This is a small, active, but relatively unknown group. The membership is falling and now stands under 17,000 in the UK. There are only about 300 ‘ecclesias’ in Britain, with a further 100 or so smaller fellowships.
I am referring to Christadelphians. You may not have heard about them. One reason for this is that they tend to be overshadowed by Jehovah’s Witnesses who are much more aggressive in their outreach and recruitment.
Bible emphasis
Like Jehovah’s Witnesses, Christadelphians place a strong emphasis on the Bible. In the past, members claimed to read the Bible daily although, apart from their lay teachers, most members now read the Bible only three or four times a week. And they are knowledgeable on many Bible subjects.
Despite their regular study, they reject many major Bible doctrines such as the Holy Trinity and the deity and sinlessness of Christ.
They also reject Christ’s substitutionary, penal sacrifice on the cross, and salvation by grace through faith alone.
Concerning justification, their view is that faith, baptism and works are all part of our response, with each aspect being necessary and contributory to salvation.
Christadelphians have always denied that the Holy Spirit is the third person in the Holy Trinity but their explanations are varied and conflicting. Some have even interpreted references to the Holy Spirit in terms of an angel.
Divisions
In fact, divisions have taken place within this movement. For example, there is the ‘Berean Fellowship’, which is small and located mainly in America. Another group, with about 1,000 members worldwide, is named the ‘Dawn Fellowship’.
There are other small and medium-sized groups such as ‘Old Paths’, ‘Advocate’ and ‘Servants of Christ’. The main group worldwide is called the ‘Central Fellowship’ with approximately 40,000 members.
These divisions within Christadel-phianism have arisen because of theological differences over subjects like the inspiration of the Bible, the atonement, eschatology, church discipline, and practical matters relating to daily life in the world.
The social, corporate life of members tends to approximate to that of the strict and separatist stance of the more Exclusive Brethren groups.
