Vision. Some have defined this as "contemplative foresight; keen farsightedness; breadth of view; penetrating insightfulness." It is a perceptive sense of where one is headed and why, and even some sense of when and how one intends to get there. If the people of God are lacking in this quality, they tend to wander without aim, without direction, without purpose. Indeed, without vision a people can easily devolve into a state of aimless anarchy. "Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained" (Prov. 29:18). The KJV states it even more harshly -- "Where there is no vision, the people perish."

In the September, 1999 issue of Rocky Mountain Christian, Polly Cline, a sister in Christ in Georgia, wrote the following in an article titled "A Sense of Purpose" --- "We can never outlive our Purpose. It is so extraordinary as to demand all of who we are. It is as big as God Himself. And it is He who has so ordered our life as to become One with His Life, and, by that union, to become a part of the Eternal Purpose of God" (p. 10). Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), in his second inaugural address, stated, "The Almighty has His own purposes." Our God does nothing aimlessly. His every action, reaction and interaction has eternal purpose. Our life's goal, as His special creation, as His called forth people in Christ Jesus, is to perceive that eternal purpose and embrace it with all of our being. Indeed, to live within His purpose is the very essence of our being!

Breadth of view will invariably be dependant upon depth of view. True vision will never come to those who have failed to perceive the essence of God's purpose. It is hard to look ahead and plan ahead when we have no insight into the nature of our calling. Until the church perceives ultimate Cause, don't expect to witness ultimate concern. People without purpose perish! It is lifelong aimless wandering in the wilderness, with life's goal never achieved. We must stand on the spiritual mountain top and look ahead into the land of promise before we can ever hope to be purpose-driven. One simply cannot help but think of the final words in the famous speech by Martin Luther King in Memphis, TN on April 3, 1968 (delivered the day before he was murdered). "He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord."

• Regardless of what one may think of King personally, one must admit he was a man of vision, of conviction, and of purpose; a man willing to give his life in service to a greater cause; a man who truly saw beyond himself as he sought to further that cause. Two months after the death of Dr. King, another great visionary leader was gunned down -- Robert F. Kennedy. One of his statements that has stayed with me over the years, and which he declared he borrowed from George Bernard Shaw, is -- "There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask, 'Why?' I dream of things that never were, and ask, 'Why not?'"

Vision ... Purpose. Without them, we, the people of God in Christ, are destined to become irrelevant. However, to once again quote from Kennedy, "Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope." Brethren, our troubled world is desperately in need of hope, but they will never perceive it if we ourselves have failed to do so. Depth of view involves perceiving that hope that is found in union with Christ Jesus; the very essence of our attainable oneness. Breadth of view is that awareness of the global challenge before us to share this eternal hope. We are the ambassadors of God's eternal purpose for mankind; a calling that demands courage of conviction and spiritual fortitude. Visionaries not only know what is, and have seen what can be, but are willing to sacrifice self in service to His divine will so that it shall be done on earth as it is in heaven. God calls us to be a Purpose-Driven Church ... indeed, there should be no other kind!

The apostle Paul speaks of those "called according to purpose" (Rom. 8:28), a truth upon which he comments even more extensively in Eph. 1:9 --- "God saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted to us in Christ Jesus from all eternity." Yes, our Lord has an eternal purpose. But, it doesn't reside solely with deity. That eternal purpose must be embraced by each of us. It is a common purpose; one shared by all who are truly in harmony with His purpose! "Make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love; be one in spirit and purpose" (Philp. 2:2). Paul stated that the various workers in the kingdom of God, even though their abilities and opportunities differ, nevertheless "have one purpose ... for we are God's fellow workers" (1 Cor. 3:8-9). Near the end of his earthly sojourn, Paul told the younger Timothy, "You know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, and sufferings" (2 Tim. 3:10). When Barnabas went to Antioch and witnessed the grace of God in operation among the many devoted brethren assembled there, "he rejoiced and exhorted everyone to abide in the Lord with purpose of heart" (Acts 11:23). This is the Greek word prothesis, which simply speaks of a pre-determination; "to set forth, or purpose, beforehand." It is that contemplative foresight of which we spoke earlier.

