Christian Chronicle (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 7, No. 3, Ed. 1 Wednesday, June 15, 1949 Page: 2 of 7
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PAGE TWO
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JUNE IS. 1949
Volum* VII
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Numerous W orkers Cooperate
To Make May Busy Month For
Churches In Cuban Provinces
* By J. R. Jimensx
64 Dies de Ociubre Si.
Harans, Cuba
Thank*-to the Lord w?
» gospel of Christ to produce und«nomtaation-
Christians in the time of Peter and Ami, then
' j*n do the same today.
There is the ever present need of harking
principles upon’ which
was based. The tenth*
,e ooeefc—
THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE
a
than anything else.
I wish to express my gratitude
to you, again, for yourjfoany fa-
are vdrs. May the LordblKi^m. "
.—--r- -4-—
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Catholic Church is awakening, no 'w*ar htename.jCe rtalnly if^in this figure di
jjg efforts are^ent towards ***" *“ x *■ »
» more
..
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jium' it> no..... ' —.....
them but I do not believe that he
wiU go very far, at least, not by
flaunting bright new automobiles
in the feete trf people -who
■.....
By E. Esteves
77 Gomes Toro Si. »;
Consolaeiop .del Stir,
Pinar del Rio Province. Cuba
^-^u-^We'have ’ w
during the month while giving
the finishing touches to the most
immediately needed repairs to
the. new house. For this ~eason
we still feel up in the air and
haven't quite settled down to our
B regular routine yet.
p. The heavier repairs will have
|> \ to come later, in about a year or
m^^^ien I take another trip
.appeal once more to
Prorgenerosity in order to riiefi.
the amount needed in order to re-
model the house, specially the
roof. We want to fix the house
up so that we may have some-
thing of which we rhay feel still
prouder.
1 had to go to Havana in ordei
to take a Sister who has three
little sick children, one of whom
will have to be operated. The
others need medical attention
Two of these children had to be
taken to Havena a few months
ago in order to be hospitalized.
Parasitism had so weakened
them they only had a blood count
of a million red blood corpuscles
when they should have had from
4 to 5 million. They had to be
given several transfusions. There
are many cases like these here
from drinking contaminated wat-
er. and going barefeet.
The general situation is very
bad due to the 7 month period of
drought. The crops failed and
even the gl ass dried up. Altho we
have given feed to our horses yet
they have suffered from the lack
of pasture, getting very weak.
One of them was very sick and
came near dying Thank God it
started to raip last week.
During my stay of a few hours
in Havana I had the ehance to
see the printing shop that Broth-
er Jimenez wants to buy. The
press is a very good one and
seems to be in first class shape.
Il is large enough to print copy
about 22 by 30 inches, or two
pages Of a paper^of the ^Ize^of the
Christian Chronicle. The rest of
the equipment is new. In my mo-
dest opinion the press alone is
worth the price that the man
asks for the shop.
The Catholics held one of their r
biggest festivals this year. The ' "wecan raise
interest in the matter that they
did not even decorate heir homes,
with one or two exceptions. The
crowd was made up from othex
places by people who came in
busses, trucks, and many fine
new automobiles. They seem to
be very active.
The aged parish priest has re-
tired and a young man has tak-
en his place. He is reorganizing keeping what they have
•Jfied as the body of Christ. The Apostle Paul re-
minded the church at Corinth that “Now ye are
the body of Christ, and members in particular.”
(1 Cor. 12:27) It is further declared that Christ
‘ is the head of the body, the church.” (CoL 1:18)
It is from the head that all of the members of
the body receive their instruction and direction.
Since Christ “is the head of the church" and has
“all authority” both “in heaven and on earth”
(Matt. 28:18 RV), there is no provision for an ad-
ditional head upon earth. “Knowing that Christ
being raised from the dead dieth no more” (Rom.
6:9), he is Head over His church forever, just as
He is both "King” and “Priest” forever.
The scriptures also declare that Christ is “the
savior of the body" (Acts 20:28). It should be
noted that it is not the church that saves us, but
Christ, by the shedding of His blood. But all who
are saved by the atonement of Christ are mem-
bers of His body, the church, for “He is the sav-
ior of the body.”
Again we read in the New Testament that
the church is the bride ol Christ. Paul, writing to
the church at Rome states: “Wherefore my breth-
ren, ye also are become deed to the law by the
body of Christ, that ye should be married to an-
other, even to him who is raised from the dead.”.
(Rom. 7:0 God gave but one bride to Christ, and
that is His church. >
It goes without question that the wife Nu)UM~
wear the name of her husband, and it would be •
but a step fronw. starvation. The an evidence of disrespect for her to refuse to
( If, in this figure of mar-
_ ______ B'SflBMjfc-''' we
ought to be willing to wear His name, to the ex-
Each wsek ths editorial article which is adjudged most
timely and valuable will be printed on this page
of CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE.
