OUR CHANGING WORLD

 

The Maxey Christian Church in Maxey, Ga., a tiny church in a tiny town, cooperated with a tiny Baptist church in the next town in a vacation Bible school for the kids. It all went well. When children grow up seeing that kind of acceptance between believers they are certain to have a better image of the church. Why can’t we all do more of this kind of thing?

In a recent issue of Lamplighter (which you can receive by writing to Box 527, Plano, Tx. 75074). David Reagan summarizes the four views of end time, which are historic premillennialism, a-millennialism, post-millennialism, and modern premillennialism (or dispensationalism). Once he notes their differences, he emphasizes their commonality: “All agree that Jesus is coming back for His saints, and all agree that those saints will spend eternity in the presence of God. What they agree on is far more important than what they disagree on. Regardless of viewpoint, let us unite our voices in crying, Marantha!”

While I knew of this story, I felt it improper to publicize it, but now that I see it is told in two different church bulletins, I will go ahead. The Pleasant Run Church of Christ in Lancaster, Tx. has had a split, with some 12 people leaving to start another work. The issue: preaching on grace. This is especially significant in that the folk involved are of the non-cooperative, so-called “anti” persuasion. The Pleasant Run church, with its dynamic young minister, Vance Drum, is really turned on to grace as an effort to escape from a debilitating legalism. Those who left, after protesting to the elders, objected to this emphasis. The church still has about 150 members, and the attendance is growing. A sister congregation, complaining at the direction taken by Pleasant Run, referred to the matter as “that grace kick.” As I have suggested time and again in this journal, watch for dramatic changes on our right flank, and this includes the schools of preaching.

During a recent weekend in Houston I visited with leaders of the South Main Church of Christ in South Houston, a non-Sunday School church that supports the Houston Bible Training Work, as well as missions in Malawi, Africa. While this church adamantly stands by its convictions, it has a beautiful attitude toward other believers. Spending the night with B. and Ruth Shelburne, missionaries to Malawi for 19 years, I heard stories about our 1700 congregations in that nation of less than three million, the “our” in this instance referring to all persuasion of the Stone-Campbell movement. Some 500 of these tiny assemblies are the result of the efforts of non-SS churches. The Shelburnes report that these 1700 churches accept and cooperate with each other as believers ought. It is believed by some churchmen today that Africa will one day be the greatest Christian nations on earth.

It is still possible for you to join us on the trip to Israel, Nov. 8-18, which costs 1695.00 from New York. Since the time is short you should call us at 817-382-2063. You must have a passport but no visa.