Surviving troubled times? Is it not a paradox passing strange that in an age when average life expectancy (the “survival rate”) for men and women, at least in the rich nations, is greater than it has been for five thousand years, we should require help to “survive”?

The reason, of course, is simple. As Jesus put it: Man ‘s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth (Luke 12:15). Life without spiritual values is animal existence (Ecclesiastes 3:18), we are no longer entitled to call ourselves human. 

It is our unique faith that underpins this Seminar. By “surviving” we mean living in such a way now that we will live and reign with Jesus Christ for ever in his Kingdom and glory. What use are “life skills” and the like if, sooner rather than later, we perish like the beasts (Psalm 49:12)? We say “our unique faith” quite advisedly, because whereas in most religions, including apostate Christianity, immortality is inherent and the soul indestructible, in the deeply scriptural faith of the Christadelphians, eternal life is a gift, a gracious offer of our Father in heaven, bestowed freely by Him at the coming Day of Judgement on the basis of His assessment of our character.

WHY THIS SEMINAR? 

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved (Mark 16:16). So why do we need this Seminar? Isn’t salvation just a simple matter of learning the doctrines and going under the water? Our healthy emphasis on right doctrine has given some of us tunnel vision so that we delude ourselves with a superficial mathematical equation that goes thus: 

Statement of Faith + Baptism = Covenant Relationship> Acceptance at the Judgement Seat> Eternal Life. 

No, it is not that simple. Matthew 7:24-27, 1 Corinthians 10:6-11, Hebrews 10:26-27, James 1:26, 1 John 2:9 and many other exhortations warn us that it is not at all that simple. Above all, though I have all faith, and have not charity (love), I am nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2). The complex pressures of our age (yes, any age) pose enormous challenges for the saints of God, even in relatively simple matters of biblical interpretation. 

ENORMOUS CHALLENGES 

Should drug abuse be grounds for ecclesial disfellowship? In one ecciesia, a young husband and father from an underprivileged area was barred from the Table because he was unable, it...