By Mark A. Taylor
The following column first appeared at this site in 2008, but it strikes me, with a couple of tweaks, Â as remarkably current still today. So while I’m on vacation this week, let me offer it for your consideration. I’m guessing many readers have forgotten it or missed it when it first appeared!
Christ followers outside our movement are often intrigued when they get to know us better.
They”re impressed first with the accomplishments of Christian churches and churches of Christ:
“¢ Dynamic missions work
“¢ World-class church planting initiatives
“¢ Creative leadership of new approaches like multisite congregations or externally focused churches
“¢ Evangelistic growth among many churches (not just megachurches).
And then they realize all this has happened with no central offices, no denominational bureaucracy, no board or commission to organize or give permission. As one observer told a friend of mine this spring, “You guys have all the benefits of a denomination without the hassles.”
And what are those benefits?
One is a common set of commitments: to the authority of Scripture, the lordship of Christ, the autonomy of the local congregation.
Another is a common plea: let”s just be Christians and work together to restore the passion and approach of the first-century church.
Then there”s our common attitude: “In opinions, liberty; in all things love.”
Overriding this is freedom: With no chain of command, entrepreneurial leaders among us recruit, organize, promote, and produce””as the Holy Spirit prods and opportunities arise.
Surrounding all this is our sense of family: It”s wonderful to see how our ministers and professors and missionaries keep connected and stay close to each other.
It”s easy, however, to misjudge the value of these connections. Some, on the one extreme, seek fellowship and education and input only from those in Christian churches and churches of Christ. Such isolation displays the spirit of the denominationalism we criticize.
But others, determined to avoid that problem, run to the opposite extreme. To hear them talk or to read their church”s website, you”d never know all they owe to the heritage that spawned and nourished them.
Blessed is the member of our fellowship who has avoided the extremes of either sectarianism or self-sufficiency. Welcome is the leader among us who can enjoy and learn from those in other groups while maintaining a confident commitment to the principles of our plea.
Throughout our history we have created vehicles to foster our connections: conventions, magazines, associations, agencies. Not long ago  we added websites, blogs, and e-newsletters to the list. And more recently, Twitter, Facebook, and a host of other social media are keeping us in touch with each other. Changing times create new ways of keeping connected, and that”s good; strong connections don”t happen by accident or without nurture.
One fact does not change. Together we have something too special to risk losing: all the benefits of a spiritual connection without the hassles of a man-made hierarchy.
Right on!
Great article! I could have gladly read more. I am going to use some of these points one day. I could not help but be tickled when i printed it off, and an ad came up about getting a M Div. degree from Liberty University. I wasn’t from Cincinnati, Emmanuel, or Lincoln
I clicked that last message too soon by mistake. Allow me to finish.
Many things are bringing all kinds of groups (non, inter, and anti-denominational groups) to us. Especially in the missions world. Staying to ourselves does not represent the heart of the what we stand for, we are not the only Christians. Being friendly with non-Restoration folks sometimes brings unkind words from our own folks. The fences are definitely lowering on a lot of groups. I only have no intention of being compromising what I will do and not do, believe or not believe. I love who we are, and Mark’s words speak the truth.
We need to keep our focus more vertical. Sharing the glory of God and just express it honestly!