CHRIST IS THE CENTER

OF GATHERING

If the "kingdom of heaven" is like an OUTER CIRCLE of profession and honor to God and His ways, as we understand, and the "kingdom of God" is like an INNER CIRCLE of possession of Christ and the new birth, then we might well look for a CENTER CIRCLE within of believers gathered around Christ and His Word for obedience and submission. This page speaks to those who value the following G.R.E.A.T.W.A.Y: Gathering with other saints to the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ alone in love; Receiving "all the counsel of God" and "rightly dividing the Word of truth"; Expressing the "one body" of Christ in the world; Acknowledging the priesthood of all believers; Trusting the Lord and keeping His Word; Worshipping in devotion as pleases God; Appreciating God's assembly, order, and government; Yielding to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

In anticipation of those who might have some objections, one ought to say: no one should presume to boast of being in a center circle; nevertheless, it remains and that should be the object and desire of faithful saints.

CAUTION ABOUT RECEIVING VISITORS

A letter adapted here to avoid personal references, and for ministry

concerning trends toward open tables

9/07

Dear brother:

I hasten to respond in that I think we might be getting further apart in our view of God's pathway. In general the gathered saints must not receive at the table everyone that walks in the door and claims to be a Christian, or that even one among us thinks they are a Christian. They did not even do that when I was with the denominations many years ago. The honor and holiness of the Lord is paramount, as I am sure you agree. I have attached some papers that go into more detail on this matter, dear brother, and I hope you will pray much about it.

First of all let me say, I believe that I am with that scriptural expres-sion of the church that God has intended, else I would need to leave and go where it is found. Where is that? It is surely not as everyone chooses (as the attached papers show). In 1 Cor.1:9 it speaks of the universal church (all of us), as you say, but consider also verses 10-13 there; and note other verses which speaks to each of us of an ex-pression of that locally which needs to be prayerfully regarded ---Matt. 18:20; Mt.19:6; Jn.17:11, 21-23; Acts 2:41-42; Acts 20:27; Rom. 12:5; 1 Cor.12:25-27; 1 Cor.16:19-20; Gal.1:2-3; Eph.2:19-22; Eph.4:3; Phil.2:2; 2 Tim.2:15; also Psa. 133:1; Amos 3:3; etc. It is only geography that should separate assemblies, not doctrines. The local gathering should only be a local expression of the universal church. There is no approval for various sects of men with their various doctrines. We cannot faithfully embrace them, though we love the saints.

Your reference to J. N. Darby and his ministry is important, dear brother. Please also note his statement about "sound discipline" which concerns such as watching who come in, as well as assembly discipline later---all speaks of God's government. We do not want to receive all professed believers and then have to impose discipline later. It leaves the table open to dishonor, bad ministry, association with other unknown assemblies, evil, etc. As JND says, we need to see ourselves as "outside the camp", which is about the religious sects of men. All saints "must walk orderly and be under discipline", Darby said, and we must guard the holiness of the Lord's table. We must not impose man's conditions, as Darby said, but appreciate the holiness of the table. Please see the paper on Open And Closed Gatherings.

One might come in ignorance and still have not "broken" with their unscriptural place, as Darby says, and we would welcome them, but not to the Lord's table yet. We need to counsel with them and help them. Darby added: "I could not accept what made us part of the camp, nor any sort of claim to go to both, to be inside and outside", etc. One cannot come and go and connect us with the unscriptural place---that is leaven: evil. Visitors are different than those who are applicants for fellowship among us. It is important to see that one is not really received at the Lord's table (though we use that expression), but are received into the fellowship which includes the privilege of being at the table. It is not a right that one has, and the assembly must preserve the holiness of the table.

I think I mentioned in my previous letters that we can only receive into the fellowship those visitors who are com-mended by another assembly known to us as scriptural, orderly, and holy; or in some cases commended by a local brother who knows they are in happy fellowship among us in the world; or those visitors who have come before and are well-known. Visitors not known are welcome to the meetings, but not at the Lord's table until they desire to be gath-ered, and are visited as to their soundness (not expecting perfection or as seeing "clearly ecclesiastically", as Darby mentioned). We are not an "open" assembly, but are inclusive of all who will bow to the Word and God's honor. We truly do not "deny in practice the unity of the Spirit", as you fear, but seek to preserve it for the Lord's glory. I hope this will help your deliberations, brother. Please let me know if I failed to address your concerns.

- Yours by grace, Robert DeWitt

ADDENDUM: The "one body in Christ" speaks of every believer in the world, but obviously we cannot walk with every believer in the world ---sad to say; but in appreciation of that revival by God in the early 1800's to return to the Scripture for church truth, we MUST endeavor to express or manifest the truth of the "one body", not embrace the sectarian spirit of division groups and independency. I pray that all will come to appreciate that. One might also see the booklet: Who Should Partake Of The Lord's Supper?, by Bruce Anstey. - RLD