Published Wednesday of each week except the test week in June and
- the last week in December at Abilene, Texas.
$2.00 Per Annum in Advance
S2.50 Outside United States
send all communications and articles to Box 1158, Abilene, Texas
□LAN L HICKS Mitor
EUGENIA SCOTT Assistant
Entered as seoond-class matter October 18, 1944 at the Post Office
at Abilene, Texas, under the Act of Mareh 3, 1879.
Number 3
The Church of The New Testament
By Thomas N. Page
Worcester, Massachusetts
We live in an age which is characterized by
a multiplicity of churches, different in origin,
doctrine and practice. Each claims, to have some
special purpose and appeal to perpetuate and,
therefore, has the right to compete for the affec-
tions and patronage of the public. In the midst of
so many conflicting and rival institutions, the
problem of determining the comparative value
of each would be a monumental undertaking. ~ —
Of course, not many would be .willing or able
to undertake such a task. Church membership,
for the most part, is based not upon doctrinal or
historical standards but upon the more casual
preferences of life, such as family ties, location
and appearance of the church edifice, or the pop-
ularity of the preacher. Little wonder that
" — ^mberahipfes looked upon with such
of salvation without being a member of any
church.
That there was a time when there was but
one church all students of the Bible will agree.
Its identity and characteristics are easily dis-
cernible to all. It is the oldest of all institutions
claiming to be Christian in origin. All who be-
came followers of Christ were members, for
there was no other church.
It supplied the needs of those who hungered
and thirsted after righteousness; its teaching was
so adaptable to the needs of mankind that in the ,
brief space of a few years its advocates were
found in every nation. It is a united church, a
simple church, having but one Head to whom all
the members gave honor; a consecrated church,
for which its members left all to embrace its
teaching. It was the divine institution which
bore the name of God and Christ
It is our sincere desire to present this church
for your Consideration on this broadcast. No mat-
ter what may be the religious preference of those
who hear my voice, none will object, I am confi-
dent, to our endeavor to emphasize the matchless
characteristics of the New Testament church. We
who present these radio programs claim mem-
bership in no denomination but are members
only ot that divine body founded by the Lord in
which all Christians may claim membership.
We believe devoutly that when the same
gospel is preached today as in the days of the
Apostles, those who believe and obey its teach-
ings will be Christians, members of the same
body, the church of our Lord. Not only so, but
they will all wear the same religious name, rec-
ognize toe same religious Head, subscribe to the
same doctrine, and worship in the same man-
ner. This should be a refreshing thought to all
conscientious believers in Christ who lament the
divided state of 20th century Christendom, and
to those who advocate the restoration of New
Testament Christianity In its simplicity of form
and purity. Then we may be brethren indeed and
ail subscribe to that one glorious institution
which was heaven bom and redeemed by the
blood of Christ.
In the New Testament the church is identi-
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what they cost. The greatest price that was ever
the amount
needed before the man sells it or
tries to go up on the price.
I thank you, once more, for
your kindnesses. Please pray for
this field. May the Loijd bless
you. .—.--------—-----—-
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not re-
deemed with corruptible things, as silver soft
gold, — but with the precious blood of Christ, as
a lamb without blemish and without spot." (1
Peter 1:18,19) Therefore, to suggest that the
church is not vital in the salvation of mankind
is to state that the world can be saved without
the sacrifice of Christ. . "
When we are made to realise that the New
Testament church is the divine institution in
which God ordained that men should praise him
(Eph. 3^1), and that there is none other compar-
able to it, we may then expect it to be elevated
to the place it should rightfully possess in the
estimation and affection of the people. When
this fact becomes impressed in the hearts of
” Fftftnble believers, nothing short of New Testa-
merit Christianity will suffice. Then will the
world learn something of the vri|ue and glory of
the church which God portrays irfHfS Word, and
in which he intended that all mankind should be
saved. , '
Frequently when we talk to men about being .
a Christian, they desire to know what kind of a
Christian we have in mind. In other words, they
want the term Christian qualified by some de-
lineating adjective, which would suggest a de-
nominational affiliation. If we suggest that we
are just Christians, and only Christians, and re- -
fuse to be anything else,, they still are at a loss
to know what we mean. It has never occurred to
them that one can be a Christian without sub-
scribing to any religrous denomination.
We might ask this question: What kind of
Christians were the Apostle Peter, Paul, James
or John? Did they subscribe to one particular de-
nomination jn preference to all others? The an-
swer, of course, is that they were Christians,
nothing more, nothing less. Not a six
nation, as we know them today, was
!
i....... -»■.......
