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THE ASSEMBLY DOCTRINAL BASIS AND PRACTICES
Index of Beliefs
THE ASSEMBLY DISTINCTIVES
The Christian Brethren are often so described because they prefer
to be known by a designation comprehensive enough to embrace all their
fellow Christians along with themselves. They have no central organization.
They belong to a large number of local churches or assemblies, spread around
Malaysia and the rest of the world. Each of these local assemblies is independent
in its administration; there is no federation or union linking them together
on an official basis.
Yet there is a recognizable family likeness among them, and their
sense of a spiritual bond is strong. The only organized linkage that they
have is through the Christian brethren of Malaysia Property Trust Berhad,
which keeps the local assemblies' properties in trust. In addition to this
the Christian Brethren are also gazetted in the 1957 Government Gazette.
Further the regular inter-assembly ministry and gospel, the annual leaders'
conference and other joint activities (such as Bible Camps) are a constant
binding factor.
The Christian Brethren hold the historic Christian faith, because
they find it plainly taught in the Bible, which to them is the only infallible
rule of faith and practice. They are wholeheartedly evangelical in their
understanding and presentation of Christianity, proclaiming Jesus Christ,
the Son of God, as the all-sufficient Saviour of all who put their trust
in Him and as the only hope of mankind. For this reason they find it especially
easy to co-operate in Christian witness with others who share this evangelistic
emphasis, and in many inter-denominational causes their influence is greater
than their numbers might lead one to expect.
It is practice rather than doctrine that mark them out. Among
the Christian Brethren baptism is administered only to people who make
a personal confession of faith in Christ, and the mode of baptism is immersion.
They observe the Lord's supper every Sunday and hold that the Lord's Table
is for all the Lord's people. This is their most distinctive gathering.
When they meet for communion, together with any Christians who join them
for the occasion, their devotions are conducted by no presiding ministers
or pastors and follow no predetermined sequence, but are marked nevertheless
by a reverent spontaneity and orderliness. Various brethren contribute
to the worship by suggesting suitable hymns, reading and expounding a passage
from the Bible, sharing and exhorting God in prayer.
The Christian Brethren have no ordained ministry, set apart for
functions which others cannot discharge. A considerable number do give
their whole time to evangelism, Bible teaching and pastoral care, but are
not regarded as being in clerical orders. Responsible brethren called elders
or overseers administer the various local assemblies. These have no jurisdiction
outside their local assemblies, and inside them they try to guide by example
rather than rule by decrees. Deacons and deaconesses assist the elders
or overseers.
The Christian Brethren have always manifested a supreme lack
of interest in their numerical strength. This is because of their distinct
feature of maintaining fellowship rather than membership. Obviously this
simply means that it is never a question of one joining the assembly and
becoming a member but rather sharing in the fellowship with those who love
the Lord because of their common salvation in Christ Jesus. In this fellowship
they should continue steadfastly. Thus the assemblies do not urge Christians
to join their church to become members, but they invite them to share in
the fellowship of the saints because they are members of the Body of Christ.
The church has been placed in this world as God's representative
and witness. And it would be incongruous to solicit money or funds from
the world to support Heaven's ambassadors and His work. Therefore, the
assemblies do not solicit any funds from non-Christians. They consider
giving as an act of worship and thus obtain all their funds from believers
to maintain and honour His Name, His ministry and His witness.
THE DOCTRINAL BASIS
The following statement has been prepared for the purpose of
making known what the Christian Brethren believe. It is presented as a
means towards declaring some of the truths of the Scriptures, which are
acknowledged and valued by the Christian Brethren who seek to adopt the
New Testament truth and hold to the New Testament practices.
| 1. |
The Bible, comprising the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments,
is the Word of God and is fully inspired, inerrant, completely authoritative
and sufficient. (John 10:35; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 1 Peter
1:10-12; Ps. 19:7-11) |
| 2. |
The Scriptures set forth the eternal Trinity, that is, the Unity of
Godhead, which has ever existed in three Persons: the Father, the Son and
the Holy Spirit. (Ex. 3:14; Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; John 8:58; Gen.
