OUR CHANGING WORLD

 

Church of Christ and Christian Church folk are working together in a singles organization in El Dorado; Arkansas, along with believers in other churches. The Church of Christ involved is a non-Sunday School church, and Larry Epps reports that a beautiful fellowship is being enjoyed. He especially rejoices that Christians can work together in things like this. The damaging fallacy that we must overcome is that because we cannot work together in everything we cannot work together in anything.

News of another non-Sunday School Church of Christ comes from J. James Albert, Box 811, Corcoran, CA 93212, who has issued a booklet on “The Church Excluded from an Earthly Directory,” which will be sent to you free by brother Albert for the asking. The excluded church is the Armona Church of Christ, Armona, Ca., which no longer appears in the “official” directory of the non-Sunday School churches, the reason given was that it is liberal. The church’s defense quotes from Campbell’s response to Mr. Rice, the Presbyterian, who charged him with being too broad: “The gentleman complains that our foundation is too broad --- too liberal. It is indeed broad, liberal and strong. If it were not so, it would not be a Christian foundation. Christianity is a liberal institution.” The booklet, being an exchange between the excluded and the excluder, not only makes interesting reading but points up “our changing world” in Churches of Christ --- all kinds of Churches of Christ!

One brother who lives in this area reports that the Lectureship at Abilene Christian University this year, the theme of which was Until He Comes, had a strong unity note. Some of the main speakers stated that they were tired of all the bickering and looked forward to more unity and concerted effort for the 1980’s.

In a previous issue of this journal we raised the question of whether “Church of Christ” is a denominational name, and we pointed to the exclusive use that is made of this name, whether it is printed on paper, carved in wood, or engraved in stone. There is now a new dimension, one that we were unaware of. You can now order “Church of Christ” pencils from Star, Inc., 7120 Burns St., Ft. Worth 76118 at 15.00 per gross.

The inimical Malcolm Muggeridge is saying that while Christendom is over Christ’s kingdom is thriving. This is the theme of a book he is doing on The End of Christendom, to be published later this year. We hope to be able to tell you more about it.

The liveliest issue among Churches of Christ today, or certainly one of them, is the “authority” of elders, a concept that is really being reexamined. The newer elders among us are emphasizing the role of the shepherd rather than that of ruler. I recently listened to a tape from the Quail Valley Church of Christ in Houston, on talks made by the four elders to a special assembly of the congregation. While they showed marks of positive and dynamic leadership (one said an elder is God’s foreman on the job), they denied any authoritarian role. Quail Valley has grown and prospered for the four years of its existence without a hired preacher, but they are now planning to hire a man to do evangelistic work among them. If you should hear the elders, you would understand why they would not need a “minister.”

We have it on good word that one of our very prominent ministers personally asked Oral Roberts to pray for him, especially that he might overcome “intellectual pride.” While this no doubt would bring him criticism within our circles (the contact with Roberts, that is, not the intellectual pride!) we think it is super. Surely any believer can pray for any other believer. And as for that particular prayer about pride, I think of the line from Kipling, “Still stands thine ancient sacrifice, an humble and contrite heart.”

 

Many of our readers send four extra names when they renew, all five subs only 10.00. This is an easy way to introduce the paper to others, and you might be doing them a favor. A lot of our new readers see it that way. You can send as many names as you like at only 2.00 per name per year, new or renewals.             Our bound volume for 1979 will be ready later in the year. You need not order if you are on our list to receive it. Four other bound volumes are still available: The Restoration Mind (1971-72) at 4.95; The Word Abused (1975-76) at 5.95; Principles of Unity and Fellowship (1977) at 5.50; The Ancient Order (1978) at 5.50.