No. 1, March 1993

 

TRANSFORMED OR CONFORMED?

 

            In her book on The Hilarity of Community, Marva J. Dawn tells the story of a little boy who made a persistent effort to open a flower bud, only to have it fall apart in his hands. In frustration be asked his mother why it is that when God opens a flower it is beautiful but when be tries it falls apart. His mother was impressed with the child’s insight, especially when be went on to answer his own question, “Oh, I know! When God opens the flower he does it from the inside.”

 

            As Dawn observes, the story points up the difference between being conformed and being transformed. The boy was trying to manipulate the flower by controlling it from without (conformity), while God was working from within, allowing the flower to move onto its next stage, from bud to bloom (transformation).

 

            Dawn relates all this to Rom. 12:2: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed,” and she likes Phillips’ rendition of the first part, “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its mold.”

 

            It is the nature of sects to conform people to their mold by pressing the “issues” that the sect champions. Unless one yields to the conformity she does not count. She isn’t loved. A sect loves only its own, if that kind of passion can be called love. Moreover, a sect will seek to destroy the nonconformist, one that opts for transformation. The most dangerous thing that can happen to one in a sect is to resolve to be a free person in Christ and to put devotion to Christ above all else.

 

            It is what murdered our Lord, nonconformity. The legalists could not squeeze him into their mold. That must be what he meant when be said, “I have overcome the world.” It is that context that he tells us to “Be of good cheer” (In. 16:33).

 

            We can always be of good cheer when we yield to God and allow him to change us from within. Transformation! The world will not understand, for it knows only conformity. Even the church may not understand, for it is inclined to be like the world instead of like God. Those who work from within use grace, love, compassion; those who work from without use rules, tradition, the party line. Transformation means freedom; conformity means bondage. Isn’t it good news that we have a choice?                           --- Leroy

 

THE OTHER CHILDREN OF GOD

 

            The little letter of 3rd John has the reputation of being doctrinally unimportant, even more than 2nd John and Jude, which are also but one chapter. No one bothers to read it with any expectation and it is hardly ever referred to or quoted. Oddly enough, it is the only book in the New Testament that does not use the name of Jesus or Christ. The little letter does, however, pass along a name that has become infamous, Diotrophes, whom we all know as one who “loves to have the preeminence.”

 

            Whatever else 3rd John has to say to us, there is one line (in verse 11) that is pregnant with meaning: He who does good is of God. as the New King James renders it. The Jerusalem Bible probably catches the meaning better with “Anyone who does what is right is a child of God.” It might be better still to translate it, “Anyone who does charitable deeds is godlike,” for it is almost certainly referring to doing kindly and benevolent acts for others. That is what God does, gracious things for others, even when they are not deserved. When anyone does that be or she is “of God.”

 

            This says more than most of us are ready to accept. “The Elder,” the writer of the letter, inspired of the Spirit, is saying “anyone” (believer or unbeliever, Christian or non-Christian) who is benevolent (like God) is “of God” or “a child of God.” The person may not even know God, but if be obeys the voice of God within his moral conscience and behaves graciously toward his fellows he is, according to this passage, in some sense a child of God. Not a Christian perhaps and not in covenant relationship with God, but nonetheless “of God.”

 

            This little line in a little book says even more, and it is an alarming truth: Only by helping others can one be godlike. The rest of the passage says, “He who does evil bas not seen God.” That means that we cannot do harmful things to people and be of God. We all know that, but neither can we be neutral, doing neither good nor evil. We must do good things (charitable deeds) to be like God. This is more than having good intentions or even goodwill toward others.

 

            As God acts in doing good, we must act in doing good. It is also more than being good and moral on the inside, for true goodness expresses itself in gracious acts. This of course can be done in many ways, including quiet and unobstrusive ways, such as praying for others, and it does not necessarily require money. But it involves time. In our busy lives we must take time to think, pray, and act kindly and mercifully in behalf of others.

 

            We all know those occasional people who are full of good works and kindly deeds, and often they profess no religion. While they do not parade it, they are known for being “good” people. They may well be more charitable toward the poor and needy than professed Christians. Well, if you did not know it before you know it now. The Bible says such ones are children of God or “of God,” render it as you will. This is because they are good in the way God is good - doing good for others.

 

            The Elder in 3rd John is not the only one that says this. Jesus also taught it, but with even more dramatic force.

