Is Pope John Paul in the Church of
Christ? I don’t think many (any!) of
our congregations would accept him “as is” if he
requested to “place membership.”
The Reformers generally agreed that the
“man of sin” (2 Thes. 2:1f) was/is the papacy.
That belief was a part of my earliest indoctrination which I
continued to believe and teach most of my career.
The man of sin was to
“take his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to
be God.” The bodies of individual disciples are
temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19), and collectively the
church, those saved, is God’s temple (1 Cor. 3:16-17).
That temple is we in our Restoration congregations, according to
what I was taught and what is still taught widely.
The temple, we agreed, is the Church of Christ, the universal
church, as we thought of ourselves. So, when the
man of sin was seated in the temple of God, he was in the Church
of Christ (or church of Christ, if you prefer)!
Unwittingly, I had put the popes in the
churches of Christ, while strongly denying that he was ever
added by the Lord to his church!
The text does not indicate that the man of lawlessness would seat
himself in the
supposed temple, corrupted temple,
or apostate temple. He would be in
the real temple, but not
among the redeemed ones added by the Lord.
That temple was the center of Jewish worship in Jerusalem, the
capital city of Israel, and it was not the church!
Can there be such a thing as an
apostate church? The church is the
saved collectively. Does the Lord have
an apostate saved group to which he adds persons? An
existing group of saved persons may depart from the faith,
thus losing their identity with God’s assembly, but is the
next generation of
any apostate group added to the church?
If an apostate group perpetuates itself, it is not a church by
Scriptural definition even though it is a Christian community.
Therefore, historically the papacy could not be in the church.
Now, let me soften my dogmatism a
bit. Although I am convinced that the
papal system with its hierarchy and dogma are not what Jesus
established, I
will not usurp Jesus’ place in order to judge the sincere
efforts of its adherents. He is not ruled by my
convictions in dispensing his grace.
So, Pope John Paul has occupied no seat
with us. Neither does the man of sin
sit in the temple in Jerusalem, for it was destroyed shortly
after Paul wrote
his epistle. Actually, our reform
movement which we call the Church of Christ has not even existed
during most of the history of the papacy.
A “falling away” or “rebellion” would develop
before the coming of the Lord that
the Thessalonians were concerned about.
Influenced by general
assumptions, I always thought the falling away was to be within
the church. However, now I am convinced
that it is speaking of the rebellion of the Jews against the
Roman rule which
brought the destruction of their temple, city, and nation.
Later translations use the word
“rebellion.” This rebellion was in
process, though restrained, when Paul wrote the epistle.
Josephus, a Jewish historian who lived at
the time, tells of the development of the rebellion. He
names men who were involved, even the man who set himself up
in the Temple in defiance of God and of Roman rule.
Through this situation the Lord came in his judgment and
vengeance upon his disobedient people.
But that is an involved account which we will not pursue at this
time.
This nationalistic Jewish zealot, rather than the popes, was the man
of sin who
desecrated the Jewish temple and instigated a rebellion against
Roman rule
which brought the downfall of the nation of Israel. []
è “One doesn’t discover
new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a
very long
time.” -Andre Gide
è What a
supportive congregation you are! We are a sort of
cyberspace congregation. It thrills me
to be in touch with you and to hear from you.
When I think of how many of you there may be in this circle, I
begin to have stage fright! Like when I served
in the pulpit, I get to do most of the talking. You allow
me to speak my piece without being too critical or
judg-mental. I do not claim to be the authoritative
one. When I question traditional interpretations
giving you a
different view, I only wish that you check it out for yourself
in further study. Since I have no prestigious
status to protect, I can be more carefree in feeding you
undigested
materials. And you continue to be gracious.
Thanks.
è For much of the last
half-century, Leroy Garrett and Carl Ketcherside labored to turn
us from divisive legalism to the uniting grace of God.
They promoted the Biblical concept of “unity in
diversity.” They met with the usual (un)welcome and
(dis)approval usually given reformers.
