Huge Ad Shows Arrogance Of One Denomination

There was a very large, full page ad, in the 22 October issue of the Pulaski Citizen that spoke to the issue of unity among churches. While I see unity as a very valuable, desirable goal, I, like the writer do not see unity at all cost as feasible or even reasonable. I certainly would not seek unity with one on such an arrogant level as presented in that ad.  

This statement in particular is most troubling, arrogant and totally misleading; “No matter what we might “think” or “wish”- ONLY those in the Lord’s  ONE CHURCH are those who are in fellowship with God. Those who are in a church which was started by man, with doctrines of man, engage in practices created by man are NOT the Lord’s church.” With this comment the writer clearly alienates and condemns every other Christian who does not think exactly as does he. 

The comment , “those in a church started by man are not in the Lord’s Church” is so misleading it’s almost laughable especially when it comes from someone who is a member of a church with exactly that history.  The ad was identified as having been placed by the churches of Christ and it is to those who posted the ad that I address my comments.

As a Christ follower I absolutely believe that to be obedient one must be part of a church family that belongs to Christ, if it doesn’t then it’s no different from any other social club. The problem lies in determining which church actually belongs to Christ. I contend that the church family that is obedient to Christ is the true Church and has little to do with the name that has been placed above the door.  The name people chose for their place to gather and worship is more to define their manner of worship rather than the fact they do worship.  To refer to oneself as a Methodist, a Baptist, a Pentecostal, etc. is to simply say we follow these practices in our worship expressions based on our understanding of God’s Word to us.  Of course there are some basic things that can not be compromised or negotiated that binds all Christians together but if one group chooses to use real wine in observance of the Lord’s Supper and another chooses Welch’s grape juice that should not be a basis for condemning that group.  

Every church has been started by a man or woman and every church worship style is defined by man.     

Members of the church of Christ don’t generally like referring to themselves as a new church but facts show their creation started near the beginning of the 19th century.  While I admire their efforts to connect to the church originally established on Pentecost, 30 A.D. I am shocked at their continual efforts to rewrite their history.

Understand it is not necessarily the doctrine of the church of Christ, my beliefs are much the same, but the arrogant attitude that is often portrayed by some members and leadership that is so objectionable.

Alexander Campbell is the man more than any other credited with establishing what’s known as the church of Christ.

Campbell (1788 – 1866) was born in Ireland was a Bible teacher, minister, and leader in a church planting movement of independent congregations during the Restoration Movement, or "Stone-Campbell Movement." Campbell edited and published two journals. The first was the “Christian Baptist”, the second was “The Millennial Harbinger”. It was largely through these publications that his influence was felt. He wrote several books, including "The Christian System". Campbell compiled and published a translation of the New Testament under the title "The Living Oracles".

Campbell maintained such things as the office of “pastor” was unbiblical and that there was no Scriptural authority for the existence of denominational agencies and mission boards. He also argued the creeds and confessions of the Protestant churches should be abolished, and that the Bible alone should be used to distinguish truth from error. He also  drew a sharp distinction between the Old Testament and the New, and believed that the New Testament alone should be used to establish the doctrine and practices of the church and it was obviously his understanding that should be used to determine that meaning.  

Most of Campbell’s followers were not new converts, but persons drawn away from the Baptists, Presbyterians, and Methodists churches.

According to Campbell his main purpose was to attack and discredit all established creeds, and all existing ecclesiastical organizations, so as to clear the way for what he conceived to be a purely “biblical” faith and fellowship. In this he went so far as to rejected even the ancient ecumenical creeds. When his followers asked if he agreed with the Trinitarian doctrine of the Nicene Creed, he dismissed it as “Calvinistic.”

Campbell’s theology was largely influenced by the secular philosophical so-called “Enlightenment” movement of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. In particular, the influence of the empiricist theory of knowledge developed by John Locke is clearly dominant in his teachings regarding the nature of faith

One of the more visible practices that is unsupported by the Bible is the requirement for a cappella singing. Personally I have no objection to A Cappella singing, it's rather enjoyable but the idea that you can’t worship God with musical instruments is ludicrous when you consider that the Old Testament describes musical instruments in the worship and the New Testament describes musical instruments in heaven.

Worship as you choose but don’t condemn everyone who doesn’t see eye to eye with you, if they are wrong let God take care of it until then isn’t there enough problems tending to our own business to be so involved with other people’s business?