Identity Crisis? My comments to the Christian Chronicle
I don’t believe that there is an identity crisis in Churches of Christ at all. We know who were are, no matter whether we are conservative or liberal.
I am a member of a congregation that is most would say is becoming more progressive. There is some serious, healthy questioning of our traditions going on in this church. However, this questioning, which is rejecting some of the teachings that have been held as “traditional” within our brotherhood, doesn’t mean that we have lost track of who we are. We are familiar with our heritage and history, and we affirm the people that came before us in a different time. In many ways, we are embracing the distant past of our Restoration Movement, and not the last 50 to 100 years that has brought division and turmoil.
So, are we in a crisis? No, not at all. We are instead entering a time of renewal and understanding that is being fermented by the Holy Spirit.
-Clarke
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March 2nd, 2007 at 7:51
Hi Clarke,
Good to hear from you again.
That is a great perspective. Questioning of traditions is scary to some people. As long as you are anchored in the scriptures this examination is healthy–even if it doesn’t confirm every tradition.
March 2nd, 2007 at 8:17
I like this from the stand point it does not buy into the media hype.
If anyone had a I.D problem it was Jesus himself. He asked the question what do men say that I am? Only 3000 confessed his name in the start of the church. Not long after, Jesus the Christ and part of the Godhead was in serious doubt….
Who cares what the church of Christ is lets get down to what Jesus the son of the living God is and there find a new beginning.
March 2nd, 2007 at 15:59
Seems to me like most of us know who/what we are. It’s just that some of us want to be someone/something else.
March 2nd, 2007 at 21:15
Jeff:
I know I don’t want to be someone/something else. I am fairly happy with being a member of a Church of Christ congregation and a Christian only.
-Clarke
March 3rd, 2007 at 9:05
Clarke,
Sorry, wasn’t meaning you. I was talking more about those who reject, for example, patterns for us as individuals or churches from Scripture.
Sorry that wasn’t clear.