So it is especially appropriate and refreshing that Leroy was
invited to have part in Restoration history lectures at the ACU Lectureship
this year. And – Surprise!! — he was
presented ACU’s Award of Excellence “for outstanding
contributions to the field
of Restoration History in teaching, publishing, and
mentoring.” I am pleased that, now past eighty, he is
being honored for his patient endeavors.
The fact that the university can be bold enough to give that
recognition
indicates how widely his teachings have influenced our
generation. I owe him much.
Speaking of Carl Ketcherside – his
treasure trove of writings is available on the internet.
Now, Bob Lewis has indexed all his writings,
and Natalie Murrie has put that Index for our use there
also. A tremendous source for reading and study.
<http://www.unity-in-diversity.org/frm_page1.htm>.
è For those of you in
the COC escaping from legalism who might wish to join a
discussion group, Lee Wilson is providing just such a site. Check it out:
<http.//www.freeyellow.com/members6/truegospel/index.html>.
è If this issue of FR
seems less focused than usual, it reflects my last several
weeks. Lea’s health continued to worsen so that she
was hospitalized for ten days. With
gratitude we can report dramatic improvement.
Whereas she was almost bedfast, now she is able to be up a big
part of the day and can move about unaided.
While being stressed over her condition, the beauty of Oregon
burst forth in blossom, and it seemed that each blossom added to my
allergies. So I have lived in an antihistamine fog a
big part of the time, but am now
feeling much better and somewhat less grouchy. At our
stage in life, every conversation includes a health report!
è Do you suppose any
of us ever has a thought that no one else has had? How
about this one: Have
you ever thought that the morning of Jesus’ resurrection
might have been windy
and raining?
Because Jesus attached importance to baptism, most
all Christian groups practice baptism.
We would expect that all would
follow the same method and emphasize the same purpose, but that
is far from the
truth. My purpose in this column is to
show without commentary the extreme difference.
No ceremony of baptism could be more simple and
formal than that practiced by my people.
A person was asked if he/she believed that Jesus Christ is the
Son of
God. Upon an affirmative response, that
person was immersed backward in the name of the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit. Seldom was there any
embellishment of the event.
Toward fifty years ago I had in my possession an old
set of the Catholic Encyclopedia from
which I copied the “Ceremonies of Baptism” from Volume
2, page 273. Simply for your information, I include
without commentary what I copied. I no
longer have the book by which to check the correctness of my
copy. The actions are in upper case type while
explanations are in lower case. It
follows:
The rites that
accompany the baptismal ablution are as ancient as they are
beautiful. The writings of the early Fathers and the
antique liturgies show that most of them derived from Apostolic
times.
THE INFANT IS
BROUGHT TO THE DOOR OF THE CHURCH BY THE SPONSORS, WHERE IT IS
MET BY THE
PRIEST. AFTER THE GODPARENTS HAVE ASKED
FAITH FROM THE CHURCH OF GOD IN THE CHILD’S NAME, THE
PRIEST BREATHES UPON ITS
FACE AND EXORCISES THE EVIL SPIRIT. St.
Augustine makes use of this Apostolic practice of exorcising to
prove the
existence of original sin. THEN THE
INFANT’S FOREHEAD AND BREAST ARE SIGNED WITH THE CROSS, THE
SYMBOL OF
REDEMPTION. NEXT FOLLOWS THE IMPOSITION
OF HANDS, A CUSTOM CERTAINLY AS OLD AS THE APOSTLES. SOME
BLESSED SALT IS NOW PLACED IN THE MOUTH OF THE CHILD.
“When salt,” says the Catechism of the
Council of Trent, “is put into the mouth of the person to
be baptized, it
evidently imports that, by the doctrine of faith and the gift of
grace, he
should be delivered from the corruption of sin, experience a
relish for good
works, and be delighted with the food of divine
wisdom.” PLACING THE STOLE OVER THE CHILD, THE
PRIEST INTRODUCES IT INTO THE CHURCH, AND ON THE WAY TO THE FONT
THE SPONSORS
MAKE A PROFESSION OF FAITH FOR THE INFANT.
