tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15839039.post2826352694928906875..comments2023-07-08T02:43:16.150-05:00Comments on Philanswers: Don't Be Ashamed to Be a ChristianPhil Sandershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17730256837717993061noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15839039.post-26652891518536863692007-02-21T12:06:00.000-06:002007-02-21T12:06:00.000-06:00Hey Phil,Just found your blog and have enjoyed rea...Hey Phil,<BR/>Just found your blog and have enjoyed reading your posts.<BR/><BR/>The changing of the name is an odd thing. If one were to change the name of the church the last thing you would thing someone would change or better yet drop is Christ. Kinda odd that when most want to leave behind baggage what they drop is "Christ" from the name. Life is not without it's symbolic overtures.<BR/><BR/>The "church of Christ" title to me is not a real name but rather a statement of association. It would be like saying my wife's name is "wife of Nick." That's not her name. Her name's Tiffany. When you say wife of Nick or husband of Tiffany you are making an association not simply putting a proper title on someone. So it is with the church. Church of Christ convey's the idea or should convey the idea of association to Christ. <BR/><BR/>My prayer is that teh Lord will raise up a generation that will once again desire the straight paths of the Lord and not the approval of the world. A generation that is humble in character and realizes the Lord is still Sovereign.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15839039.post-3548739833119419732007-02-13T10:56:00.000-06:002007-02-13T10:56:00.000-06:00John,All names have baggage, some we are happy abo...John,<BR/>All names have baggage, some we are happy about and some filled with regret. There is no doubt that some brethren by attitude and action have shamed the name by which we are called. God forgive them.<BR/><BR/>I have no desire to change my last name simply because somebody named Sanders has committed a crime or showed a bad attitude. I feel sure that people named Sanders have acquired all the weaknesses of humanity, but that is still who I am.<BR/><BR/>I do not know of any scriptural "title" of the church Jesus built. Scripture, of course, describes the church with several terms. I have no beef with anyone who wants to use another.<BR/><BR/>My beef is with those who jettison the name of the Lord altogether to put forward some aspect of the community. Since all we do is "in the name of the Lord," it seems to me that to wear his name in how we refer to ourselves is not some small thing.<BR/><BR/>Like you, I deeply regret the bad attitudes, overly zealous judgmentalism, pressed opinions, and sectarian way some brethren have acted. On the other hand, I have no desire to quit on my brethren, because I am ashamed of them. Even brethren with bad attitudes have a soul. On the other hand, I don't have to slander the name of the Lord by refusing to wear the name.<BR/><BR/>PhilPhil Sandershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17730256837717993061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15839039.post-29267799528435987732007-02-13T09:56:00.000-06:002007-02-13T09:56:00.000-06:00Some good thoughts here, Phil. On the name of the ...Some good thoughts here, Phil. <BR/><BR/>On the name of the church, though, isn't it true that the church has no 'official' name? And if there have been - in one location or another - people who have been so sarcastic, mean, and demeaning in a community in such a way that the name "church of Christ" is equated with that spirit ... would a name change be unscriptural? I've certainly been embarassed when someone assumed I was like other Church of Christ people they have met. Not ashamed of our Lord, but ashamed of how my brothers have acted toward people.<BR/><BR/>Or if a body of believers simply wanted to use one of the other monikers found in the New Testament ... would that be unscriptural? And if they decided to change that name to another ... do you think they would be disappointing God or just some brothers who like that name 'church of Christ'? <BR/><BR/>Our identity crisis is not related to the truth of the Gospel, but to the exaltation of opinion and inferences into eternal truths. And, as you observed, also because some have tossed out all truth in their search for ecumenity. <BR/><BR/>Certainly lots here to chew on.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15839039.post-90904696136378594442007-02-12T20:39:00.000-06:002007-02-12T20:39:00.000-06:00Great thoughts!Can you imagine your wife coming ho...Great thoughts!<BR/><BR/>Can you imagine your wife coming home and saying, "honey, I am changing my last name to get rid of some of the familial baggage I've carried for so long." "Honey, I will be more appealing to others if I don't have your name." To some small extent, I know how the Lord feels when members in his bride start doing the same. <BR/><BR/>Good thoughts!<BR/><BR/>DanielAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com