Christadelphianism

J

Jeremyw

Member
Messages
11
Reaction score
1
Points
0
I was brought up in a small sect called The Christadelphians.They are very Apocalyptic, believe God is one, don't believe in a literal Devil, don't believe in immortal souls. They are exclusive and don't allow intermarriage. I am curious as to how many people have heard of them, from other Christian groups and other religions and how they are perceived. I am not a member of the Christadelphians.
 
Hi Jeremyw. You may not be an official member in their little book, but you will always be 100% Christadelphian. They owe you and you owe them, and neither of you can repay and there's no use calling it a duck when its clearly a goose. You'll always have the tattoo know-what-I-mean?

People generally don't know about Christadelphian brand, though we had another come through this forum at one point. There was an argument and we parted company. In answer to your question Christadelphians are on the internet but most people have never heard of them except when some minister is looking for a scarecrow to scare the sheep with. That is rare though since the JW's are so much scarier. The big three used to scare people are Mormons, JW's, and uh Mormons, not Christadelphians. Oh and Satanists.
 
What do you mean: they owe you and you owe them? As for ducks and geese are you saying that they aren't Christians? You are a bit cryptic. But you are right that you are always stuck with the group you were brought up in. One can't completely get away from your origins. That is the case with any upbringing. Someone brought up Catholic is always an Ex-Catholic. Someone brought up Christadelphian is always an Ex-Christadelphian.
 
Thank you for your reply,

Did not mean to be cryptic! I'm not suggesting that they aren't Christians. You grew up a Christadelphian, so you are a product of Christadelphianism. You are a product that decided Christadelphianism was not correct for you. To a Christadelphian you ought to be the proof that truth cannot be preserved by means of their system, but instead they continue in their belief that they have the power of God. You and they have said that you are an ex Christadelphian. This is dishonest. The people are your people, your culture. They have taken you away from the world and made you different, and they can't just deny that you are one of them. On your end, how do you really feel about abandoning them? If Christadelphianism is capable of preserving truth, then you are the truth. If it isn't, then they shouldn't call you an ex.

Dream
 
I don't know of this group. Wiki indicates that various churches teach different things....and that they believe in a resurection....wouldn't that be an immortal soul?

I'm confuddled and looking forward to more discussion. UK looks to be the center of this movement?
 
Wil, I should say a few good things about the Christadelphians, because they deserve some credit. Its unfortunate that the first thing you heard about them was negative, and I'm sorry. Also I didn't mean to be so antagonistic toward Jeremyw in my post. Certainly I understand what it is like to be an ex something where you just decide its not for you, etc.

Christadelphians are one of the interesting Bible student groups that originated in the US (not the UK) in the mid 19th century. Out of all of the Bible student groups they have done a terrific job of remaining free and independent of central control, although such control is encroaching. Its always encroaching. But these are cousins of the JW's unspoiled by the false prophets, able to breath free. They actually believe Jesus hasn't returned yet, have savings accounts and think blood transfusions and medical care is just great. They don't quake, they don't do miracle services or handle snakes or tell people to suspend their rational thought. They are hard working, intelligent, skeptical and meek. They gorge themselves on Bible studies, Bible schools, Bible seminars and generally are crazy about the Bible, always hoping the next generation will catch on and pass the torch. They are very original in their Bible studies and constrain themselves only by the following constraint: 1. The Bible is the inspired word of God, inerrant. If you want to have a conversation about the Bible, that is the constraint.
 
Namaste dream,

I didn't see negative, I just saw they had no central control....and therefor different thouught would be discussed at different churches...

I also saw that it appears that the highest density of the group is in the UK. Very few in the US.

Still willing to learn more.
 
I have heard the name, and believe them to be a relatively innocuous christian sect originating in America and I think they have something to do with... Sweden, or some other Scandinavian country... am I right?
 