THE PRIEST NOW TOUCHES THE EARS AND NOSTRILS OF THE CHILD WITH
SPITTLE.
The symbolic
meaning is thus explained (Catechism of the Council of Trid.):
”His nostrils
and ears are next touched with spittle and he is immediately
sent to the
baptismal font, that, as sight was restored to the blind man
mentioned in the
Gospel, who the Lord, after having spread clay over his eyes,
commanded to wash
them in the waters of Siloe; so also we may understand that the
efficacy of the
sacred ablution is such as to bring light to the mind to discern
heavenly
truth.”
THE CATECHUMEN
NOW MAKES THE TRIPLE RENUNCIATION OF SATAN, HIS WORKS AND HIS
POMPS. AND HE IS ANOINTED WITH THE OIL OF
CATECHUMENS ON THE BREAST AND BETWEEN THE SHOULDERS:
“On the breast, that by the gift of the Holy Ghost, he may
cast
off error and ignorance and may receive the true faith,
‘for the just man
liveth by faith’ (Galat. 3:11); on the shoulders, that by
the grace of the Holy
Spirit, he may shake off negligence and torpor and engage in the
performance of
good works; ‘for, faith without works is dead’ (James
2:26), says the
Catechism.
NOW
THE INFANT, THROUGH ITS SPONSORS, MAKES A DECLARATION OF FAITH
AND ASKS FOR
BAPTISM. THE PRIEST, HAVING MEANTIME
CHANGED HIS VIOLET STOLE FOR A WHITE ONE, THEN ADMINISTERS THE
THREEFOLD
ABLUTION, MAKING THE SIGN OF THE CROSS THREE TIMES WITH THE
STREAM OF WATER HE
POURS ON THE HEAD OF THE CHILD, SAYING AT THE SAME TIME:
“(NAME ), I BAPTIZE THEE IN TH NAME OF THE
FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY GHOST.”
THE SPONSORS DURING THE ABLUTION EITHER HOLD THE CHILD OR AT
LEAST TOUCH
IT. IF THE BAPTISM IS GIVEN BY
IMMERSION, THE PRIEST DIPS THE BACK PART OF THE HEAD THREE TIMES
INTO THE WATER
IN THE FORM OF A CROSS, PRONOUNCING THE SACRAMENTAL WORDS.
THE CROWN OF THE CHILD’S HEAD IS NOW
ANOINTED WITH CHRISM, “to give him to understand from that
day he is united as
a member to Christ, his head, and engrafted on His body; and
therefore he is
called a Christian from Christ, but Christ chrism”
(Catech.). A WHITE VEIL IS NOW PUT ON THE INFANT’S
HEAD
WITH THE WORDS: “RECEIVE THIS WHITE GRAMENT, WHICH MAYEST
THOU CARRY WITHOUT
STAIN BEFORE THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THAT
THOU MAYEST HAVE
ETERNAL LIFE. AMEN.” THEN A LIGHTED CANDLE IS
PLACE IN THE
CATECHUMEN’S HAND, THE PRIEST SAYING: “RECEIVE THIS
BURNING LIGHT, AND KEEP THY
BAPTISM SO AS TO BE WITHOUT BLAME.
OBSERVE THE COMMAND-MENTS OF GOD; THAT WHEN OUR LORD SHALL COME
TO HIS
NUPTIALS, THOU MAYEST HAVE LIFE EVER-LASTING, AND LIVE FOR EVER
AND EVER. AMEN.”.
THE NEW CHRISTIAN IS THEN BIDDEN TO GO IN PEACE.
In the baptism of adults, all the essential
ceremonies are the same as for infants.
There are, however, some impressive additions. THE PRIEST
WEARS THE COPE OVER HIS OTHER VESTMENTS, AND HE SHOULD
BE ATTENDED BY A NUMBER OF CLERICS OR AT LEAST BY TWO.
