by Stan Mitchell

"I love thy kingdom Lord, the house of thine abode; The church, our blessed redeemer saved, with his own precious blood; I love thy church O God! Her walls before thee stand, Dear as the apple of thine eye, and graven on thy hand" (Timothy Dwight, 1800).

I know that I will have to defend the church from Satan's attack, and I understand that I will have to shield her from the enemies of the cross. I know that the "flaming arrows of the Evil One" will be directed our way (Ephesians 6:16).

But I will never understand why I must defend the church of Jesus Christ from the attacks of her own members. They act as if churches of Christ have done nothing right in 200 years. "Many members," someone has said, "are on the critical list ... they criticize everything."

When did it stop being right to call ourselves by the name of Christ? And when did a search for Bible answers to all life's questions become outmoded? And when did our opinions, feelings, likes and dislikes become more authoritative than God's word?

All our heroes seem to come from other religious groups; all our methods from cross-town denominations.

But I am proud of our brotherhood. Was there ever a television preacher who was more loving, yet more Biblical, than Batsell Barrett Baxter? Was there ever a better church builder than Ira North? Was there ever a better scholar than J.W. Roberts? Was there a sweeter singer than our own L.O. Sanderson? Was there ever a better book written than Lottie Beth Hobbs' "Daughters of Eve"? Was there a more dedicated missionary since Paul than W.N. Short, who spent 60 years in southern Africa?

We're so hard on ourselves, we become so disconsolate about our failures. Perhaps we should remember our triumphs, won by God's grace, and for his glory.

"Show proper respect to everyone: love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king" (1 Peter 2:17).