KEY 73 AND CHURCHES OF CHRIST

It would be something of a tragedy for Key 73 to come and go with out people hardly knowing about it, and one only needs to be aware of our capacity for insulation and isolation to realize that such is possible. The purpose of this editorial, therefore, is to call our attention to Key 73, along with the hope that it may encourage some participation in at least some areas of the brotherhood. It may be unrealistic to ask for a church-wide cooperative effort with Key 73, but it is consistent in the light of our changing brotherhood to expect both interest and support from many quarters, if only our people are informed.

As its promoters put it, Key 73 is “a cooperative, individualized common effort to make Jesus Christ known to every person on the North American Continent in the year 1973, and to seek for a response and commitment to him and to his mission in the world.” Every means and method of communication is to be brought to bear upon this objective. New resources for effective evangelism will be sought, and congregations of all denominations will be assisted in becoming more effective redemptive centers. Key 73 hopes to be “an overarching Christian canopy” under which all believers may concentrate upon evangelism in the forthcoming year. It will be an opportunity for 200,000 congregations (11,500 of which are Churches of Christ) to work simultaneously in evangelizing the nation, with all the advantages that will be brought to bear through various media and organization.

The goal of confronting every person in North America with the gospel is not only unique for the modern church, but it could go far in showing us the way to oneness. A divided church can hardly indulge in “Calling Our Continent to Christ,” so in Key 73 we will have something closely akin to “the unity of the Spirit” in the scriptures. The cliche “Doctrine divides, service unites” has at least some appropriateness to Key 73. Thai saying would be closer to truth if it said, “Opinions divide …

Key 73 is for real. Its leaders meal business. Rather than the “folk religion” that they feel pervades A men can culture, they want the Christ of the Bible uplifted in men’s minds Rather than nebulous myths, American nationalism, or even good citizenship, they want the risen Lord to be proclaimed in all his glory. While they realize that churches will be different in methodology, they believe there is a “basic evangelical concern” that can unite them in this effort. Each church will, of course, be free to emphasize what it considers to be especially significant in the gospel story. Key 73 does not dictate or coerce, but it does provide the framework for this concerted effort in witnessing for Jesus.

This year will thus be a special kind of year, a year in which every believer will make a special effort to win souls. This will be a wholesome change for a lot of us who have hardly any testimony at all beyond “going to church.” Key 73 will help us do it, almost to the point of making it the thing to do.

At the heart of Key 73 will be a prayer thrust that will undergird the yea r of evangelism. This massive prayer effort will be launched during the Christmas holidays. Church bells, car horns, factory whistles. and sirens will summon 50 million believers to prayer each day at noon praying for the conversion of a continent’ Say the Key 73 officials: “Millions of Christians praying for even a few seconds at noon, could have a tremendous impact on the church, the nation and this decadent society.” They urge us to pray at that time that the news media will cooperate in the evangelistic effort, and that believers everywhere will work together in this effort. Pray also that the lIoly Spirit will infuse the effort and make it a genuine work for God.

Key 73 has a budget exceeding two million dollars, donated by the 140 participating denominations and ministries. It is directed by Dr. T. A. Raedeke, who has taken leave from his post as secreta ry of evangelism of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Dr. T. F. Zimmerman, general superintendent of the Assemblies of God, heads the executive committee. The Salvation Army, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, and Campus Crusade for Christ (who did Explo 72) have major roles in the effort. While the leadership seems to be more “conservative” or “evangelical,” the fact is that those churches that we think of as more “liberal” are warmly involved in Key 73, including the Disciples of Christ and United Methodist. It would figure that those churches that have been more evangelistical would be more apt to supply imaginative leadership. One blessing that could come to the church at large would be for those who have neglected evangelism to come to see its significance.

Key 73 has been in preparat ion since 1967, growing out of the Key Bridge Consultations. The office in St. Louis expects to coordinate the efforts of millions of church units across the nation. It will be a glorious use of mini-meetings as well as massive efforts through TV, radio, newspapers, and huge evangelistic rallies. There will be six major phases for the year. The first is “calling our continent to repentance and prayer” with emphasis on the Noon Prayer Call already referred to and a giant TV special on Jan. 6. Phase 2 is a call of our continent to the word of God, with emphasis on Bible study designed to cross every ethnic and cultural group.

Phase 3, extending from March 7 to Easter, is the heart of Key 73. Directed by Bill Bright of Explo 72. it will be a period of intensive Christian witness. This will be concluded by an Easter TV special. Phases 4, 5, and 6 are calls to the new life, to proclamation of the Good News, and to a commitment to Christ. All these will be motivated by 27 lay-witness type programs, including Bible study, literature, retreats, small groups, telephone ministry, and person to person witnessing.

What will our 11,500 congregations do about all this? There is of course no official commitment, and we may suppose that this is impossible. But at least one of our congregations, an innovative church in Jacksonville, Florida, is laying plans for cooperation with Key 73, and in such a way as to encourage brotherhood-wide participation. It will depend upon the leadnship in our congregations if more than this is done. This is our chance to give evidence to our own people, as well as the Christian world at large, that we are now mature enough to move out into a larger fellowship and do something real for Jesus. This would call for no compromise of any truth we may suppose we uniquely hold, unless it be the compromise of associating more with other believers. Believe me, our people are ready for a more liberal fellowship and a more gracious attitude toward other disciples of the Christ. They have long since grown tired of our narrowness and exclusivism. If the elders and ministers in the congregations will put our rank and file to the test by laying before them the possibilities in Key 73, I am confident that the response will be overwhelmingly positive. It will only take a little courage to take the step and tell the story, and then ask What do you want to do?

And if we really believe in congregational autonomy, then each church can decide on its own what God’s will is for it in regard to Key 73. The central office stands ready to share its resources, free for the asking. Why not at least investigate by writing to Key 73 Executive Office, 418 Olive St., St. Louis 63102?

Out of that office comes a lesson based on 2 Kings 7. When four lepers discovered a camp deserted by the Syrians, they gourged themselves with food and selfishly bore away silver and gold to hide it. Then they realized the folly of their self-centeredness and said, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news. If we are silent and wait until the morning, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore let us go and tell the king’s household.”

Key 73 is indeed a day of good news. Let not our silence or our in action be our sin. Let Churches of Christ also say so. —the Editor