cult?

I know by now, I am a late commentor on Nancy Grace’s interview/ coverage of the Winkler family murder mystery. Out of this interview, I guess one of the men on the panel was a Baptist minister, who I guess was qualified to comment on the Church of Christ. His interview was interesting and has upset alot of Christian people. See, I don’t have a problem with an outsider to our movement discussing our movement. But, this man labeled us a cult. Read the transcript from the show by following the link below:

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0603/27/ng.01.html

 

Hmm, so let’s do some investigating reporting of our own. What is a cult? http://www.dictionary.com defines cult this way:

 

1. 1. A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader.
   2. The followers of such a religion or sect.

A system or community of religious worship and ritual.

The formal means of expressing religious reverence; religious ceremony and ritual.

A usually nonscientific method or regimen claimed by its originator to have exclusive or exceptional power in curing a particular disease.

1. Obsessive, especially faddish, devotion to or veneration for a person, principle, or thing.
2. The object of such devotion.

An exclusive group of persons sharing an esoteric, usually artistic or intellectual interest.

Wikepedia had this to say:

 

Definition of "cult" in dictionaries

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary lists five different meanings of the word "cult" ³² .

1. formal religious veneration
2. a system of religious beliefs and ritual; also : its body of adherents;
3. a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious; also : its body of adherents;
4. a system for the cure of disease based on dogma set forth by its promulgator;
5. great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (as a film or book).

The Random House Unabridged Dictionary definitions are:

1. a particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies;
2. an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, esp. as manifested by a body of admirers;
3. the object of such devotion;
4. a group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc;
5. group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around their sacred symbols;
6. a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader;
7. the members of such a religion or sect;
8. any system for treating human sickness that originated by a person usually claiming to have sole insight into the nature of disease, and that employs methods regarded as unorthodox or unscientific.

I know that through the ages different religious groups have labled various religious groups as a cult. In addition to the labeling of some as cults, there has been widespread injustice inflicted on those who have at various times in history stood opposed to the mainstream religious ideology.

 

So, is the Church of Christ a cult? Historically, our movement, the Restoration movement began as a unity movement. A movemement, I might add that sought to unite all Christians in Christ. Some great statements arise out of this movement. "In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things love." Also, "speaking where the Bible speaks and being silent where the Bible is silent." Another one, is "we have no creed but Christ."

 

Three disctinct practices that have caused folks in the denominational world to take issue with us, and I will agree at times we have tried to argue with others, more than loving them and engaging in open and honest dialogue. Anyway, these three practices that are pretty typical of "churches of Christ" are 1. Weekly observation of the Lord’s Supper; 2. Baptism for the remission of sins; 3. acapella singing. I would like to say this about baptism. Many people have thought that we teach something called baptismal regeneration, in other words, the water saves a person. That is not what we teach. We do not teach baptismal regeneration. We believe the cross of Jesus Christ is sufficient to save all that come to him in faith. Now, here is where we get accused of being works-based and teaching baptismal regeneration. Take the book of Acts for a minute, in the second chapter of Acts, Peter preaches Jesus. The audience convicted of their sin, and cut to the heart asks, "what do they need to do?" Peter responds to their question by telling them to repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins. This is not the only place where a person is baptized for the remission of their sins. Acts 8, Acts 9, Acts 10, Acts 16, Acts 22 also have places where yoiu encounter baptism.

 

As a church of Christ minister, I take issue with an accusastion of our cultic-ness, so to speak. For those that think we harp on baptism, do me a favor: answer this question, is baptism practiced in the New Testament or not? Besides the book of Acts, I submit to you several other places in the NT where you can read about the affirmation of baptism: Romans 6:3-14; Gal. 3:26-28; Col. 2:9-12; 1 Peter 3:18-21.

 

I also offer this, those who claim we teach baptismal regeneration, you are forgetting how passionately we stress the importance of the cross, our faith. See, baptism is a symbol og the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When a person is baptized they are expressing their committment to Him, and are uniting themselves with the story of Jesus. I know for many in the church of Christ, baptism is more than a thing we do. It is full of meaning, like I said above, we are uniting ourselves to the story of Jesus. We are joing the redemptive narrative, and when we rise out of the water we too can share the word that God spoke to Jesus after his baptism, "this is my son,  whom I love, with him I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17).

