READERS' EXCHANGE

 

What I appreciate most about your articles is that they make me think. I thank you for giving part of yourself to us and for your commitment to Jesus Christ. Aren’t we blessed to be part of the fellowship of believers! — Phyllis Stanley, Campden, Ontario

Here is a check for the enclosed club. Take Ouida out to dinner for the difference. —Bob and Janet Yarbrough, Bedford, Texas

Jesus did not hesitate to associate with prostitutes, thieves, and tax collectors, but he was rough on the hypocritical Pharisees and authoritarian leaders. In the various papers I see a spirit different from this. — Harold Fox, Edgar, Nebraska

I’ve been very busy, for this church is gearing up to do some great things. It is taking all the discipline I can muster to stay ahead of it. I seek to sponsor quality programs that excite the people. I’ve seen too many churches where programs were poorly organized. I try to involve as many folks as possible. Our attendance and participation inch up from week to week. One thing we have been studying together is The Last Will and Testament by Thomas Campbell. — Larry O. Toney, First Christian Church (Disciples), New Kensington, Pennsylvania

We owe you a debt of gratitude for introducing us to the wonderful Hook family. Our family has ordered many copies of both Free In Christ and Free To Speak for distribution to friends. — Dorothy Keen, Manhattan, Kansas

(If you are interested in the books referred to, and you will find them liberating, write to Cecil Hook, 1350 Huisache, New Braunfels, Texas 78130, or call 512-625-1613. The first book is free, the other only $4.00 postpaid. —Ed.)

The mainline unity forums are great today, but they are 15 to 20 years behind the ones I recall with you, Carl Ketcherside, Don DeWelt and others of yesteryear. — Fred J. White, Tulsa, Oklahoma

(Yes, and when we go back an additional two decades or so there were the efforts of Claude Witty and DeForest Murch. So maybe we have an evolution here, if that is not a bad word! Another generation or so down the road we may wonder why we were so long in finding a working relationship with Christian Churches, even if we will not have an ecclesial union. Acceptance is what unity is about anyway, acceptance as equals. Organizational union is something else and maybe not very important. — Ed.)

There is a lot of renewed interest in the Spirit’s role these days, perhaps because of the confusion the charismatic people seem to have stirred. I think it is good, all of us need to learn more about how we can comply with the great admonition to be filled with the Spirit. — Rachel Howard, Anderson, Indiana

(That admonition in Eph. 5:18 is most appropriate for the modern church, which is threatened by both cultic and intoxicating spirits, as well as the spirit of consumerism. The apostle urged an infilling of the Spirit upon those who had already received the Spirit when they became Christians (Eph. 1:13), which indicates that the Spirit’s presence within the believer is an ongoing filling and refilling. — Ed.)