Author’s
Preface
Repent
ye, and be baptized every one of you
in
the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins;
and
ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts
2:38 (ASV)
_________________________________
Are churches of Christ
in trouble over the Holy Spirit? There
are two viewpoints within our fellowships. Some believe that we are indwelt by the
Spirit of God; that the Holy Spirit resides in our hearts—personally,
directly, literally, and actually. But
others deny the indwelling. Sometimes
the denial is outright. It may be
acknowledged that there actually is a “third member of the Godhead” known as
the Holy Spirit, however some will say that He does not indwell us—personally,
directly, literally, and actually.
Some would deny that
there is any meaningful difference between the two perspectives. In fact, some see a fundamental “agreement”
between them: “Both sides believe in
the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, they just disagree over how the Spirit
indwells.” The real issue may be
nothing more than semantics—with each side using peculiar language (a mere “shibboleth”)
that is unfamiliar to the other side.
With this communication barrier between them, they just imagine there is
a real disagreement when, in reality, they are both sharing a lot of common
ground in their beliefs.
Another analysis of
the conflict is to admit that the two sides have serious differences in their
belief systems, but then suggest that the two beliefs can co-exist in complete
compatibility in church fellowship. In other words, this issue is seen as
essentially inconsequential. The apostle
Paul discussed issues that were simply “matters of opinion” (rather than
“matters of faith”), and this Holy Spirit debate is seen as one of these.
Still others may feel
that all matters of Bible belief are trivial. The truest concerns of the church are all
social, while matters of theology are meaningless. You can believe what you want about God, and
Satan, and angels, and demons, and miracles.
Or, you can believe none of it.
What really matters is that we love one another. Others, of course, see theological matters
having priority over those that are social.
In any conflict situation, people are driven—in varying strengths—by
two factors:
·
Low regard for both
principles and people (so they simply avoid conflict).
·
High regard for
people, but low regard for principles (as long as people are kept
together, they will comply without fussing over principles).
·
High regard for
principles, but low regard for people (so they enter conflict as s
competition and expect to win, even if people get hurt).
·
Moderate regard for
both people and principles (to hold some minimal concern in each
area brings a conflict style of compromise).
·
High regard both for
people and for principles (they insist that keeping people
together requires building relationships on solid principles).
Each of these conflict styles
is appropriate under certain circumstances.
However, each of them—with the exception of the last one—may also
be quite inappropriate in certain circumstances. As you read this book, you will be challenged
to place appropriate value on both the people and on the principles involved in
this matter of the Holy Spirit within our churches of Christ.
If we
all can come to agreement on our valuation of Bible beliefs and of love for
Christians, we will find ourselves in a strong position to move forward
together. Otherwise, if our values
are fundamentally different, it will be undeniably plain that churches of
Christ really are in trouble over the Holy Spirit.
The
American Restoration Movement
The discussion that follows assumes
as valid—and even as crucial—the goal that has driven the American
Restoration Movement since it began in the late 18th and early 19th
centuries: uniting Christians from
all denominations in a fellowship joined in complete unity by going
back-to-the-Bible to find a suitable platform on which such unity may be built. This has been the goal and
the dream that has driven the unique identity of churches of Christ across many
decades and a few centuries.
Although arising in
relatively late in history, our “non-denominational” stance finds its first
impulse in the NT, where the “church of Christ” is launched
on a journey through the centuries. When
the church began her journey, unity of fellowship characterized the entire
membership. This is our true heritage in
churches of Christ (we did not originate only in the 1700’s or 1800’s).
But what began well, led to
the “denominationalism” that began with a departure from Biblical foundations
by Catholicism and ended with the rise of Protestantism (which “protested”
against Catholiciscm). The indivisible
church of the NT became the indivisible Catholicism (for a period of
centuries), which became a Christendom divided into more Protestant
“denominations” than can be counted.
Anyone with an eye for Christian unity will see this as a monstrous
problem.
Although some will
refuse to recognize any problem with denominational Christianity, it has led to
divisions that prevent Christians from worshiping and cooperating together. Each denomination retains an exclusive
identity, that marks out “one of us” from “one of them.” Each group tends to have its own set of
peculiar beliefs (formerly expressed in “creeds”), that further reinforce the
separation between one believer and another.
Not only is it obvious that “all” of these differing beliefs cannot be
true and valid reflections of the NT revelation in the Bible, but some of the
issues have direct implications for salvation.
If these issues are not gotten right, someone is going to lose his/her
salvation!
Churches of Christ have
responded to this recent history that has generated a fractured and fragmented
fellowship. We want—and are willing to
work—to
“restore” the unity of the church that Jesus died to save. This is the reason we call ourselves the
“Restoration Movement.” Such unity is
important to us because it is important to our Lord. This book advocates Restoration as a
noble and worthy goal for those who wear the name of Christ Jesus.
The
Holy Spirit and Restoration
The Holy Spirit is
vitally important to the work of “restoration.” In the first place, the Christianity we seek
to restore has the Spirit as its power source.
Without this power, we cannot succeed.
In the second place, the issue has to potential to divide our
fellowship. That is to say, it may
oppose our essential goal and dream, rather than advance it! Restoration itself hangs in the balance.
The issue discussed in
this book is, therefore, an “internal issue” for our fellowship, for churches
of Christ, for the American Restoration Movement. But note carefully that it is also an
“external issue” that has ramifications for our relations with those outside of
our fellowship. As we
seek to enter undivided union with believers from denominational backgrounds,
by going “back-to-the-Bible”, this issue could well become a “sticking point”
in that process!
For example, the big sticking
point, historically, has been disagreement over baptism as a factor in
Christian conversion and salvation. What
happens if we are able to resolve this conundrum (as we will discuss, it looks
like tremendous progress is being made here, even as we speak)? What happens if those, who were on opposite
sides of the baptism-issue but now agree, are ready to take the next step
towards securing unity together in Christ?
What happens if our denominational friends (who assuredly believe in the
indwelling Spirit) discover that we in churches of Christ (or, at least, some
of us) do not share their beliefs? Will
we be able to take the “next step” together?
Or will this issue, if unresolved now, then be a “sticking point” that
derails the big dream of Restorationism, just at the time when God seemed to
have finally made our dream a reality?
I hope every reader shares with me a sense of dread at such failure.
There are precious people in
the balance; there are precious principles of belief and conviction in the
balance. This book is a challenge to
embrace them both. It dares to challenge
us with a terribly vital question:
Are churches of Christ in trouble over the Holy Spirit?