WHILE THE CATECHUMEN WAITS OUTSIDE THE
CHURCH DOOR, THE PRIEST RECITES SOME PRAYERS AT THE ALTAR.
THEN HE PROCEEDS TO THE PLACE WHERE THE
CANDIDATE IS, AND ASKS ALL THE QUESTIONS AND PERFORMS THE
EXORCISMS ALMOST AS
PRESCRIBED IN THE RITUAL FOR INFANTS.
BEFORE ADMINISTERING THE BLESSED SALT, HOWEVER, HE REQUIRES THE
CATECHUMEN TO MAKE AN EXPLICIT RENUNCIATION OF THE FORM OF ERROR
TO WHICH HE
HAD FORMERLY ADHERED, AND HE IS THEN SIGNED WITH THE CROSS ON
THE BROW, EARS,
EYES, NOSTRILS, MOUTH, BREAST, AND BETWEEN THEY SHOULDERS.
AFTERWARDS, THE CANDIDATE, ON BENDED KNEES
RECITES THREE SEVERAL TIMES THE LORD’S PRAYER AND A CROSS
IS MADE ON HIS
FOREHEAD, FIRST BY THE GODFATHER AND THEN BY THE PRIEST.
AFTER THIS, TAKING HIM BY THE HAND, THE
PRIEST LEADS HIM INTO THE CHURCH, WHERE HE ADORES PROSTRATE AND
THEN RISING
RECITES THE APOSTLES’ CREED AND THE LORD’S
PRAYER.
The other
ceremonies are practically the same as for infants. It is
to be noted that owing to the difficulty of carrying out
with proper splendour the ritual for baptizing adults, the
bishops of the
United States obtained permission from the Holy See to make use
of the
ceremonial of infant baptism instead.
This general dispensation lasted until 1857, when the ordinary
law of
the Church went into force. (See
Baltimore, Councils of). Some American
dioceses, however, obtained individual permissions to continue
the use of the
ritual for infants when administering adult baptism.
[]
(These notes with the names of their writers are
copied from the Guest Book at my web site. To the writers of all
these notes: Thanks for sharing you
experiences and thoughts. Thanks also for
your extravagant praise. You are most
gracious!).
è Thanks,
Cecil! Your books have made such a difference in
our understanding of God’s word! -Gene
Shoemake <gene346296@aol.com> Edmond, OK.
è Cecil,
I’ve read two of your
newsletters (via Ray Downen) and finally checked out your site
and will
subscribe to your online newsletter today.
Thanks for your clear and bold thinking and for challenging the
‘business-as-usual-boys’ to think outside the
‘churchbox.’ -Rex Boykin
<bcofc@worldinter.net>,
Belton, MO.
è I believe it
must be more
than ten years since I corresponded, obtaining and distributing
copies of “Free In Christ.” The grace and
freedom I’ve experienced and shared in the
intervening years have been phenomenal, thanks in no small
measure to the
“Free” series of booklets which helped me to come to
the realization I have an
“abba” Father in God, not a stern visaged judge
waiting to nail me for the
least misstep. I am looking very much
forward to renewing our acquaintance now that I am free to
serve. Your fellow slave, Lex Barker
<tarzan99@bellsouth.net>,
Kennesaw, GA.
è I am thankful
to get back in
contact with you. I’ve given away
dozens of your books over the years.
Your book Free In Christ has
helped to change the lives of 100’s of people that I know
of. I thank God for you and your work. I’m the
evangelist here in Fayette, MO at
one of the few congregations that I can work with in Missouri as
this state is
pretty rigid. God led us to this
congregation and worked everything out, long story but a good
one. I found out you had a site on the web from a
brother last night who came over from Moberly for our
singing. I would like a dozen of your Free In Christ
books to give away. I have learned not to give them to
just anybody, as some won’t get past the first page. -Ted
Mountjoy <tedmontjoy@aol.com>.
