Why I’m a Christadelphian

No one ends up here by accident. This piece explores the stories, convictions, and relationships God uses to draw us to the Truth and shape who we’re becoming.

By JASON HENSLEY

Read Time: 6 minutes

Have you ever taken a moment to reflect on your journey of faith? Maybe that’s something you do regularly, or perhaps that reflection is something that you’re only just beginning. Either way, it’s powerful to stop and ask yourself, “How did I end up here?” I don’t mean “How did I come to exist?”—that’s a question of creation, and clearly answered Scripturally. Instead, I mean, “How did I end up here?” In other words, how did God bring you to this point that you’re at? How did you come to hear about this community, and how did you become connected with it?

Some of us may have a dramatic conversion story. I met someone recently who told me that, due to what had happened in his life, he stood outside and angrily waved his fist at God, saying, “If you really exist, then strike me with lightning!” When the lightning didn’t come, he concluded that God was a myth. Years later, through a strange and “coincidental” set of circumstances, he found himself in a Christadelphian hall, having many of his questions about the Bible, questions that had plagued him for all those years, answered. At that moment, a thought flashed through his mind, “How’s that for a bolt of lightning?” Or, perhaps you’ve heard the story of someone walking along the road, wondering about truth, when a leaflet blew into their hands. Or, maybe you’ve read some of the stories that we’ve published in previous issues, detailing the spread of the gospel throughout the world.

Others, though, may feel we have had a more ordinary conversion. We may simply say, “I’m a Christadelphian because I was born into a Christadelphian family.” However, that statement’s really missing the bigger picture. Even though you were born into a Christadelphian family, some members of your family eventually came to hear this message and believed it. That belief was a process, and God was at work throughout it.

In 1964, Australian missionaries visited Hong Kong and distributed literature. For some reason, one of them, entitled “God’s Remedy,” caught my grandfather’s eye. He began correspondence, longing to know more: “I was very regretful that I could not attend to your lecture of preaching gospel on 15th (Sunday) because I was under the bondage of my work, I am working on every Sunday and late in night everyday, therefore I have no chance to hear gospel on Sunday. My holiday is usually on Thursday of every week. Will you kindly arrange a place and time on Thursday to meet you and may I have a chance to hear your lessons from the Bible.”¹ The note at the bottom of the letter reads, “Will meet Mr. Tsong next Thursday, 2:30 pm, March 26th.” A further note then states, “Met Mr. Tsong 2:30… a business man who has studied the Bible in Japan & has come close to understanding the Truth. We talked about 1 ½ hours on resurrection & the Kingdom, & he will come again next Thursday, 2nd April.” Two months later, at the age of 44, my grandfather became the second Christadelphian baptized in Hong Kong.²

Furthermore, those of us who grew up in this community not only have the stories of our ancestors, but we also have our own conversion story. Just as Christ spoke to Peter about Peter’s future conversion (Luke 22:31-32), we all know that moment when we realized that the Truth was personal and wasn’t just our family’s faith. Or, perhaps this “moment” was more of a process.

We all have a story, a series of decisions and circumstances that brought us here. We can look back and see the hand of God in our lives or our family members’ lives, and we can say, “God brought me here.”

However, there’s more to it than just conversion. God doesn’t just expose us to the gospel, guide us through conversion, and then leave us to our own devices. He finishes the process, “bring[ing] it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6).³ So, this isn’t just a consideration of history, but a consideration of what God has done and is doing still. Essentially, somehow you were exposed to the gospel, but what kept you in this community? I think it’s beneficial to reflect on both, allowing us to see God’s work, and also creating within us a recognition and acknowledgment of what we have in this community. I’m sure everyone has their own reasons, and I’d love to hear them (as well as any of your stories, if you’re willing to share them! Email them to editor@tidings.org). The following are my motivations.

Truth Matters

This community loves Truth and wants to know it. We relentlessly pursue an understanding of the Bible and strive to share it with others. You’ll notice this issue includes an article entitled “Truth Matters,” by Matthew McCraken. In it, Matthew argues that beliefs and actions are inextricably linked. Doctrines affect our worldview, and therefore affect our actions. That’s not to say that those of other faiths can’t be “good people,” but rather to note that doctrines as a whole shape group behavior and choices.

Thus, as those who believe we understand the good news of the Kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ, we want to share it. This magazine issue therefore contains a few articles focusing on this sharing in various ways and circumstances: an article about silence speaking and the power of our example, an article on sharing Truth with our children even if our spouse may hold hostility to the Bible, an article on Bible Unlocked, an article about the search for missionaries in San Francisco and our need in North America to reemphasize preaching, and updates about Latin America and Jamaica. You’ll note that the article about the Costa Rica Bible School specifically mentions that one of the elder brothers there told the history of the ecclesia, thus keeping the ecclesia involved in remembering its own history and story, much like we’ve discussed in this editorial.

Life Changes

I recently had a conversation with someone who told me he was a Christadelphian’s landlord. He was at a Christadelphian event I was attending, and he explained to me that he had started reading the Bible for the first time, and was coming to Memorial Service and ecclesial events because his tenant’s actions so moved him. He said he had never seen anyone carry themselves in such a humble and caring kind of way—he just had to know what it was that prompted this Christadelphian to be the kind of person he was.

Recognizing that the Bible isn’t just an academic text, our community studies the Bible because we want to become more like the Lord Jesus. We want to know him. We want to change our lives. And so, in this issue, we also feature a few articles that focus on this personal transformation. James McCann writes about Christ’s thankfulness and how we, too, can try to follow him. Andrew Weller continues his series on transformative grace in the Book of Titus. And Ben Brinkerhoff begins a series on Romans 7-8, examining the mind of the Spirit.

Israel

One of our unique doctrines is our appreciation of God’s work with the people of Israel. We believe in “the hope of Israel.” (Acts 28:20). We recognize that one day, “Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the LORD.” (Jeremiah 3:17). Because of this, many of us try to understand more of Jewish history. We openly declare we can see God’s work in the restoration of the Jews to the land and the formation of the State of Israel in 1948. In this issue, we’ll experience a little more of the Hebrew language as we break down Genesis 1:1 with David Pearce.

Community

The second greatest commandment is “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39). We need community. We cannot serve God on our own. Thus, David Fraser begins a series on relationships and how our relationships with one another stem from our relationship with God and Christ.

To me, community is one of the most exciting things about being a Christadelphian. Even though we aren’t perfect and sometimes we may feel more like a bickering family rather than one that is close-knit, we really do have something special. Our lay ministry helps ensure no one person has control, and our emphasis on the Bible continues to make that book our touchstone, rather than any individual person. We come to each other’s aid, we volunteer our time and our money, and we are people who are really trying to change our lives and the lives of others.

There are more reasons, but for me, those are some of the main ones that explain why I’m a Christadelphian, and not just why, but why I’m thankful to be a Christadelphian, and look forward to sharing this faith with whoever I can. As you read through this issue, may you be reminded of some of these reasons, and may you too be inspired to share the gift that God has so graciously given to us.

Jason Hensley