Before I go any further let me say this. I believe in God. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that he was with God at the beginning of time, and came to Earth, He lived, He died, and He rose again. I also believe He is coming back someday.
My faith is as solid as anyone you know. It is unshakable. My entire life has been one continuous blessing. Bad moments? Of course, everyone has them, but nothing that even remotely comes close to making me question my decision to be a child of God. To be a Believer.
As many of you know, I grew up in the Churches of Christ (C of C), which is a moderately conservative group with strongholds in the South and Southwest. I have been attending the C of C my whole life. Went to church when I was little, baptized at a young age, even went to a C of C university. All of those things have made me who I am today. They have made me stronger. I am so grateful for my parents in raising me in such an environment and giving me the foundation I have.
Ok, now that you know my background, we can get into some areas where I have questions, things I'm not sure I agree with.
For most Christians, there comes a time when our Christianity becomes not the Christianity of our parents, but it becomes our own. What I mean is, I don't think we can go around saying "I believe this because my parents believed it." Of course, it is ok if you both believe the same thing, but why, what are your reasons for believing the scriptures? How did you reach this point in your life?
Over the years I have heard some within our tribe, the C of C, say that we are the only ones going to heaven. I don't believe that, I have never believed that, and I am not sure where that thinking comes from.
Saying your group, your tribe, your denomination (and yes, I believe we are more like a denomination than we like to think) are the only ones going to heaven just seems blasphemous. Are we saying we know the mind of God, that who is going to be saved and who isn't? Yes, we are called to be obedient, to love God and our neighbor, and we will all be held accountable on the last day. But can we as a group say we are the only ones going to heaven? The argument is we as the C of C teach the truth, we teach what is right. I don't buy that. We teach the truth as we understand it. I constantly question whether or not we are doing the "right" things in our worship and in the way we serve others. Haven't you ever thought, "What if we're wrong?" I have. Frequently. Again, please understand, I'm not at all questioning God, His Son, His Spirit.
What about the Baptists, or the Episcopalians, or the Methodists, or the Catholics, these Fellowship or Bible churches? They all believe in the same God we do. They all want to praise God, they all want to serve the needy, lift up the fallen. They believe Christ died for ALL of us. Isn't that what we believe? I acknowledge they may worship in a way we are uncomfortable with or don't completely understand. So be it. Jim Hackney, a minister of the Gospel in Fort Worth who passed away a couple of years ago wasn't concerned about it either. In his words, "I believe God's grace trumps doctrinal error." That is, of course, if there is error. My belief is these are all my brothers as well, and I fully expect to see all of them in heaven when I arrive. After all, we were all created and are loved by the same God.
I mentioned earlier I believe in some ways we are more of a denomination that what we believe. How many times have you heard someone say in class, "Now what is it we believe on this?" The Bible is what we live by, no arguments from me there, but there is also an unpublished "creed" within the brotherhood. Things like not raising hands during the song service, no clapping, no drinking, you must have a Sunday night service, etc. You know exactly what I am talking about. These are not doctrine; these are traditions we have adopted as doctrine. All of us need to learn what is tradition and what is doctrinal.
One thing I do not understand and I question is why are we not fellowshipping with "certain" churches? I have actually heard elders say, "We don't want others to think we associate with them." What? Seriously? Who do you think Jesus associated with? Did he care what people thought about who he was associating with? We need to be inclusive in our fellowship, welcoming not just those from within our tribe, but all faiths, supporting each other. After all, isn't it a good thing when God's name is being praised?" What does it say to an unbelieving world when believers can stand together praising their Creator and condemning the sin in the world. Our salvation does not depend on what other people think of us. We have one person to answer to, and that is God.
That brings me to a couple of other thoughts. Does it matter where I worship? Well, I suggest unless they are advocating murder or worshipping Satan, or ignoring the deity of Christ, then no it doesn't.
I know and have many friends, children of friends, former C of C ministers and Shepherds, who now attend community churches. You know what? More power to them. If, as I stated earlier, they are teaching that God is the Supreme Being and Creator of all things, and Christ is his Son, and they are baptizing for the remission of sins, then I am standing shoulder to shoulder with them. They are my brothers and sisters, and I look forward to spending eternity with them.
But what about the music, or letting women pray or read scripture or even preach in the assembly. Ok, what is your point? Why do we in the C of C not, as a general rule, condone these things? The stock answer is because that is not what the Bible teaches. Is it, or is it because that is what we have been taught? We all know congregations in this area and elsewhere, congregations where we have relatives attending that have welcomed instrumental music in their worship, that have expanded the use of women. Are all of them wrong in their beliefs? If there is one group who opposes these beliefs and another group from the same C of C tribe in the same area that embraces them, does that mean someone is, dare I say it, wrong?
Let me ask this. Does God really care, or is he more concerned with his name being praised, with the worship I bring every Sunday, the worship that is in my heart.
Speaking of worship, I do want to brag on the C of C where M and I attend, because like many congregations across the brotherhood, is our commitment and embracing of small groups. I think that is wonderful. After all, how did the early church of the first century meet? Hint, it wasn't in the synagogue. Studying the Bible together, reading and discussing what God says in the scriptures is the purest way of worshipping him. I am so grateful Sherrod Avenue is committed to small groups.
I believe I am going to heaven, because as 1 John 1 tells me, "If we walk in the light as He is in the light, His blood continuously cleanses us."
Thank you for reading. Sincere blessings in your journey.
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