1989

I hope you read this post from Mike Cope: 1989 and Churches of Christ.

I had not previously given much thought of that year being significant for our brotherhood. In 1989, I graduated from high school and made my way to Harding University. I very quickly embraced the manner of thinking expressed by the books mentioned (published in 1989 or soon thereafter). There is good reason for this. Prior to this time, my only exposure to "Restoration History" (as it was called in those days) was based on materials composed by insiders for insiders. It was what is now often referred to as a triumphalized telling of our story, which is really not history in a strict sense.

These authors addressed Churches of Christ from an observer-perspective or meta-perspective. They respected our heritage but they did not gloss over our weaknesses and inconsistencies. Mainly, they made allowance for an understanding of our heritage that is contextualized. [There is so much to be said for seeing ourselves against the larger backdrop of reality.] I did not understand why I appreciated this material (at that time) but I did understand that it was helpful. I was aware that I was finally gaining some traction in my quest to make sense of myself as a Church of Christer. Triumphalized history with its straw-men depiction of competing ideas was not satisfying my deep desire for self-understanding.

Wayne and Irmalee Gampp gave me a graduation present. It was book by Rubel Shelly entitled, I Just Want to Be a Christian. I admit that I did not fully appreciate the gift right away- I was hoping for cash. Nevertheless, I read it. I have never forgotten an illustration from that book. The illustration depicts Jesus in the middle with people from all denominations of Christianity surrounding. Within their respective denominational realms, some people are in close proximity to Jesus while others are more peripheral. The point was that ultimately it is not denominational, doctrinal, and/or theological affiliations that define us as Christian or not, it is proximity to Jesus.

It is amazing for me to think that the drive that took root in me around about 1989 is still driving my life today. Also, it has been my refusal to relent from this pursuit that has, in large part, defined me. This long-time quest has set the tone of Bible classes that I teach, sermons that I preach, and other comments that I make. It is at the core of why some folks like to hear from me and others have grave concerns about my emphases.