Subject: A Difficult Decision
Dear Friends and Family,
It is with heavy hearts that we write this letter, as it signifies a significant departure from the fellowship we’ve known for our entire lives. We want to express our sincere gratitude for the many positive experiences and relationships we’ve cherished within this fellowship. We deeply value the lessons we’ve learned, the support we’ve received, and the sense of belonging we’ve felt since childhood.
However, after much prayer, study, and reflection, we’ve reached a point where we can no longer reconcile our understanding of scripture with certain doctrines and practices within the church. Specifically, our personal studies of the Bible have revealed significant doctrinal differences that we can no longer ignore. Our understanding of grace and works, for example, differs significantly from the emphasis placed on works within the fellowship. Furthermore, we can no longer agree with the pervasive belief in exclusivity that permeates every aspect of our fellowship’s teaching. This belief has cultivated a form of religion that, in our view, does not align with scriptural truth. It has fostered a culture of high control, where those who question the ministry are ignored, ostracized, ridiculed, and maligned. Tradition and ministerial authority are prioritized over the very scriptures we claim to follow.
The recent revelations of child sexual abuse (CSA) and other forms of abuse within the community, and among the workers, have deeply troubled us. Perhaps even more troubling is the lack of a Christ-like response. Victims have been repeatedly dismissed or further harmed, and those who advocate for them have been ignored, ridiculed, and excommunicated. These actions directly contradict the fundamental principles of love, compassion, and accountability that should guide any Christian community, as clearly outlined in the Bible. We can no longer, in good conscience, remain in a fellowship that tolerates or conceals such actions.
This decision has not been made lightly; it is by far the hardest decision we have ever had to make. We understand that it may cause pain and disappointment, and we want to assure you that we hold no ill will towards any of you personally. We respect the sincerity of your beliefs and the dedication you have to your faith.
We understand that this decision will likely mean a separation from the community, and we are prepared for that, while also mourning the loss of cherished friendships. We ask for your understanding and respect for our decision. We have learned that discussions regarding scripture and belief that contradict the workers’ doctrine of exclusivity are not received well. However, if anyone wishes to explore our specific scriptural and doctrinal concerns, we have attached below a more detailed outline of our thoughts.
Before we conclude, we want to reiterate that our love for each of you remains steadfast. Though we feel God is leading us away from this particular form of worship, our hearts are still open to you. We would love to continue our relationships and spend time together. We understand this decision may cause pain, and we sincerely apologize for any hurt we may have caused. Our intention is not to offend, but to follow what we believe is God’s calling. We have come to realize that, above all else, we must prioritize pleasing God and listening to His voice, even when it means making difficult choices.
The easiest path would have been to remain in our comfort zone, surrounded by the friends, family, and traditions we have always known and loved. But God has made it clear that there will be no peace in remaining silent and ignoring His Spirit, so we will move forward in faith. No longer a faith in men, tradition, meetings, and form, but a simple faith that God is able to direct and keep us.
We wish you all the best in your spiritual journeys and will continue to pray for each of you.
Sincerely,
David and Rita Harbur
Colorado
circa March 1, 2025
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Discerning True Grace: A Call to Faith Over Tradition
1. Salvation: Faith & Works, Salvation & Righteousness
If we believe in God and eternity, then arguably the most important question we can answer is about our salvation. How are we saved? Who is saved? When are we saved?
Scripture provides clear answers: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). “So, it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, ‘It is through faith that a righteous person has life'” (Galatians 3:11-12). “He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy” (Titus 3:4-5). “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16-18). “I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13)
According to Scripture, all people who believe are saved. This salvation is a free gift, given when we believe, immediately. It is given because of God’s grace when we have true faith in our Savior and in the redeeming sacrifice of his blood.
The evidence and work of salvation is the Holy Spirit living within us, teaching us all truth, and producing the fruit of the Spirit, primarily love (Galatians 5:22-23, 1 John 4:12-13, 15-16). This is God’s work in us through the Holy Spirit.
