My Journey to the Christadephians has been a very long and hard one, because
the seeking of sound doctrine is not an easy one, midst 20,000 different
denominations all claiming to be lead by the Holy Spirit, yet all teach
different doctrines and theology. So
needless to say I feel like a person who has just escaped from a maze of
twisted theology and doctrine and have now arrive to the end of the journey.
I called upon the name of the Lord
in October 1997 after going through the most difficult trauma in my life. I then started searching for a church, but
which one? There is only like 20,000 +
of them, with all types of doctrines, and teachings. I was hesitate about the Pentecostal
Churches, and the Holiness churches because of all the tongue speaking, slain
in the Spirit, and running around, etc.
So I picked an independent Baptist church. I meet a lot of good friend there, however the service was almost like a show. Wear your suites and ties, wear a smile, etc
and say your doing fine and everything was okay.
While in the cushioned pews before
the service people would be fellowshipping all the way until the Pastor
started, and there was no preparation for worship or awe of GOD in the
Church. Further, I would be hearing
people behind me complain or gossip, even during the sermon, and woman applying
lipstick, etc during the sermon. I told the pastor
that I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and wanted to be
baptized. Mind you, I called upon the
Lord in August of 1997, started the Baptist church on
The Pastor was glad and said that he
could set up an appointment for my Baptism.
I thought to myself, why wait? I
saw people being baptized that very hour, or immediately, but I would have to
wait two months to get baptized. I was
eventually baptized on
I stayed with the Baptist church for
a whole year. I started studying the end
times prophecy. I was very much interested in this
doctrine called the “Rapture”, where all believers in Christ would be raptured up in the air and then 7 years of tribulation
would enter on earth. At first I
accepted this doctrine and the Pastor would make many references to it and we
would sing hymns talking about the Rapture, however, through much study and
reading of Scripture, I found that the Rapture was not compatible with
Scripture. And I had other issues with
the Church too. It was too political and
the pastor seemed like he was untouchable and always busy and could never see
him unless you got an “appointment”. The
church was only about 150 strong.
So needless to say I left the
Baptist church, and starting seeking another church. This is what I call Cafeteria
Christianity. So, I thought I would look
into the “holy rollers” or the
The
Sermons was very charismatic and the worship was very contemporary.
But
as the months went on, I could tell there was too much focus on the Holy
Spirit, and it almost seemed as if they treated the Holy Spirit as some type of
deity god. There was more focus on the
Spirit, rather than Jesus or GOD. The
Sunday School Teacher even said once “When you get up each day you should say,
hi Holy Spirit and then talk to him”.
Then there was the whole problem of
the so-called Baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in
tongues. I was very hesitant about
this. However, the pastor and Sunday
School Teacher wanted to lay hands on me to receive this “New Power”. I had always believed that when you become a
born again believer GOD gives you his Spirit without Measure, but it is up to
you how you yield yourself to GODs use, thus being
filled with the Holy Spirit. So I really didn’t believe in the Baptism of the
Holy Spirit. But I let the Pastor and SS
Teacher lay hands on me and pray for me.
Later that night while I was reading my bible, I kept thinking about
this new power I was suppose to receive. I remember the pastor kept saying “Just
relax, and open your mouth and the words will come, even though you don’t know
what your saying, and the devil will try to play games with your mind and tell
you that your making it all up.”
So I tried that night and spoke in
“tongues”. I was on an emotional high,
knowing that I DID have the power, because I spoke in tongues! The next Sunday I was so excited and everyone
was so happy for me. The Pastor told me
that I had to keep speaking in tongues whenever I had a chance. And I did.
However as the months past, I noticed when we had bible studied we would
all speak in tongues at once, which is not biblical. I told the Pastor about this, how Paul said,
let each speak in tongues, one at a time, and no more than three, and let there
be an interpreter there. I didn’t see
this order in our bible studies. The
explanation the Pastor gave me was that Paul was instructing believers when
they go to church, not when they have bible studies. I thought this was a very, very weak straw
man argument, and started to have doubts about the whole speaking in tongues
business.
I noticed Paul says “Where there are
tongues, they shall cease” in Corinthians.
And how the gifts would cease to be, when the church
becomes mature. Needless to say,
I stopped “speaking in tongues”, and yes, the “devil” kept telling me that I
was making the gibberish up, at least that is what the pastor told me, but I
soon realized it was not Satan, but myself.
I thought what good it talking in tongues when I don’t even know what I
am saying, how am I being lifted up and encourage by this gibberish? Then I did an all out study on tongues and
Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Through much
prayer and study, I found that Tongues were a sign for the unsaved, not the
saved. That GOD said, “I will speak to
these people (Jews) with other tongues (Languages).” I finally came to the conclusion that tongues
where one of the special gifts by the Holy Spirit in the first Century to
mature the Church and win converts from Judaism, but after the destruction of
the
It was not only the tongues that
made me leave my Assemblies of GOD church after a year, but some of the other
strange things. Like people being slain
in the spirit, holy laughter, etc. So,
after a year there I left the church, knowing that I couldn’t hold fast to the
doctrines of the church. It was really
hard for me to leave, because I made so many good friends there. I got to a point where, before I left, I
compromised my beliefs. I thought I
could stay a member and just ignore the speaking in tongues, and the references
of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, but it didn’t last long. I told my friends I was leaving and they were
shocked. They all wanted me back really
bad, and the pastor still sends me post card, once in a while. They are really nice people, but mislead by
false doctrine.
So then after leaving the
I prayed to GOD may times, just
wanted to know the truth and sound doctrine, and praying for a church to
join. I basically church hopped for
about a whole year, but still had a restless in myself about something. So, I thought to myself, what about
Catholicism? I started studying
Catholicism for like about 8 months; I bought 10 different Catholic books,
bought the Catechism and the 2,000 page book “Catholicism”. It was finally a nice change to get away from
all the Protestantism and the 20,000 different doctrines and find something
that actually had unity, and order to it, so in that regards I was so glad to
find Catholicism.
I went to a couple masses at the
Catholic church here and man was it a culture
shock. The church was big, very
beautiful inside, Statues of Mary everywhere and the people seemed as if they
were in a rush all the time. After the
Holy Eucharist the people would just leave the church in a hurry. No fellowship at all. I found that a little strange. I asked the Priest for an appointment to get
together with him and when the date came for him to call me he never did. I went to RCIA (Rites for Christians
Initiation for Adults); I found it very lacking and the teaching very
poor. One reason why I accepted
Catholicism in the beginning is because it was like a relief from all the 20,000
denominations, with 20,000 different doctrines, etc. Just submit myself to the Pope and Church and
that was that. Peace and rest.
But, I kept on reading the Catholic
Catechism and found many things that were contrary to Holy Scripture. I couldn’t accept Purgatory, and the
infallibility of the Pope, or the Immaculate Conception of Mary (that mary was born without sin). So I tried Eastern Orthodoxy. They don’t believe in the Papacy or the
Immaculate Conception of Mary or Purgatory.
I went to the St. George Greek Orthodox Church for about 2 months, but
the liturgy was all in greek
and some English. However, I started
reading Hebrews about the Jesus Christ and his High Priest status and the whole
Priesthood Ministry of our Lord, and I couldn’t accept mans priesthood. (I
don’t ever think I came to the point where I fully accepted the priesthood
anyways).
I left the church. And I didn’t go to church for about 3
months. I was just so sick and tired of
it all. I felt like Jesus was a failure,
because He said to GOD “Let them all be one, as you and I are one” I looked at all the
different doctrines, church, and beliefs and left that Christianity is in a
broken state. That the Body of Christ is
wounded by false doctrines, and wolves in sheep’s clothing,
etc. Now you even have Jehovah Witnesses
and Mormons, etc.
So
I began a search for sound doctrine, the doctrine of the Apostles in the New
Testament.
The Catholic Church claimed for
herself “The Church of Christ that he founded”.
But studying the history of the Catholic Church, I knew that Catholicism
went into apostasy early in her time.
With the introduction of new doctrines concerning Mary, Papal
infallibility, purgatory, and indulgences, infant baptism, baptism by
sprinkling, etc. The Catholic Crusades
and forced conversions to Christianity by the Sword, etc. Further, there was no priesthood until after
the 4th Century. The only
priesthood was the pagan priesthood and the Jewish Priesthood. The Priesthood was the limited, weak shadow
of that which was to come, our Mighty High Priest, our Advocate, and our
Mediator, Jesus Christ the Lord!
Regarding the forgiveness
of sins, two critical doctrines must be examined. First, all sins must be
confessed to a priest:
"One who desires to obtain reconciliation with God and with the Church, must confess to a priest all the unconfessed grave sins he remembers after having carefully examined his conscience." Pg. 374, #1493
"Confession to a priest is an essential part of the sacrament
of Penance:" Pg. 365, #1456
"It is called the sacrament of confession, since the
disclosure or confession of sins to a priest is an essential element of this
sacrament. Pg. 357, #1424 (See also Pg. 374, #1493).
Catholicism orders members to confess their sins to a man, but the
Bible reveals that those who have been born into God's family can go straight
to God's throne to receive forgiveness for their sins:
"I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I
not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. "
Psalm 32:5
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9
David confessed his sins to God when he prayed:
"Wash me throughly from mine
iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and
my sin is ever before me." Psalm 51:2-3 Here is
why true Christians have access to God’s throne:
"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the
holiest by the blood of Jesus..." Hebrews
After I left my
I studied how the doctrine of the
Trinity came about and found that the founder of the Trinity used platonic
terms and philosophy to unravel the relationship between the Father, the Son
and the Holy Spirit, and basically said they are one, but three. A Trinity in Unity. That in the Godhead there are three distinct
or separate persons, yet one GOD. Basically making GOD another age old triad god from the past.
This is not a biblical teaching, but a pagan concept and teaching! Where in the bible do any of the apostles
teach this doctrine?
Another doctrine, the so-called two natures of Jesus Christ. How could
Jesus be man and God at the same time? Many Christians call the Trinity and the
Two natures of Christ, Orthodoxy of Christianity, but further study in church
history, reveals that most “Orthodoxy” doctrines where the creation of pagan
converts to Christianity in the 3rd and 4th Century.
I have come to understand that Jesus
was not literally GOD in flesh. He was
the Word made flesh. The Word was with
GOD and the Word was GOD. The Word was
GOD, because the Logos was the plan of GOD, or the idea of GOD. “The Lamb of GOD, slain before the
foundations of the World”. GOD already
had the plan figured out, He had Christ in view. Basically the Idea became flesh. Jesus Christ was the Holy One, the Final
Prophet, the Mouth of GOD, the perfect reflection of GODs
character, the hand of GOD, the One to reveal GOD to us in these last times,
the Son of GOD. The Father was in Christ
reconciling the World. In as much as
Christ is in me, and He is manifest through me, yet I am not Christ, but he lives
his life through me, as GOD lived out his perfect righteousness through Jesus
Christ, but Jesus Christ with his human nature had to obey and submit. “He learned obedience, through the things he
suffered” and “He grew in favor with GOD and man”.
Another issue was this so called
“burning in hell for all eternity business”.
My question is if Hell is a place where people are torment for all
eternity, then what about the SECOND DEATH!?!
And what about when Jesus said “Fear him who can kill the body and then
the soul in hell.” Plus the book of
Psalms makes it clear that we shoel, grave, hell are
the same thing. We return to the dust of
the earth. And when we die we are not
judged individually and cast into heaven or hell, we sleep, and then await the resurrection. I frankly got tired of Pastors saying, “so and so are in heaven now.” I found the lack biblical knowledge in some
churches, just right out sick! When we
are resurrected at the Second Coming of Christ, then and only then are we
judged, the Sheep to the Right and the Goats to the left.
The Wages of Sin is Death! The book of Psalms talks
about how the dead no nothing, that they cease to exist. The whole concept of a burning hell where
people are tortured originated in pagan believes and really gained way by
I believe that the Christadelphains are correct concerning Hell, The
Incarnation, the Two natures of Christ and the
Trinity. Further, I believe then to be
correct about Baptism. Baptism is not an
option for the Christian! “He who
believes AND is Baptized shall be saved.” Have you ever seen a
Another doctrine that I found hard
to believe was the whole concept of the Devil or Satan now in hell, used to be
an Angel that sinned called Lucifer. I
have two questions. How can angels sin,
but then not die, if the wages of Sin if death?
And how can a fallen angel temp billions of people on this earth to sin
if he is not omnipresent? These are
questions that I fear most Christians have not thought about. But this whole story about Satan has been
taught over and over and over again, and basically
brainwashed Christians to believe this.
But where is the Biblical account for all this? Where does the Bible say that Lucifer was an
Angel? How can an angel have pride? Etc.
The whole story about Lucifer
falling from heaven in Is Chapter 14 was the King of Babylon as Isaiah 14:3
says. Further, Lucifer was translated “evening start” which is Venus. The King was like the Morning Star and he
fell. GOD had supported him and lifted him
up as the morning star, but pride was found in him and GOD threw him down. If
you take Isaiah 14 as a whole you will see that it all talks about the King of
Babylon. Verse 15-16 “But you are
brought down to Sheol, to the depths of the Pit.
Those who see you will stare at you, and ponder over you: “Is this the MAN who made the earth tremble,
who shook kingdoms……” We are talking
about a man who became so prideful that GOD literally made him into nothing!
This is a far cry form the whole, “Lucifer fell from heaven and temps man,
fairy tale!”
I wanted to share with you some shocking
notes in my “The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha”. Job 1:6-RSV study notes say “Satan (see note
a; Zech 3.1 n.) is among the sons of God. He is not yet the demonic personification of
later Judaism (compare 1 Chr. 21:1) and Christianity.”
And
“Zech 3:1- RSV Study notes say –“In the OT, Satan (Literally, “The Adversary”)
is not the incarnation of evil but a functionary of the Heavenly court who
accuses man of wrong.”
I thought how could Satan temp me to
sin? But I read James that says 1:13
“Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be
tempted with evil and he himself tempts no one; but each person is tempted when
he is lured and enticed BY HIS OWN DESIRE!
Then the desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin; and sin when
it is full-grown bring forth death.” This verse makes it VERY clear the temptation
to sin comes from our own evil desires that come from the wicked heart, not
some fallen evil angel out to get mankind!
Further, if it were Satan tempting us, don’t you think James would have
said that Satan is the one doing the tempting?
So I reject the personification of
evil in a fallen angel story! I feel
that I have finally arrived at sound doctrine!
And I finally feel at rest now, because what I believe now is not man
made pagan philosophy or protestant theology, but exactly what Holy Scripture
says! I feel that I have a home among my
Christadelphian Brothers and Sisters! And I wanted to dedicate this testimony to
Jesse Warner and Mary! They have been a
blessing in my life. And to God the
Father, through Jesus Christ, I thank because of what I have found now, the
Biblical, New Testament Doctrine, beliefs and Church.
I hope this paper has blessed and
encouraged the reader.
In
Him,
Charlie
Durie
I
believe that I have found the Truth. The true doctrine that has not be
perverted and distorted by early pagan converts, nor by the protestant
reformers theology.