 

I did not want to think that there still existed such open hostility towards the church of Christ. I was shocked that Nancy Grace asked a Baptist minster to explain church of Christ practices. That would be like asking a Democrat to explain the Republican party. Even in a more recent interview Nancy Grace interviewed Rubel Shelly, but interrupted him several times and kept changing the issue at hand.

 

As a member of the church of Christ, I offer this plea: we are Christians only, not the only Christians. We choose to wear no other name but Christ, have no other book but the Bible. That does not sound like a cult to me.

the church of Christ and the cross

I wanted to re-post something from last May, that I hope settles the issue for any non-church of Christ members who may come across this blog today, about our view of the cross: "Of all that attracts me to the way of God as revealed in Jesus, it is the cross. I can’t quite express the magnitude of joy, gratitude and awe that surround the allure of the cross. Certainly, without the cross, Christianity is not worth our allegiance, and the trouble that a life radically altered by the Spirit of this crucified-resurrected Jesus causes in this world. The cross is essential to salvation, for without the cross of Christ our world is lost in sinful oblivion. No one would dare subject himself to the horrors of the cross. This instrument of torture was the most severe and terrible of deaths. Reserved for the Scythian, slave, and the worst of criminals, to have been reserved a cross was not a moment of joy. Our world is dramatically altered by what takes place on a hill outside of Jerusalem some 2000 years ago. The kingdom of God having already broken into the world through the incarnation (God becoming flesh), appears to crumple to an unexpected ending. I love the God-paradox that is manifested on Calvary. The darkest day in the creation becomes the seed of eternal hope. The same unassuming child that was fully God and fully man at his birth is the same unassuming Savior struggling for one last breath. From the perspective of the principalities and the enemies of the supposed Messiah Jesus, this Galilean rabble rouser was finished. I love the tension that exists between Friday’s mangled mess and Sunday’s greatest comeback. We live with this tension, between the now and the not yet. A tension that will one day be overcome. The cross is the beginning place of understanding how dark and rebellious humanity’s sin is. I know for me, I deserve the middle cross. His desperation for each breath, should have been mine. The mind numbing constant throbbing coursing through his nerves should have been mine. His lashes, still freshly oozing and pulverize with each thrust upward should be mine. I deserve the death He died. But somehow, He did then and still does today, offers mercy and grace for the sin-sick."
 

kingdom ramblings

Last night in our Tuesday night highschool Bible study, we began a good discussion of what the kingdom of God is, and what it means for our life. I asked some questions about what comes to mind when you hear the word "kingdom," the answers were typical and then I asked well, what is the kingdom of God.

 

The answer: "the rule of God in our lives." There are some 65 occurrences of the phrase "kingdom of God." Most of them are found in the Gospels. A similar phrase, "kingdom of heaven" is found some 31 times, again mainly in the Gospels.

 

We also discussed a little bit about the tension between the now and the not yet that we live with as believers.

 

Matthew 6:33, Jesus tells us to "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness…" Christ has always wanted our primary loyalties. We must not forget that this world is not our home. Philippians 3:20 tells us that our citizenship is in heaven. In Hebrews we see the term "resident aliens," in 1 Peter we find the term "stangers in the world." While the Bible teaches this truth about the kingdom and about our loyalties and about our citizenship, we live in a culture that exalts nationalism over Christ. As Christians we must consider our loyalties. Where do they lie? Jesus reminds us that our hearts are where our treasures are (Mt. 6:21). We can not confuse politics as it is practiced in our world with the sovereign will of God. Jesus is not a republican nor is he a democrat. He is the King. He is sovereign.

 

kingdom ramblings

Last night in our Tuesday night highschool Bible study, we began a good discussion of what the kingdom of God is, and what it means for our life. I asked some questions about what comes to mind when you hear the word "kingdom," the answers were typical and then I asked well, what is the kingdom of God.

 

The answer: "the rule of God in our lives." There are some 65 occurrences of the phrase "kingdom of God." Most of them are found in the Gospels. A similar phrase, "kingdom of heaven" is found some 31 times, again mainly in the Gospels.

