Churches of Christ at a Tipping Point By Brady Bryce

Exodus.32.Worship.of.Golden.Calf.html  The only "worship" with Instrumental-Trinitarian-Perverted "play" was at Mount Sinai.  Tuneful mechanical sounds are always the Mind Altering necessary for Sorcery, Witchcraft, inducing KOMA.

Instrumental.Music.as.Religious.Sorcery

All "religious" Craftsmen involved in WORKS OF HUMAN HANDS including rhetoric, singing, instruments are known as PARASITES and in Revelation 18 the "clergy" of the Babylonian Mother of Harlots known as SORCERERS and WILL BE CAST ALIVE INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE.

Plato, Euthydemus  [289e] For not only do these speech-writers themselves, when I am in their company, impress me as prodigiously clever, Cleinias, but their art itself seems so exalted as to be almost inspired. However, this is not surprising; for it is a part of the SORCERER'S art, epōdōn tekhnēs

Latin 289e:
kai mentoi ouden thaumaston: esti gar tēs tōn epōdōn tekhnēs morion mikrō te ekeinēs hupodeestera.

Thaumaston Is a Lying wonder which claims that your rituals are ordained by God.

-epōdē , Ion. and poet. epa^oidē , hē, A.song sung to or over: hence, enchantment, spell, LADEN BURDEN
ou pros iatrou sophou thrēnein epōdas pros tomōnti pēmati
of the Magi, Hdt.1.132
  oute pharmaka..oud' au epōdai” Pl.R. 426b ; thusiai kai e. ib.364b ;
charm for or against.., “toutōn epōdas ouk epoiēsen patēr” A.Eu.649.

epōd-os , on, （epadō）

A.singing to or over, using songs or charms to heal wounds, “epōdoi muthoi”

b. Subst., enchanter, “e. kai goēs” E.Hipp. 1038 (but “goēs e.” Ba.234): c. gen., a charm for or against, “ethusen hautou paida epōdon Thrēkiōn aēmatōn” A.Ag.1418 ; e. tōn toioutōn one to charm away such fears, Pl.Phd.78a.

c. c. dat., assisting, profitable, 2. Pass., sung to music, “phōnai” Plu.2.622d ; fit for singing, “poiētikēn e. parekhein
2. epōdos, ho, verse or passage returning at intervals, in Alcaics and Sapphics, D.H.Comp.19 ; chorus, BURDED, refrain,

JESUS AFFIRMS THAT BRADY BRYCE IS NOT A CHRISTIAN

John 8:28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man,
        then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself;
        but as my Father hath TAUGHT me, I SPEAK these things.

SPIRIT MEANS THAT God the Father put His WORD into the MOUTH of Jesus for the LAST TIME.

John 8:29 And he that sent me is with me:
         the Father hath not left me alone;
         for I do always those things that PLEASE him.

Amos knew that an Instrumental Attack to "make the lambs dumb before the slaughter" did not please Him.

John 8:30 As he spake these WORDS, many believed on him
John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews
        which believed on him,
        If ye continue [A worship concept]
        in my WORD, 
        then are ye my disciples indeed;

Logos  computation, reckoning 2. statement of a theory, argument, ouk emeu alla tou l. akousantas prob. in Heraclit.50; logon ēde noēma amphis alētheiēs discourse and reflection on reality,
IV. inward debate of the soul, reflection, deliberation
Regulative and formative forces, derived from the intelligible and operative in the sensible universe,

Opposite to epithumia
 A. desire, yearning, longing after a thing, desire of or for it, Theaomai :--gaze at, behold, mostly with a sense of wonder, 3. view as spectators
Opposite Pathos  A. that which happens to a person or thing, incident, accident,  Moralizing Rhetoric
Opposite Poiein to excite passion, Arist.Rh.1418a12; V. Rhet., emotional style or treatment,
Opposite Enthousi-astikos , ē, on, A. inspired, “phusis” Pl.Ti.71e; esp. by music,
Prose,  OPPOSITE -poiêsis, Id.R.390a;
OPPOSITE -poiêtikê, D.H.Comp.6;
OPPOSITE poiêmata, onomatopoeic word
OPPOSITE  emmetra Modus   2. The measure of tones, measure, rhythm, melody, harmony, time; in poetry, measure, metre, mode: Mūsĭcus a, um, adj., = mousikos.
X. the Word or Wisdom of God, personified as his agent in creation and world-government,

