"They're 'Church of Christ.'"

(The following article is one I wrote a few years ago - but I like to repost it now and then because it is important).

Misconceptions arise from various sources and are often difficult to eliminate. One such example is that of the common phrase used by so many when describing those who abide by the doctrine of Christ and are a part of His church.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people say, “Well I was raised (fill in denomination hear), but my spouse was raised ‘Church of Christ.” Or perhaps it goes something like, “She’s (fill in denomination here), but her husband is ‘Church of Christ.’”

Though many don’t know it, and perhaps they’re just not thinking about it, they are trivializing God’s divine institution when they use such conversation. It plants the church of our Lord into a denominational genre, and therefore applies to the church a social bond with other bodies of belief that are not of God.

Jesus came to build His church, and did so according to the eternal plan of God (Matt. 16:18; Eph. 1:22, 23). When we speak of the church of which we are a part, we recognize it as the one body Jesus bought with blood, established at Pentecost, still in existence today (Eph. 4:4-6; Acts 20:28). There is no universal title for the church outside of the Biblical titles to which we see it ascribed. God inspired men to call it by its proper name, as the church of Christ (Rom. 16:16), the church of the Firstborn (Heb. 12:23), the church of God (1 Cor. 1:2), or even just “the church” (Eph. 5:23).

But followers of Jesus are not “Church of Christ” or “Church of Christers.” When we say someone is “Church of Christ”, we go beyond the description allowed in the Bible for those who are in the church. We are to be called simply “Christians” (Acts 11:26; 1 Pet. 4:16), or “saints” (Rom. 1:7). A true Christian is one who is in the church and belongs to Christ, the One who is Head of the body (Col. 1:18).

It will prove difficult for us to spread the true message about the church if we do not choose to be careful to honor its Biblical representation. The church of Christ does not have a doctrine, the Bible is doctrine. The church of Christ does not have a position, the Bible is the position. The church of Christ does not believe…, the Bible teaches... When we come into a proper appreciation for these simple ideas, we will help ourselves and others become obedient to Christ in a unified fashion and exalt the name of God and His church.

There is no greater institution on the earth than the church of Christ. It is the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). It is the body of the saved (1 Cor. 1:18). It is the family of God (Eph. 3:15). May we always strive to love our God and the church He sent the Son to establish! May we always properly represent this sacred body of sanctified people!

– “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly that all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generation, forever and ever. Amen” – (Eph. 3:20, 21).

"It Was God's Will"

For some time I have struggled with a comment that is often used but ill-advised. I know that it is said with a strong desire to comfort people when they are grieving, but I am confident that it is not the correct thing to say. In fact, it may simply be incorrect. I am talking about when, after someone dies, a griever is told, "It was God's will."

Years ago, in an article written to "Dear Abbey", a woman whose 14-year-old son had recently been killed in a tragic accident, lamented over several of the things people attempted to say in order to console her. One of the things she heard over and over was, "It was God's will." Consider her response, "I am no more (or less) religious than the average person. But if it was "God's will" to take may son at 14 and end his young life, then I want no part of a God who could be so cruel."

I've had this article in my possession for years. I have thought about it many times when trying to help others who were grieving. I used to be bothered by the part of her statement that said, "I want no part of a God who could be so cruel." But over the years I have learned that what she meant (whether she knew it or not) was - "I want no part of your misrepresentation of God."

I figured something out last week that to me is a real breakthrough. I know it has been in my mind a long time, but this is the first time I have been able to express it in the right way. This one fact alone, I believe, is the reason why you should never say to anyone who has just lost a loved one, "It was God's will.":

DEATH IS NOT GOD'S WILL! Death is Satan's will! It is God's will that you live forever. It was that way in the Garden of Eden. It was that way as the scheme of redemption unfolded. It was that way when Jesus died, was buried, and rose again. It has been that way ever since.

Death is a part of life. This is not God's fault, it is our fault (Ez. 18:20; Rom. 6:23). If you are lost and dead spiritually, this is not what God wants. It is God's will that you be saved and live.

I can only think of one person ever, who could have been told that the death of her child was God's will. But that was nearly 2000 years ago. I believe her name was Mary...

"Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father" ~ Gal. 1:4

Some Things are Just Worth Keeping

"Then the Lord said to Cain, 'Where is Abel your brother?' He said, 'I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?'" ~ Genesis 4:9

Everyone who is familiar with the historical account of the first murder in human history is also familiar with this verse. It was a tragic end to Abel's faithful life. It happened because Cain's attitude was wrong and it multiplied into something hard to imagine. Take a moment and really think about it. A man killed his own brother, violently, because of jealousy and hatred. How many other friends did Cain have? How many other brothers?

