OUR CHANGING WORLD

 

During my final visit to Houston my doctor said my recovery was “Excellent” and that I need no further treatment. He dismissed me to a urologist in Dallas, who is also a cancer specialist. Even though my surgeon is “80% certain” that the cancer will not return, I should have a check-up every six months, “just to be sure.” He added, “You never know what cancer will do.” That is good advice for us all, I presume. Ouida and I are thankful to have this behind us and to get on to other things, and again we appreciate the loving concern of many of you.

Now and again in this column through the years I have mentioned the Church of Christ at Denton (later called Fellowship Church of Christ) of which Ouida and I were members. We had readers of this journal from allover the country to visit us through the years. Being a church freer than most we had lots of exciting experiences together. After a history of 15 years our elders decided that we were on an irreversible decline of membership and recommended that we disband before it became discouraging to a faithful few. The congregation, still more than50 members, voted to disband. This was due in part to the fact that we would be warmly welcomed by at least one other Church of Christ in town. We did an unusual thing in that we set the Sunday that would be our last and invited all our former members to return for one last service, including those who had moved away. Our last service was one of the greatest in that we made it a celebration of thanksgiving for 15 years of service. The very next Sunday Ouida and I placed membership at the Singing Oaks Church of Christ. Many others have done likewise.

An amusing incident (or is it sad?) grew out of that. Another church in town that is apparently unhappy with both Singing Oaks and me ran a notice in their bulletin to the effect that “Leroy and Ouida Garrett had placed membership at Singing Oaks” and that our acceptance by that church is “further confirmation of the degree to which Singing Oaks congregation have set their course away from the Truth.” The amusing part was Ouida’s reaction, who for the first time in all these years was included by name along with me in such a putdown. Her words were classic, “I have at last arrived!” But I shook my head in disbelief: a church turns from the truth by accepting Ouida? By accepting an old rebel like me, that’s reasonable. But Ouida?

That incident raises an issue that is crucial in understanding the nature of the church. May a true church of Jesus Christ choose its members, accepting some and rejecting others? If the church is the Body of Christ, belonging to him and not to us, can it reject any member that belongs to that Body on grounds of race, color, economic status, or doctrinal opinion? I venture this proposition: A member may choose a congregation, but a congregation may not choose its members. I further venture that a church that presumes to select its members is a sect or a cult. The only test we can lay down for fellowship and membership with any baptized believer is loyalty to Jesus Christ.

I try to keep our readers informed about at least some of the new journals that emerge among Churches of Christ, and they keep emerging. One such, which began this year, is Gospel Truths (Box 906087, Tulsa, Ok. 74112, published monthly, $10 per annum). It is slick, colorful, attractive, and features numerous writers, representing a more conservative view. Its June issue has an article by J. T. Smith, the editor, entitled “Leroy Garrett’s Grace Extends Further Than God’s.” I take it that the editor is saying more than he intends, for God’s grace is boundless and incomparable. If he means that I am wrong about some things that concern him, that is plausible, but that my grace (or anyone’s grace) extends beyond God’s is a serious theological misstatement. I might not forgive the editor for that, but God will!

Billy Graham’s office has announced that he has accepted an invitation for a preaching crusade in Scotland next summer. In an unusual move the General Assembly of the state church of that country, The Church of Scotland (Presbyterian) voted to support the invitation to Graham. One church official commented, “At this time in our country we have a high degree of secularism. I can’t think of anyone more successful in making the gospel plain to all and sundry. I am encouraged that so many fragments of the Christian church are concerned to witness for one Lord.”

There have been seven unity sessions between Churches of Christ and Christian Churches called Restoration Forum over the past few years. These have been encouraging to those who have attended, and there have been signs of a restoration of brotherly kindness. The eighth forum is scheduled for Nov. 7-9 at the Garnett Church of Christ in Tulsa, and the emphasis will be on evangelism. All who believe in our Lord’s prayer for the unity of his people should rejoice that these forums are being held. To keep in touch write to Don DeWelt, Box 1132, Joplin, Mo. 64802.

You will remember that this journal is not published in July and August. The next issue will be the September number. This will give me more time this summer to work on a new series that begins next January on what the Old Testament means to us. I have a few short assignments away from home, however, including taking part in a program at Pittman Creek Church of Christ in Dallas on July 11 and doing a retreat for the Brookvalley Church of Christ in Atlanta, Aug. 24-26.