READERS' EXCHANGE

 

I really don’t know where for 2.00 I can get so much error mixed in with truth as I can in the RR. I smile when I write this, because of goodwill toward you, but there is truth in the statement and no poetry. — J.D. Bales, Harding College, Searcy, Ar. 72143

(Well, at least no poetry! Yet I think J.D. might do well as a poet. We do not claim inerrancy for this journal. We all have some error, unless it would be brother Bales, for he is freer from error than almost anyone I know. It is the kind of error that matters most. The error of a bad heart, of insincerity, of malicious deceit, of merchandising men’s souls, of insensitivity toward human suffering, of not loving Jesus, of not really wanting the truth. If my heart does not deceive me, I am not guilty of these errors, and I believe that’s what counts most. As for the general search for truth and the continual quest for the ancient order of things, I reserve the right to be wrong. I would only commend to J.D. and others who think as he does the “Wisdom of John Stuart Mill. Always allow for the dissenting voice, he urges, for even if it be mostly erroneous, there may well be some truth, and hold fast that truth!)

If it hadn’t been for you and our brother Carl Ketcherside, I’d probably still be passing out copies of brother Ira’s Contending for the Faith, and gnashing my teeth at my brothers who don’t share my views. I feel great shame for that period of my life. But I love you both, and I thank the Lord that he opened my eyes while I’m still fairly young (32). — Jack Wallace, 4114 S. Sunrise Blvd., Mogadore, OR. 44260

I am a preacher for a church of one-half non-instrumental Church of Christ and one-half Christian Church. We aren’t trying to be either one, simply the church of Jesus. — Bill Duncan, Box 103, Oberlin, Kansas

In your October issue you said that my review of James P. Needham’s article on fellowship accused him of showing sympathy for ‘the Garrett-Ketcherside-Fudge position. You noted that he does not buy that. Well, I don’t buy it either. Yes, he was concerned that I was implying such sympathy on his part. That was not my purpose, as I have assured him. He said some things that I feared would be taken as sympathy for this position. So as to avoid any such impression, I wrote the review, knowing it would bring a vigorous response from him, thus removing any impression of sympathy for said position. In the same article from which you quoted, I commented on those who “teach that a baptized believer can worship with instrumental music, participate in social gospel practices, centralize and institutionalize churches, and still be covered by God’s grace!” Then I pointed out that if brother Needham were called on to recommend such a one as sound, thus showing sympathy for such a position, his answer would be an unequivocal No! — Ron Halbrook, Box 8368, Nashville 37007

Last Sunday morning I had the honor of serving the Lord’s supper to my brothers and sisters in the Lord. It is wonderful to be able again to participate in an assembly. As I contemplated beforehand, I held the bread and the wine aloft, blessed it and broke it before the assembly. I prayed for our unity. I didn’t really know why I chose to do and say these things this way until tonight when I read your “Crumbs on the Platter.” Now I think since you were present in the assembly that God may have been saying, “Amen to your Crumbs on the Platter article, Leroy” — Tom Farr, Denton, Texas.