14 October, 2024

Our Future: with Unity?

by | 9 May, 2017 | 1 comment

By Mark A. Taylor

If you led a workshop on the future of the Restoration Movement, you”d likely mention many positive signs about our tribe. Here are some I included when I was asked to speak on that topic:

“¢ Our churches are doing dynamic ministry, trying new approaches, and succeeding with new strategies. We”re a creative bunch.

“¢ Closely related to the above, our lack of hierarchy leaves our leaders free to try new ideas without needing permission from anyone. And new ideas abound among us. We”re an entrepreneurial bunch.

“¢ Leaders from our group are publishing widely, with almost every prominent evangelical publisher. We”re a prolific bunch.

“¢ Many of these same men and women are being asked to speak for or partner with Bible-believing congregations and ministries of many different stripes. As individuals at least, we”re an influential bunch.

“¢ And, of course, all of us are proud of our success at building megachurches, planting new congregations, and serving cross-culturally around the world. We”re an evangelistic bunch.

But I couldn”t lead such a workshop without expressing some concerns. Two of those I mentioned in earlier posts:

We speak of our tribe, but we look and sound like the rest of the evangelical world.

We hope for influence, but many of our institutions are struggling.

 

A Third Concern

With this post I want to express a third concern: We lift up unity, but we are seriously separated, if not divided. I say this for at least two reasons:

Some in our fellowship have rejected our fellowship. In the February 6, 2011, issue of CHRISTIAN STANDARD, for example, Brian Mavis quoted leaders in Christian churches who are uninvolved and uninterested in nurturing connections among our group.

A Virginia church planter said the Restoration Movement does not resonate with his people and it is irrelevant to their world.

A church leader in Joplin, Missouri, said his people are “not interested one flying fig” about the Restoration Movement or the Christian Standard, and as a “leader of the church, I couldn”t care less that they care less. . . . Outside of our older members, our people just aren”t interested.”

A California leader said she “enjoys being off the Christian church radar where I have no clue what”s going on within our movement, and they have no clue that I even exist. It frees me to serve out from under the legalistic eye of my denomination.”

Such attitudes, even if held by a minority of our tribe, do not bode well for its future.

Many in our fellowship can”t cope with disagreement. And so they associate only with those who share their perspectives and opinion and criticize or castigate those who don”t. We have tried in CHRISTIAN STANDARD to promote dialogue and stimulate thinking about topics that some readers find controversial. Examples: immigration, race relations, use of alcohol, role of women. Part of our goal was always to prove we can disagree without dividing.

But many among us can”t cope with that. They prefer to hear mainly from those who will repeat their conclusions. It”s a problem that can threaten magazine circulation, but, even more significant, this kind of isolation can undermine the future of a movement.

Perhaps it shouldn”t be surprising to see this, especially in America, where our population is more polarized than ever. In every circle, people have descended into echo chambers where they feel safe hearing only opinions that won”t challenge their own. I believe such a description characterizes many local congregations in our movement.

In how many of our churches, especially medium-sized and smaller churches, do we find productive, evangelistic-oriented unity among folks who work side-by-side despite their differences over union vs. management, Trump vs. anyone else, coal vs. climate change, or six-days creation vs. other theories? How many preachers and leaders with firm conclusions on those issues are ready to join hands with fellow Christians in the next community or state who just don”t see things the same way?

Maybe I”m overstating the situation, but it seems to me that more than one doctrinal divide springs from folks who were first culturally divided. The more of these divisions we experience, the less likely it will be that we”ll move forward as one movement.

 

Today”s Opportunity

But not every current cultural trend is working against us. A pervasive anti-institutional mindset in America is the perfect platform for our plea to be Christians only.

At the same time, God uses connections among churches to multiply impact. At the CHRISTIAN STANDARD-sponsored workshop at last summer”s North American Christian Convention, contributing editor Ben Cachiaras spoke about the problem of too much independence:

I have some nondenominational friends who are solo Christians out there with churches that are not connected to any tribe. And they”re desperate for a way to make a bigger imprint. They can”t plant churches or do effective missions work by themselves; they”re free-floating and stuck.

