In the late 1870s, my great-grandfather and my and other family members were part of starting a new church in a small Kansas town. They just called themselves Christians, and so the church was also called a Christian church. As one reads the history of this small insignificant church in this scarcely populated wheat town in the Solomon River valley, the description inadvertently betrays the post-civil war rift in the Restoration movement. On some pages, the words introduce former preachers while just a few pages later, a new minister is called a pastor. Pages are periodically silent about the music, then suddenly there is an organist, only to go silent again for a few more years!
Our family’s conclusion is that this little wheat field town’s church members hardly noticed the differences that other Restoration Christians in larger cities were debating and dividing over. They were first a community of Christians, living and worshiping together–with no further adjectives necessary.
By 1906, someone who was somebody decided it was time to differentiate the two groups–that is, the instrumental, mission society Christians from the acapella, non-missionary society Christians. I wonder how long it took the Christians in that tiny town in Kansas to know to which group they belonged? They may have been confused and just thought that they were Christians.
For one hundred years, the two groups operated with few exceptions in completely different circles. We each developed our own jargon, our own heroes, our own missionaries, our own colleges. With the exception of a few touch points, we were not talking, certainly not fighting–because we hardly knew the other existed.
The instrumental churches of Christ–not everyone bothered to change their name–later split into two distinct fellowships: the Independent Christian Church/Church of Christ (because not everyone changed their name!) and Disciples of Christ. The movement which began as a unity movement . . . oh, well!
Some individuals of all three groups continued to keep the hope of unity alive with annual gatherings, some pretty scholarly publications, and an occasional token invitation to a lectureship, but with the exception of this high-level contact, the average members of these churches continued to exist in different worlds, practically oblivious to the others.
On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the separation of Churches of Christ and Independent Christian Churches in 2006, several leading preachers and pastors in both groups declared that the 1906 breach was wrong and that the unity of the Restoration Movement should be restored. At several high-profile gatherings, representatives of both groups repented for participating in division, asked for forgiveness, extended fellowship to their counterpart, and ceremoniously traded Bibles as peace offerings.
Let me tell you why I am thinking about this.
My personal history is in the acapella Church of Christ. During the last few days, however, I have had the privilege of being on the campuses of two of the Independent Christian Churches larger colleges/universities. I have been extraordinarily well hosted and extended complete and unreserved cooperation. I would not have expected it to be any other way between Christians!
What continues to sadden me, however, is how little either of us really knows about the history and the daily life of the other. Just today, in casual conversations with colleagues, I have learned of marvelous missions efforts, of amazing heroes of faith, both alive and dead, even of Christian colleges/universities–all completely unknown to me. I know a lot about our side of the aisle, but embarrassingly little about these brothers and sisters.
Maybe we have reconciled, but not actually restored fellowship. Let me suggest a few actions that could possibly get us started in the process of really loving the whole brotherhood.
- Local congregations should begin getting to know other congregations. It might only be a common potluck at first, but perhaps with the goal of getting to know each other.
- Preachers could swap pulpits and use some of their time to introduce the history and heroes of their congregations.
- Youth ministers from both groups could plan joint outings/camps/mission trips together.
- The Christian Chronicle and The Christian Standard could each begin a section that deals with the news and ongoings of the other group.
- Christian colleges/universities of both groups could include tracks in their lectureships/conferences that introduce both groups to each other.
- Perhaps somebody needs to start a ministry of fellowship restoration, specifically focused on bringing not just the leaders, but the grassroots of these two groups together until we learn how to love each other again.
I know somebody is going to think that all this talk of getting to know each other and fellowshipping with people that we hardly know and may not entirely agree with is going to be a slippery slope to . . . you know where!
I’m sure they (the others!) aren’t perfect–but I’m not either, so I’m not going to be afraid of loving someone who loves God. Fear makes us do terrible things–like ignore people who belong to the Body of Christ.
Maybe those people in that little church in Kansas knew something about love and fellowship and unity after all!
