BACK

observances and brotherly relationships are minimal if they exist at all. Persons may then turn to such organisations as the Free Masons to find brotherly relations. The Masons are often spoken of as the Brotherhood.

The brotherhood is something spoken of in the New Testament rather than the Old. A concordance will show that there is only one reference to the brotherhood in the Old and that is in Zechariah 11:14 and this speaks of the breaking of the brotherhood between Judah and Israel. Similarly, what is brotherly is only spoken of once in the Old Testament and that in Amos 1:9 where Tyre is condemned for not remembering the brotherly covenant. The brotherly relationship shines particularly against a background of what is hostile to Christ. Israel was a recognisable nation on earth, but the Christians’ links to one another are of a spiritual nature, hence their link to Christ is shown by their brotherly relationship and not by their nationality.

The idea of what is brotherly is not limited to Peter’s epistles. Paul says in Romans 12:10: “As to brotherly love, kindly affectioned towards one another”. Again in 1 Thessalonians 4:9 he says: “ Now concerning brotherly love ye have no need that we should write to you, for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another”. If we are not being taught of God in this matter it raises a question as to where we are spiritually. We should challenge ourselves if such a lack exists with ourselves or in our churches. In Hebrews 13:1 it says: “Let brotherly love abide”. It is something that is to continue and not just to be a flash in the pan. Further, it should still exist even towards those who are walking disorderly though it may have to show itself in rebuke rather than in the use of terms of endearment. As has been often pointed out in Revelation 1:13 Christ was “girt about at the breasts with a golden girdle”, indicating that his affections were restrained because of the state of the assemblies.

Reverting to Peter he speaks of unfeigned brotherly love and of loving one another out of a pure heart fervently (1 Peter 1:22). Note the love is to be unfeigned, it is not to be unreal. We are not to use nice words to our brethren which we don’t really mean. Further, Peter speaks of what is fervent. It is really a matter of being on fire with love for our brethren. I expect most if not all of us realise how far short we

NEXT