NOVEMBER, 1967
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2FreeOffers . . . to Sunday School leaders who are concerned about reaching and holding TEENS
Dedicated to the spiritual development of the Christian home T h e K in g ’s B u e in e B B A PUBLICATION OF BIOLA SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES. INC. Louis T. Talbot, Chancellor • S. H. Sutherland, President • Ray A. Myers, Board Chairman Vol. 57, No. 11 • NOVEMBER, in the year of our Lord 1967 • Established 1910 A r t i c l e s
THE ART OF ALMOST SAY ING SOMETH ING — Vance Havner .... 8 IS M ISSIONS BIG BUSINESS? — Don W. Hlllis ........................ 9 I HAVE A CLIQUE IN M Y CHURCH — James B. Franklin .......... 12 YOUR CH ILD / A SPECIAL GIFT OF GOD — David and Mary Mullins ............. ................. - ........... 13 FAITH, FREEDOM A N D LAW — J. Edgar Hoover ................... 16 THE BURN ING OF R AVAN A — E. H. Arensen ........................ 22 BIBLICAL DEMONOLOGY — Merrill F. Unger ........................ 23 BIOLOGY TAKES A BACK SEAT — Clara M. Edvenson .............. 40
I New! High School Student Magazine
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Sunday School les- son material de signed to communicate with
teens. Colorful, loaded with action photos and special lesson-related feature articles. Uses new “Discovery Teaching” plan— helps teens discover through God's Word that Christ is the Answer to their problems— right now. See complete sample copy. It's FREE.
MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR — Samuel H. Sutherland .............. 4 DR. TALBOT'S QUESTION BOX — Louis T. Talbot ................... 28 TALK ING IT OVER — Clyde M. Narramore .............................. 32 BOOK REVIEWS — Arnold D. Ehlert ....................................... 34 SCIENCE A N D THE BIBLE — Bolton Davidheiser ...................... 36 CULTS CRITIQUE — Betty Bruechert ....................................... 37 OVER A CUP OF COFFEE — Joyce Landorf .............................. 38 CHRISTIAN WORKERS' CL IN IC — C. Chester Larson ............... 42 JUNIOR K ING 'S BUSINESS ..................................................... 44 C o l u m n s PEOPLE IN THE NEWS ........................................................... 6 READER REACTION ................................................................. 18 PRESENTING THE MESSAGE .................................................... 21 C o v e r James Island, in Virginia— site of the landing of the first English settlers has now been restored to its original appearance. Photo— compliments of Virginia Electric and Power Company. Used by permission.
Research Report: Why Teens Quit Church
Here, in an easy-to-read, 16- page booklet, are the results of several surveys. Sunday School and church dropouts were In te rvie w e d — gave straight-out answers as to WHY they quit. Shocking. Dis turbing. Factual. More impor tant-gives 5 specific ways you can help STOP this drop ping out. Send for your free copy.
Rush Coupon . . . or see your , Christian Bookstore
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ADVERTISING— for information address the Advertising Manager, The King's Business, 13800 Biota. Ave., La Mirada, California 90638. MANUSCRIPTS— "The King's Business" cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to manuscripts mailed to us for consideration. Second-class postage paid in La Mirada, Calif. Additional entry offices in Los Angeles, California. Printed in U.S.A. by Church Press, Glendale, California. ADDRESS: The King's Business, 13800 Biola Ave., La Mirada, California 90638.
Church Position in church.
3
NOVEMBER, 1967
a m essage fr om the ed ito r
WHERE CAN A JEW FIND CHRIST?
On street corners, in homes, in shops, and in our witnessing cen ters, our workers faith fully proclaim the story of redemption accord ing to Moses and the prophets, and the gos pel message from the New Testament, and Jews are finding the Saviour. For help in witnessing, or for your own spiritual need, write to: Rev. A. A. MacKinney General Director American Messianic Fellowship 7448 N. Damen Avenue, Chicago, III. 60645
A Jewish boy accepted a tract, "Isaiah's Por trait of Messiah" and immediately asked, "Can you tell me more about this?" There on a street corner in Chicago a )2 year old boy listened intently to the skillful presentation of the Scriptures and ac cepted Jesus Christ as his Messiah and Sav iour. A middle-aged Jew ess, after hearing the gospel for several years at Miami Beach called and said, "I am terribly distressed. Please come over. I must find the Lord today."
BY DR. SAMUEL H. SUTHERLAND PRESIDENT, BI0LA SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES, INC.
THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES SWITCHES ITS EMPHASIS |N r e c e n t y e a r s , the National Council o f Churches in its an nual sessions has centered its heaviest blows against the war in Viet Nam. It has also lauded the civil rights programs by encour aging marches, demonstrations, and other forms o f civil rebellion. In an editorial, dated March 8, 1967, the Chicago Tribune says concerning the National Council, “ Never given to saying a harsh word about the Communist enemy or a kind word for American involvement in the fight for freedom in Southeast Asia, the N.C.C. usually have called for a cease fire, American withdrawal, and submission o f the country’s future to the indifferent atten tion o f the United Nations.” However, at its annual Christian Education meeting held in February o f 1967, in Dallas, Texas, there was a noticeable switch in its emphasis— “ Sex replaced Viet Nam.” One o f the key speakers was the Dean o f Students at a well-known divinity school in the East. He stated that the oppor tunities for sexual experience have increased vastly in our modern day life and added; “ The time has come when Christians will have to acknowledge the undeniable existence o f sex, then per haps we can begin on our feeble beginnings o f educating our church members for this important area o f living.” The Tribune editorial concludes: “ The more effort the N.C.C. expends on re search into the birds and the bees, the less it will have to befuddle and confuse the serious matter o f life and death in Viet Nam.” It seems tragic, indeed, that the time has come when the secular press must take the church to task for its lack o f spiritual empha sis and its involvement in all o f the peripheral activities which are occupying the attention o f these so-called spiritual leaders o f our churches. Among the notables who were invited to speak before the more than one thousand Christian Education leaders from over forty denominations in attendance at the conclave, were former Bishop James A. Pike and Malcolm Boyd. It was this latter in dividual who reportedly was featured in a recent issue o f Playboy Magazine. The publication itself boldly advocates everything
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HELP US REACH THE FORGOTTEN MAN
North America Indian Mission (formerly Marine Medical Mission)— bringing Christ to Indians on reservations of Pacific Northwest— requests prayer for workers for nine new fields. W anted— to reach forgotten man Nine missionary couples. . . school teachers.. . field helpers camping leadership. . . summer student volunteers Pray "the Lord of the harvest” for labor ers. Write for information and FREE publications. North America Indian Mission 2205 Fir St., Vancouver, B.C.
4
THE KING'S BUSINESS
that is opposed to all o f the moral and spiritual standards found in the Word o f God and proclaimed by the great denominations throughout their history. (At least these great scriptural truths have been proclaimed by the denominations until this present generation o f church leaders came into power.) N ow the “ situational morality” practically has taken over the attention o f our denominational leaders. According to these individuals there are no moral standards or guides necessary. The only guide is the situation that exists at the moment and anything is allow able as long as there is mutual consent on the part o f participating individuals. The doctrinal defection o f the former Bishop James A. Pike is too well known to need repetition. Among other blasphemous utterances, he has said, " I ’ve jettisoned the Trinity, the virgin birth and the incarnation.” He has openly repudiated every car dinal doctrine found in the Word o f God. He has established his own religious beliefs, ridiculing on numerous occasions everything that Christians have held near and dear to their hearts through out the past generations. Yet he is welcomed in pulpits o f all too many o f our Protestant churches and he was an honored speaker at this great Christian Education Congress. Apparently not a voice was raised in protest against his appearance or against what he had to say. It may be debatable whether the N.C.C. leadership is actually made up o f card carrying Communists, but it must be noted that surely the hard-core Communists, not only in Russia but around the world, are rejoicing daily over the pronouncements o f the N.C.C. and the trends which the National Council is propagating throughout its member denominations. The saddest groups who themselves are Bible-believing Christians, are loath to raise a unit ed voice o f protest against the terrible inroads o f unbelief which have crept into their churches. Now and then an isolated voice is raised in protest against this nefarious condition and less fre quently there is a concerted but rather feeble effort on the part o f a group o f laymen to purge their denomination o f this con dition. But the leadership is presently so firmly entrenched that it is well-nigh impossible for anyone to do anything about it. Sometime ago a liberal church leader is quoted as having said, "The great majority o f laymen in our church is still fundamental in his beliefs but his loyalty to a denominational name will guar antee our success.” There have been many worthwhile results o f the denomina tional activities within Protestantism, but we would dare to sug gest that in this generation the ties connected with a denomina tional name can become a great handicap in one’s spiritual life and testimony. Thank God for all o f the independent churches which have sprung up in recent years and are continuing to spring up throughout the land. The work in these churches is being carried on by sound ministers o f the Gospel and faithful laymen who are finding that the Holy Spirit is operating in a very (Continued on p. 46)
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Over a period o f years, your securities have appreciated in value. Now—as a committed Christian, aware o f your stewardship and knowing the urgency o f getting out the gospel message— you want to make your gains count most for the Lord. you achieve this and other objectives through the training of young men and women (tuition free) for effective and purposeful Christian service. You also make possible the other ministries of the Institute . . . radio, films, literature, Bible conferences and evangelistic services. Because . . . you literally stretch your appreciated funds for God's work, and personally receive the benefits o f a generous, lifetime income. Your transfer of securities for Moody Annuities is at current market values, although you purchased your securities at lower prices. There’s possible capital gains tax savings. And most o f the in come is tax exempt. Moody Annuities assure a steady in come for your lifetime, at rates up to 9.09% (depending on your age). And remember, there are no market fluctu ations or reinvestment problems to worry about. Use handy coupon for more information. When you transfer these securities for Moody Annuities . . .