Mark's Blog 
There are only three things that I can find that let us know whether those that profess Christ are his: a) their love for one another b) their unity and C) by thier fruits. Unity hasn’t been our strong suit. I agree with you. See this link for my lessons the last two weeks on Why The Church Of Christ Is Shrinking (in the US)
https://drive.google.com/#folders/0B7-lScoZzbsFQVVRMVpEOS1wSXM
On your last point, check out the Stone-Campbell Dialogues, which this was held in Abilene and includes all three branches of the Stone-Campbell Movement in North America: Churches of Christ, Christian Churches/Churches of Christ (or Independent Christian Churches), and Christian Churches, Disciples of Christ. Also, Doug Foster, professor of church history at ACU, has long been involved with the Stone-Campbell Dialogues and the World Council of Churches of Christ. He recently co-edited a new Restoration Movement history textbook with editors from all three streams, which was published by the Disciples’ Chalice Press.
There are a lot of things going on too at the local level. Churches getting together for worship and fellowship. In Albany, Texas last year, the Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ, Presbyterian, Baptist, and Lutheran congregations hosted a single VBS for the town. I watched the preacher of the Albany Church of Christ spend his Saturday evening vacuuming the sanctuary of the First Christian Church (DoC), so that it would be ready for the congregation the next morning.
You’re right, the Christian Chronicle and other publications would do well to make the local, national, and international efforts at ecumenical reconciliation more visible.
Mark, when I lived in north Carrollton, I was a member at Farmers Branch church, half hr drive. FB was/is quite an adventurous church. Every trip I was driving by Valley View Christian on Marsh. One day I just turned in there! [When one is by oneself, one can do impulsive things] I loved being there from then to the time I left Carrollton. Bible classes were excellent, music was–in my view–of minimal consequence there. On returning to Tulsa I went with my children to a Christian Church, hoping it would be an answer for them. It wasn’t, so now I am not sure what I will do. The local Christian Church has a lot going on, fine children’s program, etc. The best part of all for me was a class called “Cover-to-Cover”. An elder and his son, who is on staff, share the teaching. They are excellent. They go straight through the scriptures, sharing cultural/political background info, maps, cross-reference material, vocabulary that might be helpful… These men are products of Ozark Christian College, in Joplin, which now has my full respect. The music service however, is tough for me. It is loud, very repetitive, goes on forevvvvvver, the congregation is barely involved. Most of the ‘band’ group dresses as if they are going outside for hard labor and sometimes they are not modestly dressed. It seems out of character for the church there, but I guess they are trying to reach young people. It is unfortunate, not because it is music, but because of the way they present it and themselves. There is no question in my mind, however, that these folks are our siblings in Christ. We have plenty of our own problems in the C of C. It was interesting to me, studying on my own, to learn of the polarization of the church in the last part of the 19th C. So depending on which publications our leaders were reading…..and which side of the Mason-Dixon line we were on determined our position? We can debate the use of instruments, but we cannot debate what God thinks about dividing the church. That is crystal clear.
As a graduate of Oklahoma Christian with a conservative non-instrumental upbringing, that now attends an Independent Christian Church all I can say is thanks for your words on this matter. There are problems on both sides of the aisle, no church is perfect, at least not after I walk through the door…Let he who is without sin cast the first stone seems relevant to me…
Mark, I think you were a little hard on David Lipscomb, but you are the second person who has said something about this about his begrudging perhaps regretted, and certainly regretful, decision. Otherwise, this is great. We struggle with this so much here in Malawi. The churches and most leaders are soo o o o sectarian. Thank you.
Bruce
Well, I consciously avoided naming him because I really don’t know what his motivations were. And I agree with you that a sectarian appears far too often on the mission fields. I’ve thought a lot about this and think that it probably is the result of receiving doctrine at some point in the past, but failing to continue to mature. Lots of churches–at home and abroad–just freeze in time! They are reproducing without the nobility of the Bereans! What do you think, Bruce?
I have visited with several instrumental churches over the years. Currently they experience the same problems we do,- so working together would make sense on many levels. Also, at one point I was looking for a church closer to a coworker, where I could take her. One of the churches whose parking lot I visited had a sign “Church Of Christ, Non-Instrumental”. I did not even go in. Is this the best we can say about ourselves? Is this what we want to convert people to? Certainly no me.