King's Business - 1949-03

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Heuri Illustrated Adventure [ Story Magazine

133 years ago a small group of men and women decided to dedicate a part of their time to a wider distribution of the Scriptures, believing that God’s Word alone would, in time, make us all “ kind to one another.” Today, thousands of men and women systematically set aside certain money with which they secure Annuity Agreements from the American Bible Society. Two benefits follow :—-first, a regular income for life; and, second, you know that later a portion of your money will be used to print and distribute the Scriptures.

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• Thrilling Adventure Stories • A Soul-winning Appeal in Every Issue • Challenges Christians to Faithful Service • A Girls’ Page • A Boys’ Page • Appeals to All Ages • Thoroughly Evangelical and Non-denom- inational • Sold at a Price All Can Afford • Helps to Combat the Evil of Secular Comics • Suitable for Distribution in Sunday Schools and Child Evangelism Classes Since visual aid is a tremendous factor •in teaching, it has seemed proper to offer to our young) people a magazine printed in a style they all enjoy and having as its goal the teaching of basic, evangelical truths. Above all else, we desire to lead souls to receive Jesus Christ as Saviour from sin. 16 pages and cover Published monthly Price Single copy, 20 cents Per year, $2.00 UNION GOSPEL PRESS

Recently the American Bible Society prepared an interest ing booklet entitled “ Your Gift that Lives.” We believe you will enjoy reading about the impor tant part you may still play in spreading the Gospel to all na tions. May we send you a copy?

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A merican B ible S ociety 450 Park Avenue, New York 22, N.Y. Gentlemen : Please send me, without obliga tion, postagè prepaid, the illustrated booklet, “ Your Gift that Lives.” KB-ll Name------------------------------ -------------------------- Address----------------------------— --------------------- City______________________State-----------------

AMER ICAN BIBLE SOCIETY 450 PARK AVENUE NEW YORK 22, N.Y.

Box 6059, Cleveland 1, Ohio CHRISTIAN LIFE SERIES

SUNDAY SCHOOL LITERATURE Following the Int. Uniform Lesson Topics Sunday School Officials interested ask for FREE SAMPLES. Address Union Gospel Press

T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S

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Official Publication of The Bible Institute of Los Angeles, Incorporated

Louis T. Talbot, D.D.

Betty Bruechert Managing Editor

William W. Orr, D.D.

Editor in Chief

Associate Editor

I f He should come today, And find I had not told

CONTENTS Editorially Speaking : ........................................................................... 4 The Bible in the News, William W. Orr ............................................. 5 Religion or Christianity? W. B. P ea rson .......................................... 6 I Found Christ in the New Testament, Catherine Economos .......... 7 How Could Christ be a Mere Man? Keith L. Brooks ...................... 8 The University and the Claims of Christ, Warner Hutchinson . . . . 9 Paul’s Challenge to Effective Service, Douglas C. Hartley .............. 10 m Flashes From China, Charles A. R ob er ts ....................................... . 11 Biola Family Circle................................................................................. 12 Dr. Talbot’s Question Box.......... .......................................................... 13 Junior King’s Business, Martha S. Hooker ....................................... 14 The Biggest Candle, Opal Leonore Gibbs ........ \ ................................. 14 True or False? Vernon Howard .■ ....................................................... 14 Comfort for the Living and the Dying, Joseph T. Larson .............. 16 Biola Extension N o te s....................................... 18 Youth Topics, Walter L. W ilson ... ................................................... 19 A New Declaration of Human Rights, F. O. Blair .......................... 22 ■?f( Sunday School Lessons, Homer A. Kent, Allison Arrowood ............ 23 Object Lessons, Elmer L. Wilder ........ .......................................... 29 Picture credits: Page 6: Gerdts, of Monkmeyer Press Photo Serv ice, New York. Cover: Photograph by Ewing Galloway, New York. Gorgeous Mt. Lassen, Shasta County, California, altitude 10,577 ft. inactive volcano, erupting last 1914. Beautiful Manzabeta Lake in the foreground. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION— '‘The King’s Business” is published monthly; $2.00, one year; $1.00, six months; 20 cents, single copy. Clubs of three or more at special rates. Write for details. Canadian and foreign subscriptions 25 cents extra. It requires one month for a change of address to become effective. Please send both old and new addresses. REMITTANCES—Payable in advance, should be made by bank draft, express, or post office money, order payable to “The King's Business.” Date of expiration will show plainly on outside wrapper or cover of magazine. ADVERTISING—For information, address the Advertising Manager, 558 South Hope Street, Los Angeles 18, California. MANUSCRIPTS— “The^ King's Business" cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to manuscripts mailed to us for consideration. Entered as second-class matter November 7, 1988, at the Post Office at Los Angeles, Cali fornia, under the Act of March 3, 1879. Acceptance for mailing at special rate of postage provided for in the Act of February 28, 1925, embodied in paragraph 4, section 538, P. L. and R., authorized October 1, 1918, and November 13, 1938. ADDRESS: The King's Business, 558 So. Hope St., Los Angeles 13, California Page Three

