Friday, July 06, 2007
Heavy Friday
The following is a quote from a post on Adam (http://adamellis.blogspot.com/) Ellis’ blog on April 11. Adam is the youth minister from the Grand Central Church in Vienna, WV. “The curious thing about Churches of Christ is that generally, we are have become fairly anti-historical. Somewhere along the way, we developed the idea that we were the 1st century church. Some of our church buildings are even adorned with plaques declaring that we were “founded in A.D. 33”! I was in my early 20’s before I ever even heard of the American Restoration Movement.”
Adam has stated something that has baffled me for some time. Like Adam, it would be years between my association with our movement and the introduction of our historical heritage. Being a frustrated student of History I have to wonder why? Thankfully I’m at a church that from time to time enlightens folks about our Restoration Movement Heritiage. Like any family heritage it is a heritage that we have people and moments to be proud of and then there are the people and moments that make you go “oy vey.”
All of this brings me to two questions which are kind of heavy for a Friday so let’s designate today as “Heavy Friday.” Question #1 – Why do some Churches of Christ ignore our historical heritage? Is it due to trying to hide those “oy vey” moments?
Question #2 – Maybe some of you know when and why our fellowship began to think of itself as (they say in Ohio – “The Ohio State University”) “The” first century church. My question is, what are some of the effects or results of this thinking, both good and bad?”
O.K., boys and girls, lets put those thinking caps on and have a good weekend in the process.
P.S.
Monday's Post is courtesy of an excellent post from John Dobbs ( http://johndobbs.wordpress.com/) called "Transitions." The title will be "Parking Lot - Full or Empty." See you then.
Adam has stated something that has baffled me for some time. Like Adam, it would be years between my association with our movement and the introduction of our historical heritage. Being a frustrated student of History I have to wonder why? Thankfully I’m at a church that from time to time enlightens folks about our Restoration Movement Heritiage. Like any family heritage it is a heritage that we have people and moments to be proud of and then there are the people and moments that make you go “oy vey.”
All of this brings me to two questions which are kind of heavy for a Friday so let’s designate today as “Heavy Friday.” Question #1 – Why do some Churches of Christ ignore our historical heritage? Is it due to trying to hide those “oy vey” moments?
Question #2 – Maybe some of you know when and why our fellowship began to think of itself as (they say in Ohio – “The Ohio State University”) “The” first century church. My question is, what are some of the effects or results of this thinking, both good and bad?”
O.K., boys and girls, lets put those thinking caps on and have a good weekend in the process.
P.S.
Monday's Post is courtesy of an excellent post from John Dobbs ( http://johndobbs.wordpress.com/) called "Transitions." The title will be "Parking Lot - Full or Empty." See you then.
Comments:
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Cecil, in part ... if we re-embrace the Restoration ideal, we will have to let go of sectarian exclusivism ... and that's something that many COC'ers do not want to do. As I said in my post today, if we would embrace and protect God's mission as fiercely as we have our own traditions and dogma, revival would break out.
I can't wait for Monday's post! You're an encourager...thanks.
I can't wait for Monday's post! You're an encourager...thanks.
I think you will find most of the answers to your questions in Richard Hughes' book, Reviving the Ancient Faith: The Story of Churches of Christ in America.
He says that many in Churches of Christ find their identity in refusing to accept that they have an identity.
Exclusivism is an attitude and posture that developed and crystallized primarily during the 50's and 60's but it has been with us ever since.
When I spoke at First Baptist of Melbourne back in June, Larry Bazer introduced me. He said that I was the first Church of Christ pastor that would have anything to do with him. I chuckled, but felt a deep sense of sadness that we in churcheds of Christ don't have anything to do with our brothers and sisters in other churches and that we don't cooperate for the common good of our communities.
That's my two cents worth.
Peace.
He says that many in Churches of Christ find their identity in refusing to accept that they have an identity.
Exclusivism is an attitude and posture that developed and crystallized primarily during the 50's and 60's but it has been with us ever since.
