Brethren History Journal 01

Dr. Johnson C. Philip

hough the Brethren Assemblies -- at least by the reckoning of some -- in the places of origin are facing a decline of sorts, the situation is totally different in the Far East, including . In T fact the NT Pattern church in India is a vibrant one, having a large number of outreaches, with scores of new churches established every year, and this church history of Far East is incomplete without an account of the origin and growth of the Brethren Assemblies in India.

The Christian faith came to India in AD 50 oriented to the gospel came up, especially when Saint Thomas the doubting disciples towards the second half of the second came here with the gospel. He received a millennium. warm welcome from Hindu kings and nobles and soon many professed faith in Christ, and an active community of Christians came into During this period the Lord existence in India in the middle of the first century AD. raised many men from the decaying church in India who This community kept growing and soon there began studying and teaching were churches all over the southern and western parts of India. This was an educated the pure word of God, denying community of people, as opposed to the the spiritual efficacy of church general illiteracy, and had business links with rituals. This eventually led to a many countries. Many non Indian Christians also moved to India and merged into this greater interest in studying mainstream, making it a culturally rich the pure word of God, and community. many began to gather in In the first millennia the church in India kept homes to search the scriptures faithful to biblical truths, but towards the -- particularly in the tiny south close of it the Roman Catholic church Indian state of . treacherously (inducement, murder, politics, deception) took control of large segments of Non Catholic churches and established themselves firmly in the Indian soil. This However, gradually ecclesiastical priesthood admixture of error with truth led to more than and religious rituals began sapping their one revival and several denominations strength and vigor. This coincided with the

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Brethren History Journal 01 modern movement in the west, extremely communal society, these and an increasing number of conversions soon led to serious family and began coming to India. Gradually their work church problems. began replanting the seeds of gospel among Indians.

During this period the Lord raised many men Soon the young believers were from the decaying church in India who began warned by their churches and studying and teaching the pure word of God, families to either renounce denying the spiritual efficacy of church rituals. This eventually led to a greater interest in their newfound faith or face studying the pure word of God, and many expulsion from the church, the began to gather in homes to search the family, and even the town -- scriptures -- particularly in the tiny south and in those days once thrown Indian state of Kerala. With the establishment of a printing press, Bible was easily available out of one's house there was (though costly) in this language. These practically no dwelling place investigations eventually lead them to the available in one's town. discovery of the doctrines of justification by faith, the priesthood of all believers, and the of believers as opposed to infant baptism practices in their own churches. In a communal society the community is the The discovery led to action, and soon four dictating agency as to how people live and men who accepted Christ as savior were conduct themselves, and the individual has no baptized. Convinced of the need for believers freedom of choice in most things related to to commemorate the death of the Lord in a spiritual life, marriage rituals, and even burial. non ritualistic manner, they celebrated the The community in turn creates these strong first Lord's Supper under a tree in 1887. This is stipulations through the family unit, where reckoned by many to be technically the birth everyone is subject to the authority of the of the Brethren Assemblies in India. Just as oldest male member of the family. If this the Lord raised a group of people for Himself member stipulates that everyone should go to in the West, He also raised a group unto a certain church, none dare disobey it lest he Himself independently in the East. or she be punished or even be removed from the family. And once a person is removed Many churches were being established all from the family, he has no existence other over India by the efforts of foreign than that of a vagabond in a communal missionaries, and this helped create an society. Freedom of conscience, or freedom to atmosphere of great spiritual zeal and choose according to personal desires is not expectation in the older Indian churches. This existent in such societies, and such indeed atmosphere in turn helped this new was the society in Kerala (South India) when movement to spread the gospel and gain a the Brethren movement began here. large number of believers. India being a