 

We also discussed a little bit about the tension between the now and the not yet that we live with as believers.

 

Matthew 6:33, Jesus tells us to "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness…" Christ has always wanted our primary loyalties. We must not forget that this world is not our home. Philippians 3:20 tells us that our citizenship is in heaven. In Hebrews we see the term "resident aliens," in 1 Peter we find the term "stangers in the world." While the Bible teaches this truth about the kingdom and about our loyalties and about our citizenship, we live in a culture that exalts nationalism over Christ. As Christians we must consider our loyalties. Where do they lie? Jesus reminds us that our hearts are where our treasures are (Mt. 6:21). We can not confuse politics as it is practiced in our world with the sovereign will of God. Jesus is not a republican nor is he a democrat. He is the King. He is sovereign.

 

Tulsa International Soul Winning Workshop

I came across this post from Marvin Phillips. I thought it was to good not post here.

 

We just concluded the 31st annual International Soul Winning Workshop in Tulsa, Ok. Some were excited we were doing this; some were concerned! It was a smashing success! Here are some reflective questions that might help reassure some of the good done for the cause of our Lord.

1. WAS THE GOSPEL PREACHED? Scripture warns us not to "preach another gospel" (Gal.1:8,9); it also reminds us the gospel is "the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Cor.15:1-3). Those beauiful truths were emphasized and reaffirmed over and over.

2. WAS BIBLE AUTHORITY HONORED? The Bible urges us to "Preach the word" (2 Tim.4:2); and reminds us we will face God’s "open books" in the final judgment (Rev.20:12,13). This was heard repeatedly at the workshop. Some will sincerely say, "yes, but we say instrumental music is ‘authorized’; they say it is ‘unauthorized’! Which is right?" The key is in the word "authorized"! How do we determine what is/is not authorized? Churches of Christ have traditionally used "command, example and inference" to tell. If a thing has neither of these, it must be unauthorized, and unscriptural". Christian churches, equally concerned with Bible authority have used, "Is it commanded? Is it mentioned? Is it forbidden?" But it is VERY important to note that both "processes" are "human"! Therefore a matter of opinion. We will stand by what the Bible specifically teaches; we will be tolerant in what is "humanly determined". Bible authority was emphasized again and again.

3. WAS THE BIBLE ANSWER GIVEN TO "WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?" It is true many don’t teach "the Bible plan of salvation". Acts 2:38 is powerfully used by "both streams"; the conversions in the Book of Acts are strictly adhered to by ICC and CofC alike.

4. WAS THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH HELPED? Well, "It’s all about souls!" (my topic for Thursday afternoon). The Great Commission ( Mt.28:19,20; Mk.16:15,16, Lk.24:47 and John 20:21) is the marching orders of the Church. Jesus prayed for unity "so that the world may believe" (John 17:20,21).

5. WILL THE CHURCH BE CHANGED? Aye, here’s the rub. Many are afraid that the church they’ve always known and loved will disappear. So there are two answers!
(1) NO! We are together on vowing that the church will continue to be what Jesus always wanted and the Bible always taught!
(2) YES! We believe the church WILL change! We will change in that we will STOP fussing, arguing and dividing! "If you keep on biting and devouring one another, take heed that you are not destroyed by one another!" ( Gal.5:15)

6. WAS JESUS PLEASED? That’s the most important question, AND the easiest to answer.
Of course Jesus was pleased! His closing prayer was for unity of the Believers (John 17:20,21). Scripture further implores us to "make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" ( Eph.4:3). We made fervent efforts to get "the people of God" to unite on the essentials of scripture and march hand in hand for the saving of our lost world!
 

Tulsa International Soul Winning Workshop

I came across this post from Marvin Phillips. I thought it was to good not post here.

 

We just concluded the 31st annual International Soul Winning Workshop in Tulsa, Ok. Some were excited we were doing this; some were concerned! It was a smashing success! Here are some reflective questions that might help reassure some of the good done for the cause of our Lord.

1. WAS THE GOSPEL PREACHED? Scripture warns us not to "preach another gospel" (Gal.1:8,9); it also reminds us the gospel is "the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Cor.15:1-3). Those beauiful truths were emphasized and reaffirmed over and over.

