How I Became a Humanist #2: Pianos, Water and Doubt

The baptismal is elevated above the pulpit representing it's place in Church of Christ theology.  The prominence and sanctuary-like status is typical of Church of Christ architecture. (Roseville Church of Christ)  Notice, also, the lack of a piano or any other instrument.

When I was 11 years old, I declared Jesus to be the Lord of my life through baptism.  This is considered to be the moment of salvation in the Churches of Christ (CofC).  For my age, I was knowledgeable both concerning my church's doctrines and the scriptures.  From the age of 8, I had a habit of reading the Bible while laying on the floor next my nightlight.

I was also familiar with other CofC literature, both books and pamphlets - these were generally apologetic in nature.  They explained why the Churches of Christ were the truth church and all other churches were in error.  The assumption was that any doctrinal error could lead to damnation.

I believed this without reservation.  Logically, I tried to convert others to the CofC, classmates, teachers, even clergy from other churches including the Baptist minister where my grandfather worked as a janitor, and the priest at St. Veronica Catholic Church.

In my early teen years, however, I began to question the Churches of Christ's doctrinal priorities.  Having read the Gospels, I thought it was odd to place so much value on ritual and so little value on loving each other.  By the time I was 16, I was becoming skeptical about our certainty that we were the only one's going to heaven, especially over something as trivial as instruments - which, I didn't think the New Testament was so strict about.

By the time I graduated high school, I was developing a cynical attitude towards Church of Christ legalism.  I was even beginning to turn our basic logic against itself - a logical tool I've been fond of using ever since.  See, the CofC teach that if something related to worship or church organization isn't in the Bible, that we shouldn't do it.  Nevertheless, we had pulpit ministers, youth ministers, Sunday school, hymnals and a whole host of other things that clearly weren't Biblical.  In other words, we only applied our own logic only when it was beneficial.

I still thought that the Churches of Christ were the closest churches to the true church and I still assumed that, our goal should be to emulate the first century church.  At the same time that all this was working itself out, I was noticing other things about Christians and non-Christians that I will discuss in my next post in this series.