My Journey in The Churches of Christ

My Journey in the Churches of Christ

Life’s Lesson’s Learned

By Lynn S. Nored

Dec. 2022

How do you know how God wishes you to live the Christian life, to worship Him, and even to come to faith in Him?  We have the revealed Word of God in the book we call the bible. We also have the experiences of life itself.

Most know that my mother died of tuberculosis  (TB) when I was two years old. My grandparents had moved to El Paso, Texas, with my mother in order to perhaps help alleviate the TB. When she died, they moved back to the Nocona, Texas, area to begin again a hard life as poor sharecroppers.  After this I was raised by my grandparents on farms near Red River in the Nocona, area.

My mother’s death had a profound effect on them.  Until I was about five, they did not attend church.  But, being raised as members of the Church of Christ, they began going to a small (30-40 member) congregation in Belcherville, Texas.  This was a typical 1940-50’s congregation with unquestioned procedures on what one should do to “do church.”  Members were close and loving. Eventually, my grandfather became an elder in this small congregation.  We had two weeklong gospel meetings each summer.  Benches from the church were moved  “under the stars” with yellow lines strung for lighting.  In those days, such meetings were common.  The Baptist church down the block did the same.  Virgil Trout, a well-known, gospel preacher at the time baptized me when I was 13.  The baptism was done at the Nocona Church of Christ as the Belcherville church had no baptistry.  By this time both my grandparents had given up farming and were working in town.  We began going to the Nocona congregation.

I worked in the A&P grocery store all during high school.  I had bought an old 1950’s Ford car when I was a sophomore. Of course, this car always needed something.  Across the street from the High School was an automobile repair shop run by a former aircraft mechanic and his wife.  He was at the time the only person in the Nocona congregation who was doing “home bible studies.”  We had many long conversations concerning Christianity and life in general.  As it happened he had taught the owner of the Ford dealership and his wife the gospel.  They both came  to church and wanted to be baptized.  The “head elder” of the congregation got up and told the congregation that after fuller study and life corrections they could be baptized at a later date.  What was the problem?  It seems both had been married and divorced when younger.  They had been married to each other for a number of years and had teen age children together.  This elder believed they should separate and go back to their original spouses before he would baptize them.  That is the moment that begin my questioning whether what I had been taught and believed was what  God really wanted of me as a Christian . Nevertheless, I was active in the Nocona congregation and was the principal song leader for much of High School.

While attending Texas Tech University in Lubbock , Texas ( 1959-1963) I re-read the New Testament to try to be sure my faith was my own and not just inherited from my grandparents.

Initially I attended the Sunset Church of Christ in Lubbock as Virgil Trout ( who baptized me) was the minister there. When my double cousin, Paul Coffman, became the pulpit minister at the Colgate Church of Christ in Lubbock, I attended that congregation and sometimes taught the youth group. On a lark, one Sunday I attended the College Ave.  Church of Christ.  As a preteen and teen, I had attended singing schools at this congregation.  This was the Sunday I met Martha.  After this Martha and I attended the Colgate congregation until we were married.

After Martha and I married and graduated from Tech the summer of 1963, we moved to Phoenix, AZ.  Our first experience of “church” there was not a good one.  We selected the nearest congregation of the Church of Christ to attend that first Sunday.  Though we did not know it, this congregation was an anti-cooperation congregation( no cooperation or giving to orphan homes, colleges, other churches missionaries, or fellowship with mainline churches of Christ).  The atmosphere was so bad we did not partake of communion that day.  This further schooled us in how hard line doctrinal judgmentalism can be extremely divisive.

We next went to the Northwest Church of Christ not far from us.  It was one of the best church experiences of our lives.  Though the eldership was older they were accepting of all the young couples moving in.  The young married couples went to someone’s house spontaneously after services nearly every weekend.  It wasn’t a question of “if” we are going to someone’s place it was “where” were we going.  There we learned what true Christian fellowship was and its importance.  In Phoenix we began our lifelong practice of having guests in our home – not just good friends.  For example, we had a visiting missionary from North Korea and even my boss from work.  We had little.  We learned guests do not care what you have and your house doesn’t have to be pristine, just clean.  It seemed hospitality was one of our common gifts.

