• WHAT I HEAR FROM YOU

[WE WILL CONTINUE THIS FEATURE in our email issues. For me to publish letters from others who agree with me seems self-congratulatory, I confess. Aside from a bit of pride, I publish these letters and notes so that you may be encouraged by them. In them you can see that you are not alone in your situation. You see that others have felt as you feel and that they have found happy solutions which you may also enjoy.

More notes may be read at my web site Guest Book. Some discussion group messages are included there which are more critical. I receive very few personal notes that are critical. I suppose other critics have just marked me off, except perhaps the few who may have stronger egos than I ! Anyway, I feel no obligation to include messages that are not constructive.

These messages are informal, hastily written without being edited by the writer for publication. We appreciate your taking time and interest to write. Now, we will share these. CH]

FORT SMITH, AR: The things I have found on this site so far are a Godsend and an answer to many prayers concerning the church of Christ. -Steven Breshears

GREENVILLE, SC: Cecil, your writings have been a blessing to my life. I began reading your stuff around 1996. I knew that the coC had a lot of fallacies, but had not quite put it together. I began to talk with a lot of people that God was bringing into my life, and they too helped me to learn about the FREEDOM in CHRIST. I now live a joyous life bent on serving the one who made me free!!! I don' t do it out of obligation or habit, but out of love. My journey is not complete, for I surely haven't learned it all. I do know this: God is love, and wants all to know that love. -Steve Sebastian.

BAKER, LA: You recently sent me a copy of your book, Free In Christ. OH MY GOODNESS!! I haven't completed it yet, but I had to sit down long enough to write to say thanks! I don't believe I have ever read a book that spoke to me like this one has. For so long I have dealt with these issues you have written of. As I sit her reading, I find myself shaking my head in the affirmative way! Amen, is a word I have been saying frequently with each page.

I have been a part of the "Christian Church" for most of my life. I did spend 5 years in an A Cappella church recently. I saw much of the same "problems" in both congregations. I have experienced legalism to the extreme in both places. I have now been convicted of legalism within myself! Thank God!! I have been on a personal search in the last year. I've been looking for freedom from the teachings of my youth that I know in my heart don't match up to the word of God. While in this search, I actually had an "elder" tell me that I had to make up my mind and if it meant worshipping at another church to make it up quick! I told him I was seeking God's will and that I was waiting on the Lord to instruct me more clearly. He actually told me that I should wait somewhere else. My wife and I agreed that we should and left the church after a short time.

This is what I fear the most - that congregations fail to see the liberty we have in Christ, that we somehow choke out the excitement and zeal folks have by gripping our fingers around the very throats of those who truly love God. I have seen this in action too many times and it truly scares me. It is my prayer that God continues to convict me on what I need to do to make a difference. -Terry Johnston. {He wished for books to distribute. I sent 26 copies as a starter.}

ROLLA, MO: I am looking for the Cecil Hook that wrote the book, "Free In Christ," back in the early 80s. If I have found the right person, I would like to have more copies of the book. I have one I got at the Tulsa Workshop several years ago when you and Mrs. Hook had a booth there. I can't tell you how much this book has meant to me. What a blessedness to be freed from the legalism and judgmentalism I grew up with! There are several people I want to share the book with and would like to have at least 12 copies if you still have them. -Signed.

BRENHAM, TX: Many people are reading your book in our congregation. I believe people are starved for grace and freedom! -Signed.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES: I finished reading your books. The last two books, Free to Accept and Free to Change are very excellent and well written. I think some of the other missionaries who have read your first book (Free In Christ) have not grasped your idea, that we don't need to start another new denomination. What we need is a reform and a willingness to accept other brothers who differ from us. Some here who read your book became proud and quickly changed their names and excludes fellowship with us. But we other preachers here are doing our best to maintain the unity we have in Christ in spite of our doctrinal differences. There are still many preachers here who are asking for your books (FIC). Hope you still send me more books. I'm willing to distribute it to other preachers. Some of them are surprised to learn that it is free. -Signed. [I have sent this brother two M-Bags of books as gifts from you partners. This is in addition to the other brother mentioned below. They are friends. This is a wonderful opportunity in the Philippines. Pray for their progress and unity.]

CEBU CITY, PHILIPPINES: I am pleased by your response to my letter. In fact, we have a group here composed of young preachers trying to eradicate the traditional teachings in the church. It's timely that I've got to read your book. If you could send me some of your books, that may be useful in carrying out our aims, I'll appreciate it so much. -Signed. [I have mailed him 50 copies of FIC and 50 other titles for distribution to eager young preachers. Those books are gifts from you who are partners in this ministry.]

BREVARD, NC: What an extraordinary article - Is The Church Composed of Denominations and Sects? "A sect claims to be the whole dollar" is a classic Hook-ism. You do make me laugh at our ridiculousness, even though it is not really funny, but it is ridiculous.

God does seem to increase your spiritual understanding and the ability to express it in words, so any of us who chooses to, can understand. It is so free-ing to recognize that:

No one can "make me" violate my conscience. I have to do that myself.

All of God's chosen in Jesus are part of His family and we can ignore them or choose to refuse to fellowship them, or say they do not believe the "right" stuff, so they are not, but we are still part of the "same" family with one another because God has placed us there, and that is whether or not we are a part of an exclusively-denominated group or not.