One soul about my Heavenly Friend, Whose blessings all my way atend, What would He say? I f He should come today, Would I be glad—quite glad? Remembering He had died fo r all, And none, through me, had heard His call — What would He say? — G race E. T roy . 1. Because it will send you forth to the daily task with cheerful heart, stronger for the work, truer to duty and determined in whatever is done therein to glorify God. 2. Because it will give you strength to meet the discouragements, the disap pointments, the unexpected adversities and sometimes the blighted hopes that may fall to your lot. 3. Because it will make you conscious throughout the day of the attending presence of an unseen divine One, who will bring you through more than con queror over every unholy thought or thing that rises up against you. 4. Because it will sweeten life and en rich home relationship as nothing else can do. 5. Because it will resolve all the mis understanding and relieve all the friction that sometimes intrudes into the sacred precincts of family life. 6. Because it will hold as nothing else the boys and girls when they have gone out from beneath the parental roof, and so determine very largely the eter nal salvation o f your children. 7. Because it will exert a helpful, hal lowed influence over those who may at any time be guests within the home. 8. Because it will enforce as nothing else can do the work o f your pastor in pulpit and in pew, and stimulate the life of your church in its every activity. 9. Because it will furnish an example and a stimulus to other homes for the same kind of life and service and de votion to God.. 10. Because the Word o f God requires it, and in thus obeying God we honor Him who is the Giver o f all good and the source o f all blessing. —The Family Altar League. M A R C H , 1 9 4 9 W H Y A FAM ILY ALTAR? By W. E. Blederwolf

for reservations. The Conference Direc tor again this year will be Dr. William W. Orr, vice-president of the Bible In stitute of Los Angeles. Inquiries con cerning the program should be addressed to him. Requests for rates and reserva tions should be addressed directly to the Mount Hermon Conference Association, Mount Hermon, California. About Bible Reading I T was the late Dr. James M. Gray who promoted the method of synthetic Bible study. By synthetic, Dr. Gray d:.d not mean artificial or non-genuine. Rather he used the root meaning of thé word in Greek which means in this con nection to look at Bible study as a whole. Dr. Gray would advise his stu dents as they began the study o f a book, to read the book through not once, but many times. The plan was to read and re-read without stopping at that time to analyze what was read. The result was that the student gradually received an indelible impression of the great divisions of the book. It is like going into a new city and climbing the highest building to look over the various sections of the city before making more minute exploration on foot; or, it is like reading a brief concise account of world history before taking up the various separate national stories; or again, it is like becoming ful ly acquainted with the world’s geography as a whole before studying the topogra phy o f individual continents and coun tries. A great deal is to be said in favor of this synthetic type of Bible study. Too often the Bible student limits himself to a chapter a day or even a few verses. As a consequence, his knowledge of truth is disjointed and unrelated. If at all possible, the student should read the book at a sitting even though the reading be somewhat hurried and of necessity somewhat superficial. The bene fits of such reading will be a compre hension o f the theme of the book in a way that will forever stick in one’s mind. After such a program of rapid reading, the analytical, exhaustive study may be profitably undertaken, yielding richer treasures of truth. Living Fossil Found I N the holy Hindu city of Benares, another blow was struck at the now really dead theory of organic evolution. This blow came from a tiny, transparent centipede-like shrimp. The director of the Zoological Survey of India reports that the shrimp’s ancestors flourished during the Mesozoic period of the earth’s history over 100,000,000 years ago. Yet, the shrimp of 1949 is the exact image o f its 100,000,000-year-old cousin! When God made shrimp, He told them to re produce after their kind, and they have been obeying Him ever since. T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S