Consider the following quotes: "A church without a purpose and mission eventually becomes a museum piece of yesterday's traditions." "There is incredible power in having a clearly defined purpose statement." "The secret of effectiveness is to know what really counts, then do what really counts, and not worry about all the rest." "People working together for a great purpose don't have time to argue over trivial issues." Do these thoughts make sense? Are they biblically sound? Could they potentially be keys to the much greater relevance of the church in our world? Might the application of such draw us closer together in One Body? I believe the answer to each question is a resounding YES. Each of these statements was made by Rick Warren in his powerful work: The Purpose-Driven Church. The concept promoted by Rick Warren is not unique to this man; indeed, it is as old as the inspired Scriptures! Rick has merely sought to remind us all of what too many of us had forgotten: We are to be a people of purpose --- God's purpose, not man's!

What drives us as the chosen people of God? What motivates us as a congregation of believers in our community? Is our purpose and mission His purpose and mission? "Many are the purposes in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails" (Prov. 19:21, NIV). We need to ask ourselves: What drives us both individually and collectively? Rick Warren has suggested several false motivations, and I think they are very much on target. They are listed below, along with a few relevant quotes by Rick.

• TRADITION --- In congregations driven by tradition, and we've all experienced such, the motivating force is too frequently to compel uniformity of thought and practice. The purpose of the church, then, is to "restore" the FORM of the early church. It is a vision that looks backward, rather than forward. It is the "divine imperative" of rigid, legalistic patternism, and it is totally opposed to the eternal purpose of our God. Rick wrote, "In the tradition-driven church the favorite phrase is 'We've always done it this way.' The goal of a tradition-driven church is to simply perpetuate the past. Change is almost always seen as negative, and stagnation is interpreted as 'stability.'"

• PERSONALITIES --- In these congregations the first question that likely comes into the minds of the members is, "What would Bro. -------- think?!" If certain persons oppose an idea, that idea is dead; if those same persons favor an idea or action, then it goes forward. The apostle John spoke of just such a congregation in which a man by the name of Diotrephes ruled supreme (3 John 9-11). Rick wrote, "One obvious problem with a personality-driven church is that its agenda is determined more by the background, needs, and insecurities of the leader than by God's will or the needs of the people. Another problem is that the personality-driven church comes to a standstill when its driving personality leaves or dies."

• FINANCES --- The basic question in the forefront of everyone's mind in a finance-driven church is, "How much will it cost?" The most heated debates in the congregation will usually be over the budget, monthly expenditures, and the size of the reserve in the bank. Decreases in weekly contributions will often cause greater concern and a more vocal outcry than decreased spirituality in the lives of the members. Rick Warren correctly observes, "Churches do not exist to make a profit. The bottom line in any church should not be 'How much did we save?' but 'Who was saved?'"

• PROGRAMS --- "In program-driven churches, all the energy is focused on maintaining and sustaining the programs of the church. Often, the program-driven church's goal subtly shifts from developing people to just filling positions." It is rather rare in such congregations that a program is discarded; it is usually people who "don't fit in with the program," and thus who must go ... especially those who dare to challenge a particular program or suggest it ought to be changed. If a program is not effective, then it is the fault of the people in it -- they just need to "get with the program." It is simply unthinkable in such groups that it just might be the program that is in need of being replaced or improved.

• BUILDINGS --- Winston Churchill (1874-1965) once said, "We shape our buildings, and then they shape us!" Maintaining the facility often becomes the primary purpose of too many congregations. It is often the chief budgetary item, and many times other ministries suffer so that funds can be funneled into the massive mouth of this hungry beast. Odd indeed, is it not, to be driven by something the NT "pattern" doesn't "authorize," and which the early church seemed to thrive without. Property should never take priority over people! Please don't misunderstand; I have nothing against functional facilities ... it is when they are given priority that a problem exists.

• EVENTS --- "If you look at the calendar of an event-driven church, you might get the impression that the goal of the church is to keep people busy. There is a lot of activity in churches like this, but not necessarily productivity. A church may be busy without having a clear purpose for what it does. Someone needs to ask, 'What is the purpose behind each of our activities?' In the event-driven church, attendance becomes the sole measurement of faithfulness and maturity. We must be wary of the tendency to allow meetings to replace ministry as the primary activity of believers."