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5
NOVEMBER, 1967
T m / Tb Q T U V E M T mb O B J E C T S
of the Evangelical Alliance Mission, has announced that 26 Bible schools, colleges, and seminaries were repre sented at TEAM’S candidate school last summer. The annual orientation classes were attended by 79 candi dates. This is the Mission’s largest candidate class during the past ten years. Executives of the organiza tion believe this to be an upward trend in missionary volunteers. In cluded among the candidates were five missionary children, 12 single men, and 13 associate workers who go out for short term assignments. Charles H. Troutman has been named acting director of the Latin Ameri can Mission’s expanding Ministry to the Student World. He will be suc ceeding the Rev. Juan M. Isais who has served in Mexico City and directed the student ministry since 1966 when it was established. Mr. Troutman is a veteran of Christian student work in the United States and Australia. Former general director of Inter- Varsity Christian Fellowship, he be came a missionary of LAM in De cember of 1966. He and his wife have studied Spanish in Costa Rica prior to beginning the responsibili ties in his new position. Christian Booksellers Association in cluded in its recent San Diego con vention a special pilgrimage to For est Lawn Memorial-Park in Glendale, Calif. The group viewed the “ Sacred Trilogy” which includes the Last Supper Window, the Crucifixion and Resurrection paintings.
Dr. V. Raymond Edman, chancellor of Wheaton College, died suddenly Sep tember 22 in the Wheaton College
Chapel following a special address to the students. Dr. Edman served as president of Whea ton from 1940 to 1965. The heart at tack wh ich took him followed earli er illness which had forced him to lighten his sched
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ule. He had just spoken to the stu dents, it is reported, on the impor tance of maintaining a worshipful attitude in the house of the Lord. The theme was, “ In the Presence of the King.” Word Books of Waco, Texas is pre paring a new 24-volume commentary which is scheduled for release in the fall of 1968. The work is non-de- nominational in character and con tains the work of evangelical scholars representing m a n y denominations. The volumes are not written for technical Bible students alone, but are designed to meet the needs of laymen, church educators, students and pastors. Word Books, a division of Word, Inc., which is now two years old, has over 45 titles in print. George Baskin, director of Word Books and Jarrell McCracken, president of Word, Inc., stated, in announcing the project, “ The Word Bible Commen tary will be the culmination of the tremendous effort, though t and dreams of these dedicated and de voted authors and editors. It has been their aim to make the Bible a clearer and more easily understood source of information and inspira tion to all Christians.” Pacific Garden Mission of Chicago will celebrate its 90th anniversary rally on November 5 in the Conrad Hilton Hotel’s International Ball room. Featured speaker for the occa sion is Tom Skinner, 25-year-old Negro. Mr. Skinner was saved in his teens while leading a New York gang. Since his conversion, he has conduct ed mass Gospel rallies throughout the United States. He is heard periodic al on about 12 stations. According to Mission superintendent, Harry Saul- nier, the Mission’s 90th year has seen an enlarged ministry, especially among servicemen. A total of 3,875 were overnight guests. Dr. D. A. Kuehl, candidate secretary
OUR LITTLE INDIANS
American Indian c h ild r e n fr o m many tribes that are “ unloved” — “ unwanted” need your h e l p . Please give where it’s needed most. AMERICAN INDIAN MISSION SOCIETY Box 5215 Minion Hills, Calif. 91340 W A N T E D ! ! Used cars for use by Missionaries on furlough. In donating your used car for this worthwhile purpose, you will receive a tax-deductible receipt for top re tail value. Write: ASSISTANCE IN M ISSIONS, Inc. Box 3232, Glendale, Calif. THE CHURCH AND THE GREAT TRIBU LATION, by Dr. William R. Newell. Because of the present situation in the Middle-East is important that you keep in formed about the future, according to the Word of God. Such information is given in this book and is handled superbly by Dr. Newell. This would be a most valuable book for one to own — especially now. only .50 WHY I AM OPPOSED TO THE INTER CHURCH WORLD MOVEMENT by Dr. I. M. Haldeman. Be informed about the Ecumenical Movement. Do you know the facts according to the Bible? Christians need to have the Scrip tural knowledge on this subject. And, for this reason we strongly recommend the read ing o f this book. Dont you be misled, only .60
Pictured above are (left to right) Na tional Vice President Dolores Kainey, Des Moines, Iowa; Forest Lawn Foun dation Director Dr. Karl Wecker; Na tional Vice President Ernestine Har din, Mobile, Alabama; and Glendale host W. A. Williamson, Gospel Light Publications, Glendale. The American Bible Society recently featured a program of Worldwide Bible reading running concurrently
Order both books for $1.00 Prepaid. (Residents Of Canada add 10%) Sorry no C.O.D.'s or Charges. THE UNION BIBLE STUDY ASSOCIATION
P. O. Bax 284-K-l!
Winter Park, Florida
6
THE KING'S BUSINESS
background includes advertising copy writing and assistant editing of NAE’s magazine, United Evangelical Action. He has also worked in public relations with Inter-Varsity Chris tian Fellowship.