While the County Recorder’s office scratched its head and doubted if the marriage could be called illegal, there arose a terrific storm of protest in ecclesiastical circles and by civic leaders across the country. One Catholic clergy man stated that he believed a marriage solemnized by Charlie McCarthy would have been just as legal. Certainly there is no doubt but that this sorry spectacle brings reproach upon the cause of Christ. For any sup posedly right-thinking parents to be lieve that a child of five years could understand and properly perform one o f the most solemn services in all of life is utterly unthinkable. That it was done for sensationalism and publicity there seems to be little doubt. If state and county governments do not feel it their obligation to outlaw such travesties upon sacred institutions, then all good citizens ought to rise up and roundly censure those responsible. In this connection also we find child prodigy preachers o f five, six and seven who are exploited by their shallow thinking elders and who, parrot-like, preach messages which amuse rather than instruct the listener. Preaching is a man’s job and one that demands con secrated, mature judgment and spir itual wisdom. It is no task for children whose days should be spent in obeying their parents and listening to the truths of Scripture. Today more than any other day in the world’s history calls for preachers with souls large enough to stick unreservedly to what God has said, and hearts wise enough to comprehend the needs of a sin-sick world. Time To Plan For Vacation! T HE poet has written that “ the groves were God’s first temples.” Certainly the heart of the Christian is lifted near er to God under the inspiration of the beauties of nature in His great out- of-doors. To this end, the Bible Institute of Los Angeles each year sponsors a Bible Conference in beautiful Mount Hermon, a setting deep in the heart of the California redwood territory. The dates of this Conference will be August 14 to 21, and friends who are interested in attending are advised to write early

Still No Peace T HE years since the close of World War II have been strange in many respects. For instance, in these times practically no philosopher, statesman or opportunist has risen to proclaim the doctrine of an unadulterated op timism. On the other hand, almost without exception, the thinkers of the world have made dire predictions for the future. For instance, General H. H. Arnold, in an Associated Press release, states his opinion that the present year is to be one of “ fateful, ominous, and momentous decisions.” The General pointed to six shooting wars going on at present, namely: China, Indo-China, Indonesia, Kashmir, Palestine and Greece, and, of course, the unending “ cold war” between Russia and the de mocracies. Just what will be the status of the world on the last day of 1949 the General did not say. With such fateful foretellings the Bible has long agreed, saying that at the end of the age “ perilous times” would come; that “ wars and rumours o f wars” would continue; and that men’s hearts would be failing them because of fear. But the Word of God does not stop on this pessimistic note. It thrills the hearts of God’s children by reminding them that after the darkness of the world’s night will come God’s dawn. While there will never be any peace to the wicked, there will most surely come a day for the righteous when, under the benevo lent hand o f God’s righteous Ruler, peace will cover the earth as the waters cover the deep. We read the newspapers and see the shallowness of men’s pro phetic views and then look through the binoculars of God’s prophetic Word to learn the real truth. So we are con tent! Five Year Old Minister? S OUTHERN California has long been noted for bizarre and sensational happenings. Not the least was a recent marriage ceremony performed by a child five years of age! This youngster is the son of a father-mother minister com bination, and was “ ordained” to the Gospel ministry by an almost unknown organization called “ The Old Time Faith.”

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A Secretary of Religion? Representative Prank Boykin, a Dem ocrat from Alabama, in a speech to his home town’s Methodist Men’s group in Mobile, suggested having a member in the President’s cabinet whose duty it would be to keep that body in constant touch with all the religious groups for the purpose of interpreting their sen timents and desires to the government. This idea is a meritorius one, but the problem is to find a sincere and large- hearted man who can properly evaluate the tremendous maze o f religious groups which are to be found in this “ land of the free and the home of the brave.” Another Billion <5* Individual incomes in the United States jumped more than a billion dol lars in November to top a new record annual rate of $216,700,000,000.00. Just how much money this is no one seems to have the least idea; even the con templation of such an amount makes the head swim. But, coupled with these as tronomical income heights, is the sad fact that gifts to churches and even charitable organizations are reaching new lows. Even the usually well-sup ported Community Chest found itself forced to make a second desperate ap peal. Let us be honest with ourselves. As surely as God is in heaven there will be judgment brought to bear upon the American people if, in their prosperity, they do not remember the Giver o f all good gifts and the poor that we have with us always. Bags of Coffee •9* The Finnish Bible Society sold 40,000 bags of coffee. The American Bible Society, as a duty-free gift with full government approval, brought in the raw Brazilian coffee to be merchan dized in Finland. The coffee is called “ Agricola Coffee” after Bishop Michael Agricola, who translated the New Testa ment into the Finnish tongue. The occa sion was the celebration of the 400th anniversary of this stirring event, and the receipts from the coffee sale are to be used for the erection of a Bible House in Turku to replace the one which was completely destroyed in the war with Russia in 1939. China's Future <¿5 Missionary representatives of 61 Prot estant denominations, meeting in Buck Hill Falls, Pa., for their annual get- together, were in almost complete agree ment as to the Christian front in China. No denomination planned to evacuate its missionaries, and in most cases the missionaries themselves decided to stay. So far as the Communist infiltration is concerned, the missionaries are not anti- Communist, but pro-Christian. The missionary statesmen are by no means blind to the tremendous issues in volved, but the feeling is that God’s will fo r China is to forge ahead, and that even though the Communists come, God is greater than they. M A R C H , I 9 4 9