Theologians are doomed to call God a liar or INCOMPETENT.  If God had wanted any kind of music in the tuneful sense He was INTELLIGIBLE But denied by C. Leonard Allen.

mousikos kai melōn poētēs” 2. generally, votary of the Muses,  The Muses were the LOCUSTS unleashed with Apollon their "musical worship leaders." The Greek and Latin literature identifies them as dirty adulteresses

http://www.piney.com/DocHesTheog.html
[25] the Muses of Olympus, daughters of Zeus who holds the aegis: “Shepherds of the wilderness,
        wretched things of shame, mere bellies,
        we know how to speak many false things as though they were true;
        but we know, when we will, to utter true things.”
            ...and they bade me sing of the race of the blessed gods that are eternally,
                but ever to sing of themselves both first and last.
pharma^kon 3. enchanted potion, philtre: hence, charm, spell, Od.4.220 sq., Ar.Pl.302, [Circe, Church, Corinth mother of harlots]  Theoc.2.15

The singers [Muses], instrument players and craftsmen as sorcerers in Revelation 18.

BRADY BRYCE MOCKS JESUS WHO ARTICULATED AND MADE GOD'S REGULATIVE PRINCIPLE AUDIBLE.

Acts.17.25.God.Not.Worshipped.Mens.Hands.html

12 September, 2014   
Published by Brady Bryce in God At Work

Brady Bryce: I believe that what we need is the good way, the ancient WAY in which to walk.  It has not really changed much since time began.  The Ten Commandments were not changed by Jesus, they were deepened.  The great commandments of loving God with our entire being (heart, soul, mind and strength) and loving your neighbor were not invented by Jesus; they were continued beyond the borders of one nationality.  The pursuit of God is still the most significant pursuit for all humans.  The different now is that through Jesus this is both a reality and an ongoing pursuit.  We may now access God, through Jesus, full of the spirit.  This is not mere salvation access, but access to changes our very person into the likeness of Christ.  We must be changed.

THERE IS NO REASON THAT ANY PERSON WHO BELIEVES THAT THEY CAN "ENHANCE" THE EKKLESIA OR SCHOOL OF CHRIST. Braddy Bryce and ll of those whose "attacks on those guys and claim to enhance the "worship" do not know that worship in any PHYSICAL sense is to Fall on your Face in reverence and Godly fear.

Anathema.and.Max.Lucado

The only "worship" with Instrumental-Trinitarian-Perverted "play" was at Mount Sinai

John 8:37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed;
        but ye seek to kill me, because my WORD hath no place in you.
John 8:38  I SPEAK that which I have seen with my Father:
         and ye DO that which ye have seen with your father.

        but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

Devil Do: poiētai 4. after Hom., of Poets, compose, write, p. dithurambon, epea, Hdt.1.23, 4.14; “p. theogoniēn 

Epos  joined with muthos,     1. song or lay accompanied by music, 8.91,17.519.
2. fiction (opp. logos, historic truth),  THE REGULATIVE PRINCIPLE

Hdt. 1.23 Periander, who disclosed the oracle's answer to Thrasybulus, was the son of Cypselus, and sovereign of Corinth. The Corinthians say (and the Lesbians agree) that the most marvellous thing [Lying Wonders] that happened to him in his life was the landing on Taenarus of Arion of Methymna, brought there by a dolphin. This Arion was a lyre-player second to none in that age; he was the first man whom we know to compose and name the dithyramb¹ which he afterwards taught at Corinth.

1 The dithyramb was a kind of dance-music particularly associated with the cult of Dionysus.

Devil Do: LATIN:   făcĭo ,  to make in all senses, to do, perform, accomplish, prepare, produce, bring to pass, cause, effect, create, commit, perpetrate, form, fashion,  operor Lying Wonder,  “poëma,” to compose, id. Pis. 29, 70: “carmina,” Juv. 7, 28: “versus,” id. 7, 38: “sermonem,” Cic. Fam. 9, 8, 1; cf. “litteram,” id. Ac. 2, 2, 6: ludos, to celebrate, exhibit, admirationem alicujus rei alicui,” to excite [the Laded Burden],

Devil Do: carmen
 I.a tune, song; poem, verse; an oracular response, a prophecy; a form of incantation (cf.: cano, cantus, and canto). note, sound, both vocal and instrumental “also versus, numeri, modi): carmen tuba ista peregit ( = sonus),” Enn. Ann. 508 Vahl.: “carmine vocali clarus citharāque Philammon,” Ov. M. 11, 317; cf. “vocum,” id. ib. 12, 157: “per me (sc. Apollinem) concordant carmina nervis

“barbaricum,” id. M. 11, 163.—With allusion to playing on the cithara: The Moher o Harlots in John 17 “Carminibus Circe socios mutavit Ulixi,

Devil Do:   Commercium sermonis,”   7  In mercant. lang., to practise, exercise, follow any trade or profession:  8. In relig. lang., like the Gr. rhezein, to perform or celebrate a religious rite; to offer sacrifice, make an offering, to sacrifice:

Devil Do: Mousa   II. mousa, as Appellat., music, song, “m. stugera” A.Eu.308 (anap.); “euphamos” Id.Supp.695 
“Kanakhan .Clanging Brass
 Theias  as many as made them hope by divinations, Madness caused by Ritual
        worship as divine, “Puthagoran  [Of the Cosmos, the Ecumenical, Kingdom of the Devil."
Antiluron mousas” S.Tr.643 (lyr.);  PLAYING THE LYRE
“Aiakō moisan pherein”I. bear or carry a load,  A Laded Burden

JESUS WAS SENT TO CALL WITH A MESSAGE ONLY THE TINY FLOCK SPIRITS COULD HEAR.

Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his WORD were baptized:
        and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Brady Bryce: Hearing that Churches of Christ are at a crossroads isn’t anything new.  This worn out cliche isn’t even fit for the recycle bin.  Its like plastic used beyond its viability, representing the worn out options of turning left or right.  There is an even older refrain that comes from Jeremiah “Stand at the crossroads and look around, look for the ancient way, the good way and walk in it.”

Obad. 14 Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape; neither shouldest thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress.
Obad. 15 For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head.

h6563.  pereq, peh´-rek; from 6561; rapine; also a fork (in roads):—crossway, robbery.
h6561.  paraq, paw-rak´; a primitive root; to break off or crunch; figuratively, to deliver:—break (off), deliver, redeem, rend (in pieces), tear in pieces.

 
Jer. 6:13 For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness;
        and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.

Other than the writing prophets inspired by the Spirit OF Christ, a prophesier was a soothsay, sorcery,

Prŏphēta and prŏphētes , a foreteller, soothsayer
H5012 nâbâ’ naw-baw' A primitive root; to prophesy, that is, speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse):—prophesy (-ing) make self a prophet. Aegyptius, propheta primarius,

Miriam was a prophetess or Hathor and though that she had the right to speak:

prīmārĭus , a, um, adj. id., I.one of the first, of the first rank, chief, principal, excellent, remarkable (class.): “primarius parasitus,” Plaut. Mil. 3, 1, 73: “quoad primarius vir dicat,” the first speaker, he who has a right to be heard

părăsītus , i, m., = parasitos, lit. one who eats with another; hence, I. In gen., a guest (pure Lat. conviva): parasiti Jovis, the gods,
one who, by flattery and buffoonery, manages to live at another's expense, a sponger, toad-eater, parasite (syn. scurra):
“parasitorum in comoediis assentatio,” Cic. Lael. 26, 98: “edaces parasiti,” “parasitorum in comoediis assentatio,” Cic. Lael. 26, 98: “edaces parasiti,”
The tutelar deity of parasites was Hercules, Plaut

cōmoedĭa , lifted up on a buskin, which he called tragoedia, Plin. Ep. 9, 7, 3.
assentātĭo (ads- ), ōnis, f. assentor. I. A flattering assent, flattery, adulation

Nabi' (Hebrew) [from naba' to deliver an oracle] A prophet, one inspired to foretell future events; the name given to prophecy in the Bible. One of the "spiritual powers, such as divination, clairvoyant visions, trance-conditions, and oracles. But while enchanters, diviners, and even astrologers are strictly condemned in the Mosaic books, prophecy, seership, and nobia appear as the special gifts of heaven. In early ages they were all termed Epoptai, the Greek word for seers, clairvoyants; after which they were designated as Nebim [nebi'im] 'the plural of Nebo, the Babylonian god of wisdom.' The kabalist distinguishes between the seer and the magician; one is passive, the other active; Nebirah [nabi'] is one who looks into futurity and a clairvoyant; Nebi-poel [nebi'-po`el], he who possesses magic powers" (IU 1:xxxvii).

