The Crossbridge Church of Christ is inviting “all Christian tribes, denominations and traditions to unite together in worship to our common Lord, Jesus Christ” to join with them in an evening of praise. Details are at their website.
The event is called “AT THE CROSS – Greater Birmingham Evening of Praise,” and will be held Sunday, October 3, 2010, 4:00 to 6:00 PM.
This is a truly remarkable thing for an Alabama Church of Christ, and I encourage readers in this area to support this event.
PS — One of the speakers will be Shon Smith, pulpit minister for the University Church of Christ, Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Jay,
Don't know if I quite share in your enthusiasm for this event.
I noticed one of the stated goal for this event on their website:
“To, in a practical way, strive for unity in the body of Christ as a witness to the Greater Birmingham Area—and the world—that Jesus indeed is Lord .”
They further stated:
“If all of God’s people meet together at the Cross, hearts are healed, lives are changed, and the Church universal is strengthened to continue its mission of participating with God in redeeming our world through Jesus Christ”
I agree with the statements and what they are saying. But I’m just not sure about the meaning and if these type of events will accomplish such purposes.
I believe that if all sincere believers in Christ “meet together at the Cross” there will also be true, genuine unity.
But it must always be pursued with the question: What binds Christians together and makes us all brothers and sisters? Christians are in unity with one another because they are united with Christ, the head of the church.
Paul said, “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Gal. 3:26-29; cf. Rom. 6:3-4)
The Apostle Paul, in his first letter to the church at Corinth, made it clear that division and disharmony in the body of Christ was not acceptable. Eugene Peterson translates 1 Corinthians 1:13 in The Message, "Has the Messiah been chopped up in little pieces so we can each have a relic all our own?"
Now of course, Paul previously had expressed an expectation of the church that sounds nearly unbelievable in today’s standards: “that you all speak the same thing… that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and judgment.” (1 Cor. 1:10)
Is it really possible for the body of Christ to attain such high ideals of unity? In practical terms, would it be possible for the Christian community to come into such harmony that we all “speak the same thing?”
I believe such a possibility exists, but only if Christians and churches can focus on the common ground of Jesus Christ an allow Him to be both Savior (being united with Him in baptism) and Lord (allowing His will and doctrine to rule over our lives and His church). Remember the apostle Paul gave some doctrines that must be kept for there to be unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace and one of those was "one Lord." (Eph. 4:3-6)
It is my hope and prayer that Crossbridge “Evening of Praise at the Cross” will truly lead people to the foot of the cross, where every humble believer can find that same common, blood-soaked ground which brings us together in unity as brothers and sisters in the family of God.
Jesus said it Himself, that His suffering on the cross was a magnet to the lost — and from that great event He will gather to himself a collected body of followers. “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself” (John 12:32).
An Irishman was asked by an American tourist, "How do I get to Cork?" After pondering for a minute or two, the Irishman said, "Well, if I were going to Cork I wouldn't start from here."
We need to start from scratch and that begins at the cross. But I believe we must learn to think Biblically, rather than thinking denominationally.
So yes I am thankful for any events that might bring sincere seekers and believers in Christ to come together and worship and seek true, Biblical unity at the foot of the cross.
But any “unity movement” or effort that fails to teach and promote the message that Christ is not divisible. That the church of the New Testament is the church of the undivided Christ.
Without this foundation and commitment being at the forefront, long term wise, I fail to see any real progress being made and only “God’s people of all flavors” staying (tasting:) the same.
I think Carl Mitchell, long time Bible professor at Pepperdine and Harding wrote several years back, summarizes well why many of us more conservative brethren are reluctant and have concerns about such “ecumental unity gatherings”:
He write: “It must be stated that when religious division is denounced and the importance of returning to the church of the New Testament and the body of teachings committed to it is insisted upon (including the centrality of penitent believer’s baptism), this often becomes a “turn off” to our denominational friends and a barrier to “common-cause” activities. In fact, it appears that some of our number have become so sensitive to this problem that they have decided to deal with it by turning away from their belief in the importance of the one non-denominational New Testament church, and by denying the essentiality for salvation of the new birth of water and the Spirit.” (Directions for the Road Ahead, p. 227)
Again, I hope and pray that this event doesn’t become such an example of this and further promote a unity of compromise of the truth.
If I could attend this evening of praise at the cross, I would be counted in to be among their number.
Sincerely,
Robert Prater
Just wondering: Are you the same Robert Prater I met last week at the men's retreat in Germany?
Alexander, from Vienna
Alexander,
No I'm afraid not. Unless I had an "out of body" experience and didn't know it:) I was recently in the Ukraine teaching on a men's leadership series on Gospel of John.
Prater is Dutch and North German nickname for an excessively talkative person. Some would say that fits me perfectly:)!
Anyway, I always appreciate your views and thoughts. They seem to be spoken in deep sincereity and always challenge me to think.
God bless,
Robert Prater
Pulpit Minister,
Shawnee, OK
Thanks for your kind words. There was a Robert Prater at our men#s retreat – well over 80 years old. So I was very surprized to read "his" name here on the Blog. He is a retired missionary.
He also explained his name to me. There is a recreation area and fun-park in Vienna called Prater, too.
God bless you, too
Alexander