TRANSITION (1)
Transition is an amazing word. We are all in transition constantly. The other day I was going through a box of family records and came across my baby book my beloved mother prepared for me. It had pictures of me in every year of my school from first grade to the day I graduated. I like all was in a constant state of transition. Each of the pictures from first grade onward showed major changes in my appearance. Transition.
We are also in a constant state of tra...nsition in our intellectual faculties. Each day we absorb new information and ideas. Our brains take in tons of information constantly. In our sleep, our minds digest the events and information of the day and organizes such. Transition.
Transition is an amazing word. We are all in transition constantly. The other day I was going through a box of family records and came across my baby book my beloved mother prepared for me. It had pictures of me in every year of my school from first grade to the day I graduated. I like all was in a constant state of transition. Each of the pictures from first grade onward showed major changes in my appearance. Transition.
We are also in a constant state of tra...nsition in our intellectual faculties. Each day we absorb new information and ideas. Our brains take in tons of information constantly. In our sleep, our minds digest the events and information of the day and organizes such. Transition.
We are in a constant state of transition when it comes to our spiritual being. In obeying the gospel, we experience transition from a lost state to a saved state. "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:" (Col. 1:13). This is indeed the most powerful transition of all when it comes to this world.
Then there is the transition of constant spiritual growth. We are always to grow, learn, and move ever forward in knowledge, spirituality and service to our God. "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." (2 Peter 3:18).
Finally, there will be the ultimate transition when we move from this world to the next. As saved children of God, we shall leave behind the body of this world to transition to a glorious body like that of our Lord (Phil. 3:21). We shall transition from life on this physical planet to life in the glory of heaven (Rev. 21). What a wondrous transition that shall be!
The great challenge of life is for each of us to move gracefully through the various transitions. Change cannot be denied. Change is everywhere and will stop for no man. We are all constantly changing in body, mind and soul. The trick is to change in such ways that we shout the glory of the Almighty!
*Allen Ashlock, 2014
TRANSITION (2)
Another angle to this idea of transition is that of the Church and its work. Individual congregations are in a constant state of transition.
I remember well when I was a boy of just about 5 or 6 and sitting with my parents in worship on Sunday morning. The building, the technology, the song books (Christian Hymns number 2), the Bible class literature and even the style of the preaching was an age now long gone.
Churches are in transition when it comes to technology. From the first century and their oil lamps and no air conditioner and for that matter no "church buildings", to our modern times with all the frills, transition is everywhere. Today we have cell phones, computers, the internet, and amazing technology. As a boy of 6 none of these things was available. Today we have power point projectors, and we flash the songs on the wall. Again, this was unheard of in previous generations. In the early 1990's, I was preparing overhead projection charts to use in a message I was to deliver on the Restoration Movement. The preacher of the church where I was to deliver this message happened to stop by to see me. He told me plainly I could not use this technology. The overhead projector and charts would not be welcomed in the "church building". Sadly, I boxed them up, and I do not believe I have ever used them. Technology and its changes can ruffle the feathers of some in our body. Technology is ever changing, and it is part of life. Even Jesus and Paul had the technology of their day that was new and unknown to previous generations. Transition.
Churches are in transition when it comes to the music in the church. Yes, as a boy of six we used Christian Hymns Number Two. It had simple songs and not that many. Today, we have many new songs we sing in our worship unknown to the world of 1960. However, the songs in Christian Hymns Number Two were unknown to a former generation, as well. Alexander Campbell argued in his day that no songbook should have musical notes. For a time, Campbell published the only song books used by churches of Christ, and it had no musical notes. Campbell argued that the musical notes represented an idolatry and were unacceptable. In time, our brotherhood rejected his arguments and today every songbook used by churches of Christ has musical notes. From the first century simple verse and chant style, to today with our modern songs and four-part harmony we see the transition. Music worldwide is always in transition. Such is true even in the history of our singing in the church. Transition.
Preaching through the past two thousand years has been in transition. From Holy Spirit directed preaching of the early preachers to book, chapter and verse proclamations the style and character of preaching has been in transition. Preaching had to transition from men with the nine spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit to men with no such miraculous indwelling. Transition has been ever ongoing. There have been generations in the church over the last 2,000 years that would sit on hard benches and listen to a preacher preach for 2 hours or more and scream hell, fire and brimstone. Such is not true of our preaching today. First century preaching did not use a completed NT with 27 books and heralded forth book, chapters and verses. Such a Bible with 27 books and chapters and verses did not exist for some time. Today some demand book, chapter and verse preaching like that of the first century. However, such preaching as that never existed in the first century. Preaching has had its transitions. From fiery words screamed loud from the pulpit to today with more conversation tone, the preaching style ever changes. Any preacher who does not agree should try to preach every Sunday two and three hours and see how long he lasts before a U Haul truck is in his front yard. Transition. We have the KJV and the NIV that is mainly used today in pulpits for the Bible that is preached. The first century knew nothing of either of these translations. The first century church knew nothing of pulpits and church buildings. Transition.
I could go on and on in greater depth but what has been stated here is suffice to show that transition in the church is ever with us. Paul had a very hard time trying to convince the Jews of his day of the transition that God had ordered in ending the Mosaic system and launching the NT world and the churches of Christ with both Jews and Gentiles together in worship. The early church had to transition from a time with spiritual gifts to a time with no such gifts, from Jews to Gentiles, and from a first century world of the Roman Empire to modern America and the modern world. Bring early Christians of the first century to this world in 2014, and they would be lost and confused. Take any of us back to that first century world, and we too would be lost and confused. Constant transition.
