We in the non-institutional churches of Christ have for years boldy proclaimed from the pulpit:
“If we have said anything that is not according to scripture, please point it out to us. We only want to speak where the Bible speaks, and you will be doing us a favor if you point out any error.”
This site is a challenge whether we mean these words, or they are just spiritual bravado. In point of fact, we have badly misinterpreted scripture since the restoration fathers made their bold claims of restoring New Testament Christianity. The purpose of this site, and my upcoming book, is to very simply show us the very real possibility we really missed the boat.
I will use this one page to point out one obvious example; the law of Silence. If the Law of Silence is truly the way God wants us to approach scripture, then
- Why were the 2 1/2 tribes allowed to build an altar of witness nowhere commanded in the law (Josh 22)?
- Why could Hezekiah perform a second week of Passover (II Chron. 30:23-27)?
- Why could Ezra read the Law to all the people, not just during the commanded Feast of Booths (Deut. 31:9-13), but on the first day of the month as well (Neh.8:1-18)? And why could he add interpretation, that was nowhere written he could or should do?
- Why did Jesus go to the Feast of Dedication, a feast nowhere mentioned in scriptures (Jn. 10:22-29)?
- How could Jesus be in the habit of going to worship God in synagogues (Lk. 4:16), a method of worship nowhere defined in scripture?
There are many other examples. In point of fact, the law of Silence (a term never found in scripture, I might add, despite our cry of calling Bible things by Bible names), is man-made and not God inspired at all. And if the Law of Silence is indeed not what we thought it was, then our entire hermeneutic falls with it.
Do I have your attention????? Prepare to have your spiritual world rocked. The rest of the site will point out more of our errors surrounding our hermeneutic and much of our culture and doctrine. It will also point out how much we in the conservative churches of Christ have isolated ourselves from even debating whether we might have some issues. We have simply ignored that nearly half of all churches of Christ have moved from mainstream to progressive, and have done so not as we believe – out of “error” or ignoring the truth – but by re-examining it. They have abandoned a man-made law of Silence and examples bound by man-made rules for a God-intended liberty. And in doing so, have freed themselves to do so much more for Christ than our current culture promotes.
Are you ready for the challenge? Then wander the site, and post as you wish. I suggest you go from here to the “About the Author” tab to learn a little about me, and finally to a preview of my upcoming book, also pointed to from the menu tab on the home page. The book’s title is yet pending, but will quite possibly be subtitled “an historical expose of the doctrine and culture in the non-institutional churches of Christ.” That excerpt, and the title, should give you a feel for where I am coming Keep it clean; no profanity, and no personal attacks. Those accomplish nothing. Just good discussion. Thanks for coming!