BACKGROUND: Raised in an a cappella church, Burger has preached for more than 40 years. He has participated in several unity meetings with Christian Church ministers and teaches Restoration History at the Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver.

A TYPICAL SERVICE AT MY CONGREGATION: We sing several songs without the use of mechanical instruments of music. The service today doesn’t differ in style or activities from the services in which I grew up.

ISSUES FACING THE CHURCH IN 2006: The church as a whole is struggling with individuals and congregations departing from basic biblical truths in such areas as: with whom we may have spiritual fellowship, what one must do to be saved, women’s roles and what is acceptable worship. Determining one’s views on these issues also determines how evangelistic an individual or congregation is.

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GARY HOLLOWAY
Bible professor, Lipscomb University

BACKGROUND: Holloway has taught Bible in schools and universities associated with a cappella churches for 28 years. He has published books with authors from Christian Churches and is a member of the Stone-Campbell Dialogue, an annual gathering of members of churches of Christ, Christian Churches and Disciples of Christ for discussion and prayer.

A TYPICAL SERVICE AT MY CONGREGATION: Our worship is very similar to what I experienced in my youth. We use a few more contemporary songs, place more emphasis on the Lord’s Supper and have a different style of preaching.

ISSUES FACING THE CHURCH in 2006: Responsible change. How do we live and speak the good news to our
culture? How can we make the changes necessary to do that while still holding on to our identity?

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RICH LITTLE
Minister, Naperville Church of Christ

BACKGROUND: Christened in the Australian Episcopal church, Little attended Catholic school from fifth through 12th grade. After studying the Bible with his father’s business partner, he was baptized as a teen in an a cappella church in Australia. He attended college in the United States and ministers for the Naperville, Ill., church.

A TYPICAL SERVICE AT MY CONGREGATION: Our worship services tend to be upbeat and positive, using humor and warmth in the messages and announcements. I will often use videos (typically with background music) to illustrate a point.

ISSUES FACING THE CHURCH IN 2006: I believe churches of Christ as a whole are facing a crisis of identity unless they are able to have a kingdom view that is consistent with Scripture and they become less sectarian in their view of “the Lord’s church.”

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PHIL SANDERS
Minister, Concord Road Church of Christ

BACKGROUND: Baptized in an a cappella church in Oklahoma, Sanders has preached for more than 35 years and currently serves the Concord Road church, Brentwood, Tenn. His 1989 book, Let All the Earth Keep Silence, discusses the silence of the Scriptures and “lays out some old and new arguments surrounding the hermeneutics of silence.” Sanders recently launched a television ministry.

A TYPICAL SERVICE AT MY CONGREGATION: We sing a cappella, commune in a meaningful Lord’s Supper, pray fervently, give generously and listen to God’s Word. We use the Internet to live stream our worship.

ISSUES FACING THE CHURCH IN 2006: Postmodern thinking has influenced some Nashville congregations to
accommodate and embrace religious pluralism, just as it has nationwide. Most congregations here, however, have chosen not to participate in that compromise.

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MARK TAYLOR
Editor, publisher, Christian Standard

BACKGROUND: Taylor has attended instrumental Christian Churches and Churches of Christ his entire life. He was educated at Cincinnati Bible Seminary, and for nearly 30 years has worked for Standard Publishing, a chief supplier of materials for Christian Churches.

A TYPICAL SERVICE AT MY CONGREGATION: There are four services each weekend. The Saturday night service is somewhat informal, with a worship band. Two services on Sunday mornings happen simultaneously. One is labeled contemporary, and the other is labeled traditional. An earlier service is in a “blended” format.

ISSUES FACING THE CHURCH IN 2006: We need to penetrate our culture with the gospel and not just be a place to reach churched folks disenchanted with other congregations or church dropouts who are attracted to our programs.

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What is your understanding of the reasons for the separation of 1906?

Wayne Burger: The root of the problem ran much deeper than the establishment of the Missionary Society and the use of instrumental music in worship. The problem was the way brethren viewed Scripture.

There were a growing number of preachers who accepted the Documentary Hypothesis and therefore denied the inspiration of Scripture. When this attitude toward Scripture developed, the necessity of baptism by immersion was denied as well as accepting denominational baptism and extending fellowship with denominational churches.

Gary Holloway: The most important “issues” at the time were the Missionary Society, instrumental music in worship and having local preachers. What made these issues divisive was the ill feelings created by the Civil War.

Earlier, many of the followers of Barton Stone and Alexander Campbell could unite in spite of more severe differences of opinion on other issues. Unfortunately, the Civil War forced both sides into uncompromising positions.

Rich Little: There is much to be said of the regional (North/South), historical (Civil War/Reconstruction) and socio-economic influences that exacerbated and perhaps hastened a separation that is ultimately more complex than any single doctrinal difference.

Phil Sanders: Two mindsets led to this division. One mindset, in the pursuit of freedom and progress, introduced a visible element into the worship not found in Scripture, which those of the other mindset considered unauthorized and sinful. Those who wanted the instrument were the majority and were determined to keep it. Those who opposed it as sinful had little choice but to worship elsewhere.