ber of requests have come in for additional help. The mission plans an accelerated program of recruitment in the very near future. Robert E. Burt has
with National Bible Week. It was estimated that more than forty mil lion people around the world partici pated in the program. Both of the programs began during World War II with the former marking its 23rd year. Artie Missions, Inc. has inaugurated a new work in- central British Co lumbia, Canada. Government statis tics indicate that the Indian popular tion is the fastest growing segment of all people in Canada. Their in crease ratio is set at 5.5%, while that of the white population is 2.5%. The Government lists for Indians in British Columbia sets the number at 45,630. Artie Missions reports that sev eral reservations near the larger cities are untouched with the Gospel. Since their work began with two families earlier in the year, a num
been named com munications direc tor for Medical As sistance Programs, Inc. The organiza tion serves m is sionary physicians and dentists around the world from its Wheaton, Illin o is office. The appoint The Navigators recently completed a training program in the country of Lebanon. Twenty-one young men from Syria, Jordan, Iraq and Leba non met for the instruction period on the basics of daily Christian liv ing. Navigator missionaries Peter Angier and Nate Mirza were in charge of the program. The major objectives were to give a concentrated training to new contacts and impart to them the goal of evangelizing the Middle East. The conference proceeded on schedule in spite of the reports of hostilities which broke out in June. The organization is much encouraged with the results. BD Not a Handout... but a HAND-UP of LOVE Give him help for today— and for all the tomorrows. Give him food, clothing, shelter, loving care. Give him schooling and training to make his way in the world, knowledge o f his Creator and of the love of Christ. Thousands o f children like this little boy need help the world over. YOU can give one or more o f them a HAND-UP OF LOVE through the World Vision childcare program. You’ll receive a photo and brief history o f yQur child. You can exchange letters, snapshots, little gifts. World Vision will provide loving care, schooling and a good start toward adult life. Above all, World Vision will bring up your child in the nurture and admonition o f God. Through sponsorship— even through your generous contribution— you can give a needy child a HAND- UP OF LOVE. Fill in the coupon and mail it today.
ment was announced by J. Raymond Knighton, executive director of Medi cal Assistance Programs, Inc. Mr. Burt will work primarily in editing MAP publications and the develop ment of all phases of communications for the missionary organization. His
WORLD VISION CHILDCARE A department of World Vision International
Dear Dr. Pierce: □ I would like to sponsor a boy________ ,girl_________at $10* per month. Enclosed is $ __________ for_______ month (s). □ I would like tocontribute $________tothe work of World Vision Childcare. □ I'm interested. Please send more information. NAME (please print) .......................... ......................................... ADDRESS .................................................................-................. C IT Y .....................................................................................;.. STATE ......................................................... zip code ................ ORGANIZATION (if any) ................................................................ *$11 in Canada A13 — 1I7A Write to: WORLD VISION INTERNATIONAL Dr. Bob Pierce, President, Box O, Pasadena, Calif. 91109 or WORLD VISION OF CANADA, Box 181-K, Toronto 12, Ont.
NOVEMBER, 1967
7
the art of
ALMOST saying by Dr. Vance Havner are never to be entertained . . . He is always a false accuser who makes a general charge; he is a learned false witness skilled and cunning who says he will not go into the case; he will say nothing about it; he thinks it better to hold his tongue. Would God his tongue had been cut when he said that! . . . No man makes progress who deals in generalities.” Finney had a sermon on “How To Preach So As To Convert No body.” One rule was: Preach about sin in general but never mention any of the sins of your present congregation. The woman at Jacob’s Well did not get under conviction while Jesus talked about the water of life and where was the best place to worship. But when He said, “Go call thy hus band,” things began to happen. She told her townspeople, “ Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did.” Jesus did not generalize; He particu larized. He said something every time. This art shows up in prayer meeting when some dear brother gets no farther than, “We have done many things which we should not have done and we have left undone many things which we should have done.” Who hasn’t? But when you hear men and women confess gossiping, covetousness, ba ck b it in g , bad temper, worldliness, evil habits, and name them unmistakably, that is revival. When God’s Spirit convicts and men confess, nothing is done half-way; we come clean with it. The Art of Almost Saying Something is very clever; it sounds smart and it will not of fend anybody. It will help the speaker to get ahead in this world but this world is not the right world to get ahead in. At the end o f the road stands God and God
something
