Dear Brother in Christ,
Greetings in
the precious name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We are forced to pen
these lines after prayerfully considering the recent incidents revolving around
this year’s convention at Kumbanad (scheduled to be held from 27th December 2015 to 3rd January
2016) for which you are one of the speakers. We presume that you are aware of
the disparity between the Kumbanad local assembly and organizers of this
convention that has led to the scriptural stand adopted by the assembly in the
same context. If not, we humbly request you to refer to the letters
that the assembly has shared over the past months.
Our forefathers
had an indepth understanding of the Word of God and never compromised on the
doctrinal truths that enabled them to stand for their faith. It is our absolute
conviction that as a worthy servant of God, you too are adhering to the same
principles with the same passion without yielding to any human alternatives and
compromises. On account of the issues that are pertaining to some of the individuals
who continue to be part of the convention committee, we, as an assembly, are
convinced according to the Holy Word that they cannot continue to hold this
event without a resolution to this conflict (Mt 5:23, 18:15-17; John 13:34,
Eph 4:29,31, Col3:13). The close proximity in location which the Kumbanad
assembly hall shares with the convention ground being a matter of
grave concern, the assembly has tried on various occasions to find a resolution
to this problem so as to avoid a confrontation at the eleventh hour,
however it has not yielded any results so far.The local assembly has thus very
prayerfully decided to step back from this ‘convention event’ until all issues
have been resolved in a peaceful manner.
It is in this
regard, we want you to understand that your decision to be a part of this
‘convention ministry’ amidst this unresolved conflict would most certainly
bring dishonor to the name of our Lord. Therefore, we kindly request you to
prayerfully re-examine your views in the light of the Holy Word before
committing yourself to this unworthy cause. Whatever decision you take, our
only prayer is that everything may materialize according to the solemn will of
the Lord, avoiding further judgement upon individuals concerned and the
community as a whole.
Some of the
points of concern we would like to draw to your notice where due diligence is
called for as per the leading of the Holy Spirit are as follows:
1. Every gospel meeting or a convention
has the ideal objective of glorifying the name of Lord Jesus Christ by new
souls being added to the assembly as well as of strengthening the spiritual
brotherhood between the believers. If the local assembly which is adjacent to
the venue of the ministry itself is not participating in the event, how can an
organizing body willfully go ahead with the same ministry? Shouldn’t the
resolution of this conflict be the primary concern before conducting any such
‘event’?
2. The elders of the local assembly at
Kumbanad believe that the gathering for breaking of the bread is a commandment
to be observed under the auspices of a local assembly and not on the ruling of
a so called ‘committee’. This is clearly emphasized in many passages in the
Scripture where the Spirit of the Lord addresses the local assemblies at the
respective places in the first century. As you are an invited speaker for this
event, irrespective of whether or not you would be attending the proposed
breaking of bread service scheduled to be held at the convention ground on
the 3rd of January without the involvement of the local assembly at
Kumbanad, we request you to clarify your thoughts and views in this matter in
the light of the Holy Word.
3. “I am an evangelist, I just need to
preach not mindful of the context whatever”. Do you believe that a minister of the Word can be in a
pathetically passive state as cited in the above situation by just
adopting a ‘preach and go’ style at a designated time and place? How will your
ministry at Kumbanad convention then, bring glory and honour the Lord in the
midst of these open divisions and disagreements?
4. Were you aware of these disputes
between the local assembly and the event organizers when you accepted their
invitation? If yes, have you accepted the invitation to
preach on the basis of a conditional resolution ‘in future’? Are we expected to
decide and partake in a ministry taking a chance that issues might be resolved?
5. Now that the disputes remain, what will
be your approach? Will you want to create a union of preachers (senior or
junior) and adopt a collaborative human stand or to be bold and rooted in the
conflict resolution principles based on the doctrine of the Holy Word?
It is our
earnest desire that your ministries would glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and
shower blessings upon many souls in the coming days. May our Lord grant you
adequate wisdom and courage to stand for the truth without falling prey to
human alternatives as it is definitely fearful thing to fall into the hands of
the Living God, after all, it is His business.