(Some like to say, what God has joined together, let not man put asunder, but that doesn't stop them from doing so, when it suits their doctrine!)

How does the world know we are His? Because of our love shown to one another (John 13:35). Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God (Romans 15:7). It sounds like love and acceptance from us to others are dear to God.

Please keep your words coming. God's wisdom keeps shining through. - Sylvia West. [Sylvia and Bob West have encouraged our ministry greatly. They are gracious people who truly show the love of God in their attitude. Bob is the creator of the familiar THEOPHILUS cartoons.]

MEMPHIS, TN: Hello, Cecil, I received your book from Kenneth Allen and I am so happy that I am Free IN Christ. Keep up the good work. God is truly blessing you. -John Whitrhead

SNYDER, TX: Years ago I was walking through the lectureship tent at ACU and someone handed me a book called "Free In Christ." I saw that it was written by a Church of Christ minister and went to my office at the church and set aside. Little did I know that I would find in it an individual that would encourage and affirm the longings I have always had for the truth. Thanks to Cecil and Lea for years of service in the Kingdom. May God bless you as you respond to His call to serve, be served and love each other. You are in my prayers. -David Hampton.

ALAMOGORDO, NM: I have really enjoyed reading through the articles on this site. They have caused me to rethink a lot of the doctrine that we have always been taught. Thank you so much!! -Shelly Maxey.

OMAHA, NE: If you wrote this book to get other people thinking about their religious views, I believe you have accomplished that goal in regards to my life. Since reading your book, "Free In Christ," I have begun to challenge several aspects of my spiritual life. I sincerely thank you for challenging me and making me realize that I have not studied to show myself approved. -Signed.

ROGERSVILLE, AL: My son ordered your books. I am reading Free In Christ. I praise the Lord for people like you. It took me some time to read this little book. I wanted to read the Scriptures too. May God bless you and your wife in your work. -A sister.

WASHOUGAL, WA: I should say that, if it isn't obvious, I believe this book is inspired by God to lead us into a deeper walk with Him and unite us together. I borrowed the book from a friend thinking at first it would be so good for my husband to read, he being for some generations a church of Christ "member." I was not raised in a religious home and have for some time felt it wrong to put a "label" on our building and on ourselves, which automatically relieves me from any responsibility to commune with those outside my "label." Many other things you talked about in your book have reflected my views. How wrong I was, though, to think the Lord put this book in my hands ONLY to pass on to my husband! It was for my heart also, as I have, without realizing it mostly taken a legalistic view on some things. I wish to pass the "word from the Lord" on to others. -A sister.

NO ADDRESS: I appreciate your opinions as projected over the e-mail lines of communication. However, it seems that your comments and most other commentaries speak as though the truth can only be told by that one effort. I sincerely pray that all who read any commentary on any scripture, including yours, will recognize that it is only opinion of interpretation that they are reading, and not direct inspiration. Let us simply go to the Word and not rationalize our beliefs with some one else's non-inspired ideas. Thank you. -Signed. [Dear Brother, I agree that one should take my words and your words as commentary. Any explanation beyond the reading of the text is commentary. Even the text we choose may be to erroneously support an opinion.]

BRAZIL: This is Carlos. Jay from the Nazarene Friends indicated you as a minister in the Church of Christ. I'd like to know a little bit about you and your relation with the Church of Christ, and I also want to ask you some questions. Would you like to help me? I'm from Brazil. I'm a disciple of Jesus here and I'm always studying the Bible. -Carlos.

NO ADDRESS: I just finished another wonderful article (Is the Church Composed of Denominations and Sects?). You can write it better and say it better, but, over the years, I have arrived at the same conclusions as you on this subject, and I'm sure many others have. I was a preacher in the church of Christ for 35 years, but was truly fired. Now they want nothing to do with me, even though I have a wonderful relationship with the Lord. I don't condemn them, but they condemn me. That is all right, but not the best way. I now meet with a community church. As you suggested, I don't agree with everything they believe, but I would not continue to attend if I were not truly blessed each Sunday. It is sad when Christians are rejected because they have grown out of some of the traditions of their group. I have arrived at the same conclusions about the name of the church and everything you brought up, even innocent children not being in the Lord. When little children want to partake of the Lord's Supper, why should I stop them? They are probably better off spiritually than I. I'm thanking the Lord for your teaching. What a blessing! In Him, Darol.

BRENTWOOD, TN: Thank you for your words of encouragement. I have just begun to receive your newsletter each week by e-mail. For the past few years, I have begun to be uncomfortable with the condemning spirits in my local congregation. That unrest led me on my search to clearer meaning of the scriptures unincumbered by traditions and opinions of men. For my unrest, I am now deeply grateful.

Your writings along with those of Carl Ketcherside, Barton W. Stone and others like him are helping me each day. At this point in my walk, I feel overjoyed at all that I now know (I still have a far distance to go), but deeply bothered by the condemning nature of those that call themselves "lovers of God."

I recently read from Carl Ketcherside in his autobiography of the struggle he went through - the deep study, meditation, and talking with the Lord. I, too, am on that same road. It is not uncommon for me to awaken in the early hours of each morning and talk with the Father. I believe He hears my struggle and will continue his work with me. I believe that when we put aside our individual opinions, dogma, etc., only then will we see the cross before us. May we all hide behind that cross so that Christ then can be glorified. Again, thank you and I will continue to be an avid reader. -Laura. [] (November 2000).

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