When I spoke at First Baptist of Melbourne back in June, Larry Bazer introduced me. He said that I was the first Church of Christ pastor that would have anything to do with him. I chuckled, but felt a deep sense of sadness that we in churcheds of Christ don't have anything to do with our brothers and sisters in other churches and that we don't cooperate for the common good of our communities.
That's my two cents worth.
Peace.
Well, I finally got in. Have nothing to add to our phone conversation, really, just that I've been in congregations that did and did not teach the history of the Restoration Movement. I am in appreciation of the efforts of those guys who were active in it. I believe the Bible to be God's inspired Word, just as my fellow blog church members do, and even though any human movement is flawed, as we discussed, I think anything that attempts to point us to the Word is a good thing.
jd - It is amazing how easily guys like Lipscomb moved and spoke with and at "denominational" churches and yet I'm sure they would be "marked" by many of our churches today. Sad.
Puck - I need Hughes' book. Great quote and God bless you for your relationship with other Pastors in your area.
Judy - I enjoyed our two conversations today. Feel free to call any time.
Puck - I need Hughes' book. Great quote and God bless you for your relationship with other Pastors in your area.
Judy - I enjoyed our two conversations today. Feel free to call any time.
I think it's because we don't want to be labeled as Cambellites. Alexander Campbell was a brave, intelligent man, but he was just a man. He was fallible. He didn't have all the answers (as none of us do) but he was open minded and courageous enough to venture to seek the truth. A great example for all of us today, however, I think we should focus on the fact that the church was founded by Jesus not Alexander Campbell or any of the others in the RM. Just my two cents worth.
Paula - Welcome to the West Cocoa Chat and this blog community that has become a blog church.
I totally agree with you - God's people must be about what the First Century Church was about; finding their identity, their pattern if you will in Jesus.
I think where we in our Fellowship get crossed up is thinking that "we," those of us that our part of the Churches of Christ are "The" perfect embodiment of that perfect “Church” that we read about in Scripture. That church has never existed on a "human level" because if it had or did, it would be the perfect model of Jesus. We need only to read some of Paul’s corrective letters to various churches to realize that they like us attempted to be the Body of Christ but at times they like us, fell short.
I know for me, if I look at our movement’s history I see a lot of good work done in the name of Jesus and yet just like my First Century Brothers, we can also see some the things that we needed to repent of such as racist and segregationist attitudes and practices as late as the late 60’s and a widely held belief that the Holy Spirit is a “retired author” that once permeated our Fellowship.
I think acknowledging these kinds of things about our movement’s history drives me to my knees which is where we should be in light of John 4 when Jesus says there is a time coming to “worship in Spirit and Truth.” The “truth” that Jesus speaks of is not doctrinal correctness but the Hebrew concept of taking my mask off before God. I think this is a good practice for both individuals and churches.
Thanks again for your comments Paula and have a good day.
I totally agree with you - God's people must be about what the First Century Church was about; finding their identity, their pattern if you will in Jesus.
I think where we in our Fellowship get crossed up is thinking that "we," those of us that our part of the Churches of Christ are "The" perfect embodiment of that perfect “Church” that we read about in Scripture. That church has never existed on a "human level" because if it had or did, it would be the perfect model of Jesus. We need only to read some of Paul’s corrective letters to various churches to realize that they like us attempted to be the Body of Christ but at times they like us, fell short.
I know for me, if I look at our movement’s history I see a lot of good work done in the name of Jesus and yet just like my First Century Brothers, we can also see some the things that we needed to repent of such as racist and segregationist attitudes and practices as late as the late 60’s and a widely held belief that the Holy Spirit is a “retired author” that once permeated our Fellowship.
I think acknowledging these kinds of things about our movement’s history drives me to my knees which is where we should be in light of John 4 when Jesus says there is a time coming to “worship in Spirit and Truth.” The “truth” that Jesus speaks of is not doctrinal correctness but the Hebrew concept of taking my mask off before God. I think this is a good practice for both individuals and churches.
Thanks again for your comments Paula and have a good day.
Sorry, bro, but I had to refrain from saying what I'd want to say. I'm not sure you have enough bandwidth to handle it. Suffice it to say, JD and Puck captured much of what I would have said.
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