Copied to Evangelists
Bro. John P. Thomas
Bro. Samuel B. Thomas
Bro. Charles John
Bro. P. G. James
Bro. T. P. Kanakaraj
Bro. Aby K. George
Dear Brother in Christ,
Greetings in
the precious name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We are forced to pen
these lines after prayerfully considering the recent incidents revolving around
this year’s convention at Kumbanad (scheduled to be held from 27th December 2015 to 3rd January
2016) for which you are one of the speakers. We presume that you are aware of
the disparity between the Kumbanad local assembly and organizers of this
convention that has led to the scriptural stand adopted by the assembly in the
same context. If not, we humbly request you to refer to the letters
that the assembly has shared over the past months.
Our forefathers
had an indepth understanding of the Word of God and never compromised on the
doctrinal truths that enabled them to stand for their faith. It is our absolute
conviction that as a worthy servant of God, you too are adhering to the same
principles with the same passion without yielding to any human alternatives and
compromises. On account of the issues that are pertaining to some of the individuals
who continue to be part of the convention committee, we, as an assembly, are
convinced according to the Holy Word that they cannot continue to hold this
event without a resolution to this conflict (Mt 5:23, 18:15-17; John 13:34,
Eph 4:29,31, Col3:13). The close proximity in location which the Kumbanad
assembly hall shares with the convention ground being a matter of
grave concern, the assembly has tried on various occasions to find a resolution
to this problem so as to avoid a confrontation at the eleventh hour,
however it has not yielded any results so far.The local assembly has thus very
prayerfully decided to step back from this ‘convention event’ until all issues
have been resolved in a peaceful manner.
It is in this
regard, we want you to understand that your decision to be a part of this
‘convention ministry’ amidst this unresolved conflict would most certainly
bring dishonor to the name of our Lord. Therefore, we kindly request you to
prayerfully re-examine your views in the light of the Holy Word before
committing yourself to this unworthy cause. Whatever decision you take, our
only prayer is that everything may materialize according to the solemn will of
the Lord, avoiding further judgement upon individuals concerned and the
community as a whole.
Some of the
points of concern we would like to draw to your notice where due diligence is
called for as per the leading of the Holy Spirit are as follows:
1. Every gospel meeting or a convention
has the ideal objective of glorifying the name of Lord Jesus Christ by new
souls being added to the assembly as well as of strengthening the spiritual
brotherhood between the believers. If the local assembly which is adjacent to
the venue of the ministry itself is not participating in the event, how can an
organizing body willfully go ahead with the same ministry? Shouldn’t the
resolution of this conflict be the primary concern before conducting any such
‘event’?
2. The elders of the local assembly at
Kumbanad believe that the gathering for breaking of the bread is a commandment
to be observed under the auspices of a local assembly and not on the ruling of
a so called ‘committee’. This is clearly emphasized in many passages in the
Scripture where the Spirit of the Lord addresses the local assemblies at the
respective places in the first century. As you are an invited speaker for this
event, irrespective of whether or not you would be attending the proposed
breaking of bread service scheduled to be held at the convention ground on
the 3rd of January without the involvement of the local assembly at
Kumbanad, we request you to clarify your thoughts and views in this matter in
the light of the Holy Word.
3. “I am an evangelist, I just need to
preach not mindful of the context whatever”. Do you believe that a minister of the Word can be in a
pathetically passive state as cited in the above situation by just
adopting a ‘preach and go’ style at a designated time and place? How will your
ministry at Kumbanad convention then, bring glory and honour the Lord in the
midst of these open divisions and disagreements?
4. Were you aware of these disputes
between the local assembly and the event organizers when you accepted their
invitation? If yes, have you accepted the invitation to
preach on the basis of a conditional resolution ‘in future’? Are we expected to
decide and partake in a ministry taking a chance that issues might be resolved?
5. Now that the disputes remain, what will
be your approach? Will you want to create a union of preachers (senior or
junior) and adopt a collaborative human stand or to be bold and rooted in the
conflict resolution principles based on the doctrine of the Holy Word?
It is our
earnest desire that your ministries would glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and
shower blessings upon many souls in the coming days. May our Lord grant you
adequate wisdom and courage to stand for the truth without falling prey to
human alternatives as it is definitely fearful thing to fall into the hands of
the Living God, after all, it is His business.
With Christian
Love,
Brethren Youths
Kumbanad
Copied to Evangelists
Bro. Jose
Mathews
Bro. John P. Thomas
Bro. Samuel B. Thomas
Bro. Charles John
Bro. P. G. James
Bro. T. P. Kanakaraj
Bro. Aby K. George
Bro. John P. Thomas
Bro. Samuel B. Thomas
Bro. Charles John
Bro. P. G. James
Bro. T. P. Kanakaraj
Bro. Aby K. George