This month's issue of Gospel Anchor features an exchange that took place between Dudley Ross Spears and David Edwin Harrell, co-editor of Christianity Magazine. To my knowledge, this is the first public exchange regarding application of Romans 14 to certain divisive issues that currently plague brethren. One specific issue was given wide notoriety when brother Hailey published his book, "The Divorced And Remarried Who Would Come To God." When strong opposition to this book arose, brother Harrell came to the defense of brother Hailey by publishing 16 articles on fellowship and its application in Romans 14. Brother Spears opposed the application brother Harrell made and was invited to publicly discuss this issue with brother Harrell.

       Christianity Magazine did not want to publish the exchange and brother J.T. Smith, editor of Gospel Truths, willingly did. We are presently reproducing these articles because rather than the issue even coming close to being resolved, it has in fact intensified. We believe this exchange to be beneficial and productive because it was void of any kind of rancor and focused on the actual text of Romans 14.