 

            In Mt. 25:31-46 Jesus sits upon his judgment throne with all nations (all humankind) gathered before him. They are judged not by whether they were baptized, prayed, or attended church, but by the way they treated others. Jesus names such charitable deeds as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, showing mercy to the stranger and the imprisoned. Jesus says to those on his right hand, “Come, you blessed of my Father,  inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for me was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you took me in, etc.”

 

            The amazing thing is that those rewarded did not even know that it was Christ they had helped, for the record has them saying, ‘’When did we see you hungry and fed you, etc.?” Jesus replied, “Inasmuch as you did it unto these, the least of my brethren, you did it to me.” The condemned ones on his left hand had wilfully neglected to show mercy, and they too were surprised to learn that when they refused to help the needy they refused God himself.

 

            We may conclude from this that there are many out in the world who are serving Christ when they serve others, but are unaware of the significance of what they do. Jesus teaches that they will be “blessed of my Father,” just as 3 In. 11 says they are “of God.”

 

            This is not salvation by works, for no one is saved except by the mercy of God. It means people can be “children of God” in different senses, some by a covenant relationship based on faith and obedience to Christ. But others are “of God” by the goodness of their hearts and their charitable deeds. Such ones, of course, will always follow God according to the light they have.

 

            The biting truth in all this is that none of us, Christian or non-Christian, can truly be “of God” without being like God in that we care for others and treat them graciously. It is a matter of sincerity, honesty, and compassion. Those who have these traits are the other children of God - Leroy

 

            WHAT CAUSES DIVISION AMONG CHRISTIANS?

 

            Numerous causes for division among Christians might be named. We divide when we lose that love for each other ‘’that binds everything together in perfect harmony.” And since unity is not our work but the fruit of the Holy Spirit, we divide when we fail to draw upon the power of that indwelling Guest of Heaven. Sectism, legalism, and ignorance of biblical teaching have been listed as causes. Like the breakup of a marriage, division among Christians might have more than one cause.

 

            Back in 1938 before the Disciples’ International Convention, Frederick D. Kershner named a cause for division that deserves our consideration: Divisions have resulted from a failure to distinguish between the particulars and the universals of the Christian faith. Particulars are those things that make us distinctive, setting us apart from others, such as the Amish “hook and eye,” he said. We could add acappella singing, speaking in tongues, or a particular view of the millennium. The universals are the things held in common by all Christians. We can unite only upon the universal, the essentials, Kershner noted. Division comes when particulars are made tests of fellowship. He said all Protestantism has suffered from “a deification of the particular.”

 

            Kershner is reinterpreting an old motto: “In essentials or matters of faith (universals) unity; in nonessentials or opinions (particulars) liberty; in all things love.” It is similar to Alexander Campbell’s call for unity on the basis of catholicity. Both men are saying that opinions or particulars are all right in themselves, but they are not to be imposed upon others as essential or as if they were catholic in nature. This is to say division is caused by being pushy about our opinions rather than allowing liberty. --- Leroy

 

 

OUR CHANGING WORLD

 

We’ve Moved!

 

            It is just as well that we did not promise our first newsletter on a certain date. I had in fact in the last issue of Restoration Review announced that the first newsletter would be in January, 1993. Ouida cautioned that I not do that, for we might not be able to deliver so soon. So, I made no promise except that there would be a newsletter. Ouida’ s intuition was on target as usual, for we suddenly came upon an unexpected development that has consumed our time and energy for several weeks. We have purchased a new home and have moved into it!

 

            I say it was unexpected because we had not planned to make a move so soon. We had for years talked of slimming down to a one-story home, for our experience with Ouida’ s mother, who for years had to be confined to an upstairs bedroom, made us sensitive to growing old in a home with an upstairs. We had purchased lots and planned someday to build. But then it happened. Ouida saw this ad about a luxurious home in the “country club” section of Denton that a bank had repos­sessed and was offering on an “as is” basis. It had some foundation problems and was partly stripped by the previous owners. I took a builder friend to look at it and he concluded that the problems were not all that serious. Having much confidence in him, I asked him, “Would you buy it?” When he said he would, we decided to make a bid, but it was so low we had little hope of getting it. We waited while others with higher bids tried to get loans, but no bank would lend on an “as is” house. We offered cash and the bank went for it, and were we surprised! We soon made the necessary repairs and began to move in. But after 30 years at 1201 Windsor Dr. you can imagine what an ordeal it has been, most of which we’ve done ourselves. And we still have work to do in getting the old place ready to rent or sell. I tell Ouida that I’ve had it with moving, and the next time I move I’ II be taking nothing with me!

