Contemporary Issues
Confronting Churches of Christ
The Purpose Of This Section
Jesus said, told his disciples that it was their task to influence the world.
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." Matt. 5:13)
"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Mat 5:16 NIV)
The Apostle Paul admonished Christians with similar words
"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Rom 12:21)
The Apostle Peter charged us to be different than the world.
"but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, {16} because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." (1 Pet 1:15-16)
Far too often, God's people have done just the opposite. Instead of exercising the faith, discernment and courage necessary to turn the world upside down, they have allowed popular culture of their time to influence them. Then, to justify their behavior have abused scripture.
In the Days of Samuel, the people wanted to be just like to nations around them. They clamored for a King. Samuel warned them of the terrible price they would pay if they asked for a king to lead them instead of God. They responded that they would gladly pay the price to be like their neighbors.
In a later time the Bible Says,
"And they rejected His statutes and His covenant that He had made with their fathers, and His testimonies which He had testified against them; they followed idols, became idolaters, and went after the nations who were all around them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them that they should not do like them. {16} So they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, made for themselves a molded image and two calves, made a wooden image and worshiped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. {17} And they caused their sons and daughters to pass through the fire, practiced witchcraft and soothsaying, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger.( 2 Kings 17:15-17)
How could they actually allow their own sons and daughters to be sacrificed to pagan idols??? Perhaps after so many years in a culture where, "Everyone is doing it" - it just seemed the normal and respectable thing to do.
One of the greatest threats faced by the church at the end of the first century and in the second century was the threat of Gnosticism.
Christians were actually teaching that Christ only "appeared" to come in the flesh. They denied that Christ died on the Cross for our sins. They taught that salvation required simply that one know the deep secrets about God and reality. The saved were then free in the Spirit to explore both good and evil and to practice any indulgence of the body. Some Gnostics even “boasted that it was precisely by committing sins like fornication and adultery, that believers could learn the limits of Satan's power and emerge victorious. Behavior that would make a hip hop singer blush was condoned and openly practiced.
How could Christians possibly believe doctrines so heinous that the Apostle John branded anyone who taught them and Anti-Christ and forbade faithful Christians to even associate with them (1 John 4:3; 2 John)? How could many espouse these doctrines in spite of the harsh words of the last living Apostle? Having grown up in a culture saturated with Greek philosophy it just seemed right. So, they set about to re-explain scripture in a way that justified their doctrines.
In early 19th century America, Christians warped and twisted the Bible to justify Christians buying and selling their fellow man into slavery. During the Civil War it was common to hear some preachers assure their flocks that God was on their side. How could a Christian possibly justify slavery? In a culture where it was endemic, it just seemed right.
In the first half of the 20th century, we heard Christians use the Bible to justify segregation. How could they do it? Their exegesis, hermeneutics and homiletics were being influenced by culture.
In the late 20th century, Some of the most influential religious leaders in America justified and encouraged the legalization of unrestricted abortion. One of the largest denominations in American publicly called for the legalization of abortion. How could they do it? In the rebellious 60's of the "Me Generation" it just seemed right. So once again the the words of the Bible were twisted to justify popular culture.
In the early 21st century, one of the oldest churches in America has ordained an openly gay Bishop who divorced his wife and has been living with another man for nearly two decades. Now forces are demanding that gay marriage be legalized. Once again the holy Scriptures are being twisted to justify modern day norms.
I am embarrassed to admit Churches of Christ in American have not been immune to these influences. Far too many members of the Churches of Christ supported slavery and segregation when they were the norm. As a student in a Southern Christian college in the middle 60's I was shocked to hear Christians twist scripture to justify segregation. I still recall bowing my head, at my desk and weeping tears of sorrow as my room mate ran from room to room spreading the "good news" that Martin Luther King had just been killed.
Today, slavery and segregation are no longer the norm. Instead the church is dealing with a host of new cultural influences trying to force their way into the church. Once again, many among us want to be like the nations round about and are willing to twist scripture to justify the shift. They are like the people of Jeremiahs Day,
"Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; Nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time I punish them, They shall be cast down," says the LORD. {16} Thus says the LORD: "Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.''"(Jer 6:15-16 NKJV)
Since March 30, 2007