REDIGGING THE OLD WELLS

(Editorial)

He began to dig with much sadness in his heart. In order to ruin him, his enemies refilled with earth all his wells, the same wells that many years earlier his father had dug. The damages were very great. How would the animals be able to satisfy their thirst? With what could the fields be irrigated? What would his people drink? He was a very rich man, but in that arid region one could not buy water, not even if he was to pay for it in gold. Thus, there remained only one thing to do: put his hands to the spade and remove the debris in order to find that pure water which all needed. The work was difficult; the discontented slithered among the workers and at times brawls broke out. And the water was not found. But he would not be discouraged and, notwithstanding all, he continued to dig.

Just about when everyone no longer believed it could happen, a gushing of fresh and pure water came to the parched land. They refound water. Their work and their exhaustion had not been useless. This beautiful narrative can be read in the book of Genesis, chapter 26. It tells us how Isaac, desiring to find water, went to redig those wells which before him his father Abraham had dug. It is fairly easy to imagine Isaac and his servants as they were digging, removing the mold and the rocks in their search for that water that was so important to them. Also Jesus spoke of a fresh and pure water that would gush out of our hearts: "If any man is thirsty, let him come to me and drink ..." (John 7:37). But like those old wells, also upon Christ and His message there have accumulated, during the course of the centuries, debris, rubble, and rocks. The pure and simple Christianity of the Gospel has been transformed into a thousand denominations, which often struggle among themselves, each with its dogmas, its precepts, and its traditions. However, faithful men, not only of today, have wanted to go upstream. Not contented with the polluted waters from the outlets, they went on to the source and rediscovered the purity of Christ's message, just as He had taught and as it had been handed down from the Apostles in the Gospels.

Paul of Tarsus in his letters helps us to remember also that the church is not of Peter, or of Paul, or of Apollos (1 Corinthians 1:12), or of any other great man. The church is Christ's. We, on our part, desire to be that CHURCH OF CHRIST, not as a label or as a denomination, but as those who live out the essentials of its practices. "Redigging the Old Wells" is also the title of a book that, after a long roaming about, has finally reached its destination and is ready to be distributed among Italian brethren. It narrates the history of the Restoration Movement and of those men who, at the beginning of the 19th century, wanted to rediscover and restore original Christianity. As the author says, "The purpose of this book is to establish the principle of undenominational Christianity and to examine the difference between theory and practice of those who strive to be just Christians."

We really hope that, through the reading of this book, many of us will ask ourselves what we are doing in Italy, in our congregations, to return to the source and to restore original Christianity. The Lord help us to remember all those who, with an unbending passion for two thousand years, have given their lives to God's cause. We, like Isaac and like the Christians who have preceded us, want to dig in the old wells to discover that which many consider has been lost. And we will continue to do it, day after day, sustained by a faith that pushes us on to find that "pure water", for only it alone can satisfy our thirst.

(Vittorio Vitalone)

HANS KUNG: "THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ABOUNDS IN SHOWMANSHIP"
This leader of critical German theology stated: "The governmental activities of the Church of this Pope always deplete themselves more and more in trips and appointments of showmanship." After the recent meetings with young people, like those in Paris and Bologna, many Catholics were asking themselves if rock and popular music could or could not have a role in the church's life. The daily newspaper, "La Repubblica" (The Republic), asked this to the "rebel theologian" Hans Kung and immediately a debate was born. In the newspaper interview of 3 October 1997, Professor Kung expressed himself in this way, "With these religious shows for the masses, it wants to hide or to forget a central problem. The fact is, in many countries and above all in Central Europe, the Church is floundering in a structural crisis and in a credibility crisis which is signaling a rapid decline and a sunset. Hundreds of thousands have decided to break their relationships with the Church; millions of the faithful have resigned themselves to an internal moving away or to a silent disagreement. There is also a crisis of staff in the Church: personnel which is missing and replacements which are insufficient. So much so that soon in Germany the total of parishes without a priest or a spiritual caretaker because of such a shortage will arrive at almost half the total. And this is not all: the animosity of public opinion against the autocracy and the self-representation of the hierarchy is growing in a threatening way. In summary, all the world now needs a Pope John XXIV or a new Pope Roncalli. Will it even be an Italian?"

