I
grew up in the Churches of Christ. My grandfather and father were elders. My
dad was a full-time CoC preacher. I was convinced CoC members were the one,
true church established by Christ. I preached for years in the CoC and was as
committed to their doctrine as anyone. I denied believers in other churches
were Christians, and I proudly proclaimed a gospel of salvation by grace,
through faith, received by good works of obedience, and retained in the same
way.
Then
God broke my heart. He crushed my proud, stubborn spirit. He showed me what a
Pharisee I was, how I had wronged so many sincere believers, how I “traveled
land and sea to win one proselyte and when he was won made him twice the son of
hell” I was (Matt. 23:15). God showed me I had never really understood the gospel.
I had believed in Jesus and tried to love Him. But I had taught a false gospel
of salvation by good works. That is not the gospel.
When
God finally showed me the gospel, I repented of what I had believed and taught
before. It got me in a lot of trouble. I still have family members and friends
who will not associate with me. They think I am lost because I have abandoned the doctrines they consider to be the truth.
There
are some wonderful, godly people in Churches of Christ, and I learned much from
them. But I do not regret the journey God took me on that led me here. I thank
God for His grace and for the work He did to open my eyes to it. Once a person
discovers the free gift of grace extended in the gospel, there is no going
back. -JME