Before we point fingers at Cain, please search your heart and consider how we kill our own brothers from week to week:

1. We kill our brothers by not knowing where they are. Like Cain, we say as to their whereabouts, "I do not know?" Many people are leaving the church. Many who used to sit in our section or on our pew are waiting for us to call them, encourage them, and care about them. It makes me sick to think about how many of us, who are members of God's family, simply won't take enough time at services to notice who is missing and do something about it.

2. We kill our brothers by not caring where they are. Like Cain, who knew where his brother was, we say, "Am I my brother's keeper?" Apathy is worse than ignorance! Whether we are in large or small congregations we have no excuse when it comes to members slipping away. More brethren means more caretakers of the church. Everybody needs to care.

3. We kill our brothers by being happy to see them leave. If you are happy when someone leaves the congregation where you attend, you'd better pray to God for forgiveness. Being a part of a family means dealing with each other's weaknesses and personality issues. How would we feel if Jesus decided not to die for some of us because we got on his nerves?

4. We kill our brothers by allowing our own weaknesses to get the best of us. Cain did what he felt like doing. He felt like doing it because he allowed Satan to take camp in his mind and change his heart. It is hard for me to understand how people can hold hatred in their heart for others and still call themselves Christians. You can be sure that any hatred you store up will at some point find a landing place.

We owe God's highest creation love, respect, forgiveness, and commitment. We need to keep our brethren. Some things are just worth keeping!

"If someone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?" ~ 1 John 4:20

William Woodson Tribute: "Our People"

This coming Sunday will be the one year anniversary of the passing of our dear Brother William Woodson. I wrote this article last year, and I would like to repost it in his memory. I was his preacher for nearly 8 years, but more importantly, we were friends and I had so much respect for him on every level. I am praying that God will give us more men in the church like William Woodson. He made the church better, and heaven will be better with him as an eternal friend...

I met Brother William Woodson formally while preaching in Kentucky several years ago. I had listened to him during various lectureships and meetings. I had read many of his writings and certainly had a good knowledge of his influence in the brotherhood for decades. Over the past 8 years I have come to know him as a mentor and a close friend.

It would be impossible to state in this brief article, my appreciation for all that I have learned from this gentleman from Walker County. But there is one phrase, that in my mind, has meant a great deal to me over the past few years. It is a phrase I have often heard him use in the pulpit or in a Bible class. I have read it many of his writings.

Brother Woodson affectionately liked to refer to the church, as "Our People." I think this concept, though somewhat simplistic, is actually in reality quite profound and extremely fascinating. Here are a few reasons why:

1. It proclaims our identity as God's people, the church. Brother Woodson understood what it meant to be a child of God. He knew everything there was to know about various groups within the world's concept of "Christendom." He knew the difference between Biblical, undenominational Christianity, and everything else. There is a great distinction between "our people", of which Brother Woodson himself became a part, and the rest of the people. This phrase explained how much it meant to him to be a member of the church that belongs to Christ.

2. It couples us with our predecessors. I have always respected William Woodson a great deal for his loyalty to great leaders of the past. He found out what made the people of the restoration great. He not only defended their efforts, but he sought to imitate their greatness and pass it down to the rest of us. He knew more about the development of the churches of Christ then perhaps anyone else living. The more he studied, the more he was convinced that those who helped us find our way back to the New Testament church had it exactly right.

3. It states that we are brethren. It was more important for William Woodson to be in God's family, than to be in any other family, group, or organization. He truly loved his brothers and sisters in Christ with a love that surpasses any other. I believe that he served his whole life in the church out of sincere humility, and also with tremendous pride. His humility was found in his diligent service and labor of love to his Creator and the church. His pride was the confidence of his own salvation, and the blessings he knew were his because of the knowledge of the truth.

I love William Woodson dearly. He was, and still is, and will always be, a great friend. I love him most for his love for God and the church. I could think of no greater honor than to carry on an understanding of this wonderful phrase, and be identified along with him throughout eternity, as one of "Our People."

"We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren." ~ 1 John 3:14

Missing Out

I could not hold my tears back. I tried. But they were from my heart and they represented everything I believe and dream and think. So when Kent O'Donnell was finishing his presentation at Willow this past Sunday night - as he ended with the picture of he and his family, I cried.

