[testallthings]

Why the Different Patterns?
The Open and Exclusive Brethren branches share much in common. Both stood apart from
“organized Christianity” and denounced the clergy-laity system. On the positive side, both are
fundamental, emphasizing Bible teaching and the Lord’s Table. The divergent patterns of growth must
be explained by their distinctive emphases. Open Brethren emphasize the local administration of each
assembly. They reject all forms of centralized Church government. In contrast, the Exclusives stress the
coordinated action of assemblies expressing the universal Church (‘the Body’).(Dr. Nigel Tomes, THE CHURCH UNDER ATTACK
—GEORGE MULLER & BETHESDA CHAPEL, BRISTOL—
AN HISTORICAL CASE STUDY, p.4)

According to Dr. N.T. the decline of the Exclusives had to do with their stress on “the
coordinated action of assemblies expressing the universal Church (‘the Body’)”.
He also mentions the “global leadership”, and the fact that the Exclusives became more closed.
Later in asking, Does the “local ground” Prevent Division?, in quoting Nee he concludes saying, “The ground of locality teaching alone is not a ‘silver bullet’ dealing with division. The root cause, the flesh, needs to be dealt with.” (p. 6). I am surprised that in analyzing the different patterns he only stressed the different “systems”.

If believers (and not) use the wright principles but do not preach the gospel they will not see much growth. On the other hand if groups with wrong principles (I am not writing about Open Brethren) preach the gospel they will increase (consider the Jehowah Witness and the Mormom, for example).

Using Dr. N. T. words, “the decentralized structure of locally-administered ‘Open’ assemblies” alone is not a “silver bullet” dealing with growth.