Outside The Camp

During some recent commentary work, I discovered this bit of wisdom from a study of the book of Hebrews by A.W. Pink. The quoted material was written several centuries ago, but could well have been written today- with the exception of the controversies it mentions. Those were hot items in previous generations. We have plenty of our own new ones today.

Notice how this article insightfully reveals how people start cults, movements, and other uprisings. All one needs to do is insert the issue or controversy and the words apply. I would be interested in comments on this article:

In his most interesting and instructive work, "The Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity" - a standard work which long found a place in all well-furnished libraries - Richard Hooker, three hundred years ago, described the tactics followed by the Separatist leaders who preceded or were contemporaneous with him. We will give here a very brief digest of the same.

First, In seeking to win the people's attention unto their "cause, the would-be Separatists, loudly proclaimed the faults and failings of those in high places, magnifying and reproving the same with much severity, and thereby obtaining the reputation of great faithfulness, spiritual discernment, love of holiness.

Second, those faults and corruptions which have their roots in human frailty, are attributed to an unscriptural and evil ecclesiastical government, whereby they are regarded as possessing much wisdom in determining the cause of those sins they denounce: whereas in reality, the very failures they decry will adhere to any form of government which may be established.

Third, having thus obtained such sway in the hearts of their hearers, these men now propose their own form of church government (or whatever else they are pleased to designate their scheme or system), declaring with a great blowing of trumpets that it is the only sovereign remedy for the evils which poor Christen¬dom is groaning under, embellishing the same with an ear-tickling name or designation.

Fourth, they now "interpret" (?) the Scriptures in such a way that everything in them is made to favor their discipline, and discredit the contrary.

Fifth, then they seek to persuade the credulous that, they have been favored with a special illumination of the Spirit, whereby they are able to discern these things in the Word, while others reading it perceive them not.

Sixth, assured that they are led by the Spirit "This hath bred high terms of separation between such and the rest of the world, whereby the one sort are termed, The brethren, The godly, and so forth; the other, worldlings, time-servers, pleasers of men not of God." (Hooker, Vol. 1, p. 106).

Finally, the deceived are now easily drawn to become ardent propagators of their new tenets, zealous proselytizers, seeking to persuade others to leave the apostate "Camp" and join them on "the true scriptural ground." "Let any man of contrary opinion open his mouth to persuade them, and they close their ears: his reasons they weigh not, all is answered with 'We are of God, He that knoweth God heareth us' (1 John 4:6), as for the rest, ye are of the world" (Hooker). Such was the policy pursued by the "Fifth Monarchy men," the "Brownists," Thos. Cartwright and his fol¬lowing in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Such, too was the course taken by John Kelly in Ireland, Alex. Campbell in Kentucky, more than a century ago—the latter founding “the Christian Church,” denouncing all others as unscriptural. So that Mr. J.N. Darby followed a well-trodden path!