Letters to the Editor - September/October 2007

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Preach the Word (and Study It Too!)
(posted 10-25-07)
I was very disheartened to read Paul Williams’s October 21 column “58 Minutes or Less.” In some ways I feel you are trying to advocate we preach the Word of God less from the pulpit. I happen to be one of the worship leaders who desperately wants to hear the Word of God taught and preached—if it takes 30-40 minutes to do so, then great.

As men entrusted to preach the saving grace of Jesus, let us become better at our craft. Let us spend time in study. Let us preach the Word, even if it takes 58 minutes.
—Jesse Kegg

There Are Good Reasons People Don't Attend
(posted 10-25-07)
I enjoyed the comments made by Paul Williams in last month’s CHRISTIAN STANDARD (“And That’s How We Grow,” September 23).

It painfully reminded me of elders meetings where things are said like, “I just don’t get these young people anymore, don’t they understand? Why don’t they come to our revivals anymore?” Of course, the best way to get young leaders to come back to the North American Christian Convention, or any other meeting, is to say things like, “What is it going to take to get my sons and daughters and all their friends to understand the value of family?”

I appreciate the example and roads paved by those older than me in ministry. I appreciate those who take the time to mentor and share their wisdom and insights with me. My father-in-law has been in ministry for 40 years now, and though we do not agree all the time, I admire his wisdom and dedication. However, I think Mr. Williams’s comments were a cheap shot, and seemed to say, “Why are people not coming to our party like they use to?”

Colleges wonder why students are not coming back for homecomings, churches wonder why people don’t come to their revivals, and conventions wonder why people don’t come to their gatherings. Meanwhile, each sit back and scratch their heads, blaming the younger “undedicated” generation for their “parties” decline or failure. How convenient.

The idea that says I am less dedicated, or I “just don’t get it” because I do not attend some event or convention, is just ludicrous. Twenty years ago (even 10 years ago), there were very few conventions available for the average minister. However, today we have smaller, topically focused conventions for ministers of all types. Conventions for small groups, worship, small churches, megachurches, youth ministry, personal growth, and on and on it goes. These conventions seem to be doing fairly well in the current environment (go figure). Maybe it is because the average “young leader” has limited time off and limited funds available, so they are attending these smaller conventions that meet their specific needs. All the while (these smaller conventions) require less travel, less money, less time, and are available year-round, thus leaving more time and money for . . . you guessed it, family. Apparently, they do understand what that word means.

My absence from the NACC is not a slap in the face of the movement. I have no desire to separate myself from it. However, what I do desire is to separate myself from are those in our movement who believe that unless you follow the “company line” and attend the “company’s convention” you don’t really care that much about the company.

Have fun in Cincinnati.
—Phillip Murdock
Toano, Virginia

We Want to Celebrate Too
(posted 10-25-07)
“Let’s Celebrate” (October 28) was a very encouraging article and I commend Bob Russell for doing his homework. Being a director of a church-planting organization, I can attest that we have been riding God’s wave for about the last 10 to 15 years in starting new churches and saving souls. However this wave hasn’t hit the beaches of my area.

If you can’t make it, Bob, maybe you can help us get some resources so we too can celebrate!
—Mike Sojka
Executive Director, Northern Plains Evangelistic Association
Huron, South Dakota

Issue Helpful for Small Churches
(posted 10-18-07)
This issue of CHRISTIAN STANDARD (October 14) is the most helpful issue for small churches that I have read. Thank you so much for publishing the articles on getting visitors to return, greeters, and name tags. Great job! No, it was better than great! Please keep up the good work.
—Roy Andrews
Emporia, Kansas

Humbly Disagree
(posted 10-17-07)
I humbly disagree with a statement in “Finding and Focusing on Living Water” (October 14). Greg Allen states, “Jesus was referring to the Holy Spirit when he spoke of the living water.”

'Upbeat, Inspirational' vs. 'Convicting' Sermons
(posted 10-17-07)
I understand why people question the effectiveness of old-fashioned revivals. I understand what Dale Wise was saying (in “Revivals: Let’s Revive Them!” October 14) when he said, “I realize a revival may not work everywhere. (Of course, no method works everywhere.) But we work hard to make them effective. Here are some things that work for us.”
 
I proceeded to read his suggestions and wanted to comment about one of them:  “We have upbeat, inspirational preaching.”

