Category Archives: Index

Replanting a Denomination: In Reply to Hank

Hank asked, As a “Neo-Conservative” (dubbed that by a leading progressive), who is trying to follow along, I have to ask what is meant exactly in saying that we need to change? Take, for example, the typical old school “sound” … Continue reading

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Replanting a Denomination: In Reply to Greg

Gregory Alan Tidwell, my favorite conservative preacher, recently posted a challenging comment. It merits a detailed reply because he raises some important questions. Jay; You paint with a very broad brush. Among those whom you would call “traditionalists” there have … Continue reading

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Replanting a Denomination: Resurrection and Paranoia

Here’s the critical point that so many miss. When an institution begins to decline, it will continue to decline unless something changes. Even if you believe the 20th Century Churches of Christ had perfect doctrine, something still has to change. … Continue reading

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Surprised by Hope: 2 Peter 3:10-13 — A Hypothesis

It would be really cool — nice and symmetrical — if the creation were to be redeemed much as God redeems his people. After all, our becoming new creations means that the old passes away, but not that there’s no … Continue reading

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Surprised by Hope: Shining Like Stars

Alan S. and Bob Harry made some very insightful comments in the preceding post of this series. Alan S. wrote, Are you saying that we can expect to be resurrected with a body similar to what Jesus had when he … Continue reading

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Replanting a Denomination: Plateau and Decline

You won’t be surprised to learn that I have a theory as to why our rapid growth in the first part of the 20th Century came to an end. I think two events corresponded to upset the methods that had … Continue reading

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Surprised by Hope: 2 Peter 3:10-13 — Spiritual Bodies

As our transformation — our becoming new creations — anticipates God’s re-creating the heavens and the earth at the end of time, we need to take a look at what Paul says about our resurrection. Paul’s most detailed description is … Continue reading

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Replanting a Denomination: The Empty Church

Gregory Alan Tidwell (my favorite conservative preacher), who participated with me in the GraceConversation dialogue, wrote in a comment, I would recommend you consider the points raised in “The Empty Church: The Suicide of Liberal Christianity.” Thomas C. Reeves, a … Continue reading

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Replanting a Denomination: 20th Century Growth of the Churches of Christ

During the decades between 1889 and 1906, additional division occurred, largely over instrumental music and missionary societies. By 1906, the division was so well established that David Lipscomb advised the US Census Bureau that the a cappella Churches of Christ … Continue reading

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Surprised by Hope: 2 Peter 3:10-13 — A New Creation

We can’t read “new heavens and new earth” and not recall Genesis 1, where God created “the heavens and the earth.” Obviously, this phrase is intended to refer to a re-making of the first creation. Or is it a replacement … Continue reading

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