T h e A e t o f Almost Saying Some thing is quite in vogue these days. Its past masters hold forth in our capitals and legislative halls where politicians have long since become quite adept at talk ing out of both sides of their mouths. It always shows up around Easter and Christmas when secular writers in a reli gious mood go far afield trying to write about the resurrection and the incarnation. Alas, this popular technique even gets into some pulpits. The speaker gets off to a good start and you feel that he will hit the nail on the head. But no ; just before he gets to the point, he deftly swerves to one side and makes a neat detour. He almost says it, but not quite. He never goes through and really names things. He sounds as though he might do it any minute and shal low listeners sometimes think he does but when you have checked over the performance there are “ slim pickings.” He said a lot but not enough. Erasmus must have been good at it. It was said of him: “ He could shade ‘Yes’ to ‘No’ and burnish up ‘No’ until it might al most pass for ‘Yes’. Erasmus is a Proteus, an eel. He tries to walk on eggs without breaking them. No advances on argumen tative lines until the conclusion is in sight, and then sidles off with out reaching it.” But while the people of academic culture, of speculative disengagement, and serene intellectual indifference, sided with Erasmus, the heart of Christianity beat with Luther. Because Luther did not almost say something. He said it and when he said it, it stayed said! Joseph Parker sounded a blast long ago at this art o f almost say ing it. “Definite statements are manageable but vague charges
always says something. His Book does not almost state the case. The man who says something is, of course, dogmatic and dog matism is anathema to some o f us. Strangely enough, we want dog matism elsewhere. When we get sick, we want a dogmatic doctor who knows what ails us. When we take medicine, we want the kind that has been put up by a dog matic pharmacist and not by one who ignored the formula. When we ride the train, we want a dog matic engineer, not one who throws the timetable away and goes by guess. Yet in the greatest of all fields, the ministry of the Word of God, it has been fash ionable to disobey orders from Heavenly Headquarters and sub stitute the opinions o f men. We need to be saying some thing these days about sin and judgment and salvation and godly living and the future. It is tragic the way some approach such sub jects as worldliness or the Lord- ship of Christ or the return o f our Lord. In our reaction against Dogma, we have devised “Dodg- ema” ; we dodge the real issue. Our nation suffers today for the lack o f leaders who believe some thing and say it. Political expedi ency has shut many a mouth and given us sycophants instead of statesmen. The pressure is ter rific and it is far easier to be a time-server than a God-pleaser. God give us men in the pulpit who will remember that they are not diplomats arranging a truce but prophets declaring an ultima tum! Civilization has gone to pieces on tact, diplomacy and tol erance. It is no time to almost say something. Let us hear from men with a double resolve: “ I will hear what God the Lord will speak” (Psa. 85 :8 ); “What the Lord saith unto me, that will I speak” (I Kings 22:14). BE
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
IS MISSIONS BIG BUSINESS? by Don W. H iIlis
C h r is t ia n H e r a l d published it . . . June, 1967. Elisabeth Elliott wrote it. The title — “ Go Ye Into All the World and Preach Whose Gospel?” It was a provoking article . . . thought-provok ing. And it deserves careful study by mission execu tives. It also deserves an answer, and here is one. At the outset of the article, Mrs. Elliot quoted an anthropologist to the effect that missions “ are not getting recruits,” and hence stand in danger of being written off within the next ten years, barring a radical change. The writer then ex pressed her awareness of the reaction such a state ment would bring. I am one who has reacted. The fact is, mission are getting recruits. Not as many as they would like, to be sure. But statistics show a steady increase in the number of foreign mis sionaries during the last twenty years. Though there are areas in which missions are “hurting,” for lack of candidates, yet in the over all picture, there are far more American young people volunteering for the service o f Jesus Christ on foreign fields than is generally realized. It must be remembered that there are scores more mission societies appealing for candidates today than twen ty years ago. Furthermore, the largest missionary society in the world, with approximately 2,000 mis sionaries and growing at the rate of more than 100 new missionaries a year, is only about 30 years old. This year in my mission we have more recruits in our annual orientation classes than we have had in any period during the last ten years. It is, of course, true that there are large re-
ligious machines today that lack sufficient person nel. But show me the missionary organization that demands a personal commitment to Jesus Christ and to the proclamation o f His message and I will show you an organization to which dedicated young people are offering their services. Early in Mrs. Elliot’s article, she stated, “Whether we like it or not, whether we were pre pared for it or not, they [missions] have certainly had their day in China. In some countries of Africa, missionaries have been bidden good-bye. God—if we may be permitted to put it this way—is doing without us in China.” Though such a statement should give us cause for serious heart-searching, it should also be challenged by some qualifying questions. Is God really doing without us in China? Or is He accomplishing things through missions in that country today that may be far more impor tant than we realize? Are we to attach no impor tance to the letters received from the China main land by the Far East Broadcasting Company, The Evangelical Alliance Mission, and other radio ministries? Do not these letters, which so often express spiritual hunger or a note of thanksgiving for the radio broadcasts, indicate that God is using the missionary program even apart from the bodily presence of the missionary? Is it true that missions have had their “ day in China” ? The same pessimistic note was sounded when Mussolini invaded Ethiopia. Missionaries were driven from the country and Christians were slaughtered. It appeared to be the demise of the missionary effort in that land. But not so—if any thing, missions have had a greater day since Mus solini’s rape o f Ethiopia than before. Though the curtains have been temporarily pulled across the foreign missionary program in
The author of this article is the Associate Di rector of The Evangelical Alliance Mission which has 880 missionaries serving in 20 countries.
