Christian Chronicle (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 28, No. 2, Ed. 1 Monday, January 11, 1971 Page: 2 of 8
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Christian Chronicle and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Abilene Christian University Library.
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The Making of a Joke?
Foi
of Reform
Dangers
7
may be useful, they should not
Quotes
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Letter lb The Editor
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Christmas does not remove this necessity. Wfcat
has to happen so that there will be people who
will begin to think as Christians should?—Joel H.
Ned er hood
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... He identified church attendance with moral
heroism. Does he not realize that faithful church
attendance develops and reveals the virtue of pa-
tience much more than the virtue of courage?—
Richard Niebuhr.
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circumspectly among “reformers" as well as the
“kps enlightened.* The chicanery of church politics,
specious argumentation, disinterest and spiritual i-
ertia which necessitates restoration may be seen to
be as characteristic of many “reformers” as it is of
that which they would reform.
Fifth, efforts at reform may bring about unneces-
sary and destructive polarization of brethren. In a
nation where there are already strong tendencies
toward divisive polarization stemming from various
factors (e.g., the Viet Nam war, race problems,
economic policies, etc.), Christians may find that
their efforts at reform are more informed by so-
ciological factors than theological ones (insofar as
the two can be separated). While unity at the cost
of compromising truth cannot be tolerated, avoid-
able and unnecessary fragmentations of the brother-
hood should be equally avoided. Some apparently
would maintain that almost any disagreement among
brethren is a cause for rejoicing. This should be
resisted on every side.
Sixth, there is the danger of thinking of the
church as if God were not alive and active today.
God, not man, is at the helm of the church and
human history. Our confidence is in God, not man.
After all our planning, analysis and preparations,
we must wait on God.
Most of the evangelistic techniques employed in
the past by the church presuppose a respect for and
knowledge of the Bible, coupled with an openness
on the part of the people involved. Making such a
presupposition in the urban context will often lead
to frustration and disappointment. However, this
does not mean that our task is a “mission im-
possible.” Rather, by choosing not to ignore the
mentality of the people to whom we are ministering,
instead of firing our cap ‘n’ ball type evangelistic
programs at them regardless of their mental orienta-
tion, we have already unlocked the door which
allows communication to take place. Even being
aware that this is a problem that we cannot afford
to ignore is to overcome half the problem.— Jack
Hicks, apartment minister, Bering Drive church,
Houston, Tex.
□
The tragedy of the present failure of Christians
to think as Christians should is especially devas-
tating today because we are witnessing the near
complete collapse of various forms of non-Christian
thought. It wasn't too long ago when people con-
cluded that it would be possible to discard the
baggage of Christianity and carve the way to truth
and success by the use of reason alone. Today we
know that this doesn't work. The present moment
in world history finds the great nations armed to
the teeth, wars scorching the earth, and little real
hope for the future. More people now than ever
before are concluding that human life is essentially
meaningless and they are regressing to a state of
near moral chaos. A prominent lecturer has com-
mented on the present state of modern thought by
saying, “The lunatic is running the asylum.” Today
we need Christian answers to man's most pressing
problems and we need Christian options. This is
a necessity and the near universal conspiracy to
keep Christ out of just about everything except
[■&
Fl'-
is the ever-present danger of mis-
tekfaf analysis for therapy. The church must en-
f*f* ia open-minded and rigorous self-criticism.
Yet analyst* is not therapy; destructive analysis
demand* therapy. The medical profession may be
able to afford the luxury of diagnosticians but even
In the a
worship sei
preaching w
The speake
proceed to
expository
"topical se
mands will
Also, it del
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ministers ul
quires as nl
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following si
will becoml
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knowledge I
future serml
A fur th el
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they give lil
practice ini
effort in prl
with no nrl
1. Rea J
pository prl
a verse to I
contain a I
develops thl
preaching 1
based on ■
woke from I
2. Chotl
which is in
velop the tl
on the bro!
the chosen I
3. Detel
the passag!
text, a glarl
variants. M
di cate variH
Less satisf!
the footnotH
Jerusalem M
These notes!
4. Outia
context. gI
the immediH
of the oveH
fession in ■
light of itsl
it figures mH
5. Note!
Different tyH
The narratH
language oH
legories. InH
of literature!
For exam pH
may indical
(e.g., 1 Til
Col. l:15f.)l
6. Singll
It is not mH
to use a le|
a given woH
way in whH
“Faith," fol
from that H
only the vcH
gation, yoiH
or nuances K
passage H
7. ExanH
Depending fct
ligious libraK
the £/6rarH|
Aur/VicemH
the older cH|
Charles H-Hj
wealth of HI
has been iHg
past. It wi)H|
stand howM
i
Some may ask what is the church. What makes it
different and set apart from any other social organi-
zation? This question is a fair question and deserves
• an answer. First of all the church was organized
and founded by Jesus (Matthew 16:18) and its head-
quarters, by-laws, and doctrines are spiritual rather
than of this earth (John 18:36). It is made up of
people who have not merely joined an organization
to render and receive good; but have been trans-
formed into a spiritual brotherhood (Col. 1:13) and
are bought with the blood of Jesus Christ (Acts
20:28).
Some regard the church as the agent of salvation.
In other words becoming affiliated with the church
is thought to be the means by which one is saved.
We must guard ourselves against this erroneous
idea. We read in Acts 2:47 that the saved were add-
ed to the church by God. Not that they were added
to the church in order to be saved. The church
does not save a person. Salvation comes through
Jesus Christ (Col. 1:14) and through no other
agency. The church was established as a spiritual
fellowship (1 Pet. 2:5) with the responsibilities of
teaching and admonishing the saved and teaching the
lost with the Gospel (Matt. 28:19, 20).
