The Front Range Churches Are Uniting
Two weeks ago, there was a area wide worship of the local churches of Christ in the front range region. This included congregations from Colorado Springs to Denver. Churches from far and wide attended this special service together. The worship was hosted by the Singing Youth of Denver which is a vocal choir of teenagers from congregations all over the area. There was also a singing group called “Legacy” that performed after the worship time. We rented a high school in Denver, which was packed with people. We had local ministers from all spectrum’s guide our minds in prayer and scripture readings. It was a powerful night. I had the honor of preaching this service. The singing was amazing and the fellowship was heavenly. There were positive vibes from everyone that participated in this service. I am really excited about what the local congregations are doing in this area. I believe we are building bridges of unity and fellowship with one another. There is a preacher’s luncheon established now which will continue to contribute to the efforts of unity. During the lesson, I challenged the congregations to make their presence known throughout the region by their good works. We are in a wonderful position because people have little prior knowledge of the church. There are no assumptions or misconceptions. In fact, this week I am taking a family out for supper that have just a sincere desire to learn more about us. I get to make a first impression which is a blessing because you are not dealing with baggage from the past. I am excited for the future of the churches in this area. We are moving forward into a glorious future. Praise God for what He is doing in this region.
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About The Author
I wish I would have known about this event, I would have liked to attend.
Grace and peace,
Rex
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Rex,
We should eat lunch again. Not this week, maybe next week.
Next week would be good for me, next Tuesday or Thursday, on me this time. A lot is going on.
Grace and peace,
Rex
Why don’t they open the unity meeting to other churches in the Restoration movement? I really don’t know if one can call it a “unity movement” when only one group is allowed.
Matthew,
Thanks for sharing with us this wonderful event.
Praise God for what is taking place across the country as far as in terms of unity.
Andrew,
That is a great point and I both understand it and support it BUT…why stop at the restoration movement? If we are going to include more, why not extend an invitation to all who strive to be disciples of Jesus Christ? The early Restoration leaders sure did not draw the line to only those meeting with local groups called “Disciples of Christ” or “Church of Christ.”
Grace and peace,
Rex
The best change takes place inch by inch and not yard by yard. Restoration churches need to get their own backyard cleaned before they consider other Christians. Patience for tearing down long held exclusivist positions is needed and must be respected. Also, NEVER compromise on clear Biblical truth and NEVER make “silence issues” a matter of fellowship. I pray to God for unity!!!
Andrew,
I agree that healthy change requires patience but I am not so sure that God would like to wait for us to warm up to the inclusion of people (believers in Christ) that we want to exclude for various reasons. After all, God refused to wait on the Jewish Christians in Acts to warm up to the idea that others belong to the church even when they do not adhere to the same dietary laws, Sabbath regulations, etc… In fact, God was more willing to endure the controversy such an issue resulted in rather than wait for his church to come around in a harmonious way. So I do understand the need for patience but I also believe that if patience means waiting on everyone or waiting until change can be brought about without controversy then we would be waiting forever.
Grace and peace,
Rex
I am really struggling with what to say. I don’t want to be make anyone angry or get anyone riled but You can go to far. A small ball of snow can turn into a raging avalanche. The avalanche may clear a path for growth in the forest and it may destroy the forest to where growth is impossible. The church (especially leadership) must decide who is to be included and who is not to be included. First it must be decided what you want to accomplish. If all that is considered is, I believe in Jesus you believe in Jesus lets get together then the move you are requesting is the way to do it. If there are teaching difference that make a difference than maybe an effort of studying to bring unity would be best. I know that some have no problem with whatever is taught or believed but your idea is moving way to fast. It will bring brokenness to many local bodies/congregations. I wish I could say it better but I just can’t. I am not mean spirited or stuck in the mud but am very concerned with the move some are requesting. Matthew I hope you and your leader move carefully and wisely.
Just so know one wonders, this unity service was for those within the churches of Christ. There was no intend or energy given to inviting people that do not attend a church of Christ. Why, well because. Now if someone from a different tribe came, well great. I would even let sinners in the door. Anytime we can preach the gospel, all are always invited. But you have to draw the line somewhere. And that was that. Really, shockingly for some, but people in other church groups really do not care that we are all getting together. They are not holding their breath waiting for us to invite them to join us. They have their stuff that they are doing and yes, we have ours. And Rex, lets do Tuesday.
I think its great when churches of the same stripe have harmony and do things together. My beef was not with the meeting as much as the whole idea of unity within the CofC. Thanks for a great conversation and great blog.
Wasn’t wondering just commenting on things posted.
When I said “your ideas” I wasn’t referring to Matthews writings but responses to the post. And I am not against what someone does in promoting unity but the ideas were moving fast.
Sonny,
Imagine how Acts and much of the NT would be so different if God would have let the church decide who is in and who is not. No Gentiles…at least not without submitting to rules and regulations in addition to faith in Jesus Christ.
I am not trying to suggest that everyone claiming to be a Christian is truly a Christian and thus in fellowship with the body of Christ. But who am I to decide who is in and who is out? And by what criterion would I make such decision? I know…according to scripture. The only problem is we have 1,000 different denominations/fellowships (including our own) all claiming to adhere to scripture alone. One thing is for sure, we all cannot be right. So what if we are wrong? The truth is, all, including our own fellowship, has some flaws. So if we exlcude others because of their unscriptural flaws, are we willing to accept the fact that we thus should be excluded from fellowship with God and the body of Christ as well. Therein lies the problem…we assume God is gracious to us with our flaws but judgmental to all others confessing Christians regarding their flaws.
As for me…I would just rather treat and accept another person who claims to be a Christian as my brother in Christ. If on the day of judgment I find out I am wrong, I would rather have errored on that side than on the side of exclusion since my hope, in view of my own sinfulness, is that God would lean to the side of mercy and forgiveness rather than judgment and wrath.
Of course, as my former professor Jimmy Allen once said…when we get to heaven there will be three surprises…the first is that there are people in heaven we never expected to be their…the second is that there are people absent which we expected to be in heaven…the third and greatest of all surprises is that we are in heaven.
Grace and peace,
Rex
Matt, how ’bout Tuesday @ noon?
-Rex
I apologize for my poor grammar in the earlier comment. What I am intending to convey is that we in the CoC understand that we are not perfect and therefore we hope in a loving God that we believe will act with mercy and grace towards us when it comes to our mistakes and passing judgment on our belonging to God and his people. If that is so, then why would we not extend that same attitude of mercy and grace to others claiming to be Christian with regard to their apparent flaws and fellowship with God and his people. But in my experience, that seems to be the problem. We anticipate a merciful God to forgive our follies and pass a merciful judgment upon us but when it comes to other professing Christians outside of the CoC we are very good at only recognizing their flaws, pointing them out for exclusionary purposes, and then passing an exclusionary judgment on them that in practical purposes will not allow them to participate in fellowship with us nor allow us to extend fellowship to them. That seems wrong and unfair. Further more, why should we expect God to be merciful if we cannot extend the same mercy we believe God will extend to us?
While there is certainly changes in attitude and practice taking place within the CoC, we are doomed to God’s wrath is God should decide to judge us in the same manner with which we in the CoC have historically passed judgment on others.
So I am not saying that everyone claiming to be a Christian is a Christian. Nor, and for clarification since I am reacting to Sonny’s comment, do I believe Sonny is suggesting that we are the only Christians. I am simply appealing for a wider acceptance of other professing Christians since we are neither in the position to judge them as not being Christians and since we pray for God to judge us with mercy and Grace.
Grace and peace,
Rex