Topic(s): Forgiveness

During the Civil War unusual punishments were sometimes administered to keep the men in line. Some involved physical discomfort and others humiliation. According to Webb Garrison in his book, The Amazing Civil War, a common punishment was to be branded. For instance a deserter would be marked with a “D” on his shoulder, chest or back. Thieves might be marked with a “T” and a coward marked with a “C.” There were even some who were branded “W” for worthless. As Christians we are grateful that God does not mark us permanently for our sins. A coward or thief is not regarded as one forever, and no one is worthless. This is because of Christ, who took our punishment for us.   —Preaching Magazine

“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more” —Hebrews 8:12

26 in 24

Topic(s): Bible Study, Worship

What a strange title for a bulletin article, but this does have to do with numbers. Last Sunday I was paged just before Owen got up to present his message from God’s Word. Rather than disturb everyone when I was paged again, I just stood in the back of the auditorium by the door. I must say I was amazed at the commotion that goes on during a lesson.

During the 24 minute lesson, 26 people got up to leave the auditorium at various times. These are some of the same people that can sit through a two-hour movie and drink a 40 ounce soda and not think a thing about it, ride in a car for three hours, or sit through a two-hour ball game. Now I do admit, three of the 26 had babies they were tending to, which I can appreciate. As for the rest, I don’t understand. 23 people opening the back door 46 times, and stepping over others to get out. It is amazing the speaker has the ability to concentrate on the lesson he is presenting. Bottom line, if you don’t have enough respect for the speaker, then have some respect for the presentation of God’s Word.
                                                                         —Via Chapman Church of Christ

“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth” —Psalm 46:10

“Church of Christ Backs Same-Sex Marriage” (?)

Topic(s): Denominationalism, Marriage

Most of you have no doubt seen headlines similar to the one above, which recently appeared in a Texas newspaper. The church of Christ in that community received several calls from people expressing disappointment that the “church of Christ” would condone homosexuality. Confusion among the general public is not surprising, in view of most people’s lack of familiarity with the history of various religious groups. But, in the interest of clarification, a few comments are appropriate.

The resolution under consideration occurred in the denomination called the “United Church of Christ,” not the nondenominational “churches of Christ.” The New York Times was more precise in its title and began its article with this statement: “The United Church of Christ became the first mainline Christian denomination to support same-sex marriage officially when its general synod passed a resolution on Monday affirming ‘equal marriage rights for couples regardless of gender’” (Shaila Dewan, July 5, 2005). At a news conference after the vote, John H. Thomas, president and general minister of the denomination, said, “On this July 4, the United Church of Christ has courageously acted to declare freedom, affirming marriage equality, affirming the civil rights of gay couples to have their relationships recognized as marriages by the state, and encouraging our local churches to celebrate those marriages.” The UCC has 6,000 congregations and 1.3 million members.

“Churches of Christ” and the “United Church of Christ” are completely separate religious entities. According to its official web site, The United Church of Christ was created on Tuesday, June 25, 1957, at the Uniting General Synod in Cleveland, Ohio (http://www.ucc.org/aboutus/shortcourse/ucc.htm). It was the result of a merger between the Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches and “embodied the essence of both parents, a complement of freedom with order, of the English and European Reformations with the American Awakenings, of 17th-century separatism with 20th-century ecumenism, of Presbyterian with congregational polities, of neo-orthodox with liberal theologies.”

Historically, in churches of Christ we trace our American roots to the early 19th-century efforts of Thomas and Alexander Campbell, Barton W. Stone, and others. But our plea has always been simply to return to New Testament Christianity, and so we trace our spiritual ancestry to the Christians of the New Testament. We do what we do religiously because of our commitment to the Word of God as inspired, infallible, and authoritative (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The United Church of Christ, in contrast, has the slogan, “God is still speaking,” by which it suggests that the Bible is not the sole source of divine instruction. These polar opposite views of the Bible—and the consequent religious beliefs and practices—form the foundational differences between the United Church of Christ and churches of Christ.

“Churches of Christ” do not “back same-sex marriages.” In every dispensation, God has taught that the practice of homosexuality is sinful. See, for example: Genesis 19; Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Romans 1:24-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:9-10. Because of our commitment to the Bible as God’s Word, we oppose the practice of homosexuality as we do the practice of every other sin, in spite of what prevails culturally. In contrast, the UCC stated in its resolution that, “Ideas about marriage have shifted and changed dramatically throughout human history, and such change continues even today.” In other words, marriage is defined culturally instead of biblically. That view of Scripture allows for the approval of whatever becomes acceptable in any particular culture. It also blatantly ignores the fact that God created marriage and defined it as man and woman (Genesis 2:24).

It is disappointing to recognize that our world is straying farther and farther from the standard of morality revealed in the Bible. It is even more discouraging to see certain religious groups acquiesce to our ungodly culture and completely abandon God’s teachings on right and wrong. Perhaps this should serve as a reminder to us that we must never waver in our commitment to the Bible, always being willing to swim against the tides of the culture that surrounds us. God’s Word is true in every generation, regardless of what people around us choose to believe.
                                                                   —Chuck Webster, Hoover, Alabama