William W . Orr, D.D.

errors have appeared times without number in the public press, only to be followed by later information showing the Scriptural accounts to have been accurate. The exact point where the Exodus was made would be difficult to determine, but let it be understood that the events as recorded in the Book of Exodus under the inspiration of God are true to the last jot and tittle. Just Sociable Poll takers, from the National Opin ion Research Center, were asking why people drink. The most frequent reason given was “ for sociability,” covering 38% of drinkers. Some other answers: “ People think you are dead if you don’t” ; “ Just to be sociable. I don’t care for it at all; I just choke it down” ; “ When I drink, I feel important.” Considering these facts, sociologists from Rutgers suggest to hosts that they never insist on anyone’s drinking, and always serve soft drinks along with the hard. Japan and the Bible The Bible is the most eagerly sought after and the most widely read book in Japan today, according to the Reverend Takuo Matsumoto in an article published by the American Bible Society. The Japanese nobility are definitely interest ed in Bible study, with a number of the Emperor’s brothers or cousins holding Bible classes in their own homes. Best of all, the Scriptures are taking hold of the great masses as well. For in stance, thirty employee^ of the Nippon Glass Manufacturing Company are hav ing a Bible class among themselves. The Shiga Bank at Otsu has another Bible study group. The famous Dainaru De partment Store in Osaka has a Bible class among the employees on Fridays after the store closes in the afternoon. The Hyogo Provincial Government Workers’ Union has organized a Bible study group, with 100 in attendance. Now is the strategic time to pray for Japan! It could be that this interest in the Bible will bring about the beginning of a mighty revival in that land. Page Five

Back to Protestantism •£ Twenty years ago, William Purcell Witcutt, a student preparing for the Anglican ministry, renounced his faith and was ordained a Roman Catholic priest. He rose in the Catholic ranks, becoming a leader among the English Catholic literati. Last October he went into hiding, and after several months, came forth to. apply for re-admission into the Church o f England. He stated to the press, “ The reason I left the Catholic Church was because I grew to dislike the rigidity of the Roman Catho lic faith; I prefer the broader outlook of the Church of England.” The Angli cans add, “ This is nothing so unusual. In this diocese alone, we have several Roman priests who have come over to us.” Outlook for India <£ When the British withdrew from India, grave fears were felt that this was the beginning of the end for Chris tian missions in India. But, according to David H. Johnson, General Director of the Scandinavian Alliance Mission, the missionary outlook for India is brighter than ever before. People are more receptive and more willing to listen to the gospel than they have been for centuries. There are also some out standing Christians in high govern mental positions that are giving spir itual testimony for Christ. However, in Pakistan, the Moslems are working hard to make it a land of Islam exclusively. Find the Bible Wrong? A news item under a United Press date line reports that it is not true that Moses led the children of Israel across the Red Sea. Rather, according to the National Geographic Society the Exodus was made across the brackish Reed Sea, 10 miles south of where Port Said now stands. With all due respect for the explor atory findings o f this world-renowned Society, it should be recalled that in the past headlines pointing out Biblical

Religion or Christianity ?