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NOVEMBER, 1967
We would assume from the context o f these questions that Mrs. Elliot does not feel that the command o f our Lord to pray the Lord o f Harvest for laborers has anything to do with “drumming up new members for the program.” Though I object to “ drumming up” missionary candidates, yet I am left without a clue as to what her interpretation of the above-quoted Scripture is. Is she suggesting that we are only to pray? Certainly she does not believe that it is wrong to share information and facts of thé fields with pro spective servants of the Lord. Is the Spirit of God in some mysterious way to lay the burden of Malawi on the heart of a young person who has never heard of that country? Paul’s great desire to preach the Gospel in unreached areas must have been related to his knowledge o f those unreached areas. Furthermore, if we are not to take for granted that open doors “mean we ought to enter them,” then how are we to interpret open doors? Mrs. Elliot feels that “ propaganda appeals” that were meaningful to students a generation ago are now meaningless. The reason she gives is that “ today’s young people are better educated” and are, therefore, “better equipped to evaluate the nature o f the appeal or the claims of those who would draw them into service.” The author’s illustration of the Peace Corps in this regard is weak. There are plenty of reasons to believe that decisions to join the Peace Corps (worthy as it is) are often based on something less than “ concern” for others. Be that as it may, it would be ludicrous to deny that today’s youth are flooded with volumes of information which did not reach young people twenty years ago. In not a few cases this has led to frustration rather than to greater ability to evaluate. It is also a fact that young people 15 years from now will be far more knowledgeable than youth today. But does this mean that our form o f appeal must change with every generation? Is there something less relevant about Christ’s command to preach the Gospel to every creature today than 2,000 years ago? Is the logic o f the Hon. Ion Keith-Falconer relative to missions less applicable today than it was a few generations ago when he said, “While vast con tinents are shrouded in almost utter darkness and hundreds of millions suffer the horrors o f heathen ism and Islam, the burden of proof lies upon you to show that the circumstances in which God has placed you, are meant by Him to keep you out of the foreign mission field.” In the final analysis, isn’t love for God, always and in every generation, the foundation of dedica tion ? Isn’t obedience to His commands the proof of love? Is it completely honest to imply that the many questions now raised by American young people concerning “full-time service” arise wholly out of the fact that they are “ better equipped to evalu-
China, yet it is not beyond the reach of faith to believe that He who directs the drama may be pleased at any moment to open the curtains on another scene of great missionary opportunity in that land. Any expectation less than this would be unworthy of our trust in the Lord of Harvest. What shall we say of the author’s statement, “The whole missionary program o f the church has become a business. Because it is a business, it is, for Christians in twentieth-century America, an idol” ? It would be less than honest if we did not admit that there is some humbling truth within that in dictment. The tables of the money changers must be turned over, and the sellers of doves and cattle driven from the temple of missions as well as from the church in the homeland. Furthermore, we con fess that in the service of Jesus Christ here and abroad we too often become, like Martha, anxious and busy about many things to the neglect o f serv ing Christ in the Spirit. However, there is a real sense in which the service of Jesus Christ is business. Servants o f the Lord are referred to as being “workers together” with God. They are “builders,” “ farmers,” “ sol diers,” and “ ambassadors.” They have a “business” to perform and there are business principles which contribute to their efficiency in the task. The gifts of the Spirit include wisdom —that is wise advice and counsel; helps —those who are ready to serve others, and governments —that is administration, those who can co-ordinate the work of others. In all of this “business,” we are commanded not to be slothful. It is true that mission societies present the “untouched tribes” or “the wide-open doors,” and that they “ offer shorter terms and longer furloughs or even tougher assignments and greater sacri fices,” in their attempts to get recruits. But is this wrong? Apart from “ longer furloughs,” one can find precedences for all of these appeals in the book of Acts and in the ministry o f the apostle Paul. In fact, the very concepts of unreached tribes, wide-open doors, and greater sacrifices are New Testament concepts. Was there something wrong with. Paul's ex pressed desire to go to Rome, to Spain, or to preach the Gospel “ not where Christ was named?” Was it not something far more than just cold, unspirit ual business for him to send Timothy to Ephesus or Titus to Crete? Surely this was the “business” of the Spirit of missions. Now note the following well-placed questions. “Did not Jesus Himself,” says Mrs. Elliot, “ tell us to pray the Lord of the Harvest that He would send forth laborers into His harvest fields ? Doesn’t this mean, in the last analysis, getting young peo ple to be missionaries, drumming up new members for the program?”
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ate . . . the claims o f those who would draw them into service” ? Or are there other factors which contribute strongly to their questions? Is it not a hard, cold fact that materialism and a desire for security are a source of some o f these questions? Could it not be that a lack o f uncondi tional commitment to Jesus Christ and His will nurtures a good percentage of their interrogations ? In a survey given to more than 1,000 collegians during the past three months, the question was asked, “Why is there a dearth o f volunteers for the service of Jesus Christ today?” The overwhelm ing response was “ the inroads of materialism,” and “ the lack of genuine commitment to Jesus Christ.” That was the voice o f Christian youth speaking. Perhaps I do not understand the following statement from the author’s article: “ I don’t sup pose God minds the way Standard Oil runs its busi ness, and possibly He does not any more mind how a given missionary organization operates, because in terms of His real work—that is, the hidden, true, eternal work of His Spirit in the hearts of men—the missionary organization has no more claim to validity than has Standard Oil.” Mrs. Elliot would have done me, and perhaps others, a favor had she interpreted what she meant by that statement. It is my conviction that God does mind “ the way Standard Oil runs its busi ness.” There is a relationship between God’s atti tude toward a nation, a company, or an individual in respect to the ethical or unethical behavior there of. Righteousness does exalt a nation and the seeds of unrighteousness will destroy it. Furthermore, “ the hidden, true, eternal work of His Spirit in the hearts o f men” is far more closely related to