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Meta:
Church of Christ silliness
08.13.2006 by Tim Reed
This is taken from a (non-instrumental) Church of Christ speaker who dropped the hammer on those of us who use instruments. This was written in 1939.
There is but one pathway to unity among God’s people; there is but one rule that can make us one in Christ Jesus; only one way that can bring salvation to the world. All must exalt the supremacy of the word of God and keep opinions private; no one should propagate his opinions in “the areas of silence,” but acknowledge the leadership of Christ and love each other as brethren in order to enjoy Christian unity.
Yow. There’s all kinds of wrong there. But for those of you who weren’t paying attention that translates to “shut the crap up and believe what I believe”. You can see why the Restoration Movement split.
So why did I bring this up? As a reminder that how a theological dispute is handled is just as much theology as what theology is held.
August 13th, 2006 at 10:14 pm
I get no props for bringing that to your attention? Shame on you. You’re a sinner and you’re going to hell. I can’t fellowship with you, and I certainly can’t reunite with you.
August 13th, 2006 at 11:06 pm
You have no blog to link to. Except this one.
August 19th, 2006 at 9:25 pm
I see nothing wrong with the quote. It’s true, the only thing that can unite us is following God’s word and not changing it because a personal opinion.
August 20th, 2006 at 8:11 am
The Apostle Paul disagrees with you. Check out 1 Coro 8 which is all about co-existing with different opinions.
Of course the non-instrumental Church of Christ was never very good at playing well with others, as we can see from their history in which they took an opinion not found anywhere in scripture, elevated it above scripture and split the Restoration Movement over it.
August 21st, 2006 at 12:16 am
I completely agree with you that the quote seems a bit contradictory in light of the stance of the non-instrumental church of Christ. But I think your reading of 1 Cor. 8 is interesting. It seems to me that “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. But the man who loves God is known by God.” Is a real key to the understanding of the use of opinions. We have to remember that even when we disagree (as I do with the ideas of the non-instrumental church of Christ) we must do all things in love, because our knowledge does nothing but make us feel superior but our love for God will spread into love for others. I think that Romans 14:1-15:4 really speaks to the importance of putting opinions aside and honoring the convictions of our fellow Christians even when we disagree. 15:4 also speaks to the importance of the Scripture as what should guide us. Proverbs also speaks very strongly about holding unyielding to personal opinion in Proverbs 18:2. I think that that is the real downfall of the church as whole, the air of opinion. I think that if the church as a whole as well as the non-instrumental church would stick with Scripture we would see a significant decrease in the airing of personal opinions and the division of the church.
August 21st, 2006 at 10:31 am
Abe,
I think we’re talking about dealing with opinions in two different ways and you and I agree while Paul (the commenter, not the apostle) chooses the other options.
1. In places where the scriptures are silent there is room within the church for disagreement (and debte when the debate is done in the proper way).
2. There is no room for debate in the church, on every issue the scripture speaks clearly and everyone must be in perfect agreement.
You can see the original article I posted takes path #2, as does the commenter Paul, while you and I choose option #1.
I agree completely when it comes to matters of opinion whether people amicably disagree and remain as brothers and sisters within a community of believers the basic issue is whether or not love remains primary.
August 21st, 2006 at 3:46 pm
I guess where I would add a bit to your stance is that while I believe that opnions are inevitable and that debate can be constructive I think that there are times within the church that where they Scriptures are silent we ought also to be silent. I think sometimes our debating (even if done with civility) can cause confusion among the “weaker” members of our body and especially for those who are not yet believers. I think it’s in the debating part that I believe we have to be awefully careful and at times avoid all together when it seems hurtful.
August 21st, 2006 at 11:44 pm
I don’t think we should challenge one another intellectually.
August 22nd, 2006 at 12:34 am
Chad, who told you could do sarcasm?
Abe, how individual situations where there’s differences of opinions are handled will depend on teh ccircumstances and individuals involved.
August 22nd, 2006 at 11:50 am
which is really all I’m saying, I’m NOT saying we can’t challege each other intellectually at all - I think that is very important. All I was trying to say is exactly what you just said - we need to be careful in our individual circumstances not to step over the line and become proud in our own opinions. That’s all.
August 30th, 2006 at 7:04 pm
:neutral:Be silent where the bible is silent and loud where the bible is loud. I do not read any where in the new tesatament where insturments r used for worship. So there I am silent. Where the bible says go out and preach I am loud. and should we get along with others yes. How else can u show them Christ and what the bible says. if They miss 1 point in the bible Like insturments in worship, then how many other points did u/they miss.
August 30th, 2006 at 7:26 pm
Hey Alan, I got some news for you. THe non-instrumental church isn’t silent about the use of instruments in church. They are loud. Extremely loud and obnoxious, and they shredded the bride of Christ over something they claim they should be silent on.
BTW, the Bible is also silent on pulpits, Sunday school, potlucks, Wednesday nights, those signs where attendance is posted each week, church bulletins, the time of meeting and many other things that non-instrumental churches of Christ use/do. If you missed the boat on these things, how many other things did they screw up?
November 11th, 2006 at 2:52 pm
There’s a lot of hypocrisy out there: judging the COC about instruments based on silence while also condemning numerous practices of others although the scripture is silent, such as the bible says nothing about a hierarchy, pope, infant baptism, delegate convention, official church creeds, praying to angels and saints, purgatory, etc. Many of you would condemn these practices and beliefs based on the argument that the bible is silent about them.
November 11th, 2006 at 6:00 pm
Dank,
I suppose I would lump the CoC with Catholicism in that the COCs regard there being a requirement for no instrumetns which has no scriptural imperitave while Catholocism also regards all those things you mentioned as mandatory while having no scriptural imperative.