Following Jesus — Not US!
A couple posts from 2004:
Most of us don’t like paradox and tension. We like our theology nice and clean. We like to know who’s in and who’s out.
Growing up, it was easy. You had to have the RIGHT position on baptism: the right amount of water, the right age (accountability), the right reason (”for remission of sins” — usually nothing mentioned about “to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”), and the right prerequisites (hear, believe, repent, and confess). You also had to have the right understanding of the church (date of origin, organization, etc.), the right kind of worship (five “acts” involving weekly communion, and acappella singing), and so on.
Readers of this blog who aren’t from the Churches of Christ won’t understand all that. But trust me, you have your own version!
The borders were clear. We were right; others were wrong.
Now, I don’t believe that. I don’t believe people are lost just because they don’t share my understanding of various passages. We are saved by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus — not by our ability to exegete texts. Thank God for that! No wonder so many people went to their deathbeds worried about going to hell.
So some have assumed I don’t believe in baptism any longer. Far from it. I love the things written in a recent booklet from ACU Press by Jeff Childers and in a recent book by John Mark Hicks and Greg Taylor.
But here’s the catch: I don’t think you have to agree with me on everything in order to follow Jesus. He is clearly working in the lives of people who drastically disagree with what I believe on some issues.
I’m not an agnostic about their faith, either. I’m not saying, “Well, maybe God will be merciful on others.” Nope. I’m saying, “These are my brothers and sisters in Jesus.” People in whom the fruit of the Holy Spirit is clearly being produced. We have some differences of opinion–even on things that are very important to me–but we are part of the one body of Christ.
It is the height of arrogance (often fueled by fear) to believe that WE got it right and in order to follow him you must follow US.
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It is important for you to control your own drawbridge. There must be times when you keep your bridge drawn and have the opportunity to be alone or only with those to whom you feel close. Never allow yourself to become public property, where anyone can walk in and out at will. You might think that you are being generous in giving access to anyone who wants to enter or leave, but you will soon find yourself losing your soul. – Henri Nouwen
Thanks for the reminder that convictions and humility aren’t mutually exclusive.
Great post, Mike. Thanks for sharing those thoughts. Amen!
Whenever you stir up a “Read Mike Cope’s blog today!” from my wife in the other room, you know you have done your job. Praise God for churches who realizes this truth, with you, long ago.
Thanks for re-posting, Mike! This is exactly the kind of message from you that earned you the mention in my latest blog post:
http://www.hopeforyourfamily.com/2009/04/09/confessions-of-a-closet-catholic/
Thanks for continuing to seek the Truth so honestly, and for calling so many to do the same!
Mike,
I understand the sentiment here. But this is what I struggle with. Aren’t you just exchanging your old “right” for a new “right”? That’s what I’ve done. But I feel it is a bit arrogant to assume that my new “right” is in fact right and my old “right” was in fact wrong. A position like that would be more typical of the old “right” anyways.
What I’m getting at, is that we all still believe that there are certain hurdles that must be overcome to enter the gates of heaven (I’m assuming we do). It sounds like you have exchanged you’re old set of hurdles for a new one. Maybe in some ways they look and feel less legalistic. Are you simply broadening your sense of “us” to be more inclusive. If you define “us” as all Christ followers/disciples/Christians, then aren’t you still saying that you must be one of us to take hold of salvation?
I agree with a lot of what you’re saying, but I think there is a strong desire in today’s society to portray ourselves as inclusive, non-judgmental and tolerant of a diverse set of world views. While the limits may have changed, ultimately there are (and should be) limits on how far we take that. Finding those limits may be the question that churches of Christ wrestle with for the next few generations.
Isn’t being “saved” kind of a silly notion to begin with? Through no fault of our own, we were born with sinful natures, yet we must be “saved” by believing in something supernatural? Isn’t it odd that belief holds sway above all else when said belief is usually a product of one’s environment (hence tons of Christians in Oklahoma and relatively few in China). I guess if you were lucky enough to have Christian influences growing up (or at some point) and were sufficiently indoctrinated into the belief you will be “saved.” On the other hand, honest, sincere, well-intentioned disbelief gets you what? Hell? Eternal suffering? Is this truly a sane system we are supposedly living under?
Is Val singing “Arise My Love” tomorrow? We sang it today and I have this strong urge to drive to Abilene in the morning.
I said “right on” the first time around, the conviction is even deeper now. The love for all those who hold up Jesus Christ as their Savior has made me a more gentle heart.
Kyle – good post. The problem today is being too inclusive nad calling evil good, not being exclusive. If I take a block of carved wood, hold it up, call it “Jesus”, and continue on to tell you how my “Jesus” will make you rich if you rub his belly three times a day for ten years will you accept me into the fellowship as a brother?
