oops, I did it anyways

For those of you who visited my page today expecting to read identity crisis – part four and are now experiencing severe depression as a result of not discovering the next installment in this gem of a series, I offer my apologies and my promise to deliver part four in the near future, perhaps as early as tomorrow.

 

But, for today, I am going to jump on the blog day naming bandwagon and call this Transition Thursday.  Yet, even as I write this I am aware that my topic for today overlaps my identity series and presents a challenge for us as we seek to be the people of God, free from labels and negative representations.  In that respect, it is possible to consider this offering as identity crisis – part four, but my intention is for this to be different, a transition, something new.

 

For several months Candace, my wife, has been inviting her mother and one of her sisters to visit our services, either on a Wednesday evening or Sunday morning.   And, for several months she has received the same basic response – a promise to attend followed by a phone call on the day of the promised visit which offered an excuse as to why neither could attend.   Yet, as tempted as she was to give up and accept the fact that they were not interested, Candace kept calling and asking them to join us.   Her persistence paid dividends; as the truth behind the excuses eventually surfaced and confirmed our thoughts as to why they were not following through with their promise.

 

Okay, Okay, Okay, I take back my initial apology for not delivering part four and ask that you be gracious enough to forgive me and simply accept this as this title suggests, a continuation by mistake!

 

The sad part about all of this so-called identity crisis within the church is that it hasn’t affected the way those outside of the church view us.   To those of the world, the ones Jesus stated would know us by our love for one another; our identity is that we are the church who believes we are the only ones going to heaven or the church who worships without instruments.

 

Are we misunderstood?  Yes!   Is truth important?  Definitely, for Jesus said truth is what sets us free.  Are we guilty of presenting the wrong identity to the world?   Without doubt!   In my opinion we deserve much of the negative representation we receive because of the actions and attitudes we have displayed.

 

I remember one lady informing me that she had spent the day knocking doors inviting the community to come hear me speak that night.   After telling her that I appreciated her efforts, she proceeded to tell me about one encounter she had with a lady who was a member of the local Baptist church.   When her invitation was declined, she informed the lady that she was lost and headed to hell if she didn’t change her ways and become a member of the church of Christ.

 

From her comments, my mother-in-law had encountered several people like the one above and held a very poor view of the churches of Christ.  Her desire to avoid our service was directly related to the identity we have presented to her and others of the world.

 

The good news is that she finally visited our Sunday morning service; and, in spite of her previous encounters with members of the church, loved what she saw and informed us that she would go again next Sunday.  Keep her in your prayers, please.

 

Interestingly enough, the sermon that morning dealt with our identity and purpose as a body of believers.

 

How about you?   Any interested stories to share?   Any comments?

identity crisis — part three

Although I do not believe we are experiencing an identity crisis in the churches of Christ that is any different or more perilous than any other so-called crisis the church has faced in nearly 2000 years, I will admit that there are issues that require prayerful attention and godly responses from both sides.  Without such, the Christian identity of which Jesus prayed and spoke is not possible.

 

In my reading the various materials associated with this so-called crisis I have noticed the frustration expressed by both sides regarding the other side’s interpretation of scripture.  One side feels the other is liberal and modernistic, demonstrating an overall lack of respect for the authority of scripture; the later side feels the former is narrow-minded and legalistic, transforming scripture into a checklist similar to a grocery list, emphasizing man’s ability to keep law rather than God’s grace to save sinners.

 

Unfortunately, it appears to me that attitudes and comments from the past have left little room for discussion and reconciliation, especially when demands are attached and no one is willing to admit the possibility of being wrong.

 

One thing that concerns me in all of this is the fact that many people will take a position because a certain side takes that position, regardless of the truth of scripture.  If you think my comment is outrageous, simply consider the following.

 

A few years ago, while studying the eldership, in particular the qualifications of one desiring to be an elder, I struggled with our traditional interpretation of the phrase having faithful children.  I wasn’t convinced that the word faithful required a prospective elder’s children to be Christians.  Plus, whenever I compared the text from Titus to that from Timothy my struggle increased because, in my opinion, the context spoke of the children being faithful to their father, it didn’t demand the interpretation I had heard for so long.