By Rev. W. B. Pearson* ertheless living, for it is not he who lives but Christ, who is the Author of the new life within him (Gal. 2:20). The Origin of the Christian Life is the New Birth Jesus said, “ Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God . . . That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again” (John 3:3, 6, 7 ). “ Therefore if any man be in .Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:17). In the new birth, old things disappear, all things are renewed because the be liever has passed from death, has be come a new creature in Christ Jesus, has received a new nature and has entered into a new kingdom, the Kingdom of God. There is a new voice of authority for him, “ Marvel not that I said unto thee.” It is Christ Jesus who now speaks to the believer—not any longer the voice of self. Therefore it becomes an entirely new life—not just a form of living. This New Life Must be Maintained “ Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out o f the mouth of God” (Matt. 4 :4 ). “ I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread he shall live for ever” (John 6:51). “ Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). Here is the recipe for maintaining the Christian life, for Christian living: par taking o f spiritual food through study of the Bible, and learning more about the Lord Jesus, thus feeding upon the literal Word, and the Living Word. R. A. Torrey once stated, “ We study not about the Bible, but the Bible itself.” He suggested intelligent, definite and sys tematic methods of Bible study, such as by chapter, by synthesis, by topics or by individual books. Many people have fol lowed this advice, and have discovered food for their souls. This Life Can be Developed “ Speaking the truth in love, we may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ” (Eph. 4:15). “ As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Pet. 2 :2 ). “ But grow in grace, and in the knowl edge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18). What a delight it is to parents to see their babies begin to develop and grow. It is also a pleasure to see the babes in Christ, being nourished on the milk of (Continued on Page 15) T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S

T HE Lord Jesus came, not to start a religion; there was plenty of that in the world. He came to give spiritual life. Paul at Athens said that the men of Athens were very superstitious (reli gious). Religion may be only a form of godliness, with no power thereof; just going through outward formal rites, without inner spiritual life. Many churches today have a form of worship, but is it a worship in spirit and in truth? Prayers are repeated weekly, the same Scriptures are read year after year. All are vain repetitions. Enter many churches today, and the congre gation’s part consists o f two hymns, often with a verse omitted from the last one, but the worshipers are always per mitted to have a share in the offering. What o f the sermon? Is it a message to awaken the dead in trespasses and sins? Does the trumpet give forth an uncer tain sound, so that man may prepare himself for battle? Messages deny the virgin birth and the deity of our Lord. Is it not also true that many churches have no evening services, and that the mid-week prayer meeting has been aban doned? Why all of this falling away? Because there is a form of godliness and *Pastor o f the First Baptist Church, Gordon, Texas.

a denial of the power thereof—too much religion and not enough Christianity— Christ living in the hearts of His people. There is a remedy for all of this: to accept the Bible as the Word o f God and to take God at His Word, for therein has He shown us the way to a Chris tian life which really makes life worth while, and brings victory every day. Christ is the Author of the Christian Life “ He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life” (John 3:36). “ For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will” (John 5:21). “ In him was life; and the life was the light of men” (John 1 :4 ). “ Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). These are statements from God’s Word showing that Jesus is the Author of the Christian life. Even though a per son has natural life; yet he is dead in trespasses and sins. Only Jesus could call Lazarus back to life from the tomb; so only Jesus can call the sinner back from his tomb of death unto life everlasting. Truly He is the life of the Christian. The believer is crucified with Christ, nev-

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I Found Christ in the New Testament By Catherine Economos as told to Petra Fakos B ORN and reared in Athens, I was brought up in the Greek Orthodox men and women from various parts of the city offered us their services for this blessed work.

had always supposed. I learned that the Comforter was always at hand. I was shown how I could be my Heavenly Father’s real child, and love my neigh bors as myself. I read the words of Jesus: “ Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart . . . and thy neighbour as thyself.” Before I read my Testament, I thought I was a Christian. Now I saw that I had not been one at all. I was exultantly happy in my new Christian faith. I asked Mrs. Makricosta to hold meet ings in my home. A t first five o f my friends came, but the attendance in creased until eighty women crowded in to my home. Then the Germans forbade gatherings of any type with more than three people present. Nevertheless we continued the Christian Corner in my home. There were not enough chairs, so we sat on boxes and cans. We were never molested. At the end of the read ings, my friends asked questions. They said my home was like heaven to them. One said, “ You have saved my life.” The war ended. The Archaeological Society offered the Christian Corner the use of their large auditorium free of charge. It seated five hundred people. We filled it every Wednesday afternoon. Then the University of Athens opened their great hall, with eight hundred seats for us on Sunday afternoons. It too' was always filled to overflowing. As a result o f all these blessings, the living Spirit o f Jesus laid hold of our hearts in a new way. We began regular visits to the hospitals, the leper camp, the sanitariums and other places. Young

A t last I belonged to the “ Salvation Army.” My dream had come true. I de cided I wanted to remain among these needy friends. I became a volunteer nurse of the Red Cross in 1945. Times were difficult. There was very little food, almost no transportation. But I took my course and earned my diploma. Our beloved Queen Fredericka gave us our diplomas personally. I worked at the Army Hospital in Athens. All the patients were wounded soldiers of our civil war. It was a won derful privilege to minister to these men for Jesus’ sake. Among others I met was George Maipas. He came from a little mountain village in the part of Greece under Communist rule. He was a man o f true, deep religion. The people of his village were very ignorant. They never went to church. With a smile, George showed me his hand. He said, “ I was always a laborer, but now with this badly wounded arm, I cannot dig. With my small pension, I am going back to my village to try to work for Jesus.” I gave George some Gospel portions of Matthew and John, and promised more. I had the unspeakable privilege of dis tributing the blessed Scriptures to many who needed them. Although my husband had died, and my life, humanly speak ing, is sadly emptied, it is full. Nothing can ever empty it, for I have found Jesus in my Bible and have led others to find Him there. —Reprinted from Bible Society Record.

