The fourth false principle that we wish to address is the partial denial of the presidency of the Holy Spirit in the meetings of the Open Brethren. We say “partial” because the Open Brethren allow the Spirit to lead in their ministry meetings in a measure. We are referring to meetings where gift is exercised, not meetings for prayer and worship where the priesthood of believers is in exercise.
In the previous chapter, we noted that the Open Brethren have a system in place in the sphere of local church government to pre-empt the flesh from coming in and derailing the leadership of the assembly. They do a similar thing in the sphere of ministry—and for the same reason—to pre-empt the flesh from acting in the meetings. We know that when liberty is given to the Holy Spirit to lead in ministry, there is a risk of the flesh in someone coming in and spoiling the meeting with profitless speaking. And, to prevent the flesh is certainly a good thing, but it doesn’t mean that we should employ a man-made scheme to do it. However, this is what the Open Brethren have done. They have introduced certain practices in the ministry meetings to control things, but these practices are not God’s order.
From what we have already covered, and again here with this point, it is evident that the underlying principle behind much of the order in the meetings of the Open Brethren is that they are attempting to control things for the glory of God by human methods. It is a nice desire, but it is not wise, or Scriptural. Introducing human principles and human order to forestall the flesh in the assembly results in hindering the Spirit of God from leading as He would in the ministry (1 Cor. 12:1111But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. (1 Corinthians 12:11)). It reminds us of the well-meaning attempt of Uzza. He tried to steady the ark by putting his hand on it, but it displeased the Lord because he interfered with God’s “due order” (1 Chron. 13:9-10; 15:139And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled. 10And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God. (1 Chronicles 13:9‑10)
13For because ye did it not at the first, the Lord our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order. (1 Chronicles 15:13)). Uzza’s intentions were well meaning, but they were not of God.
What Does Scripture Teach?
Looking into the New Testament we find that there are a variety of meetings that the Church is to have for the ministry of the Word. Among the Open Brethren these meetings do not exist, or they have been altered to fit an order of their own making. These meetings for ministry are:
The Open Meeting
This is a meeting where the podium is left open for the Spirit of God to lead two or three brothers to minister the Word (1 Cor. 14:26-3326How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. 27If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. 28But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. 29Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 30If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. 31For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. 32And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. (1 Corinthians 14:26‑33)). Since the Lord is in the midst in this meeting and the Spirit of God is in control, these brothers will be led to minister something from the Scriptures that will be for the edification of the assembly. It says, “Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other[s] judge.” Those who act as prophets in this meeting are to speak for the “edification, and exhortation, and comfort” of the others assembled on that particular occasion (1 Cor. 14:33But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. (1 Corinthians 14:3)).
Since this meeting is open for the Spirit to use whomsoever “He will” (1 Cor. 12:1111But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. (1 Corinthians 12:11)), there could be someone who thinks that he has something profitable and that he is being led of the Spirit, when he is not. Such will invariably occupy the time unprofitably. This was the problem in Corinth. They abused this meeting and turned it into a free-for-all. They all had something that they wanted to “show and tell,” whether it edified the assembly or not (1 Cor. 14:2626How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. (1 Corinthians 14:26)). They were so eager to speak that they were tripping over each other, and the meetings for ministry were disorderly. The Apostle Paul shows that the answer is not to delete that meeting from the schedule of meetings, but to resort to the God-given way of regulating the meeting, so that all things would be done “decently and in order” (vs. 40).
The Apostle states three things that are to regulate the ministry in the open meetings:
We are to give place to the leading of the Spirit, which is implied in the word “let”—8 times (vss. 26-30).
The prophets are to use self-control in regard to their own “spirits,” and are not to interrupt one another, but wait until the first speaker is finished before the next speaks (vs. 32). Paul said, “If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace [be silent]” (vs. 30).
If a person persists in speaking with little or no profit, the assembly has recourse in that it can “judge” that person’s ministry and have him silenced (vs. 29).