The Hithpa'el of nb', in the ancient texts, refers to ecstasy and delirium rather than to the emission of a 'prophecy'." (de Vaux, Roland, The Bible and the Ancient Near East, p. 243 Doubleday "Maniac inspirations, the violent possession which threw sibyls and priestesses into contortions--the foaming lip and streaming hair and glazed or glaring eyes-- have no place in the self-controlling dignity of Christian inspiration. Even Jewish prophets, in the paroxysm of emotion, might lie naked on the ground and rave (1 Sam. xix. 24); but the genuine inspiration in Christian ages never obliterates the self-consciousness or overpowers the reason. It abhors the hysteria and stimulation and frenzy which have sometimes disgraced revivalism and filled lunatic asylums." (Pulpit Commentary, 1 Cor., p. 460).

făcĭo ,
Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 17, § 45: “poëma,” to compose, id. Pis. 29, 70: “carmina,” Juv. 7, 28: “versus,” id. 7, 38: “sermonem,” Cic. Fam. 9, 8, 1; cf. “litteram,” id. Ac. 2, 2, 6: ludos, to celebrate, exhibit = edere, id. Rep. 2, 20; id. Att. 15, 10; “also i. q. ludificari,” Plaut. Capt. 3, 4, 47:
“opinionem alicui,” id. Div. in Caecil. 14, 45: “orationem,

Jeremiah 6:14 They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly,
saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

Jeremiah 6:15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination?
        nay, they were not at all ashamed,
        neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall:
        at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the Lord.

Jeremiah 6:16 Thus saith the Lord,
        Stand ye in the ways, and see,
        and ask for the old paths, where is the good way,
        and walk therein, and ye shall find REST  for your souls.
        But they said, We will not walk therein.

Those who badmouth the OLD PATHS or OLD WAYS which have been tested over the years would have you believe that THEIR NEW PATHS out of their own head is superior to anything older than them.

Antīquus , a, um, adj. a diff. orthog. for anticus, from ante (of that which is before in time, while I. anticus denotes that which is before in space; cf. Vel. Long. p. 2223 P.), that has been or has been done before, old, ancient, former (opp. novus, that has not previously existed, new; while vetus, that has existed a long time, is opp. recens, that has not been long in existence, recent; cf.
B. an-tīquum , i, n., antiquity, the things of olden times: “Nec quicquam antiqui Pico, nisi nomina, restat,” Ov. M. 14, 396: “novissima et antiqua,” Vulg. Psa. 138, 5: “antiqua ne intueamini,” ib. Isa. 43, 18.—

Psalm 138.5 Yes, they will sing of the ways of Yahweh; For great is Yahweh's glory.

Sēmĭta , I. a narrow way, a path, foot - path, lane, by - way, etc. (opp. via, a highway; cf.: callis, trames): quā ibant, ab itu iter appellarunt; “quā id anguste, semita ut semiter, dictum,”

Hosea 14:1 O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.
Hosea 14:2 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.
Hosea 14:3 Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.
Hosea 14:4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.
Hosea 14:5 I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.
Hosea 14:6 His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.
Hosea 14:7 They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.
Hosea 14:8 Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.
Hosea 14:9 Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them?
        for the ways of the LORD are right,
        and the just shall walk in them:
        but the transgressors shall fall therein.

Praevārĭcātor
I. one who violates his duty; esp. of an advocate who is guilty of collusion with the opposite party, a sham accuser or defender, a prevaricator (class.
B. Esp., an apostate: “nos praevaricatores eos existimamus qui susceptam fidem et cognitionem Dei adeptam relinquunt, Hilar. in Psa. 118, 15, 11: Dei,”

erro , ā 1. Prop., to wander, to wander or stray about, to wander up and down, to rove , wandering stars
2. Trop., to wander from the truth, to err, mistake: “avius errat Saepe animus,” Lucr. 3, 463;

vĭdĕo , wishingto be seen

Psalms 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
Psalms 118:9 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.
Psalms 118:10 All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.
Psalms 118:11 They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Galatians 2:17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

Rē^frīgĕrĭum , ii, n. id.,

I   a cooling; trop., a mitigation, consolation (eccl. Lat.), Tert. Apol. 39 med.; id. adv. Marc. 3, 24; Vulg. Psa. 65, 12; id. 2 Tim. 1, 16; Salv. Avar. 3, 11.

