We are Christians who desire unity among all the faithful denominations. We pursue one true unified Church following Christ. We believe in the God-breathed inspiration of the Word of God in written form and we do not seek to impede the work of the Holy Spirit in our services, public, or private lives. We encourage the scriptural exercise of the gifts of the Holy Spirit as they edify the Church. We hold fast to orthodox Christian doctrine while praying for a revival that will precede the return of Christ as the bridegoom for His bride, the Church. Our essentials include the Trinity, Jesus’ completed work on the Cross, salvation exclusively by the death of Christ, the absolute necessity for confession and repentance, the call to obedience to God as understood plainly in the scriptures, the pursuit of righteousness, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, that faith without works is dead, that Hell is real, God is just, that God is Love, and that the Kingdom of Heaven is both something to look forward to in the afterlife and very present here in our current world, now, today, for those who choose to live in it. Camp of the Bride. Camp Bride
Camp of the Bride Church is affiliated with the Southern Baptist of Texas Convention and we affirm the Baptist Faith and Message 2000. Camp of the Bride. Camp Bride
Below is a pastoral letter to the Church today, our Church, the Western Church, taken from the opening pages of the Camp of the Bride Outpost Notebook. This letter will no-doubt clarify the Pastor’s vision for this ministry. Camp of the Bride. Camp Bride
To the Church,
This workbook is dedicated to the Church. My hope is that those who are struggling to find their place in the Church that Jesus has built, is building, and will build will be strengthened and encouraged by working through these missions. I am not just addressing those who find themselves on the outskirts of the Christian faith, but the pastors and deacons on which the burden of evangelism and discipleship primarily rest. That notion that there is more to this Christian life is not false. Leaders around the world are praying for a revival that will reignite the Church we read about in the Acts of the Apostles.
You do not lack faith for your part in this body, by which I mean the local body and the universal Church, though many of you wonder why you seem to be failing in your calling. I am writing to the children of faithful church-goers and deacons and pastors who have heard everything that this Christian life is supposed to be, but have never seen anyone walk like Jesus or even Paul. I am writing to the rock-solid charter members of 80 year-old churches and to seminary students who are fired up and excited to learn where they fit in God’s purpose for the world.
I am writing to you, son or daughter of the Most High, Bride of Jesus Christ the Son of God, and co-heir to all of creation. You are saved from the death, which is the wages of your sin, by the grace of God alone. Jesus’ work on the cross is complete and our own righteousness is like filthy rags to God but God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. When we, in faith and obedience, allow God to do righteous acts through us, our works become like white linen in which we will be clothed at the wedding supper of the Lamb. The book of James teaches us that we should show our faith by our works, not that our works save us, but we are saved through faith by grace and faith without works is dead. I presume that for our faith to be dead that it must have been alive at some time in the past. God’s righteous acts will no doubt revive dead faith in some and stoke the fire of a living faith in many others.
Do not despise Godly training and good doctrine. Seek out teachers who you trust and are grounded in the Word of God. I direct you toward several godly and honest teachers in this work. Do not condescend to those who honestly trust in good doctrine, but oppose you. Our love for each other must be stronger than our view of the non-essential doctrines which often divide us. Some walk carefully as to not lose their salvation while others preach the eternal security of the saints. Some love free-will while others are thankful for the irresistible grace which drew them to Jesus. These truths may be too broad, too deep, and more personal to ever expect the Church to be able to completely agree upon in this age.
Be slow to offense and reserve the use of the word heresy for those who would teach truly damnable doctrines of devils. Give people room and time to grow. One may seem mature and even have many fruits, but still be a spiritual adolescent. These brothers and sisters are learning, even when they seem like they reject good doctrine. True followers of Christ should follow together in love without doubting their own salvation and earnestly pray for those who seem to have fallen away from faith. Our assuredness in the scripture and Jesus’ knowledge of all sound doctrine is enough to bring us together. A time is coming, Church, my Church, when the walls you have built will no longer stand, and the nails that pierced the hands will hold you together, those beautiful and terrifying, blood stained nails. The gospel of love, the resurrection and the hope of His return, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and the promise of His daily presence until the end of the age; let these things bring you together, even when you disagree on the use of the gifts (one of many disputes). Remember only God knows our hearts and the world is to know us by how we love one another.
It is my hope that you will commit to completing every one of these missions. Some of you will have a difficult time writing a sermon, while others may relish the opportunity. Some of you who are gifted speakers may struggle to pray for a stranger to be healed on the spot. Some of you may struggle to read a book or listen to a teaching series. Each of us has our strengths and weaknesses.
Do not give up on or ignore any one mission. They all work together with the intention of building up a leader in the apostolic Church which is being revived today because of the prayers of generations of saints. Pastoral and priestly leadership has been our model since Christianity became the state religion of Rome, but it is time for a change. Faithful leaders have carried the Church on their shoulders for far too long because of a church design, that frankly, only works when all the sheep come together regularly in a pen.
Do not despise those who love to attend worship services and Sunday school or appreciate “high church,” but encourage the pastors in the exercise of their gifts while growing faithfully in your own. Despite the expectations the church has developed, a single man cannot bear the entire burden of leading a local church and be perfect in everything all of the time. For an evangelist to be an effective pastor, the lost sheep have to somehow find their way into the building. Those who are prophets are few, but they know who they are, and seldom are they honored appropriately. A teacher is like a candle in a window whose ability is self-evident and rarely able to be contained. The apostles are the builders, the church-planters, those who can both encourage the pastor and the prophet at the same time.
This workbook contains future acts of the apostles. Steven was among the first deacons, but his deeds are recorded among the Acts of the Apostles. This deacon became the first victor to join the resurrected Jesus in Heaven. Do not let titles confuse or limit you; we are all disciples saved by grace, filled with the Spirit of God, and empowered to do good works in the Kingdom of Heaven which now touches the Earth. Learn to pray. Learn to read and study scripture. Be accountable to God and to man. Learn to preach. Live a life above reproach and repent when you cannot. Learn to cry out to God on behalf of another. Learn to fiercely love the unbelieving, and for the sake of the lost world and your own children, learn to sacrificially love one another; this is paramount. Always be ready to answer for the hope that you have. Learn how to listen and when to speak. Take the Gospel to your family and workplace; to your town, city, state, and country; and to the farthest reaches of the world, baptizing and making disciples. My heart goes with you as it is anchored in Jesus.
In Christ and with His love,
Clinton Cochran
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