We believe that Professor Kung is right in affirming that the Catholic Church in all Europe is floundering in a profound structural and credibility crisis. However, we ask ourselves, "What can be done to cure this evil? What proposals could be suggested?" If the leader of critical German theology will allow us, in all humility, we will say not only that the world does NOT need a John XXIV while it does need JESUS OF NAZARETH but also that in the life of the Lord's church there is no place neither for rock music nor for other strange forms which are foreign to Christ's Gospel. Our proposal, Professor Kung, is that of "redigging the old wells" and that of returning to the original Christianity and to the Jesus of the four gospels.

LETTER OF A RUSSIAN SOLDIER
In the pocket of a Russian soldier, who died during WW2, was found a letter which, even though 50 years old, continues to be moving. We now report below the entire text.
"My God, do You hear me? I have never talked to You in my life, but today I want to greet You. You well know that from my most tender infancy they have taught me that You do not exist and that I was stupid to believe. I have never been conscious of the beauty of Your creation. Today, unexpectedly, looking at the profundity of the immensity, looking at this starry heaven above me, my eyes were opened. Marveling, I understood Your light. How could I have been so cruelly deceived? I don't know, Lord, if You will stretch out Your hand, but I trust You for this miracle and know that You will understand. In the depths of this terrible hell, the light shown in me and I saw You. I will not add anything else except the joy of knowing You. At midnight we must make the attack, but I am not afraid for You will be there to watch over me. I still want to say something else: You know that the fighting will be terrible. Perhaps this night I will knock at Your door. Even though I have not been Your friend, will You allow me to enter when I arrive? I will not cry for You see what has happened to me and my eyes have been opened. Forgive me, my God! I depart and I am not sure if I will return. But what a miracle! I no longer fear death!"

BRIEF NEWS ITEMS

FLORENCE - The Bible School
Jeff Taylor and Lewis Short have returned to the U.S.A. after a period of evangelistic activity which was done at the Florence Bible School. Other American workers have already replaced them, among these are Scott Baine and his wife Amanda. We pray to the Lord that He will send out more workers into His harvest (Matthew 9:38).

CONEGLIANO - The congregation at Conegliano has been having some public conferences on various subjects of a biblical and religious nature such as: "God Promises Peace" and "The Church that Jesus Christ Founded". Whoever would like to have a copy of the handbills or of the sermons can contact Paolo Di Luca.

PETILIA POLICASTRO - The congregation here is organizing their annual lectureship "Fellowship 98" that will take place, God willing, the first week of May 1998. In the next issues of CHIESEinFORMA we will give more detailed information concerning their program.

U.S.A. - Harding and Freed-Hardeman Universities
Bro. Earl Edwards and Bro. Shawn Daggett, God willing, will be in Italy next summer with groups of American students to conduct evangelistic campaigns. Bro. Edwards and his group will be in Italy from May 11 to May 31 while Bro. Daggett and his group will be here from May 18 to June 26. Those congregations which are interested can contact these brethren directly at the following phone numbers: Edwards at 001-901-989-6065 and Daggett at 001-501-279-4042.

CONGREGATIONAL NEWS

APRILIA -The church in Aprilia reminds us that on Nov. 1 and 2, at their building in Guarneville St., num. 78, will be their annual lectureship of study and fellowship: "Together 97". The theme will be: "WHICH PARADISE?" We are certain that God will greatly bless this effort.
- On Saturday, October 11, Bro. Alberto Melotti, servant of God and elder at the church in Aprilia for many years, died. He left in us the memory of his faith and the example of his lengthy shepherding activity. He went to live with the Lord and became part of that "great cloud of witnesses surrounding us" which spurs us on to "run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith ..." (Hebrews 12:1-2). At the funeral, the congregation wanted to bid him farewell in the way that he would have enjoyed: letting the Book (the Bible) speak, for in it we learn to have faith in Jesus Christ, Lord of life and of the resurrection (John 11:25-26). It was moving, and at the same time consoling, to hear the apostle Paul's words: "... the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing" (2 Timothy 4:6-8). Lord, we trust in You!

- Edited by: Paolo Mirabelli

c/o CHIESA DI CRISTO

V.le Jonio, 286

00141 ROMA

Tel. & Fax 06/87193697

- Published and distributed by: Paolo Di Luca

Casella Postale 9

31015 Conegliano (TV)

E-mail: p.diluca@aurora.it

- Editorialist: Vittorio Vitalone