OUR CHANGING WORLD

 

Charles Hodge, in a church bulletin, tells the story of how a Church of Christ bought “a sectarian church” for a meeting house, which had a cross atop its steeple. Seeing this as the unpardonable sin, the brethren resolved to remove it, only to find the steeple too steep and too fragile to climb. They at last resolved the problem by shooting it down with hunting rifles, an episode so unusual that it made headlines in the local paper. Brother Hodge comments to the effect that if the Church of Christ has elaborate baptistries with pictures and fantastic designs, then it can have a cross. He further states, “It is ironic that the only people who have a right to have a cross, cannot!” If the story brother Hodge tells is “silly” as he describes it, his comment reflects a patent tragedy in our thinking. If we really believe that we are “the only people who have a right to have a cross,” then we have no business calling others “sectarian.” Surely any church that preaches Jesus Christ and him crucified, which is what the apostle Paul preached, has the right to use the cross as a symbol. This “only true church” fallacy of ours must go and now!

Ivory James, Jr., who ministers to the “S” Ave. Church of Christ in Riviera Beach, FL and who is one of our finest preachers, black or white, recently had an article in Community Update, an area newspaper, entitled “The Voice of the Open Tomb.” In the essay he points to the empty tomb of our Lord as the basis of hope, truth, and love in a world that is plagued with skepticism.

In his Lamplighter David Reagan reported on a recent trip to South Africa in which he stated that while he had been prepared by the media to expect a totalitarian government insensitive to human rights he found a political system freer than two-thirds of those that exist in the world. He found freedom of speech and assembly, and a press “full of rousing criticism of government policies.” He was impressed by the fast growing middle class that includes coloreds, blacks, and Indians. While he found injustice, he noted that the churches, many of which are integrated, are sensitive to the problem. Most important of all, he found a hunger for God, people who are eager to hear the gospel, more so than any nation he has visited.

In a recent issue of Horizons Mark Maxey, longtime missionary to Japan, tells how the Christian Missionary Fellowship, and agency serving Christian Churches, asked the Church of Christ (non-instrument) in Kenya, Africa, which is legally registered with the Kenya government, for a working relationship. The Church of Christ responded, “What else can we do? You are our brothers and we must put into practice the unity we talk about!” Praise the Lord! Our people in Africa see the light. We have talked about unity long enough and we have unity forums and summits coming out our ears. We must practice the unity we talk about! The “how” is in that African example, since we are brothers we are to accept each other as equals and now, despite differences.