• SEEKERS --- Warren writes, "In an honest attempt to reach unbelievers for Christ and be relevant in today's culture, some churches allow the needs of the unbelievers to become their driving force. The primary question asked is, 'What do the unchurched want?'" Rick continues, "God's purposes for His church include evangelism -- but not to the exclusion of His other purposes." "The church should be seeker sensitive, but it must not be seeker driven."

Every congregation of believers, wherever and whenever they may be found, needs to carefully and prayerfully consider the question, "Why do we exist?!" For a group to be relevant in their communities they must determine their mission, their purpose. Growing, healthy, vibrant congregations know their reason for being. Those that do not, will in time simply cease to be! It is my firm conviction that every congregation should have a clearly defined Statement of Purpose; one that is kept ever before the members of the congregation. These can, and they should, vary from congregation to congregation (depending on one's resources and the composition of one's community), but it is vital to actually have one so that every member will be aware of their reason for being. The published purpose statement of the Cuba Avenue Church of Christ, just by way of example (the congregation where I have served for eight years as Pulpit Minister, and also for the last five years as one of the four Elders), is as follows:

Being a people of purpose means, in part, that we desire to bring others into a saving relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Our great example in this resolve, as in all things, is the Son of God Himself. Jesus attracted the crowds. That is an undeniable fact. Wherever He went, multitudes followed along. There are three key reasons for this, and purpose-driven congregations will seek to follow in His footsteps with respect to each.

• Loving Heart --- Jesus drew crowds because He cared. He loved the people deeply; felt great compassion for them; wept with them on occasion. The Lord didn't hang around with the religious elite, He dined with sinners and associated with the social outcasts. As Rick Warren correctly observes, "Loving unbelievers the way Jesus did is the most overlooked key to growing a church!" Growing churches focus their love outward (the lost) as well as inward (the saved). The reason many very loving congregations are not growing as they should is because their love is only directed inwardly. It never extends outside the four walls of their buildings. We must not only love the Lord and our fellow disciples, we must extend our love to those outside the parameters of our fellowship who are equally in need of experiencing the love, mercy and compassion of Jesus Christ.

• Benevolent Spirit --- Jesus drew crowds because He met needs. Too frequently, churches seek only to minister to the spiritual needs of those around them. Our approach must be more like that of Christ, which was holistic in nature -- He ministered to the whole man! Rick Warren wrote, "A church will never grow beyond its capacity to meet needs. If your church is genuinely meeting the needs of your community, then attendance will be the least of your problems."

• Dynamic Teaching ---Jesus drew crowds because His teaching was unique. He taught the people in a dynamic, practical, and even interesting manner. His teaching was also very relevant to the needs, hurts and questions present in the hearts, minds and lives of His audience. His lessons had a sense of immediacy about them, for they were always "on target" with His hearers at that particular moment in time. Rick wrote, "Instead of asking, 'What shall I preach on this Sunday?' preachers should be asking, 'To whom will I be preaching?' ... The crowd does not determine whether or not you speak the truth -- the truth is not optional. But your audience does determine which truths you choose to speak about." Jesus also related truth to real life. It was practical, simple, clear, and applicable. People want to know why biblical truths matter -- Jesus informed them, and in so doing He also transformed them. Jesus also entertained His listeners (He captured and held their attention with interesting and even, at times, pleasurable teaching).
  • Rick observed, "Some preachers actually think they have failed in their preaching if people enjoy a message. I've heard preachers proudly say, 'We're not here to entertain.' Obviously, they're doing a very good job at it. ... We should not be afraid of being interesting. A sermon does not have to be dry to be spiritual. To the unchurched, dull preaching is unforgivable. Truth poorly delivered is ignored. ... When God's Word is taught in an uninteresting way, people don't just think the preacher is boring, they think God is boring! ... Simple does not mean shallow or simplistic, it means being clear and understandable. Jesus taught profound truths in simple ways. Today we teach simple truths in profound ways."

