“Would You Invite Me to Your Revival?” Part 2

A Word About Our Gospel Meeting

In Part One I wrote, “Most all local churches have, from time to time, ‘revivals’ and/or special services such as homecomings, singings, benefits, or plays, shows and fund-raisers. Do you ever visit a revival at a church OTHER than the one of which you claim membership? If not, why not?”

I want to address this subject as it evidences a “phobia” among ‘church-goers’ (as commonly used). Let me begin by asking several questions. Are you somewhat uncomfortable in going to revivals or visiting a church different than your ‘home’ church? If not, then consider your reasons why, but more importantly, consider WHETHER THEY ARE BASED UPON BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES.

Is it because of a disagreement as to what is taught? As I pointed out from Part One, have you ‘heard’ something about a particular church’s beliefs that has sent up some sort of ‘red flag’? There is a lot of stereo-typing among church members and this gives birth to prejudice, and prejudice is condemned in the Bible! Here are just a few passages that clearly show this:

Job 13:10 – “He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.”

Prov. 24:23; 28:21 – “It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.”

Acts 10:34 – “God is no respecter of persons.”

1 Tim. 5:21 – “I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.”

See also: Acts 15:9; Rom. 2:11-12; 10:12; Ephesians 6:8; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 3:25; James 2:1-9; 1 Peter 1:17

As evidence that prejudice exists, I asked for you to consider the church of Christ. There have been many statements, [allegations really] made about the church of Christ in terms of ‘what we believe’. Examples of such remarks include but are not limited to:

“You think you are the only ones going to heaven”

“You believe everybody but you are wrong”

“You think your little group is the only saved people on earth”

These are among the statements that I have personally heard. Do we who attend a church of Christ believe we are following the Bible (teaching the truth) to the best of our ability? 

Yes indeed, but DO YOU NOT MAKE THE SAME CLAIM IN YOUR CHURCH? 

Do we believe we are right? Yes indeed, for would be not be fools to continue as we do in our teaching, while believing that we were wrong? But ARE WE ANY DIFFERENT FROM YOUR CHURCH IN THAT RESPECT? Are we not alike in that sense?

So again, why haven’t you ever visited or accepted an invitation to a gospel meeting of a church of Christ? DO YOU BELIEVE WE'RE WRONG? If so, then you have just admitted that you DON’T believe that “one church is as good as another”. I fear that many, in reality are guilty of the very thing that the “church of Christ” is accused of…namely that “you think that you all are the ONLY ones who are right and are going to heaven”. 

If you don’t believe that about yourself, or about your church, then why not come see for yourself what we believe, but more importantly, what we teach and practice. We will join together in congregational singing; there will be prayers together, and a sermon pertaining to "righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment" (Acts 24:25).

There will be no ‘love offerings’ taken up, but you may ask any questions about our beliefs (before, during, or after the service). I sincerely believe you will find us to be following the Bible in our teaching. Why not even see if your preacher would come with you? We only want people who as yet are lost in sin to be born again (John 3:3-5) and to grow to spiritual maturity (Hebrews 5:12-14).

Will you extend the same invitation to us in regard to your revivals?

copyright 2011
rdb