ClarkeComments.com

What I’m currently reading:

‘Is Baptism Really Necessary?’ by Dan Chambers.

This is the second book I’ve read that was written by Dan Chambers. You can read my review of his other book below.

Chambers again does an excellent job acting as a guide for those who aren’t very familiar with church doctrine and the bible. His argument that baptism is an essential element of salvation is very easy to understand and written in a conversation tone that draws the reader into the subject.

Chambers does an admirable job drawing from church history as well as scripture to prove that baptism really is necessary to salvation. He also provides responses to the common objections to this important piece of doctrine.

This book is also short, only 48 pages long. It is perfect for those who are new to the church and are interested in becoming a Christian, or for that friend that is just convinced that baptism isn’t necessary.

If you wish to purchase this book, click on the link above, which will take you to the Ohio Valley College bookstore.

-Clarke

I often scan Google News to see if our churches are in the news.

Typically, they are, and almost always, the news is good news.

There was an article yesterday about the youth group of the West Side church of Christ from Searcy, Arkansas coming to Portland, Oregon (my hometown) to help the Portland Urban Ministry Program (or PUMP church of Christ as it is usually called) with its summer program.

There was also an article about the Northwest church of Christ in Arizona constructing a new building after 52 years.

Its nice to see positive articles about our churches in the news.

Then, of course, churches such as the ultra-liberal “United Church of Christ” pop up in articles as well because of my search string.

These articles are typically not quite as positive. In one article a congregation of the UCC is leaving their denomination because of the fight over gay marriage.

Also, the Disciples of Christ are in the news. They are being blasted for putting up a vote to condemn Israel’s wall protecting itself from terrorist bombers, but then they refuse to let a Jewish man who is a survivor of terrorism speak at their General Assembly here in Portland.

I’m glad the church of Christ stays out of politics for the most part. I’m also glad that when I open up the news, that I don’t have to cringe when I see an article mentioning the church of Christ.

-Clarke

Hello All:

I have posted a couple of links on the site about the International Churches of Christ, or as most members of the church know it as, “The Boston Movement.”

I want to make a very special disclaimer that these links are for information only and that I in no way, whatsoever, support the ICOC.

I consider the Boston Movement to be totally divergent from the Bible. Their control over their members is very unsettling.

I wanted to note, that although there was a “Dialogue” meeting at ACU during the 2004 lectureships, and alot of things happened there, some positive, that the ICOC is in no way dead.

Kip Mckean, the founder of the Boston Movement, is in my hometown of Portland, Oregon, preaching at their church. The ICOC has splintered, but is still very much alive. We must guard our youth from this group of people, and we must make sure that people understand that we ARE NOT the ICOC. A quick googling of “church of Christ” brings up more than one person accusing us of doing what the ICOC does because of the similarity of the names.

-Clarke

What I’m currently reading:

‘Where’s the Piano?’ by Dan Chambers.

I visited the local Christian Bookstore today and picked up a few books to read. I’m halfway through Dan Chamber’s book “Where’s the Piano?” and am really enjoying reading it.

Chambers uses humor and anecdote to communicate with the reader in a casual way about his beliefs about instrumental music. Not only does Chambers make a biblical case for leaving instruments outside the church doors, he also makes a very cogent argument against the instrument from the annals of church history.

The book is short, only 47 pages, but Chambers uses his limited space very effectively to craft his arguments. I picked up one of his other books “Is Baptism Really Necessary?” and I can’t wait to read it after finishing this one.

If you want a copy of the book, you can purchase one from the link above. It is not a link to Amazon.

-Clarke