Church. My parents were very good Christians. We went to church every Sunday and on all holy days. When I learned to read, my mother gave me a little book of hymns and prayers, but as I grew older I longed for some thing more. I loved religion and always wanted to be near Jesus Christ and work for Him—but He seemed so far away. All I knew in my religious life was going to church and reading my prayer book, both wholly perfunctory and unsatisfying. At twenty, I married and came to America. One day I saw some Salvation Army people on the street. They were singing a hymn and taking a collection for the poor. I thought, “ How happy 1 would be if I could join the Salvation Army!” But that was just a dream. After a few years, we returned to Greece because of my health. I became a chronic complainer. I was supersti tious, and felt that some catastrophe was about to befall me. For example, when my husband was a bit late return ing home, I was sure some terrible fate had befallen him. I was miserable, and made his life unhappy. In 1939 my husband left me in Greece and came again to America. War was declared. I no longer heard from my husband. My loneliness and misery were complete and devastating. Often I would run to church and kneel and pray. How ever, nothing seemed to help; I was in consolable. Then, on a rainy Sunday afternoon, salvation came to my house; strictly speaking, it came to me at the house of my sister-in-law. She said to me, “ Cath erine, you like religion. Why not go downstairs •to the apartment of Mrs. Christ Makricosta, where many lovely people meet regularly in what they call the Greek Orthodox Christian Corner?” I went and was warmly wel comed. People of all ages were there. As I looked at them, I said, “ How happy these people look! Surely, they' have no trouble in their lives.” Then the meeting opened. The leader stood up and read from a little book. She explained what she read very sim ply and impressively. She told us that Christ, our Lord, was there among us. Happiness almost overwhelmed me. Tears came to my eyes, for I had al ways thought that Jesus was only in heaven. I said to myself, “ At last I have found what I have always been looking for.” The next day Mrs. Makricosta gave me a copy o f the New Testament. I was never so eager to read any book in my life. The more I read, the more pre cious the things I found. I discovered that I was not alone in this world, as I M A R C H , 1 9 4 9

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JU 'C o u U o M K ^ A O T * W

By Keith L. Brooks, D.D.

W E have among us those of lib eral mind who refer to Jesus Christ as the “ flower o f hu manity” and vigorously deny that He is o f the Godhead. Some of these per sons still hold to the New Testament, as serting that it contains no evidence that our Lord asserted His own deity. Ob viously, if He made such claims, and their views are correct, He would be made the world’s worst religious fraud. Dr. Beecher once said: “ If Christ is the wisdom of God and the power of God in the experience o f those who love and trust Him, there needs no further argument of His divinity.” We do not hesitate to assert that the deity o f Jesus Christ is so inter woven with the whole texture of the New Testament that any honest person who would deny His deity, must first destroy the New Testament or resort to strange devices to dispose of plain language. But, suppose you were confronted with a denier of Christ’s deity who re fused the testimony of the Scriptures! Could you prove it apart from the tes timony o f the Book? Let us see if we can account for Jesus Christ on the supposition that He was but a man, though perhaps “ an idyllic figure.” If He is to be taken as only human, it is certain that one must first throw out the most striking elements of His character as He has become known to men. One must also' contend that His influence over His times and all subse quent history in transforming the souls of men is a delusion. (1) What is the witness of our cal endar : — Anno Dominum — A.D. 1949 ? Our Gregorian calendar witnesses to the fact that this planet has been visited by One who must have been different from all other mortals. If a mere man has caused the whole course o f time to be changed and the history of the ages divided in two, He was such a person. What kind of a child was this? The only possible explanation of the calen dar is Galatians 4:4,5. (2) What is the witness of the Lord’s Day? Something of tremendous import must have once happened that, after nearly 2,000 years, we find millions the world around meeting regularly on the first day of the week to worship togeth er and to rejoice in the fact that there is a risen Saviour, whereby they are assured that His death was indeed, as He said, an atoning sacrifice. Only by His having been raised from the dead could it be known that His death was different from all other deaths and that God the Father had set His seal upon His claim to being “ the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” Page Eight