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Soon the young believers were warned by Finally believers had to sleep over the grave their churches and families to either renounce for many days after burying the child again. their newfound faith or face expulsion from the church, the family, and even the town -- and in those days once thrown out of one's Soon the young believers house there was practically no dwelling place available in one's town. Houses were not were warned by their available on rent, and it was impossible to fine churches and families to anyone in that communal society having the either renounce their courage to employ or even help these social newfound faith or face outcasts. However, all of them preferred to live on the streets with their newfound faith expulsion from the church, rather than living in their cozy homes but the family, and even the without God. town -- and in those days Many were thrown out, others were beaten once thrown out of one's and abused mercilessly, and still others were house there was practically mocked in inhuman ways. They used to throw no dwelling place available in the excreta of pigs upon believers in places like Angamally. It is the same place where an one's town. evangelist (Lonappan Upadeshi) was stripped naked of his “mundu” while he was publicly Down south, Koshy Mathunny was unable to preaching the gospel, and where those find a place to bury his young wife who was opposed to this new faith exhumed the dead- only in her thirties, and had to take the bold body of a young girl and threw it in the and unheard of step of burying her in his own courtyard of her father (Lonappan Upadeshi) compound, just a few feet behind his for his "crime" of embracing Christ, residence. Incidentally, he had purchased this compounding the pain of parents who had piece of land from some generous Hindus who not yet recovered from the pain of the gave him shelter when he was thrown out of untimely death of their beloved daughter. his house because of his newfound faith.

The Lord honored the faith of the new believers, and the people added to the church kept increasing by the day. Soon there were churches all over the state of Kerala, (Madras), and . Meanwhile some foreign missionaries who had come to India care of non Brethren missions were also won over to the New Testament truths, and they also started laboring with the people of God in India. V. V Nagel

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Nagal, E. H. Noel and Handly Bird being some for expanding the work indigenously of them. throughout the country, and even beyond.

The second generation of the Brethren had their paths cut out by the first, so they were able to advance much beyond their predecessors. This then became the time for ME Cherian establishing assemblies, para church ministries, schools, orphanages, and hospitals. Many dedicated themselves to serve the Lord, The third generation spread the flame and soon there was a large group of throughout the country because they now evangelists spreading the gospel throughout had a strong army of people to support them. the southern parts of India. The late M. E. Cherian became one of the first Indians to resign from a full-time secular job to enter full- The fourth generation brought a time Christian ministry. Though it met with lot of career-seekers from other some resistance from some foreign denominations, mostly missionaries (and particularly their wives) who castaways from there and felt it a threat that qualified local people are uncommitted to the assemblies, entering full-time ministry, Mr. Cherian was and created quite some not deterred. He became sort of a pioneer problem due mainly to hoard when he left his native place and moved to the massive but untapped social another state for cross-cultural evangelism. and financial resources that suddenly became available to them in this group.

The fourth generation brought a lot of career- seekers from other denominations, mostly castaways from there and uncommitted to the assemblies, and created quite some problem due mainly to hoard the massive but untapped social and financial resources that suddenly became available to them in this KM Mathai, Bhopal group. These men also became the leading He was followed by other pioneering young voices that challenged the values, biblical men like T. A. Kurian (Saugor), K. M. Mathai practices, fundamental doctrines, and the (Bhopal), V. T. John (Chandigarh), T. E. Easow esteemed leaders that the Brethren (Patna) and Philip Abraham (Gwalior). These Assemblies had held dear in the first seven to men became models of the Missionary Wave eight decades before this migration. Under among the brethren, that depended only the influence of the fourth-generation upon Indian resources and logistical support migrants to the Assemblies, groups of people

Sola Scriptura | Sola Fide Page 6 Brethren History Journal 01 even moved into cultistic directions, but the two of which are notable. First, they trend was arrested soon due to a remnant successfully put a cap to the rivalry for who sensed the danger and sounded the resources that was seen in the earlier alarm. generation. Second, they began emphasizing quality along with quantity, resulting in a The fifth generation of leaders and evangelists quantum leap in the overall quality of teaching brought a new era in leadership, teaching, from assembly-based pulpits. This also disciple-making, and planning. A large number became the generation that began producing of them were trained under non Brethren high quality theological and doctrinal books. teachers, and therefore they were able to fill in the blind spots to which the leadership in The sixth generation is yet to emerge at the the earlier generation was oblivious. What's time of this writing, and only time will tell more, a large number of them were men of what it will be like. However, most observers high caliber and high professional at present are quite optimistic about the background. This resulted in many changes, immediate future.

