The Marshall Street Gang part 1
Anytime you are new to an area it is always good to find out where some of the vital stops in your daily life are. For example you need to know how to get to the grocery store, or schools. It is always a good idea when entering a strange building to find the fire exits and the restrooms, and in order to have a long and happy life you must always be able to find the Giovanni’s (you know the “real important places”). Directions are always a good thing to have in hand, especially if you plan on going somewhere and as a church we need to be going somewhere. For us to get where we are going we will need to know where we have been (so that we can measure how far we go); we will need to know where we want to go (or else we might just go away); and we will need directions on how to get there (this will require dedicated leadership and dedicated sacrifice).
One of the reasons I wanted to do this 140th celebration (which will be a part of our Restoration Celebration November 10-11) is to help provide us with a sense of direction. I believe when we see how to get back to Marshall Street it will help us see how to move forward from Marshall Street.
I think as a church family we need to really focus in on “How to get back to Marshall Street” in a way that helps us focus on the men and women who met in the old barn and had a dream of meeting somewhere else. But I cannot pretend that building a meeting place was their only motivation in moving forward as a congregation. My guess is these men and women wanted to minister to Sciotoville and the surrounding area. I have a feeling their dream was to spread the simple New Testament Gospel to this community and beyond; a gospel that would be free of creeds and dogmas. My guess is those 17 individuals dreamed of a day where everyone could be Christians only. I have a feeling those Marshall Street people would have been very focused on what the scriptures taught and how those same scriptures are the foundation for the church as a group of people whose lives have been changed by their message.
To get back to Marshall Street we need to do more than walk one block east. We need to capture their commitment to the truth of the scriptures and then trust those scriptures to bring about positive change in the current religious climate. After all, that was the battle cry for the Restoration Movement, and it should remain the battle cry for all Christians today.
Getting back to Marshall Street is not a step in the wrong direction, but a necessary step to gauge the effectiveness of the scriptures. In the first century our Lord began with 12 men and then set out to change the entire world. He did just that. It is in that same spirit that the Restoration Movement began. The religious climate of the day was such that needed changing. Men and women from all walks of life began to change their culture and the religious climate by standing on the scriptures alone as their rule and guide. When those who came before us began the work on Marshall Street I am certain they had big dreams to change this community for Jesus. Judging by where we are today I would say they were somewhat successful by making such an impact on the community of Sciotoville. At some point we need to get back to the old barn on Marshall Street so that we can see and feel the passionate spirit that stirred those dear saints of long ago.
22.10.2007. 06:45
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