1:2,26; John 1:1-2, 5:17-23; 15:25-26; 16:7, 27-28; Phil. 2:6; Heb. 1:1-3,
8). |
| 3. |
This one God is infinite in knowledge, wisdom, power, holiness, justice,
goodness, truth and love and is the Creator and Sustainer of all things.
(Acts
17:24-28; Rom. 11:33-36; 1 John 1:5, 4:8). |
| 4. |
The Scriptures teach the deity, virgin birth, true humanity and absolute
and essential sinlessness of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Matt. 1:23; John
1:1-4; 1 Tim 2:5; Heb. 4:15; 1 John 3:5; Rom. 8:3; Gal. 4:4; Matt. 1:20-25;
Luke 1:35; John 1:14). |
| 5. |
Christ died as a sacrifice for our sins, was buried, and rose bodily
on the third day and ascended to the right hand of God the Father where
He ever lives to make intercession for His people. (1 Cor. 15:3-4; Eph.
1:20; Heb. 7:25; Heb. 10:12; Rom. 4:25; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 9:24-28; Matt.
28:5-7; Mark 16:19-20; Luke 24:50-51; Acts 1:9: Eph. 4:8-10; Heb. 4:14-16). |
| 6. |
Christ will come again to receive all His own and subsequently to set
up His kingdom on earth. (John 14:3; 1 Cor. 15:23; 1 Thess. 4:13-18;
Rev. 19:11-16; Luke 1:32-33; Isa, 9:6-7; Dan. 2:44-45; 7:13-14). |
| 7. |
There will be a resurrection of the just and later of the unjust; the
portion of the believer will be everlasting life and the portion of the
unbeliever will be everlasting punishment. (Matt. 25:46; John. 3:16;
Acts 24:15; 2 Thess. 1:8-9; Rev. 20: 4-15). |
| 8. |
Man is fallen and guilty, he is sinful by nature and by choice, and
cannot save himself. (John 3:19; Rom 3:9-23). |
| 9. |
Salvation is only by grace that is by God's free favour without human
merit; this salvation is on the ground of the blood of Christ and is received
by faith in Him. (Rom. 3:22, 5:9; Eph 2:8; 1 Peter 1:19). |
| 10. |
None can see or enter the kingdom of God unless he is born again; the
new birth takes place by the operation of the Holy Spirit through the Word
of God when he accepts Jesus Christ as his Saviour, Lord and Master. (John
3:3-6; Titus 3:5-7; 1 Peter 1: 23). |
| 11. |
Those who repent of their sins and believe in the Gospel of Christ
receive the forgiveness of sins and have redemption, and are fully and
freely justified before God. Thus justification of the sinner before God
is by faith in Christ alone. (Luke 24: 47; Acts 13:38-39; Acts 20:21;
Rom. 3:21-26; Rom. 4:4-5; 5:1; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14; Gal.2:16). |
| 12. |
Every believer is eternally secured as to his salvation, and the Holy
Spirit indwells in him as the earnest of his inheritance, as well as enabling
him to discharge his constant responsibility to please God in his life
and service; he is called upon to make himself acquainted with Divine teaching
and to have the Word of Christ dwelling in him richly.
(John 10:28-29;
John 15:7, 16:4, 15; Gal. 5:22-23; Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30, 6:17; Col. 3:16;
1 Peter 1:14-17, 2:1-2). |
| 13. |
The claims of Christ as Lord of the believer extend to his whole person,
spirit, soul and body; to his gifts and abilities, his time, money and
possessions, and to all departments of his life. (John 13:14, 20:28;
Acts 10:48; 1 Cor. 7:39, 12:3; 2 Cor. 4:5, 10:5; 1 Thess. 5:23; Eph. 4:5;
1 Peter 3:15). |
| 14. |
By virtue of the baptism in the Holy Spirit, all believers are incorporated
into the church which is the body of Christ. (1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:22-23;
Eph. 4:4). |
| 15. |
God in His sovereignty has chosen according to His perfect will, but
man is responsible to God, and the Gospel message is for "whosoever will".
