I did not find what i was looking fore but something else, i was looking for a story about G.D Watson and about his funeral... how his opponents doctrinally said he was the holiest man they ever seen or something like that, anyway, That to me is and should be our focus, no matter what side we are persuaded and ready to passionate stand up for as the truth, so we can have that testimony from our "opponents" , so when debating this subject its good to ask one self, will this reply add to my testimony as a gentle, loving, careful, and respectful Christian, or will it come across differently? this i need think about more. Anyway found this, dont know where this man had his theology, maybe he was a calvinist for all i know :-) but such a testimony we should strive for...
[i]Robert Chapman is not well known in this day. And in his day, when he first began to minister, friends said he would never make a good preacher. Though he never became a world-wide evangelist, never authored any monumental books, and did not lead any great mission in foreign lands. Yet, he labored for 70 years in a small town, in a remote corner of England, and became a living legend.
The significant achievement of Robert Cleaver Chapman is the life he lived. He said: "My business is to love others and not to seek that others shall love me." As to his limitations in speaking, Chapman replied: "There are many who preach Christ, but not so many who live Christ; my great aim will be to live Christ." And this became a consuming passion.
As a young man, Winston Churchill was taken to visit him. Charles Spurgeon called him: "the saintliest man I ever knew." John Nelson Darby said of Robert Chapman: "He lives what I teach." On another occasion Darby said: "We talk of the heavenlies, but Robert Chapman lives in them." A biographer wrote: "What then made Chapman so beloved and effective in his time? Quite simply, his utter devotion to Christ and his determination to live Christ."[/i]
-----------
[i]Differences existed in the practices and views of various Brethren assemblies. Barnstaple & Bristol (where George Mueller ministered) the fellowships had a recognized eldership. Assemblies in which Darby was influential did not have a formally identified leadership. Furthermore, John N. Darby believed that God had rejected organized denominations and began asserting that Christians should separate themselves from such organizations. Chapman, Groves, Craik, Mueller and quite a few other leaders did not share Darby's views. Many of the so called Plymouth Brethren, assemblies, including most of those from the original Dublin group believed that unity required a strong interdependence. Chapman, Mueller and others held that no assembly or group of assemblies should dictate the actions of any other. Each assembly was responsible to Christ alone and could interact freely with any believer or group that was sound on fundamental issues o the faith.
A leader in Barnstaple was once accused of teaching an unscriptural doctrine similar. Chapman's written reply emphasizes the believer's responsibility to judge himself rather than other brothers. Chapman wrote: "Oh, that we, yea all saints, might be moved each one to prove himself before God ... Our answer to your enquiry is, first, that if anyone seeks our fellowship here after having listened to such teaching, whether he come from one party or the other (we hold both parties alike dear to us as our fellow-members in Christ our Head), such an one must be judged according to the Word of God and the rule of Christ. Cases differing should not be confounded. If anyone brings an evil doctrine ... his welfare and his healing would be sought by brethren here ... but to fellowship he would not be received ... Then as to the particular case you mentioned, we have exercised godly jealousy and find that the evil doctrine is not held by the brother you name ... May we and all saints cease to grieve the Spirit of God ... Shall we not then have the joy of seeing the self-judged flowing together from all quarters."[/i]
-----
[i]"On one occasion an excluded man became bitter and vowed never to speak a word to Chapman again. Later the two found themselves approaching one another on the street ... Chapman embraced him and said, 'Dear brother, God loves you, Christ loves you, and I love you.' This action broke the man's animosity; he repented and was soon breaking bread at Bear St. Chapel." [/i]
from here [url=http://www.wellofoath.com/home.asp?pg=Bios&toc=Robert+Chapman]well of oath[/url]
_________________
CHRISTIAN
|