Will you attempt to account for such a vast body of believers through 2,000 years on the assumption that its Found er is a dead man and His church simply a memorial? Must it not have a LIVING Head? The One who said He would rise from the dead and make His resur rection power availing to overcome all enemies of His church, has also said that He would come again at the con summation of the age, and receive its last remnants unto Himself? Is there not sufficient reason to believe that He will accomplish THAT ALSO? Think it over! The very ordinances of the church— the Lord’s Supper and water baptism —are age-long witnesses to the power of Christ’s claims. The Saviour chose no towering monument to perpetuate His memory, but the most perishable of all things—a bit of bread and a sip of wine. To the Jew, accustomed to splendor o f the ancient rites and feasts of Israel, what could be more commonplace and bare? This simply could not last! But, after 2,000 years, its power to draw hearts to Calvary is unsurpassed, and nothing has done more to keep evangel ical Christianity alive through long pe riods of apostasy. And He said: “ UN TIL I COME!” Will it continue? A mere MAN, you say? Water baptism is just as strong a witness—symbol of His atoning death and bodily resurrection! Just as by the simple act of the Last Supper, Jesus brushed aside the Passover so long cele brated in Israel, so by the command to baptize in His name, He threw into the discard the covenant sign of Israel, circumcision. Who wishes to contend that at the word of a Galilean preacher, this rite has been perpetuated for 2,000 years? Will it continue as He said, until the consummation of the age? (Matt. 28:19,20). (4) Does the very existence of the New Testament today indicate that a mere man spoke those matchless words therein recorded? Here is the world’s (Continued on Page 28)

Said Paul: “ If Christ be not risen, ye are yet in your sins.” What a monument to the fact that Jesus Christ came forth from the dead is the fact that after 2,000 years, millions are drawn together on the Lord’s Day which dates back to that day when the Lord was said to have come forth from the grave! On that last Saturday when the body of Jesus was sealed in a tomb, the hosts of hell rejoiced that they held Him un der the power of death. They mocked His followers and for the disciples no day was ever so beclouded with doubt and gloom. Suddenly the picture changed. What sent those disciples out as flaming evangels, challenging His very murder ers to deny that He had come forth from the grave? Had the body of Jesus been left lying in some nameless grave, ’ no church bells ever would ring and no church spires point to the skies. Did a mere man bring about this change from the Jewish Sabbath so solemnly observed through the ages back to the days of Egypt? Did a mere man cause the new day to be observed by millions around the world for 2,000 years? Think it over! (3) Can we explain the existence of the Church of Jesus Christ on the basis of a mere human leader? What moral and spiritual power in the world can be for one moment compared to that of the church— despite all its present-day divisions and apostasy? Is it but one more reform movement? Is there any existing spiritual broth erhood in the world found outside the church? Is there any power that so cements human souls together in godly fellowship and constructive ministry to others? To what can it be traced? A man of Nazareth 2,000 years ago said: “ On this rock [the confession of Christ’s deity by Peter] I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” None can deny that the powers of hell went to work on it from the start and no movement to the present hour has ever faced such perse cutions—but look at it today! From Pentecost forward, its members faced fearlessly the raging fires of hate, answering: “ We cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard.” Their Master had said: “ Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.” Imagine any mere man’s daring to make such an assertion concerning his teachings! Beginning at Jerusalem, those early Christians carried His words out to the world. After 2,000 years, no words -are so frequently repeated, sung and printed. The very air is full of His words, wafted to the farthest corners of the earth.

T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S

THE UNIVERSITY AND THE CLAIMS OF CHRIST

T O the university student, the pur suit o f true knowledge is a serious task. He considers no price paid too great in order to gain it. Faithfully he seeks for truth in the classroom; wearily he searches for it in hours of independent research; painstakingly he experiments for it in the scientific laboratory. Despite these efforts, how ever, he finds himself without vital per sonal truth or an adequate philosophy of life. Neither his professors, nor his apparatus, nor his textbooks can give him this. He must turn from them to another source of truth. That source is Jesus Christ. Only in Him is found the summation of truth, the adequacy for every personality. He said of Himself, “ I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, 'but by me.” At the University of California at Los Angeles, in the midst of an atmosphere where old ideas are constantly chal lenged and discarded, new facts and ideas are accepted, where many of the “ sacred cows” of the past years of education are slaughtered, the Bruin Christian Fellowship provides that which is desperately needed by Christian stu dents—a circle o f friends in which a student finds faith and loyalty to the Lord Jesus Christ. BCF recognizes that “ there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Its main objective is to present the gospel to the campus in a winsome manner. It stands irrevocably on the authority of God’s Word. BCF, a chapter of the international Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship, spon sors weekly Bible study groups. At pres ent, George Cowan, a graduate student at the university who is on furlough from Wycliffe Bible Translators, is lead ing the study. The group of about twenty meet on a lawn on campus. Daily prayer meetings are held in the morning at 7 :30. Throughout the day, groups of two or three students will meet for an hour to pray and peruse God’s Word.

