Those who traveled                                    many miles, at great                                 expense, were on the                                    university campus, in                          convention centers, at                                  large and comfortable                                hotels and in camps                                “farthest out”. I have                                    been to hundreds of such meetings, but never to one where I got more than my normal six to seven hours of sleep each night. Usually it was being busy all day long. There were good friends from many places and I wanted a few minutes with them.

Who are the people who spend part of their summer in such meetings? They are Baptists, Methodists, Church of God, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Mennonites, Nazarenes, Assemblies of God, Disciples of Christ -- Christians of every label and persuasion. There were clergy and lay leaders who fill every imaginable position in life -- pastors, evangelists, missionaries, administrators, pianists, organists, executives, mayors, bankers, politicians, dieticians, beauty queens, professional athletes, professors, writers, researchers, doctors, nurses, carpenters, coaches, teachers, farmers and others from every part of the country. 

Discussions often center around church doctrine, practices, procedures, plans, problems, buildings and money. The big questions are “How much will it cost?” and “Where will we get all the money we will need?”

Some churches discuss the ordination of women to full ministerial status. In some denominations there is always a discussion about allowing homosexuals to serve as pastors. In recent days there has been talk about same sex marriages. Abortion can even be a matter of disagreement in discussion.

I just read the words of a brilliant young Marine in the pacific area. He concluded that God had already revealed His will in the Bible about such issues. No need to ask what others think about it. Just do what God has already said to do. If God has clearly revealed His will about an issue, our opinion really does not matter. I heard a great pulpit orator say, “We hold opinions.  Convictions hold us.” Maybe you have heard, “Keep your opinions to yourself.”

I recently attended the 122^nd North American Convention of the Church of God, Anderson, Indiana. We listened to such outstanding speakers as Ron Duncan, Jim Lyon, Bill and Gloria Gaither, Mort Crim, Keith Gabhart, Cynthia James, Ken Toler, Rod Stafford, Paul Sheppard and others who were right on target.

Most conventions will have dozens of new books for sale. Most churches seem to be concerned with making sure that constituents understand what the church is teaching. A terrific new book, brilliantly edited by Joe Allison, a veteran in the field of book publishing, is Basics for Belief, which you can order by calling Warner Press 1-800-741-7721 or writing to Warner press, P.O.Box 2499, Anderson, Indiana 46018-2499.  It deals with the essentials of church doctrine.  It is a tremendous book on the basic teaching of the Bible and a superb book for a preaching or teaching series, Bible studies, Sunday School classes, church camps and small group discussion.

Mr. Allison has also written a splendid study and discussion guide that is also available.

The theme for the Church of God convention was simply, “Celebrate Unity”, with the emphasis on finding unity through God’s revealed truth.  Jesus said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me” (John 7:16).  He then added, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:32).

As I closely observe what is happening in the churches and denominations of our day there seems to be a movement toward knowing the solid doctrinal teaching of the church. That is something to enthusiastically applaud.

© 2008 Wm. C. Ellis
All Rights Reserved

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