MuddyPuddles

I’ve been reading a book about the life of Cecil Hook, one of my heroes in the faith.  It’s called “Grit in My Gizzard.”  Cecil was a very poor, hard-working country boy who eventually attended ACC and wound up being a long time Church of Christ preacher.  Because of his practical nature, after many years in the pulpit and much study and introspection, he started coming to different conclusions about what he had been teaching for most of his life—our legalistic doctrinal stance.  In 1984 he wrote the book “Free in Christ,” which very clearly points out so many flaws in our thinking and practice and it reveals a more accurate way to follow the Lord.  Though I was already starting to doubt some things about our “legalistic righteousness by obedience to worship doctrine” ways, this book gave so much voice to what I was feeling inside that I’ve recommended it quite a bit through the years.  Cecil has made it available free of charge to those who want a copy. 

One thing Cecil reminded me about in this autobiography is the fact that Barton W. Stone and Thomas Campbell, who are generally highly respected amoung our brotherhood, were individuals who were instrumental in uniting two fairly diverse groups of Christians.  We have articles written for the Christian newsletters of their day by which we can study their positions on various biblical topics.  Anyone who has studied them much realizes that their beliefs were quite different from each other in what many today consider to be salvation issues, and yet, they were uniters of the two groups.

Some decades later, a new philosophy cropped up.  It was the philosophy that everyone had to see those critical worship service doctrinal issues exactly the same or the alternative was that they must split—withdraw themselves from the “erring brothers.”  There was no tolerance for error. 

Because of my conservative background in the Church of Christ, when I hear the words “sound doctrine,” I am reminded of the mindset that has been prevalent in most of the smaller Churches of Christ during my lifetime.    It most always refers to the state of being precisely accurate in how “the church” is supposed to conduct worship services on Sunday morning, according to “the pattern” of the first century church.  It has also encompassed a few issues surrounding those worship services like what kind of physical plant is acceptable (“ Family Life Center ” okay?  Kitchen okay?  Water fountain okay?) and how church funds can be used (Supporting Children homes okay?  Helping non-members okay?  Paying a preacher okay?). 

Because of differing interpretations upon which parts of the first century pattern are acceptable (or required), most small towns have at least two Churches of Christ.  We have four in our little town of 3,000.  Though I believe the intent of the founders of these congregations was usually noble—trying to be exactly what God wanted them to be—I believe their efforts to follow the first century pattern were misguided. 

In one sense they actually took the Old Testament template and placed it onto the New Testament to get their answers (When God said “gopher wood,” he meant “gopher wood” only; When he said “sing” he meant “sing” only.)  They should have used the New Testament template to interpret the New Testament and left the Old Testament template alone. 

In response to this, many would say “God is the same yesterday, today and forever.”  And I would agree, God is the same.  But the covenant he made with Abraham is different than the covenant he has made with us.  It has changed.  It is different.  The old no longer applies.

            Hebrews 9:1-10 (NIV) “[1] Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. . .  (a list of detailed regulations described in verses 2 through 9) . . .[10] They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings--external regulations applying until the time of the new order.”  

That new order is here and those external regulations no longer apply.  There are no regulations for worship services in the new covenant.  But man’s desire for a checklist has overridden his comprehension of the fact that God, on purpose, left it out.  Therefore “we” have come up with our own set of regulations and called them the “five acts of worship.”  And then, we’ve put tremendous pressure on people to conform to those five acts of worship and to do so in a worthy manner so they can be acceptable (to us and) to God.  Otherwise they are guaranteed eternal damnation in Hell. 

We've been wrong.  I encourage each of you to just go back into the word and notice that there is no reference to “worship service” in the New Testament.  Also notice that not one of the acts of worship is ever referred to as an “act of worship.”  Notice that the scriptures we have used to require non-instrumental singing weren’t even written until AD 60—twenty-seven years after the establishment of the church.  We are never commanded to partake of the Lord’s Supper on the first day of every week.  The scriptures we’ve used to require four of the five acts of worship (Acts 2:42) were something the first century church did daily (as opposed to something they were required to do during a “worship service” on the first day of every week).    And one of those acts, fellowship, we’ve skewed to mean “giving of our money.”  We've totally ignored the other things the first century church did in the verses following 2:42.  We've been remiss. 

It’s time to take another look and to reassess our positions on these matters.  We’ve been wrong.  It's time to get it right.  Dennis Ensor  quicksand@dishmail.net

This morning I was in a Walmart that had a McDonalds Restaurant inside.  Since I was waiting for a one-hour picture development I decided to eat something so I ordered a “bacon, egg, cheese biscuit.”  I spread a little grape jelly on it and took a bite.  Somehow, in that first bite I got the perfect blend of flavors.  It was marvelous.  I paused and savored the moment.  I didn’t expect that from a McDonalds. 

