I have been using this picture from the old paths website (slightly modified by the addition of the label) with selected posts from the oldpaths.com for a long time, but never in a post of my own.
The picture is that of a Roman road in France, so it is old; its exact age is unknown to me, but old is OLD!! To my mind, it is perfect for the website, which hosts articles from various authors of the churches of Christ.
For those unacquainted with them, they are autonomous congregations seeking to restore first century Christianity in our modern world.
To me, the following Bible verse seems so appropriate...
Jeremiah, Chapter 6 (World English Bible)
16 Yahweh says, “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, ‘Where is the good way?’ and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. (emphasis added vs. 16) But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ 17 I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not listen!’
Human beings love to have things their own way. This is especially true in matters of religion. Over the millennia, the church has become different from its earliest days and this is sad. Jesus bought the church with HIS own body and blood and people just want to have things their own way.
To correct this, why not use the Bible to restore what they had during the first century? Really, why not? Remove creeds and man made ideas of what the church should be and go back to the original and what will you have? - the first century church. A church with the same practices, attitudes and doctrines that it started out with- before human beings decided to "improve" it!!!
Interested? Go to the website or view some of their articles on my blog. I have enjoyed them for many years and I hope you will as well.
Your friend,
Gary