è Glad I found
this. Look forward to accessing often. -Jimmy
Crenshaw <mimijbc@aolcom> Metairie, LA.
è I was brought
up in the
“Church of Christ,” whereas my wife was brought up in
the Episcopal
Church. For the longest time, I thought
that any other beliefs outside the Church were wrong. My
wife even converted when I was stationed in Germany because
she heard one of our missionaries come and speak to us about all
the different
types of faiths. He put on the chalk
board all the beliefs and at the bottom he put the Church of
Christ and then
challenged us to find those in the Bible.
The only one that could be found, he says, is the Church of
Christ. Well, that won my wife over. I have just
recently come to the
understanding that I am and have been a fool.
Who am I to say that all the other beliefs and the people who
follow
them are wrong? I have found that we as
Church of Christ-ers, so to speak, are very judging. We
are also using tactics to tear down each others’ walls, such
as guilt trips, taking the Lord’s word out of context, and
so on. I remember the only time in my life where
Christ was everyone’s focal point, was when I attended York
Christian College
in Nebraska. We were all young and very
unconcerned about the petty issues. We
all just wanted to be with Him one day and we were determined to
help each
other get there. My wife and I are
going through a very hard time now with the Church of Christ we
attend. We are surrounded here by a predominant
belief in Utah and I feel that may have a lot to do with what is
going on in
this congregation. My wife and I would
love to hear from other Christians around the world, if for no
other reason,
support and outreach. I would be more
than happy to write to anyone and most of all listen to any
suggestions anyone
may have. Thank you and God bless. -David Cooper
<dacoupe@bigfoot.com>
Hill AFB, UT.
è God’s
blessings rest upon
you! I want you to know how helpful for
me your monthly newsletter is. I know
you get weary and at times may even wonder,
“why?” If I can, I’d like to encourage you
and let you know that what
you do is neither pointless nor in vain.
Your method of teaching has challenged me to ask the tough
questions I
always seemed to find ease in avoiding.
Now, I see things so much more clearly – so simply!
Best of all, it makes sense too. Sister Hook is in my
prayers. I want you to know what a blessing you and
your work continues to be. -Rochester,
MN.
è I’d like
to become active in
this ministry. I read Free In Christ long ago and
knew it
contained teachings and insights that many of “our”
people would disagree
with. But I cannot put it down. I’m a brother
and friend of John Hurley, who
freely used the book to help others understand what I now know
to be true,
grace-filled, non-legalistic teachings of Christ. I
subscribed yesterday and want to learn as much as I can about
expectations and grace.
-<stevec365@aol.com>, North Little Rock, AR.
èThank
you so much!!!
- Paul Neely, <neelyfam@mbusa.net>,
Auburntown, TN.
è I like what I
see. I studied myself out of the organized
religion of the Church of Christ about 12 years ago and have
been just a
Christian ever since and couldn’t be happier.
Am anxious to meet and communicate with others in similar
situations. I’m glad to find your site
as I don’t have any likeminded people to fellowship with
here where I
live. -John A. Rhodes,
rhoadesdev@lankaster.com>, Paulden, AZ.
èBlind
acceptance breeds a
deadly type of conformity. One should
openly, aggressively and honestly study the scriptures in effort
to uncover the
mystery of the gospel. The mainstream
Church of Christ members, as a rule, place their trust in pulpit
doctrine,
flimsy interpretations, antiquated translations, distorted
scriptures and
worship based upon the traditions of man.
That is why their mem-bership is beginning to decrease
drastically. That is why this site and similar sites are
so popular. The more that people study,
the less willing they are to participate and worship with a
group that bases
its beliefs upon condemnation, self-righteousness and religious
bigotry. After a lifetime membership (and service as
a deacon) in the mainstream Church of Christ, my family and I
refuse to be a
part of a group that wears “blinders” and shoots its
wounded! We have been “Home churching” for over
a year. We contribute directly to the poor and needy
rather than allowing our contribution to be used for elaborate
church
buildings, luxury automobiles and huge salaries! -Ray
Steelman <mail@bamajammer.com>, New Market, AL.