As I continued eating I began to think about foods that often gave me that special feeling.  I thought about that first bite into a perfectly grilled, tender, marbled steak.  I thought about that first slurp of the perfectly blended, smooth and creamy chocolate malt.  I thought about the taste of that sweet and juicy, succulent red heart of a black diamond watermelon.  It makes me want to experience all three of these right now.  I would probably have to say that these are my top three (or at least in my top five) flavors.  I relish them (no pun intended).

And then I got to thinking about other things in my life that deliver that special feeling where, for that moment, all is not only well, but it’s so much more than well—it’s sublime.  It may be one of those mountaintop experiences—like reaching summit on Wilderness Trek or crossing the finish line of a marathon.  It may be watching someone you love as they reach a personal goal in spite of great obstacles.  It may be just holding a tiny new granddaughter or being on the receiving end of a non-coerced kiss or a big hug from a sweet grandson.    It may be an uplifting and fulfilling time of worship and fellowship with a loving and caring church family.  It may be looking back at photos and keepsakes and reliving special moments from the past.  It may be something as simple as a quiet and peaceful evening at home with your spouse or family.

Whatever it is, I’ve come to appreciate it more and more as time has gone by.  Life is so fleeting.

I want to make the most of it and to “smell the flowers” along the way.  Won’t you join me?  God Bless, Dennis

According to the study notes in my MacArthur Study Bible, “Early Rabbis had determined that there were 613 commandments contained in the Pentateuch, one for each letter of the Ten Commandments.  Of the 613 commandments, 248 were seen as affirmative and 365 as negative.  Those laws were also divided into heavy and light categories, with the heavy laws being more binding than the light ones.  The scribes and rabbis, however, had been unable to agree on which were heavy and which were light.”

            Beyond that was the problem of the interpretation of the commandments themselves.  For example, they knew they weren’t supposed to work on the Sabbath.  On that they could all agree.  But exactly what that encompassed raised many questions and debates. “Could a man wear a wooden leg on the Sabbath?  Was it lawful to eat an egg laid on the Sabbath?”  They did come to some conclusions.  “Some knots could be tied or untied on the Sabbath, but not others.  Vinegar, if swallowed, could be used to relieve a sore throat, but it could not be gargled.  No woman was to look in a mirror on the Sabbath lest, seeing a gray hair, she might be tempted to pull it out.” (from A Church That Flies, Tim Woodroof, page 103)  It’s enough to drive you crazy.  It’s a good thing that God provided a way for us to get rid of all those trivial questions and wranglings by nailing the law to the tree and giving us a law of the spirit—or did he?

            As I look around I see a whole new set of laws being debated weekly in our midst.  You know what I mean:  How should we sing?  Is it wrong to use an instrument?  Can we use an instrument to sing “church” songs outside of the church building?  Can we clap during the songs?  Can we raise our hands during the songs?  Can we snap our fingers?  Can we sing the newer more contemporary songs?  Can we sing while partaking of the Lord’s Supper?  It is okay to use more than one cup?  Is it okay to use church funds to help non Christians, support orphans homes, build a fellowship building?  Can a young man who has not been baptized serve communion?  Can a young man who has not been baptized lead a prayer?  Can women start songs or say a prayer during small group devotionals?  Can we pray with our hands lifted up?  Can we study, in our Bible classes, from a book which was written by a person who worships with instrumental music? Can we even have Bible classes at all?  And there are hundreds, if not thousands, of other issues on top of that.   

            In a high percentage of our Bible Belt towns, several groups proclaiming to be the Church of Christ are divided over these issues.  They will not fellowship with one another because they each have come to different conclusions about one or more of these issues.  On top of that, a majority of their Sunday preaching topics include a condemnation of some other group that has come to a different conclusion on one of these "all important" matters.

            When Jesus was asked about the commandments of God, he spoke with a paradigm shift in mind.  Some of our astute brethren have somehow failed to pick up on it—even though he said it several times and in several ways.  He said,  “ 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' [38] This is the first and greatest commandment. [39] And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' [40] All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matt 22). 

            Did you hear that?  “All the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments.”  In case that wasn’t clear enough, he also said,

Matthew 7:12 (NIV)  So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.   And,

Romans 13:8 (NIV)      Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.  And,

Romans 13:10 (NIV) 

    Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.  And,

Galatians 5:14 (NIV) 

    The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."  And,

Galatians 6:2 (NIV) 

    Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

How many ways must Jesus say it before we get it?  Jesus could not care less about whether we clap, or raise our hands or wear pant suits or have Bible class or use church money to help anyone in need, as long as we are doing what ever we do out of love for him and for our neighbor.  God wants our hearts and if he has our hearts he knows we will sincerely try to please him and respond to the needs that are placed before us.

Maybe if he would have said something as plainly as “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love,” we would have gotten it by now.  O yeah, he did say that, didn’t he (Gal 5:6)?

It’s time to back off of these trivial pursuits and get down to what’s important—Loving God and loving our neighbors.  After all, these two commandments fulfill all of the Law and the Prophets.  If we will just do that, the rest will take care of itself.  Dennis