THE REASON I POST ARTICLES
The primary reason I post articles is to increase awareness through questioning our assumptions. Our assumptions determine what our conclusions/beliefs are, so if we never challenge our assumptions with new information, then we will always draw the same conclusions.
Unless we already
know everything, then not allowing new information and never wrestling with our
assumptions is not wise behavior. We will only become more isolated and
delusional about what is true, especially in the Information Age where everyone
has access to reliable information. Never has there been an age when we can
appear more foolish.
Another reason I post articles is because, generally
speaking, we do not know our own history. God commands Christians to
"mature" and "grow" (Eph. 4:11-15; 2 Pet. 3:18) just as
much as He commands baptism (Acts 2:38), so not realizing and not acknowledging
that we interpret the Bible and that we have inherited the power structures and
systems already in existence when we were born into this world will also
contribute to unnecessary and peculiar behaviors that are obvious to others,
but not to ourselves.
These peculiarities are not favorable as we would like to think they are, but actually make us odd because they lack integrity. If they were peculiarities that showed that we go out of our way to apply to ourselves what we expect of others in matters commonly called "doctrine," then that would truly make us different from the world in a respectable and honorable way. This is not how we are "peculiar."
These peculiarities are not favorable as we would like to think they are, but actually make us odd because they lack integrity. If they were peculiarities that showed that we go out of our way to apply to ourselves what we expect of others in matters commonly called "doctrine," then that would truly make us different from the world in a respectable and honorable way. This is not how we are "peculiar."
We are peculiar because we stubbornly insist we are accurate on matters when
the overwhelming evidence proves that we are not. On some things we are
historically accurate, but on others we are not, and we need to acknowledge the
truth. Like the popular joke about churches of Christ in Heaven goes,
"Shhh... They think they are the only ones here." I have come to see
just how fitting this joke is, because as a people who claim to be 'the one and
only true church you read about in the NT,' we do not listen to any legitimate
challenges to our beliefs and practices. That in itself is a sign of falsehood
when all opposing arguments and those who make them are immediately slandered,
and we cannot admit that we are interpreting the Bible.
This belief that we do not interpret the Bible, but that it is "plain" and "simple" shows a lack of understanding and growth as much as anything. We as a people, like the Mormons, have attempted to leapfrog 1800 years of history and to simply project what we are doing today back on to the Bible without really understanding the Jewish-Greco-Roman cultural context and definitions in which the NT was written. Ours is a very controlled environment with no questions allowed based on supposed 'authority,' but I have come to see it as something different: a people whose leaders say everything right, but when it comes to actually doing it, especially when it applies to us, are found wanting.
We don't really mean it when we publicly proclaim, "If we are doing anything different than what is found in the NT, then please tell us, because we want to do what's right." No. We don't. We don't seek out any new information that may jeopardize our practices, and we don't listen to anyone who disagrees with us without demonizing them. Because we have made outlandish claims for so long and to such a degree many are unable to repent based on current assumptions. Why do I believe this? Because when our ideas are opposed we become even more isolated and listen even more intently to the same people saying the same inaccurate things which is not wise (2 Cor. 10:12).
For the past 4 years I have shared excerpts and written articles in my blog
that reveal what I believe are the major false assumptions in churches of
Christ that need correcting. Assumptions our people have that limit our
understanding of authority, the Lord's Supper/Table, the collection(s) in 1
Cor. 16:1-4, what 'preaching' is, and how the primary ASSUMPTION of dualism
heavily influences our beliefs about them. Our assumptions determine our
interpretations, and I am challenging us to be courageous enough to actually do
what we say in order to be who we say we are.
Because it is so fundamental to our assumptions, I would like to reiterate how we apply the assumption of dualism in our culture to expose our interpretation of what it means to worship God. In an assembly--in announcements, prayers, and sermons--we constantly hear the 'physical' contrasted with 'spiritual' (or sacred contrasted with the secular). The primary way these ideas are carried out in a Christian worldview/lifestyle is the separation of a worship period where we are told to "clear our minds from the rest of life." This supposed special time period is primarily conducted by professional Christians (clergy) leading or 'serving' others (laity). Laity is the passive, obedient and submissive group of people being "served" in a public building setting and who are expected to accept the established roles.
