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.
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.
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