(John
3:16; Rom. 8:28-30, 9:14-23; 1 Peter 1:2). |
| 16. |
The Christian is not of this world, and his real citizenship is in
heaven, but it is his duty to obey all lawfully constituted authority and
to do good to all men. (John 17:14; Acts 5:29; Gal. 6:10; Phil. 3:20;
1 Peter 2:13, 14). |
| 17. |
The Scriptures teach the personality, power, malignity and final doom
of the devil, called Satan. (Job 1:6-12; Matt. 25:41; John 8:44; Eph.
6:11-12; Jude 9; Rev. 20:10). |
THE LOCAL ASSEMBLY PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES
The Christian Brethren Assemblies in Malaysia and the rest of
the world generally accept the following principles and practices: -
| 1. |
The Foundation of the Local Church |
|
Jesus Christ the Lord is the only and sufficient foundation
for the establishment and witness of a local church. (1 Cor. 3:10-11)
Gatherings of a local church are in the name of Christ Jesus
alone, owning His Lordship and thus realizing His presence. (Matt. 18:20;
1 Cor.5:4-5).
Thus the church is the body of Christ and has only one Head,
the Lord Jesus Christ. Every born-again believer is a member of this body. |
| 2. |
The Power of the Local Church |
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Prayer is vital for the life, service and witness of the individual
believer and of the local church. (Matt. 18:19; Luke 18:1; Acts 2:42,
4:31, 12:5; 1 Thess. 5:17; 1 Tim. 2:1-2). |
| 3. |
Fellowship in the Local Church |
|
Fellowship in local churches is confined to born-again believers.
(Acts
2:47; Rom. 16:16; 1 Cor 11:16, 14:33; 2 Cor. 6:14; 1 John 1: 3, 7).
Fellowship would involve responsibility and the acceptances of discipline
by the local church.
The only names, which are used for the Lord's people, are those
which belong equally and exclusively to all children of God, e.g. believers,
brethren, christians, disciples, saints. (Matt 23:8-10; Acts 11:26;
Phil. 1:1; 1Tim. 4:12; Heb. 3:1). |
| 4. |
Ordinances of the Lord |
|
The Lord's Supper, in remembrance of Christ Jesus and to proclaim
His death, burial and resurrection until He returns, is observed each Lord's
day at a gathering of the church for that purpose. (Luke 22:19; Acts
20:7; 1Cor 11:23-24).
This meeting, without human president or programme, is characterized
by liberty of brothers to function publicly under the direction of the
Holy Spirit, and by the exercise of priesthood privately by all and publicly
by brethren who lead. (1 Cor.12:8-11, 14:26-35; 1 Peter 2:5, 9).
In this way it recognizes the Lordship of Christ and the sovereignty
of the Holy Spirit to lead and guide the worship and in the ministry of
the Word.
Baptism of believers only, unto the death, burial and resurrection
of Christ and expressive of the judgement of God against themselves, is
by immersion in water (the only form envisaged in the New Testament), and
those baptized express also their intention to walk in the newness of life;
all believers should be so baptized. (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke
7:29, 30; Acts 2:41, 8:36; 38, 19:5, 2:16; Rom. 6:1-14).
In short, baptism by immersion in the name of the Father, Son
and Holy Spirit is for born-again believers only, on the confession of
their faith in Christ Jesus, our Lord. |
LEADERSHIP OF THE LOCAL
CHURCH
The care of the local church is in the hands of overseers or
elders who are qualified according to the Scriptures, appointed by the
Holy Spirit, and recognized by believers. (Acts 20:28; 1 Thess. 5:12-13;
1 Tim. 3:1-7; 1 Tim. 5:17; Titus 1:5-9; Heb. 13:7, 17, 24; 1 Peter 5:1-4;
Acts 14:23; John 21:16)
The local church is governed by a plurality of elders with the
delegated authority from the Risen Head (Christ Jesus our Lord) to exercise
leadership and discipline.