•
L'
denomi-
aww wU existence
then. In fact, some of the Apostles were outspok-
en in condemnation of all sectarian division a-
mong Christians. '
In writing to the church at Corinth, Paul
was exercised over the division existing among
the members and wrote: “Now I beseech you,
brethren, by the. name of our Lord Jesus Chrst,
that ye all speak the same thing, and that there
be no divisions among you: but that ye be per-
fectlp joined together in the same mind and in
the same judgment—Now this I mean, that each
one of you saith, I am of Paul; end I of Apollos;
and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divi-
ded? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye bap-
tized Into the name of Paul?” (Cor. 1:10-13)
Altho modern denominationalism was un-
known then, there existed that tendency td fol-
low and to exalt the leadership of men, instead
of Christ, and the inspired Apostle pleaded that
they retain the unity by exalting Christ, and
Him only.
Now, we believe, if the gospel preached by
the Apostles could and did produce Christians
•without denominational distinction, that same
gospel preached in the same way, received in
humble and honest hearts, consummated in the
same obedience to the same commands will pro-
duce Christians today without respect to any de-
nomination. We are told in the scriptures today
that the seed of the kingdom is the Word of God.
(Luke 8:11) We believe that it is impossible for
it to produce a variable result.
Let us suppose a condition that could exist,
altho it is not to be found today anywhere In our
country; that is, a community In Which the Bible
has never gone, where Christ’s name has new
been preached. Upon hearing the gospel as It is
proclaimed -in the New Testament, a number in
this community decide to accept this teaching
fully. They know nothing of sectarian Chrigtijn-
ity, but they believe sincerely the Word (which
has been preached. They render obedience to its
commands, accept fully and live
faithful to its divine prqcejH8?\
•Hie question which naturally comes to mind
is this: What would they be, religiously speak-
ing? Would they create for themselves another
denomination, hr would they not be simply
Christians, numbers of the one church that char-
acterized the earliest Christian era? We are told
in Acta tf That “the Lord added to the church
daily such as should be saved.” (Acts 2:47) With
the preaching of the same gospel todav would
riot the same Lord add the saved to the same
these ®<rliert Christians were
added,gamely, idivine institution OTMTWlflCk
Christ is the IM;which He purchased with His
own blood, and tn which His -----
law of serviced Certainly, TTM
al (
chiion of all othsJs. h c1^do todi?
The value of things is usually determined by back to*the daysof* the
what they cost. The greatest price that was ever ‘ ™ 0I-■ ®
paid for any possession was that paid for the
church. In reminding Christians of the cost of
their ,
J***.*..—A- *- •.
■ —_______. ... ... J
' *- ' ’" .......*
x,.’. ./RF-'- ....
church memberthi’iAs looked upon with sue
-----— -------- -/Rflve' disfavorToday, ana mfat Whny eonteud* ipn
n-fftt&l hard' been able to work quite inten- can obtain God’s favor and enjoy allThebWfefii
sively during the month. Some of
the members of the worker’s
class have done a fine job and
show ability. Brother J. M. Mun-
iz, my right hand man here in
Havana, is still laid up with his
broken leg, which suffered a tri-
ple fracture when he fell trying
to catch a Bus in order to go to
one of his appointments.
He had to submit to an opera-
tion that lasted nearly two hours
-»«a will have to have his leg in
a cast during all the month oi
June. After the cast is taken off
he will have to walk very slowly
and carefully for some time. As
numerous friends visit him he
takes advantage of. the opportun-
ity that he has in order to tell
them about His Savior. Brother
C. Ordaz, the young man whe
came here from Consolacion del
Sur, and whose desire is to re-
turn in order to study with Bro-
ther Estevez, held several ap-
pointments for him during the
month insisting that Brother
Muniz be credited for them.
Brother Harry W. Roher, from
Kansas City, made up a very
pleasant visit as soon as he ar-
rived in Havana, attending our
Thursday evening Bible class. I
oelieve that he was well impress-
ed with our house of worship
and with our Cuban brethren.
We enjoyed his visit very much
and look forward to his visiting
us agan. It is inspiring to have
brethren from the States visit us
when they come to Havana. *
I have persevered in my ef-
forts to buy the printing shop of-
fered us for $1500.00. The Ne-
braska Ave. Church, Tampa, Fla
has undertaken to write to a
number of churches about it, sol-
iciting funds for its purchase. We
need large quantities of litera-
ture in Spanish, but, in order
that it may be properly present-
ed, at moderate cost, we will have
to do the printing ourselves.
Printing, as you know, can be
very mechanical and lifeless or it
can be made, literally, to talk.
Brother Estevez was here a few
days ago and figured that the
press, alone, is worth the price
r asked for the entire shop. I hope
local people had shown so little'
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Hicks, Olan L. Christian Chronicle (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 7, No. 3, Ed. 1 Wednesday, June 15, 1949, newspaper, June 15, 1949; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1306040/m1/2/: accessed June 10, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Christian University Library.