Jehovah in the BASF

George Booker looks at the BASF as a time-honored document. It has stood the test of generations, and if we let down our guard on a single matter, then we surely will have offended in all points!

No manmade statement can be perfect because it is, in the best case, the expression of saving truth by some fallible man (or committee of fallible men). You know what they say about a camel? It’s a horse designed by a committee.
But then it might be said, ‘It is the best we have, or are likely to have.’ This probably means, ‘We have no mechanism in the brotherhood for improving it — so you and I just have to make the best of it.’
This may be true. But then again, nothing was ever changed without somebody (forerunner, troublemaker, agitator, visionary: take you pick) suggesting that it could be changed.
Is someone who suggests that the BASF could be changed (i.e., improved) a heretic? Suppose the change could bring this “touchstone” of a Christadelphian statement of faith closer to the Biblical standard — we already know it isn’t perfect, so that is a possibility. Shouldn’t such proposals be discussed?

In North America it has been used to exclude from fellowship a lot of folks who would have been accepted long ago if they lived in Australia or the UK.

According to sources at The Christadelphian Office, “Yahweh” never occurs in the original version of the first Birmingham Statement of Faith, nor the earliest versions of the BASF. However, “Jehovah” does!

Which name of God is acceptable and suitable for Christadelphians to use? Well, the name “Jehovah” does appear in the BASF, but the name “Yahweh” never does, at least not in the “real” BASF, the one the was written in England and then amended there in 1898. That one used “Jehovah”!

The funny thing is: a lot of Christadelphians (in North America for sure) think they not only must substitute “Yahweh” for “God” when they do the Bible readings (even when the original text doesn’t allow for it!), but they just might throw out someone who tried to slip a “Jehovah” in there.

Jehovah-God%27s_Name_ (Photo credit: ideacreamanuelaPps)

On the other hand, probably many others would say, “So what?” Still they allow the “Yahweh” clique to persist and proselytize, oblivious to the evidence against it in the earliest BASF. A bit of an ironic or sarcastic anomalous situation, don’t you think? (If you’re not sure what that meant, feel free to look it up for homework. You may be tested.

Description unavailable (Photo credit: Tom Paton)

By the way, an informal and unscientific survey suggests that, worldwide, there may be many more Central Fellowship ecclesias that use “Yahweh” than those that use “Jehovah”. This also means, of course, that — strictly speaking — they are not truly BASF ecclesias. But I wouldn’t want to be the one to tell them!

George Booker

Course Notes:
Class 1 | Class 2 |  Class 3 | Class 4

WCF

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 About God's Name find a.o.:

1. The Bible and names in it
2. Creator of heaven and earth and everything aroundיהוה The Only One Elohim who creates and gives all
3. יהוה , YHWH and Love: Four-letter words 
4. I am that I am Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh אהיה אשר אהיה 
5. Titles of God beginning with the Aleph in Hebrew
6. Some one or something to fear #7 Not afraid for Gods Name 
7. God about His name “יהוה“
8. Another way looking at a language #5 Aramic, Hebrew and Greek
9. Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #1 Kings Faith
10. Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #2 Calling upon the Name of God
11. Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #3 Voice of God #2 Instructions and Laws
12. Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #3 Voice of God #3 A voice to be taken Seriously
13. Praise and give thanks to God the Most Highest
14. Listening and Praying to the Father
15. Prophets making excuses

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Christadelphian talks archive

A collection of approx. 70 audio cassettes is offered free of charge; it includes talks by a wide range of speakers, including for example Ron Abel, Tom Barling, Maurie Beale, James Bilton, John Gentle, Don Graham, Alan Hayward, Graham Jackman, Bob Lloyd, David Miles, Michael Owen, Mike Riley, Colin Shaw, Harry Tennant, Nic Willis, and many more.

 Please contact danielndrury@gmail.com if you'd like them all. Daniel Drury is happy to arrange and pay for Royal Mail/courier delivery within the UK. 

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Music and young people in Christadelphia

According to Andrew De Witt

Do we need to run the kind of music workshops aimed at young musicians who would prefer to play or listen to music not normally found in the Christadelphian cultural milieu?

The use of music instruments may depend on how conservative or progressive an ecclesia might be.