Sad to say, this meeting has been removed from the regular meetings among the Open Brethren. There may be some exceptions, but generally, their answer to the problems that might arise in open meetings is simply not to have them. This prevents the embarrassment of having it turn out unprofitably, but it’s not God’s way of handling the problem.
A Reading Meeting
The essential principles of a Bible reading meeting are given in 1 Timothy 4:1313Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. (1 Timothy 4:13). It says, “Till I come, give attendance to reading [the readings], to exhortation, to doctrine.” The “reading” that Paul speaks of here is not personal or private reading of Scripture, or of reading written ministry, but that of the public readings of the Scriptures when the saints are gathered together (J. N. Darby Trans. footnote). It was the custom of the early Church to come together to hear the Scriptures read (Col. 4:1616And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. (Colossians 4:16); 1 Thess. 5:2727I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. (1 Thessalonians 5:27)). The fact that Paul included “exhortation” and “teaching” indicates that after the Scriptures were read aloud, there was opportunity for the Spirit of God to use any who had a gift for exhorting or expounding the truth, to make comments for the spiritual help and understanding of the saints. This is what a Bible reading meeting is.
These meetings were valuable in the early Church because most in that day did not have a copy of the Scriptures. It was the only way for the saints to hear the Word of God and get some helpful ministry. These occasions also promoted fellowship. Scripture says, “They continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship” (Acts 2:4242And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2:42)). The Bible reading meeting is still a wonderful means of learning the truth.
Paul encouraged Timothy to use those opportunities to exercise his gift in exhortation and teaching. He reminded him that he definitely had a gift for it, and he was not to neglect the use of it. He also reminded him that he had the support of his older brethren (“the elderhood”) who had recognized his gift and had given him the right hand of fellowship in the use of it (1 Tim. 4:1414Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. (1 Timothy 4:14)). We should not encourage someone in this way if he does not have a gift for ministering the Word. The person could embarrass himself, and there would be little spiritual profit for the saints. While the meeting should be used for those who can teach, if there are none present with a distinctive gift for teaching, the saints can still be fed. If various brothers in a gathering express what they do understand in connection with the passage, in dependence on the Lord, they can count on the Spirit of God to give the saints something, because God always blesses the reading of His Word (Rev. 1:33Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. (Revelation 1:3)).
Of course, this meeting could also be spoiled by disruptive comments and debates by fleshly persons. However, the principles Paul gives in 1 Corinthians 14, though they are primarily for governing the open meeting, can be applied to any meeting for ministry. If someone speaks unprofitably, and persists in doing so, the assembly has the recourse to “judge” it, and have that person silenced. Again, this is God’s way of regulating the ministry.
Sad to say, the Open Brethren have handled it differently. The “loose” arm has pretty much deleted this meeting from their regular schedule of meetings, and thereby have gotten rid of any potential problem of the flesh intruding. The “tight” arm still has reading meetings, but they handle the difficulty in another way. They have an appointed teacher to “lead” in the meetings; he is called a “teaching elder” (1 Timothy 5:1717Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine. (1 Timothy 5:17)). This man will conduct the meeting and explain the Scriptures to the saints in, more-or-less, a sit-down address. He may have another “appointed” man to help him in the teaching. The others in the assembly are not to speak while he, or they, expound the passage. Then later in the meeting, he will throw it open to questions for a few minutes. These questions, of course, are directed to the teacher(s) who has explained the passage to the saints. Due to the diversity among the Open Brethren meetings, this may not always be the case in every assembly, but generally the “tight” arm has this arrangement. W. R. Dronsfield’s “The Brethren Since 1870” reports, “Readings have been abandoned in many places. Even where Bible readings are held, they are often controlled by an appointed chairman who introduces the subject or the chapter by a talk of varying length, and then leaves the meeting open for discussion or questions. Pre-arranged ministry is the custom in some places.”