2Tim. 1:16 The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:

Psa. 65:6 Which by his strength setteth fast the mountains; being girded with power:
Psa. 65:7 Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people. 

H7588 shâ’ôn shaw-one' From H7582 ; uproar (as of rushing); by implication destruction:— X horrible, noise, pomp, rushing, tumult (X -uous).

H7582 shâ’âh shaw-aw' A primitive root; to rush; by implication to desolate:—be desolate, (make a) rush (-ing), (lay) waste.

Tumult: 1995 hâmôn hâmôn haw-mone', haw-mone'
From H1993 ; a noise, tumult, crowd; also disquietude, wealth:—abundance, company, many, multitude, multiply, noise, riches, rumbling, sounding, store, tumult.

H1993 hâmâh haw-maw' A primitive root (compare H1949 ); to make a loud sound (like English “hum”); by implication to be in great commotion or tumult, to rage, war, moan, clamor:—clamorous, concourse, cry aloud, be disquieted, loud, mourn, be moved, make a noise, rage, roar, sound, be troubled, make in tumult, tumultuous, be in an uproar.

Psa. 65:8 They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.

H7891 shı̂yr shûr sheer, shoor The second form being the original form, used in (1 Sam. 18:6 ); a primitive root (rather identical with H7788 through the idea of strolling minstrelsy); to sing:—behold [by mistake for H7789 ], sing (-er, -ing man, -ing woman).

Rē^frīgĕrātrix , īcis, f. refrigerator,
I. she that cools; cooling: “natura refrigeratrix,” Plin. 19, 8, 38, § 127.

Rĕ-fĭgūro , āre, v. a.,

I. to form again, refashion, Vulg. Sap. 19, 6.

rē^-frīgĕro , āvi, ātum, 1, v. a.,

I. to make cool or cold; to cool off, cool (class.).

Exodus 23.12 "Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest, that your ox and your donkey may have rest, and the son of your handmaid, and the alien may be refreshed.

Margowa (h4771) mar-go'-ah; from 7280; a resting place: - rest.
Margeah (h4774) mar-gay-aw'; from 7280; rest: - refreshing.

Is.28:12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: 
        yet they would not hear.

Raga (h7280) raw-gah'; a prim. root; prop. to toss violently and suddenly (the sea with waves, the skin with boils); fig. (in a favorable manner) to settle, i. e. quiet; spec. to wink (from the motion of the eye- lids): - break, divide, find ease, be a moment, (cause, give, make to) rest, make suddenly.

Je.50:34 Their Redeemer is strong; The Lord of hosts is his name: he shall throughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.

7264.  ragaz, raw-gaz´; a primitive root; to quiver (with any violent emotion, especially anger or fear):—be afraid, stand in awe, disquiet, fall out, fret, move, provoke, quake, rage, shake, tremble, trouble, be wroth.

Jeremiah 6:17 Also I set watchmen over you,
        saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet.
        But they said, We will not hearken.

Jeremiah 6:18 Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them.

Jeremiah 6:19 Hear, O earth: behold,
        I will bring evil upon this people,
        even the fruit of their thoughts,
        because they have not hearkened unto my words,
        nor to my law, but rejected it.

I have spent my entire life looking for the good, ancient way.  At least six generations on both sides of my family have pursued the Christian walk inside the Churches of Christ.  Church is family for me.

I have noticed that for the most part when some leader announces the newest crossroad (women’s role, instrumental music, cup quantities, or clapping) the choice is between the left or the right, my way or the wrong way.  Our fellowship long ago mastered the ability to pin people down.  We have historically been masters at being right and helping people come to see that fact. Too often our identity in Churches of Christ has been a veiled equating of our view with God’s view and an unwillingness to see the possibility that our view could be wrong.