A living faith in the salvation Jesus promised leads to complete belief in him. “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith” (Romans 4:3). A simple, complete belief in the free gift of salvation is hard for people to have. We want to earn it, to feel worthy. This desire leads to pride, self-righteousness, judgment of others, and justification by works.
“We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). “Unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!” (Matthew 5:20). Jesus was saying that only his righteousness, given to us when we believe, is worthy of salvation.
Jesus was not telling his followers that they must become better Pharisees, or follow a new religious system, or improve your own righteousness. He was saying that the best human righteousness produced by the best, most religious Jews of that day would never be good enough. He was saying that the only righteousness worthy of salvation was His! The righteousness He gives us when we believe on Him, when we stop trying to justify ourselves with our own works and simply believe in his blood.
True faith does not allow for pride and self-righteousness. It does not judge and condemn other Christians. It recognizes that all believers are brothers and sisters. True salvation is marked by the Holy Spirit, which brings love among believers, and an individual, personal relationship with our Creator.
If we have a living faith in God and Jesus, we will have confidence in salvation now, confidence in the indwelling Holy Spirit and His work in us, love for all, and complete peace knowing God is faithful to keep us.
2. Behold the Lamb: Sacrifice and Judgment
“Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). This proclamation encapsulates the core of Christian faith: salvation through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Jesus’ ministry began and ended with profound lessons on sacrifice. His first miracle, turning water into wine (John 2), foreshadowed his ultimate act of self-sacrifice. Just as he transformed water into the finest wine, he transformed the common blood sacrifice of animals into the perfect, eternal sacrifice of himself, offering redemption to all who believe.
Following this, Jesus cleansed the temple (John 2:13-17), forcefully expelling the merchants and money changers. This act symbolized the rejection of corrupt sacrificial systems. In that era, families would bring their best lambs, only to have them rejected by priests, who then profited from selling “approved” lambs at exorbitant prices. Jesus’ actions declared that our pitiful sacrifices, which could never achieve cleansing or righteousness, were forever replaced by his perfect sacrifice on the cross.
Sadly, despite Jesus’ clear opposition to a system of judging personal sacrifice, we continue to cling to it. We find it difficult to have faith solely in the free gift of Jesus’ cleansing blood, preferring to believe in something we bring to the table. This practice leads to self-righteousness, false faith, and the misplaced judgment of other believers.
Within our fellowship, participation in meetings, communion, and baptism are often contingent upon a judgment of perceived worthiness. This contradicts the New Testament model, where baptism was an immediate declaration of faith (Acts 2:38, 41). We have imposed waiting periods and examinations, disregarding the truth that it is Jesus’ sacrifice alone that makes us worthy.
Communion, intended as a remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice and a recognition of our shared sinfulness, is also regulated by human judgment. Instead of examining ourselves (1 Corinthians 11:28), we judge each other, implicitly claiming our own superiority. This practice undermines the very essence of communion, which is to acknowledge our shared need for Christ’s sacrifice.
This misguided emphasis on judging human works directly impacts our understanding of the exclusivity of God’s church. Exclusivity breeds a dangerous form of judgment, where we compare our perceived sacrifices and works to those of other believers, or other churches, claiming exclusive rights to salvation. This undermines the sufficiency of Christ’s perfect sacrifice, suggesting that our own efforts are somehow necessary to complete what He began. Such judgment disregards the clear message of Scripture: salvation is a free gift, received through faith in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9, John 3:16-18). To believe we have a monopoly on salvation, based on our own works, is to place our own “pitiful, wretched sacrifice” on the altar, effectively saying Christ’s sacrifice is insufficient. This belief leads to self-righteousness, condemnation of other believers, and a profound doubt in our own salvation, distorting and even destroying our faith. True faith rests solely on the finished work of Christ on the cross (1 Corinthians 15:2-4, Romans 10:3-4).
3. Our Religion: Idols and Exclusivity
Our form of ministry, though not inherently wrong (some in the Bible were celibate and traveled in pairs), has become an idol. We condemn other believers based on their adherence to our specific practices, elevating our ministry above Christ. This contradicts Jesus’ own words: “Do not stop him, for whoever is not against us is for us” (Mark 9:39-40), and Paul’s words: “But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice” (Philippians 1:15-18).
