My wife and I will be away in a computer free zone from Thursday through Sunday morning (details at www.patrickmead.net). Please go ahead and read the series we are doing here and make kind, gentle, and appropriate comments. I considered shutting down the comments section just to make sure no nastiness occurs, but I leave [...]
[A switch of subject. At this point, nails hammered by each side aren't making it through the boards. Still, the discussion has been, in the main, kind, irenic, and informative. I thank you. Keith Brenton stole my thunder -- and improved it greatly -- in his blog written a few days ago on this subject. [...]
"Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous! It is fitting for the upright to praise Him. Praise the Lord with the harp; Make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully, and shout for joy!" Psalm 33:1-3 Some of you are now understanding why I call this [...]
Anytime a discussion arises about changes, whether they involve instrumental music, music groups, the use of PowerPoint, clapping, multiple cups for communion, or Sunday Schools, someone will trot out the story of Nadab and Abihu as a trump card: if God killed them for bringing in unauthorized fire, should that not serve as a warning [...]
Sometimes…they’re right. The other side, I mean. What side is "the other side"? Well, it is the side that you aren’t on, of course! I don’t consider myself a liberal, but some of my brethren would spit their coffee across the table upon reading that. I DO consider myself conservative (pause for another spit take), [...]
Can we play a few "let’s pretend" games? As we look over our goatherd’s shoulder as he reads the Scriptures in his own language — several times, letting them sink in — we should ask questions when he is done. 1. Did he get the idea that description is prescription? Would he get the idea [...]
NOTE: I have really enjoyed the conversation after the last blog. It is humbling to see the wisdom, insight, and irenic spirit displayed by the commentators. Some have privately emailed me with questions about how the "Goat Herd" theology rule would apply to this or that doctrine. Please be patient with me — I plan [...]
The Churches of Christ are known primarily, when they are known at all, for two things: their emphasis on baptism and the way they sing. Those who visit us generally wonder why we don’t use instruments in our worship…and they frequently comment on how amazing the singing is. Some of our churches aren’t good at [...]
I can remember it well. My father was fired by the Christian Church when I was a very young boy. He was too hard, too legalistic for them. They told him to "go find those anti-fiddle people" where he’d be more likely to fit in. And he did. After gaining a degree from Cincinnati Bible [...]