Saturday, January 16, 2010

Our Baptismal Confession

Having witnessed several baptisms in various denominations, I recognize the fact many groups do not take a public confession of the individual being baptized just prior to the act of baptism and so these few comments today only reflect the nature of what takes place on a regular basis in my own fellowship. While not responsible for what I write, my youngest daughter at Abilene Christian University gave me the idea for these comments and I am more than pleased to see her taking hold of her own faith and not simply mimicking the things told her in the past.

Most members of my fellowship expect and some might even raise their hand and say, "wait a minute. We have not heard his/her confession yet," if we were to take someone into the water for baptism without having them stand before the congregation and state their belief that Jesus is the son of God. I will not go into it at this time but most of the congregations I have been affiliated with over the years will ask women if they belief Jesus is the son of God so she can give the only acceptable yes. After all, it is important to remember women MUST remain silent in our worship services and the only allowable alteration to this "command" from God is when they join in the "song service" and admit they believe Jesus is the son of God.

Returning to the focus of my comments, I finally realized while talking to my daughter the problem with divisions in our fellowship has nothing to do with people "leaving" the truth of scripture behind, but rather our failure to adequately ask for the RIGHT CONFESSION!

It is not enough to know of the person recognizing Jesus as the son of God; the son of God who came and gave His life for our sin. Since the Church is obviously responsible for adding members to the body of Christ, we need to know more about their ability to match the "true" commands of God. We fail because we do not have them stand and confirm their displeasure of women praying in the service, instruments being used, a girl collecting the attendance cards, women serving communion to the membership and a myriad of other items demanded by those seeking to take the Lordship from Christ.

In my search of through the bible, I do not find the official creed of the Churches of Christ demanded by so many for fellowship and I am saddened these same people will even allow someone the opportunity of baptism and tell them their name is being written in the book without knowing they are "true believers."

I hope we will soon get to a point in our fellowship where we recognize our understanding of God does not position us as the official scribe for the Book of Life!

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

What IS Actually Stated?

In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering , but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. Genesis 4:3-5 NIV

Still thinking of my "New Year's Resolution," I thought I might briefly mention one of the stories in the Bible where we have often taught more than is actually stated by the passage. I was reminded of this because my 7th grade bible class has been focusing on anger this week and our book uses the story of Cain and Abel to open our discussion for the week.

The author of the book makes a point to tell the reader why Cain's sacrifice was not acceptable to God. The reason given and the one I was brought up being taught was how Cain's sacrifice was of the soil and not a "blood" sacrifice (checking with some of my brothers and sisters tells me that this is not much of a belief any longer so BRAVO).

My question to those saying it was not acceptable because it was not a blood sacrifice seems pretty simple. Where does the passage tell us of this deficiency. From the quote above, we can suggest some possibilities but even our suggestions are little more than "my opinion." One suggestion might be how Cain offered "some" of the fruits and Abel offered the "fat" portion of his firstborn. As I read the passage, it looks like Abel offered the best of the best and Cain just took some of what he had and made an offering.

I told the kids how I almost get the feeling of Cain's sacrifice being in response to Abels offering and not something that he really desired in the heart to give. I then followed up with what has become our class statement and reminded them how this was "my thoughts" and not from a biblical statement.

Speaking to one of the other bible teachers between chapels, I mentioned how thankful I am for those who encouraged me to read for myself and not accept what I have been told "as truth." As I discover more and more of what has been taught to be without support in the bible, the fuel of excitement found in each new discovery brings a great sense of joy.

Much like our government, we have been weakened by accepting what we are told. As I witness the swelling tide of those excited about the message actually found in the bible, when they read for themselves, I can also hope (politically) to find people who will examine our country in the same light.

People like control and to control great masses of people, we need to have them believe we know what we are talking about. We only lose our control when people begin to think for themselves.

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Further Defining Us As A Denomination

As New Year's Resolutions go, we all seem to have a problem keeping them for very long and one of mine is to post shorter comments on the blog as they come to me. I love writing and when I get going it is often hard to stop short of 1000+ words.

My thoughts on this occasion were brought on by reading/scanning the Christian Chronicle. In one of the advertisements for the "official" listing of Churches of Christ in America, the company made a point to mention those Churches of Christ deleted from the registry. Richland Hills Church of Christ was one of the ones deleted and the specific reason stated does not matter since the point was made of them not adhering to the "official" creeds "accepted" by the Churches of Christ.

There are some who object to my use of the word denomination when referencing the Church of Christ because I have been taught that each congregation is autonomous. My heritage also created a belief in my earlier years regarding the name Church of Christ being the only "acceptable" name for those claiming to be true Christians.

When I think of those who have assembled the "official" listing of the Churches of Christ, I must draw certain conclusions from their statement of exclusion.

The first conclusion is that the Churches of Christ are not individual congregations autonomous to the rest of the congregations and "allowed" to make their own decisions. It is obvious in the advertisement each congregation calling themselves Church of Christ can only make decisions agreeable with the HIERARCHY defining the boundaries or creed for the Churches of Christ.

Another conclusion is that an official hierarchy for the Churches of Christ does exist and a church congregation should not be using the "official" name for the body of Christ if they do not wish to follow the official creed of the Church of Christ. This hierarchy is made up of those who have disowned those of our fellowship not following a pattern defined and created by man.

I guess I should keep at least one entry short and so I think you have the idea by now. May God help any of us who thinks we have an exclusive right to determine who and who is not a Christian. When we get right down to the main idea, I am convinced God ignores the name on the building where I meet with other Christians and can easily see the name of Him who is written on our hearts and guarantees our name being found in the Book of Life.

I am thankful that more and more Christians around our community are realizing and acknowledging the work of God in the lives of more people than those who meet at the "right" place. Yes, it has always been easy to see the demonstration of the Holy Spirit living in others once you take off the blindfold demanding exclusion.