I questioned a recent visitor who seemed unsure he was in the right Church of Christ as to what exactly we was looking for. He quickly was able to identify the two most necessary marks; (1) it must not have mechanical instruments, and (2) it must preach the truth.
How interesting. Forty years ago I would have given a similar response. Yet, there is a problem with his (and my) response. It is Jesus-less. While Jesus could be inferred in truth, that name wasn't the main issue.
All of us want to continue to revolve around the Christ. He has wained from being our main icon. Lack of mechanical instruments has been our main trademark to many. The Bible has been another. Orderly worship services another. Jesus comes in somewhere in the top ten; always number one when this is pointed out....but in the top ten until such occurs.
Jesus must become our all. He must become our icon. It is to his name all knees will bow; not memorized verses, not listings of proper and orderly worship, not best award for accurate organization.....simply his name.
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. The Truth is not Jesus, the way, and the life. Jesus is those three....not a part of the three.
What's the main reason you prefer your church? If the answer is anything other than Jesus' presence and activity, it may be a second evaluation is in order.
2 comments:
I get it. I am really getting it. I attended a Presbyterian service Sunday. The Reverend read and preached the first 44 verses of John 11, Lazarus's death. He focused on how Jesus approached death, reacted to it, how He helped those he loved through it and what He wanted the apostles to learn about it. It may have been the most Jesus-centered sermon I've heard in years...or ever. And, you know what? Other than that, and a few mechanical instruments, their service was structured pretty similarly. (And, I just have a feeling that they don't spend time in classes or sermons speaking about those groups who don't use instruments.)
Jay
I still remember reading the book, "Why I Am a Member of the Church of Christ" many years ago and it struck me that of all the "identifying" marks of the "right" church, there was hardly a mention of Jesus. It was all about doing the right things in the right order and having the right words on a church building or church letterhead. Sigh . . .
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