Jeremiah Tatum wrote in his article, “The biggest mistake Churches of Christ have made in the last 50 years“:
I’m going to be bold now and put the majority of the blame on the common disciple. For the most part I don’t believe that preachers and missionaries who are in the trenches have contributed to the problem. In fact we have often had to run interference. Mostly it is the members of the Lord’s church, who have either not been listening or who have not taught themselves, who use language like “I’m a church of Christ.” Or who use phrases like, “You have to be a church of Christ.” Or even, “Well the church of Christ teaches…” Such Christians who misrepresent the kingdom are doing the church and the world’s population a disservice by turning the body of Jesus into a denomination that follows a creed.
This is not a laity versus clergy problem. This is a generalized problem, a denominational concept of the church. It is leaders who hang “CHURCH OF CHRIST” on their buildings. Leaders have denominationalized the church as much or more than their followers. When leaders take down the names (for that’s what it is) from their buildings, maybe, just maybe, the laity will listen to the preachers’ rants about their use of language.
I use laity and clergy referring to the brethren, because we got it in most places. Stan Mitchell observed, in his last article on Forthright published today but written before his death last week: “We say we do not believe in the clergy-laity system, but we certainly act like that’s what we want.” It’s there for those willing to see.
