Why I am a Member of the Church of Christ

Thirty years ago, Joyce was teaching at Auburn University. We had visited our daughter in Columbus for Christmas and were travelling back to Auburn on New Years Day, a Saturday. The mid-point of our trip was Nashville, TN where my mother had lived as a little girl. Looking for a restaurant still open at 10 p.m. we exited onto Charlotte Pike. I wanted to drive by the Charlotte Ave. Church of Christ where mom had worshipped. To my chagrin as we drove by that historic building, I saw the topic for the Sunday sermon – “Why I am a Member of the Church of Christ”. Recognizing the title of a popular book listing doctrinal reasons why one must be a member of the true church, I remarked, “What a sermon to preach to people as they launch into a new year!”

Not finding an open restaurant, we continued the journey to our Alabama home. To stay awake for that six-hour drive, I imagined the sermon I would preach at my mother’s first church. I would begin by affirming solid doctrinal reasons for being members of a church that seeks to be like the early church which, however, was described by several names: “Christians” (Acts 11:26). “church of God” (1 Cor. 1:2), “churches of Christ” (Rom. 16:16), and, “church of the living God” (1 Tim. 3:15).

First, I would honestly admit why I am a member of Churches of Christ -- because my mother was a member. Not just of the Charlotte Avenue church, but with deep roots in Churches of Christ. Grandmother was a Sewell, first cousin to Jesse P. Sewell founder of Abilene Christian University. I would also add that Joyce was related to J. W. Roberts outstanding ACC scholar through her mother’s side of the family.

Then I would shift “Why” from historical and rational reasons to missional reasons. For what purpose are we members of Christ’s church? Cited mnemonically they are the “nines” in Ephesians 1:9-10 – to unite all things in heaven and earth in Christ, in 2:9-10 – to do the good works which God planned in Christ, and 3:9-10 – to exhibit God’s wisdom by proclaiming the riches in Christ to all nations. After three points, there would be an invitation to baptism and its practical purpose described by Paul after that baptismal hymn in 5:14 – walk wisely in this world as children of light (5:9).

I did preach that sermon at the College church in Auburn two months later. At the end two elders came rushing forward. One said, “I was a little worried when you started, but that is one of the best sermons we have heard in a long time,” Who knows, you may hear it here.

—Tom Yoakum