Purpose-driven congregations of believers in Christ seek to minister to others the way Jesus did. HE, after all, is our one true "Pattern." This means one must step out boldly and lead the way in innovative presentation and application of eternal Truth. That is not always popular. I really appreciate the following perspective by Rick Warren in his book: "If you are serious about ministering to people the way Jesus did, don't be surprised if some of today's religious establishment accuse you of selling out to culture and breaking traditions. YOU WILL BE CRITICIZED!! Trailblazers always get arrows shot at them. But criticism by other Christians should never keep you from ministering the way Christ did. Fulfilling God's purpose must always take priority over preserving tradition. ... Jesus reserved His most severe words for the rigid, religious traditionalists." Such legalists confuse their tradition with God's Truth, and are among Satan's most effective workers! A congregation will never grow where such rigid religionists and legalistic patternists are in control.

Speaking of growth, long before numerical growth can truly occur, there must be spiritual growth. This principle is clearly perceived in Acts 16:5 -- "So the churches were being strengthened in the faith, and were increasing in number daily." A central purpose of the church is to become strong in the faith; numerical growth (which is God's "end of the stick" -- 1 Cor. 3:6-7) will naturally follow. Maturing in faith is critical to every phase of fulfilling our purpose; without it, all other areas of our mission will suffer. Rick Warren discusses some of the misconceptions of achieving spiritual maturity in his book, listing six "Maturity Myths" that can be devastating to a genuine increase in our faith. Again, I shall provide a wealth of quotes by Rick Warren to illustrate his points.

Myth One --- Spiritual growth and maturity
is automatic once you become a Christian.

• "Many churches have no organized plan for following up on new believers and no comprehensive strategy for developing members to maturity. They leave it all to chance, assuming that Christians will just automatically grow to maturity if they attend church services. ... Obviously, this isn't true! ... Churches are filled with people who have attended services for their entire lives, yet are still spiritual babies. Spiritual growth is not automatic with the passing of time! (Hebrews 5:12) Millions of Christians have grown older without ever having grown up." Brethren, it is a fact that much too frequently a congregation's "biggest babies" are those who have been around the longest! There is little worse than having 80 year old disciples still in diapers! "Spiritual growth is intentional. It requires commitment and effort to grow. A person must want to grow, decide to grow, and make an effort to grow. ... Becoming like Christ is the result of the commitments we make. We become whatever we are committed to!"

Myth Two --- Spiritual growth is mystical, and
maturity is attainable by only a select few.

• For many people in the religious world about us, the term "spirituality" conjures up images of gurus in white robes, incense, channeling, visions, and the like. It is perceived to be something mystical, reserved only for a select few who are connected in some manner with the spirit world. For others, spirituality is achieved only at the cost of living a "monkish" existence in poverty, chastity and solitude. In short, spirituality is simply not perceived to be attainable by the common man. "The truth is: Spiritual growth is very practical. Any believer can grow to maturity if he or she will develop the habits necessary for spiritual growth. We need to take the mystery out of spiritual growth by breaking the components down into practical, everyday habits. ... Spiritual fitness is simply a matter of learning certain spiritual exercises and being disciplined to do them until they become habits. ... Incredible growth occurs in people when we break the idea of spiritual growth into practical action steps and everyday habits."

Myth Three --- Spiritual maturity can occur
instantly if you find the right "key."

• "Christian books that promise 'four easy steps to maturity' or 'the key to instant sainthood' reinforce the myth that Christian character can be acquired overnight. There is no such thing as instant spiritual maturity. ... Spiritual growth is a process that takes time. God uses a gradual process of change to develop us into the image of Christ. There are no shortcuts to maturity. It is a slow process -- a journey that will last a lifetime."

Myth Four --- Spiritual maturity is
measured by what you know.