We were active in the church and participated in the city-wide campaign conducted by prominent preachers of the time—Jimmy Allen and Ruel Lemmon’s, to name two. We are also trained in using “charts” to conduct home bible studies.

After we moved to Richardson, Texas, in 1966, we began attending the 2-year-old Waterview congregation.  Waterview was “formal” with none of the closeness we had in Phoenix.  This was hard.  We had to earn our place there.  We did develop good friends, but it took effort and time.

We began teaching Home Bible Studies using charts that were prepared by the minister,  Robert Oglesby. These charts were all about Acts 2, baptism, and the organization and worship in the church.  We conducted Personal Evangelism Training classes each year.  I would teach the same training classes as Robert but starting a week later. This let those catchup that couldn’t start with him.   During this time of teaching Home Bible Studies ourselves, Martha and I took note there was little about Christ and his life in this series. So, we created an entirely new chart and  lesson on Christ’s life.  Thus, the exclusive emphasis of  Acts and the epistles  began a second major questioning of whether we were really teaching what God required of us.  The charts were all about doctrine and “doing things right.”  Except for our one chart the emphasis was obedience and events leading up to Acts 2 and doctrine in the epistles.

One major learning skill Martha and I acquired at the Waterview congregation was the use of “group discussion” in bible study using trained group leaders.  Training is essential for group discussion to be more than “shared top of the head ignorance.”  All of the Adult classes were organized into tables with trained group leaders.  Members at each table were  randomly selected.  Periodically, the groups would be reorganized.    There were two benefits that resulted from this method: 1) Members could begin to understand what other members believed and why 2) Contextual group discussion brings out the meaning of scripture and thus allows questioning of presuppositions and previously held theological positions that may not be the true intent of scripture.   The use of group discussion began my better understanding of what God intends for us.  Another insight was the wisdom and knowledge you can gain from “ordinary” members.

After moving to our land in 1978, we attended the Princeton Church of Christ in Princeton, Texas. It was a small congregation ( 120+) with few children.  So, in three years we came to worship at Westside Church of Christ in Mckinney, Texas.  I first became an elder at this congregation.  There was a lot of fighting that had occurred between factions.  This led to the resignation of the old eldership and of the preacher after we had been there three months.  I was selected to lead the search committee for a new minister.  We found a solid minister, Tom Gaumer,  who was a teacher at the Preston Road School of Preaching in Dallas, Teacher.  He was a scholar who knew no guile and was just what this congregation needed to heal.

After a “cooling off period,” Dave Epley,  Early B. Milstead, and I were selected as elders.

The three of us were all new at the eldership and had to learn as we went along. The congregation was in transition from a mostly rural congregation to one with a large influx of professional members. Using surveys of the congregation we identified and installed 27 new deacons serving in ministries that the congregation had stipulated.  The deacons were chosen by the congregation for specific ministries.  Installing multiple “Ministry Leaders” was all the vogue in the Churches of Christ in the early 1980’s.  Other faith groups had adopted this system about 20 years earlier.  We fell right in line with trend.   By this time, I had learned the vital importance of obtaining input and buy-in from the members of any organization before attempting any kind of major change.  Otherwise, members of volunteer organizations “vote with their feet.”

We had the preacher to devise various study topics for us using different scenarios – Divorce, Holy Spirit.  We quickly found in many cases this had to be up to God.  We also instituted periodic trips to larger congregations to meet with their elderships.  We wanted to know what they were doing that worked and what didn’t.   We took “social” trips together with our wives to further understanding and cohesion. Wives, in my opinion, are an integral part of being an elder.

We trained group discission leaders in how to facilitate group discussion.  We instituted all adult classes as group discussion.  Each table was randomly drawn by each member.  This facilitated members who might have been in different factions earlier understanding one another.  The study was strictly bible text at that time.

This was an intense time as we were building our own house, both working, and having four children who were active in school.  I was only 42 when I first became an elder—too young and inexperienced.  It was vey hard on the family.  Family always needs to have priority over “church” affairs.

