OUR CHANGING WORLD

 

It is heartening that leaders in the local churches of the mainline denominations are calling upon their officials to get with it and do the church’s mission in this world, which is to evangelize. An illustration of this is in The Disciple, the official publication of Disciples of Christ. A pastor in Lubbock, distressed over “more fog than focus” in what his denomination’s leadership is saying and doing about evangelism, wrote: “How stupid it is to think the church will grow by simply passing resolutions! We are sick indeed (and perhaps terminally ill) if our denomination thinks that the Great Commission is carried out in assemblies and resolutions.” We would all do well to follow this example of self-criticism and not gloat over the failures of others.

It is a matter of history that many of Alexander Campbell’s descendents left his Movement and became Episcopalians. One of our readers tells how this is now happening with a number of our Church of Christ people. He gives names and places, and it is especially interesting that they come from the “right wing” of the Church of Christ, some being graduates of Florida College. The reason for this, he thinks, is that they instinctively know what they have missed and find it with the Episcopalians. He also notes that many “Jesus people” have turned to the Episcopal Church, the reason being that the kids learned what it means to worship, he says.

We have a news release from Lubbock Christian College (5601 W. 19th St., Lubbock Tx. 79407) announcing 100 scholarships to young people “from all segments of the Restoration Movement,” and the notice is being sent to the journals representing the various groups. This is an impressive gesture. Write the college if you are interested.

The students, staff, and faculty of Harvard Divinity School have issued “A Time to Speak” manifesto that calls for “an immediate world-wide freeze on the production of nuclear weapons, a staged reduction of present nuclear arsenals, and the eventual abolition of nuclear arms.” They ask all communities of faith to join them, urging “In the name of God, let us speak out now, lest our silence once again make us accomplices to holocaust, this one threatening the very existence of humankind.” The manifesto insists that the use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances is contrary to the will of God.

Ouida and I recently visited with the Random Road Chapel in Arkansas City, Ks., a tiny church with a gargantuan impulse to be a blessing. A quarter of a century ago it started as a “walk out” from a Church of Christ. It has recently installed both a piano and organ, all agreeing to do this. This is very unusual for a group with a Church of Christ background, and it is not likely to happen except with folk who feel they have broken all ties with their denominational past, which is the case with these unusually fine people. We have been with them many times when they were still non-instrument. In inviting us this time they were thoughtful enough to ask us if the instruments would make any difference. They didn’t. While we are members of a non-instrumental Church of Christ, we consider this question a matter for each congregation to decide for itself, with no lines of fellowship drawn. But Ouida and I agreed that our world is changing. We can take it!