In the May 2005 edition of The Christian Chronicle, a statement of Christian affirmation appeared. The full page ad, with complete text of the affirmation, was signed by 24 prominent leaders within the churches of Christ.
Needless to say, the Christian Affirmation has elicited a flurry of discussion. For the next few days, I’m going to share with you some of the discussion, allowing you to discern your own mind on the issues.
The Christian Affirmation proposes to clarify doctrine with churches of Christ, centering on baptism, the Lord’s Supper and worship. The following paragraph serves as an introductory statement on the Christian Affirmation.
The following affirmation appeared in the May 2005 issue of the Christian Chronicle (vol. 62, no. 5), signed by 24 teachers in Churches of Christ in North America. The purpose of the statement is to encourage prayerful reflection on the foundational commitments of our churches and through the resulting conversation to clarify our identity as churches under the lordship of Jesus Christ.
The statement affirms the convictions of the signers regarding beliefs and practices that have served to strengthen the Christian identity of Churches of Christ but now suffer challenge or neglect; it does not attempt to articulate the Christian faith in its fullness. We recognize that others think differently about some of the matters treated. We do not speak as their judges, but as fellow servants of Christ who seek only to be fruitful in his service. We seek through discussion with our brothers and sisters a deeper understanding of God’s saving truth.
To see the affirmation statement in full, click on this link to A Christian Affirmation
