Faith
Sound Churches and Progressive Churches: Four Miles Apart
Faith Facts
- Crieve Hall Church of Christ in Nashville remains committed to a cappella worship, male leadership in preaching and communion, and a statement of faith that affirms “correctly handling His Word without adding to or taking from it.”
- Lipscomb University, four miles away, now welcomes instrumental worship, female speakers, and lecturers from various Christian traditions, reflecting a widening theological gap within Churches of Christ.
- Both the Connect Conference at Crieve Hall and the Lipscomb Faith and Leadership Forum stressed discipleship, biblical faithfulness, and spiritual growth, yet neither event made significant mention of the other.
Two events unfolded just four miles apart in Nashville, yet the theological distance between them felt far greater. One gathering championed what attendees called “sound preaching” rooted in Scripture alone. The other focused on discerning the cultural moment and leading faithfully in changing times.
Crieve Hall Church of Christ hosted its sixth annual Connect Conference, drawing 1,322 believers from more than 300 congregations. Organizers described the three-day meeting as “rooted firmly in Scripture and centered on Christ,” with sessions on evangelism, discipleship, and spiritual growth.
“I love the sound preaching,” said attendee Tonja McRady. “All it means to me is that it comes from the Bible. Are you preaching from the whole Bible, the whole counsel of God?”
Meanwhile, Lipscomb University held its inaugural Faith and Leadership Forum for about 160 ministers and leaders. Sessions addressed faith and politics, ministry burnout, and discipleship in a digitally saturated world. Bible professor Leonard Allen described the two streams as “conservative mainstream” and “moderate mainstream” Churches of Christ.
“With truth becoming loose and malleable in our time, we need more focus on the essentials of the faith,” Allen said. “This was a key theme at the Forum.”
The central question remains: What qualifies as essential? At Connect, speakers repeatedly pointed to “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” from Ephesians 4 and stressed the necessity of baptism and proper biblical leadership.
“What if we just settle on going with what God says, God’s way?” asked minister Hiram Kemp. “God doesn’t want our creativity. He wants our compliance. It’s been revealed to us in Scripture.”
At Lipscomb, participants wrestled with cultural decline and spiritual seeking. Allen noted that 40 million Americans have left the faith in the past quarter-century, yet many young people still search for meaning.
“Is America standing on the edge of spiritual renewal, or are we witnessing the continuing, steady decline of Christian faith in America?” Allen asked. “The old patterns are no longer stable. New patterns have not yet emerged. It seems there is energy but also confusion all around.”
Both gatherings closed with calls for unity, yet each framed it differently. Matt Cook at Connect warned, “Unity without truth is just togetherness.” Carlus Gupton at Lipscomb urged leaders to pursue Holy Spirit-formed leadership that is “calm, steady and deeply rooted in Christ.”
Gupton later reflected, “The proximity of these two conferences actually gives me more reason for hope than concern. Connect seeks to strengthen Christians in biblical faithfulness, discipleship, evangelism and spiritual growth. The Faith and Leadership Forum seeks to equip church leaders for faithful, discerning leadership in a changing culture.”
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Faith Facts
- The Bible records Noah’s Ark as a historical vessel built at God’s command to preserve life during the Flood.
- Archaeologists and geologists continue to study sites in Turkey that some claim match the Ark’s resting place.
- Christians are urged to ground their faith in Scripture rather than unverified discoveries.
Explosive headlines this week announced that Noah’s Ark has been discovered beneath a mountain range in Turkey. The claims have quickly spread across social media and news outlets, stirring both excitement and skepticism among believers.
Chris Sinkinson, a respected Christian author and lecturer, cautions that such announcements often outpace the evidence. He urges fellow believers to remain anchored in Scripture and verified facts rather than sensational reports.
“Christians need to stick to the facts,” Sinkinson stated. His words serve as a timely reminder that faith rests on the unchanging Word of God, not on the latest archaeological headline.
While the possibility of discovering physical remnants of the Ark is intriguing, experts note that conclusive proof remains elusive. Many past claims have failed under closer scientific examination.
Scripture itself provides the foundation for understanding the Flood and God’s covenant with Noah. Believers are reminded that the reliability of the Bible does not depend on locating the physical Ark.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Faith Facts
- Revelation chapters 2 and 3 contain direct messages from Jesus to seven churches in Asia Minor, blending commendation with stern rebuke.
- Scripture records that Jesus declares, “I know your works,” underscoring His intimate awareness of both corporate and personal conduct.
- The warnings delivered to these early congregations still apply to contemporary churches that drift into compromise or complacency.
In Revelation 2 and 3, the gentle and lowly Jesus speaks to seven churches with both praise and severe warning.
He knows their works, their compromises and what they can’t see about themselves.
He knows ours, too.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Faith Facts
- Professional wrestler Samoa Joe has publicly encouraged Christians to give a portion of their income to the local church.
- Joe described his decision to tithe as one of his “greatest decisions.”
- The call to tithe reflects the biblical principle of returning the firstfruits of one’s labor to God.
Professional wrestler Samoa Joe is using his platform to point believers toward faithful giving. He recently shared that his commitment to tithing remains one of the most important choices he has made.
Joe described the practice as both a spiritual discipline and a source of blessing in his life. His public encouragement comes at a time when many families are weighing how to honor God with their finances amid rising costs and economic uncertainty.
“One of my greatest decisions was to tithe,”
The wrestler’s testimony underscores the biblical call found in Malachi 3:10, where God invites His people to bring the whole tithe into the storehouse. For Christian audiences, Joe’s words serve as a reminder that generosity is not limited to pastors or ministry professionals.
His straightforward challenge to tithe resonates with believers who see financial stewardship as an act of worship rather than mere obligation. In an industry often marked by self-promotion, Joe’s public stand for biblical giving offers a refreshing counter-example.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
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