Igneous Quill

My wife and I have been trying over the past couple of years to visit other congregations of the Churches of Christ in our area.  One Sunday not too long ago we decided to visit one we were told was a bit more "contemporary" in style.  It met, we were told, in an area high school.

We made the nearly 30 minute drive and got there thinking we were late.  Walking into the school cafeteria we found the band tuning up.  "Contemporary" was what we'd heard, so we figured this must be part of it.  Once worship began, though, we began feeling terribly out of place.  It was Communion Sunday, we were told, and the pastor introduced himself to us.  Churches of Christ don't typically call their preachers "pastor," and they have the Lord's Supper every Sunday.  This and other aspects of the gathering just weren't adding up.

Finally I leaned over to my wife and suggested we were at the wrong church.  Perhaps there was another church meeting in the same building.  The thought really bothered her, and we made as graceful and quiet a departure as possible. 

Walking around the outside of the building we made our way to the auditorium.  Sure enough, there was a sign outside the door announcing that a Church of Christ was meeting within.  Argh!!!

We were greeted warmly and told that although we'd missed several hymns and the Lord's Supper, the service was only about half over.  A fellow kindly escorted us in to the auditorium where we found seats.

Worship was led by a mixed group of men and women and the songs were definitely more contemporary in style, but not accompanied by instruments.  The preacher gave an excellent lesson, and it was about 3 minutes into his message that I realized this was a congregation of the International Church of Christ (ICOC).

Having heard of major changes for the better taking place among these churches, I didn't panic.  After worship we spoke at length with several people, including the evangelist, and came away impressed.

At the evangelical church I felt absolutely out of place.  It wasn't the band (I have no issues with that, coming as I do from the perspective of independent Christian Churches/Churches of Christ on the topic of worship), but rather the overall feel of the church.  While I really can't put my finger on it, I think it's a question of traditions.

The ICOC had a different style in some aspects and is the result of a split from the mainstream of a cappella Churches of Christ, but maintains traits held in common by other branches of the Stone-Campbell Movement.  I believe that it was this commonality that made me feel at home with the ICOC folks, as it did also in times past at a Disciples congregation and a mutual edification Church of Christ.

Whatever else I am as a Christian, I am at home within the Stone-Campbell Movement of churches.

Originally published on the Igneous Quill Xanga blog.

My father passed away on a Friday in January 2005.  I ended up staying a little over a week.  The first Sunday I attended the Presbyterian Church I'd joined at age 17.  The next Sunday I attended two churches, representing opposite ends of the Stone-Campbell Movement.  This is the diverse and divided fellowship I've been a part of since 1995.  At the time of my father's passing I was the preacher for an independent Christian Church in New Mexico.  That particular Sunday, neither church was of that branch of the movement.  The first I attended was a Disciples of Christ congregation, and the second was an a cappella Church of Christ, of the "mutual edification" variety.

For a year or so while I was in college I was a member of a Disciples congregation, so I was familiar with some of the inner workings and culture of this denomination.  The church I attended that Sunday was pretty typical.  There was singing from hymnals, the Lord's Supper, and offering and a sermon.  In fact, this was pretty much the same experience I had later the same morning at the Church of Christ.  The details are where the differences can be found.

The Disciples church had instrumental accompaniment, while the Church of Christ did not.  Women actively participated in helping lead worship at the Disciples church.  Such was not the case at the Church of Christ.  The Disciples pastor talked about Martin Luther King Jr.  The elder at the Church of Christ prayed for the troops overseas "fighting for our freedom."

I joined in congregational singing at with both churches.  Yes, I had the Lord's supper twice, once per congregation.  I listened to the sermons and announcements and chatted briefly with people before and after services.

This may or may not seem odd, but I was perfectly comfortable with both congregations.  Oh sure, I probably wouldn't join either one if I lived in that area, but that isn't the point.  What I found was that despite the apparent chasm separating these two branches of the same religious movement, I found myself at home, at least for one Sunday, with both.

Having just now learned about Weebly, I'm giving it a try.  I may use this as a place to discuss religious/theological issues.  Not sure.  I'll try to focus on intelligent matters rather than silly religious disputes.  That's a hard task.