• "The ability to debate doctrine is considered by some as the ultimate proof of spirituality. ... The truth is: Spiritual maturity is demonstrated more by behavior than by beliefs. The Christian life isn't just a matter of creeds and convictions; it includes conduct and character. Beliefs must be backed up with behavior. Our deeds must be consistent with our creeds. ... If your faith hasn't changed your lifestyle, your faith isn't worth much." Jesus said, "By their fruit you will recognize them" (Matt. 7:16). "It is fruit, not knowledge, that demonstrates a person's maturity. ... One real danger of having knowledge without the other four components which measure maturity (perspective, conviction, skill, and character) is that it produces pride. Knowledge needs to be tempered by character. Some of the most carnal Christians I've known were a storehouse of biblical knowledge. They could explain any passage and defend any doctrine, yet were unloving, self-righteous, and judgmental."

Myth Five --- Spiritual growth is a
personal and private matter.

• "The idolatry of individualism in American culture has influenced even the way we think about spiritual growth. Most spiritual formation teaching tends to be self-centered and self-focused without any reference to our relationship to other Christians. This is completely unbiblical and ignores much of the New Testament. ... The truth is: Christians need relationships to grow. We don't grow in isolation from others; we develop in the context of fellowship. ... The Bible teaches that fellowship is not optional for a Christian; it is mandatory. ... One reason many Christians never witness is because they don't know how to relate to people. They can't relate to unbelievers because they can't even relate to believers."

Myth Six --- All you need is Bible study
in order to grow and mature spiritually.

• Such congregations "stress the teaching of Bible content and doctrine, but give little, if any, emphasis to believers' emotional, experiential, and relational development. ... The truth is: It takes a variety of spiritual experiences with God to produce spiritual maturity. ... Genuine spiritual maturity includes having a heart that worships and praises God, building and enjoying loving relationships, using your gifts and talents in service to others, and sharing your faith with lost people. Any church strategy to bring people to maturity must include all of these experiences: worship, fellowship, Bible study, evangelism, and ministry. In other words, spiritual growth occurs by participating in all five purposes of the church. Mature Christians do more than study the Christian life -- they experience it. ... By removing all experience from the Christian growth process, you are left with nothing but a sterile, intellectual creed that can be studied but not enjoyed or practiced. ... Study without service produces Christians with judgmental attitudes and spiritual pride. ... The last thing many believers need is to go to another Bible study. They already know far more than they're putting into practice!"

Conclusion

It is said that people don't really care how much we know, until they know how much we care! Our purpose as the called out people of God in Christ is to convey His love, mercy, grace and compassion to our family, friends and neighbors ... and, yes, even to our enemies! We are to be a redemptive, healing, accepting community in the midst of a lost, hurting and alienated world. When we purpose in our hearts to grow and mature in faith, allowing ourselves to be transformed by His Spirit who indwells us, we shall become the type of living tools our Father can employ to plant, nourish and reap a harvest of precious souls. Rick Warren writes, "Although many passages describe what the church is to be and do, two statements by Jesus summarize it all: the Great Commandment (Matt. 22:37-40) and the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20). Together, they give us the primary tasks the church is to focus on until Christ returns."

From a Doctor in Alabama:

Dear Al, I hope you are having a wonderful day! Please convey my sincere thanks to your readers for their kind responses to my article (Issue #242). I never anticipated such an overwhelmingly positive reaction. Now I've gotten a small taste of the wonderful feeling that you must get every week as your inbox overflows with positive feedback from your readers, and as you realize that God is using you to reach those who are in spiritual need. I am honored to have played even a small role in your online ministry. God bless you. Keep sowing the good seed!

From a Minister in New Mexico:

Al, "Tale of Two Churches" was excellent! Amen to every point! Thank you for having the courage to say what needs to be said. May God open the ears and eyes of every one of our brothers and sisters who still cling to exclusivism so that they may realize it is the Lord alone who makes any of His servants stand.

From a Reader in Alabama:

Al, Your article "Tale of Two Churches" is one of my favorite Reflections you have written lately (although I genuinely enjoy, and am edified by, all of them). Thank you for having the courage to speak the truth. I am sure you will receive some harsh criticism from the legalistic patternists, but I am also sure that by now you expect as much! Hang in there and keep doing what you do. We need men like you, and I appreciate your willingness to put yourself out there like you do!