2. WAS BIBLE AUTHORITY HONORED? The Bible urges us to "Preach the word" (2 Tim.4:2); and reminds us we will face God’s "open books" in the final judgment (Rev.20:12,13). This was heard repeatedly at the workshop. Some will sincerely say, "yes, but we say instrumental music is ‘authorized’; they say it is ‘unauthorized’! Which is right?" The key is in the word "authorized"! How do we determine what is/is not authorized? Churches of Christ have traditionally used "command, example and inference" to tell. If a thing has neither of these, it must be unauthorized, and unscriptural". Christian churches, equally concerned with Bible authority have used, "Is it commanded? Is it mentioned? Is it forbidden?" But it is VERY important to note that both "processes" are "human"! Therefore a matter of opinion. We will stand by what the Bible specifically teaches; we will be tolerant in what is "humanly determined". Bible authority was emphasized again and again.

3. WAS THE BIBLE ANSWER GIVEN TO "WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?" It is true many don’t teach "the Bible plan of salvation". Acts 2:38 is powerfully used by "both streams"; the conversions in the Book of Acts are strictly adhered to by ICC and CofC alike.

4. WAS THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH HELPED? Well, "It’s all about souls!" (my topic for Thursday afternoon). The Great Commission ( Mt.28:19,20; Mk.16:15,16, Lk.24:47 and John 20:21) is the marching orders of the Church. Jesus prayed for unity "so that the world may believe" (John 17:20,21).

5. WILL THE CHURCH BE CHANGED? Aye, here’s the rub. Many are afraid that the church they’ve always known and loved will disappear. So there are two answers!
(1) NO! We are together on vowing that the church will continue to be what Jesus always wanted and the Bible always taught!
(2) YES! We believe the church WILL change! We will change in that we will STOP fussing, arguing and dividing! "If you keep on biting and devouring one another, take heed that you are not destroyed by one another!" ( Gal.5:15)

6. WAS JESUS PLEASED? That’s the most important question, AND the easiest to answer.
Of course Jesus was pleased! His closing prayer was for unity of the Believers (John 17:20,21). Scripture further implores us to "make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" ( Eph.4:3). We made fervent efforts to get "the people of God" to unite on the essentials of scripture and march hand in hand for the saving of our lost world!
 

Tulsa Workshop: afterthoughts

I was asked from an editior of the Chronicle, what I thought about the workshop this year, more specifically what I thought about cooperation between acapella churches of Christ and Independent Christian Church missionaries on the mission field. Here is my response:

 

"you asked me what I thought about cooperative efforts involving acapella and instrumental churches. I think the cooperative effort is awesome and when God’s people are joined in the mission of Christ to seek and to save the lost (Lk. 19:10), instead of practicing sectarianism and isolation, then the world will know Jesus. I think the words from John 17: 20-21 speak to this better than I do: " 20 My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me." If we are going to impact our postmodern/postchristian world then we will have to learn to work together. What the world needs is for followers of Jesus Christ living out the kingdom ethics of the sermon on the mount. The lost people of the world don’t care about the issues as "we" have defined them, or as they have been defined over the last 150-160 years. They need to hear the gospel, and the hope of a second chance. They need to see Jesus, and his people loving one another and living Christ’s kingdom mission.

 

A guiding principle from our history, that would do us well to re-examine speaks to this unity issue well: "in essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things love."

 

I think the theme of the workshop was timely, and appropriate. Unity is not an option for those in Christ.
 

Tulsa Workshop: afterthoughts

I was asked from an editior of the Chronicle, what I thought about the workshop this year, more specifically what I thought about cooperation between acapella churches of Christ and Independent Christian Church missionaries on the mission field. Here is my response:

 

"you asked me what I thought about cooperative efforts involving acapella and instrumental churches. I think the cooperative effort is awesome and when God’s people are joined in the mission of Christ to seek and to save the lost (Lk. 19:10), instead of practicing sectarianism and isolation, then the world will know Jesus. I think the words from John 17: 20-21 speak to this better than I do: " 20 My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me." If we are going to impact our postmodern/postchristian world then we will have to learn to work together. What the world needs is for followers of Jesus Christ living out the kingdom ethics of the sermon on the mount. The lost people of the world don’t care about the issues as "we" have defined them, or as they have been defined over the last 150-160 years. They need to hear the gospel, and the hope of a second chance. They need to see Jesus, and his people loving one another and living Christ’s kingdom mission.

