USA (BNC) — The liberal news and social commentary site, Huffington Post, recently published an article condemning churches of Christ after an interaction of the author with a Christian.

In posts that treat the critical article, brethren have focused on both love and faith, central issues of the Way.

John Henson, preacher with the Dibrell congregation near McMinnville, Tenn., wrote,

“This is common in our world. There are people who will condemn the church for the actions of others. But, we are responsible for our own lack of faith and our own spiritual failures. We can try to blame others for driving us away from the church, but it isn’t right.

Ron Thomas, preacher and elder with the Highway congregation in Sullivan, Ill., sees a basic problem in the HuffPo article near the end.

I think we are getting to the point of the problem near the end of her blog article. What is love? From the vantage point of the author of the blog article it appears she did not (does not) really understand love from the vantage point of the Lord. Here is what love does from the Lord’s vantage point.

One brother noted that many who were not part of the church came to her defense in the comments on the HuffPo site.

Another brother observed that replies on the site by Christians were respectful and several were well done.

In this writer’s editorial on Forthright Magazine for Monday, June 13, he will say,

I’m happy to see responses to [the attack article], but I’m also happy for us to carry on as usual in the sweet spirit of Christ, doing what we were called to do in this world, among friends and enemies, to glorify the Name. Nehemiah’s reaction to his enemies as he rebuilt Jerusalem’s wall seems to be a proper response.

In a post on The Fellowship Room, this writer also highlighted the need for love.

Showing to everyone, friend and enemy, the love of God is the ultimate DNA test of sonship: “Therefore, just as your heavenly Father is complete in showing love to everyone, so also you must be complete” Mt 5.48 CEB.

Writers and servants of God have often dealt with the church’s “human factor.” While not apparently written as a reply to the HuffPo article, professor and elder Stan Mitchell addressed the issue of “Human nature and the church.”

We’re all human. We should not be guilty either of arrogance (“I’m not the problem; everyone else is!”) or false humility (“I’m useless. I think I’ll just quit”). We are to grow. Mature. Develop. Hopefully the years will see a more Christ-like spirit in us, less hypocrisy, more effective service for Christ. That’s the realistic goal.

 

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