OUR CHANGING WORLD

 

The Christian Appeal, published by our non-class brethren at 4220 W. 11th Ave., Amarillo, Tx. 79106, filled its January issue with morning and evening prayers for the sick in the hospital. They reflect a deep sensitivity for the suffering and confidence in divine help. Subs are 2.50 per year.

The Bering Drive Church of Christ in Houston is cooperating with the Spring Branch Christian Church in a unique hospital ministry. They maintain four apartments for families who come to Houston to be with their sick. In recent months 26 families have been assisted, representing a savings of $45,000 for them. Besides the good done, the Bering folk see this as “a very positive step in the direction of Christian unification.”

Michael Hall, writing recently in the bulletin of the Northland Church of Christ, 4581 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43229, observes that confession is a continuing experience of the believer rather than a “step” in a plan of salvation. The scriptures on confession relate to the life of a Christian, not to one who has not yet obeyed. The eunuch in Acts 8, brother Hall says, stated that he believed, to be sure, for the evangelist needed to know, but this was not a confession. His confession (or profession) began when he was immersed and continued all his life. He notes that no one in any of the cases of conversion was told to confess. The confession is the believer’s charge to “hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering” (Heb. 10:23).

The bulletin of the University Church of Christ, 336 N. Guadalupe, San Marcos, Tx. 78666, quotes Homer Hailey, retired teacher of Florida College, to the effect that the church’s greatest need today is for those who will talk to people about their souls. “Little of the burning passion for men’s souls as seen in Jesus and the early Christians is to be found among Christians today,” he says.

Rhoderick D. Ice, writing recently in Christian Standard, says that “non-instrument” brethren and the “independent” brethren have more in common than they have differences. He believes the two groups would not be united even if the instrument question were settled. Why? The culprit is “just plain prejudice (on both sides).” He quotes David Lipscomb’s comments on Eph. 4:3 to show that it is God that makes us one, not some negotiation of our own. “All in Christ are one with Him and in Him. Nothing can keep two persons in Christ separated. They will flow together,” say Uncle Dave.

Writing in the first issue of the new The Disciple, Howard Short, former editor of the journal but now only a writer, points to the difficulty of taking the Bible literally, referring in particular to the instance of Jesus’ washing feet and instructing his followers to do likewise. “Numerous Disciples of Christ claim to take the Bible literally. More members of the ‘undenominational fellowship of Christian Churches and Churches of Christ do. And the non-instrumental churches of Christ practically all claim to do so. None of us washes feet as a religious ceremony. I’ve heard preachers in my childhood laugh and say, ‘I washed my feet at home before I came.’ “Does he believe we should adopt this practice? No, but he is not a literalist!, he points out. He sees this as Jesus’ way of showing us how to love one another.

This year’s lectureship at Freed-Hardeman College was on fellowship. Speakers included Gus Nichols, Tom Warren, Roy Deaver, G. K. Wallace, etc. It has been published in book form, with all the questions of fellowship dealt with. Unlike the lectureship at Abilene, which discussed this question at the Third Annual Preachers Workshop, there was no one on the program to represent the other side, which was the position, we may presume, called into judgment, one subject being “A New Unity Movement.” Good old FHC must be commended for guarding the faith!

Edward Fudge, Gordon Wilson, and Ferrell Jenkins, brethren generally associated with the Gospel Guardian and our “non-cooperative - conservative” churches, recently attended the program of the Evangelical Theological Society at Wheaton College, where they moved in the company of some of the world’s renowned evangelical scholars, including F. F. Bruce, Merrill Tenney, and George Eldon Ladd. The men interviewed F. F. Bruce, a report of which has appeared in the Gospel Guardian. These three, we take it, were the only Church of Christ folk represented at the conference, but there is nothing in their report that they presumed themselves to be the only Christians there.

The First Annual Mid-Gulf Coast Unity Meeting is planned for March 29-30 at the Proctor Street Church of Christ in Port Arthur. Participants include Ray Chester, Paul Young, Vic Hunter, Jim Reynolds, and Leroy Garrett. Housing and food will be provided by the congregation. Contact Richard Hall for further information at 335 Mockingbird Lane, Port Arthur, Texas 77640.