In 1986 Martha and I moved to Edmond, Ok., where I began to implement the Electrical Engineering program at Oklahoma Christian University.   We had two motivations: I had always wanted to teach at the university level and we both wanted to do missions.  Since the engineering program was a “start-up,” it had great appeal to me.   Professors were encouraged to participate in summer missions.  At that time OC had more summer mission programs than the other Christian universities.  We had seen evangelism efforts where the major objective we to get the “prospect” to be “baptized” as soon as possible.  We did not believe this was effective over time.

We identified a relatively new program called Let’s Start Talking.  This method is a way of letting readers “practice their English” from a simplified version of the gospel of Luke.  The premise is two-fold: 1) The Word is the teacher 2) The Worker is the illustration.  The premise is based on John 20:31 “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”  Note that this  approach focuses on Christ and his life.  It also focuses on creating faith in the person of Christ as the Son of God.  It is not based on believing a set of rules to ensure that you do things right.  It was also amazing how the Holy Spirit and the Word itself created faith in those who did not believe in Christ and had never actually read the bible.   Let’s Start Talking and the life of Christ further opened my eyes to what God really expects—be as Christ-like as I can in my own life.

LST was begun by Mark and Sherrylee Woodward while in Germany as missionaries.  No one came to the normal missionary events.  Mark pasted up some scriptures from a simplified version of the gospel of Luke and invited readers to come practice their English –knowing it was going to be from the Bible. LST was the real eye opener as to the transforming nature of the Word.  At first there was no training manual as everything was done verbally. I was able to help write part of the first training manual.

We trained teams both at OC and in Regional training sessions.  In the beginning we oversaw teams in Western Europe. When the Soviet Union opened up we transitioned to teams in Eastern Europe and former Soviet Union countries.  I also vetted sponsors of teams in several countries in South America. Our task was manyfold and varied with the site.  First and foremost, we were the go-to leaders to solve any problems between team members or the teams and sponsoring churches.   We held the fist “information meetings” between team members and potential readers.  We arranged for facilities and housing where needed.

Our first congregation in Edmond was the Quail Springs Church of Christ.  At  first this was a good place for us.  We were on the mission committee.  We also trained and taught group discussion classes.  We were even asked to teach a Group Dynamics course for one of their teams in France and evaluate the team.  It was very dysfunctional with different goals by each of the team members and little lines of communication.

Group dynamics technics, in particular, ability to truly listen, and the different personality types, helped open my eyes to what is really happening in some of the Church factions.  It also helps to understand the dynamics within elderships.   Quail Springs began to move in the progressive area, so we moved our membership closer to our home to Westwood in Edmond. I taught and also served as an elder for a time.  Eventually,  we stopped taking LST teams so I could do professional seminars full time in the summer. The last 2-3 years we attended Memorial Road next to Oklahoma Christian((OC). We wanted to attend with some of our friends from the university.

After 16 years at OC, we retired in 2002 to our house and land in McKinney. By this time Westside had built a new building, hired a new preacher, and changed its name to High Pointe Church of Christ. I taught classes from the beginning.  By this time, I had seen many of the divisions and fusses in our faith group stemmed from trying to “doing things right” in stead of focusing on “doing the right things.”  Early on I researched and taught a class on “Why Do We Do Church, the Way We Do Church?”  This looked at every aspect of what we do.  It was clear nearly all methods we use to “do church” have evolved over time.

During this time, we were also highly involved in missions.  In fact, between LST, missions at High Pointe, and my international seminar business we have been in about 30 countries. As part of mission efforts, I was strong in advocating strategic planning. This emphasis came from both my industry experience and my university experience.  I helped formulate the vision statement  for El Salvador missions  which later became the Spanish non-profit, Genesis Alliance.  My experience in missions led me to serve on the first board of a new graduate school in St. Petersburg, Russia.  It was the Institute of Theology and Christian Ministry.  I was specifically to assist in the strategic planning.  I served on this board twice with some of the well-known church of Christ personages.  I also served for a time on the board of the South Pacific Bible Institute in Taranga, NZ.

