THE OLDEST CHURCH
(Editorial)
The news of the discovery of the oldest church has occupied the pages of many newspapers and the time of television news programs. At Aqaba, in southern Jordan, buried by the sand were found the remains of a Christian church which may be the oldest in the world. The head of the archeologists, Thomas Parker, has traced back the ruins to 363 A.D. I looked for a long time at the photographs offered by the newspapers. One sees a pile of rocks, rocks like many others of many other temples scattered throughout the world. I tried to imagine the faces of those ancient brethren, their lives, their aspirations. I thought of when they assembled to read the Bible together, of their plans for evangelism, of their discussions, of their quarrels, of how they prayed, and of how they took together the Bread and the Wine. Looking at those rocks, covered by the desert's dust, I rethought about our way to be Christians, about our desire to be like "the first Christians", to be the most faithful possible to the Gospel's message.
To be like the first Christians, "To restore primitive Christianity", this is our message today. "Let's redig the old wells," we say as we go around.
But what do we really want to restore? It is certainly not by wearing sandals or by dressing in a tunic that we will be like the first Christians. Also if we went to live among the walls of a 4th century church, we would not be better Christians than one who lives on the last floor of a skyscraper. That which makes us like the first Christians will not be only the form but also and above all the substance. That which will cause us and will make us like the church of the first century will be love for the Word of God and walking as Jesus walked imitating His life and His love for the Father. "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35). This is "the way" to be recognized as Christ's disciples.
There is a great discussion about unity, about cooperation, about collaboration, but why are we still such a long way away from Jesus' ideal which He prayed to the Father that Christians might all be ONE? Are we doing all that is within our power to unite Christ's body, to witness to the world that we are One? And not only by words? It is a sin to accept some doctrinal compromises and not to call sin that which is sin. It is an error to mix good and bad and to not remember Jesus' words when He said: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 7:21). But it is also a sin to divide Christ's body, each one building for himself his own "little parish" with high walls and bolted doors, to split hairs not for the love of the truth but for a sectarian spirit and to divide that which Jesus desired to be united. To restore primitive Christianity does not mean only to take a collection each Sunday, to take bread and wine instead of the host, to sing without musical instruments, and to have elders "with believing children". All this has its importance only when it is inserted into faithfulness to the Gospel's spirit. That spirit which has as its fruit: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22). It does not interest us to restore original Christianity only in the external things. We desire to be the Church of Christ in words and in deeds. We do not want our churches to appear externally like that church at Aqaba: only ruins and rocks covered by the sands of time, buildings closed where it was not perceived that the Master's words are really to be put into practice. We do not want "ancient churches"; we want faithful churches. Churches which are healthy and active in promoting Jesus' Gospel and in involving themselves to restore the church just as Christ desired and where the most important law is that of love.
(Vittorio Vitalone)