 

            Ouida loves our new home, and we can’t believe that this lovely home (one story!) is really ours. We are impressed with the decorated glass doors (four hinges!) and windows and the high ceilings. The master bedroom is elegant with its Jacuzzi bath. We’re not used to things like a central sound system, security alarm, a marble fireplace, garage doors that open automatically, a sprinkler system, and even a bar, just what we need! I tell our neighbors that every rich neighbor­hood needs at least one poor family and that we’ve moved in to provide some economic diversity. I’m not likely to take up golf at the course across the street, but I’ll be jogging there. Come to see us and we’ll show you how poor folk live in a rich neighborhood! In the meantime you should note our new address. We actually live just outside Denton in Corinth, Texas (9 miles nearer Dallas than where we lived before), but since we can still use Denton for our mailing address, we opted to do so.

 

California Sunshine!

 

            In January we interrupted the excitement of moving for an exciting week in California, except the weather did not cooperate. Sunny southern California was not sunny after all. There was so much rain for so long that it created emergency conditions, and it affected the turnout for my lectures at the Westwood Christian Foundation in Los Angeles. I gave three lectures on “The Reformation of the Church,” which were well received and will soon be published. If you would like a copy of what will be about a 50-page booklet, let us know and we will see that you receive a copy with an invoice enclosed. The cost will be moderate. I think you will find it interesting and informative. I treat the subject in the light of general literature, the Protestant reformation, and our own heritage in the Stone-Campbell Movement. On Lord’s day I addressed the Westwood Christian Church, a congregation with a great history and adjacent to the UCLA campus.

 

            It was the first time in many years that Ouida could join me for an extended trip, and it was delightful to have her along. It was something like a honeymoon in our old age. Bob Fife, director of the Foundation and an old friend with whom I’ve often traveled, told Ouida that I behave better when she’s along. Once our assignment in L.A. was over we rented a car and drove all the way to San Francisco, visiting interesting places on the way. With Bob and Laveda Fife we spent a day in Solvang, a delightful Scandinavian village that has long been a favorite of tourists. After a sad farewell to our dear friends we drove to Hearst Castle, which Californians say one should see if he sees nothing else. We were not disappointed. The two-hour tour of John Randolph Hearst’s “ranch” was fabulous. It was where the media magnet wined and dined the great and near-great from all over the world. It was apparent that in building and furnishing the castle on his ranch money was beside the point. He imported elegant furnishings from all over the world. Our guide told us that it is by far the state’s most profitable tourist attraction. Would Mr. Hearst have had it any other way?

 

            It was still raining when we arrived in San Francisco, but the sun bathed the grand old city for the next two days and we had a glorious time walking its up-and-down streets, riding the cable cars, shopping in China town and Gharibaldi Square. We had reserved a room at a downtown hotel that has an elegant English flavor and close to the main attractions. We sat on a bench at Fisherman’s Wharf and watched the seagulls on San Francisco bay for a time and then the street artists. Ouida especially enjoyed the cable cars, which we frequently rode, it being an excellent way to see America’s most unique city. She was fascinated with their history (The inventor was inspired by compassion for the poor horses who had to pull the cars up the hills!) and how they worked, so we visited the Cable Car Museum.

 

            One day we drove across the Golden Gate bridge to Muir Woods to see the redwoods, which awed us. I have seen more magnificent ones farther north, but these were a good introduction for Ouida. A sign on one tree indicated that it has stood since the days of Christ.

 

            We flew home from San Francisco after a week of loyal obedi­ence to what so many of you have urged us to do, “Enjoy yourselves.”

 

            Ouida thinks I should tell you, at the risk of being immodest, of the honor Pepperdine U. gave me while in L.A. Since the university has a working relationship with the Foundation that sponsored the lec­tures, it was appropriate for the Restoration History Faculty Collo­quium to choose the occasion to present me with their Distinguished Christian Service Award for my years as editor of Restoration Review. Since Pepperdine always goes first class, you can imagine the elegance of the plaque which Prof. Jerry Rushford graciously pre­sented at a dinner. It referred to my work of “encouraging the reformation and renewal of the church” and my long years as an “enthusiastic promoter of unity and openness in the Stone-Campbell Movement.” The delegation from Pepperdine was led by chancellor Norvel Young and his wife Helen, whom I have long admired and was eager for Ouida to meet. This is one more indication that we as a people are changing. This couldn’t have happened a few years ago.

