BASF, general weaknesses
(1) The BASF uses uncommon and difficult words, suitable
perhaps for a legal document of the Victorian era, but not nearly so suitable in
a document we hope will be read (and understood!) by people in general today.
(If any reader feels inclined to exclaim, "Why in the world should we want
people in general today to understand it?", then it may be because he has not
seriously considered our body's duty to proclaim the gospel to the world!)
Probably many readers can define such words as these, but can
our neighbors (or even our Sunday School scholars) define them?:
- extant
- bequeath
- transcription
- metropolis
- underived
- abolition
- inaugurate
- immaculate
- abrogate
- coercion
- propitiation
(2) In addition to archaic and difficult words, the BASF uses
lengthy and complex sentences -- which obscure the meanings of some wonderfully
simple concepts. (This may be seen -- for one example -- in the Foundation
clause of the BASF.)
(3) The BASF omits any clear statement of the fundamental
Bible teaching of justification by faith. Corresponding to this is its failure
to mention conversion or repentance in connection with baptism. These oversights
may reinforce an unfortunate Christadelphian tendency: to understand, and
perhaps to proclaim, salvation as a mechanical process ('learn the facts, and
then be baptized') more than as a moral awakening ('change your life, and then
be reborn').
(4) The failure to teach the doctrine of the One Body has
reinforced a sad Christadelphian tendency: to divide too quickly, too often, and
too easily. This lack of specific teaching on the subject has encouraged us to
put far more weight on, and more effort into, maintaining the purity of the
Truth than maintaining the unity of the Body!
(5) The BASF is characterized by a complete absence of "love"
as an attribute or motivation of God or Jesus Christ in their work. Also, there
is a complete absence of "mercy" in connection with either the Father or the
Son.
(6) The BASF tends to say too much in stating a principle, and
(sometimes) to suggest inadvertently what is plainly wrong: ie,
- that Abraham's and David's line was "condemned" above all other men (VIII);
- that Abraham and his seed Christ will not inherit the whole world (XXI --
but apparently overridden by XXII); and
- that somehow in the Kingdom death
will exist in a "much milder degree" than it does today
(XXVI)!
(7) The BASF puts excessive emphasis (in Clauses XXVI through
XXX) upon events of the Last Days, for which our Scriptural approaches to
defining "essential doctrine" yield no evidence for inclusion. Considering the
scant evidence from any part of the Bible for the literality of the thousand
years reign of Christ, and for a "general resurrection and judgment" at the end
of that period, these statements might well have been omitted from a statement
of faith purporting to define fundamental and saving truth. (This is not to say
that these two items, or any other points in the last five clauses, are wrong --
only that they are not nearly so well-attested as most of the earlier portions,
and that they are demonstrably not of the same "first principles" status. It
should go without saying that other, more detailed interpretations of Last Days
prophecies must likewise be kept out of "first principles" status, even if some
brethren might wish to lift them there.)