Elders are raised up by the Holy Spirit (Acts 20:28).
They are not self-appointed or elected but recognized by the local church
as those who are fitted and doing the work (1 Thess. 5:12-13).
The elders of the assembly usually appoint the deacons and deaconesses
to care for the material, financial, physical and other practical needs
of the church (1 Tim. 3:8-13; Acts 6:3, Phil. 1:1; Rom. 6:1).
Hence it would suffice to say that the elders are concerned with
the spiritual well being of their assembly while the deacons and the deaconesses
are involved in the day to day affairs of the church and deal with practical
matters.
GIFTS IN THE CHURCH
Whilst every believer in the assembly is endeavoured with at
least one spiritual gift, some are given more and are to be used for the
equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of
the body of Christ. (Eph. 4:12; 2 Cor. 5:10; 1 Cor. 12:7; Phil 2:3,
4).
The assemblies generally accept the following spiritual gifts
as still relevant in our time; prophecy (edification, instruction, consolation
and exhortation), pastoral care, teaching, knowledge and wisdom, discernment,
giving, helps, evangelist, hospitality, faith, intercession, missionary,
leadership, administration, showing mercy and service. (Rom. 12:6-13;
1 Cor. 12:8-10; Eph. 4:11; 1 Peter 4:10-11; 1 Tim 4: 13; 1 John 4:1-6;
1 Cor. 2:1-13; James 1:5-6; 1 Tim 3:1-7; 1 Peter 5:11; 1 Cor. 12:28; 1
Tim 4:5; James 5:14-16; 2 Tim 1:16-18).
New Testament pastors and teachers are to be regarded as God's
provision for the adjustment and equipment of Christians to function faithfully
in service and in building up the body of Christ. (1 Cor. 14:31; Eph
4:7-14; Titus 1:1-11; 1 Peter 4:10).
RESPONSIBILITIES OF BELIEVERS
Each local church, whilst recognising the spiritual unity of
all believers, is responsible directly to the Lord Himself. (Rom. 12:5;
Rev. 1:20; Rev. 2:14, 3:7-12, 19-22)
Whilst some are called as evangelists to preach the Gospel, all
Christians are responsible to have fellowship in that work and to make
Christ known by active and sustained witnessing.. (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark
16:15-16; Acts 8:1, 4, Rom. 1:5, 16; 2 Cor. 4:3-4; Phil. 1:5-27; 1 Thess.
1:5; 2 Tim. 4:5).
Believers are to hold the truth in love, and expressing Christian
affection to the saved and the unsaved alike by sacrificial service. (John
13:34-35; 1 Cor.13:1-13; 16:4; Eph. 4:16; Heb. 10:24)The Lord's
work should be sustained by willing, sacrificial, regular and proportionate
giving by all believers. (1 Cor. 16;1-2; 2 Cor. 8:5, 12, 9:7-13; Phil.
4:18; 3 John 7).
The Christian women always have performed much valuable service
in connection with assemblies. In fact, it is not too much to say that
the assemblies would not be what they are, nor could they accomplish what
they do, without the sisters.
Whilst many types of service may be performed by sisters, the
New Testament forbids them to teach or to have authority over men. (Luke
8:2-3; Acts 9:46; Rom. 16:1-2; 1 Cor. 14:34-35; Phil. 4:2-3; 1 Tim 2:9-12;
Titus 2:3-4).
During the gathering of believers as an assembly, the sisters
are expected to have their head covered as a symbol of their acceptance
of God's order in the church. (1 Cor. 11:1-16).
The priesthood of all believers. Every believer is a holy priest
to worship and is a royal priest to witness (1 Peter 2:5-9).
In view of the fact that whenever the New Testament denotes Christians
as priests, the reference is always to the church in its entirety rather
than to some privileged circle within the church, the brethren refuse to
recognize a priestly 'caste'. And this negates entirely the segregation
of believers into groups such as clergy or laity.
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