Others seem to have the idea that the church is
an organization with weekly meetings that must be
kept to remain in good standing. This seems to be
a slight perversion of what we read in Acts 2:46-
48. Here we see Christians overjoyed with the new-
found Christ in their lives, longing to meet for wor-
ship. The attendance to worship does not make one
righteous.—Gary D. Taliaferro, minister, Friends-
wood, Tex.
Clvtataa Chtw>fci«
The Chmtian Chronide n puMiabed on Monday,, excepting the
” June ,nd °**«**r. by SwMt Publi.hmg Company
'*co»<1 elm pottage paid at Austin. Texat. Material for publication
Edito’’ Chr"‘«" Chronicle, Box 4055. Austin,
(jmwltM °""" *■ Ux*tod “ 6721 North Lam*' TetePho*K
Editor, Hit Chronicle:
The CArfrriaa Chronicle has for several years been
an enjoyable and infonqative publication. Since the
‘ change in the ownership the improvements have
altered successfully and impressively the paper.
With you in communicating Christ to our con-
temporaries,
vow «Mkw«ra
ISjJ Jefferson
Kerrville, Texas 78028
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Ralph Ssraet .... editor
Mtekasi Waad .... managing editor
Patty *saoit.... am miho,
r*r>lVl"“| 7“*, y *“■! ***?.• * ** 1 1I2 JO Ut 1 yssn. AAt rw
. ^nnnwytsM. CaaayitanMary boat wit MAacnftUom to mwoono ««
Tv 'J'Py111** Han nN h Nt par tnamh par faniUy Matanant » maiW •«
HtMth'wotk. with others in obtaining a cure for the
phtytot There is something gravely irresponsible
abm^those parading as “reformers* who can clever-
ly Item the inconsistencies and foibles of their fellow
Christians but are silent when it comes time to
..propose realistic and constructive solutions. Their
effect is at least as toxic as that which they rail
against From such quarters one cannot hope for
"raqSMhfele reform. They are part of the problem.
Third, is another problem which may be called
the “strange bedfellow phenomenon.*It is closely
rotated to the mistaking of analysis for therapy.
Oftentimes those who agree in their criticisms assume
that they form a unit. Often they are held together
only by those things which they are against and not
by common goals regarding what they are for.
Mutual dislike to hardly a healthy basis f^r cohesion,
Those who continually wave
Ifefi adverttoing only what they are against are in-
;vithig every dissident, schismatic and factionary to
cUmb on the bandwagon.
Fourth, those interested in reform must resist the
•feferm syndrome,* both in themselves and in others.
rUtel must examine their motives for reform. Are
theyinterested in calling the church to a
• /fetote Of responsibility and a closer relation-
pltop with Ood’sWord? Are their motives those of
mature Christians or are they those of adolescents
?Whq mjoy the role of being different? Perhaps re-
rarmers, like all of us, move through a period of
Mbteseenoe but brethren must beware of reformers
Who are'perennial adolescents. Many of those who
IO gfeat pain* identifying themselves as
Of the church* demonstrate through their
.. ........J'’mtiom feat they are dependent on the
tory immaturity Of Christians whom they would
"''IMteMly reform. Without a whipping boy they
’ 'would have toothing to say. Christians desiring ma-
must took to models of maturity and walk
|npl$ktfck. Severe! problems unpeoing respon-
SCtrr-xr.™-.
,• gome efforts at reform
ay involve nothing more than a “face-lifting.”
w Wt actually approach the real problems
bo addressed. Thus we see congregations
Ebb.the order of worship, to install
JB^tohdews or even to employ a “minister
in the name of progress or reform.
*he thoroughgoing self-examina-
true reform. Many Christians run
to champion anything new or different, without tak-
V ipg th# time to evaluate its intent nor to calculate
tfNmpaot. While these tendencies are understand-
abteMte»p«0|iie become frustrated, they often only
■ febblkW'difficulty. There is little that'is more
life ditooanigtag than would-be reformers who are as
K?1' 'tonepontehie as that which they desire to reform.
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h/s- ? ‘ •H“ra” 'O «u C'hnbtiM. Hut
IjiaM?i; tows’’effort at “renewal," "reform,” or even "res-
liv7' i7 be applauded nor is it without
Problems impeding respon-
W use most
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'7tfc< totoe|my for true reform. Many Christians
Preachers take a lot of good-natured ribbing and
some not so good-natured. From the popularity of
“preacher jokes" one may imagine some wag first
started them in the Jerusalem church of the first
century. For some reason, no one has started
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century. For some reason, no one nas started a |
tradition of “congregation jokes." We did recently
hear the makings of such a joke, however. We will
report the data and let the reader construct the
joke.
A congregation without ciders was called together
for an emergency meeting to discuss the preacher.
It seems that a sister had discovered an alcoholic
beverage container in the minister’s garbage can.
Straightway she spread the word. The expected
righteous indignation ensued. A meeting was called
where the minister was to be exposed. However,
just as emotions were high and tempers flaring
someone announced that he had found the can and
placed it in the minister’s trash to get it off the
street. Meeting adjourned.
" On the light side one might suggest the produc-
tion of a minister’s garbage can with a special *
lock. On the more serious side one might suggest
- a little more integrity on the part of those wanting
to poke in garbage. On the tragic side, it’s events
like this which continue to reduce the number of
preachers and those training to be preachers. One
wonders how many Christians wqhld tolerate such
a demonstration of confidence and trust in their
chosen profession?
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Sweet, Ralph & Weed, Michael. Christian Chronicle (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 28, No. 2, Ed. 1 Monday, January 11, 1971, newspaper, January 11, 1971; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1306971/m1/2/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 12, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Abilene Christian University Library.