Am a Confessed Fan of Debate
I admit, I confess, I am a fan of religious debate. This is not popular today, but I love a good Bible conversation where two people who are knowledgeable disagree. Some of you might be aware that Bobby Valentine is doing a review of “Seeking True Unity.” There has been some back and forth discussion of the topic in the blog world. Some people might complain that we are fighting again, but me, I went out and bought the book so I could think through the issues too. These type of conversations motivate me to study harder, to think deeper, and to express myself clearer. Because men like Dale Jenkins, Phil Sanders, and Bobby Valentine are five times smarter than I am. Dale preached the best lesson I ever heard in my life–it was about all good things come from God. Phil is a great thinker and writer, he has a great book on Postmodernity, that I confess I want autographed. Bobby is one of the most well read and intelligent people I have ever met. He knows his stuff. All of these men have taken time out of their busy days to help me before. All of them are great men that care about the church. So when the best talk in the church, I listen because I grow.
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- Review of “Searching for Bobby Orr”
About The Author
Amen. I have learned more in the last 9 months since Bobby has been my preacher about the Hebrew Bible and how it applies to us today than I have in all my years growing up in the
Church of Christ. And I have had some excellent teachers and preachers over the years.
I think Bobby has made a very great point so far.
I too am enjoying the back and forth. These men are brothers that do their homework. I pray that it will help more than just the few, of us. I would like to see a public meeting. I have not liked the debating that many have done but as brethren these men could do a tremendous job. Pray about these discussions. I am certainly more with one side than the other. Saying that I don’t mean to take sides but I agree more with one than the other. We are in or about to be in a civil war between brethren. There are going to be major splits within the churches of Christ. There has been and it is going to be more. I hurt over this but we have done this to ourselves. The worst is we have broken the heart of God.
Preacherman you too have taken sides. Sanders and others have made good points also
Unfortunately, I think you are right Sonny, there might be a big split in the church and this truly breaks my heart. I never, never, never, want to see the body divide. It is like ripping our flesh apart. And I think it is ok, and natural to agree with one side more than the other. We all should be thinking through this stuff.
Sonny, I unfortunately agree with your assesment about “civil war” and a comming split. Likewise, I also am saddened that this would occur just as I am saddened to see it happen on a local congregation level.
I’m also learning from the “debate.” I disagree with some who are making comments that God’s church is something that can be split. Though these important issues need to be discussed, God’s true church (saved individuals known only to him) is unshakeable. If we think of God’s church as a religious movement or a collection of local churches that can be split, we have a sectarian concept of it. God bless, Gardner
God’s church is a religious movement in that it is a part (the right part) of world religions. The church is a collection of local churches: Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi, etc, etc. This not a sectarian concept. Maybe we have different views of the word split. The body is being and has been divided. That is what I mean by split.
Something else about God’s church, splits, and unity…
I tell people that the body of Christ IS unified as one in God’s perspective. The problem is the failure of God’s people to recognize that oneness and practice that oneness. I might add also… like many other denominations/fellowships that began during the modern era, unity and restoration/reformation has been burden of the church (humans) which is not surprising in a modern era that believed humans could acheive almost anything. While not denying the responsibility of the church to be faithful disciples of Jesus, the more I read scripture the more I am convinced that we have been wrong in believing unity and restoration/reformation is our work. As with Israel, the burden of the church’s calling (to be unified, holy, missional, etc…) is upon God first and foremost. Though we can reject God’s sanctifying work, that does not mean we can sanctify ourselves. Likewise, though we can reject God’s work of unity and restoration, we cannot make ourselves unified and restored.
I suggest we begin by praying continuously for unity and resotration (not just in our fellowship but in all Christian fellowships). We should also pray for humbled hearts and open minds. Especially since it appears more and more that neither the progressives nor the traditionalist have the complete answer to unity and restoration and all that either side does have to offer is a message that polarizes the other side.
- Rex