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Opinions -
Editorials
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Contributed by Phil Spadaro
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Tuesday, 26 December 2006 |
 Face to Face Rebuke
In The Restoration Herald January, 2007 Issue (Vol. LXXXVI NO. 1) the
editor, Lee Mason, comments on the need for “Iron sharpening iron “
fellowship (Proverbs 17:17). Within his editorial he quotes Barry
Thorton survey of Christian Churches. “...[of] 23 of our churches in
the Southwest ... 21 of them 'discounted baptism as part of the plan of
salvation, i.e. for the remission of sins.'” Mason goes on to comment
the need for “friction” in order to address this important issue.
The longer “issues” (false-teachings) go unchallenged or met with silence, the longer they have time to fester, breed and spread. Although there are times when the Restoration Movement has been a hotbed of disrespectful personal attacks and needed to refocus on loving others more than opinions, there is a time for direct rebuke. This is time for those in the Christian Church to sharply rebuke those who would ignore God's tenets on salvation. Baptism is not a matter of opinion, it is spelled out in scripture.
Debates over matters of opinion over the years have dulled the Restoration Movement to the Bible and its doctrine. We have mired ourselves in straining the gnats but swallowing camels (Matthew 23:24). Unity among Restoration Churches will not be when we agree with each other, but when we agree with the Theology and salvation doctrine of the Bible.
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Consequences
Written by Alan on 2006-12-28 11:32:38
It is unfortunate that churches of Christ have earned the reputation for quarrelling about everything. Now, when they need to stand up for something really important, their message is tainted by that reputation. They have cried "Wolf" too many times. |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 10 January 2007 )
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