 

A guiding principle from our history, that would do us well to re-examine speaks to this unity issue well: "in essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things love."

 

I think the theme of the workshop was timely, and appropriate. Unity is not an option for those in Christ.
 

Musings on the workshop

I am exhausted. The Tulsa workshop is over. My wife and I didn’t leave Tulsa till after the 4pm class today. I really felt that the workshop was an excellent weekend. I purchased some CD’s of classes that I didn’t get to attend and am looking forward to hearing them.

 

Last night, Max Lucado and Bob Russell shared the stage. I think they both had some great things to say. Lucado spoke about making it hard for people in our city to go to hell. I was moved by his passionate plea to stand between the gates of hell and those who are lost. We need to make it hard for people to go to hell.

 

Bob Russell talked about maintaining unity and he gave us a list of 10 comparisons between acapella churches of Christ and Christian Churches. Piggy backing on this thought, Victor Knowles also passionately taught how really the independent Christian Churches are a mirror image of acapella Churches.

 

The subject of unity is one in which the church would do well to give ear to. But, what is needed is not just more conversation and debates. We must recognize that those we’ve been separated from for a hundred years are more than our cousins, they are our brothers.

 

I enjoyed getting to meet Wade, and Dr.Hicks. I talked a little bit the other day about Dr. Hicks’ class about the kingdom of God. Wade, today spoke about contagious holiness. He took us through Leviticus and the holiness code, showing how the Pharisees had taken what was written in Lev. 11-15 and pumped it full of stereoids. The purity of God’s people mattered to God. But the Pharisees made piety and purity equal things. Jesus messed up their clean little worlds by loving the socially unacceptable, and touching the untouchable. His holiness was contagious. Where as the Pharisees separated themselves from the sin-sick and unclean, Jesus brought healing and transformation to these people. As followers of Jesus, we are still fighting against legalism and a fear to get near the poor, sin-soaked, lost souls of our world. But, a truth we often miss is that holiness is more contagious than sin. What if we lived in such a way, that we had a kingdom vision that freed us to be the healing agent of God’s redemptive love in our world?

 

I didn’t mention it early, but Jeff Walling and Chuck Booher spoke together on Thursday night. Jeff always captivates his audience, and brother Booer did an excellent job as well.

Workshop: Day One

It is just great to be here in Tulsa for the Workshop. Seeing familiar friends, and meeting new ones. I wish I could say I got a full day of classes in, but we had a late late night, last night. I had to make two trips to Walmart, to replace a defective double stroller. Anyway, our day began a little later than we had anticipated.

I enjoyed both of the classes I attended today. I was especially drawn into the class with Dr. Hicks, from DLU. His class dealt with “kingdom vision,” and really explored the topic of kingdom and what it means to live with the understanding that God’s rule has broken into our lives. Dr. Hicks talked about David Lipscomb and James A. Harding’s views of the kingdom and how it would do well to go back and explore their views of kingdom.

So, a couple of observations from class:
1. The kingdom of God is not the church. It is bigger than that. The kingdom of God is the breaking in of God’s reign in the world, and more specificially in our lives.

2. If we accept that the kingdom is the sovereign rule of God in our lives, then we must also accept that God is still active in the world today. He is not a distant presence or a powerless presence. He is powerful and intimately involved in the world.

3. I think it was Harding, I don’t remember now, but one of these men wrote so passionately about how as resident aliens in the world we are first and foremost supposed to be committed to Jesus Christ. While we may have citizenship of a nations on this earth, we are always foreigners and strangers in this land. My fear is that “the church” has resembled a nativist attitude toward this world more often than a “foreigner” attitude.

4. If we believe that God has broken into our world, and he has. Then we must allow his rule to be evident in our lives. One of the ways this is seen is in the way we treat those who are less fortunate.