There were some lessons learned from the board experiences.  1.  Money talks 2.
There is inherent inertia in intrenched leadership for change 3. Plans are fine, but always be open to seeing what doors God is opening.

After an initial period,  I served as elder at High Pointe.  I resigned when our son, James, decided to apply for an open preaching position.  He did come. So now we had the experience of being on the other side of the fence when you son is the preacher.  So, course, we were silent during this period, though we still taught classes.  Preachers have a most difficult time with elderships in our fellowship.

Our son eventually  left to go to  Fairfax Church of Christ in VA. Shortly thereafter, he started the Next Generation for Christ a non-profit. High Pointe hired a minister who after a time pushed instrumental music and greater use of women in the church. This has split the church.   After a brief period in a congregation in Frisco (that we loved), we are now going to a small congregation in Van Alstyne, TX,  much nearer.  A large percentage of members there are from High Pointe.

What are my conclusions for the Christian life from the above journey so FAR?

• The gospel itself should be the focus of evangelism. That means a focus on Christ. It means a full depicting the of Story of Redemption in Christ.
• We are to be “disciples” of Christ. It is the personage of Christ we are to follow, not a particular form that has evolved over the centuries.
• People remember and response to narrative ( stories) and not to dictated propositional truth. Remember Christ taught in parables and stories.
• Biblical principles and truths that matter in the church. Most methods or “forms” of “doing church” have evolved over time.
• The transforming power of the Word and the Holy Spirit changes lives.
• Relationships trump methods and form. Your relationship with God and with others is the most important things in a Christian life.
• Seek wisdom above knowledge. Knowledge without wisdom has little value
• Diligently pursue virtue and the “fruits of the Spirit” and avoid vices
• We all have very different personality types. Understand these types typically  determine how people respond to different things.
• Many place God first, then family, and then profession rightly so. But family must be given priority over profession.
• As life draws to an end, no professional achievement not even “church” related achievements have real meaning. It is only your spouse, children, and grandchildren along with friends that have real meaning.  Of course, your relationship with God is first.
• As one looks back over one’s life, the mistakes you have made and the wrongs you have done “are ever before me..”   Only through faith and embracing the grace of God can on have “peace.”
• The focus of most elderships completely misses the mark. It should be on “equipping members for works of service” using their spiritual gifts so that we can become mature.
• The large congregation with large buildings and staff can rarely achieve the real relationships that should be formed between members. Instead, the leadership focus is on maintaining and providing for the organization and structure and having an “excellent” service.
• Strategic planning is of little value without accountability
• Do not underestimate resistant to change.
• Intellectual acceptance of change does not mean members with emotionally accept change
• Do not think you or your leadership partners have to “save the church” or even do all of the . Goal setting and strategic plans have their place with limitations.  Unfortunately, most take enormous time to formulate, then two things tend to happen: 1) Many plans are never consulted with any degree of intention after implementation or 2) Those responsible for obtaining goals are not held accountable.  Thus, strategic plans without accountability have little value.  God is at work already.  If you are fortunate, you assist in some small part.
• The essence of our “worship” is not what we do “in church” on Sunday morning, it is how we emulate Christ every day. Quite frankly, it is quite easy to organize and attend  an “excellent” service.  It is quite difficult to do what Christ would do in our everyday actions.
• Our gifts from God are different. Don’t expect others to do, think, or emphasis what you do. Our walks are at a different place for each.  Don’t judge others.
• Relationships are best fostered by working, playing, and eating together. Meals together in one another’s homes is best. Restaurants do not cut it.  The five or ten minutes of talk at church on Sundays do not a relationship make—even over 40 years.
• Praying without ceasing is best done by focusing on what you are thankful for
• Seeking how to bless someone each day is one way to emulate Christ.
• The institutional church is fading in the U.S. Perhaps we need another model. Perhaps multiple small groups “doing church” in homes with periodic  larger meetings in rented facilities would be a better model.  Excellent speakers, teachers, even song groups can be easily streamed.  Economies of scale for missions can be accomplished through congregational cooperation rather the rigid congregational autonomy that currently exists.  That autonomy has fostered numerous parachurch organizations anyway.