the missionary organization than to the Standard Oil Company. The church is the medium through which God works. Although the church does have frailties, it is still the body through which He accomplishes His ends. Though that “ eternal work” is indeed done by the Holy Spirit, it is done in conjunction with the believer. The author’s comparison between business methods and missionary procedures is extremely interesting. She has suggested that what business calls promotion, the missionary calls “ sharing prayer requests.” What business calls progress reports, missionaries call “ prayer letters.” What business refers to as a field assignment, the mis sionary calls “ the Lord’s leading.” “ A sustained attempt,” she says, “ to apply secu lar concepts to spiritual matters and to convince ourselves that God’s work must necessarily be car ried forward by the same means as other kinds of work is leading us to destruction.” Then in one incisive indictment, she adds, “This is the mission ary task, to proclaim Christ. Though we have begun to try to sell Him, to deal in immortal souls, and have forgotten that business is a mere machine, a
thing, an idol — powerful, impressive, relentless, and dead.” Assuming for the moment that there are mis sion societies that are God-directed and God-em powered, what terminology would Mrs. Elliot sug gest should be used to describe their work? Are there no such things as “prayer letters” and “ the Lord’s leading” which are not something other than “business?” Are we always in a position to judge accurately when certain terminology is an expres sion o f real spiritual experience and when it is just business? We owe a sincere debt o f gratitude to the author of this thought-provoking article. However, we are left to cry out, “What is the answer?” Mrs. Elliot, you have opened a wound. Do you have any heal ing balm? You have pointed to the shadows, but can you not show us the sunlight? Are we really to look upon the missionary enterprise as “ a Moloch, a mighty idol to whom we are willing to sacrifice certain things?” If so, then we must de stroy it, but what is to take its place? Would a new missionary movement start with anything less than a man dedicated to Jesus Christ and to His plan of communicating the Good News to others? Would not the contagion o f that life lead others to join the ranks? Would their com bined ministries not then be enhanced by some kind of an organization which could handle details that would otherwise rob the missionary o f getting on with the job of sharing Jesus Christ with others ? The author’s call for those involved in mis sion organizations to “ return to Him” is altogether worthy. Doubtless in any such return, many “ trap pings” would fall by the wayside. But it is far from probable that the whole log would have to be cast into the fire and burned. The fulfillment of the Great Commission is not to be left to the whims and fancies of individual religious experience. There is a divine rational in the program which involves the working together of people according to Spirit-revealed principles. All effective missionary societies are repeatedly and humbly evaluating their efforts in the light of those principles. There is much, very much, in the missionary program of the church today that is Holy Spirit directed, Holy Spirit empowered, and Christ exalt ing. There are hundreds of dedicated and Spirit- filled men and women who are not serving machines or just fulfilling assignments on foreign fields. There are thousands of converts to Christ whose lives have been transformed through the Gospel preached by prayer-backed missionaries. There are dozens of mission societies to whom the program of foreign missions is a spiritual ministry and a sacred stewardship. If, to them it is big business, it is only because it is God’s business. HE
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I HAYE A CLIQUE IN MY CHURCH iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiih
by Rev. James B. Franklin
I T STARTED IN A SMALL GROUP. First, only two, then three, ten, fifteen and finally it grew to such a large number that this group could not be ignored. You know the kind o f thing I’m talking about. All the critics of the church have learned to de scribe these people very well. They are the ones who “ run the church” ; they’re the group you couldn’t break into with a can opener. They get all of the com mittee appointments, have most o f the notable jobs and make all the decisions. I have a clique like this in my church. Well, not exactly like it, but a clique anyway. The thing finally blossomed after I had been pastor of this small church for two years. A couple got together and decided something had to be done. They talked to others and agreed on a course o f action. They would con sider a proposal and present it to the body of deacons and then, if the deacons agreed, they would present it to the church. By the time this thing became Rev. James B. Franklin, a gradu ate of Howard Payne College and Southwestern B a p tis t Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas, is pastor of the First Baptist Church of Kingsville, Texas.
ices actually began the revival spirit had already permeated the church, the people and the town. The results? More made a per sonal profession o f faith in the Lord Jesus than in the recent his tory of the church. Many others of like faith and order united with the church and a host of people renewed their vows to God. But these results disappointed the clique. So another little group formed to prepare and up-date the prospect list, arrange for fur ther contacts with the people who were not reached. The deacons visited in the homes of the new members; literature and encour aging letters were mailed or tak en to these new people and efforts were made to integrate these folks into the total ministry of the church. The results of this ministry brought as many more decisions in the services of the church as were made in the re vival. A staunch follow-up pro gram kept the church in contact with others who were not yet reached for Christ. Yes, I have a clique like this in my church. Really I wonder what a church would do without one. Maybe nothing. I also won der what would happen if every church did have one. Revival ? Nation-wide? World-wide? EE
known to most o f the church members, it had caused such a change in the climate o f the serv ices that one could sense it as he sat at worship. The music was affected; Sunday School classes buzzed with it; very little in the church program seemed unaf fected. This little “ clique” had really started something. Do you know what it was? Re vival ! The two which grew to three became the revival steering com mittee. The ten, fifteen and finally the large number became over 100 persons. You couldn’t use a can opener to get into a group at all; you needed only to attend an nounced prayer m eetings in homes. The notable jobs and deci sions were determined a fte r prayer for themselves, for the evangelist and singer, the pastor and the lost and unenlisted. This clique reminds one of the first eleven who grew to 120, then three thousand, and five thousand more and by the end of the first century and a half A.D., had grown to over a half million Christians. This clique felt that evangelism and personal witness ing were so vital to the life of the church that they set out to see just what God would do with a group who prepared themselves for revival. Then before the serv
