READERS' EXCHANGE

 

I was an elder in a Church of Christ in Texas for 16 years, but when the other elders asked me not to teach so much on the grace of God, 1 began to have second thoughts for the direction of my life and now consider myself an undenominational Christian. We moved here last summer and now worship with the independent Christian Church. --- Hugh Thomas, Prescott, Az.

Your article “The Doe of the Dawn” was one of the best gospel proclamations that I have experienced. I am glad to see someone address himself to the basics of conversion and of God’s just part in it. God has taken salvation out of the realm of luck and given it to the seeker after truth. Otherwise let us accept predestination and all its implications and be done with the controversy. You unveiled what is meant by Heb. 11:6: “He that comes to God must believe that he is and that he is the rewarder of those who seek him.” --- J. E. Jones, Jr., San Antonio, Tx.

I was very interested in your article on “Principles of Marriage and Divorce.” It is not that I agree with all your conclusions (I question whether divorce can be a solution for sexual incompatibility or unfaithfulness), but your assertion that Mark and Luke rather than Matthew record the original position of Jesus on the matter strikes me as ever more bold than your usual stance among Church of Christ editors. Modern critical scholars, such as Joachin Jeremias, compel me to agree that the exception for adultery is a later, if still early, development. I have found however that my associates, trained in our own orthodox Bible colleges, know virtually nothing about modern biblical scholarship, with the result that any comments I have on the matter are rejected out of hand. --- Neil Worley, Hampshire, Tn.

(There is nothing in the Scriptures to suggest that they are not to be studied critically. We even have it in the NT itself, for Peter recognizes that Paul wrote things that are “hard to understand.” It is noteworthy that Peter did not blame the obscurity on the Holy Spirit, who supposedly dictated it to Paul, according to one theory. --- Ed.)

I can see much more openness in several of the Church of Christ congregations in this area and its really refreshing to see elders who are willing to listen to new ideas and fellowship with “denominational people.” --- Tom Johnson, Austin, Tx.