The death toll is usually culminated in the name of Truth. Just a few of these battles encountered have been:
- Truth against versions of the Bible other than KJV
- Truth against congregations offering a Mother's Day Out program for their communities
- Truth against the Holy Spirit working
- Truth against the divorced community
- Truth against several coming down front to comfort a responder to the invitation
- Truth against solos and duets and praise teams
- Truth against listening to those outside of our brand speak when we all read their books
On the list goes in a consistently positioned againstism.
The Truth is and always will be ultra-significant. I wonder why the againstism party cannot see the Truth that Jesus faced their crowd centuries ago. He was against the againstism group. Their reaction was what any good and faithful Truth Seeker would do.....they killed him in the name of Truth. The pattern continues. Truth is killed by those wielding the sword of Truth. These plot and plan and they get their way. Our cities and suburbs are strewn with deadened souls as they once sat among us; but againstism finally took its toll.
Such a lifestyle comes from a wisdom that is earthy; but not from above. It's backing is selfish arrogance. We all must avoid such dangerous doctrine: Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing...James 3:13-16.
9 comments:
Thanks for this post. Seems CofC's are master's at 'against-ism' to the detriment of what the church is meant to be. Some say that change is almost always bloody and I believe it. Some say the church won't change until all the 'old people' die off and are replaced by young enthusiasts. Well, I'm old and I don't have time to lollygag around for that. We've preachers who could be the spark plugs for overcoming againster's but they've thrown in the towel and preach baby food. They don't want to anger the 'againstism' supporters and that makes it more difficult for those of us who gently urge for truth. I've been by by a 1st string member that you are negative. I think that's what occurs when one cannot accept what oneviews as criticism. Thank you for always putting it out there for us to see and be encouraged; to keep on keeping on. Here's a good quote from G. K. Chesterton..."God promised his disciples 3 things: that they would be completely fearless, absolutely happy and in constant trouble." That's the truth. Christ was usually in trouble, He's good company. He also stressed this: "I am telling you the truth". Dear God, I believe Him. Amen and Amen
How much does this reasoning resemble the same reasoning by the Pharisees in Mark 7? I'm just blown away that we can read that passage and not recognize the similarities.
Thanks for another great post Mr. Rush. And to "Vasca", in my circles I have found that the "old people" are often (unfortunately) the scapegoats for preserving the status-quo, pointed to by the younger and the middle-agers as the ones who we need to "love" and "respect" by keeping things the same. Upon careful examination with Spiritual perspective, it has often become clear that the younger / middle-agers are in fact the ones seeking to preserve the SQ.
Oddly, in getting to know many "old people" personally, I have found that they are among the many who are paitently, gently waiting, hoping, and longing for genuine renewal.
Once during table talk, I invited the congregation, as each desired and was able, to kneel for the prayers, and in fact knelt myself. I was overwhelmed at the positive response...particularly from the "old people" (70s+). More than a couple mentioned that it had been decades since they were asked to kneel for anything, and one elderly, clutching her walker, said it took her straight back to her younger days when they were more open with their faith and the communion time was more special.
The sheer age of these encouraging folks that shared their flashbacks indicated to me that we as a group, USED TO be more open at one point in our past, and evidently lost it somewhere along the way. I only hope we continue to find our way back.
It is a dreadful thing that we younger folks hinder Spirit work on the false pretense of respect and love for the "old people". Shame on us.
On the contrary, "thank you" to all of you who have fought the fight in the steps you've laid for us. May we follow in your steps, and those of the Lord.
Thanks, Terry, for another great post!
We are 78/79 ~ still busy carrying His light around the world...this means leaving our 'box' several weeks, months, years at a time because we have a sense of urgency. Truth is, we don't belong in a box...God continually gives us strength, means and enthusiasm too do so. Anonymous, my husband and I are into our fourth month of writing weekly companion articles...Shepherd's Talk and Ewe's Muse...we petition Father constantly to allow us to make a difference and He blesses us to do just that. Would there were more Terry Rush's in our corner. P.S. Our columns are in a weekly newsletter/bulletin and free (of course) w/no strings attached. If you'd like some...speak and it's done. Hey, we're twenty yr olds trapped in 70 something bodies! Old is good! Aargh!!!
That crowd didn't run me off as I was planning on leaving ministry to work with my son, but they sure could be discouraging. Fortunately, our eldership (during the last 5-6 years) paid them no attention. Nor did I. What I learned by experience was to love them and be there for them but not to try and appease them as they were never happy.
Unfortunately I had written my nice long positive comment Before registering, so it was zapped into outer space! Argggh! Soooo, I'll just say "Amen"! to your article in Christian Chronicle and glad I discovered you and your Blog! I'm FOR it! :)
churches of Christ do not have any corner on "againstism." I live in a small town in Kentucky but we are surrounded in this small place by this very same spirit in every denomination.
A. I.
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