THE UNDERGROUND CHURCH: A POSTSCRIPT

In our last issue we published a report on The Underground Church of Christ, which was a review of some of the unorthodox activities going on among us. The reaction to the article has been most enthusiastic, serving somewhat to substantiate our claim that we do indeed have an underground church.

We thought our readers would be interested in sharing part of our mail, thus allowing them to judge for themselves the importance of underground activity. It may encourage the reticent to face up to the fact that significant changes are taking place within Churches of Christ, and to entertain the possibility that the solution postulated by this journal is both scriptural and workable. That solution is to accept the underground in fervent love as an important part of God’s family, despite its divergence from the mainline, and to draw from it those resources of power that give it its enthusiasm, thus achieving both strength and unity through diversity.

These letters, like the report itself, indicate that dramatic changes are taking place among us. It is imperative that we react to these changes with Christian maturity. Our response to the call of the underground may well determine whether the Church of Christ moves creatively into the twentieth century or crystallizes as a nineteenth century sect. These letters, we think, say something.

Enjoyed “The Underground Church of Christ” very much . . . I am more convinced that there is something to the phenomenon of tongue-speaking after all, in spite of the two ladies who were quite gently ushered out the door at my hometown church when they tried to introduce us to their realm of the Spirit.—Pennsylvania

I am persona non grata in the churches here. If I stay in the church of Christ and do not vegetate on a pew, I will have to go underground. My personal situation makes it difficult for my family. Pray for us.—Alabama

Your article on “The Underground Church” was quite interesting, especially your reference to the Spiritual Retreat held in Dallas. Many of my friends attended. We have “house church” every Friday night, mostly college students. The group is “Spirit oriented.” They are anywhere from 30-60 people in regular attendance. The students at ACC are becoming aware of the group and many are very interested in this concept. So you see how close to home “The Underground Church” hit me.—Abilene

It is a wonderful experience for those of us who have not received “the baptism of the Holy Spirit” to pray with uplifted hands, also. It has quite a cleansing effect.—Indiana

While reading “The Underground Church of Christ” I was thinking of a song we used to sing a lot—“Lord, lift me up and let me stand, by faith on heaven’s table land; a higher plane than I have found, Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.” The Higher ground Church of Christ would have been more appropriate!—Pennsylvania

Last week I received an article called “The Underground Church of Christ.” It told about a meeting in Dallas where some “brethren” met and discussed the Holy Spirit . . . Why is all this going on and supposedly in the church of Christ? It is because we have for too long taught the right things and left them in the church building instead of practicing them . . . What are we going to do about it?—North Carolina

They (a congregation in Nashville) have their problems now. The charismatic group has some members very alarmed. Your article on the underground church was very perceptive.—Ohio

The report on the “Underground” was exceptionally well done. I feel very much as you do about both the positive and the negative aspects . . . My daughter was in Dallas for the Campus Evangelism. Interesting things really are happening, and nothing can stop them. I personally doubt that these changes will be reflected in the power structure within our lifetime, but I may be wrong.—California

I was most interested in the article “The Underground Church” as it has been my pleasure recently to attend a cell prayer group meeting and it was a most wonderful evening. There was the freedom to express any idea one might have without being looked at with raised eyebrows. And there was love, even when we didn’t all share the same ideas. The Spirit is truly a unifying force.—California

Thank you for the attitude you displayed in the article “The Underground Church of Christ” toward all segments of the church.—New Mexico

We’ve had the problem here. But your approach of sympathy, alarm, and humor is the right one.—Texas

It is simply pure joy to know of a brother who may disagree with another’s views and yet is willing to forbear in love . . . Nashville

Your article, “The Underground Church of Christ”, was like Apollo 8—clear out of this world. I don’t know when I have enjoyed an article so much. It is truly wonderful to be living in these days. I think it is wonderful that there is a charismatic movement within the Church of Christ. I agree also, with your analysis, that one of the dangers is this turning into another sect. I hope and pray such will not happen, and that the movement will remain to bless all those who find the living God in this way. I am told there is a real movement among the Roman Catholic nuns and priests along this line, too. Someone, who saw it firsthand, told me he visited a chapel at Notre Dame University where hundreds of nuns and priests were lifting up holy hands and praising God in a fashion that one might have only thought possible among the Pentecostals . . . If God’s Spirit can so move on liturgical Roman Catholics and Episcopalians, surely He would be no respecter of persons and leave out the Church of Christ folk!—Houston Space Center

Among the responses were suggestions of reading material for those of us who have not explored the subjects in question extensively. So already we have something positive coming out of our recognition of the underground an invitation to read the books that have influenced them. Are we willing to do this? This sets the stage for dialogue, and it is a way to add more lumber to the bridge of understanding that we should be building. We are listing here some of the books that have been suggested. As I check the list, I see that I have read two of them and am now reading a third one. I plan to keep reading both sides of all issues. It makes me less dogmatic and easier to live with. Besides, since I have brothers on “lower ground” as well as “higher ground”, I not only want to move freely from one level to the Other, but I want to be able to understand what I hear.

Our office does not sell these books and we do not know the prices, except that surely the paperbacks will be nominal in cost. We will attempt to stock these books for our readers if the requests warrant it.

Franklin, Ben J. The Spirit and Spirituality in Contrast. Santa Ana, California: Ben J. Franklin, 1967. Pp. 84, paperbound

An extensive scripture outline by a former Church of Christ minister advocating the use of gifts of the Holy Spirit today.

Kelsey, Morton T. Tongue Speaking. Garden City, New York: Doubleday, 1964. Pp. 252, clothbound.

A sympathetic and scholarly treatment of the current charismatic revival in Protestantism and its historical roots by a non-tongue speaking Episcopal clergyman who has done graduate work in psychology.

Nee, Watchman. The Normal Christian Life. Fort Washington, Pennsylvania: Christian Literature Crusade, 1957. Pp. 197, paperbound.

An analysis of what the abundant life in the Spirit ought to be.

Sanford, Agnes. The Healing Gifts of the Spirit. Philadelphia: J. P. Lippincott, 1966. Pp. 222, clothbound.

An intelligent and practical discussion of spiritual gifts by the wife of an Episcopal minister.

Sherrill, John L. They Speak with Other Tongues. Spire Books. Westwood, New Jersey: Revell, 1965. Pp. 140, paperbound.

A reporter’s account of his investigation and experience of the “baptism in the Holy Spirit.”

Wilkerson, David. The Cross and the Switchblade. Spire Books. Westwood, New Jersey: Revell, 1964. Pp. 174, paperbound.

The dramatic account of a Pentecostal preacher’s mission to dope addicts in the New York slums.