Hello all:
My parents are on vacation right now and are currently in Texas. They are driving up to Missouri and Illonois, and might be hitting Louisiana and Mississippi while they are down South. They are planning on hitting Abeline and Harding on their tour.
One of my second cousins is a minister in Texas. My parents dropped in my Dad’s aunt and uncle to visit and wanted to see my cousin Arty. While they were there they were shocked to learn that Arty had “left the church.”
Arty now preaches at an Independent Christian Church. My parents aren’t too sure what to thing about that, but my Dad’s Aunt gave them a copy of “The Other Side of the Keyboard” to read.
My mom called me to ask what I thought about the book and the situation; she knew that I had read it because I had sent it over with my dad for her to read some months ago and it had gotten lost in his travels. I was at work so I couldn’t really talk about it. We keep missing each other by phone so I haven’t been able to talk to her about it. But, she reads my blog.
In a nut-shell, I think its great. I’m glad that Arty has a job, that a Independent Christian Church is willing to take the risk in hiring a preacher who was trained and grew up in the Churches of Christ, and I’m glad that Arty was willing to take a job with a congregation that is different from what he has known.
I hope that if Arty is ever ready to return to an a capella church that he is shown the same grace that the Christian Church seems to have shown him.
-Clarke
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September 13th, 2006 at 3:48
The discussions we have on these blogs sometimes seem to be all about logic and hermeneutics. But when family is involved, the feelings run much deeper than that.
Everything would be so much simpler if none of these differences existed. But that’s not the world in which we live. God knew we would have disagreements. He told us how to deal with them in passages like Romans 14 and 2 Tim 2:23-26. I think God has blessed your family by providing an opportunity to practice these passages. You are setting a great example. The church needs more like you.
September 13th, 2006 at 5:31
Alan’s thoughts got me to thinking, what if we considerd this entire issue as a family matter instead of just grafting family on top of the seemingly larger discusssion of instrumental music. Perhaps God sees this primarily as a family matter with the Instrumental music issue grafted on top of it.
September 13th, 2006 at 6:07
Brother Clarke,
Times are Changing–for the Better!!
I have posted this Blog entry on Restoration
Heritage Group–to encourage others to Unity!
Thanks Brother–
Bob
September 19th, 2006 at 7:26
Yes, times are changing … I pray they are for the better. May God bless us with shalom and unity.
Bobby Valentine
October 3rd, 2006 at 11:14
It IS a family quarrel with very little scripture to sustain it. I am happy for you and your family. May many others live in grace and peace with our brethren regardless of which side of the keyboard they happen to stand on.
October 10th, 2006 at 5:23
I recently did the same, left the a capella church for an independent christian church. I am so glad I did. As I meet brothers from the independent churches I have been so encouraged by their spirits. It’s an exciting thing for me and my family, but not all of my family sees it my way. Either way, it may be the best decision we ever made. Shalom! Chris
October 13th, 2006 at 17:55
This one really makes me smile. I was raised in the churches of Christ. Baptized at the Pecos River Encampment (Texas), in 1964. Dad and older brother preachers…etc. At age 17 I determined to stand on Scripture rather than Tradition (intentionally capitalized). After a couple of careers, preaching on the side, I decided at age 40 to answer the call to the full-time ministry. I earned a degree in Bible at Oklahoma Christian and entered the ministry. I interviewed at 7 churches of Christ and 3 independent Christian churches. I was called to a church of Christ. After 7 years there, I was called to an independent Christian church, and have been here ever since.
It amazes me how many of us, on both sides of the keyboard, talk unity all the time; but are unwilling to act on our understanding that there is only one church. May God forgive us all.