Needed Truth Magazine
Encyclopedia
Needed Truth Magazine is a Christian, Plymouth Brethren
magazine which first appeared in 1888 in Scotland
. The magazine discussed whether reception was to the Lord's Table, or if reception was to the assembly itself. This distinction had implications whether a believer from other evangelical churches could occasionally meet with the saints in a New Testament assembly. The publication of the magazine crystallised the two sides of the argument to such an extent that within five years they ceased to be in intercommunion.
Eventually, several assemblies who subscribed to the ideas of Needed Truth magazine separated out into what some called Needed Truth Brethren
("The Separation"). There are currently over 100 of these assemblies still in existence around the world in the UK, USA, Canada, Burma, India, Nigeria, Ghana, Malawi, Australia, Jamaica, Belgium (although they designate themselves as the "Church and Churches of God"). They operate a website - see http://www.churchesofgod.info/index.php. Needed Truth magazine still exists 120 years later, and in 2008 was revamped into an A4 full colour format with a new title - "NT". It now features regular testimonies and interviews with people actively involved in Christian work alongside its historic mix of articles on the person and work of Christ, Christian living, the context of Bible times, prophecy, and the relationship between assemblies.
The ideas in the magazine also influenced many assemblies which did not separate, in that they eventually took on Needed Truth teaching and formed another sub-sect, the Gospel Hall Brethren
.
Plymouth Brethren
The Plymouth Brethren is a conservative, Evangelical Christian movement, whose history can be traced to Dublin, Ireland, in the late 1820s. Although the group is notable for not taking any official "church name" to itself, and not having an official clergy or liturgy, the title "The Brethren," is...
magazine which first appeared in 1888 in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The magazine discussed whether reception was to the Lord's Table, or if reception was to the assembly itself. This distinction had implications whether a believer from other evangelical churches could occasionally meet with the saints in a New Testament assembly. The publication of the magazine crystallised the two sides of the argument to such an extent that within five years they ceased to be in intercommunion.
Eventually, several assemblies who subscribed to the ideas of Needed Truth magazine separated out into what some called Needed Truth Brethren
Needed Truth Brethren
Needed Truth Brethren, as they are sometimes known, call themselves, “The Churches of God in the Fellowship of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ". This is their official legal title, however other Christians might classify them as a very conservative form of Brethrenism, connexional in nature;...
("The Separation"). There are currently over 100 of these assemblies still in existence around the world in the UK, USA, Canada, Burma, India, Nigeria, Ghana, Malawi, Australia, Jamaica, Belgium (although they designate themselves as the "Church and Churches of God"). They operate a website - see http://www.churchesofgod.info/index.php. Needed Truth magazine still exists 120 years later, and in 2008 was revamped into an A4 full colour format with a new title - "NT". It now features regular testimonies and interviews with people actively involved in Christian work alongside its historic mix of articles on the person and work of Christ, Christian living, the context of Bible times, prophecy, and the relationship between assemblies.
The ideas in the magazine also influenced many assemblies which did not separate, in that they eventually took on Needed Truth teaching and formed another sub-sect, the Gospel Hall Brethren
Gospel Hall Brethren
The Gospel Hall Brethren are an aggregate of independent and autonomous Christian fellowships at different locations, which are networked together through a set of shared Biblical doctrines and practices...
.
External links
- Full-colour Magazine available from the website of Hayes Press Christian Publishers or see the Needed Truth website at www.neededtruth.net