This belief that we do not interpret the Bible, but that it is "plain" and "simple" shows a lack of understanding and growth as much as anything. We as a people, like the Mormons, have attempted to leapfrog 1800 years of history and to simply project what we are doing today back on to the Bible without really understanding the Jewish-Greco-Roman cultural context and definitions in which the NT was written. Ours is a very controlled environment with no questions allowed based on supposed 'authority,' but I have come to see it as something different: a people whose leaders say everything right, but when it comes to actually doing it, especially when it applies to us, are found wanting.
We don't really mean it when we publicly proclaim, "If we are doing anything different than what is found in the NT, then please tell us, because we want to do what's right." No. We don't. We don't seek out any new information that may jeopardize our practices, and we don't listen to anyone who disagrees with us without demonizing them. Because we have made outlandish claims for so long and to such a degree many are unable to repent based on current assumptions. Why do I believe this? Because when our ideas are opposed we become even more isolated and listen even more intently to the same people saying the same inaccurate things which is not wise (2 Cor. 10:12).
SEPARATING THE PHYSICAL FROM THE SPIRITUAL
Because it is so fundamental to our assumptions, I would like to reiterate how we apply the assumption of dualism in our culture to expose our interpretation of what it means to worship God. In an assembly--in announcements, prayers, and sermons--we constantly hear the 'physical' contrasted with 'spiritual' (or sacred contrasted with the secular). The primary way these ideas are carried out in a Christian worldview/lifestyle is the separation of a worship period where we are told to "clear our minds from the rest of life." This supposed special time period is primarily conducted by professional Christians (clergy) leading or 'serving' others (laity). Laity is the passive, obedient and submissive group of people being "served" in a public building setting and who are expected to accept the established roles.
What is repeatedly hammered into our minds is that
"faithful" Christians are those who "go to (a) church (building)"
to conduct 5 limited acts collectively called "worshiping God." We
are told that there is a "pattern" that all apostolic churches of the
first century practiced, and that traditional churches of Christ have restored
that pattern. The problem is that what we do today is a version of the 4th
century Roman-State Church established by Constantine--not what first century
Jewish and Greco-Romans did. Our people have a zeal for God, but not according
to knowledge (Rom.
10:1-3).
The churches in the Bible are the people--they are not a positional organization or corporation--nor is church a place to go as these views are applied through the assumption of dualism. While most verbally acknowledge that the church is the people, usually, when someone suggests that since "church" = people then this means (other) "acts" of worship exist and can equally be done in all places and on other days of the week. Many times these facts are mocked and dismissed rather distastefully, with comments like, "Is going to the bathroom worship?" Or some other absurdity in an attempt to stonewall.
My point is that dualism is and leads to more compartmentalized and limited thinking such as dividing life into "acts" of singing, praying, going to the bathroom, etc. Thinking in a dualistic and compartmental manner is the source of the assumption. So let's think about our thinking, learn our history, and examine the assumptions and the thinking behind them in order to "prove all things and hold on to that which is good."
The churches in the Bible are the people--they are not a positional organization or corporation--nor is church a place to go as these views are applied through the assumption of dualism. While most verbally acknowledge that the church is the people, usually, when someone suggests that since "church" = people then this means (other) "acts" of worship exist and can equally be done in all places and on other days of the week. Many times these facts are mocked and dismissed rather distastefully, with comments like, "Is going to the bathroom worship?" Or some other absurdity in an attempt to stonewall.
My point is that dualism is and leads to more compartmentalized and limited thinking such as dividing life into "acts" of singing, praying, going to the bathroom, etc. Thinking in a dualistic and compartmental manner is the source of the assumption. So let's think about our thinking, learn our history, and examine the assumptions and the thinking behind them in order to "prove all things and hold on to that which is good."
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