Since the Open/close divide is more of European origin, it does not have much relevance for the Indian Brethren Assemblies, who generally tend to be open in nature. However, in the last two decades of the twentieth century some brethren from England and other countries began visiting India to contact preexisting assemblies, and this had led to a situation similar to the Open/Close situation.

At present there are close to 2200 assemblies persuaded them to align themselves the in India, almost all of which are Closed Brethren. At the same time certain in nature. Within them there is considerable financially well endowed brethren from the variation in practices, some allowing non United Kingdom also were able to carve out Brethren to participate in the Lord's Supper if some of the preexisting assemblies to they are born again and baptized, with others themselves, and make them "closed" to the totally forbid such participation. This variation rest of the assemblies in India. Over the space has more of historical reasons than Biblical, of two decades these two groups have been and has not created much problem with either able to take away about 20 assemblies of the the insiders of the outsiders. formerly Open Brethren to the Closed fold.

Towards nineteen eighties, however, several While the Open Assemblies do not find it closed brethren from outside India came in difficult to accommodate the brethren from contact with Indian evangelists, and the Closed fold, the brethren in the Closed

Sola Scriptura | Sola Fide Page 7 Brethren History Journal 01 assemblies exhibit marked animosity towards presumably claim as their own in front of their those in the Open group. What is more, it is people (the donors) in the West. It would be common for brethren in the Closed group to readily noticed that due to these historical speak contemptuously against the well reason the Closed assemblies are a minority in respected leaders in the Open group. The India, and also that they differ much from the basic reason is the imposition of separation by Closed assemblies in West. Any kind of brethren who tend to control the strings from reconciliation between these groups seems to outside, mainly through financial incentives, be difficult as long as the domination of the with the aim to carve territories that they can brethren from the outside continues.

The Brethren in India were Bibliophiles right from the beginning, and this brought many of them into much prominence. In addition many of them were capable and outspoken leaders, organizers, and visionaries. Thus the Brethren Assemblies in India have never lacked leaders of substance and prominence.

The first few decades produced giants who The arrival of the nineteen eighties and were committed unconditionally to the nineties saw the rise of specialized ministries Scriptures, they became able propagators and and also more organized outreaches. People defenders of the New Testament truths. introduced and nurtured specialized ministries in India. Many brothers in the Gulf pioneered The next generations of leaders served as a similar work outside India. Many in the Gulf link between the first and the rest of the and the USA pioneered the use of Web for generations so far, and in addition to information-dissemination for the assemblies, providing many other benefits this produced a and he was later joined by many enterprising continuity in thoughts and practices among assembly webmasters. John Sebastian the brethren. Many of them were involved in pioneered Internet for evangelism, and many secular jobs, and devoted a considerable others followed. amount of time, energy and personal finances to support the ongoing growth of the In summary, the Brethren Assemblies in India Brethren Assemblies. There are numerous never lacked leaders, visionaries, or pioneers, other notable figures belonging to each of the qualified in spiritual and secular fields. The groups above, and they will eventually be greater the need, the larger tended to be the featured in this publication. number of leaders the Lord raised.

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Just as the Brethren Movement in Plymouth suffered one or more schisms, the Assemblies in India also have passed through more than one schism, though this did not lead to a split of the type that took place in Plymouth. The first schism took place over the issue of Native or Foreign control over the assemblies in India.

As the number of assemblies grew in India, between the brethren who had already split many foreign missionaries realized that using into two groups, but with that the problem financial and other influences they can easily came to an amicable settlement and the two control and manipulate the local leadership, groups continued in good fellowship with resulting presumably in portraying these each other. assemblies as the direct fruit of their labors in The third schism took place in late seventies this alien land. Thus it became necessary for them to marginalize the more able Indian and early eighties over the prophetic issue of Pre versus Post tribulation. Some men initially brethren. At the same time, many of these attracted a number of followers to Post brethren were able to lay hands upon reports circulated by these missionaries where they Tribulation view, but eventually what once had flared up as a subject of intense debate all tended to label Indian evangelists and church over India among the Brethren eventually died leaders as their "workers" dependent upon their paid rolls. a well deserved death. Even today a few die hard Post tribulationists continue to spread Thus a struggle for power arose between the their teachings, but this is ignored by the foreign missionaries and the Syrian Indians. majority. Most of the followers of Post The Syrians are Indian Christians who trace Tribulation have now become silent. their ancestry as far back to the arrival in India The fourth schism took place in the late of Saint Thomas. Having administered the church for two millennia without foreign nineteen nineties over the issue of whether there is revelation outside the Bible. Several support or intervention, they felt aggrieved at brothers, argued through their books to the the way the foreign missionaries were trying to wrest control into their hands and also the effect that almost all religions in general, and Hinduism in particular, contain Holy Spirit way they were sending reports to the inspired revelation. Having substantial countries of their origin. After much heartache the churches divided into missionary and following among the doctrinally uninitiated, and being men of great eloquence, they were Indian camps, but the mutual fellowship able to create quite a formidable wave in among them was not affected due mainly to the strong communal ties that bound the favor of "Revelation Outside The Bible" and against the fundamental doctrine of Sola Indian believers. Scriptura. The second schism took place in the nineteen Meanwhile a non-brethren man by the name sixties over funds that were collected from the USA by the India Gospel Mission (IGM). of Koshy Abraham built a whole Super Cult around a Hindu god by the name of Prajapati. Eventually it led to a public confrontation

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When certain apologists from the Brethren many evangelists who claim to be assemblies attacked the doctrines of this commended by Brethren assemblies but who Super Cult, some of the above-mentioned raise funds from non-Brethren sources and brothers fought against the Brethren people use it for ministry among the Brethren. lending support to the Super Cult doctrines. They have also been hosting Baptist speakers Some of them propagated all kinds of vicious lies to justify their alliance with heresy. A split in programs among the Brethren. In previous generations those brethren who decided to between the proponents of revelation-outside work under Baptist support were honest men, and Sola Scriptura seemed imminent, but eventually the confrontation died out when and demonstrated spiritual integrity, in that they moved out of the assemblies, rather than the majority of believers discovered the issues trying to keep a deceptive dual identity. at stake. They realized that many brethren had been lying deliberately to protect their heresy When the schisms among the Brethren in over against the Scriptural truths. Thus the Europe is compared with that in India, it majority chose to adhere to the received becomes obvious that in spite of much principle of Bible Alone, and the controversy bitterness and heat, the Indian church has died out without a final split. been better able to handle schismatic issues. While some bitterness always remains, even Marks of another schism are becoming after things are mended, it has not affected prominent as this essay is being revised and posted on the net. It is over the the overall unity and fellowship of the Brethren in India. This is a highly Brethren/Baptist identity of certain incoming commendable quality of the church in India. funds and the Brethren-Baptist identity of

The brethren in India have been theologically conservative right from the beginning. Thus they found it easy to assimilate the works produced by conservative and fundamentalist scholars in the West. However, having no widely agreed-upon statement of doctrine, and also the standard evangelical creeds not being available in Indian language, the average person finds it difficult to state the exact boundaries of his theological belief. This did create some difficulty from time to time when individuals (mostly from the previously mentioned career-seeking fourth generation) tried to pass erroneous doctrines as part of the "received" doctrines.

