Category Archives: Index

The Future of the Progressive Churches of Christ: Part 3, Compassion for the Conservatives

To understand my complaints with the progressives (including me), I have to explain some of my concerns for the spiritual state of the conservatives. Do you remember my earlier summary of Joe Beam’s article on what’s going on in the … Continue reading

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The Case for Civility

I read the Jesus Creed blog daily. Here’s a post from today that seems apropos: The Case for Civility Here’s the key quote: “Guinness calls for the truce of God — to drop hostilities and to return to genuine dialogue.” … Continue reading

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The Regulative Principle: History, Part 2 (the Landmark story)

Many of the second generation of the Restoration Movement misunderstood the Campbells. In particular, Moses Lard and Benjamin Franklin (great nephew of the Revolutionary War Benjamin Franklin) taught a much narrower doctrine of salvation (soterology), sometimes insisting on near-perfect doctrine … Continue reading

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Leading Change for Members

I was a leader for change long before I became an elder or even a deacon. Not everyone is in a position to do so, but all churches have leaders without an office. Don’t be afraid to lead from whatever … Continue reading

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The Future of the Progressive Churches of Christ: Part 2, Why We Don’t Know Who We Are

If you were to ask most Church members whether we’re headed for a split as a “fellowship,” meaning denomination, most would say the split is already well underway. Many would say it’s already complete. In my church, when a couple … Continue reading

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Marks of the Church

Alan Rouse has some interesting thoughts on “marks of the church” over at his always-interesting blog. He works through the history of the term and gives some interesting comparisons from other denominations who use the term.

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Amazing Grace, Part 2.5: Further on Marks of the Church (In Response to Josh)

Josh Keele, who posts nearly as much on this blog as I do, and with whom I disagree on many things, raises an interesting and important question. If Galatians teaches that the marks of the church are faith and love … Continue reading

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Leading Change for Ministers, Part 2

Continuing from Part 1 — * Start with grace. Everything stems from the gospel. Get it right, and everything else should follow. Don’t even try to talk about divorce, the role of women, or instrumental music with a works-salvation eldership. … Continue reading

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The Regulative Principle: History, Part 1

The Regulative Principle is the doctrine that all that is not specifically authorized is forbidden. It’s antithesis is called the Normative Principle, which is that whatever is not specifically prohibited in Scripture is permitted. Both are wrong. History The Regulative … Continue reading

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Amazing Grace: Part 1.5, The Salvation of those who commit the Galatian heresy

We adult Bible class teachers met Wednesday night to go over Parts 0.5 and 1 of the lessons on Galatians (those of us who didn’t go to the basketball game). It was correctly pointed out that I left unclear my … Continue reading

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