Re: Questioning Self instead of others -- Qohelet Web Ministry

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Date Posted: 20:31:23 03/03/02 Sun
Author: Jay Dee
Subject: Re: Questioning Self instead of others
In reply to: David Proffitt 's message, "Questioning Self instead of others" on 17:12:44 03/02/02 Sat

"Is the Church of Christ to afraid to question itself and take a good look in the mirror? Instead, it seems that they criticize other denominations and religions. They are open territory, but how dare anyone question the Church of Christ. Why do brethren get in such a hissy over someone questioning traditions? Is the Church of Christ so attached to its traditions that it holds anyone as suspect who questions or challenges them?"

I think there are many people who are not afraid to ask hard questions. It is a natural reaction to experience apprehension. The questions of a tradition may very well signal the beginning of the end of it. What is needed is a spirit of grace.

"Better be careful. Those who teach as doctrine the commandments of men are doomed. Why not be up front and admit that a man made tradition is just that instead of trying to make every aspect of Church a matter of faith rather than tradition. What ever happened to that old saying, "Where the Bible is silent we are silent?" What ever happened to the old saying among us "In matters of doctrine, unity - in matters of opinion, liberty, in all matter, charity."

I see positive things in the Lord's church. I have seen the use of more contemporary songs, which expand the repetoire of songs for the church and also bring a more current vocabulary for worshippers to express their devotion to God. I also see more emphasis on service and ministry in many churches which is also a positive change. My suggestion would be that we should be gracious and patient, yet still allow ourselves to be challenged by the hard questions and by scripture. The sayings you quoted sound good, but are harder to put into practice because not everyone is in agreement on what is a "matter of doctrine" and what is a "matter of opinion."

"Woe to Churches of Christ if they do not open their eyes. Is it any wonder why others are so critical and accuse the Churches of Christ of being devoid of the spirit, of being all head and no heart, of being divisive, arrogant, and sometimes downright mean?"

Many of the criticisms from outsiders stem from a misunderstanding of us. Although it can be insightful to see how outsiders view us, their picture of us is not always an accurate one. From the days of the early church, outsiders have misunderstood. Early Christians were accused of cannibalism because of the Lord's Supper ("this is my body") and accused of orgies because they called their potlucks "love feasts." They were also accused of treason because they declared Jesus as lord rather than Ceasar. All of these are misunderstandings. So I would suggest we learn AND understand an outsiders view of us, but not to take it to personal.

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Replies:

Re: Questioning Self instead of others -- David, 22:36:04 04/15/02 Mon