THE BROTHER WHO APOLOGIZED

While it was once rather common, it is rare these days for a reader of this journal to send us an angry letter. Occasionally someone will write and ask that his or her name be removed from our mailing list. I always write to such a one and explain that we have no names on our mailing list except paid subscribers, and that if he did not subscribe to Restoration Review then someone did for him, perhaps someone who loves him and presumes he would appreciate the paper. But we let it go at that. We don’t want anyone to receive the paper who does not want it, and we realize that we can’t win them all. But I will admit in passing that it bothers me when we make someone angry, for that is not our intention. Occasionally I write an irate reader in the language of the apostle: “Have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?” I hope that is not presumptuous.

The rarity of “hate mail” these days is one more indication that our people are doing some changing. Many of those who a decade ago would fret over the message of this journal are now among our most appreciative readers.

We recently received a letter from Tennessee that was too hot too handle. The brother was obviously beside himself with rage. He likened the editor of Restoration Review to Hitler and compared our efforts to the Nazi gangsters. As is usually the case with such letters, he did not specify the grievances. He returned our November issue with an attending note, “garbage enclosed.” I try to discipline myself to learn from my critics, so I went over that issue once more, asking if there was any justification for such a charge. That I had several commendations for that issue in the same mail does not mean that a critic might not be right. I concluded that in spite of imperfections it was hardly garbage.

I wrote the Tennessee brother that we would remove his name from our mailing list as requested but that I would appreciate his explaining to me in what respects my writings were garbage. I referred to my lead article, my series on Jesus Today, and asked if this is what he meant by garbage, or what? I also noted that while I had never before been likened to Hitler, there was at least one difference between Hitler and me. Hitler would have had him shot for what he wrote but that I loved him anyway.

The brother wrote back and apologized for what he had written, stating that “it is not for me to criticize other people’s view of the word.” While I would insist that he does have the right to criticize the views of others, I think he can do it --- we can all do it --- in a spirit of love. We can disagree without being disagreeable.

I was impressed that the brother would apologize after writing such a demeaning letter. Our exchange was really his victory, not mine. He grew by the experience. He could bawl out an editor and then have the grace to say he was sorry. After three decades as an editor I can assure you that that is rare. While Ouida and I were amazed that anyone would liken us to Hitler, we were also amazed that the accuser would take it back. But we try to keep ourselves open to this kind of change and thus always have that love that “believes all things.” Even the most sectarian people can change. Believe it! I am persuaded that believing it helps to make it happen.

It is too bad the brother is no longer a reader. He would be surprised to find himself in our columns, in a positive way I would say. And he might not call it garbage! I can see that this little experience might be an influence for good for the rest of his life. Our heavenly Father is the glorious weaver, selecting threads here and there, of various hues and textures, as he weaves the fabric of our lives. And every little thread is important to the weaver’s design. We must never despise the small things of life, as the Scriptures urge us. We are pleased when we can be but a thread, a small part of a bright spot in God’s overall plan for someone’s life. It thrills my soul to think that the great Weaver can use this little paper, in however small a way, in the fabrics that God is weaving for his children.

And this is a good place for me to state that I realize that this journal is not for everyone. It is common for folk to write us, rejoicing that they have discovered us, explaining that “I thought I was the only one in the Church of Christ who believed such things.” But there are people whose minds and hearts are yet closed to any new idea and who are intimidated by anyone who would dare to question what they have assumed to be absolutely right and cannot be wrong. We are not likely to be of any help to such ones, not now at least.

But I am persuaded that there are many (I am tempted to say a majority) in our churches who are sick and tired of our obscurantism, our exclusivism, our superficiality, and our proud assumption that we and we alone are the Church of Christ upon earth and the only Christians. We are persuaded that we have an important ministry to such folk, and we ask you to help us reach more of these lonely, hurting people. If nothing more we can assure them that they are not alone in their hunger for something more.

So, please, help us reach these people, who are your friends and acquaintances. We make it economically possible in that you can send this journal to four of your friends for only 12.00 a year, or as many names as you wish at only 3.00 each, and you can include your own renewal.

After all, there is cause for hope so long as our most incensed readers, those who would call us the ugliest of names, will, when confronted by a loving response, apologize.

It is not as late as you think, and there is hope, even for us. Believe it! And act upon that faith! --- the Editor