Hi Javier,

In general I think your evaluation of the Bible Students if roughly correct. Although some of the Free Bible Students that meet at Grove City have become more like Evangelicals, there are many who have not. One of the things that troubles me is that some have become politically connected on the right and some on the left. There are some who have pretty well abandoned traditional Bible Student values that have been healthy aspects of the Bible Student tradition: conscientious objection and non-trinitarianism. And many outsiders have been welcomed who are true Evangelicals. On the other hand, there are some who would be tagged as left-wing liberals by American standards. A few regard abortion as acceptable. Naturally, these things--left and right--cause some stress, but generally they do not end up in breaking fellowship. Of course, probably the great majority still hold to the soul sleep, non-trinitarianism, and conscientious objection.

Some time ago Grove City started making a big thing about July 4, and both Ron Frey and I, at different times, raised concerns. As a result some of the committees decided to be more careful, and some have thanked us. After all, there are Christians in all nations (or at least most) but there are no Christian nations.

So in summation I would say that for most of those who attend Grove City their greatest strength is in a way their greatest weakness. They allow too much freedom to remain a continuing group, and too many do drift off into other churches and accept the values of the larger society, both right and left, which they don't evaluate properly from a biblical standpoint. In other words, they are going in the same direction that certain Mennonite Churches, but not all, have gone.

My understanding is that the Christian Believers, who are a part of the Free Bible Student movement are somewhat more Conservative Bible Students. Most are against military service and are solidly committed to non-trinitarianism. However, I'll be able to give a better picture soon because I will be attending the Christian Believers conference next week.

The things that separate the Free Bible Students from the more Conservative ones that are basically the Dawn, Chicago, Divine Plan, etc. who are really Russellites and are wedded to Russell's teachings in the January 1, 1907 Watch Tower. The do not believe that Christ is their Mediator (they say he is their advocate), they do not believe they are under the New Covenant, and they think that the 144,000 participate in the sin offering for the world. Paradoxically, they still use the Studies in the Scriptures (not Vol.7) which teach doctrines contrary to Russell's January 1, 1907 Watch Tower. This is why Free Bible Students and particularly the Christian Believers take issue with them and why I feel free to fellowship with the Free Bible students but not those that go to the General Conference.

Jim