| OUR CHANGING WORLD |
Sometime
back the Campbell Church of Christ in California had a formal
installation service for Larry Hall “into the ministerial life
of this congregation.” This included a charge on the part of
the elders and Larry’s response. This sort of thing is still
very rare among our people.
Can
two congregations merge and pool their resources? Apparently not,
unless a two-thirds majority agrees, as per Florida law. Two
Disciples congregations in the Miami area attempted this, but four
people blocked it with a lawsuit. So the majority that wanted a legal
merger simply walked out and joined the other, leaving the old
downtown church still going with a very small minority. A Jewish
judge presided, and he was quick to point out that Christians should
be able to solve their problems out of love and concern for each
other, apart from court action.
There
is a congregation in Union Star, Missouri that has gone full circle
insofar as our three-pronged Movement is concerned. It was first a
non-instrument Church of Christ. Years later it became Church of
Christ (Disciples), bringing in the instrument, of course, as well as
joining the agencies. But now it is Christian Church (Independent).
It just shows what can happen to a church when it follows the Book
and obeys all the rules!
The
Wycliffe (Ohio) Church of Christ has made such contact with an
adjoining United Presbyterian Church that the Presbyterians have made
frequent use of the baptistry at the Church of Christ, immersing many
of their people. The Presbyterian pastor is an immersionist. Would it
therefore be proper to think of the Church of Christ in that area
really meeting in two buildings, one marked “Presbyterian”
and the other “Church of Christ”? Or is there something
else the folk would have to do in order to be in the Church of
Christ, beside believing in Jesus and being immersed into him?
A
young minister with one of the Churches of Christ in the Dallas area
resigned his position recently to become a blacksmith. You read it
right. He took a course in the ancient art while still a gentleman of
the cloth. Once confident that he could shoe a horse as well as the
next guy, he walked out of “the ministry”into
blacksmithing. He explained that the noble art has roots in his
family background. We see here a real human interest story and hope
that we may soon send a reporter down East Texas way to interview him
so as to bring you more detail. Interviewing a young, dynamic
exChurch of Christ preacher with a bright and lucrative future before
him, his hands now growing calloused from the use of hammer and anvil
and his once tender face now scorched by a smith’s fire bin,
would be something else. I might take the assignment myself! Apart
from hands and face, and a back bearing the burden and heat of the
day one wonders what may have happened to his heart.
Speaking
of East Texas, (that’s where they grow loyal Church of Christ
preachers as well as cotton) one such faithful preacher from those
parts is also a contractor. He has recently spent several months in
Denton, in and out of course, building a large auditorium
(“sanctuary” they call it!) for one of our Methodist
churches. He is an old friend. We worked together some in the old
days when I, too, was
faithful.
I
dropped by recently to say hello, and to remind him that if he could
build
a
“sanctuary” for the Methodists, he should be forbearing
with renegades like me who might dare to
speak
in
it once he gets it finished! I am amused at my brethren who can so
easily wear two hats, not letting one hat knoweth what the other
doeth. We can’t visit with the Methodists and “worship
with them,” for that would be “fellowshipping”
them. But, donning a different hat, we can build their edifices and
take their money. That’s not fellowship!
Ouida
and I were recently in Dallas to hear Ron Durham, editor of
Mission,
at
the Renewal House (4519 McKinney), which is both a bookstore and
educational center. Ron spoke responsibly and resourcefully on the
problem of evil, and a good discussion followed. Dave Reagan,
president of Renewal House, wants his visitors to hear people from
all across the spectrum, both in and outside the Restoration
Movement. Johnny Ramsey is soon to speak on the authority of the
Bible. He is a brother at quite a different position on the spectrum
from Ron, or would be so considered. But to me they are
both
in
Christ, and I see them as brothers-in-love and not as specks on the
spectrum. Ouida and I hope to hear Johnny also. You should, by the
way, be reading
Mission.
It
is hitting a new high these days. It is 6.00 for the year (24 large
pages each month, beautifully done). Address: Box 15024, Austin,
Texas 78761. You should try to get the July issue and read Larry
Branum’,s piece on “Those Anti Non -Sunday School
Churches.” In the title
anti
is
scratched. Once you read the article you’ll see the difference
he makes between being
non
and
anti.
Reuel
Lemmons attended the Restoration workshop conducted by nonclass
brethren in Mexia, Texas. He later published in
Firm
Foundation
several
of the papers that were read, and then editorialized positively about
the meeting. He said: “A tendency to withdraw from all who do
not agree with us has fractured the Restoration Movement and divided
us into groups and sub-groups … It pains us to see any group
of brethren take a position and demand that all others accept that
position or be disfellowshipped.” But brother Lemmons, who
often writes this way, is never specific as to which “positions”
are to be made a test of fellowship and which are not. Sunday
Schools? Premillennialism? Instrumental music? Does it pain Reuel to
see most mainline Churches of Christ make instrumental music a test
of fellowship in reference to our brothers in Christian Churches?
I
am pleased to join Charles Mills of Lincoln Christian College in a
retreat at Round Lake Christian Assembly on “Seeking the Old
Paths,” September 10-11. This is near Dublin, Ohio. Call Bill
Miller at 614-889-8409 for further information.
On September 24-25 I will be with the Mt. Zion Christian Mission, Rt. 2, Box 145G, Boene, Texas 78006, in studies on the unity of the Spirit. Individuals or families may arrange to stay overnight for that weekend. Write John Sweeney at the above address or call him at 512-237-4244. This is in the hill country and is near San Antonio.
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As we go to press with this issue we have 208 new subscribers, which isn’t bad since our last number provided you with no address to which to make your response. We wonder if ever before in the history of second class mailing that has ever happened. The printer inadvertently omitted our identification box and none of us noticed it through two proofreadings. We might never have known if subscribers had not called it to our attention. It is just as well that the postmaster did not notice! Well, it only illustrates that the law is for the unrighteous and not for the righteous! So, now, if you want to send us that list of subs at the rate of 1.00 each in clubs of five or more, we here and now supply you with our mailing address. We give it twice this time around, which will make up for the last time! Single subs are 2.00 per year, or 3.00 for two years. Restoration Review, 1201 Windsor Dr., Denton, Texas 76201 |