GATHERING FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Rome - On Saturday, September 5, 1998, there was held in Rome at SS. Apostoli square a gathering of the evangelical churches for religious liberty in our country. About 5000 believers from diverse confessions, from all parts of Italy, were present. In the morning, a delegation lead by the president of AEI (Alleanza Evangelica Italiana = Italian Evangelical Association), Gaetano Sottile, went to the Parliament where they were received by the Honorable Domenico Maselli, member of the first commission on constitutional affairs of the chamber of deputies. We now report the text of the letter sent by the AEI to the President of the Council and to the Presidents of the Chamber and Senate:
MR. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE OF THE REPUBLIC,
MR. PRESIDENT OF THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES,
MR. PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS.
The believers of the Evangelical Christian Churches, gathered today from every part of Italy, are members of a larger family of 150 million evangelicals organized by theWorldwide Evangelical Federation (WEF) in 112 nations with over 600,000 local churches.
They ask that the governing legislation (DDL) on religious liberty, n. 3947/C which is in examination before the first commission of constitutional affairs of the chamber of deputies, be examined with equity and respect also with regards to the Evangelical Churches which have not stipulated agreements with the State but which should not be discriminated against by restrictive and harmful regulations from the same religious liberty provided by the constitution.
They underscore their firm refusal for the numerous provisions which, if approved, would create an evangelism of session B (or an inferior category). The Italian Evangelicals feel the serious responsibility derived from the vocation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ -- to witness their full and loyal willingness to amend the text of the DDL because it would result in a strengthening instrument towards liberty and not a source of absolute power.
They ask to the SS.LL. to carry forward every useful contribution which could better the text of the DDL from the part of the "Commission of Evangelical Churches for relations with the State", including also the members of the Evangelical Churches which have stipulated agreements with the State.
They thank you for the civil and democratic involvement that the SS.LL. will demonstrate and will not be found lacking in towards the thousands of Evangelicals assembled today in Rome.
Rome, 5 September 1998
Dr. Gaetano Sottile
President of the AEI
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As all know, the Italian Churches of Christ have not stipulated any agreements with the State. Because of our ecclesiology based on that which is taught in the New Testament, it is not possible to have agreements and representatives. Nevertheless, we retain that it is not for this that our congregations should be discriminated against or deprived of the religious freedom provided by article 8 of our constitution. We retain that in a democratic and pluralistic nation each one should have the right to express his own faith and his own religious convictions in full liberty and tolerance. We believe that the level of democracy of a nation is measured by the respect that it shows above all to the minorities. Thus, we fervently hope that the commission which has in examination the legislation on religious liberty will keep in mind these facts and will examine the DDL with equity and in respect to all. We fervently wish them a good working situation and "we pray for all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity" (1 Timothy 2:2).
(Paolo Mirabelli)

LECTURESHIPS AND MEETINGS
a) Aprilia
"TOGETHER 98"
31 October -- 1 November
Theme: "Converted to the Living God" -- 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10

b) Rome -- 286 Viale Jonio St.
1968-1998
Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th of October
Theme: "Thirty Years of Service to the Lord"

NEWS OF THE CONGREGATIONS

APRILIA
Also this year God has allowed us to organize the meeting "Together 1998" with you all which will take place at the church building of the Church of Christ in Aprilia, 78 Guarneville St., from October 31 to November 1. We will be happy to host in our homes the sisters and brothers who come from distant congregations.
The theme for this year is "Converted to the Living God" -- 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10:
1. Paolo Mirabelli -- Converted from Ancient and Modern Idols -- 1 Thess. 1:9a
2. Mauro Cervellati -- Converted to the God who Lives -- 1 Thess. 1:9b
3. James (Jay) Young -- Converted to Serve the Living and True God -- 1Thess. 1:9c-10
In the hope that this appointment may be an excellent occasion to feed our brotherly love and to deepen our knowledge of God's Word, we greet you in Christ.
"Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with a love incorruptible" (Ephesians 6:24). (from a circular letter by the congregation in Aprilia)

ROME -- The Viale Jonio congregation
>From 1968 to 1998 are 30 years that the Church of Christ has met at 286 Viale Jonio St., 30 years in the service of the Lord. To remember this 30 years of activity, the congregation wanted to organize a meeting for October 3-4. It will be an occasion to relive again these 30 years of history: the work that has been done and the plans that we have in mind to make realities in the years which the Lord will still give us. We hope that it may also be an occasion to meet all those brothers and sisters in these 30 years which have been involved the the congregational life and culture of the congregation at Viale Jonio.
We thank God for the coming to Rome of Bro. Scott and his wife Amanda. They will provide, for the benefit of the congregation, a program of free conversational lessons in English using the Bible. Beyond this, Scott and Amanda will be involved in various congregational activities that for years we have tried carry forward both at the local level, for the city of Rome, and at the national level. In a particular way, we want, with God's help, to give a witness to the visitors who will come to Rome for the occasion of the Jubilee.
(Anna Balboni)