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Christian Home Feature
YOUR CHILD/ a special g i f t of God
by David and Mary Mullins
are perhaps unpreventable, but the great majority can be overcome by some timely advice. Do have the good sense to talk frankly with each other about this side of your marriage. Real and deep sat isfaction for a Christian couple is threefold: phys ical, mental and spiritual. The important thing is that these three should go together. The height of Christian married happiness is in reaching this real satisfaction together. It is for this reason that we feel it is so important for every couple to dis cuss together the more elusive side of physical sat isfaction. Many young couples sensibly plan to learn to live with each other alone for a year or two, but soon in both husband and wife there will come an
T h e p h y s ic a l s id e o f m a r r ia g e calls for more than mere adjustment. Here we are starting a new part of life, and those who feel that they will reach full harmony on the honeymoon are likely to be disappointed. Rather, this is the beginning of an art, and as in so many other fields, experience makes perfect. Do not be discouraged, therefore, if the ideal success outlined in the books you may have read together is not achieved in the first few weeks. Success and immeasurable joy will come with patience, love and good humor. On the other hand, if success and full happiness elude you after a year or so of marriage, then consult your doctor or your local Marriage Guidance Council, for often a little advice can help enormously. Some problems
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our children, consciously or unconsciously, as means of extending the expression of our own per sonalities. It ought to be remembered that each child has a unique personality which needs to find its own expression and development. Secondly, we realize that we stand as God to them whilst they are small. This fills us with an overwhelming sense of responsibility and we turn again to the Lord Jesus’ promise of 2 Corinthians 12:9 with great gratitude. We realize that we can not expect the children’s lives to be better or holier than our own, and we find this a tremendous en couragement to greater Christlikeness in our daily lives. We hope that our children will always find us approachable: we covet that God-like quality, of always being the same, so that the children will not feel, “Oh, I can’t go and talk to Daddy today; he is in one of his moods.” We long to keep Sunday as the best day of the week — a day when there is time and leisure to laugh and play together, and when together as a family we shall look forward to worshipping our Heavenly Father in church. We keep the best toys for Sunday and want it to be the happiest of days. In the third place, we try hard to remember what it was like to be children ourselves. It wasn’t so long ago, but already we find it difficult to put ourselves in their position. However, we are trying to remember, for we want to “ sit where they sit” and to be really understanding parents. Though our children are only small, we have already learned how easy it is to yield to the temp tation to spoil them. On the other hand, we try to avoid the rigid enforcement of rules laid down for our own convenience rather than the child’s good. It is not weakness to change one’s mind or alter a decision over an unimportant point; indeed, to be flexible and reasonable can often give strength and purpose to one’s firm general principles. It is our aim by careful thought to maintain high standards without being forced into painful and certainly unhelpful battles over small and relatively unim portant things. We strive for happy living with our children which is as much for them as it is for us; and we try to be reasonable as well as firm, and believe it is possible to be both! We have learned more than we shall probably ever realize from our own parents in these matters and we long that in turn our own children shall profit by our experience. In all the joy and happiness of marriage, a Christian couple does well to remember that God is faithful to His promises. He is faithful in supply ing our needs, in giving strength, in filling us with love—all this we rejoice in. It is less easy to rejoice in the fact that our Heavenly Father will give us suffering and sorrow. That He gives suffering for
increasing urge for a baby. How happy we are that we had learned to get adjusted and shaken down together on many levels before our first baby was born! Yet what indescribable and undreamed-of happiness our three small children have brought to us! Should we have further children, we some times feel we shall burst with all the joy and hap piness we have been given! But it is often of great benefit both to husband and wife, and to the marriage, to plan to wait for a year or more before the wife becomes pregnant. A girl often feels elated and happy when she is pregnant, and at these times there is the cheering prospect o f a little baby. But there may be times, apart from the well-known disability o f nausea which many experience early, when she feels unlike her usual self. She may be moody, and occasionally be easily moved to tears, and in little ways she will probably be less easy to understand and live with from time to time. She sometimes feels depressed and tires more easily, and even when everything in her pregnancy is going smoothly, she is often un settled. Thus, if a couple have only just got mar ried it is much harder for both of them, and par ticularly for the husband, to grow together in one ness and understanding. Of course these feelings in a pregnancy are by no means universal, and many women feel as fit as fiddles. Moods change easily, too, after the baby has been bom, but for some weeks afterwards, even amidst countless joy and thrills of the new baby, the mother may feel depressed from time to time, and particularly while the baby still wakes in the night. Extra patience and understanding are needed by both husband and wife as both probably will be tired; but this weari ness is more than compensated for by the joy which the new baby brings, and once feedings have been established and the baby sleeps through the night, everything becomes increasingly easy. It is, therefore, of real value to many marriages for husband and wife to settle down with each oth er and to feel really grounded in their mutual love and understanding, before they first expect a baby. Obviously the coming of children radically trans forms the home. Here, because ours are still young, we feel ill-equipped and lacking in experi ence to offer more than the most tentative advice to parents. Yet perhaps we can say something. First, we have accepted our children as God’s good gifts to us, to be brought up for Him until the day when they will become independent and spread their wings and leave the nest. How we shall long to keep them with us for ever, but how essential to realize that we are stewards and not owners, and therefore that we must give them every encourage ment to launch out on their own! It is necessary to check the natural tendency in many of us to use
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