Articles
Christians – A Distinct People!
Reprinted with permission, Gospel Advocate
(Edited for space and content.)
Entering the National Archives from Constitution Avenue, visitors are greeted by
“Heritage,” a female figure holding a child and a sheaf of wheat, representing new growth
coming from past harvests. Inscribed below the statue’s feet is a quotation from 19th-century
author Wendell Phillips: “The heritage of the past is the seed that brings forth the harvest of the
future.”
A contrasting thought is found entering on the side of the building facing Pennsylvania
Avenue. “Future” is inscribed with a reference from Shakespeare’s The Tempest, “What is past
is prologue.” The statue has an open book in her lap, symbolizing what has yet to be written.
Drawing from the heritage of the past and actively engaging the opportunities of the future are
two sides of our mission in the church of Christ.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8, ESV). Our
Lord never changes, and the mission of His church remains the same. Honoring the great men
and women of faith who preceded us, we must be faithful in the time and place God has called us
in His service. We should resolve to excel in the Lord’s service this year.
Faithfulness requires the proper use of the time God has allotted for us. Omar Khayyam
noted long ago, “The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ, moves on: nor all thy Piety nor
Wit shall lure it back to cancel half a Line, nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.” A year from
now, if the Lord awaits His coming, what will be the record of our service in 2017? We should
resolve, individually and congregationally, to grow ever more in alignment with the will of God.
“There is a distinct people taking the word of God as their only and sufficient rule of
faith, calling their churches ‘churches of Christ’”. David Lipscomb wrote this in the Gospel
Advocate on July 18, 1907, marking the division of faithful brethren from those using
instrumental music in worship and women to preach.
Now 110 years later, are our congregations still distinctively churches of Christ? Are we,
individually, a distinct people —different both from nonbelievers and from the denominations
around us? Where we fall short, let us trust in God’s grace, and resolve to do better. “Whatever
your hand finds to do, verily, do it with all your might;...” Solomon encourages (Ecclesiastes
9:10, NAS). With fervor, then, let us engage the new year, and let the record of its passing be a
story of faithful service in the kingdom. ~Gregory Alan Tidwell
