Randy Wray’s Blog

Here are a couple of quotes from the latest Christian Chronicle that I find interesting.

The number of members and congregations of non-instrumental churches of Christ fell 1 percent in the last three years, according to the latest edition of Churches of Christ in the United States. By comparison, instrumental Christian Churches/Churches of Christ grew by 19.6 percent in the 1990s, the second-fastest rate among 15 religious groups in the U.S. that identify themselves as “Christian” and have 1 million or more adherents, Yeakley said.

I’m sure there are many reasons, not just musical, that have been instrumental in the growth and decline of our churches. I wonder if the difference has more to do with methodologyideology than anything else? With all generalizations and exceptions aside here’s what I think.

The Christian Churches / Church of Christ share the same heritage and tradition of restoration. A basic guiding principle for those in the Churches of Christ is “if Scripture doesn’t authorize a practice we are forbidden from doing it.” A basic guiding principle for those in the Christian Churches is “If Scripture doesn’t forbid a practice we are free to do it.”

I can tell you which guiding principle is closer to my heart. Free at last, free at last. Because of God, people, we are free at last.

Click here if you want to read the entire article.