Dan 2:44, Dan 7:18-27, Mic 5:2-4, Act 1:6-7, Rev 11:15.

                Luke 3:21-22 (TS2009)
                21 And it came to be, when all the people were immersed, יהושע also being immersed, and praying, the heaven was opened, 22 and the Set-apart Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven saying, “You are My Son, the Beloved, in You I did delight.”

                Luke 9:35 (TS2009)
                35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, the Beloved. Hear Him!”

                Matthew 3:17 (TS2009)
                17 and see, a voice out of the heavens, saying, “This is My Son, the Beloved, in whom I delight.”

                You seem to ignore all those Words of the One Most High Elohim who is a God of order Who does not tell lies

                Matthew 12:18 (TS2009)
                18 “See, My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My being did delight. I shall put My Spirit upon Him, and He shall declare right-ruling to the nations.

                Matthew 17:5 (TS2009)
                5 While he was still speaking, see, a bright cloud overshadowed them. And see, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, the Beloved, in whom I did delight. Hear Him!”

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              12. Sorry – you are a cult, one that is truly not ooriginal. ANd you vehement defense proves you don’t believe in the peace you continually say you do. You all keep attacking me – when you arranged the entire situation, and still intend to do damage to me.

                I beg you to repent, and stop denying Jesus, the author and finisher of the faith.

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              14. We did never attack you nor intend to damage you, where do you get this from?

                We do have the faith in Jesus Christ being the sent one from God, him being the Messiah and the Way to God. It is in him people should believe and not in your church or any other church, even not ours, so we do not mind people choosing for other churches or denominations as long as they come to accept Jesus to be the son of God and not like you believe a god son. According to us people should believe the Word of Gdo and not the word of human beings and therefore should reject human doctrines and keep to biblical doctrines, like we do. If you therefore consider us to be a cult, so be it, we do not worry … we prefer to belong to God instead of belonging to the world.

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