READER'S EXCHANGE

HOW'D I GET INVITED TO THIS PARTY?
Bruce Edwards, Jr. 

         "You've been masquerading as a conservative!"  

         Whew! At first I thought you said I had been masquerading as a Christian. Believe me, that would hurt and trouble me much more. Since His word doesn't use "conservative" (or "liberal"), what labels men may make up and apply to me don't matter much --- since they are obviously chosen and given their meaning by men and not God. This business of what "costumes" we are supposed to be wearing is quite disconcerting; after all, my invitation mentioned only a certain "wedding garment" --- and that was to be provided by the Host Himself. 

         So if I must wear something --- let it be this: "not a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ --- the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith." Quite simply, nothing else will do. No other costume can "cover" my nakedness but this one; when I was "united with Christ in baptism" I was "clothed with Christ." But oh how often I am tempted to go back to those "filthy rags" I used to wear, thinking that maybe with a patch job here and a new sleeve there it might just do. But that's a deadly thought. 

         For those "who disregard the righteousness that comes from God" and seek "to establish their own" have no hope. Regardless of my piety and zeal for religious matters, if I am determined to be "circumcised" the apostle tells me, "Christ will be of no value to you at all." Rather, "by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope." 

         So, please, excuse me from this party. I have a wedding feast to attend. --- 1109-B Brackenridge Apts., Lake Austin Blvd., Austin, Tx. 78703 

         It isn't music that divides, nor books, magazines, tracts, buildings, radio, TV. It is a superior attitude, lack of love, and blindness. That is the seat of it all. --- Harry Pratt, Bird Island, Mn. 55310 

         It is nice to see more people growing to recognize that they have more brothers and sisters than they had been led to believe and that God loves us after all! --- Tommy Lawrence, 805 W. Park Row, Arlington, TX 76013 

         Thank God the spirit of love prevails in our congregation. For the first time in my life my closest friends are in the family of God. After 17 years of being turned off by the legalistic inconsistency in the churches he had been exposed to, my husband was brought to the Lord after only a year's contact with this special group of people. I would love to be able to sit down and talk with you. I so enjoy your challenging articles! Its such a joy to read something that makes me think rather than things that just make me mad! --- Janie Catron, 110 Padgett St., Corbin, Ky. 40701