Needless to say, this human arrangement in the assembly Bible readings hinders the leading of the Spirit of God. A brother may have something to contribute that would help in the understanding of the passage that they are considering, and the Spirit may wish to lead him to share it, but he is not to interrupt the teaching. This system may be a convenient way to prevent the Bible readings from becoming disruptive, but it is not God’s order. It is really leaning on the arm of the flesh (Jer. 17:55Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. (Jeremiah 17:5)). We do not say that a gifted teacher shouldn’t take the lead in teaching in a Bible reading, but that he should be led of the Spirit in it, and that there should be liberty for others present to contribute as led by the Spirit. Scripture knows nothing of having an appointed man to lead in the teaching; such a structure interferes with the leading of the Spirit.
If we really believe that the Lord is in the midst, we wouldn’t entertain the idea of having any other person than Him presiding in the ministry meetings. Mr. C. H. Mackintosh said, “How could an assembly ever get on without some human presidency? Would it not lead to all sorts of human confusion? Would it not open the door for everyone to intrude himself upon the assembly, quite irrespective of gift or qualification? Our answer is a very simple one. Jesus is all-sufficient. We can trust Him to keep order in His house. We feel ourselves far safer in His gracious and powerful hands than in the hands of the most attractive human president.” Scripture confirms this; it says, “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man” (Psa. 118:88It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. (Psalm 118:8)).
Outwardly, the Bible readings among the “tight” Open Brethren may look Scriptural, but in reality, a human order has been substituted for God’s order.
An Address
An example of this meeting is found in Acts 20:77And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. (Acts 20:7). It says, “Paul preached [discoursed] unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech [discourse] until midnight.” When the occasion arises, and there is a brother present who is gifted in ministering the Word of God, the assembly may take advantage of the opportunity and ask him to have an address. The meeting may be used to teach the truth of the Christian revelation to the saints, or it might take the character of practical exhortation and encouragement.
Thankfully, we can report that the Open Brethren use this meeting freely, and God has used it for blessing among them.
In Review
In review, we see that the presidency of the Spirit is somewhat denied in the ministry meetings among the Open Brethren. Of the three meetings for ministry that assemblies should have, two of them have been either deleted or modified to the point where the Spirit of God is hindered, at least partially. This is not God’s order for ministry in the assembly. He would have us to act on Scriptural principles and trust the Lord. If problems arise in these meetings, we are to look to Him who is the Head of the Church—not invent a human order to prevent or solve the problem.
The Informal Infrastructure of Inviting Servants
Due to the nature of the independency of the Open Brethren assemblies, those who minister among them cannot visit an assembly and minister in their midst as the Lord may lead; such have to be “invited” to do so. People can go to different assemblies and take part in the breaking of bread and the prayer meetings, but unless they are “invited,” they are really prohibited from taking part in the ministry meetings. This, again, is hindering the Spirit of God. He may exercise a brother and desire to send him to help the saints in a particular locality, but the informal infrastructure of “inviting” servants hinders this. This order keeps undesirable persons away, but again, it’s not God’s order.
Servants who do not pander or subscribe to certain tendencies in certain assemblies will not be “invited” by those assemblies. If such were to come on their own accord, they are expected to have a letter of commendation from their local assembly, and even with that, the assembly to which they have gone still reserves the right to refuse them in ministering in their midst. Hence, the full-time labourers among the Open Brethren must wait to be invited by assemblies to take meetings. This means they do not exactly arrange their own itineraries as the Lord may lead them; instead, their schedules are largely controlled by this informal infrastructure.
As a result of not having the freedom to move about to minister the Word in teaching and exhortation, the emphasis among the servants in the Open Brethren tends to be more towards the gospel, rather than the ministry of teaching. Over time, most assemblies have become little more than gospel outreaches. Hamilton Smith said, “It is not only too plain that, as a result of the adoption of these false principles, the truth of the Church has been largely obscured amongst the Open Brethren and increasingly they tend to become simply a gospel mission.”
Furthermore, the inconvenience of having to be re-examined each time a person goes to another assembly (unless he is known there) and the prohibition of ministry unless “invited,” tends to deter inter-assembly fellowship. It is commonly reported that those who are among them do not move about from locality to locality much in inter-assembly fellowship. Being “locality bound” only helps these independent assemblies drift apart in diversity.