From a Minister in Tennessee:

Bro. Al -- Wow! Applause! I never could whistle that loud whistle with two fingers in my mouth, so I'll just shout, "AMEN!!" Your review of John Waddey's article was tremendous. Thank you!! I really love your expressions: "Salvation is by grace, not group" ... "Not pattern, but paternity" ... "Not with US, but with HIM" ... "I don't check the sign above the door to determine the location of my brethren."

From a Reader in North Carolina:

Al, I enjoyed your article "Tale of Two Churches," and also the way you picked John Waddey's article apart and proved that it is nothing more than ultra-conservative drivel -- just more "I'm right and you're wrong" propaganda!

From a Minister in Oklahoma:

Bro. Al, Please accept my thanks (which I could offer every week, but I don't want to sound insincere) for your latest issue of Reflections ("Tale of Two Churches"). My own parents are practicing patternists, and by their close observation of my genuine joy in the Lord they seem lately to be questioning the absence of that Christian joy in their own lives. I only wish that there was some way to eliminate the fear that patternists thrive on to keep their "religion" alive!

From a Reader in Alabama:

Dear Al, Thanks for sharing your God-given talent with the world. You are making a real difference.

From a Minister in Alabama:

Dear Al, We would love to be added to your email list for Reflections, and also anything else you are putting out. Your article "Tale of Two Churches" was one of the best treatments of the subject I've ever read. Thanks so much for your insightful and very biblical thoughts. By the way, my wife has lots of family in Alamogordo, New Mexico and the surrounding area (Tommy Ledbetter is her uncle). Grace and peace to you!

• Tommy is a dear friend of mine, and a member of the congregation here in Alamogordo where I serve as the Minister and one of the four Elders. In fact, just this past Sunday (March 10, 2006) Tommy was installed as one of my fellow Elders (see picture), and I look forward to serving in the Lord's One Body with this fine man! Tommy has also long been supportive of my Reflections ministry, for which I am very much appreciative! --- Al Maxey

From a Reader in Alabama:

Kudos, brother Al, for this outstanding piece ("Tale of Two Churches") concerning the perils of patternism. I suppose those of us who have been there and done that appreciate your keen insight into this subject even more than other readers do. May God continue to bless you in your work is my prayer.

From a Reader in Texas:

Dear Brother, I just finished reading your "Tale of Two Churches," and must commend you (again) on your good writing. Great article; concisely written; helpfully trying to bring us out of our exclusivistic mindset of what the "church" is meant to be! Very articulate. Good use of the English language. Except in the section titled "Two Views of the Mission of the Church." Toward the end of that portion of your article, didn't you say exactly the opposite of what you meant to say? You wrote: "When it comes to doing what God has called us to do, He could care less about the pattern or form utilized." Didn't you mean to say that God could NOT care less? I guess it is because of your consistently expert use of the language that I notice things like this. It is so uncharacteristic of your writing style. By the way, Al, this note is meant to be humorously "nit-picking!" I really am much more serious-minded, otherwise I wouldn't cherish your Reflections as I do! You have my respect, gratitude and love.

• I do indeed make an effort to be as grammatically correct as I possibly can in my writings (I guess I'm my father's son: he used to be a high school English teacher when he first began his career in education), but now and then one slips by me! I always appreciate it when a reader points these out to me. This particular one has now been corrected in the archives. Yes, I meant to say, "He could not care less." However, it should also be noted that the other expression is perhaps equally well-used and well-known. "I could care less" expresses the sentiment that one's lack of concern for something could be even LESS than it presently is, if one even gave the matter sufficient regard to arrive at such lesser concern. In some ways, that expression is even more dramatic and emphatic. Therefore, either is correct grammatically, and I have heard both used. Some language experts suggest the choice of one over the other is largely a colloquial issue. Similarly, I have a tendency to say, "That's a whole nother matter." It drives my wife nuts!! She tells me "nother" is not a word; that the phrase should be: "That's a whole other matter." Grammatically, she's undoubtedly correct. Colloquially, however, that's a whole nother matter!! --- Al Maxey

From a Minister in Kansas:

