Viewpoints Within the Churches of Christ
December 13, 2006Thanks to Phil Spadaro at the Restoration Unity blog for pointing out some interesting poll results published by the Christian Chronicle, an international newspaper of the Churches of Christ. In a recent article they listed the ten most-voted polls for 2006. Three of the top four were related to unity:
- Do you support fellowship between a cappella Churches of Christ and instrumental Christian Churches?
- What is your position on instrumental music in worship?
- How interested are you in 2006 talks between churches of Christ & instrumental Christian Churches?
Opinions among those responding are quite divided on these topics. Therefore it is crucial that the two sides proceed wisely. Human nature wants to quarrel and “win” by bringing everyone over to “our side”. Unfortunately that is extremely unlikely to succeed. Instead, the biblical approach is to accept one another without passing judgment on disputable matters, and to avoid putting a stumbling block in anyone’s way. The non-instrumental brethren need to accept their instrumental brethren without passing judgment over instruments. And the instrumental group need to lay down the instruments whenever their non-instrumental brothers and sisters are present, to avoid being the cause of conflict and sin. However important the issue of instruments may be, it cannot compare to the importance of loving all who have been adopted as sons by God.
Christian Unity 
Sometimes all this reminds me of my college days at OCC. Conversations seemed to go off on odd tangents re this issue or other. To which, at some point, someone usually said “Is it essential to my salvation?”. I guess, then the question is if acapella only, or one cup or UPs or whatever are essential to my or anyone else’s salvation. If so, then we need to talk. If not, we can still talk but we don’t have to agree.ttk
I believe we should be interested in unity more than our opinions and preferences. Thanks for the good you do here brother.Shalom,Bobby Valentinehttp://stoned-campbelldisciple.blogspot.com/
Checking in.Shalom,Bobby Valentine