We have made our ministry—traveling in pairs, without homes, salaries, or spouses—the sole standard of true service and ministry. In doing so, we ignore scripture.
Jesus sent the apostles to the world, just as God sent him, with the Holy Spirit (John 20:21-22). The book of Acts and the epistles demonstrate that the gospel message was often preached by individuals or groups, not exclusively by pairs. It is a fact that the gospel was preached by pairs only twenty five percent of the time as recorded in scripture.
We ignore Jesus and Paul’s teachings that those who preach the gospel should be supported (1 Corinthians 9:9-12). We twist the concept of a “hireling” to condemn those who receive support, ignoring that Jesus condemned those who abandoned the sheep, not those who were paid.
We ignore that Jesus chose married men with homes as apostles, and that Paul condemned those who demanded celibacy, calling it a doctrine of devils (1 Timothy 4:1-3). We ignore that the apostles returned to their homes at various times, and we ignore Paul’s own words that many preaching the gospel had wives and the right to be married (1 Corinthians 9:5).
Our form of worship and appearance has become another idol. We believe meeting in homes and dressing conservatively makes us superior. While these practices are not inherently wrong, they are not prescribed as the only way to worship. Early Christians met in various locations (synagogues, temple courts, schools, caves, by rivers). Jesus emphasized worship in “spirit and truth” (John 4:24), not in specific locations. While condemning other churches for meeting in a church building, we hypocritically pour millions of dollars into maintaining church convention buildings all around the world.
We create laws about outward appearance, ignoring that the church is identified by love: “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). Holding these works up as standards for condemnation is self-righteousness, the opposite of the love and compassion Jesus preached.
We have become modern-day Pharisees, consumed with our form of religion and earned righteousness. Exclusivity, the belief that our church is the only way to heaven, is a lie. This lie promotes men over God, the ministry over the Holy Spirit, our works over Christ’s sacrifice, traditions over the Word, self-righteousness over grace, judgment over mercy, and form over love.
This belief poisons every aspect of our church. We cannot accept the simple concept of free grace because exclusivity is based on works. We cannot accept the Holy Spirit’s work in other believers simply because they are not part of our church. Exclusivity demands that our ministry is the only “Spirit-led” ministry, leading to pride and self-righteousness. This has led to a culture where the ministry is always right and all questions and any who question are labeled as losing the Spirit, unwilling, against God and even from the devil.
Conclusion:
Let us repent of our pride and self-righteousness, and beg God to give us a true vision of His grace, love, and mercy. Let us turn from the idols of human works and embrace the liberating truth of salvation through faith in Christ alone.
Questions for Reflection Based on Scripture:
Salvation & Grace (Ephesians 2:8-9): “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
• Do we truly believe that salvation is a free gift of God’s grace, or do we subtly rely on our own efforts, traditions, and works?
Christ’s Sacrifice (John 1:29): “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
• Do we fully rely on Christ’s sacrifice as the sole basis for our forgiveness and acceptance by God?
• Do we place other requirements on people to be saved, besides belief in this sacrifice?
Faith (Romans 4:3): “For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.'”
• Is our faith a living, active trust in God’s promises, or is it merely trust in our works?
• Do we understand that our faith is what God uses to justify us?
The Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23): “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
• Does our life demonstrate the fruit of the Holy Spirit, or are we driven by our own efforts to appear righteous before men?
• Do we recognize the Holy Spirit working in other believers, even if their practice of worship and ministry differ slightly from our own?
Love and Unity (John 13:35): “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
• Is our fellowship marked by genuine love and unity, or are we divided by judgment, exclusion, and condemnation?
• How can we actively cultivate love and unity within our community and toward all believers?
The Sufficiency of Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17): “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
• Do we truly believe that Scripture is sufficient for all matters of faith and practice, or do we selectively interpret or disregard it when it contradicts our established beliefs or traditions?
Judgment (Matthew 7:1-2): “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
• Are we quick to judge others based on their beliefs and practices, or do we extend grace and understanding?
• How can we replace a judgmental spirit with a spirit of mercy and compassion?