OUR CHANGING WORLD

 

Over the holidays a full-page message appeared in a Dallas metropolitan newspaper entitled Peace Be With You. It began by saying: “At this most beautiful time of year, people talk of peace on earth and good will toward men. But the headlines of newspapers throughout the world blare forth another message. The world is filled with violence, crime, political crises, uncertainties and sufferings caused by the horrible deeds of men.” It goes on to say: “In a world founded on Godliness and in an environment wherein Christianity abounds, violence will have no place, crime no criminal, a soldier no war.”

The message appeared in behalf of five different churches or denominations, one investment company, and the affluent H. L. Hunt. The churches? Episcopal Diocese of Dallas, First Baptist Church, Presbyterian Church of the U. S., the Assemblies of God, and—believe it or not—the Skillman Ave. Church of Christ!

We commend this beautiful illustration of fellowship without endorsement!

Two non-class and/or one-cup congregations have recently undergone interesting changes. One in Montgomery, Alabama, ministered to by Dallas Burdette, has introduced the cups method of distributing the Supper after many years of using one cup. But this church has for several years been non-sectarian in that “the cups question” was no longer made a test of fellowship. The Old Paths Advocate, the journal of this persuasion, has harshly criticized this congregation, charging that it divided the Body in introducing the cups. The truth is, however, that the leaders waited until no one objected to cups before making the move and the congregation did not divide. There is presently a struggle going on among these brethren in behalf of more independence of thought and freedom from preachers and papers who, according to one report, presume to be “infallible interpreters of the Bible.”

A non-class congregation in Dallas, the Skyline Church of Christ (and of course non-instrument too) recently have had two special three-day programs in which instruments were used. They also have five members who “have been baptized in the Holy Spirit.” Their pulpit is open to others than those of their own persuasion and last year they had a unity meeting with a variety of participants, including a Church of God minister. The church supports two preachers, Tom Lehmann and Billy Jack Ivey.

Reuel Lemmons and Carl Ketcherside, editors of papers with substantially different approaches to current problems, were on the same program together with Christian Church-Church of Christ missionaries in Sao Paulo, Brazil. They flew down together, roomed together, ate together, and taught together. Reuel told me in Abilene that he first heard Carl when Carl was but a boy still in knee pants and that he had always liked him, even though he disagrees with him, and he said they had a good time together in Brazil. Carl told me in Hartford, Illinois that he loved Reuel and was looking forward to being with him. According to Reuel, during one session he handed a flit gun to Carl (one being use to combat troublesome insects) and told him that he could now spray him since Reuel had been spraying him. To which Carl replied: “After having to shoot at you from a long distance I’m glad now to be able to do it at such close range!” Reuel also said that he felt that the cooperative spirit shown among the missionaries in Brazil could be practiced among Christian Church and Church of Christ preachers in this country without any compromise of conviction.

Also from Abilene is the news that the Restoration Quarterly, a scholarly journal published from Church of Christ ranks, is planning to invite several Christian Church brothers to join their editorial board.

A new congregation has been formed in Abilene, presumably in opposition to recent events at Highland Church of Christ, which conducts Herald of Truth. The new church already has its own building, having obtained one from another religious group, and is in full swing with over 300 present for the first service. It will likely have the image of being a conservative reaction against the “liberalism” in Abilene, but to be distinguished from the non-Herald of Truth or “anti” congregation that has already been there for years. But one leader at Highland informs me that the new congregation has drawn widely from the city and that only a few families from Highland are involved. Moreover the Highland church is going strong numerically and spiritually: more baptisms last year than in recent years, greater attendance, and a beautiful spirit of love and oneness. And Herald of Truth is going to be all right.