I asked last night when our country became an unwelcoming country. When did we start to decide that we didn't want anybody else to come in? Did it happen suddenly and I missed it, or has it just happened gradually as our greed and hospitality capabilites hardened into isolationism?
We had no real answers, but I could broaden the discussion to include those churches who have hardened into the 50's mold and no longer welcome anyone who is different from they in skin or beliefs. Those churches who are no longer afire with evangelism as we were in the 60's when we sent a large group to the New York area called Exodus. Some of my best friends were involved in that. Christian Chronicle has a special section on the group this month. The mission was not wholly successful; however, there are small churches still there as a result. Dwain Evens is quoted as sayinng that not only did we expect them to become Christians, but we expected them to become Texans--in other words, the church did not integrate into the culture, but expected those there to take over the southern culture. Thankfully our missionaries today know different.
One of the great successes of the Exodus is the Stamford, Conn. group. A group which not many churches of Christ would fellowship because they practice open fellowship (fully open) to women. I think it to be a success and wish they would send missionaries to us.
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