Straws in the Wind

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     In Old Paths Advocate, J. Ervin Waters reports an intensive study at Wichita Falls, Texas. Brother Waters says, "God has raised up an army of young men of moral worth and high intelligence; young men who are not tradition bound and who are casting off the fears and prejudices of the past; young men who dare to think and who humbly are learning what the Spirit of Religion is." If this estimate is correct we shall expect to see important changes in attitude among some who are allied with a very dogmatic and arbitrary faction of the disciple brotherhood. We commend those who are rising above the narrow party spirit.

     J. D. Phillips, editor of The Truth, who also taught in the study, writes, "The purpose of the study was to learn, and not to legislate.... Everyone respected everyone else. God's word was respected above everything else.... I think a long step in the right direction has been made; that the study will prove to be an epoch in the restoration of primitive, apostolic Christianity; all were interested in restoration, and restoration is the answer to most of our problems." It is evident rifts were healed and breaches repaired, and while these brethren differ with me on a lot of things, they are my brethren, and I love them and rejoice with them.

     The Word and Work, published by brethren who are pre-millennial in their views, contains an excellent article in the February issue, by E. L. Jorgenson, on "Division--Causing or Curing It." The same issue announces a lectureship program in which they will participate with brethren from the conservative Christian Churches. J. R. Clark writes, "These meetings...will serve as exploratory meetings to help us determine the extent of our differences and how to resolve them."

     In the February 14 issue of Christian Standard is a notice of the North American Christian Convention, to be held at Atlanta, Georgia, June 24-28, with the theme "Christian Unity--Our Unchanging Plea." Again, I find myself in disagreement with many interpretations,

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opinions, views and practices, of all these, but they too are my brethren, and I am pleased they are discussing these vital questions.

     Once I would have sneered at such meetings. I would have regarded all who participated as hobbyists or sectarians. The meeting would have been a gathering of the forces of Gog and Magog. Even those who attended casually would have been eyed with suspicion. I now know that I was the one who was sectarian in attitude. I was guilty of a work of the flesh, the sin of the party spirit. I was not righteous, but self-righteous. I shall not compromise my convictions, nor stultify my conscience, but I will love my brethren, all of them, and no one shall ever again make me afraid to do so. I shall not bow the knee to an unwritten creed. I shall not crucify those humble ones for whom Jesus died.

     The party spirit will not expire easily. So long as brethren write about "converting" a brother who alters his views or perspective, it will still thrive. One writes in Old Paths Advocate, "We hope to convert some of the Sunday School and cups brethren before the meeting is over." Another southern journal reports, "We wish to recommend Brother Blank as a faithful gospel preacher. He was recently converted from the Christian Church." This is the language of the party. It makes no allowance for maturing ideas or ideals. It recognizes no one as being in Jesus who is not in the party. It is earthly, sensual, devilish. It is narrow, bigoted, and deplorable. If, through the grace of God, we come closer together, let us not gloat over converting each other to a partisan view, but let us glorify God that all of us are growing up in the Spirit.