Illustrated by a
current change.org
online petition
Petitioning All Current and Former
Churches of Christ College Students
Urge Churches of Christ Colleges to
Reject Islamophobia
Current and former students of Abilene Christian
University, Faulkner University, Freed-Hardeman
University, Harding University, Lipscomb University,
Lubbock Christian University, Oklahoma Christian
University, Pepperdine University, Rochester College,
Southwestern Christian College, York College, and the
many additional post-secondary institutions of higher
education affiliated with the Churches of Christ are
united in our rejection of the degraded public debate
about the status of our Muslim neighbors.
(current change.org petition)
Issues to address re: the petition
• Improper use of and association of the
term “church of Christ”
(Acts 11:26; Romans 16:16)
Issues to address re: the petition
• Improper use of and association of the
term “church of Christ”
(Acts 11:26; Romans 16:16)
• Improper affiliation of the Lord’s church
with human institutions
(Acts 20:28)
Issues to address re: the petition
• Improper use of and association of the
term “church of Christ”
(Acts 11:26; Romans 16:16)
• Improper affiliation of the Lord’s church
with human institutions
(Acts 20:28)
• Improper antipathy towards the autonomy
of the local church
(Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:1-4)
The phrase is not an
adjective!
Improper use of “church of Christ”
“Church of Christ college students” (title, petition)
“Urge Church of Christ colleges…” (title, petition)
“…congregations of the Churches of Christ” (petition)
“I hope all fellow CofC alums will sign and share”
(comment)
“I’m not from the Church of Christ denomination, but
as a fellow disciple I was moved by this call to imitate
Christ.” (comment)
“As a life-long member of the Churches of Christ…”
(comment)
“Our Church of Christ colleges should not…” (comment)
The Lord’s church is
unique, and
thoroughly
equipped to do the
work God intended
for it to do.
Improper affiliations
“Urge Church of Christ colleges…” (title, petition)
“…the many additional post-secondary institutions of
higher education affiliated with the Churches of Christ”
(petition)
“We ask that our colleges pray…” (petition)
“I hope that all fellow CofC alums will sign and share.”
(comment)
“Our Church of Christ colleges should not stand in
alignment with hatred and intolerance…” (comment)
“As an alum of Pepperdine University, I am hopeful that
Pepperdine will use its influence among Churches of
Christ to encourage…” (comment)
Bigger is NOT better.
Consolidation is a
rejection of God’s will.
Antipathy Towards Autonomy - 1
“Since no denominational body exists to
articulate policy on behalf of the congregations
of the Churches of Christ, it is incumbent on
leadership in individual churches and in the
various colleges and ministries of the church to
coordinate with one another in creative ways to
express the shared concerns of the
congregations. We therefore implore colleges to
collaborate with nearby churches and mosques
to determine the most appropriate and useful
local expressions of solidarity we can extend to
our Muslim neighbors.” (petition)
Antipathy Towards Autonomy - 2
(Purpose of signing), “Because I think that the
unique organizational structure of Churches of
Christ as a tradition can contribute positively to
a grass roots movement towards God’s
hospitality and neighborliness...” (comment)
It is not enough to determine to do good.
First, we must determine to align our view
of what is “good” with that of God Himself.
Then, we must do that
good thing in the way
God directs, respecting
His authority.
(Matthew 7:21-23)