a critic has her sayA Christian sister responds to a recent gracEmail as follows: "You claim to be a member of the Church of Christ but often have much different views .... Instead of stirring up arguments, why not find a denomination that is better suited to your own personal beliefs? You are not the judge of anybody.... And if you can't handle the criticism, you shouldn't propound your views to anyone."
what is the eternal punishment?An agitated Christian Church preacher responded as follows to a notice about my book, THE FIRE THAT CONSUMES. "Jesus made a pronouncement of sorts about hell, and I suggest that you ,,, familiarize yourselves with it. It's found in Matthew ... a book written by God. What is it about the word aionios [eternal] that you don't understand?"
grace only not clutter A gracEmail subscriber complains that I am "cluttering up" his email with my "grace-only teaching."
half truths or holy truth?A gracEmail subscriber writes: "What you say are Bible truths but they are not all of the truth. In addition to belief, immersion is necessary for salvation. To preach a half truth is to preach a lie.... I pray for those who will be subjected to your false teaching."
kicking the wallsA composite of comments from several gracEmail subscribers says: "I think you are a bit far-out to be a representative of the Churches of Christ. You seem always to be kicking the walls of what is generally accepted within the brotherhood. Might you simply be overreacting to some legalistic and sectarian extremes you have encountered in the past? Do you really think some other group has the truth? If so, why don't you join it and leave us alone?"
you know betterA church acquaintance with whom I grew up in North Alabama nearly a half century ago wrote recently to tell me that I am preaching "another gospel" which is no gospel at all, for which I will be eternally lost, and that he knows that I "know better" than my expressed convictions on a variety of religious issues.
something against Churches of Christ?
A dear gracEmail subscriber writes, "I have been receiving your mail for almost a month now. I get the picture that you have something against the churches of Christ. Is that so? If it is, why?"
little gray squirrelsA gracEmail subscriber writes: "You get a question, then answer it like this: In the first paragraph you say, lawyer-like, 'It might be this way.' In the second paragraph you say, 'It might be that way.' In the third paragraph you say, 'Love, joy, grace, Jesus and little gray squirrels.' Why can't you just say 'Yes' or 'No?'"
straightening me outA gracEmail subscriber tells me it is his God-given duty to straighten me out, saying: "You are good at answering questions that have no biblical language such as 'is baptism necessary.' How about this one: 'Is baptism for the forgiveness of sins?' Why don't use use the words of the apostles to answer the questions about baptism instead of your own words?"
warm and fuzzyA reader disagrees with a gracEmail about searching for a church home. "Finding a place you feel comfortable will not be the answer," he wrote. "Above all you will have to follow God's will and his word. Sitting in a chicken house will not make you a chicken and sitting in some church that makes you feel warm and fuzzy will not make you a Christian."
an agenda issue (two parts)
Following the inauguration of President Barack Obama on January 20, 2009, I wrote a gracEmail urging Americans ... to unite behind him so far as their convictions allow, but especially to pray for him.... I also mentioned in passing that I did not support "the gay agenda." (I have since deleted that phrase.) ... One person denounced my "hate message" and ... warned of my "special place in hell." ... Other readers were more persuasive, including one devout Christian in his twenties, who is pouring out his life in sacrificial ministry to troubled youths on the streets.
reader says 'cancel me'A Christian Church preacher writes, "You do not believe that baptism is part of the introduction to the Way of life. I'm saying that you're not a Christian until you have been buried with Christ in baptism and raised to walk in new life. If I'm understanding you correctly, please quit sending me your excellent daily devotionals."