SOme thing there is only danger in being inclusive (which there is, secretarianism is a sin) however there is a ditch on the other side of the road too (What fellowship has light with darkness, come out from them my people).
Brett-
By reason of your comment I can assume you consider yourself, along with the ficticous people in China you conjured up, to be pretty good people that don’t deserve hell. There will be no “honest, sincere” people in hell as you absurdly claimed though. There will be liars, thieves, blaspehmers, idolaters, the sexually immoral, the hateful, prideful, greedy, etc. All who have sinned against their conscience and the testimony of nature deserve damnation, not salvation. Christ is a saviour from the just wrath of God along with our old sinful nature. He is the way, the truth, and the life. No man can come to God but through Him.
-Jim
Mike, I’m glad to read this again.
Because I’m not at all sure I agree with you about some of your “out-there” positions on guacamole.
Amen!!!
Without theologically splitting hairs and ecumenically parsing the buck is not this post a witness of Spirit-filled humility? Isn’t Mike’s point that we all struggle with dogma building the walls of separation that Jesus tore down (Eph.2:14)? The arrogance of youth whether in a movement or in one’s life is often replaced with a sense of “who am I?” Which one of you out there no matter how convicted or how academically astute assumes you have “the” answers? If I understand our insightful brother… he has not abandoned his deep feelings and convictions regarding baptism (or any other reasonable c of c checklist) –He like many of us has clearly seen the Spirit of Christ in those who understand differently. In the wake of Easter’s glorious glow may we all resurrect the spirit of a gentle Savior who died for all!
Coming from a non-CoC background, I really appreciate the post as well. The first CoC church I attended was so caught up in rules, so much as to question my baptism, simply because it wasn’t done in the “right” church. I thought as long as I believed in Jesus, the Bible, and His dying for my sin that it didn’t matter where I was baptized. They didn’t seem to agree…
I’m glad to see that maybe I wasn’t crazy though.
Jim-
There are no perfect people, but there are decent folks who, through rational thought and lack of evidence of the supernatural, think religion is nothing more than ancient myth. Or, who were raised in religions other than Christianity and who sincerely think that their religion is the only way to go. If these people “deserve” hell, that’s cruel and entirely unfair.
Only 14 comments? In the old days this post would generate 150.
Blogging is fading…..
Brett-
One sin against God who created us or one unloving motive towards our neighbor who is created in God’s image is enough to send us to eternal damnation. This is how serious sin is and all men are without excuse as I stated earlier. We are created to love God and our neighbor perfectly but have become all together selfish ans depraved through the fall. You deciding who deserves hell rather then the just judge of the universe (who knows the thoughts of every mans heart) sounds completely unfair to me.
Religion can’t save anyone from the just punishment for their sin. Only the precious blood of Jesus can wash away our shame, guilt, and condemnation. Despite what you see in today’s North American “religious scene” God still powerfully saves people, know that. This is more then giving a mental ascent to some facts about Jesus and being dunked in water. If anyone is truly in Christ they are a new creation, with new thoughts, new desires, a new nature that is filled with the very presence of God’s Spirit. The Gospel is not just words or talk, it is a powerful and undeniable reality for those who have been truly born again (less then 10% of church goers in America apparently). The problem is God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. You must see your desperate need of forgiveness and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ with all of your heart. This is a stumbling block to the self righteousness and self autonomous nature of fallen man who seeks to justify himself.
Be sure to take the Good Person Test..
http://www.livingwaters.com/good/001b.shtml
Written in humility (it’s hard to convey emotion on blogs).
-Jim
Sorry, I didn’t mean to comment here again and it won’t let me delete my comment altogether! ><
Mike,
You receive so many comments I doubt you’ll get around to this
one, but I”ll comment anyway.
I vividly remember as a child having the privilege of being
in the audience and hearing the great Marshal Keeble.
As I read what you believe, which I’ve known for a long time,
I can’t help but think “what would Bro. Keeble think about
all this?” I’m thinking he would be very disappointed.
Your “convictions” are just a regurgitation of our culture.
In the last thirty years the line between right and wrong
has increasingly, incrimentally been blurred.
If you are a student of history you will know this has happened
in human societies over and over.
So sad we don’t learn from history.
I agree, Mike. I have thought for a long time that it seemed a bit ridiculous that we could place so much emphasis on the correct doctrine of baptism and the consequences of being wrong, while at the same time having a fairly under-developed doctrine of God’s grace or the person, work, and power of the Holy Spirit. Hopefully we are growing out of this.
Brett, I think you raise good questions. Questions about the justice of God. God is not unjust and by your questions our toes should feel stepped on for making Him out to be that way. Much work needs to be done in Christian theology in the realms of being “born a sinner” and “tortured eternally.” It would be nice to hear these questions taken seriously and answered respectfully.