"We need to protect our young people from the damage so easily done by a Christadelphian community which sometimes is more intent on preserving a mythical ‘golden age’ that is said to have existed ‘in the good old days’. Some may argue that there are some forms of western art music which are ‘special’ and ‘sacred’. Maybe not, maybe so. But in making such a rash statement they are dismissing much of the world’s vast musical output, and the heartfelt and honest thoughts and prayers of believers whose musical lexicon and soundscapes may not coincide with their own."

English: Behind the Christadelphian Hall (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Read about it in:

A small rant…music, young people and Christadelphia

 

 

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Handbook to the Christadelphian Statement of Faith

Brother Christopher Maddocks wrote a 138 page book: "Handbook to the Christadelphian Statement of Faith"
christadelphian church kedron brook (1) (Photo credit: bertknot)

It systematically examines the doctrines of Scripture which collectively form the basis of Christadelphian fellowship. Considering the doctrines described by the BASF clause by clause, this Handbook demonstrates that what Christadelphians believe is indeed the teaching of the Bible.

To order this book, just go to our website:- www.christadelphian.uk.com

For further information, please do contact Christopher Maddocks at this address:

chris@christadelphian.uk.com 

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Presentation: Crisis in the Middle East - Bible Expectations

Greetings in the Hope of Israel

Presentation: Crisis in the Middle East - Bible Expectations
Particularly suitable for Bible Hour talks, Bible classes, Seminars etc
 
The Presentation (DVD 42mins) and booklet investigate the fulfilment of some remarkable Scriptural prophecies concerning the Nation of Israel. It quotes the thoughts of particular writers and puts forward expectations of a surprising future. Many Bible verses are highlighted showing that with the return of the Jews to their own land there would develop a time of trouble centred in the land of Israel,

Zech 12:3  "And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people."

Against all the odds, however, the indications are that there is yet to be a period of unmistakable peace in the Land of Israel, which will be cut short by the battle of Armageddon. The literal return of the Lord Jesus Christ from heaven as King in Jerusalem will bring this battle to an end. The outcome will the Kingdom of God on earth for 1000 years - in line with scores of Bible prophecies.

While there is time the final appeal and warning is to all those who hear the message to embrace the true gospel in the waters of Baptism by immersion:
John 3:3-5  "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."€ 
 
Availability and costs are at  “Steps to Bible Understanding” www.revelation-steps.org.uk

With Love
Philip and Judith

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Moseley Annual Quiz Evening

We would like to extend a very warm welcome to you and your youth group to join us at our Annual Quiz Evening, to be held on Saturday 9th February 2013, God willing. This year'€™s venue will be: Hall Green Christadelphian Hall, 20 Springfield Road, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 9NW. A location map is available on request. 

The evening will commence at 6.00pm promptly with a short Bible talk, followed by the quiz. We hope the evening will conclude by about 8.30pm.
If you have not joined us for the quiz evening before, do come along and find out what you have been missing. The quiz is an enjoyable evening for all, no matter what your knowledge and knowledge doesn'€™t really help that much! The quiz is general knowledge with a mixture of bible-based and other rounds.

There will be about ten rounds of questions; each round being eight to ten questions. The Question Master will put all questions to the team verbally. Answers to each round will be on a piece of paper, and all members of the team collectively join together to answer them. We would emphasise that no one will be asked questions directly, so no one will be put on the spot and made to look silly if they don'€™t know the answers it is a written team quiz.

There is no limit to the number of teams that one CYC can enter, but could you please note that each team is to consist of five members, one of whom should be a leader, and the combined age of the other four members must not exceed 65 years. It would be useful to have a spread of ages, including those of Junior CYC age, as there will be questions aimed specifically at the younger team members, who may be the only ones who will know the answers. The scorers will mark each round at the same time as the next round's questions are being asked. An overall score for the round will be noted, but no indication of which questions were answered rightly or wrongly will be given, so as to avoid embarrassment in not knowing the answer to a specific question.

The entrance fee will be £5.00 per team. The four younger members of the winning team will each receive a £5.00 gift voucher, which can be spent at the Christadelphian Office. The leader in each team will not receive a prize. The team winning the competition, as well as the teams finishing second and third will each receive a framed certificate to keep.

I would be grateful if you could let me know if you are entering a team, or teams, by Tuesday 5th February, so that we can do a little bit of pre-planning. If there are any other points that you need clarifying, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Your brother in Christ,

Robin Britton