Redefining Yourself Takes ACTION not Words

I’ve had the same conversation one million times. Today I repeated this conversation with my neighbor:

“Where do you go to church?”

“I attend the church of Christ over a few blocks.”

“Oh, right! I’ve been there before. That’s the church that doesn’t have a piano; they just sing. When I went, the preacher gave a lesson about what the other churches should do with their pianos.”

Isn’t that how this conversation always goes...

“Oh yeah! That’s the church without music.”

“That’s the church that thinks they’re the only ones going to Heaven.”

“That’s the church that...”

I’ve never heard, “Oh! That’s the church known for giving to the poor.” Or “that’s the church that tries to make the city a better place for everyone.” Or “that’s the church that volunteers around the community.”

I’ve heard about the church of Christ being Bible toting and Bible quoting. I’ve heard about the church of Christ’s lack of music, baptism, Lord’s Supper, exclusiveness, etc., but all of those things are related to DOCTRINE and not ACTION.

Doctrine doesn’t get you into Heaven. Knowing eschatology doesn’t get you into Heaven. Wow! You can interpret Revelation! Awesome job! What have you done for your community? What have you done for the poor? What have you done for those that were forgotten by everyone else?

DOCTRINE without ACTION accompanied with LOVE is USELESS.

1 Corinthians 13:2 (NAS): If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.