PRATO
It is with joy that we communicate by means of the pages of CHIESEinFORMA the coming to Prato of Bro. Paolo Di Luca and of his family. Those who know Bro. Di Luca know what a great servant of God he is. We are sure that Bro. Di Luca and his family will continue to do a good job in "the Lord's service" together with the congregation of Prato. Thanks to God for all the workers who He motivates to work in His vineyard (Matthew 9:38).
(Orfeo Magnanimo)

NEW BIRTHS IN CHRIST
"And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved" (Acts 2:47).
Serafina Pometti (of Rossano) and Marco Cosentino (of Spezzano Piccolo near Cosenza) asked to be immersed in Christ for the remission of their sins and to live the new life in Christ Jesus. It is wonderful to see two young people like them submit themselves to Christ and to decide to live their lives as God's desires, notwithstanding the manners and the temptations of this world. Glory be to God! Thanks to God for these people who remember their Creator during the days of their youth (Ecclesiastes 12:1-3).
"I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one" (1 John 2:14).

CHIESEinFORMA
The new address of Bro. Paolo Di Luca is:
PAOLO DI LUCA
CASELLA POSTALE 639
59100 PRATO
tel. 055 - 8710016

LITERATURE OF CHRISTIAN AUTHORS
We have received from the U.S.A. numerous copies of the book by Bro. EddieCloer: "The Church -- A Study of the Nature and Intent of the Church of the New Testament". The book was translated from English by Bro. Terry L.  Edwards. For more information or requests for other copies, write to:
Truth for Today - World Mission School - 2209 S. Benton - Searcy, Ar 72143 - USA.

BOOK REVIEWS
Jacques e Claire Poujol, I CONFLITTI - Origini, evoluzioni, superamenti (CONFLICTS - Origins, developments, and resolutions), pp. 259, L. 25,000 Ed. GBU 1998.
No one can ignore, deny, or diminish the existence of tensions, latent and declared, in each human system: couples, families, agencies, churches. Conflicts occupy an important place in social life and often reveal themselves to be destructive. Basing themselves on an ample, serious, and well-studied documentation, the authors, drawing simultaneously from the Bible and from psychology, analyze initially the origins of conflicts and their developments and then, following this, they examine the diverse reactions during conflictive situations. Lastly they propose, not any miraculous prescriptions, but appropriate ways to handle and to overcome them. Full of vitality and easily accessible, the book will rekindle the flame of one who wants to improve his interpersonal relationships and to better comprehend the difficult reactions of others.

INTERLINEAR IN THE ITALIAN LANGUAGE OF THE OLD AND OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
After 15 years of Carthusian work, there is final available in the Italian language a Bible interlinear with Hebrew-Italian for the Old Testament and Greek-Italian for the New Testament. It is a hand crafted edition and strictly out of the commercial realm, thought up, printed, and produced by a Baptist preacher Arnaldo Vianello, at the age of 80. He has succeeded where many Italian scholars, experts in biblical languages, have not wanted to spend time, money or energy for a work which they knew would not bring them profit since it would not be easily marketable. But, notwithstanding, it is of great usefulness to those who study and teach the Bible. The work of Vianello is certainly not a work that is highly scientific and accurate, in many parts the translation could be improved; however, it is a unique work in its field in the Italian language. We fervently wish that those who are capable at this work can be stimulated by Vianello's example and that as soon as possible there can be in Italy such an instrument of study that many desire. The work is presented in 5 large photocopied and bound volumes in this order:
1. Old Testament, 3 volumes, pp. 2529 + Introduction.
2. New Testament, 1 volume, pp. 641 + Introduction.
3. Analytical Concordance of the New Testament, based on the Riveduta Version of 1982 with supplements from the New Riveduta of 1994 with Greek Dictionary, pp. 634 + 20 + Introduction.
Vianello is also preparing an Analytical Concordance of the Old Testamento.
The cost of the entire 5 volumes plus the cost of postage is around $250.
For further information or requests: Vianello Arnaldo - Via Panamense 14 - 00040 Lariano (Roma), tel. 06-9647064.