Comments on: The Magisterium of the Churches of Christ - Introduction http://www.clarkecomments.com/archives/the-magisterium-of-the-churches-of-christ-introduction/ Clarke comments on the Restoration Movement and the Church of Christ. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 06:33:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.1 by: Guy http://www.clarkecomments.com/archives/the-magisterium-of-the-churches-of-christ-introduction/#comment-38490 Thu, 03 Jan 2008 23:57:29 +0000 http://www.clarkecomments.com/archives/the-magisterium-of-the-churches-of-christ-introduction/#comment-38490 well, i s'pose i do agree with a few more of our traditions than you. but i'd certainly disagree with some myself. i guess what i haven't liked is that some of my disagreeing with some established idea has left me without a "replacement" idea. i realize maybe i'll just have to put forth the effort to study it out and come to a conclusion. but there is a safe and secure feeling about having the "answer", ya know? i was wondering what you meant though about the modernist cultural ideas vs. a biblical worldview. could you expand on that? well, i s’pose i do agree with a few more of our traditions than you. but i’d certainly disagree with some myself. i guess what i haven’t liked is that some of my disagreeing with some established idea has left me without a “replacement” idea. i realize maybe i’ll just have to put forth the effort to study it out and come to a conclusion. but there is a safe and secure feeling about having the “answer”, ya know?

i was wondering what you meant though about the modernist cultural ideas vs. a biblical worldview. could you expand on that?

]]> by: Lytle http://www.clarkecomments.com/archives/the-magisterium-of-the-churches-of-christ-introduction/#comment-38016 Sat, 29 Dec 2007 02:29:27 +0000 http://www.clarkecomments.com/archives/the-magisterium-of-the-churches-of-christ-introduction/#comment-38016 For you and your readers, please note this is my first post. For introduction, I am a 46 year old Texan born into and raised in the church of Christ. I think I followed a course that you would expect of a male believer,(not that I am into quoting Paul's list of bonifides) serving the last 7 years as an elder in a congregation. I only consider myself an elder for this congregation; not for all buildings with our name. I also have been following your site for the last three months, and I enjoy it. This topic of which you speak is where our congregations grow or stagnate upon. I don't know if we are liberal or practical at our church but we sing praise songs without a praise team because we don't have good enough singers to be on the team! As for your topic, I have often wanted to ask the elders of Oak Hills in San Antonio, as they instigated non-traditional worship and evangelical efforts; "What did you tell your mother?" Please understand, about the exact time you wrote this blog, I buried my mother in a country spot in South Texas. I think that many of my actions and beliefs were shaped and sustained with her in mind. I have studied, taught, lead, followed and supported many Christians of many faiths in their faith. But I always stayed near to what I first learned, possibly to avoid dishonor or dare say embarrassing her. After all, what is more important in any religion than "Honor thy father and mother"? Is it possible that the answer to many of your questions, the peace which you seek, is simply that? More importantly to me, what will I do? Hide behind her memory or step out without having to answer to her? For you and your readers, please note this is my first post. For introduction, I am a 46 year old Texan born into and raised in the church of Christ. I think I followed a course that you would expect of a male believer,(not that I am into quoting Paul’s list of bonifides) serving the last 7 years as an elder in a congregation. I only consider myself an elder for this congregation; not for all buildings with our name.
I also have been following your site for the last three months, and I enjoy it.
This topic of which you speak is where our congregations grow or stagnate upon. I don’t know if we are liberal or practical at our church but we sing praise songs without a praise team because we don’t have good enough singers to be on the team!
As for your topic, I have often wanted to ask the elders of Oak Hills in San Antonio, as they instigated non-traditional worship and evangelical efforts; “What did you tell your mother?”
Please understand, about the exact time you wrote this blog, I buried my mother in a country spot in South Texas. I think that many of my actions and beliefs were shaped and sustained with her in mind. I have studied, taught, lead, followed and supported many Christians of many faiths in their faith. But I always stayed near to what I first learned, possibly to avoid dishonor or dare say embarrassing her. After all, what is more important in any religion than “Honor thy father and mother”?

Is it possible that the answer to many of your questions, the peace which you seek, is simply that? More importantly to me, what will I do? Hide behind her memory or step out without having to answer to her?

]]> by: Clarke http://www.clarkecomments.com/archives/the-magisterium-of-the-churches-of-christ-introduction/#comment-37292 Sat, 22 Dec 2007 21:30:02 +0000 http://www.clarkecomments.com/archives/the-magisterium-of-the-churches-of-christ-introduction/#comment-37292 Alan: It certainly has! My next post will look at hermenutics...even though CENI has been pounded into the ground, especially by yourself, its a huge part of "the magisterium." Adam: Thanks for the info regarding Sola Scriptura. I'll have to check out the book. I think we must look at history and tradition when considering interpretation. It can be helpful to understand how earlier Christians interpreted the scripture in their own lives and practice. Guy: I'm not really looking for wide agreement, I'm more looking for the truth. Of course, we already have the truth, both in Jesus Christ and in the scripture; so, I guess I am looking to come to a proper understanding of the truth. To quote a radio talk show host I've heard a few times, "It's not who's right, but what's right." Thats what I care about. I don't know that I really even reject alot of our historical positions, but I do certainly reject some: I disagree that instrumental music is sinful or not authorized by scripture. I disagree with out traditional view of women in the church, and I believe there is a more biblical point of view that we need to embrace...but I'm not as liberal as I am sure some would make me out to be. I disagree with how we have embraced modernist cultural ideas and have rejected a biblical worldview. I disagree that the Church of Christ is "the" church, exclusive to all others. I agree with: Baptism for the Remission of Sins. I agree that we should take the Lord's Supper every week. I agree with Congregational church polity. I agree that denominationalism is sinful; that being said, I believe that as much as we wish to deny it, we are a denomination! We must be a denomination in protest, as we are clearly not non-denominational. So, that being said, I don't think that we should balk at everything "The Magisterium" says, but I think that we must be willing to question everything in light of the fact that much has been debunked. -Clarke Alan:

It certainly has! My next post will look at hermenutics…even though CENI has been pounded into the ground, especially by yourself, its a huge part of “the magisterium.”

Adam:

Thanks for the info regarding Sola Scriptura. I’ll have to check out the book. I think we must look at history and tradition when considering interpretation. It can be helpful to understand how earlier Christians interpreted the scripture in their own lives and practice.

Guy:

I’m not really looking for wide agreement, I’m more looking for the truth. Of course, we already have the truth, both in Jesus Christ and in the scripture; so, I guess I am looking to come to a proper understanding of the truth.

To quote a radio talk show host I’ve heard a few times, “It’s not who’s right, but what’s right.” Thats what I care about.

I don’t know that I really even reject alot of our historical positions, but I do certainly reject some:

I disagree that instrumental music is sinful or not authorized by scripture.

I disagree with out traditional view of women in the church, and I believe there is a more biblical point of view that we need to embrace…but I’m not as liberal as I am sure some would make me out to be.

I disagree with how we have embraced modernist cultural ideas and have rejected a biblical worldview.

I disagree that the Church of Christ is “the” church, exclusive to all others.

I agree with: Baptism for the Remission of Sins.

I agree that we should take the Lord’s Supper every week.

I agree with Congregational church polity.

I agree that denominationalism is sinful; that being said, I believe that as much as we wish to deny it, we are a denomination! We must be a denomination in protest, as we are clearly not non-denominational.

So, that being said, I don’t think that we should balk at everything “The Magisterium” says, but I think that we must be willing to question everything in light of the fact that much has been debunked.

-Clarke

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