Brother Al, One Cup Man here! I've just read your article "Tale of Two Churches," and I enjoyed it very much. For many years, some of us in the one cup, no class group have been sharing similar views with those members who would listen. We consider any person who has obeyed the gospel as a brother or sister in Christ. Yes, there is only one universal body of believers. All who follow the Lord are members of that Body. Several years ago a brother from the "cups and classes" group started to date a sister in a "one cup" congregation at which I spoke periodically. Love grew between them and they wanted to marry. However, some of her family wanted the young man to be rebaptized. I was asked if this was the right thing to do, and, of course, I said NO. The young man had already obeyed the gospel and there was no need, or even Scriptural precedent, for him to be baptized again. However, they insisted he had not been baptized "into the right church." I said that there is only one gospel to obey and only one church to be added to. Although they could not deny my view, nonetheless they pushed the issue until the young man was rebaptized. Later I spoke with him and his bride, and they both said that he had done it simply to shut her family up! How sad! I hope your readers will listen to this "ignorant one cup brother" -- we can differ on Bible subjects and still treat one another like brethren! We do not have to write each other up or stop talking to each other just because we differ on Bible subjects. We differ -- leave it at that, and let's all get on with the Lord's business: saving souls! Keep up the good work, Al.

From a Reader in California:

Brother Maxey, I grew up in the One Cup fellowship, but left it when I was in my mid-20's. That was almost half my life ago. In lieu of explaining my current doctrinal outlook, it's enough to say that I've read a large portion of your Reflections and have found myself in line with you almost top to bottom. I despise patternism and legalism. I also think CENI is one of the greatest sorrows to befall our fellowship. Also, I have believed as you do about marriage, divorce and remarriage since my 20's. Anyway, the elder's here have a study group, and they have decided to read and study about MDR. One told me that their emphasis is: "Looking at everything in the Bible from beginning to end about marriage, divorce and remarriage, including the cultural situation in biblical times, and seeking to find the best answers for today." I have injected your book -- Down, But Not Out -- into this study, and also all of your Reflections articles I could find that deal with this subject. Keep these men in your prayers as they study this material. By the way, you are a great writer. I have read all of your debates, and I am just amazed at how simply and plainly you are able to state Truth. I recommend your writings to others every chance I get.

From a Reader in Texas:

Al, I was working on a couple of ideas (regarding unity and autonomy) to present to our elders, ministers and staff, and then received your article "Tale of Two Churches." How timely this was!! You treated our brother with great respect and lovingly presented both sides.

From a Minister in California:

Brother Al, I have especially appreciated your last two Reflections articles! I saw the Nancy Grace show ... and winced. But, I realized that the Baptist preacher reflected pretty accurately the theology I grew up with (but long ago rejected). In fact, he was considerably more accurate than Geraldo Rivera was, who described Matthew Winkler as a "rising star in the Pentecostal movement." Keep up the good work!

From a Reader in Tennessee:

Al, "Tale of Two Churches" was an awesome article!! I have visited John Waddey's web site on occasion and know his viewpoints. As for the CNN interview by Nancy Grace with Tom Rukala (the Baptist pastor), what amazed me was: I think what he said was 90% right! I remember a dear Christian brother, about my father's age, who lived in total fear of death. He would make the claim that he was terrified to meet the Lord because he wasn't "good enough." He truly believed he was going to Hell. Thanks to legalistic patternism, he was anchoring his salvation on getting the "pattern" just right, instead of trusting in the blood of Jesus Christ. Bro. Al, thanks to you and others, we are turning this ship around and drawing thousands to Christ through His love and grace!!

From a Minister in Florida:

Al, I just read your good article: "Tale of Two Churches." As I was reading, I could not help but think of the recent interview on CNN with the Baptist pastor in which he gave his impression of the Church of Christ. As I read further, you mentioned this interview, and you apparently had reached the same conclusion that I did: what he said probably came from some negative experience or contact with a Church of Christ member or members. I wrote an article in our local weekly bulletin, and also mentioned in the sermon on Sunday morning, that some of the things this pastor said, I have personally heard some Church of Christ members say! Things such as, "If you are not a member of the Church of Christ you are going to hell." Yet, I seriously doubt that very many who are of a legalistic mindset will even realize that, rather than promoting the Cause of Christ, they are in fact hindering it. The statement by the Baptist pastor on CNN should be a wake-up call, but, unfortunately, it will probably do nothing more than upset the legalists, whose response will be to compare themselves to the persecuted Christians of the first century. Keep up the good work, Al.

