I applaud Denny Petrillo’s heart and work for preaching (Dialogue, Page 23, July). Too, I root for his effectiveness.

I’m not sure his comment, “Many in Churches of Christ are no longer committed to Christ and the apostles,” is accurate. From my experience, there is growing interest in such, yet strong traditions of men among us attempt to restrict the Word just as in Christ and the apostles’ day.

There is a growing hunger among Churches of Christ to freely study and practice the stable teachings of holy writ without restraint from some who may have quit studying but shifted to regulating. Such limitation, coincidentally, drives many preachers from the pulpit because they cannot in good conscience continue to parrot doctrines of our heritage which did not come from faithful study of the Word.



Readers respond to music story 

I was blessed to study journalism under the expert and demanding guidance of Charlie Marler at Abilene Christian University.

And you, like all good journalists, practice by the same rules he taught me.

The story “Teachers quit over music document” (Page 29, July) is a great example of journalism that tells both sides of a story and leaves the reader to make his or her judgment. (I think the school acted in a radically foolish manner.) Your paper does a great job of listening to — and showing respect to — all sides in our passionate, often contentious movement.
 

Sadly, legalism raises its ugly head again, working Satan’s plan to divide us. Columbia Academy should be ashamed of itself for its actions against a church elder/teacher and other teachers. We continue to lose our way, imposing law where there is no law. It is no wonder we are in decline.



Thanks for Cuban-born artist profile

Thank you so much for the profile of Ro Diaz’s wonderful work (Page 19, July). Too often the church has fallen victim to a subtle gnosticism of discounting physicality. Diaz’s beautiful work helps us see God has not given up on his creation.