AboutHoyt Roberson Expertise I can answer just about any doctrinal, relational, or Scriptural question from a "traditional" church of Christ perspective, and from perspectives of somewhat more progressive congregations. If you want an answer from a particular perspective, let me know that up front, and I'll respond in that vein. If you want to peg me on the liberal-conservative spectrum, I would suggest a bit left of center. Depending on the question though, I might be far left, or perhaps rather toward the right.
Experience I am currently a shepherd of a congregation (which means, for those of you who aren't Church of Christ folk, I'm one of a handful of people responsible for the spiritual direction and maturity of the congregation, and who hire and fire the ministers). I have served in many capacities including adult class teacher (also current), deacon, administrator, and lay leader at two military bases. I am a life-long member of churches of Christ, mostly mainline congregations, but am quite familiar with more conservative and more liberal congregations and views as well. I read and subscribe to various books and periodicals for churches of Christ, and have discussed a variety of topics with representatives of our various groups both in person, and via mail.
Organizations Christian Association for Psychological Studies, American Association of Christian Counselors, and the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
Publications www.robersonblog.blogspot.com
Education/Credentials I hold a Masters of Ministry degree from Pepperdine University, as well as a Masters of Counseling degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Phoenix.
Question Can you explain to me the "Church of Christ" beliefs on the Holy Spirit? If I am understanding my in laws that are members of the COC, they do NOT believe that the Holy Spirit is what convicts us and they do no believe that it dwells in our every day life. Can you help me out?
Thanks.
Answer Hi Sara!
Good question. As you may know, churches of Christ have varying ideas on a variety of topics and this is one of them. Not only do congregations tend to have a "general view" of their own, but individual Christians may have slightly different or completely different views on the same topic.
Churches of Christ went through a period where we thought the Word of God, as embodied in the Bible, was the end all of God's work in the world. Unfortunately, that view continues in large parts of our association.
The views that you report your in-laws having mirror that history. Because the Bible is complete, the belief is that God convicts us when we read or hear Scripture (normally assumed to be a sermon), and that the guidance from God comes from study of Scripture. Therefore, there is little use for the Holy Spirit working in the world. These are the same views my in-laws hold/held.
That view however, is changing and there are congregations and Christians who do not hold that view. The congregation I attend, if we were present a sermon or class on the topic, would teach that the Holy Spirit does convict us, and that the Spirit does dwell in the believer.
In summary, the views you've reported have been rather standard in the past and continue to be in various locations. If the congregation your in-laws attend is larger than about 200, there are likely folks there that don't hold to those views. These views are changing though and I suspect will continue to change over the years.
Does that murky up the water for you? ;)
Please let me know if you have any other questions, or if what I've written here isn't clearly expressed.
