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question is linked closely to reception into a local assembly.
Clearly, it was the practice of local assemblies from apostolic
times to seek commendation of the assemblies from which the
believers had come, e.g. the apostle Paul asks the Corinthian
believers 'Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we,
as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of
commendation from you?’, 2 Cor. 3. 1. Of course, in Paul’s
case he did not need to be commended. However, there were
obviously circumstances where a letter of commendation was the
practice. The two most common circumstances which apply today
are: –
1 Where
believers are moving to another area on a permanent basis. In
this case letters should be forthcoming. First of all to
positively commend those who have fellowshipped and faithfully
served, and second as a safeguard to prevent those who have left
an assembly under a cloud causing further disruption. Some
assemblies that have received believers without commendation
have experienced subsequent problems that could have been
avoided if they had adhered to scriptural practice. This places
a great responsibility on the elders of both assemblies.
Firstly, the commending elders should not commend those who have
caused problems. Secondly, the elders of the receiving assembly
have a responsibility to preserve and maintain New Testament
assembly order.
2 Where
believers desire to have fellowship with an assembly when on
vacation. A commending letter we feel is to be preferred even
where the believers in question do not intend to stay in the
area. After all it is God's assembly and the receiving assembly
needs to be careful. Without any means of knowing the persons
involved places a great burden on the receiving elders.
Affirmations at the door could be false. It is not simply a
matter of each individual who takes part examining themselves,
though of course this is important The elders also have a
responsibility to preserve the sanctity and order of the
assembly.
The question of
how to respond to visitors who arrive a few minutes prior to the
meeting without a letter, in the final analysis has to be
answered by each assembly as they are responsible to the Lord
alone.
Responses might
include: –
1 A warm
welcome for the visitors but a request that they observe only.
2 Ascertainment
that the visitors are genuine believers and have been baptized
(baptism always comes before the breaking of bread in the New
Testament) and then request that they observe the order of the
assembly, i.e., the headships – that the brothers (if they
wish) take part audibly with their heads uncovered and that the
sisters take part with their heads covered but do not worship
audibly.
3 Reception on
the basis of the visitors' profession of salvation and not to
inquire about the visitors’ baptismal status and position
regarding observance of the headships.
It is not the
purpose of this current answer to criticize any for their
practice; however, we believe elders and assemblies will be
safer and happier with the scriptural useof letters of
commendation.
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