What are the chief doctrinal differences between the two groups today?

Wayne Burger: The basic difference between the two groups today is the same difference that existed in 1906 — how does God authorize? Christian Churches teach that if God has not condemned an action, it is acceptable.

Those who do not believe that there can be fellowship between churches of Christ and Christian Churches believe that we must have authorization from God before something can be practiced (Colossians 3:17).

Phil Sanders: The chief difference is how they understand the silence of the Scripture. The Christian Church sees silence as permissive, since there is an absence of a prohibition. Churches of Christ see silence as prohibitive, since the Scriptures lack any instruction from an all-sufficient and complete teaching.

Mark Taylor: I believe there are far more points of similarity than difference. We agree on the authority of Scripture, the divinity of Christ, the need to accept him as Lord and Savior and then to obey his command to go into all the world, immersing new disciples.

I understand that some members of churches of Christ believe that using instrumental music in worship is a sin, a position held by no leader in Christian Churches.

I also understand that many in churches of Christ see the silence of Scripture about a practice to indicate that it is forbidden; members of Christian Churches usually believe that silence indicates permission.

How do churches of Christ perceive independent Christian Churches today?

Gary Holloway: I think most in churches of Christ do not realize our historic ties and similarities to the Christian Churches. We just do not know them nor do they know us.

Rich Little: Most churches of Christ have lumped the Christian Church with every other denomination. I find most people are not aware of the historical similarities and are generally passive in their desire to learn or educate themselves on our relationship.

In reality, most church members are so consumed with their own churches, lives, children, families, careers and schooling, they are doing good just to visit the other church of Christ across town once a year, let alone articulate their belief on fellowshipping the Christian church.

Phil Sanders: I can only speak for myself here. I believe baptized believers in the Independent Christian Church are my brethren, since everyone who is scripturally born of water and the Spirit is a child of God.

I love my brethren, but I grieve that they have clung to an unscriptural practice. I wish we could find biblical and hermeneutical unity once again.

How do Christian Churches perceive a cappella churches of Christ today?

Mark Taylor: Many rank-and-file members of Christian Churches know very little about the separate identity of the a cappella churches of Christ. Some have been blistered by church of Christ members who have refused fellowship with them.

Most, however, are eager to enjoy fellowship, service and evangelistic outreach with folks whom they perceive to have the same commitment to Christ and his word that they hold dear.

Do you plan to participate in any events recognizing the 100th anniversary of the 1906 separation?

Wayne Burger: No. I don’t think that a split in our brotherhood is an event that should be celebrated or commemorated.

Gary Holloway: I plan to attend the North American Christian Convention, the Restoration Forum and the Stone-Campbell Dialogue.

Rich Little: Yes. We are working to create a joint fellowship event with our church and local Christian Churches in the area and will participate in a pulpit exchange with a neighboring Christian Church. We would also support and affirm such efforts nationally and internationally while focusing our best efforts on our closest Christian Church neighbors.

Mark Taylor: I am looking forward to attending every minute of the North American Christian Convention, which will meet in Louisville, Ky., June 27-30.

What are your thoughts about the wisdom of increased cooperation between the two groups? Is this a positive or negative development in your view?

Wayne Burger: I do not think it is wise for the two groups to cooperate in spiritual activities. For those who believe that spiritual activities must have authorization from God, it forces them to violate their conscience or give up their conviction that all activities must have authorization from God.

Gary Holloway: Any visible expressions of unity among the people of God is a good thing. Christ prayed for our unity.

Rich Little: It is tremendously positive and a first step in the right direction. My personal prayer is that this will help to break down the sectarian orientation we have in being a “non-denominational” denomination. Jesus’ prayer for unity of all believers should compel us to move forward and we should use this time to remind ourselves of the true non-sectarian Christianity to which Stone and Campbell were calling us.

If, however, we believe we have restored fellowship in the church by simply acknowledging and accepting Christian Churches, then we have simply broadened our sectarianism to also include the Christian Church.

My hope is that we will move beyond this first step to a place where we can embrace, fellowship and welcome all children of God as God sees them, not as our current theological or ecclesiological limits allow.

Phil Sanders: Should those who worship with instruments forsake them, I would gladly seek some relationship with them. At this point, how can I do anything but speak out against a practice that goes beyond the authority of Scripture?

My first loyalty is to the will of God. To cooperate with those who continue to act outside that will is to send a mixed signal.

Mark Taylor: Our weary, secularized world needs Jesus, and it needs to see models of the unity and joy that can exist among people who have given their lives to him. Working together toward this end couldn’t be more positive.

If this cooperation proceeds, where do you see churches going in the next five to 10 years?

Wayne Burger: I see some churches who once believed that all activities had to have authorization from God giving up that position and either beginning to practice unauthorized activities or at least giving up their conviction and accepting into full fellowship those who do not believe that churches must have authorization for what they do.

Gary Holloway: I think we will work together in many areas of service — evangelism, missions, compassion ministries, youth work and education.

Rich Little: In reality, it will be divided. Decisions take place at the congregational level and therefore any advancement in this area will only happen throughout the cooperative efforts of like-minded congregations and leaders, while churches that oppose such efforts will retrench and fight them.

