ClarkeComments.com

Hello all:

I was happy to recieve my weekly email from The Christian Standard this morning. This week’s edition is on Two Views of the Millenium.

Alex Wilson, the minister at the Portland Avenue Church of Christ in Louisville, Kentucky, wrote about his belief in Historic Pre-millenialism.

Robert Lowrey, dean and professor at Lincoln Christian Seminary, wrote about Amillenailism.

The articles were refreshing for several reasons. Wilson is not only Pre-millenial, he’s a member of an acapella Church of Christ. He states his beliefs strongly, but doesn’t attack Amillenialism, or for that matter, musical instruments. He in fact goes out of his way to condemn sectarianism based on any peripherial belief, and points out some arguments that others have made against pre-millenialism that are flawed (such as the statement that pre-mill’s believe that the Church was created as a afterthought).

Lowrey is an Amillenialist, and a member of the Indepedent Christian Churches. He too states his beliefs strongly, but doesn’t attack the other side. He makes his case, and that is that.

Churches of Christ need to learn how to do this; how to examine all-sides of the argument, realize that no one has a monopoly on the truth, and be willing to allow others to have differences in opinion without casting their salvation into doubt. This week, the Christian Standard provides us with a great example on how to do that. I pray that we learn from them.

-Clarke

Hello all:

I just finally finished reading The Fool of God by Louis Cochran. I started reading it a long time ago, and I’ve picked it up in spurts every once in a while.

My grandfather bought the book for me while we were visiting Bethany College back in the early 90’s. He bought it on the condition that I read it. It look a long time, but I finally fulfilled that promise.

While the book is written in novel form, its an eye-opening picture into the life and beliefs of Alexander Campbell. If you haven’t read it…give it a try.

-Clarke

Hello all:

Newell Williams, the president of Brite Divinity School and co-editor of the the Stone-Campbell Encyclopedia, has been appointed as the Moderator of the Christian Church.

As the moderator, Williams will preside over the General Assembly of the Disciples of Christ that will take place in Fort Worth, Texas in July.

This is good news. Newell Williams has a vision of unity for all three streams of the Restoration Movement, and his beliefs about baptism are much more in-line with Churches of Christ and Christian Churches than much of the Disciples. Hopefully he will be a “moderating” force that will steer the Disciples from the extreme liberalism that they have been embracing over the last few years.

-Clarke

Hello all:

Northwest Christian College has revealed their line-up for the second annual Stone-Campbell Symposium. The docket includes four women and one man (Paul Blowers). D’Esta Love, the Chaplain at Pepperdine University, is one of the speakers at the symposium. She is scheduled to preach at the 1st Christian Church of Eugene during the symposium.

The symposium is March 19-21, 2007. I’d like to go, but I’m not sure I will make it this year, as our anniversary occurs during the symposium. Last years symposium was great, and I have a feeling this year’s will be good as well.

Let me know if you are going to be in the area for the symposium.

-Clarke