Ridgell's Originals

Of course the Church of Christ is on the verge of a major split.  Just like what Southern Baptists are going thru.  And the Methodists just went thru.  

You think I am going to say it is over same sex marriage.  Nope.  Of course that is coming but it is not the issue.

Nor is the issue what woman can or cannot do.  We are in the middle of that one, but it is not the root cause of the issue.

The issue that is going to cause the split in the fellowship I grew up in is this:  how you view the Bible.  

Our fellowship had a major split once before.  People seem to think it was over the instrument in worship.  Not really.  It was over how you view the Bible.  When the Bible is silent is that permissive or prohibative?  Of course, some would argue the whole thing was culture driven.  North and south.  Affluent cities and poor rural.  

Those wanting an instrument were going to have it all costs.  Those that did not agree got more and more defensive.  

And this is more serious.  We are not debating what God meant when He did not speak. 

We are debating whether God meant what He did say in the Bible. 

Those that are more "progressive" will have their way at all costs.  Those that do not agree will get more and more defensive.

And some would argue this is all cultural.  New theology about ten years after culture changes its view on issues.

It may be the end of the fellowship I know and love.  

But it will not be the end of the church.

God's church will continue just like it always has.  Like it always will.  God will raise up another movement that will draw people into the Kingdom.  It may come out of Africa.  Or Asia.  But it is coming.

But here is what really concerns me.

The legalistic arguments over reading into Scripture things that were not there caused a lot of people to lose faith in the church.  So the Church of Christ lost a lost of people looking for a more authentic faith experience. 

The liberal arguments over whether the Bible means what it says will not cause people to leave the church.  But it will erode their confidence in trusting the Bible.  And in the long run, that is tragic.  

Losing members from your church hurts.

Losing members from the faith hurts more.

And maybe I am wrong.

But maybe I am not.

So decide what you believe about the Bible.

Our future -- and your future -- depend on it. 

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM