Update to Previous Post

I still need to get this reporters information so I can tell her that if you go to yahoo.com and type in church of christ, the very fist page entry is church-of-christ.org which would have given her all the information she needed. Not that difficult for someone trained in journalism.

Not So Great Source

I ran across this transcript today from CNN (comical non-news network). Someone named Nancy Grace did a typical half hearted attempt at reporting and aired a story related to the recent murder of a minister in Selmer, TN . This aired March 27 at 8 PM. T

he story took an odd turn about this murder. Half way through it became a discussion about the Church of Christ. The expert they brought on air to shed light on the Church was a baptist minister named Tom Rukala. This man really 'showed his butt' with his mis-information (this postI'm not talking about the incorrect interpretation Baptists have of scripture).

Rukala says the following:

Well, the Church of Christ is a relatively new church. It was started about 150 years ago by Alexander Campbell (ph). And it`s, unfortunately, a very legalistic sect, and they tend to use methods of intimidation and pressure tactics. Well, the Church of Christ is a relatively new church. It was started about 150 years ago by Alexander Campbell (ph). And it`s, unfortunately, a very legalistic sect, and they tend to use methods of intimidation and pressure tactics. They claim that they are the only ones going to heaven, and all other people are condemned to hell.

If this guy knew anything about his topic he would know that the Church of Christ believes that the origin of the church can be found in Acts 2, not 150 years ago. I think what he is referring to is the Restoration Movement that recognized the need to return to the scriptural pattern of the church. Being a member of the Church of Christ I have never seen or felt intimidation or pressure tactics from anyone. Like the early churches each Church of Christ is independent without oversight from a regional, national or other outside organization. Where is the pressure or intimidation coming from. Is it the focus put on the authority and inspiration of the scriptures in the church? If its the scriptures that are intimidating, then who is the intimidator?

I have never heard in a Church of Christ anyone say they are the only ones going to Heaven. Denominationalists try to validate their own existence frequently use this claim. The bible is clear on the teachings of Jesus and the apostles on what is required to be saved. It is not a secret to anyone who has read it.

The idiot continues:

Well, they claim that if you’re not baptized by one of their ministers, that
you’re doomed to hell, even if you’re a believer in Jesus Christ, which, of
course, breaks completely from the traditional Christian view that all those who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved because we`re saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and rose again. For the Church of Christ folks, that`s not enough. You have to be a member of their narrow sect. It`s a very exclusive group. And if you`re not a member of their sect, you’re condemned.

There is not a biblical basis for anyone to be baptized by a minister, I have never heard this claim before. As for baptism, I recall, on Pentecost with the Jews asked “What should we do?” Peter gave them an answer, and it wasn’t “call upon the name of the Lord” to be saved. I seem to recall a parable addressing this in Matthew 22.

He claims the church of Christ instead of Jesus, Paul, and Peter set this standard. Is it odd that a ‘baptist’ is against baptism?

The 'narrow sect' he describes has over 15,000 autonomous congregations and over 2 million members. The only condemnation I have found in the church is condemnation of sin. Maybe that is why the local minister of the 3000 plus member Baptist church actually claims his success is due to the fact that he doesn’t talk about sin. Without condemnation of sin you don’t have anything to save people from.

It kind of is a borderline cult, unfortunately. I don`t want to make it out to
be some kind of Hare Krishna group, but it has cult-like characteristics

What are the cult-like characteristics? He doesn’t say. The Romans and Jews in the first century called the church a cult as well. Does a denomination that is ruled by boards, conventions, or popes have cult like characteristics worse than a local autonomous congregation?

At least in this case the reporter actually confessed she couldn’t do her job properly when she introduced the Baptist.

I want to go to pastor Tom Rukala, joining us tonight, a special guest, a Baptist minister. I`ve been researching the Church of Christ. I don`t know that much about it.

Finally, honesty in journalism.

Would Ya?

I read a story from the AP this morning that was interesting.

Abdul Rahman is about to be sentenced to death for becoming a Christian. The Islam religion is based on silliness and lies anyway, but it is astounding that a country like Afghanistan who we have pulled up out of the muck by thier thong-strap still has this kind of attitude.

The judge's quote is the most ridiculous

"We are not against any particular religion in the world. But in Afghanistan,
this sort of thing is against the law," the judge said. "It is an attack on
Islam. ... The prosecutor is asking for the death penalty."

They are not against any religion, but if you convert from Islam to Christianity you are dead.

This man was asked to just recant and he would live, but he refused. Its easy for me as I type on my laptop thousands of miles away to nod my head, and think I would do the same thing, but would I?

Christianity is not just under attack in Afghanistan, Madigascar, and other far away places. It is under attack in pulpits all across our country too.

It is much better to have your physical life under attack than your spiritual life under attack under the guise of 'christianity'. Is denominationalism more dangerous than Islam? Pick your poison.

Say it isn't so...

Today's news bulletin....

Tom Wopat, who played Luke Duke on the television series "The Dukes of Hazzard,"
faces a drunken driving charge in northern New Jersey, authorities said Friday.
Wopat was arrested in Ringwood and charged with driving while intoxicated
and reckless driving, said Bill Maer, a spokesman for the Passaic County
sheriff's department

"reckless driving"? Was he turning 180's on a dirt road while soaring past the Boar's Nest? Perhaps he knocked over a guy on a tall ladder hanging a large banner across the town square, so it fell over the cop's windshield...

He was pulled from a Ford Bronco Wednesday night after hitting orange traffic
cones and nearly striking a Ringwood police car sent to an accident, Maer said.

Ford Bronco is clearly becoming the most notorious vehicle of our society. If you see a Ford Bronco coming, get out of the way.

Conspiracy

The recent death of Maureen Stapleton has raised a conspiracy theory. Isn't it odd that all the stars of the movie Cocoon are dying? What is going on here? Odd coincidence, or is the government covering up something? Which brings up another question...whatever happened to Steve Guttenberg?

One of those weeks

This has been quite a week, but thank goodness for this...

John 16:33 - "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”