è My 30-year
experience with
the Church of Christ was seriously damaged by a church in
Richmond, VA where an
elder discovered that I was divorced (my wife ran off with
another man leaving
me with our infant daughter) and told me not to come back
because ”we don’t
want unmarried divorced men in this congrega-tion.”
They had a preacher whom I had called and he came and visited
with me and invited me to attend. I came
and then was told to leave. The
churches of Christ are truly an army of believers who shoot
their wounded. Then, two of my best friends, an elder in
the church and a rather famous preacher in the church left the
church for
reasons that mirrored my own experience.
I wish religion could just concentrate on the positive aspects
of it’s
mission and leave out the chastising, judgmentalism, and back
biting that is so
prevalent where I have been. I have
related only one of several incidents which bring to mind the
passage, “You
shall know them by their works.” I have
seen the works and they do not point to the Christian ethics I
have studied in
the Bible. It is a shame you are
running people away when you should be drawing them to you
– good people with
good minds and good morals and good works.
Enough said. Thank you for this
small platfrom. -Pat Baughman
<jpatb70@hotmail.com> St. Matthews, NC.
è Kindred
spirits are a joy to
experience. -Gary Bruce
<gary.bruce@oc.edu> Oklahoma City, OK.
è Thanks, Dave,
for the
address to this site! I thought I was
all alone. I’m not spoon fed anymore by anyone! I
read the Word for myself and let the Spirit
lead me. WOW! What a change! I was raised in a
legalistic C of C (men
can’t have hair past their upper neck, suit and tie on
Sundays, Acapella was even bad in my house
because they made their voices SOUND like instruments) I could
go on and
one. Praise God that I am free and that
HE is my judge! -Rose Stover
<rdstover@kda.attmil.ne.jp> Kadena AB, AP Japan.
è Excellent
site. I pray for openness in the churches of
Christ! Let us learn we can disagree on
unimportant things and be bonded together on the central
truth! -Kyle Swicegood <kswice@swicegoodwall.co>
Mocksville NC.
è I received the books I
ordered from you on Friday. I have
already read two. It is extremely
difficult to “let go” of what you have believed is
“the whole truth and nothing
but the truth” all your life. However,
intellectual honesty compels me to do that.
Having been raised as a “you get grace by law keeping”
Christian, I felt
I made too many compromises with context to prove points that
were simply not there. Not only is grace liberating
spiritually and emotionally, it also frees from the guilt of
intellectual dishonesty. -Randy, Colorado Springs.
è I want you to
know that your ministry has truly been usd of God to set me free from the
“traditions” I had
become indoctrinated in through my years in the Church of
Christ. Now, I am studying everything with an open
mind and questioning all my prior assumptions.
On some issues I have strengthened my stand, on others I have
done a complete turn-around, and others (such as the role of women in
the church) I am still studying. Thank you for offering
these wonderful thought-provoking materials.
-<swaf@bigbear.net>
è I am a big
fan of you and your books. My question is, have you
noticed a wave of “Calvinism” sweeping into the
Churches of Christ? Also, is there a way of embracing the
grace of God without embracing Calvinism in its various forms?
In my opinion, the doctrine of
predestination makes God the first cause and author of all evil
in the world, and therefore man is not personally accountable for his
sins. What do you think? -Mark, Birmingham, AL.
è Just to know
there is yet a caring,
wonderful, intelligent man walking this earth, such as you,
gives me a great lift, great hope, great joy! We slog
along in the “Calf Path.” Thank you
dear friend. -Kathy, Kerrville, TX.
è Afriend gave
me this address and, when I opened
it and recognized the name, I felt a shiver go down my
spine. I have been trying to let the Spirit lead me
and open doors, and it’s exciting when you realize He does
lead you if you let Him have control. -Kathy Yarbrough,
<noel@theriver.com> Hereford, AZ.