From a Minister in California:

Excellent, as usual, Al. I will be interested in any response John Waddey may have to your review of his article. Were I Waddey, I would feel almost compelled to respond. As for the CNN interview with Nancy Graceless, there is a blog site by Joel Maners that you might find interesting. Read his article titled "I Repent and I'm Sorry" (dated April 4). I don't know Joel Maners, nor do I personally believe that I owe the Baptist pastor an apology, but nevertheless I did write to Tom Ruhkala so that he might know there are some in this "borderline cult" who would even consider him a brother, and that not all of us fit the perspective he has. Maybe writing to him might just be the start of building bridges with at least one person! Blessings, my brother!

• John wrote a very brief email to me and simply stated, somewhat sarcastically, how flattered he was that I should spend time reviewing his work. Naturally, he offered absolutely NO comment on anything I had written, nor did he attempt to refute any of my points ... even though I have invited him to do so. Frankly, in my dealings with the Waddeys of this world, this is rather typical. As the old Indian chief might say, they are "Heap big thunder ... No rain!!" A lot of sound and fury, but little substance. When confronted or challenged, their first response is generally to flee. Thus, don't expect much in the way of a responsible response from John Waddey. The response I seek is from those who will now begin to THINK about what John wrote and REFLECT upon it in a new light. It is from among this group of "Bereans" that we will reap a harvest of liberated souls! --- Al Maxey

From a Minister in California:

Bro. Al, I always ask people who tell me that they want to restore the worship practices and patterns of the Early Church, "Which church are you wanting to restore? Sardis? Jerusalem? Ephesus? Philadelphia? Certainly not Corinth?" As anyone who has studied the history of the Early Church for, let's say, more than ten minutes can tell you, it is very obvious that there were massive differences in how God's people worshipped and served the Master. I believe, as you have pointed out numerous times, Truth is a casualty when the legalistic/patternistic individual goes on a tear. Personally, I feel that Truth has no fear of scrutiny. Falsehood runs away at top speed!

From a Reader in Georgia:

Al, I know what it was like to be bound by the Pharisaism of legalistic extremists. The fear, guilt and sense of personal failure instilled is unbelievably powerful and should not be understated. What can we do? I believe we are doing it. We are making people aware, as never before, of the dangers of forsaking the cross of Christ by legislating, requiring and binding where God has not. We must meet such extremists on the battlefield as we fight for Truth, and we must hold high the banner of Christ. We must never allow such men as John Waddey to go unchallenged, for he has taken a dangerous and deadly position. Thanks again for standing on the front line!! I am right next to you, and Christ Jesus is before us!!

From a Reader in Texas:

Al, Thanks for the excellent article. It is a crying shame, but it is true that in the community where I live, and in the next one down the road, our past legalistic history has all but closed off the minds of the people in our communities to even considering anything we might have to say. Two congregations of the Church of Christ in my area are in the process of self-destructing. Three congregations across the bay have closed their doors. So sad!

From a Reader in Texas:

Brother Maxey, I continue to appreciate and be challenged by your writings, and I thank you for your unselfish ministry in this way. We need people who can think scholarly, spiritually and practically, and who then can put it all in a form the rest of us can at least begin to chew on. Thank you!

From a New Reader in North Carolina:

Al, Eight years ago I became an elder at the ------- Church of Christ in North Carolina. My family roots go back through Jessie P. Sewell to T. B. Larimore. I went to Harding Academy and Harding College, which demonstrates my very strong conservative background. Shortly after I became an elder, I began to study Greek. As I studied, questions arose about many of the "sacred cows" of the Church of Christ, so I started researching several concepts and found much questionable dogma. I wrote articles on each one as I researched them, but have kept them somewhat confidential, as I thought I was alone in my questioning. This week we visited the ------- Church of Christ and found a member there who had been "grazing in the same field" as I was, and he gave me your web site. I am amazed at what I have been reading in your Reflections. The ten or so "sacred cows" that I have been questioning and researching, you also have written about. I'm thankful for you!

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