Let’s don’t just revive revivals. Let us strive from our pulpits not to entertain, but to change through the living and enduring Word of God. It is that Word which is the power of God unto salvation. Yes, upbeat and inspirational preaching may encourage and may be necessary for a time, but don’t forget the other side of the story. We wield a double-edged sword! 
—Jason Cole
Falls Mills, Virginia

Inspiring, But Also Sad
(posted 10-12-07)
Reading the article by Don Seevers II (“Traditional Worship: For People of All Ages,” October 14), my eye caught his closing statement: “I have a confession to make. I am a church organist.” To me, that is a sad commentary. Otherwise, his article was an inspiration to me. Seevers indicates an appreciation of church music in the traditional sense, yet is open to all instruments, choirs, soloists, etc., to assist in the worship of God.

I wonder, does our movement now impose an unwritten law against using the organ in our services, similar to how our a cappella brethren have a ban on all musical instruments?
—A. William Johnson
Tulare, California

'Plain' and 'Clear'
(posted 10-12-07)
Bravo to Paul Williams for his article on baptism (“Things That Matter”) in the October 14 issue. I have wondered where he stood many times and this is plain enough to make it clear that he believes that Jesus is true and every man should comply with his words as Lord.
—George Faull
Summit Theological Seminary
Peru, Indiana

A Cappella Preachers a Great Addition
(posted 10-12-07)
We just read Mark Taylor’s editorial (“Why Attend the North American Christian Convention?”) in the September 23 issue of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. We wanted to give you another perspective on attending the NACC.

'Return to Our Roots' Needed
(posted 10-12-07)
It is interesting to see the discussion regarding the North American Christian Convention’s future in recent letters to the editor. I last attended an NACC at Corona, California, when the “noble experiment” proved a failure. (Editor’s note: That year, 2005, the NACC hosted three smaller conventions instead of one large convention,)

I tend to agree with Jeff Butler’s assessment (see Butler’s letter below). Frankly, if I want to attend a generic evangelical conference, I go to the National Pastor’s Conference when it is held in San Diego.

It is assumed that since the megachurches have largely dispensed with the traditional Sunday school that there is no interest in workshops relating to Christian education. I find that strange since the Ohio Christian Education Association annually hosts a conference in Akron that registers more than 3,000.

When the NACC was at its peak it was family-friendly and it was affordable for families to attend. Then it became fashionable to follow the lead of Promise Keepers and other evangelical conferences in charging an arm and a leg. If it’s going to cost me $100 to $125 to attend a convention, I’m not going to drop another $20 to $50 in the offering. The value just isn’t there as far as I’m concerned.

Butler is right when he says there needs to be a “return.” I, too, would not want to see a return to the 1950s, ’60s, or even ’70s, ’80s, or ’90s, but I believe there needs to be a reassessment of the NACC’s purpose. In short, there needs to be a return to our roots.
—Michael Hines
Sun City, Arizona

'Let Us Not Join the Drift'
(posted 10-9-07)
Paul S. Williams’s article “Ordinary Heroes” (October 7) may be reflective of the drift into liberal mysticism and the Emergent church movement where relativism and worship of self have replaced biblical Christianity.

Let us not join the drift into the liberal theology that nearly destroyed the mainline churches in the 20th century.
—David N. Sonnesyn
Longmont, Colorado

The NACC Solution? "Return"
(posted 9-26-07)
The conversation about the state of the NACC is an important one. I would like to share my perspective with you.
 
The NACC is in decline because it no longer has a compelling purpose. It has become a generic evangelical gathering. There is nothing wrong with generic evangelical gatherings. I go to several but don’t really need another. Attendance was high when the NACC was seen as a gathering to promote and support a particular perspective. It used to be referred to as the Restoration Movement or New Testament Christianity. Now, many have moved from the theological perspective that the NACC was founded to promote, or redefined it in a way that makes it little more than generic evangelicalism. Thus, one could now attend the NACC without realizing that it had any connection to the Restoration Movement.
 
I realize some of the changes resulted from an effort to remake the NACC in a way that would keep in the fold younger generations who were moving away from the traditional understanding of the Restoration Movement. Apparently, those efforts have not only failed but they have alienated those who wanted an NACC that promotes New Testament Christianity. Those who have been working to redefine the movement as a generic evangelical Christian church movement are reaping the fruit of their labors. There may be areas that they look at with satisfaction but the state of the NACC is not one of them.
 
What is my solution? Return. The NACC needs to return to being a gathering that has a compelling purpose, to promote New Testament Christianity. That doesn’t mean it has to promote the way that perspective was understood in the 1950s, ’70s, or any past decade, but it does mean a perspective that is consistent with that heritage and has developed by truly wrestling with it rather than quickly abandoning it in favor what is working or popular in the broader Christian community. This does not mean every sermon has to be about baptism. However, it does mean that the Bible will be seen and taught as authoritative and not just a place to get illustrations for whatever the hot topic and thinking is in pop culture. When the Bible is central, idols—old and new—may be toppled. But isn’t that what the movement was all about?
 