The main task is for us to be able to see the differences in faith and tradition. Faith never changes, but tradition is always changing. Our churches, today, are filled and running over with many traditions. No doubt many of these traditions most sacred to some will fall by the wayside, and one day is forgotten. But, the faith that God has given us will be true, and it shall be the core that will direct faithful Christians until time is no more. Blessed be His name! Blessed be His name!
*Allen Ashlock, 2014
Then there is the transition of constant spiritual growth. We are always to grow, learn, and move ever forward in knowledge, spirituality and service to our God. "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." (2 Peter 3:18).
Finally, there will be the ultimate transition when we move from this world to the next. As saved children of God, we shall leave behind the body of this world to transition to a glorious body like that of our Lord (Phil. 3:21). We shall transition from life on this physical planet to life in the glory of heaven (Rev. 21). What a wondrous transition that shall be!
The great challenge of life is for each of us to move gracefully through the various transitions. Change cannot be denied. Change is everywhere and will stop for no man. We are all constantly changing in body, mind and soul. The trick is to change in such ways that we shout the glory of the Almighty!
*Allen Ashlock, 2014
TRANSITION (2)
Another angle to this idea of transition is that of the Church and its work. Individual congregations are in a constant state of transition.
I remember well when I was a boy of just about 5 or 6 and sitting with my parents in worship on Sunday morning. The building, the technology, the song books (Christian Hymns number 2), the Bible class literature and even the style of the preaching was an age now long gone.
Churches are in transition when it comes to technology. From the first century and their oil lamps and no air conditioner and for that matter no "church buildings", to our modern times with all the frills, transition is everywhere. Today we have cell phones, computers, the internet, and amazing technology. As a boy of 6 none of these things was available. Today we have power point projectors, and we flash the songs on the wall. Again, this was unheard of in previous generations. In the early 1990's, I was preparing overhead projection charts to use in a message I was to deliver on the Restoration Movement. The preacher of the church where I was to deliver this message happened to stop by to see me. He told me plainly I could not use this technology. The overhead projector and charts would not be welcomed in the "church building". Sadly, I boxed them up, and I do not believe I have ever used them. Technology and its changes can ruffle the feathers of some in our body. Technology is ever changing, and it is part of life. Even Jesus and Paul had the technology of their day that was new and unknown to previous generations. Transition.
Churches are in transition when it comes to the music in the church. Yes, as a boy of six we used Christian Hymns Number Two. It had simple songs and not that many. Today, we have many new songs we sing in our worship unknown to the world of 1960. However, the songs in Christian Hymns Number Two were unknown to a former generation, as well. Alexander Campbell argued in his day that no songbook should have musical notes. For a time, Campbell published the only song books used by churches of Christ, and it had no musical notes. Campbell argued that the musical notes represented an idolatry and were unacceptable. In time, our brotherhood rejected his arguments and today every songbook used by churches of Christ has musical notes. From the first century simple verse and chant style, to today with our modern songs and four-part harmony we see the transition. Music worldwide is always in transition. Such is true even in the history of our singing in the church. Transition.
Preaching through the past two thousand years has been in transition. From Holy Spirit directed preaching of the early preachers to book, chapter and verse proclamations the style and character of preaching has been in transition. Preaching had to transition from men with the nine spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit to men with no such miraculous indwelling. Transition has been ever ongoing. There have been generations in the church over the last 2,000 years that would sit on hard benches and listen to a preacher preach for 2 hours or more and scream hell, fire and brimstone. Such is not true of our preaching today. First century preaching did not use a completed NT with 27 books and heralded forth book, chapters and verses. Such a Bible with 27 books and chapters and verses did not exist for some time. Today some demand book, chapter and verse preaching like that of the first century. However, such preaching as that never existed in the first century. Preaching has had its transitions. From fiery words screamed loud from the pulpit to today with more conversation tone, the preaching style ever changes. Any preacher who does not agree should try to preach every Sunday two and three hours and see how long he lasts before a U Haul truck is in his front yard. Transition. We have the KJV and the NIV that is mainly used today in pulpits for the Bible that is preached. The first century knew nothing of either of these translations. The first century church knew nothing of pulpits and church buildings. Transition.
I could go on and on in greater depth but what has been stated here is suffice to show that transition in the church is ever with us. Paul had a very hard time trying to convince the Jews of his day of the transition that God had ordered in ending the Mosaic system and launching the NT world and the churches of Christ with both Jews and Gentiles together in worship. The early church had to transition from a time with spiritual gifts to a time with no such gifts, from Jews to Gentiles, and from a first century world of the Roman Empire to modern America and the modern world. Bring early Christians of the first century to this world in 2014, and they would be lost and confused. Take any of us back to that first century world, and we too would be lost and confused. Constant transition.
The main task is for us to be able to see the differences in faith and tradition. Faith never changes, but tradition is always changing. Our churches, today, are filled and running over with many traditions. No doubt many of these traditions most sacred to some will fall by the wayside, and one day is forgotten. But, the faith that God has given us will be true, and it shall be the core that will direct faithful Christians until time is no more. Blessed be His name! Blessed be His name!
*Allen Ashlock, 2014
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