Comments on: Sometimes You Have to Quit Talking About It

By: Time/Warner is (far) right

Time/Warner is (far) right — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 11:21:25 +0000

NANCY men Believes they is Saved by GRACE of GOD

By: John

John — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 14:46:31 +0000

http://dkizer.blogspot.com/2006/04/price-of-unity.html

By: Victor Knowles

Victor Knowles — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 19:00:37 +0000

I’m one of those “instrumental types brothers” Bob talked about in his March 31 post, although I’ve never been called an “instrumental types brother” before! Other things, yes! If instrumental music was an issue to Jesus then it should be an issue worthy of our discussion. If it was not, well, let the reader understand. Several years ago I preached a two-part sermon: things that upset us that didn’t upset Jesus and things that upset Jesus that don’t upset us. Hmmm. Maybe I’ll get that one out and dust it off and see if it will fly today!

By: John

John — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 16:23:35 +0000

Right on, Joseph!

By: Joseph

Joseph — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 21:31:42 +0000

If the purpose of these “unity movements” are to get back to being Bible-based…and seeing what God wants…then I’m all for it. However…if the purpose is to say “I’m ok, you’re ok,” then you’re discarding truth and accepting opinions and beliefs that are inconsistent with the Word of God…which spells trouble.

By: Larry James

Larry James — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 20:07:50 +0000

Sometimes it is just hard to admit that a position held for over a century is no only simply wrong, it is by any standard of Christian history heretical to boot.

By: Joel Maners

Joel Maners — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 04:32:11 +0000

Patty,

Thanks for you comment about Freed-Hardeman.

“Freed people are joyous, liberated and grateful.”

Oh….you meant FREE people…..ok….

nevermind.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 04:27:21 +0000

Okay, okay, I’ll give you instrumental music…. just don’t let WOMEN do the playing.

By: Bradford L. Stevens

Bradford L. Stevens — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 03:43:30 +0000

Thanks Clint,

No doubt, letting a lawyer into heaven is a measure of God’s grace; but, remember, without the lawyer asking the question, “Who is my neighbor?” we might not have the parable of the Good Samaritan!

By: clint

clint — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 03:26:54 +0000

WOW, imagine if a lawyer can make it to heaven anyone can, and with a daughter like Rachel God must love lawyers too.

By: Bradford L. Stevens

Bradford L. Stevens — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 02:54:51 +0000

I have been blessed to be 4th generation C of C. However, the finest legal training I ever received was growing up in the churches of Christ. In 1974 I was sitting in a Legal Procedure classroom as a first year law student at Washington University in St. Louis, MO. The professor was teaching us rules of statutory construction, one of which is “uno exclusio inclusio alterius”, i.e. what is expressly included is, by implication, excluded. As I sat there, the light bulb went off in my head! I know this rule! This is how I was taught to interpret Scripture growing up in church. And, then it hit me. This is how lawyers interpret laws, and we do the same thing as Christians with scriptures. Suddenly, the words of Jesus to the Pharisees in John 5:39 came to mind: “You search the scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness to me.” Unity will only be based on the Lordship of Jesus Christ. If we think that we will ever get everyone to agree on “our” interpretation of scripture, we lose sight that life is in Christ and not in a book. The Bible is a compass that points us to the Lord. Without God’s Holy Spirit and love, “Restorationism” becomes an idol that will divide the body of Christ in whatever form it is debated. We can become legalists or lovers. I am choosing love!

By: Patty

Patty — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 01:56:31 +0000

I used to think differences of opinion in the body of Christ drew lines between the weak (that was everyone who didn’t think just like I do) and the strong (you know who). While there are weak and strong, I now know those lines don’t fall where I wanted to place them. Now I see people as free and enslaved. Free people are joyous, liberated and grateful. Slaves are in bondage to whatever holds them back– tradition, rationalism, legalism. As a freed person, it is neither my job nor my desire to lord my freedom over the slaves– that won’t make them feel better and it won’t set them free. I’ve got to just keep pointing to Christ. He holds the only key.

While discussions about instruments or praise teams or how (or how often) we take communion can be interesting and thought provoking, their importance pales in relation to Jesus. Point to Jesus. Point to God. Live lives filled with the Spirit of the Living God. That’s what’s important.

By: Beverly

Beverly — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 01:08:42 +0000

Guidepost..oh the irony!

By: clint

clint — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 23:06:34 +0000

ah the next stumbling block

By: Daniel

Daniel — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 22:48:12 +0000

Mike,
Thank you for your comments. I am of a generation that is beginning to not care at all about instruments or no instruments. We seek authentic community. How can one feel they are accepted as a creation of God if we are telling them all the things that we say will lead them to hell (like instrumental worship). I am not of the school of thought that instruments are wrong. I do, however, love accappella music. But if one is a baptized believer, I believe Christ calls me to accept them and to be united. I am thankful for the ACU lectures, restoration forum and Tulsa (among many others) who are standing for unity.