ClarkeComments.com

Hello all:

Each summer, Churches of Christ in the Portland area sponser whats called “TNT”, or Tuesday Nights Together, for the area youth groups. Each TNT night is held at a different congregtion, and there is usually a devotional, some skits, a message and some time to socialize.

We are hosting one this year, and as the “youth guy,” I’m working with the teens to get it prepared. So…the other day I received a phone call from an admissions counselor at Cascade, who asked if we’d also like to host the college’s newest music group during our TNT. Since this would take some pressure off of us to fill some time, I was all for it…but, there was one problem….

This group is a “Christian Band,” complete with acoustic guitar and drummer. I told the admissions counselor I couldn’t promise anything…and I took it to our minister, who vetoed it.

Apparently one of the other congregations last year hosted the same type of group during a TNT and caused some controversy. I don’t remember hearing about it, but apparently there were accusations that this congregation was attempting to introduce instrumental music into the area congregations.

So…. to avoid controversy, we aren’t hosting them. I can understand the decision, to an extent. We just changed our name, so going down this road would probably lead to more speculation on this subject, not less…. and we don’t need that right now. At the wsame time, though, its saddening, because these are the situations where I wish we could not worry about this issue so much… but, this is where we are.

-Clarke

Proverbs 8:12-36 (NRSV)

I, wisdom, live with prudence,
and I attain knowledge and discretion.
The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.
Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
and perverted speech I hate.
I have good advice and sound wisdom;
I have insight, I have strength.
By me kings reign,
and rulers decree what is just;
by me rulers rule,
and nobles, all who govern rightly.
I love those who love me,
and those who seek me diligently find me.
Riches and honour are with me,
enduring wealth and prosperity.
My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,
and my yield than choice silver.
I walk in the way of righteousness,
along the paths of justice,
endowing with wealth those who love me,
and filling their treasuries.

The Lord created me at the beginning of his work,
the first of his acts of long ago.
Ages ago I was set up,
at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
When there were no depths I was brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
Before the mountains had been shaped,
before the hills, I was brought forth—
when he had not yet made earth and fields,
or the world’s first bits of soil.
When he established the heavens, I was there,
when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
when he made firm the skies above,
when he established the fountains of the deep,
when he assigned to the sea its limit,
so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
then I was beside him, like a master worker;
and I was daily his delight,
rejoicing before him always,
rejoicing in his inhabited world
and delighting in the human race.

‘And now, my children, listen to me:
happy are those who keep my ways.
Hear instruction and be wise,
and do not neglect it.
Happy is the one who listens to me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting beside my doors.
For whoever finds me finds life
and obtains favour from the Lord;
but those who miss me injure themselves;
all who hate me love death.’

From Gospel Advocate, June 21, 1906, found at: The Restoration Movement Pages.

In the determination of the question here involved, it must be borne in mind that this is a contest between two incorporated church organizations, and that the only question that this court can deal with is: in which corporation is the title to the church property which formerly belonged to the Sand Creek congregation now bested? From a careful examination of the record in this case, which contains over sixteen hundred pages, we have reached the conclusion that the learned chancellor who heard the case below rightfully reached the conclusion that the title to that property, at the commencement of this suit, was in the defendant in error the “Church of Christ of Sand Creek,” and not in the plaintiff in error the “Christian Church of Sand Creek,” and rightfully so decreed.

The decree of the Circuit Court will therefore be affirmed.

Paul, in First Corinthians, tells those in Corinth that he is writing to that they have already lost because they are filling lawsuits against one another. This was a sad day for our movement.

The thing that strikes me the most is that the division that occured between the Churches of Christ and the Disciples of Christ was well orchestrated. It was not just a “drifting away” from one another, not simply just a de facto seperation, but one that was well thought out. Those who wanted seperation between the two groups weren’t afraid to advocate their position. The Sand Creek Address and Decleration illustrates this well.

Unity must also be something well thought out and orchestrated. We will not just “drift towards” one another, we must advocate our own position that the unity of the Church is biblically correct and within God’s will. Nothing else will achieve this goal.

-Clarke

Hello all:

I am finally done with school this term. I don’t have all my grades back yet, but it looks like I’m going to be getting a 4.0 this term. I have never gotten all A’s before…ever. But, its been 8 years since I’ve been in college, and I’m a little more dedicated this time around.

Next term, looks like I’m going to have to get some of my general ed. requirements out of the way, so I’ll be taking Intro to Astronomy for my lab science, plus a health or a math class probably… They are offering World Religions, which fits my schedule, but I’m not sure I’ve be able to handle that class along with a science class and another substantial class.

I have the opportunity to take Restoration History at Northwest College of the Bible for free fall term, but scheduling and work load might keep me from doing this. I’ll keep you updated on school as I know more.

-Clarke