SCIENCE & THE BIBLE by Bolton Davidheiser, Ph.D., Chairman of the Science Division, Biola College
^ (n c U n to t
carceration of Robert Stroud which bring to mind the fate of the rich man who is nameless in the Bible but whom tradition calls Dives. After he died this rich man found himself in torment and called upon Abraham to send Lazarus to cool his tongue with a bit of cold water, but Lazarus was not permitted to perform this simple service. In his solitary prison cell, Robert Stroud desired a bit of ice to cool his specimens in order to cut them on his microtome, but after a time this simple request was denied. Robert Stroud had a sincere desire to help the owners of pet birds and keepers of poultry. The rich man also was motivated by altruistic desires when he requested that his brothers be warned about the place of torment, but was told they already had Moses and the prophets to warn them. How much less excuse is there then for those living today who have the bene fit of God’s full revelation? The case of Robert Stroud has come before the public a number of times and each time there has been a popu lar appeal for his release, but to no avail. Similarly many have said that the treatment which the rich man received was too severe, but protests of this sort are of no use. Indeed a host of religious leaders are now saying that there is no such place as hell, and many hear them gladly because this is what they like to hear and desire to believe, but it is not accord ing to Scripture. The gospel is simple. God demands perfection which we are not able to achieve, and hence we are all sinners. Christ alone was perfect, and He gave Himself as a ransom in our behalf. It is for us to acknowledge our need and to accept Him as our personal Savior; “ How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?”
As a result of finding a crippled sparrow, Robert F. Stroud became interested in the diseases of birds and learned more about this subject than any other amateur scientist. With only a third grade education he was able to discover the cause and cure of “ septic fever” and several other bird diseases. Without a microscope he isolated germs and cultured them on glue and scraps of liver. Any of his discoveries would have done credit to a trained pathologist with the best laboratory equipment. Later he obtained a battered old microscope and set to work examining the tissues of birds. This was indeed a presumptuous undertaking for one so poorly equipped, for even with the best of expensive modem materials it is not a simple matter to cut tissues into exceedingly thin and uniform slices necessary for such research. However, he designed and built for himself a machine which cut sections as thin and as uniform as the best microtome. Some concept of his genius may be gained from the fact that the only materials he had at hand were: a few pieces of hard wood, some glass, scraps of sheet copper, a piece of half- inch rod with threads on it, wood screws, some black enamel, a razor blade, and a tin can. It is natural to ask why a man of such genius had so few materials at his disposal. The answer is that in 1939, when he completed his micro tome, he had already been a prisoner in solitary confinement for 22 years. He has spent more time alone in a prison cell than any other federal prisoner in the history of our country. At this very moment he is residing on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay and has only very recently been per mitted to associate with other pris oners. There are circumstances in the in
Newest Advance Construction has started on this $325.000 structure which will give Dallas Seminary one of the finest theological library build ings in the Southwest with a designed capacity of 100,000 volumes to serve a student body of 500 men. Occupancy is scheduled for the beginning of the 1959-60 school year in September. Mosher Library marks the newest advance in Dallas Seminary’s Master Plan for Ex pansion designed to provide the best pos sible physical, academ ic, and spiritual facilities for “ Training Men of God to Preach the Word.” Your prayerful support of this ministry is desired. For free ca ta lo g , o th er litera tu re w rite THE REGISTRAR DALLAS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 3909 Swiss Avenue • Dallas 4, Texas
FILMS AND FILMSTRIPS WITH A MESSAGE — For Sunday School Youth, Adult Groups, and Camps.
Newest Releases Projectors & Screens Catalog on request (Give name of church) 1463 Vine St. Hollywood 28, Calif. HOIlywood 3-3155
HANSENS [ CHURCH I FILMS
MONEY FCR YOUR TREASURY OVER 2,000,000 SUNFLOWER DISH CLOTHS Were sold in 1958 by members of Societies, Clubs, Groups, etc. They enable you to earn money for your treasury, and make friends for your organization. Samples FREE to Officials SANGAMON MILLS Established 1915 Cohoes, N.Y.
FREE
For a Vacation
NEW
INFORMATION ON HOW YOU MAY START IN YOUR CHURCH A
with a Purpose . . .
BIOLA WEEK MOUNT HERMON August 9 - 1 6 For Reservations, write: MOUNT HERMON CONFERENCE ASSOCIATION Mount Hermon, Calif.
Powerhouse Club EVANGELISTIC - SOUL WINNING - BIBLE MEMORIZATION - STUDY Accen t on Youth Crusades 558 South Hope Street, Los Angeles 17, California
JUNE, 1959
43
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker