Tribute to Zac Young

 

In among our IOPNA's let's have a tribute to my 19 year old friend, Zac Young, who tragically died yesterday (Saturday 30th) on a beach at Coffs Harbour, NSW, after being mauled by a shark while body-boarding.

I met Zac for the first and only time on Wednesday at a Youth for Christ seminar for years 9 & 10 at Westport High School, Port Macquarie. As a local YFC intern he was boldly sharing with current students that Jesus Christ had turned his life around and later he told me his story...

Not one for tears, it all came undone for Zac after a wild party when he fell to his knees in the shower and sobbed, begging God to forgive him. Realizing that only God could have done this he then dedicated the rest of his (short) life to serving our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. He later gave testimony in a local church, predicting it may need a tragedy to occur for us to wake up and get real about this 'Jesus business'.

Farewell Zac. We will miss you but we know you are in safe hands and your death will not be in vain after touching so many lives in your brief Christian walk.                 
You're a hard act to follow, mate!

 

Acknowledgements: theaustralian.com.au

  

#9 EXCLUSIVE OR SEPARATE?

IOPNA concludes the ‘Exclusive Brethren’ series:

 

What was that Scripture these Exclusive Brethren quote as their ‘charter’?

Here it is in 2 Timothy 2:19….

“… Let every one who names the name of the Lord withdraw from iniquity.”             

But that’s addressed to individuals – so if somebody is being unjustly treated by the fellowship I would be under obligation to withdraw myself from that injustice to uphold honour of the Lord’s name!

That’s not how they see it and it’s interesting you should say that. They say: “we maintain a clean place for the Lord” – which is not a biblical expression while the bottom line is always: ‘keeping your place in the fellowship’ – another idea not biblical. In fact, the onus should be on me personally to ‘withdraw from iniquity’ and ‘purify myself from uncleanness’ then I will find others ‘that call on the Lord out of a pure heart’. It’s about qualifying, not about keeping my place by staying out of trouble.                                                 

So what about this business of upholding honour of the Lord’s name?

That’s what it’s all about!....in my day to day activity and whenever ‘church discipline’ is necessary:

…in the case of wicked behaviour, ex-communication:                                     

“For I, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged as present, to deliver, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…him that has so wrought this: to deliver him, I say, being such, to Satan…with such a one not even to eat…Remove the wicked person from amongst yourselves.”  1 Corinthians 5

…or in the case of disorderly conduct, avoidance –                           

“Now we enjoin you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw from every brother walking disorderly…” 2 Thessalonians 3:6

I doubt if there’s many churches that practise that these days – if any!              
Nobody really cares much what you do so long as you front up to church – with your wallet.   
So why won’t these people even have a cup of tea with their neighbour?

They claim that ‘eating is fellowship’ so avoid eating or drinking with anybody they are not having communion with at the Lord’s Supper.

Huh??  No wonder they’ve been called exclusive!                                       
Okay, from what you’ve shown me I guess Christians are meant to be circumspect when it comes to socialising with other so-called Christians who bring dishonour on the Lord’s name because of their behaviour – although no-one seems to take much notice of that……BUT…

…yeah, but that’s not how Paul saw eating; if we avoided social activity with every wicked person: “since then ye should go out of the world.” We might as well shut ourselves away in a commune from all unbelievers…and forget about witnessing to them!                                     

Of course, that doesn’t mean that we can just join anything that suits us – separation from the world is a core biblical principle:

"Be not diversely yoked with unbelievers; for what participation is there between righteousness and lawlessness? or what fellowship of light with darkness...or what part for a believer along with an unbeliever? ...Wherefore come out from the midst of them and be separated, saith the Lord, and touch not what is unclean..." 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

Oh, that’s just means a Christian shouldn’t marry a non-Christian.

Does it now?  Where does it mention marriage here?

Mmm…you’ve got a point there, but that would be very restrictive…no trade associations, no union memberships, no share trading, no business partnerships, no directorships, no club memberships, no politics…no nuthin’!

That’s why Paul has already said in chapter 4:

“…every way afflicted, but not straitened; seeing no apparent issue, but our way not entirely shut up; persecuted but not abandoned…”

Do you know something?...I think these Exclusive Brethren people would be a brilliant witness in this evil world if only they would publicly admit that somewhere they have lost the plot, they have left a trail of families destroyed, and they need to get back to the authority of Holy Scripture under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, instead of hanging everything on this ‘elect vessel’ guy and what he says.

 

Image credit: jonathoncliff.com  

#8 ROBINHOOD

IOPNA shares the 8th article in our 9-part ‘Exclusive Brethren’ series:

 

Getting back to this Exclusive Brethren sect or whatever you want to call it – ‘Plymouth Brethren Christian Church’…let’s see if it really is Christian.   
What happened to your father’s family was appalling but what about since then?           

Even though the Brethren will never publicly admit to having broken up families, they have made some private apologies years later.

So they’re being dishonest??

I’ll leave you to decide that.  My father-in-law had grown up in a farming family but found employment as a motor mechanic after his father suffered a serious accident. Eventually he established a business making Robinhood rangehoods and gave quite a few people employment, especially Brethren. In 1980 he was accused by their ‘elect vessel’ leader of operating a business organisation that rivalled the Church so was ex-communicated for 6 years, losing contact with their daughter still at high school. The only Brethren employee who didn’t walk out was then ex-communicated too.

What!!?     

I was a commission agent for Robinhood Industries but felt compelled to give that up. Two years later I questioned a botched discipline matter only to find my wife and I ‘confined’ according to:

"Now we enjoin you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw from (stello:avoid) every brother walking disorderly and not according to the instruction which he received from us…..But if any one obey not our word by the letter, mark that man, and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed of himself; and do not esteem him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother."                           2 Thessalonians 3

…then ex-communicated for 3 years after trying to appeal to the ‘elect vessel’ leader in USA.

Man, somebody sure had it in for your family didn’t they!                           
So what happened to your immediate family?

As was the custom, we had allowed two of our boys to live meanwhile with the Brethren but finally the oldest went off to do his own thing – he’d had enough.

I don’t blame him!...and then?

After 3 more years back in the fellowship I found myself being publicly censured for trying to send him photos of himself that he’d asked us for. When I challenged that injustice we were ex-communicated again for being ‘contentious’.      Expecting that it would all be quickly sorted out once more, we reluctantly let the next two sons leave home to live with the Brethren, but it took 13 years for the elders to admit they’d got it wrong.

Surely your family has now been happily reunited or is at least on speaking terms?

Both sons are now married and as far as we know, working for the current ‘elect vessel’ leader in Sydney. We briefly met one of the families under strict supervision 12 years ago; as for the other son’s family, we have seen him only twice in 20 years - the last time 15 years ago, and have never set eyes on his wife or 3 children.

Why??...surely the apologies have been made…

My wife’s Christian parents had an enviable reputation for integrity and generosity. They were again ex-communicated and abandoned by the Brethren when Father listened to yet another victim of family break-up. He battled cancer until dying in 1995 and Mother suffered dementia before dying in 2010 - without receiving any apology. I am regarded as a rebel for questioning the Brethren’s antics when I was expected to “give in and get right” submissively.                                                  

Why this is unbelievable stuff!!  How do these people justify wrecking families like this and then expect ‘charitable status’ recognition?

They claim their charter is:                 

"Let every one who names the name of the Lord withdraw from iniquity"  2 Timothy 2:19

Huh! If you ask me this church dishonours the name of the Lord, is iniquitous and you’re better off where you are - out of there!

NEXT:  Exclusive or separate?
Click on: http://hotspuds.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/exclusive-or-separatist.html