In addition to the problems of the past are the problems of the present. Today we face a fracturing of American Protestant Christianity.  We live in a technological era where people can remain separate and connected only to the people with whom they chose to be “friends.”  Our circles of conversation are small and our conversations are comfortable, but not real.  Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Email, Google and Microsoft all promise connection, yet in many ways it is a careful division of human interaction.  We are disconnected form actual engagement with real people with real ideas and real implications in how we discuss these things together.

There is a shift taking place and that shift is for the better. We are at a tipping point in this sectarian center-piece of our identity.  More and more of us understand that old sectarian stances are not the ancient paths represented by scripture, but represented our best efforts to follow God at that time.  As time ticks forward and the present becomes the future, we are able to see the strengths and the weaknesses of our movement. Hopefully we can let our history provide us humility and maybe we can give our history grace.

That brings us to a third way that may allow us to break out of an issues-driven identity. I have come to the point where clinging to Christ and becoming his lifelong follower is all I have.  If we are to discover and to maintain the unity Jesus prayed fervently for in John 17, this means I must be able to admit my errors and accept my past so that I can accept others. The tipping point in my mind is our current identity crisis.  This experience is not new.  It is actually the same identity crisis we’ve faced over and over for 200 years.  Is our unity based upon being right or is it based upon Jesus? For two millennia we have offered beautiful gifts to Christianity like weekly practice of the Lord’s Supper, adult believer’s immersion, a capella music, and independent autonomous churches united across the globe.  These are our best traits, but being right about them (or an even longer list) is not a sufficient identity in the world today.

We need physical places to come together and discuss how we may become like Jesus in our present age.  We do not need spaces to come together to announce the new “right thing,” especially if that right thing is anything beyond making of disciples who look like Jesus.  The next right thing is not instrumental worship nor a capella worship.  The next right thing is not spiritual formation versus education, nor female versus male leadership.  These are all important . . . and each will, when wrongly emphasized or twisted, attempt to be so important that they should divide us.  However, none of them is Jesus which unites us.  What we need most is space to talk and humility to accept other Christians with different understandings as children of God.  Then, we can talk about the real need in our churches—how to make disciples of Jesus.

One of the places in my life where this transition has been on display is the ACU Summit. These lectures are a century long, running example of our movement at its best and at its worst.  There have been flashes of people pointing us to God beyond cultural arguments as well as instances of sectarian exclusion, racism, arrogance, and pride.  The entire 108 year venture has been an ongoing conversation about how life and faith converge in Jesus.  These gatherings have intended to glorify God.  For the most part, if we can forgive the pretense, posturing and fanfare that comes with gatherings of people, God has been glorified and we have been enriched as followers of God.

I believe that what we need is the good way, the ancient way in which to walk.  It has not really changed much since time began.  The Ten Commandments were not changed by Jesus, they were deepened.  The great commandments of loving God with our entire being (heart, soul, mind and strength) and loving your neighbor were not invented by Jesus; they were continued beyond the borders of one nationality.  The pursuit of God is still the most significant pursuit for all humans.  The different now is that through Jesus this is both a reality and an ongoing pursuit.  We may now access God, through Jesus, full of the spirit.  This is not mere salvation access, but access to changes our very person into the likeness of Christ.  We must be changed.

So, I will continue to do my seemingly impossible work of bringing Christians together for conversation at the ACU Summit but I will do so only by daily prayer, daily practice of the fruit of the spirit, daily repentance that I am a sinner who needs the mercy of the living God, and daily submission to the Lordship of Jesus.  I hope this begins to change my sense of rightness and increases my hunger for more and more people to see themselves as Christian followers of Jesus.  I will do all this hoping that our movement will no longer be known only as . . . those people who don’t have music or who dunk people or think they are the only Christians . . . I pray for the day when we will be known, recognized by our love and by the ways that our everyday lives look like Jesus.  That is an ancient way that is good and worth walking in.

Maybe Christians can come to be known as the people who fear nothing except God – no idea, no terrorist threat, no financial crisis should supersede our reverence for God.  Maybe Christians who fear God can be known the world over as the people who do not force their way with arguments, drones, troops, laws, and issues . . . but by our willingness to follow Jesus to the cross.  Maybe then the world will label Christians as “the people of love”—the litmus test Jesus gave in John 13:35.

Dr. Brady Bryce

Dr. Bryce is the Assistant Professor of Practical Theology, Director of Contextual Education and Director of Ministry Events at Abilene Christian University.

