Description
Book SynopsisThe Churches in Christ are in growing disagreement about the direction that the Restoration Movement should take. A Heritage in Crisis introduces the background of this identity crisis, evaluates nine specific issues that threaten to divide the Churches of Christ todaysuch as worship styles and women''s rolesand suggests changes Churches in Christ can make in order to facilitate the change back to God''s original intent for the church. More than simply an academic examination of doctrinal issues, A Heritage in Crisis seeks to identify a path by which the Churches of Christ might move into a future illuminated by the light of God''s Word.
Trade ReviewThose who have grown up in Churches of Christ are distinctively passionate about their heritage. Ralph Hawkins is driven by an unswerving commitment to the heritage, one of the three principle streams of the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement. Yet, he recognizes that many cultural and theological shifts in recent decades require leaders and members in the over 12,000 Churches of Christ congregations to face the need to reexamine their stances on key issues like the Holy Spirit, hermeneutics, instrumental music, worship, women, elders, church structure, and more. This brief volume sets the agenda for reestablishing the vitality of Churches in Christ for the next era of people committed to its ideals. -- William R. Baker, Professor of New Testament Studies, Cincinnati Christian University; Editor Stone-Campbell Journal
Table of ContentsChapter 1 Acknowledgements Chapter 2 Introduction Chapter 3 1. The Identity Crisis Facing Churches of Christ Chapter 4 2. The Generation Gap in the Church of Christ Chapter 5 3. Where We are in the Discussion or "Desecularizing the Church of Christ in the 21st Century" Chapter 6 4. The Holy Spirit and Christian Union Chapter 7 5. Baptism and Our View of Other Denominations Chapter 8 6. Hermeneutics Chapter 9 7. Instrumental Music Chapter 10 8. Purpose and Style in Worship Chapter 11 9. Women's Roles Chapter 12 10. The Qualification and Selection of Elders Chapter 13 11. Missionary Societies and Denominational Structures Chapter 14 12. Theological Trends From 1960 to the Present Chapter 15 Afterward Chapter 16 Bibliography Chapter 17 Index