 

Needless to say, I was very troubled by this.  In my attempt to find resolution to this problem of interpretation, whether mine or the church at large, I consulted numerous commentaries, exchanged emails with fellow ministers and contacted various persons on the phone.  It is one of those phone calls that prompted my comment above.

 

The person on the other end of the phone was a minister who was very well versed in the Greek language.  In fact, he studied the Greek scriptures, spoke fluently the Greek language and took only a Greek Bible into the pulpit when he preached.   He was well qualified to answer the question of whether or not the context demanded that the word faithful in Titus be understood as a Christian as the traditional view taught, or meant the child was faithful to his father as the parallel passage in Timothy taught.  His response surprised me and frustrated me at the same time.

 

He informed me that the context did not demand the traditional teaching that one must have children who are Christians in order to be qualified to be an elder.  He stated that the context spoke of the children being faithful, or obedient, to their father.  It spoke of his ability to rear his children and their respectful faithfulness to him as their father.  But, he stated that whenever he teaches about elders and their qualifications that he teaches that an elder must have children who are faithful Christians.  Such didn’t seem right back then, and it still doesn’t seem right today.

 

The Berean’s of old were praised for their willingness to search the scriptures daily to see if the things they were being taught were true.   Today, we need that same willingness to search, but not only to search, to also apply and change whenever change is required.

 

Jesus said that our love and our unity will be identification markers to the world that God sent his son for their salvation.  He prayed for this unity, he gave his life to make it possible.   How are we being seen by the world?

 

Your thoughts?

identity crisis – part two

I’ve spent quite a bit of time this week researching the so-called identity crisis affecting the churches of Christ in our day and time.  I’ve read a plethora of articles, blogs, comments and reviews, all of which seemingly sought to blame the crisis on either a narrow, legalistic or liberal, post-modernistic mindset.  After reading all of this material, I have arrived at the conclusion that the church is not experiencing an identity crisis unlike any in its 2000 year history.

 

By reaching the conclusion stated above, I am merely echoing Solomon’s declaration that there is nothing new under the sun.   If you don’t agree with my conclusion, let me suggest that you simply consider the issues and problems that existed in many, if not all, of the first century churches.

 

For example, in the church at Corinth there was division, jealousy, strife, criticism of leaders, lawsuits, sexual immorality, disputes about eating meat sacrificed to idols, financial support given to Paul, the length of hair, spiritual gifts and even some who denied the resurrection.  And yet, Paul addressed his first letter to this group of people by calling them the church of God in Corinth, those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy.

 

When you compare that first century church to those of today you will find that there are many similarities.  This leads me to wonder why so many Christians today feel that we are experiencing an identity crisis.  Does our situation, our so-called identity crisis, really sound all that different from anything experienced by congregations before us?  Or, could it be that we have become more a part of this me-centric society than we have realized and have begun not only thinking but believing that life is about us?

 

Friends, anytime we lose sight of the fact that life is about God, not us, is when we begin to have an identity crisis!

 

Now, please understand that I am not saying there aren’t issues that need to be addressed.  No one denies that problems exist in the church today.  However, I do not believe that all of the so-called issues that have divided the church are even worthy of being called issues.

 

Honestly, are we willing to divide/split/withdraw because someone uses a different translation that the ones we use, sings contemporary songs rather than traditional ones, has more than one song leader, or lifts hands toward God while praying or singing?

 

The American Heritage Dictionary defines the word crisis as an emotionally stressful event or traumatic change, the point when a conflict reaches its highest tension and must be resolved.  Interesting enough, the word crisis can also be defined as a crucial or decisive turning point.

 

Perhaps, at least in light of the last dictionary definition above, it is time for the churches of Christ to have an identity crisis – a turning point – and a decisive one at that – and begin living as imitators of Christ, possessing and demonstrating the mind of Christ.

 

Your thoughts?

identity crisis – part one

 

This past week I came across an interesting article entitled “Is there an identity crisis in Churches of Christ today?”   The article, advertised as an online exclusive of The Christian Chronicle, quoted various ministers, leaders and members as they responded to the question of whether or not we in the churches of Christ know who we are and what we stand for like we once did.