The first major confusion arose when many brethren, and eventually he left the Brethren Brethren tried to spread the Smithist fold to form his own False Cult. Even today he doctrines related to the person of Christ. His continues to enjoy some links and some attempts were soon repulsed by concerned sympathizers among the Brethren, but his

Sola Scriptura | Sola Fide Page 10 Brethren History Journal 01 overall influence upon the movement is Other confusions arose from time to time negligible. about the time of rapture (whether it is Pre or Post Tribulation), doctrine of Trinity, whether The second major doctrinal confusion is the there is revelation outside the Bible. Almost all Charismatic Confusion, and the chief reason is of them were dealt with effectively by the large number of intermarriages between brethren burdened for the church, and none Brethren and Pentecostal people, the majority of them had an impact wide enough to worry of which took place under the influence of the people who love the church of God. At the fourth-generation leaders. The Lord has raised same time it must be emphasized that the lull some men who are at present systematically that came in teaching during the dominance suppressing this error, but it will take much of the fourth generation has created wide more time to undo the harm that has already ranging spiritual illiteracy, and it will take quite been done. some time for the present generation teachers to fill in this gap.

Evangelism and church planting has always been a hallmark of the Brethren assemblies in India. This is the reason why the number grew from 0 to 2200 in just one century -- a growth probably unparalleled anywhere. Of this, the larger proportion of churches came into existence in the last 30 years when the foreign missionaries made an exit and the local leadership took the control and directing of the entire system into their hands.

Though there is a general resistance to the Orissa Brethren Movement where the focus is idea of para church organizations, the evangelism of a specific region. The number of Brethren assemblies in India have given such regional bodies is now in hundreds, and it formed a large number of church-related is impossible even to catalog them. movements that aid outreach and evangelism Literature ministries, radio ministries, open air in one way or other. YMEF, or the Young preaching, and house to house visitation are Men's Evangelistic Fellowship is a pioneer in this. Today YMEF units are found throughout quite common. Overall the Brethren in India are a group actively committed to evangelism, India and also in those countries where Indian and the spirit of sharing the gospel continues brethren gather. SBS has now become a trans- national ministry to children. Then there are to thrive. This is one reason that makes this writer optimistic about future of the Brethren regional bodies like Gospel Penetration Assemblies in India. Campaign, Bastar Evangelistic Fellowship, or

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Though there is a resistance against para church agencies, there are a large number of para church agencies in India, some of which work closely with the church while others do not have even a remote connection. Most of the Institutions that have come up indigenously and which are financed through contributions from Indian Brethren continue to maintain close ties with the assemblies. On the other hand, those organizations that were initiated by non Indians, and that continue to get support from non Indian sources tend to shy away from active fellowship with local assemblies. Part of the reason could be their desire not to become accountable to the Indian believers.

Institutions in India include, among others, orphanages, hospitals, schools, camp centers, literature ministries, radio ministries, bible schools, old age homes, etc. The net total result of such ministries has been greatly enriching to the church in India.

Right from the beginning the Brethren in India recognized the importance of the print media, and began publishing periodicals. The high level of literacy in the state of Kerala, the place where this movement had its origin, also helped. There never was a shortage of writers or subscribers. These publications helped foster a unity among diversity, and conserved the doctrinal orthodoxy and purity of believers. False teachings and false cults were attacked in the strongest possible words, creating in believers a desire for separation from all doctrinal evil.

Some of the publications currently popular are Suvisheshadhwani, Atmaprakashini, Suvisheshakan, Pravachana Pradeepika, Kunjumanas, Little Mind (all in Malayalam language), Masihi Gavahi (Hindi), Insight India, Steward News, Brethren News (all in English). (A more comprehensive list will be published in an article devoted to that topic in a future issue). There are some minor publications and one-man outfits, brought out mainly by individuals, and at times some of them have been quite divisive and indulge even in yellow journalism. But being of limited influence, they have not been able to do much damage.

Right from the first generation, the Brethren in India have produced a large number of publications with great breadth as well as depth in the subjects handled. So much so that even people from denominations antagonistic to the Brethren readily buy and read these books because of the unimpeachable scholarship and insight of the Brethren. This state of affairs continues to be the same today, even a hundred years after the beginning of the movement. The earlier writers included K. V. Simon, E. P. Varghese, Y. Ezekiel, K. G. Kurian, M. E. Cherian, A. M. Samuel, etc. Today there are many highly distributed writers and we will present a detailed study on them very soon.

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