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THE MISSION AND MESSAGE OF CHURCHES OF CHRIST
CLICK HERE to return to the previous chapter of this article by Gordon Stirling entitled - "THE MISSION AND MESSAGE OF CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN THE NEW CENTURY"
"UNITY - I am assuming that if we restore to our churches the eternal values that made the church relevant in the first century, we will be hastening the cause of Christian unity. But let us make a few observations. All denominations today are nearer to the life and spirit of the first church than they were 200 years ago. There is more unity among modern Christians than the Campbells ever dreamed possible.
They say that we are in the "Post-Denominational Age". Ideally, Churches of Christ have always been post-denominational. While we have often behaved denominationally, we have thought of ourselves as not being a separate denomination, but rather a movement within the whole church, with two objectives : - commitment to work and witness for eternal New Testament values without compromise, and commitment to participate in every move that expresses the church's essential unity. It is important to be totally loyal to both commitments.
CONCLUSION :- So here we are as Churches of Christ, on the verge of the 21st. century, setting out to change the world. But if we are to change the world, we must first be willing for the world to change us. I don't mean conforming to the world's values; I mean being willing to change our structures, methodology, attitudes and feelings, so that our mission and message are relevant to the needs and culture of the world in which we live. The world already is writing the church's agenda and it is an agenda of change. For example, we must create a new language of communication that the world can understand. The words and imagery that the church has used for centuries to express the doctrines of God, Christ, sin and salvation are meaningless in our secular society. What we woukld regard as a simple statement that - "Christ died on the Cross to save us from our sins", is incomprehensible to most people outside the church . Our efforts to explain it to them using the familiar cliches are even more incomprehensible.
If we are to communicate the eternal Gospel, we have to find new words and images in terms of the culture and thought-forms of the 21st. century, just as the early church did in terms of the culture and thought-forms of the first century. The people of God will need to learn the new words and images, feel them and be at home with them if we are to "gossip the gospel" in a world that has lost the way."
Opinions and viewpoints in issues of "The Pamphlet Club" are the authors' and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. Published by the National Literature Department of Churches of Christ in Australia. All correspondence to the Secretary, C/o P.O. Box 101, Essendon North, Victoria, 3041, Australia. Reproduced at this web-site by kind permission of "The Australian Christian" - email address :- aceditor@ozemail.com.au
CLICK HERE to return to the start of this article by Gordon Stirling and our Christian / Gospel Web-Sites.
HERE IS A CHRISTIAN SEARCH ENGINE TO HELP YOU IN YOUR STUDIES ABOUT JESUS
ABOUT KIDSMIN :-
The Kidsmin Mission is an outreach ministry providing services to churches, families and the community, to nurture the Christian development of children and youth through activities, services and theatre productions at the Kidsmin Playhouse, churches and community centres. This ministry includes in-service training for children, youth and children's workers, to serve their local churches, whilst developing pastoral care and team building relationships among the Kidsmin Team.
KIDSMIN PRODUCTIONS - Since 1987, the Kidsmin Team has presented 13 spectacular musicals with dramatic Christian content, including The Dove, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Sound of Music, Scrooge etc.. Chairperson of the Team is Brian Busbridge who may be contacted in Australia on phone INT+61+8+8261+7613. Director and Choreographer is Kylie O'Donohue, who, for the last 16 years, has been training in the arts of dancing, singing and acting. Presently, she is working as a teacher of dance and acting to students from three years old to adults at the Mighty Good Talent School.
Musical Director is Jenny Harrington who has been playing the organ and piano for over 15 years. She also plays the clarinet and has, in the past, played in various orchestras and bands.
KIDSMIN PRODUCTIONS also have Kidsmin Publications which provide an ideal resource for Sunday Schools and Kids' Clubs; they also make excellent gifts. Kidsmin Books are available for Aust. $2.oo and Cassette Tales for $3.oo. Combined Book and Tape costs a bargain price of $4.oo and may be obtained by contacting Kidsmin Publications, P.O. Box 142, Findon, South Aust., 5023 AUSTRALIA.
If you live in South Australia, you may like the Kidsmin Team to perform or present a church service. or if you like acting or can play a musical instrument, you may like to participate in Kidsmin ministries. Just call Brian on (08) 8261 7613 or Jean at (08) 8356 1565 and contact, Jean Feder, Secretary, on phone (08) 8356 1565 if you have any enquiries. Let us share with you :-
THE KIDSMIN BEATITUDES
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Blessed are the children who have someone who believes in them, to whom they can carry their problems unafraid.
Blessed are the children who are allowed to pursue their curiosity into every worthwhile field of information.
Blessed are the children who have someone who understands that childhood's griefs are real and call for understanding and empathy.
Blessed are the children who have those about them who realise their need of Christ as Saviour and will lead them patiently and prayerfully to the place of acceptance.
Blessed are the children where love of the true, the beautiful and the good has been nourished through the years
Blessed are the children whose imaginations have been turned into channels of creative effort.
Blessed are the children whose efforts to achieve have found encouragement and kindly commendation.
Blessed are the children who have learned freedom from selfishness through responsibility and cooperation with others.
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