I don't consider the Christadelphians my people. There are many decent people who are Christadelphians but also some fanatical and intolerant people. Many people really enjoy their lives in this group as they are very family oriented and keep away from drugs, alcohol(except on Sunday meetings). The problem arises if you disagree with them or don't enjoy their society. They keep largely separate from other people and view the world as evil. They view all other forms of Christianity as evil and the same for other religions, though they respect the Jews as a people and are pro-Zionist. If you don't accept their way of life you are left ill adapted to life outside and have to learn about the world outside.
 
The same could be said for most other religions.

I also saw that it appears that the highest density of the group is in the UK. Very few in the US.

Still willing to learn more.
Click to expand...
Ok, try biblemagazine.com .
 
Hi, I'm a Christadelphian. Happy to answer questions.

Here are some good sites to explore about our belief in the bible.

godsaves.co. uk/beliefs.htm

itwillhappen.co. uk/main.php

bibleq. info/
 
I've been attending Christadelphian meetings since early childhood. They are my family, and although I do not prescribe to all their beliefs, I still go to the meetings now and then. At one time I gave the exhortations on Sundays to our Ecclesia, which would be considered a sermon in most Christian churches. I am quite familiar with their doctrine and as Dream suggested, I owe them for at least being such a monumental part of my personal journey.

I love them for the kind, gentle people they are. Even so, there are some who can be extremely judgmental, even refusing to take emblems (Communion) with some members. I've seen many a man excommunicated for their life choices, so they are indeed a no nonsense group.

The Ecclesia I sometimes attend are always asking me to speak on Sundays, but I decline knowing my heart just cannot teach something contrary to what I believe, and I would not dare disrespect one of them by teaching something contrary to what they believe.

They study the scriptures like its nobodies business, and they (Most) are in fact extremely well versed in biblical literature. They were founded by a gentleman by the name of John Thomas. He's written several books, but I've yet to read a single one. All in all they are isolated, but they welcome strangers, only they will not take the emblems with someone who has not been baptized into the church.

I've actually had the opportunity to perform two baptisms when heavily involved in their activities. This was truly a blessing for me at the time, and even still today. They are very big supporters of Israel as a nation, and many Ecclesias send money to displaced Jews, so they might be able to return to their homeland.

Great group of people, and although I have strayed from many of their beliefs, I will never forget the love and compassion they have shown me since I was just a wee child. They are family, and they will always be family no matter where I find myself on my journey.
 
Wow, gatekeeper that is amazing.

Here's a question about military service. Under the fundamental assumption that the Bible contains everything needed to make life's decisions and provides all direction for interpreting itself: Would these assumptions lead to the conclusion that military service for your country might be in conflict with being fully obedient to Jesus and to God?
 
As believers the Christadelphians are conscientious objectors, BUT they also believe that our governmental leaders are appointed by God, which is one reason they do not vote. Believers in the "faith" are not to join the military, as it would be against the underlying principle that Jesus taught.
 
Amazing,one man John Thomas miraculously redescovered the truth.All theologions were wrong, and even now there is no religion like theirs full of their version of bible interpretation.All religions are astray from the bible,but only theirs got the truth.I read in the back of CD pamphlet 'we have no new revelations from God' so what make's you so special. CD's like to predict end of time (Christ return) and failed miserably many times,but nothing stops them from making new prediction.Andy Walton says:that Russian invasion of Syria is immenant,(because of civil war)but I don't see any russian troops massing around Turkish borders.
Failed prophesies:Christ will return J.Thomas 1866-68-R.Roberts 1910 prominent CD C.P.Wauchope,armageddon will happen in 1934-In 1968 HP Mansfield"the world lives in the shadow of Christ return.CD R.Stokes in 1987 world heading towards Lords Kingdom on earth.1999 Woodville ecclesia in S.A advertised in the news paper that Christ return that year was immenant.
CD's look down on outsiders (of their religion) as unbelievers,because we don't follow what they preach.
CD's believe that they have a better understanding of the bible.
CD's believe that they can interpret the bible better then anyone else.
CD's believe that all christians now and past theologist are\were wrong.
Holy Spirit does not exist any more.
You are either in or out with CD's, there is no between.
Some are very judgemental,they are right and everyone else is wrong.
CD's believe that on Christ return,they will be taken to Mt.Sinai and be judged by Christ,the worthy will be given eternal life and they will rule with Christ in His Kingdom.
I had bit of experience with CD's,have attended their bible study,lectures and some seminars, I was told when a member of my family passed away that they will not be resurected because they did not die in the CD truth. And if I don't convert I will not get salvation,wow God must have made them as judges allready.Pigs may fly too.
 