I believe we will see a third branch in churches of Christ growing in the next 10 years (as occurred in the early Restoration Movement). The third branch will be comprised of churches that openly fellowship and cooperate with other believers, while the larger middle portion will proceed more cautiously or skeptically, with the more conservative branch, including our non-institutional churches, probably opposing any such efforts or even entertaining the thoughts of such efforts.

Phil Sanders: There are some in churches of Christ who are cooperating already, because they do not any longer hold that the use of the instrument is wrong. I suspect others will follow that course. Postmodern thinking frowns upon conviction and exclusivity; and just as they did more than a century ago, many will broaden their thinking to permit what God never instructed.

Mark Taylor: I believe we will continue to cooperate “across the keyboard” with less and less attention to that issue. We have already seen non-instrumental and instrumental churches working together in missions and benevolence efforts; and some have even cooperated in the planting of churches. I believe this will increase.

Can churches of Christ and Christian Churches have a closer relationship without losing their doctrinal integrity?

Wayne Burger: No, because churches of Christ who fellowship Christian Churches must either violate their conscience with regard to believing that all things that are done must be authorized by God, or give up that conviction.

Gary Holloway: No one in the Christian Churches is demanding that churches of Christ use instruments. Those in churches of Christ should not force a cappella worship on the Christian Churches.

We are all congregational. Congregations do not all have to look the same to work together in Christian unity.

Rich Little: Of course. The “slippery slope” argument has been exploited to prevent movement in any direction for fear of losing our distinctives. If one looks at the landscape of the denominational world, one will see hundreds of doctrinally distinct groups that cooperate and fellowship all the time.

Moreover, we should be challenging the notion that “doctrinal distinctives” are what give us our identity. I certainly hope not. Unless of course by “doctrine” we are referring, as we should, to the death, burial and resurrection of the Messiah and the grace that comes through his gift.

Many churches will continue to be held captive by the tyranny of the easily offended and these ones will sadly never look beyond their walls for what God might teach them through his church-at-large.

Phil Sanders: There are likely some societal and moral efforts where estranged brethren can find some common ground. We could fight against the dangers of immoral behavior or the secularizing of America together. There may be some relief and charitable efforts comprised of people from many faiths working together.

Mark Taylor: Absolutely. Members of Christian Churches will respect the decisions of members in the churches of Christ not to use instruments in worship or to avoid any of the several other practices that some church of Christ members have decided are wrong.

It does not require compromise for us to agree together to go, baptize, and teach. In many cases, we can do this more effectively together than we can apart.

How important is this issue to members in the pews, and how important should it be? How important is this issue to church leaders?

Wayne Burger: I believe that many members do not see the seriousness of these issues because they have not been taught basic fundamental truths nor how those truths have been reached.

Unfortunately, we have taught people what to think rather than how to think and therefore many do not know why they believe what they believe or which issues are matters of faith and which issues are matters of opinion.

Rich Little: Unfortunately, for the average member this issue does not rank high on their priority list. At Naperville over 50 percent of our members do not come from a Church of Christ background, hence our members are already open to fellowshipping other believers, not just believers in the Christian Church.

Churches that have tended to stagnate or regress will be less likely to concern themselves with this issue than churches that are connected to their community, fellow churches and the lives of seekers. While this issue should be of importance to church leaders, I hope and pray we don’t end 2006 thinking we have “restored” fellowship, even tacitly, without moving beyond the “Restoration Movement” to see God’s church as he sees it, those called to surrender their lives in obedience to him.

Phil Sanders: A century of disruption in fellowship means many members of both groups know little about the other. It has not been important to them, because they are unaware. Leaders and members need to know their history and heritage, the good and the bad.

They also need to why the disruption happened and what can be done, if anything, to heal the problem.

Mark Taylor: In our self-centered age, many of those in the pews are first concerned about their own family, their own careers, and their own experience of church. Those at a bit more mature level are concerned about Christian unity and impatient with what they would consider to be doctrinal splinters that have become a wedge among believers.

I believe many Christian Church members want to experience unity and fellowship with members of a cappella churches of Christ. Church leaders are already taking the initiative to reach out to each other, talk with each other, eat with each other and find ways to serve with each other.

We must do this, as a witness to the world.

Any final thoughts on this issue?

Wayne Burger: It breaks my heart that the brotherhood split in 1906, but it breaks my heart to a greater degree because of the reason for the split — departure from truth.

It breaks my heart today to see a portion of our brotherhood departing from those same truths. It seems that we have not learned from God’s word or from history. The saddest part is that because we are divided we greatly weaken our influence in the world.

Phil Sanders: How do we win our brothers back (Prov. 18:19)? We will not do this by ignoring each other. We will win some brothers back the way we lost them, one at a time. We must talk at some point and pray at some point. This is not the time for name-calling but rather for calling on his name. We treat our brothers as brothers, even when there is a disruption in fellowship (2 Thess. 3:14-15).

One sister in the Christian Church I taught about musical instruments had never heard the reasons why we don’t use them. Once she learned the reasons, she gladly embraced the truth. We didn’t re-baptize her. We embraced her on her repentance.