SQJ Taipei

We are in the middle of our 3rd “home service” since we moved to Taipei in 1999. We’ve always come home during a different season of the year so we can enjoy the various seasons and events each month brings. This time, we happened to be here during the summer and that gave us the opportunity to attend the North American Christian Convention in Louisville, where I write to you today.

Although the timing worked out by “chance”… we are so glad to be here.

I’ve attended 3 main sessions and have been moved to remove my shoes on each occasion… because I’ve so clearly experienced God’s presence (and pleasure) during the convention. I believe the attendees are… in a very real way… standing on holy ground.

When God speaks to Moses in a burning bush… He says:

Do not come any closer. Take off your sandals, because you are standing on holy ground.

I’ve attended conventions like this before… and so have you… and have never felt like I’d describe the experience as one like approaching holy ground… so why do I feel this way on this occasion?

Because this year’s theme is “Together in Christ” and for once in our lives… this is not just a catchy slogan… but a reality. I’ve often felt so blessed that my personal faith background includes being familiar with a fellowship of churches with such pithy slogans as:

We are Christians only, but not the only Christians.
In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, love.
Where the Bible speaks, we speak; where the Bible is silent, we are silent.

Such churches are part of what has been commonly called “the Restoration Movement” because this movement was birthed in the wild west of the late 18th century (Kentucky!) with the goal of restoring New Testament Christianity. Christians from all denominations along the western frontier of our young nation began to gather behind those calling for an end to denominations and making a plea for unity in truth.

Unfortunately… even this group of believers committed to unity was unable to withstand the pressure to further fracture the body of Christ. In this case… the dominant issue was instrumental music. As the piano (or its forerunners) became more common in the USA… it also became more common in churches and especially in the more prosperous city churches in the north. The churches in the south resisted this innovation.

In 1906, the US Census Bureau listed Christian Church and Churches of Christ as 2 seprarate religious affiliations… making obvious to all what was rumbling beneath the surface for some time… this spiritual earthquake caused fractures even among those who were part of a distinct movement designed to restore unity in the body of Christ and had been successful on many fronts.

Now… 100 years later… in 2006… healing has not only BEGUN… but has advanced rapidly. We cannot be so naive as to say that one convention will bring reconciliation to 100 years of division… but I have been completely overwhelmed again and again at the humble attempts at reconciliation I have seen here in Louisville this week. These attempts at reconciliation are seen:

• by looking at the Main Session speakers… with people from the instrumental and acapella churches on the roster.
• by listening to the Main Session music… with instrumental and acapella music bringing us into God’s presence.
• by looking at that exhibits in the exhibit hall… with more booths from our acapella brethren than ever before.
• by talking with the attendees… who all seem to be saying the same thing… “look what we can do together!”

The emphasis of the preaching has been humility, forgiveness, and a plea to recognize that Satan is the common enemy. Our diversity has been embraced by people on “both sides of the keyboard”.

It is a rare occasion these days to see Christians reconciling… and I feel so blessed to be here… at this time… and to enjoy the energy here… and I look forward to the day when even the US Census bureau sees no reason to list Christian groups separately.

NACC WEBSITE