OUR CHANGING WORLD

 

While I was asked to withhold names and place, our readers will be pleased to learn that Church of Christ missionary families met with Baptist folk in a sunrise Easter service, which included the Supper. The letter, from an African nation, also reveals that there are other Church of Christ missionaries in the general area, but no fellowship is possible since they are of a different sect. The report tells us that the Baptist and Church of Christ leaders, lonely and far from home, are a great encouragement to each other. They cooperate in their mission plans, and try to avoid building rival churches in the same village.

At my side is a copy of a doctoral thesis by C. W. Zenor, graduate of Abilene, approved by the faculty of Iliff School of Theology (Denver), entitled A History of Biblical Interpretation in the Church of Christ: 1901-1976. It makes a detailed study of how three of our leaders through the decades have handled the scriptures, David Lipscomb, G. C. Brewer, and J. D. Thomas. It concludes that their method of interpretation is dogmatic and divisive, and he diagrams 47 schisms that have resulted in a movement intended to be a unity movement. He describes the method used by Lipscomb-Brewer-Thomas as “unworkable,” showing it has failed in its two purposes: to restore the true church and to unite all Christians. One of his observations might interest some of our readers; “All of the divisions in Churches of Christ, except the Ketcherside/Garrett type churches (#42 on chart) and the liberal churches (#44 on chart) follow the traditional biblical interpretation.” The author, who now ministers to one of our “liberal” churches (perhaps the most liberal of all), concludes that because of our interpretation of scripture there is no end to the divisions possible. The reader finds his logic compelling.

The bulletin of the Beacon Church of Christ, Gun Barrell City, Texas recently identified the work of an evangelist: “The evangelist is one who takes the gospel to those who have not previously heard. The apostle Paul gives us an idea of the function of an evangelist in Rom. 15:20. There is a practice today of a ‘preacher’ hired to settle in with an established, organized congregation, thus becoming a resident preacher who from week to week speaks primarily to those who have responded to the invitation of Christ, obeyed the gospel and are saved … As a hired professional they are often brought in to compensate for the failure of the local Elders and the members of the congregation to adequately perform their functions.” What a blessing it would be if our thousands of preachers were freed to minister to those “out there” who never darken the door of any church! We agree with the bulletin that we ought to learn what an evangelist is.

The Quaker Ave. Church of Christ in Lubbock, Tx. is non-class but uses plural cups for the Supper. A number of non­-class, one-cup folk have offered to join them, and the elders have suggested they have a separate Communion service, according to their conscience, and yet be full-fledged members of the church. Isn’t this far better than debating and dividing? We are changing in that we are pursuing what makes for peace.