 

 

READER’S EXCHANGE

 

There are so many blessings in Christ that we in the Church of Christ are missing because of our legalism and sectarianism. I thank God that I am now free in Christ. Your journal introduced me to that truth. I think we as a people are changing and I am encouraged. Thank you for sharing the joy, love, and freedom we have in Christ. Best wishes. If I don’t see you in this world, I’ll be looking forward to meeting you in heaven. - Gail Brummett, Baton Rouge, LA.

 

            When I read your last issue I must admit that there were tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. You folk have helped me keep the faith, and you have helped me keep my head on straight. I must say a simple but much needed word, Thank you! - Doug Plaster, Greens­boro, NC

 

            My hat is off to Ouida for her terrific and exciting article on angels. I loved it. She should have been writing all along. You didn’t suppress her, did you? As for the end of RR I say to you both, “Well done, caring and faithful servants!” - Jack Wallace, Sandusky, OH

 

            In your newsletter you might tell your readers that the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ in Shady Valley, Tn. have been meeting jointly in each other’s building. They have their own unity meeting going. I am interested because I married a girl from there. I am enjoying the library of your bound volumes. When I reread your “The Unifying Power of the Cross” (Dec. 1987) it became clear to me for the first time how we can be united when there are many opinions. Thanks! -Jack Sneed, Sante Fe, TX

 

I understand that N.B. Hardeman’s mother was a Methodist, and that after her death he said he believed she was in heaven because she had done what she thought was right. I do not know where I read this, maybe in Restoration Review. We will miss it. It has been a light in a sea of confusion. - Ward R. Case, Jr., Jamestown, TN

 

            (Yes, I have often told what I heard brother Hardeman say when I sat only a few feet from him in his classes. He said his mother died a Methodist but he believed she was saved because she had followed Christ the best she knew how. I have often wished we students had followed through on that statement and thus questioned the legalism we were being taught. I always believed brother Hardeman knew better than what our people were saying back in the 1940’s and what some still say. But it was sometime before the implication of what he said began to sink in. -Leroy)

 

            We’re getting older, but it appears that those who stay busy last longer than those who early seek the easy way. So let’s keep at it. RR had a good record of promoting brotherhood on the one hand and thinking through issues on the other. That is consistent with the early leaders of our movement, and I believe it is conducive to progress. ­Woodrow Wilson, El Paso, TX

 

            BOOK NOTES

 

By the time you receive this newsletter our last bound volume (1991-92) should be ready. If you have reserved a copy, it will be sent to you with invoice enclosed. If you wish to purchase a copy, the price is $15.00 postpaid. The book includes all the issues of Restoration Review for the last two years.

 

            You may now purchase all seven of our bound volumes, 1978 through 1992, except 1979-80, for only $75.00 postpaid. We have only a few of some of these volumes left.

We still have loose copies of Restoration Review for many years back, but not in complete volumes. If we select at random back over the years the price is 15 copies for $5.00 postpaid, or 35 copies for $10.00 postpaid. We believe you will find these back copies as interesting and timely as if they were current. When you specify certain issues the price is 40 cents each, no limit.

 

            Cecil Hook has edited Our Heritage in Unity and Fellowship, which is a selection of writings of Carl Ketcherside and Leroy Garrett on the subjects of unity and fellowship, along with numerous essays on our heritage. $9.95 postpaid.

Anyone interested in good stuff on the ministry of women, presented in a balanced way, should read Faith Martin’s Call Me Blessed, which we will send to you for $9.95 postpaid.

 

            Carl Ketcherside’s The Twisted Scriptures. which is as excellent as anything he ever wrote, has been reissued. It is an eye-opener on the way we have twisted passages to fit the party line. $7.95 postpaid.

 

            A new book out of Abilene, Distant Voices, by C. Leonard Allen, invites Church of Christ folk, who are now “a changing church,” to listen to the voices of their own past in order to deal more faithfully with the changes taking place. Allen summons both the known and unknown, women as well as men, to testify to the diversity of our own past. And the issues are far reaching, all the way from the nature of the gospel and fellowship to the work of the Spirit and the ministry of women. The chapter on T.B. Larimore on how to deal with division may be the most needed for these days. We can rejoice that this book was ever published and hope that it will be widely read. $12.95 postpaid.