Articles
SPIRITUAL HEIRLOOMS, Dan Bouchelle
This is a continuation of the article posted last week by Dan Bouchelle, via Preacher Stuff
by Dan Williams from Harding University. Bro. Bouchelle lists eight “heirlooms” for which he
is thankful from his heritage in churches of Christ.
HIGH VIEW OF CHURCH:
In a western world of excessive individualism, with an emphasis on a “personal Lord and
Savior,” churches of Christ have maintained an unusual emphasis on being “members of the
church.” God shows up when we gather. Participation matters. We’ve expected the church to be
distinct from the culture. We’ve expected to care for each other and to be family. While we’ve
picked up many consumer attitudes that have weakened these practices, we have historically
valued the local church. Each church is theoretically free to follow God’s leading directly. The
local church is the expression of God’s people that matters most, not some higher ecclesiastical
body, theological elite, or clergy class.
THE PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS:
This common value of all protestant churches took on even greater emphasis among churches of
Christ. Not only did we believe that every disciple could talk directly to God, but we’ve also
affirmed that every baptized believer is called to be a priest and minister of reconciliation and
mission. We’ve insisted on avoiding a special clergy class, even for full-time professional
ministers. That has caused some problems, but it also has meant that all of God’s people can
minister, even performing baptisms and serving the Lord’s Supper. This conviction has been
muted in practice by limitations placed on women, but this was a feature of how we dealt with
gender and not a matter of clerical/laity status.
SIMPLICITY:
Because of our bias for New Testament models and concerns about the corruption that develops
over time, churches of Christ have valued simplicity. This can be abused, but it has enabled the
church to travel light with less cultural baggage. It doesn’t take much for us to “have church.”
We have not fully utilized this value and have promoted many culturally derived traditions,
nonetheless. But our bias towards simple church has the capacity to serve us well moving
forward.
(To be continued…)
via Preacher Stuff, Dan Williams, Harding University
