In the coming days I want to explore just what it means to be a church "of Christ". After all, our "name" declares it. But is that really what shapes who we are - this being "of Christ"? Or, does orthodoxy - as practiced by other churches of Christ - become our standard? (And if that is true - which church of Christ do you choose to be your template of accepted practices/beliefs?)
This has come to my mind lately - this question of being "of Christ"I love the scene of the apostles before the Jewish ruling court and the judges "took note that these men had been with Jesus."
That's what I want for my congregation. I hope that we would so embody the values, personality, message and methods of Jesus that people would label us "like Christ". Remember, the community called the church Christians (to be Christ like) in Antioch - they didn't call themselves by that name.
What would a church that is of Christ look like? Sound like? Let's explore that for the next several posts.
1 comment:
The terms used of traditional CoC hermaneutics are "Command, Example and necessary Inference". But the concept there has been filtered through a lense that seeks to duplicate an organizational "pattern" that will dictate what the organization will look like and do.
I do not wish at this point to argue the value of C.E.I., but to say that even if we do not jettison this hermaneuitic, we could channel it differently. What if we went to the gospels and took specific note of Jesus' Body, from manger to empty tomb. All along the way asking, in various tones and colors, how can our organization reflect that body we find in the narrative (example & inference) and follow the commands from His mouth too.
I am not convinced C.E.I. is the way to go, but it could still be used in other ways. The way traditionally chosen is not prescribed in scripture, any more than this brief alteration. But it is a thought I have considered that seems to go with your post.
Many blessings...
Post a Comment