 SOME QUESTIONS FOR AGENTS OF CHANGE
While pondering recent developments among our churches and schools, the following questions came to mind. We would like to ask them to those who are pushing the agenda of change.
- Did our Restoration forefathers leave their denominational bodies behind them when they embraced the back to the Bible movement? Why did they do so?
- Was it considered harmless or disruptive by most brethren when instrumental music was first introduced in 1859?
- Was there any legitimate basis for our forefathers to protest against the use of instrumental music?
- If it is wrong for us to make an issue of instrumental music in worship, does that mean that our fathers were wrong in so doing? Does it mean the
Disciples of Christ/Christian Churches were right in insisting they would have it? - If the answer to the above questions is yes, then does that mean that our existence as a separate body of people is illegitimate?
- If the above is true, should we not repent and seek readmittance into the fellowship of the Disciples of Christ?
- If the basis of salvation and fellowship is "faith in Christ," could we not, should we not, fully fellowship all Protestant and Catholic bodies, since all of them believe in Christ?
- Is it the case that the real issue between change agents and "traditional churches of Christ" is one of the final and complete authority of the Bible?
- Do you agree with Jessie P. Sewell, one time president of ACU, that the real issue of that earlier conflict was the final and absolute authority of
Scriptures? - Since the view of the Bible held by contemporary Disciples of Christ is not essentially different from that held by them a century ago, should we not accept modern Disciples of Christ in our fellowship?
- Does the administration and faculty of Abilene Christian University hold and reflect the same conservative views toward the Bible and regarding the faith, worship and practice of the church as their predecessors did from her founding and through the administration of Don Morris? If not why? On what basis has the change been made?
- Does the present leadership of ACU repudiate the conservative beliefs of their predecessors? If not why?
- Would such books as the Crux of the Matter and God's Holy Fire have been published, endorsed and promoted by past administrations of ACU? If not why
- Would professors who held views such as are expressed in the Crux of the Matter and God's Holy Fire have been allowed to continue in their posts under the leadership of those prior presidents?
These are legitimate question that promoters of change need to address. Those who are uncommitted and unsure would also do well to ponder them. Major changes are being pushed upon the brotherhood of churches of Christ, changes that will redefine who and what we are. Perhaps if folks will consider the end result of these changes, they will see the danger this movement poses and reject it before they reach a point of no return. JHW |