The call to return should not just be for those who organize the NACC, but for those who have abandoned it as well. They have voted with their feet by leaving. This year they should vote with their feet by attending and thoughtfully expressing to those in attendance and in leadership the kind of convention they want and will support.
 
I love the NACC, have attended 17 of the last 20, and look forward to seeing you in Cincinnati next summer.
—Jeff Butler
Teaneck, New Jersey

Five Suggestions for the NACC
(posted 9-25-07)
I want to commend Jennifer Taylor for her observations on the question “Why Attend the North American Christian Convention?” (CHRISTIAN STANDARD, September 23). I thought she was forthright in her analysis. I’d like to offer my own thoughts as one who appreciates the NACC for the good it has accomplished and continues yet to accomplish.

I’ve been attending the NACC for about 20 years. The last 15 years or so our ministry has normally been an exhibitor. I’ve been privileged to serve on the 120-person steering committee and for two consecutive years served as secretary on the executive committee. I’ve been happy to teach a number of workshops and was honored to preach at the 1997 NACC. In 2006 I was happy to serve as an adviser to David Faust in the historic NACC with our brothers and sisters from the a cappella churches of Christ.

Yes, there are other venues that exist for church leaders. But there is no other venue of its size and scope for church families. Even the National Missionary Convention, which I am glad to see growing in numbers each year, does not meet the needs of church families as a whole. It is wonderful to see so many mission-minded church members and college-age students flocking to that event. But nothing has “something for everyone” like the NACC.

Taylor’s second point (expense) is well-taken. I believe the records will show that when the registration fees went up the attendance started going down. That wasn’t the only reason, but it did take its toll. As an exhibitor I don’t have to pay registration fees (though the exhibitor’s fees have gone up too). Would I be as apt to go if I had to pay that healthy registration fee? The largest event among the a cappella churches is the Tulsa International Soul Winning Workshop and it charges no registration fee at all. Its attendance is down some in recent years, and for the same reasons the attendance at the NACC is down—dissatisfaction with speaker selection and a perceived “agenda” among those in charge.

I don’t want to see the NACC die and I don’t really understand those who no longer seem to care that it lives or dies. I do believe the NACC needs to reevaluate its rationale and role, but I am sure that is already taking place. I want to see it continue and make a good comeback. But I don’t think it can be in the shape and size of NACCs from the illustrious past.

Here’s one opinion (and please remember our movement has said, “In opinions, liberty, and in all things, charity!”).

5. Place more emphasis on Bible teaching by making the NACC a great Bible conference where excellent biblical exegesis begins the morning, practical workshops rule the afternoon, and stirring biblical preaching is heard in the evenings. Singing should reflect the worship desires of the whole body of Christ.
—Victor Knowles
Peace On Earth Ministries
Joplin, Missouri

A Survey Might Reveal Some Answers
(posted 9-25-07)
Paul Williams does some pondering and low-key agonizing over some possible reasons why the North American Christian Convention attendance was low this year, and why interest in our colleges, seminaries, magazines, conferences, and parachurch ministries is on the wane (“And So It Goes,” September 23). Perhaps before these things do disappear altogether . . . has anybody in these organizations thought of doing a survey and asking our church leaders and members why they stayed away? The answers may be enlightening and also suggest a different approach to the way we do things.
—Paul McDorman
Cincinnati, Ohio

Three Little Words
(posted 9-25-07)
The September 23 issue, in two columns and at least one article, questioned why attendance was down at July’s North American Christian Convention, held July 3-6 in Kansas City. Here is one reader’s analysis:

'Would Like to Learn More'
(posted 9-17-07)
Hopefully you will continue to explore the area of “church mission” (September 9 issue) and to encourage churches to clearly define their vision and their niche mission(s) (George Barna). In so doing, I would like to learn more about this topic in at least two areas:

'Brilliant' Article
(posted 9-11-07)
In the September 2 issue, the article “The Meaning of the Cross,” by Lynn Gardner, is brilliant! I see the article is an excerpt from his soon-to-be-released book. I'll admit I'm prejudiced as I have a high regard for Lynn. This is a difficult subject for me to understand. I'm impressed with the Scriptures used and also the quotations from other writers. Your three-page printing style is distinctive.
—Don Dobyns
Overland Park, Kansas

'About as Good as It Gets'
(posted 9-11-07)
Thank you for allowing Aaron Burgess to give us his thoughts (“The Image of God,” Sunday school lesson for September 9).

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