READER'S EXCHANGE

 

Add another church to your list of those who are sponsoring a boat people family. We have a Vietnam family of six --- Numa V. Crowder, Church of Christ, 615 S. Ward, Macomb, IL. 61455

I have passed around several old issues of Restoration Review and have had an overwhelming response concerning the relevance of your articles and a burning desire to hear more. Therefore, we encourage you to continue feeding us. -David Young, Louisville, Ky.

(If others are willing to pass along back issues of this journal, we will send you 18 different numbers for 3.00, postpaid --- Ed.)

I am thankful for your witness, your wise and well chosen topics of discussion. I pray your voice may be heard loud and strong throughout Christendom. I continue to pray for unity among God’s people in the divided state of world affairs. Nothing is more needed. --- Rachel Howard, Anderson, In.

I have a sister who quotes you religiously. She says that we cannot prove that instrumental music and dancing are sins. My heart is broken. She went so far as to say that we can break bread on any day of the week. --- Name Withheld

(If anyone believes that instrumental music in the assembly is a sin, or that dancing is, then to her it would be (Rom. 14:23), but we must recognize that these are matters of personal scruple or opinion upon which devoted believers differ, and so “Let each one be fully persuaded in his own mind” (Rom. 14:5). Perhaps your heart is broken because your sister has departed from Church of Christ tradition more than from what the Bible actually teaches. Your heart should break when your sister approves of the real sins, as listed by Jesus in Mk. 7:21-23, such as covetousness, evil thoughts, and pride. As for the frequency of the Supper, we do not seem to give proper place to I Cor. 11:25 “As often as you drink it, do it in remembrance of me.” Should we offer objection if a church should break bread every day so long as it is in memory of him whom we all love? --- Ed.)

Restoration Review came yesterday and I took time out to read it, and one article, to me at least, was very outstanding, and I just wanted to tell you so. “Let’s Get Married” was a masterpiece, and I’m thinking about my grandchildren getting married. I have a dear uncle who tried to “join” (that’s a no-no also) the Church of Christ, but they found it hard to get interested where they were, so they finally ended up in the Church of God, baptized and everything. But they have a piano, and for the life of me I can’t think they are going to hell. - Florence Bankston, Tulsa, Ok.

(When I was in Denver recently a couple introduced themselves as the ones who had the experiences I described in the article referred to above. It was one of their parents, a minister, who reported it to me by letter. If we are not more sensitive to the feelings of our youth (and this means more than hiring a youth minister!) we will continue to lose them, not so much to other churches as to the world. --- Ed.)

It would be truly wonderful if all believers in Jesus Christ could unite together and show a united witness to the world. As for instrumental music, it doesn’t matter to me so long as we have God in our church. When my non-instrument brethren invite me to their revivals, I go and they are glad when I attend, but when I invite them to my church, they can’t attend. I wish there was some way to bring us all back together. --- Donald Revis, Hubbard, Oh.

(This brother is a member of a Christian Church that reaches all the way back to the old Mahoning Baptist Association that formed the nucleus for the Disciples of Christ under the Campbells. Many of the old pioneers, including Walter Scott, preached there. It is appropriate that he continue to dream of a united Movement. There is a way, already charted by our Lord, and that is the way of love. There is no way to keep people separated if they love one another even as He has loved us. --- Ed.)