Freedom in Christ
by Keith Brenton
05/22/2008 - Greg, I read your article on the 21st Century Restoration and it rang loudly in my life. I grew up in the church of Christ, was a Sunday school teacher, deacon, elder, small group leader, etc. But when we moved away from our childhood town after 40+ years, my wife and I decided to explore other churches because of the persistent view of exclusiveness many church of Christers continue to have, and partly our own need to grow beyond our traditions. Unfortunately, cofc traditions play too big a role in our identity in Christ. We have joined a Christian Church here in Las Vegas that is 7000 believers strong and it is amazing! The focus is not on... is that song/instrument scriptural, should she lead the prayer, can we be a part of this city-wide effort to help AIDS victims, etc. It's... YES, we can do all these good things and more because God has given us the gifts and the responsibility to get involved. The emphasis is on Jesus Christ and what he has and will do for us in our walk with Him. I am continually awed at the humility in people's lives who have turned their hearts over to God and have been changed by Him. Our motto is "come as you are" because God accepts you the way you are and He wants a relationship with you and being in relationship with you will change your heart, mind, and soul. It is so refreshing to take the focus off of form and put it where it belongs - a heart focused on Him. We are loving our newfound freedom in Christ.
We may be moving back soon and it will be a struggle to return to our old church. We have family and friends that expect us to come back. But I'm not sure whether God wants us to return and model a change or continue to learn from others on how truly to follow Jesus. So your family's struggle is similar to ours and we desperately want others to experience what we have experienced. God has a purpose for us wherever we are and He'll use us where we are planted, so I know that wherever we go, we'll be blessed... as long as our hearts remain open and soft and moldable to His.
Keeping on loving Him,
Sam Marutzky
We may be moving back soon and it will be a struggle to return to our old church. We have family and friends that expect us to come back. But I'm not sure whether God wants us to return and model a change or continue to learn from others on how truly to follow Jesus. So your family's struggle is similar to ours and we desperately want others to experience what we have experienced. God has a purpose for us wherever we are and He'll use us where we are planted, so I know that wherever we go, we'll be blessed... as long as our hearts remain open and soft and moldable to His.
Keeping on loving Him,
Sam Marutzky
posted at 9:47 AM
2 Comments:
Sam, I'm with you! My wife and I recently left my 40 year church relationship to start a new CofC. We are different. Our focus is on lost and not whether or not church is done "right". We too have started a relationshp with a Christian Church and it has offered me a much broader view of God's Kingdom.
Awesome, Kyle! I continue to be touched by God's freedom to experience Him through many creative avenues. Whether thru music, drama, prayer or message, He wants a relationship with us and He'll reach using whatever works.
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