The New Adventures of an Old Preacher

Growing up in the Churches of Christ and then being educated in one of our colleges I was consistently taught never to include in my prayers a phrase Jesus included in one of his. Thy kingdom come I was instructed could simply not be acceptable prayer language because it had already in fact come- on Acts 2 at the establishment of the church. Jesus could pray it, my teachers reasoned, because he lived before this event occurred. After that particular Pentecost it became irrelevant, so we could pray the rest of the prayer- just not that part.

In retrospect I really don’t know if I actually ever embraced this idea, but I am positive I do not now. The kingdom of God is eternal, vast and while including the church, is much more than just it and I believe will not be fully realized by us until Jesus returns and then presents it to the Father. (1st Corinthians 15:24) So I can still pray thy kingdom come and yearn to be a part of it in its fullest sense.

But that is not the point of this post.

The kingdom presents a much broader challenge to me. Part of that challenge is illustrated in my post on Should We Fight? and the continuing dialogue it has generated. Does the kingdom of God, clearly proclaimed by Christ as from another place call me to more of a radical lifestyle then I have been willing to acknowledge? Has my willing entanglement into our culture of comfort diverted me away from true kingdom thinking?

When I consider the extreme challenge of the Sermon on the Mount and the powerful example of Christ and his early disciples, I wonder. I am haunted by the deeper meaning of seek first his kingdom as I carefully map out the calendar of my life.

Maybe I am alone in these kingdom concerns, but I cannot help but think as I interact daily with others in this kingdom that seldom does it seem that kingdom priorities are guiding our lives.

Jesus once met a young man who from all accounts was very pious but also very rich. Seeking approval and acceptance from the Christ, he asked if there was anything lacking in his spirituality. Being able to discern the heart, Jesus shocked him by instructing him to sell all of his many possessions and give that money to care for the poor. The young man could not. (See Matthew 19:16-30) He failed his kingdom test.

I pray to the God of heaven that I am not failing mine.

I am thankful…

Because– “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16

Because– “He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so did he not open his mouth.” – Isaiah 53:7

Because– “On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.” – Luke 24:1-3

Because– “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.” – Hebrews 1:1-2

Because– “Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.” – Hebrews 9:15

Because– “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” – Romans 8:1

Because– “For in him, we live and move and have our being.” – Acts 17:28

Because– “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” – 2nd Corinthians 4:17

Because– “The saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where O death, is your victory? Where, O death is your sting?’” – 1st Corinthians 15:54-55

Because– “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day- and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearing.” – 2nd Timothy 4:8

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” – 1st Thessalonians 5:18

At church Sunday we had a tribute to our veterans. They stood up, were recognized and received a round of enthusiastic applause. This is our custom on Veterans Day and Memorial Day surrounded as we are by five military bases. The American flag adorns our stage and numerous active and retired military personnel populate our congregation.

While I have no problem with this recognition I could not help but think about a rich part of our spiritual heritage in the churches of Christ that to some has been all but lost.

Beginning with both Alexander Campbell and Barton W. Stone there was a very strong pacifist sentiment within our movement from the start. Based upon a more literal understanding of Biblical teachings like the Sermon on the Mount, they developed a definitive kingdom outlook that encouraged pacifism.

Later such brotherhood luminaries as David Lipscomb and James Harding also considered Christ’s teachings such as “turning the other cheek”; “loving your enemies”; and John 18:36- where Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.” – as literal kingdom principles and believed it was a Christian’s duty as a citizen of the heavenly kingdom to not participate in warfare. Lipscomb, in particular, lived this out in a vivid way while the Civil War raged around him.

Other prominent but lesser known leaders such as R.H. Boll and J.C. Bailey followed in the footsteps of this tradition. Some of our colleges and publications in the early part of the twentieth century were well steeped in pacifist teachings. The Gospel Advocate actually came close to losing its mailing privileges during World War I because of its pacifist views. And then there was Cordell Christian College.

Cordell in Oklahoma was the largest college among the churches of Christ before WWI but because of its pacifist teachings was forced to close under government surveillance and community pressure. O.N. Enfield a leading preacher in Oklahoma was imprisoned in Leavenworth because of his anti-war sentiments during this time.

After WWI pacifist ideas- although not as common- still prevailed in some areas. This idea was still strong enough in parts of Canada that several preachers and church leaders sat out World War II on prison work crews instead of fighting.

For the most part the bombs dropped on Pearl Harbor and the patriotic fervor of WWII effectively ended the active pacifist ideals within the churches of Christ. And while I am sure pacifist voices continued to be heard, growing up in and around the Church of Christ and attending an affiliated college in the south, I never heard this viewpoint.

Now as we participate in a Christian culture heavily involved in the politics of war and American patriotism, pacifist ideals are at best, dismissed and at worst, denigrated. To many now- pacifism is just completely foreign to the American Christian perspective of God and country and should not even be considered.

But the voices of the past remain with us. Do they still have any relevance? Were that many of our spiritual ancestors so wrong? Does their interpretation of Christ’s kingdom principles have any merit? Is there room for like-minded voices in our brotherhood today?

So many questions! Any answers?

I am Georgia bound, God willing. I solicit your prayers as I travel to Statesboro, GA to preach a meeting beginning Sunday, the 5th. This is the first time I have preached an extended meeting in quite some time due to the fact that not many churches host these type of revivals anymore. It should be a blessing for me and I hope for them as well.

As a result I will not be posting for a few days. (What’s new, right? lol) I thank you for stopping in anyway. Check out my previous post and lend your wisdom to it.

I do have a post brewing in my head on mission work. I will save that for later.

Blessings all!

I love to write and blogging has provided me another outlet from which I have gotten much enjoyment- thanks in no small part to those of you who read and leave feedback. But keeping my blog fresh and inviting is sometimes proving to be quite the challenge.

This is due, at least in part, to my job. Lately it has kept me busier than ever. For instance tonight I will probably get home around 10 pm because of a mission’s committee meeting after Bible study.

Don’t misunderstand me. I love doing preacher work- well most of it anyway. I feel this is God’s calling for my life. For over five years I was away from it and while working for a Christian college and being on the mission field was rewarding, I always felt the tug of local preaching. It is just who I am.

This got me to thinking about how others perceive preachers and their work. We all know the jokes about working only four hours or so a week. It is quite possible that some actually may believe this.

What is your perception? What has been your experience how local preachers do their job? What do you think we should do better and is there anything you think we concentrate on that is missing the mark?

I realize that I am opening myself and my profession up here, but that is okay. We all can grow and learn from the well-meaning wisdom and guidance of others.