A Thought From a Marine

Well today is Memorial Day, and first I'd like to pay homage to those who have sacrificed so much to protect our nation, I'm simply one of those men who was fortunate enough to come home from War.

Its been almost 4 years now since I signed up for the Marine Corps and since that time I've experienced a lot. I've been to boot camp, where I wash pushed to my ultimate limits both physically and mentally, I had sand kicked in my face, another human yelling at me constantly 24/7, and punishment for not paying attention to details. I've been in the back yard of a man who speaks Arabic, who's family is poor, who's son thirst for water and freedom, yet the only thing he's had to drink for the 50 years he's been on this earth is war and the tyranny of one history's most infamous leaders, Saddam H. I've been shot at, I've seen bombs go off, I've heard the sound of thunder whistling out of the barrel's of tanks and howitzers, I've endured the loss of loved one's at home and abroad. I've come home from war to hear the stories of friends being spat on or being called baby killers, I've sat in classrooms were the men who have fought against me were called freedom fighters, I've seen protest signs and patriotic flags, I've been there done that not because I had to but because I wanted to.

Yet, even with the bombs going off or the hecklers heckling, the insults flying none of it can compare to what Jesus must have gone through when he decided to lay down his life, not because he had to but because he wanted to. I would like to say that those experiences could relate a little bit to what Jesus went through those hours before he endure the cross, but to even think it would be a gross miscalculation. Yet, those experience help me realize just how much our savior gave so that the lost could be saved, so those in the dark could see the light, and that those who are dead can have everlasting life.

"And I thank you, thank you, Lord"

The Need for Restoration not Reformation

I recently was reading through a periodical called The Spiritual Sword, the title of the issue was "What Is Happening To Us?" When I looked through the pages I was shocked. The first article dealt with the topic of immersion baptism being apart of salvation, I was amazed at what i found. The highlighted quote was by Gary Holloway from Lipscomb University in which he stated "Currently there is some controversy among Churches of Christ regarding immersion. Many of us cannot deny that there are many devout Christians who are unimmersed." The author would late go on to tell about a sermon given by Mike Williams in 2006 titled "Baptism and Christian Unity," in which he would say that baptism is more or less an unimportant issue. He concluded by stating "And so, we have decided we will not be contentious, and we will be encompassing, and embracing all who choose to come here and walk with us." I was shocked that a Christian University, would say such a thing. Thankfully, the Spiritual Sword did not go on to support any of these ideas but would refute each claim which was made by those who were seeking to reform or change the Church of Christ.

Don't get me wrong I'm all for the idea of allowing people into the church, but not at the cost of violating basic Biblical doctrines such as baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I ended up reading the majority of the Spiritual Sword and realized that the Church which Jesus establish had reached a crossroad. I've realized that there are those who are setting out to reform the church of Christ, attempting to make it more appealing to the popular culture while ignoring scripture. So how can the problem be solved? By restoring the foundational beliefs which the Biblical writers wrote about. Restoration is what is needed, not reformation. Basing doctrinal beliefs on what the culture thinks is exactly why there are so many quarrels within the church today. But if we all take a step back, put presuppositions aside and take the Bible at face value, can the split that is taking place be fixed ?I'm a firm believer it can be, even though there are those who will never adopt N.T. Christianity, but I believe the majority of those in error can be won back.

If this is to happen then the brotherhood cannot simply ignore the change agents within the church, we have to reason and talk with them, not in a militant manner but with love, compassion and the desire to know God's will as the forefront. There is nothing wrong with debating issues in an open forum, if the principles which were mentioned earlier are in use then the Bible will answer the questions of right and wrong and we should not be afraid of that. The church needs restoration not reformation.

IMPACT