Here are a few quotes from the article:

• We in the churches of Christ used to be known as “people of the book.”  Sadly, it appears not to be the case … Are we non-denominational, anti-denominational or are we becoming a denomination?  Perhaps many of our churches no longer know.
• Many of our congregations do not know who they are or where they belong.  They want to be like the rest of the world and sacrifice the truth and doctrine for popularity and reaching the masses.
• I think we know who we are mostly.  But more and more of us are less concerned about maintaining the status quo of “church of Christ” orthodoxy and seeking to be “Christians only.”
• I do believe there is an identity crisis for certain.  Perhaps Churches of Christ in this nation are experiencing spiritual adolescence.  We have grown beyond certain narrow and legalistic theological mindsets to a large degree, but we are uncertain of ourselves.
• There is an identity crisis among us!  Of course there is!  Even our own people don’t know who we are and, well, we don’t stand for anything.   We seem to be afraid to preach and teach about baptism or divorce or a-cappella music … We are a Christian as far as we measure up to what Christianity was in the New Testament.  And, a church is a “church of Christ” only as far as it measures up to the one described in the New Testament.
• I believe some Christians and some churches know who they are and others don’t.  You can’t expect the nearly 13,000 congregations among us to be carbon copies of each other any more than the seven churches of Asia in Revelation 2-3 were alike. 

If you haven’t read the article and would like to do so in its entirety, simple click here.

As I read the article, and then read it for the second time, and again for the third time, I noticed two things that were very interesting and revealing to me:

1. The majority of the 37 who were interviewed agreed that we are experiencing an identity crisis of some kind in the churches of Christ.
2. There are two sides visible in these responses with each blaming the other for being the reason behind the identity crisis.

To be honest, I was somewhat disappointed after reading the responses of these ministers, leaders and members.  

Jesus said, by this shall all men know that you are my disciples.   What was he speaking of?   L – O – V – E.   See John 13:34.

Unless I am mistaken, not one of those who responded commented on this identity marker as given by Jesus and said, Yes, we do have an identity crisis because we are not loving each other as Jesus commanded and thus showing the world that we are his disciples. 

We will be discussing this article a few more times this week.   So, let me encourage you to read it, and take part.

So, what do you think?   Are we having an identity crisis in the church today?

I’m not lost in this world

 

The words I share with you today are inspired.   No, not in the God-breathed sense of the word; but rather in the sudden creative idea sense of the word that results from an agency, such as a person or extremely long line of slow moving traffic, that moves the intellect or prompts invention. 

Well, such was the case this morning while traveling to work.   As I was slowly making my way through a highway work zone I noticed that the movement of traffic resembled a line of ants making their way, single file, across my driveway.   And, if you are like me, one random thought leads to another, which leads to another, and another, and so on. 

For those of you who are interested in the random progression of the thoughts that lead to today’s inspired blog, this paragraph is for you.   Slowly moving through the work zone, in single file, caused me to think of ants moving, in single file, across my driveway.  This brought to mind a comment my wife made as we were flying to Las Vegas for my company’s Christmas Party, a comment about how cars looked like ants moving along the ground.   This brought to mind a scene from the movie Men in Black, a scene where Will Smith opened a door and revealed that his world was no larger than the inside of a locker at the bus station.   For some reason, this led me think about a scene from the television show, Home Improvement, where Wilson told Tim that his biggest fear is that reality as he knew it was simply someone else’s dream, and that one day this person would wake up and everything would cease to exist. 

Anyways, all of this made me realize just how small and seemingly insignificant I really am.   This, if you think about it, can be incredibly depressing.  

But, fortunately, I was brought back from the brink of depression by the realization that even though I am small and practically insignificant, I am not unnoticed.   God knows who I am and loves me.

Kutless, in their song Sea of Faces puts it this way:

 I see the city lights all around me, everyone’s obscure.  Ten million people each with their problems, why should anyone care? 

And, in Your eyes I can see, I am not just a man, vastly lost in this world, lost in a Sea of Faces.  Your body’s the bread, Your blood is the wine, because you traded Your life for mine.

View the video below for the rest of the song.   Enjoy your day!