test for squawkbox
Friday, July 11, 2003
Wednesday, July 09, 2003
Something to ponder on :
"Have you been taught that the contemporary Churches of Christ are nondenominational congregations which model the first century church in their doctrine? Further, do you believe that this doctrine was restored to first century perfection by spiritual pioneers of the early 1800s such as Alexander Campbell and Barton Stone? If so, many of your notions about what these men believed and whether the contemporary church reflects the doctrine they attempted to restore will be challenged in a book by Walt Yancy (Endangered Heritage: An Examination of Church of Christ Doctrine, 1991, Joplin, Missouri: College Press Publishing Company).
For those who say, "Why does it matter what the pioneers of the restoration movement thought? What does the Bible say?" I say, fine. Go back to the Bible. But, for others who continue to make the mistake of equating the contemporary church with that model of Christianity envisioned by Thomas Campbell, Alexander Campbell, Barton Stone, and others the book provides a rude awakening. These people wrestled with how to fellowship and worship in a way that is true to the New Testament and upon which Christians could unite. We have the writings of the men and they are looked up to by millions who attend churches with the names of the Church of Christ, the Christian Church, and the Disciples of Christ. As humans, those pioneers' visions were flawed but Yancy shows clearly that what exists today can be distinguished from what they had in mind in the early 1800s."
"Have you been taught that the contemporary Churches of Christ are nondenominational congregations which model the first century church in their doctrine? Further, do you believe that this doctrine was restored to first century perfection by spiritual pioneers of the early 1800s such as Alexander Campbell and Barton Stone? If so, many of your notions about what these men believed and whether the contemporary church reflects the doctrine they attempted to restore will be challenged in a book by Walt Yancy (Endangered Heritage: An Examination of Church of Christ Doctrine, 1991, Joplin, Missouri: College Press Publishing Company).
For those who say, "Why does it matter what the pioneers of the restoration movement thought? What does the Bible say?" I say, fine. Go back to the Bible. But, for others who continue to make the mistake of equating the contemporary church with that model of Christianity envisioned by Thomas Campbell, Alexander Campbell, Barton Stone, and others the book provides a rude awakening. These people wrestled with how to fellowship and worship in a way that is true to the New Testament and upon which Christians could unite. We have the writings of the men and they are looked up to by millions who attend churches with the names of the Church of Christ, the Christian Church, and the Disciples of Christ. As humans, those pioneers' visions were flawed but Yancy shows clearly that what exists today can be distinguished from what they had in mind in the early 1800s."
