READERS' EXCHANGE

 

We continue to enjoy Restoration Review. We look forward to every issue. I especially enjoyed (and related to) your article on “Why I Am Not a Liberal.”—Charles Turner, 947 Bayland, Houston, Texas 77099.

Let a man make statements concerning the kingdom in the New Testament, and examine them carefully in the light of their context, and judge whether without exception the church answers to the requirements of each passage. If the kingdom here spoken of is simply the church, would it not be peculiar to say as in Mt. 5:3: “Theirs is the kingdom of heaven”? Is the church theirs? Or does he refer to the church when He says that “many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of Heaven” (Luke 12:32)? Would it not be an awkward promise “to give you the church”?—James M. Roe Miller, 113 N. Taylor St., Gainesville, Tex. 76240.

Your article about C. of C. profs educated by the Baptists was a jewel. I took the liberty to Xerox the article and mail it to a bunch of C. of C. friends and Baptists, including A.C.C. profs and S.W.B.T.S. profs. I got a very nice, warm, long letter back from one S.W.B.T. prof who said he was sharing it with others. I have four years of A.C.C. and four years of S.W.B.T.S. I loved your article and your line of reasoning.—Chaplain Roger Tate, U.S. Air Force, 414 Aviation, Apt. 13, Universal City, Texas 78148.

Year before last, a Church of Christ friend gave me a year’s sub to Restoration Review. I am not a member of the Church of Christ myself, but nevertheless I have enjoyed most of the articles very much. I grew up in the Presbyterian Church in Ohio and stayed Presbyterian till the end of last year. I now considcr myself non-denominational just Christian (or believer). I was only a nominal Christian till about 3 or 4 years ago when I had a “born again” experience. Praise God! Then, nearly a year later I received the baptism in or with the Holy Spirit and since then have been filled with joy as though rivers of living water flowed forth from me! Hallelujah! Are there any free Church of Christ churches in Austin?—James B. Hoffman, 11900 Indianhead Dr., Austin, Texas 78753.

After seven years in Washington D. C., it is my observation that the Church of Christ is declining in membership and other measurable statistics. However, I feel that there have never been greater opportunities for the spreading of the gospel than now. The real challenge is not so much people to baptize, but rather to integrate newborn Christians into the local congregation without all the traditional hangups.—Joe Hale, 6100 Hibbling Ave., Springfield, Virginia 22150.

We have always enjoyed Restoration Review. as a publication that expressed refreshing and stimulating ways of looking at biblical subjects. It fulfills the need for a periodical that examines certain issues in an unconventional way, as far as the Church of Christ is concerned.—Paul Briley, 222 S. 3rd Ave., Casper, Wyoming 82601.