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<b>Brady Bryce:</b> <i>There have been flashes of people pointing us to God <b>beyond cultural arguments as well as instances of sectarian exclusion</b>, racism, arrogance, and pride.  <b>The entire 108 year venture has been an ongoing conversation about how life and faith converge in Jesus. </b></i>

The One God the Father thought to reveal HIMSELF: God breathed (spirit without meter) and Jesus of Nazareth articulated the LOGOS or Regulative principle of God.  No one knows the Father but the SON who decides Whom to reveal Himself:

Almost exactly after the first sectarianizing based on adding instruments after having added the society the date of 1906 marks the first census where the Disciples claimed ownership of Churches of Christ.  The Census Man knew better, asked Lipscomb who said "No, churches of Christ are not part of the Disciples Denomination.  The SECTARIAN claim may not be intentional: I pray not.

Those Christ and the Campbells called A SCHOOL OF CHRIST have never used instruments based on specific commands, examples and inferences if you grasp that Christians are Disciples who are 'Washed with water INTO the Word or into the School of Christ in the prophets and apostles."

In 1832 Churches of Christ were called Reformed Baptists: <b>Before 1832</b> Alexander Campbell denied that there could any unity with Stone because they had nothing but the "unity impulse" in common.  <b>In 1832</b> a few preachers shook hands and John Smith wrote the "contract" which would have prevented the organ (only) rejected by all leaders of the Disciples.  <b>In 1837</b> Campbell denied that the Reformers "had come over to Stone" and Stone denied there could be unity based on Campbell's views.   Everyone could enjoy assemblying together in what T. Campbell called A School of Christ and worship was "Reading and musing the Word" before the imposed organ (only, we promise)

The SOCIETY [and Organ] Party sent missionaries claiming "we will take Tennessee withing 5 years."  Why do that if they were already TAKEN?

A flurry of books and debates mounted a cruel attack upon those who refused to BEGIN to do what they had NEVER done in recorded history. That was based on clear commandments against 'vocal or instrumental rejoicing" or any loud rhetoric when the Holy Convocation was called for REST, READING AND REHEARSING the Word: the Latin word is Academy. The godly  never attended the Worship of the Starry Host in Jerusalem

The NACC did not begin to begin until 1927: too late for Churches of Christ to have sected out. The NACC sected out of the Disciples but not removed from the body-count until 1971: that was when the Stone-Campbell Movement began by unreconstructed Sommerites.

If ACU feels the need to sect out of churches of Christ they are bound to RECONNECT with the Disciples of Christ since the NACC didn't exist in 1906.

The three "biggie" universities have effectively merged in their Councils with the NACC pledged to REprogram conservative preachers.

If you say that Churches of Christ are a Sectarian Split from the Christian Churches one suspects someone missed Bible and Church History.  What became Churches of Christ were unable to engage in fraternal assemblies after the Disciples fell in with the Millerites, founded a society, went to Jerusalem to save all of the Jews to ENABLE Jesus to return in 1844.

</b>Brady Brice</b>:  <i>More and more of us understand that <b>old sectarian stances are not the ancient paths represented by scripture, but represented our best efforts to follow God at that time.  </b> </i>

Paul outlawed the Areskos or Heretics including "creating mental excitement" with all of the performing arts and crafts as well as making personal or group decision about the assembly. The Pattern for what Paul called Synagogue was to "use one mind and one mouth" to SPEAK "that which is written for our learning" or "Scripture for our Comfort" that Paraclete word.  That was the commanded way to GLORIFY or PRAISE Word.

I worry about people who think that not turning the assembly "into a theater for holy entertainment" when Jesus promises to give us REST FROM  these rituals so that we can come learn of me. But only if you have an APT elder gifted by Christ to "teach that which has been taught." Legalists, sectarian etal I believe are  RACA words and Jesus said that "doctors of the law take away the key to knowledge."

I believe a lot of people have sowed a lot of discord based on a lack of Bible and Historical facts (Phds don't count if it is in theology).  If the signs of right with all of the "worship wars" and others maybe Jesus will come really soon and the KAIROS concept is "a demon son of Zeus" and Kairos means the right time to MOUNT AN ATTACH.  I would think they would use Wineskins as a place to GIVE A REASON since Matt is about the only person I know who will let you slip a verse in here and there.