Gatekeeper seems like an independent thinker, and he was reared Christadelphian. My experiences are mostly with charismatic churches and baptists, but I think that all people have the problems you've mentioned. You've got your scientists who want to overturn science with their paper, but they won't accept other scientific opinions. Not all scientists are like that, but there are plenty of them scattered about. You've got your maverick senators, your narcissist senators, your gum shoes and your gunky breath senators. You've got your good bosses and your bad bosses, and the ones you least want to work for are sometimes the ones who struggle most to get to the top. That happens in all groups, so you just have to be lucky enough to fall in with the mature crowd.
 
CD's are into intence bible study, seminars and lectures. It is very intence and I find that a little mind controlling as they preach their understanding with a CD twist thrown in to it. We may say there is nothing wrong with that, but when there is intencity pushed in also becomes mind control " you see we are right " type attitude. CD's really do not like to be called " christian" because majority of christians believe that Christ was God manifest in the flesh, they refute that and say Christ was only son of God. They say that christians believe in three God's which is wrong, we believe in one God which acted as Christ and also Holy Spirit. Because of that they put the label of 'UNBELIEVER' on to the christians. They preach that the "mentally ill and unbaptized children will perish" ( will not get salvation ) when I challenge them to show me where was that in the bible, they could not. As I understand Jesus said : that you had to be as innocent as those children to enter the Kingdom of God. Most are kind to outsiders but there is this aura of superiority over christians. They attack trinity,xmas and easter as pagan feasts. Some good stuff about CD's,google :what they said would happen-the physician who doctored the truth,by ex cd,John Bedson-hystory and mistery of christadelphians-Ex-christadelphians. Unfortunatly all religions have some rubbish in their backyard, but CD's fail to see their own. They alone have the truth, so higher then thou.
 
I guess what I'm saying is I'm right there with you about the 'Righter than thou', but on the other hand there are different kinds of Christadelphians, even though there are so few. You've got different kinds of people in there, too. I know what you experienced was very difficult. The Christadelphians started about 150 years ago, and they were making discoveries in Bible studies which were very exciting. Bible studies can be exciting and its easy to get carried away with a pet idea or some argument about the location of a comma etc. Many got used to being better Bible students and couldn't find anyone big enough to bop them on the nose, but not all. I think that you met the wrong ones probably, and maybe all Christadelphians aren't the same. I'm not telling you what you should do but consider going back and trying to be friends. They are probably very isolated people and in need of your help.
 
I have read John1:1-14,where christians and CD's differ in the interpretation of the meaning of scripture. I have also searched to see how they come up that "Jesus" was on Gods mind. And I must say that I could see both sides of the argument, was Christ just the son of God-or Christ was God manifest in the flesh. The trinity is not in the Bible like CD's say but also "God manifestation" is not in the Bible like CD's love using that. Since Apostles have died man has messed around with the religion and made a mess of things. All say "we are right" in a way. But to say we alone hold the "truth", we interpret the Bible correctly, we are the "saint" to rule with Christ on his return and trying to work out when He will appear in the world, is futale. No one can predict the future, it is only a speculation, but followers become sucked in to CD's prophesies and follow like blind sheep. There is this self elevation and gratification in this sect.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top