I don”t believe our movement is stuck. While I”m concerned about the factors threatening its momentum, I”m still hopeful. I”m watching to see how God uses Christian churches and churches of Christ to lift up Christ in the days ahead. Certainly we can do that together better than trying to serve him well as individuals, separated and alone.

1 Comment

  1. Charles King

    I hear nothing about the FAILURE of the “Christian Churches” to actually be a Restoration movement. There seems little concern that biblical elders are practically nonexistent, that we are served by an unscriptural ministry of “preachers” (basically showmen) rather than evangelists after the biblical pattern. We also have PRACTIALLY NO EFFORT to restore the fellowship of the first-century church. The CHRISTIAN STANDARD is practically closed to writers seeking these things. After more than 50 years as a teacher or administrator in Christian church colleges, I am very disillusioned about the “Christian” (?) church. I see additional problems in the “Church or Christ” which has unscriptural views (shared my most of the Christian Church) of the function of worship in the church. In the unlikely case that you are interested, you may find statements of these problems in my book “Acts: Blueprint for the Church.”

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Articles

Ministry Help Wanted

Recent postings: A director of campus ministry is needed at the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign). Stillwater (Pa.) Christian Church is looking for both a lead pastor and a youth pastor. Lexington (Ohio) Church of Christ is seeking a full-time senior minister. Norwin Christian Church in North Huntingdon, Pa., needs a full-time worship minister. Lycoming Christian Church in Linden, Pa., is seeking a minister of children, youth, and young adults. Michigan City (Ind.) Christian Church needs a senior minister. And more . . .

Stories

By taking these symbols of Jesus’ body and blood, we announce we believe there really was a Jesus, and he really did die for us and carried all our sins down to a grave . . .

Documentary Highlights Christian Response to Pandemics

Southeast Christian Church’s “Purpose in Pandemics” is a documentary that follows the response of the church to pandemics throughout history. The “Purpose in Pandemics” website also includes a study guide for small groups and individuals.

Used of God

I soaked up Sam Stone’s wit and wisdom during our lunches together. Afterward, I’d take notes about our conversations. After hearing of his passing, inspired by his wordsmithing, I felt compelled to share just a small part of his story.

Sam E. Stone: ‘He Tried to Speak the Truth in Love’

In memory and appreciation of our former editor, Sam E. Stone, who died early this week, we share this 2011 column from Christian Standard’s archives in which Sam discussed four Scripture verses significant to his life.

Elliott Library ‘Cornerstone’ Laid

Three Bibles of historical significance to Cincinnati Christian University were the first books place on the shelves during relocation of the George Mark Elliott Library.

The Death of Evil

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. saw in minority groups’ struggles for social equality in America a parallel with Israel’s bondage in Egypt. King envisioned God’s goodness would deliver the U.S. from the evil of segregation.

Mark Scott’s Greatest Kingdom Impact

Since I first enrolled at Ozark Christian College, Mark Scott has been my kingdom hero, and I’m not the only young preacher Mark has shaped. Over his 35 years at OCC, Mark has inspired generations of students.

‘Have We Plans for 1921?’

“All the Standard asks is the opportunity to serve, and it yearns to render in 1921 the greatest, finest, and best service of its history. . . .”

CCLF Concluding Strong First Year in Greater Cincinnati

In its first full year, the Christian Church Leadership Foundation has accomplished much to ensure Christian education and resources would continue to be available to people in the Greater Cincinnati area.

News Briefs for Dec. 9

Items from Timber Lake Christian Church (Moberly, Mo.), Choateville Christian Church (Frankfort, Ky.), Johnson University, and more.

My Counsel for Young Preachers

If I were counseling an aspiring young preacher fresh out of Bible college or seminary, champing at the bit to lead in the church, I would offer these three bits of advice.

My Memories of Marshall Leggett

By Ben Merold
As I think about Marshall Leggett, who passed away on March 2 at age 90, two personal experiences keep coming to my mind . . .

Powell Quintuplets Graduating from High School

When the Powell quintuplets were born in 2001, all of Kentucky celebrated, including Southeast Christian Church, where the Powells are longtime members. Now the quints are 18 and are all headed to the same university.

Reentry: It May Be Harder Than We Think

When the COVID-19 crisis eases, I anticipate that reentry is going to be harder than some people think. Churches, especially, need to prepare for this.