People may not understand this, but when you work as a preacher you share a close bond with all preachers and their families. You are on the same team. You understand the sacrifices. You have the same goals and dreams for the church and for every soul in the world. You know there is someone else out there that wants other people to be saved so badly, they are willing to make it their life's mission.

I honestly feel deeply sorry for any Christian who cannot sympathize with at least part of what I am talking about. You see, in order to get to have these feelings, you have to put something into your realtionship with God and the church. If you have never been on a mission trip, there are some things you cannot understand. If you have never been a worker in the church, there are some things you cannot understand. If you have never allowed youself to get close to God's people, there are some things you cannot understand.

As Christians, we know that the greatest joy is having a relationship with God, being a part of the kingdom, and knowing we are among the saved because God loves us and has forgiven us at great cost. But second, and I am telling you it is right close to the first - is the joy that comes from a very close personal relationship and love for the people of God.

If you cannot cry from time to time, with appreciation for some of these relationships, then you are truly missing out.

"We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren..." ~ 1 John 3:14

Let Jesus Do What He Came To Do

Two verses from the gospel of John have recently made me ask the question, "Why are so many people keeping Jesus from doing what he came to earth to do?"

Here they are:

John 3:17 - "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."

John 12:47 - "If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world."

Without taking what is said by Jesus in these two verses out of context, let's simply understand the basic themes of these two passages. Jesus came to save the world! He came to redeem every sinner and provide an avenue of forgiveness. He came to do the will of God and teach the human race how to live. He came so that we all could live in heaven with God eternally.

It is also very apparent from these two passages, that Jesus has no pleasure in the thought of having to condemn even one person to hell. This does no mean that Jesus will not judge every soul and divide the sheep from the goats (Matt. 25:32). But it does mean that Jesus didn't leave heaven and die on a cross so that one day he could sentence us to everlasting punishment. He made the sacrifice to save our souls.

It seems so strange to me that many people think of God as being so harsh; as nothing but a rule-making, law-enforcing Master. The wrath of God is just, due to our rejection of the Savior. The justice of God is perfect because he is a loving, impartial, gracious and merciful Father.

Look at your life and ask yourself whether or not you are living in such a way that allows Jesus to do what he came to the earth to do! He died to save you, not to condemn you. He loves you and wants you to be forgivien and to have the best life possible for both now and eternity.

A close and honest examination of the Scriptures should lead you to this simple conclusion: If heaven is not your final and eternal destination, it is not because God desires such. If you remain unsaved, you have nobody to blame but yourself.

"For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." ~ 1 Tim. 2:3-4

Nameless

Last Saturday I was treated to a country breakfast in the middle of nowhere. Actually, it was in a little town that prefers to remain nameless - Nameless, TN. I remember while at Freed-Hardeman, Dr. Dowell Flatt used to speak of being from Nameless. He went to school there. I never knew that years later I would be invited to breakfast at the old general store next to where one of my mentors grew up.

How did Nameless get it's name - or how did it become Nameless? One version of the name's origin holds that when residents applied for a post office, the place for a name on the application was left blank, and the U.S. Post Office Department returned the application with "Nameless" stamped on the form. Another explanation was that residents there decided to call it "nameless" after one of them said "This here’s a nameless place if I ever seen one, so leave it be." Bill Flatt, Dowell's brother, was once told that there were three families that wanted to run the store and post office, but they all wanted it to be named after their own family. So the compromise was to give the store and the town no name at all. In any event, that little stopping post in Jackson County will probably remain forever, "Nameless."

When it comes to the human population, God chose to give us a name. It was to be an everlasting name, better than that of sons and daughters (Isa. 56:5). It was to be a new name, for both Jew and Gentile, coming directly from the mouth of God (Isa. 62:2). The Father of spirits had a plan to adopt every human being into His spiritual family. He does not want us to be homeless, hopeless, or nameless.

Therefore, how sad it is that many within the realm of religion prefer to remain nameless! Sadder still is the fact that many of God's people, though blood bought and gospel taught, never choose to tell others about the glorious name by which they are called. It is not nostaligic for Christians to remain nameless. Such is left only for quaint country stores in the heartland of America. The church is not a museum! It is the living, breathing, body of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Thank you, Lord, for giving us a name that is above every other name! Be patient with us, Lord, to do everything in your name and for your name, giving glory and honor to You!

"And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch." ~ Acts 11:26