Now, I have been in the Lord’s church (church of Christ) for over 33 years … I’m a card carrying, charter member, mainline/traditional brother since the age of 12 … so you can imagine the inward response when I was asked to speak i.e. be the guest speaker at inner city church in the next city over from Hopewell. The minister of the church and I have been friends for more than a few years i.e. the connection began when our kids played football together and attended the same schools. We would often sit on the sidelines and chat about “this and that”. On several occasions he asked me in a friendly way something like “Hey Doc, when you gonna come speak for me … we don’t believe in denominations either.” I would always find a reason or excuse as to why I couldn’t do it. I wasn’t quite sure if he was testing me to get my response, or if he was earnestly interested in hearing what I had to say. He is a seminary trained minister, so I gathered he studied the various religious bodies in the U.S. to include the “churches of Christ”. He would ask and I would say “one of these days Doc.” Then I realized, “Why in the world am I hesitant … I mean if you speak the truth, it ought to stand anywhere you preach it!” My sermons are broadcast at least twice a week on cable and we are heard on the radio on Sunday afternoons, and I preach with the same fervor every week, and people in the community drop me a line or even a personal message to say they appreciate what I have to say. The date was set, the church informed, and the day arrived.
I stated in my last post about the synagogue … how the apostle Paul went into the synagogue to reason with the Jews (Acts 18:19). Now of course, today the “synagogue” for us does not represent exactly what it meant in their day per-say. The synagogues then were remnants of a fifteen hundred year old religion that was ordained and instituted by God himself, but whose time had come to an end. Paul went in to prove that that dispensation had concluded and that they were now in the Christian age! That being understood, our synagogue today will most likely be a “denomination” or some other group or place that we may enter to preach the word of God that may or may not be accepting of our message. (Also James uses the word in James 2:2 for "assembly")
The date arrived and all day I had a strange feeling that wouldn’t leave me for the better part of the day. Certainly I have preached in front of denominational preachers before at funerals and held nothing back; but this time I was to be the main/keynote speaker for the night! I certainly wasn’t afraid nor ashamed … I just wanted to follow God’s leading and speak a word for the Head of the church!
When I first mentioned this to the congregation, one of the members said “yeah, sic ‘em” … wow! I explained that that was not my intention because we have done enough of that both locally and nationally and we need to make headway for the cause of Christ! It is my intent to preach the gospel … present the facts of the church that Jesus died for and provide the entrance requirements for the kingdom of God!
We arrived that Tuesday night in the midst of the “praise and worship hour” i.e. choir, praise dancers, youth dancers, etc. and the members who accompanied me looked a little taken-aback, but they kept their composure and responded with sincere smiles of appreciation for their energy.
After a series of songs, and other remarks by the minister, I rose to the podium and proclaimed God’s word! Among my texts were John 17:20ff … I appealed to those who were “believers” to prayerfully consider the Lord’s earnest prayer for the church and the world to be one in His name and that we can only be one when we agree on his word and submit to His will, worship, and ways. I preached the text and extended the invitation to come to Christ by faith, repentance, confession, and baptism, by which one becomes a Christian.
As I took my seat and gave the microphone back to the minister, the prophetic words of Isaiah came to my mind: Isa 55:10-11
10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
The minister and I have agreed to keep the communication lines open and I could tell that his members (and he himself) appreciated our presence that night. All I ask is for the prayers of the righteous to avail much and that the door that was opened may remain open so further discussion and teaching can be achieved.
I, above all, was blessed with by this experience and will pray that I keep my eyes and ears open for further opportunities to share the gospel of Christ with this world (Rom. 1:16).
You’ve got the CLUE!
Peace.
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