READERS' EXCHANGE

 

I praise God for the work you have done in the Lord’s vineyard. You and Carl have planted the seed of unity in diversity among Christians for many years, and I see the fruits of your labors. God gives the increase. The minister at the Church of Christ we attend said last Sunday before about 450 people that there are Christians among the sects. --- Dallas Burdette, Montgomery, AL.

The little Church of Christ didn’t work out for us. Our membership with the Baptist brothers has been enlightening, enjoyable, and stimulating. I often think of Alexander Campbell’s love for these people, and I now understand why. They are a very loving people. --- Steve Burnett, Las Vegas, NE.

I am a new subscriber to Restoration Review. I heard about it only six months ago. If you only knew what my family and I have experienced the past year you could see how encouraging it is to find that not only are there members of the Church of Christ who hold liberal views as I do, but there is even a publication. I can hardly believe it. Praise God! God bless you for your courage and boldness. I now have new hope for the Churches of Christ --- Joe L. Patridge, Dardanelle, AR.

It does not bother me that God has not revealed all he is going to do. I am content to believe that he will do what he intends to do whether I understand it or not. I am convinced that if I faithfully serve him he will cut me in on the celebration whether I knew in advance all the details or not. --- W. Carl Ketcherside, St. Louis, Mo.

I have a dream. I dream of the day when we, as the Church of Christ, can sit down together with Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterians, and others regardless of their church affiliation, join hands in brotherly love and in unity pray to the God of all mankind for the good of all mankind. I dream of that Sunday morning when here at Southside a Baptist or Methodist minister might stand behind this rostrum and share with us our unanimous Savior Jesus Christ. . . I dream of the day when our hearts and minds will unlock the chains of legalism and traditionalism and that petty issues will be superseded by love, such as instrumental music, choirs, the observance of Christmas. Yes, Christ brought a new law, the law of love. --- Jerald Daughrity, Portales, NM (excerpts from a sermon to Southside Church of Christ)

Each time we receive a letter there are at least a hundred more who would write if they didn’t suppose they were too busy. I want some of my friends to have a chance to enjoy the paper so I am enclosing a list of 20 names. --- John O. Kling, Paint Rock, TX.

(If this subscriber is right, we could greatly increase our circulation if the others would do as he has done. Many of you can come up with at least four names of prospective new readers. We will send the paper to them for a year at only 3.00 per name, and you can include your own name for renewal. --- Ed.)

My son has just been ordered to work a split shift at the airlines where he works. This will prevent him from attending services either time on Sunday. While the saints are singing God’s praises and studying the Word, he will be pitching bags on a plane. Now, since everything we do is worship (as you contend, as per Rom. 12:1), can we say that he worshiped as well as we? Only he pitched bags while we prayed and studied in the assembly. Now, you try that on for size and see how it fits. --- F. I. Stanley, Crosby, TX.

I wrote this dear preacher friend (we used to debate!) that yes, if his son pitches bags on a plane to the honor of God (“He who honors me, him will I honor”) it is worship or service --- just as much as when he sings and prays. He could of course pitch and sing at the same time (not a pitchfork understand!). It fits just fine, right in with the New Testament, for interestingly enough prayer and singing are never referred to as worship, while pitching bags onto an airliner is! --- Ed.)

We have mailed Jesus Today, the bound volume of this journal for 1981-82, to those who reserved a copy. If you ordered a copy and did not receive it, please let us know and you will receive one straightway, with invoice enclosed. The cost is only 8.50, which is only 50 cents more than the price of the journal for two years. It is a handsome volume with matching dust jacket. With this volume in your library you can give your loose copies away. If you send us a check for 8.50 for the book, we will pay postage and handling.