READERS' EXCHANGE

 

Concern

It pains me too to live in a fragmented brotherhood. The only thing I know to do is to try and not fan the flames of discord, and to promote Christianity in a positive way.—Texas (a fellow editor)

It has only been a short time since I began to open my eyes and think for myself. It has been a marvelous thing and has brought me near to the Lord in a way I had never known. I do believe, however, that there are some things that we must keep ourselves aware of: 1. We can grow so accustomed to debunking and exposing that we become cynical. 2. We can mistake freedom in Christ for license and develop an attitude of “Look at me. I’ve kicked over the traces and renounced Church of Christism. I’m uninhibited and anything that is wild and way out I will accept.” To me one who does this is letting the church make his decisions just as surely as the most cowed member of all. I have seen both attitudes and I think we must be careful and use our minds.—Texas

This is the year of judgment for the Church of Christ, and the walkout at Harding is only a foretaste of what is to come. Like the children of Israel, we will listen to the Lord and obey His voice, or we will die in the wilderness.—Texas

While I am in complete sympathy with a continued fellowship among those of us who find that it is pleasant and fruitful, I don’t have great hopes for the masses of our people getting much closer together. I shouldn’t think that the “inquisition” which was held in Henderson, Tennessee, on Feb. 6 and reported in Christian Chronicle, April 28, 1969, would help to heal the breach.—Missouri (a fellow editor)

Commendation

I enjoy very much reading Restoration Review. You certainly do hit the nail on the head.—Mississippi

Just a note to tell you how much I appreciate you recommending the little book The Lord’s Supper by Warren Lewis. My sermon last Sunday on the Lord’s Supper and my participation following was so much more meaningful because of the fresh thought contained in the booklet.—Ohio

I can’t say exactly what it is that makes it so exciting to read. Maybe it identifies with my rebellious feelings on some of the attitudes of the brotherhood.—California

We love Restoration Review and we love you, Leroy Garrett, for blazing a courageous trail so that others may dare to say what they believe in their hearts. We are so happy and thankful to God that more and more of us are getting away from a lot of old traditional negativism and replacing it with a genuine realization that God created and loves every human being on this earth.—California

Colleges

The article on the Christian colleges was quite timely, but I’ am afraid that I am not so optimistic. They are as ruthless as the SS or the old Stalinists, although their method may be more devious.—New Mexico

What you say about the colleges makes me feel bad deep inside, in spite of the fact you have hope. I am not so sure that God will maintain our institutions by His grace. He may have other ways to make truth known, and we may be getting in his way.—New Mexico

It is noteworthy that severest judgments on the Church of Christ colleges these days come from those who have been educated in them or served on their faculties, or both. It is true that institutionalism has a deadly grip upon brotherhood leadership, and there is reason for despair. But fresh reinforcements are arriving and the battle is by no means over. We will in the end win the war for a free and responsible community of God on earth.