Fellowship Around the Word

semesters ago. She was saved, but the greatest part of her spiritual experience was merely mouthed expressions. Several members of the group began earnestly praying for her. The next semester the Lord began working to draw her to Himself. She roomed with a more mature Christian. Through the advice of a couple of the fellows in the group, she began to be very much concerned with her own personal holiness. She set aside time each day for devotions; she grew in her knowledge of the Word; her in terest in missions was developed through the weekly meeting of the Foreign Mis sions Fellowship. Today she is a real blessing to other students. She is pre paring for medical school, and, ulti mately, for China. She holds an office in the Fellowship, and is one of the real boosters o f holy living. A fellow, taking a pre-med course, was invited to the Bible League (the Inter-Varsity chapter at Berkeley). He was saved there. He had two more years at the University of California. The group sent him to Campus-in-the-Woods one summer. Campus-in-the-Woods is a month-long summer training school for Christians. Doctrine, Bible study, and practical application of Christianity to everyday experiences are stressed at the conference. This young man developed in his Christian stature during that summer. The next year he transferred to UCLA for some graduate work. Within a year he held a responsible position in BCF. During that year, the Lord led him to consider full-time service on the mission field. Today he is studying at one o f the leading fundamental seminaries, pre paring for service in China. On over 250 campuses in the United States and Canada, there are groups similar to the Bruin Christian Fellow ship. They all encourage their members to rely upon God and His Word, and to seek, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, God’s purpose for their lives. The Inter-Varsity work the world over seeks an interest in the prayers of God’s people. Page Nine

The weekly group meeting, on Tuesday afternoon, is designed primarily for the unsaved student. Of course, the program is uftiversity level. A few of the old hymns of the church are sung, a couple of vital testimonies given, and a message challenging the unbelief and skepticism that are in the foreground today. Com petent men who are thoroughly familiar with their field are chosen to speak. The

Josiah Royce Hall

Lord Jesus and His offer of salvation is clearly and logically presented at this meeting. Beach parties, picnics, banquets, snow parties, and other social functions pro vide a means of meeting both saved and unsaved students. University life is full, but to the Christian student a “ bull ses sion” or party with Christian frinds is a must. The Lord always works through and with men, not merely by good methods and programs. The stories of two people on campus will illustrate how the Lord has blessed BCF. A freshjnan, with a modernistic back ground, started coming to BCF two

The Library

* Junior at UCLA and president of Bruin Christian Fellowship. M A R C H , 1 9 4 9

p * j t a a d e n t e to é^ ^ fectiu e S e

».eru ice

-Æj2^ r U X '

Ru HruirlUc t ! H a r t eu

T HEREFORE, my beloved breth ren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58). Paul’s expression of his personal be lief in the crowning hope of the Chris tian faith—the oft-repeated promise of Christ Himself that He will come again to take us to be with Him eternally in the blessed presence of God the Father (John 17:24; 14:1-3)—is followed by this verse. It is the triumph of Christ over sin and death for which Paul expresses deep thanks to God in verse 57; it is be cause of this promise o f final and com plete victory that Paul urges us to be “ stedfast, unmoveable, always abound ing in the work of the Lord.” It is important that we take this ex hortation to heart anew whenever we feel inclined to think that we have served our day, that we have done enough for Christ. Moody said that God’s main way of talking to us was through study of His Word, while prayer was our way of talking to Him. However, we must be “ doers of the word, and not hearers only.” After all that Christ has done and is doing for us, we can never afford to cry “ enough!” in respect to our service for Him. What, then, does verse 58 mean to us? Although put last in a stirring exhorta tion because it is the reason for every thing else that is in the verse, let us look first to the' fact that: Our Labor Must Be in the Lord Paul tells us that such labor is not in vain. It is the only labor that counts. It must not only be in the name of the Lord, but also in the Lord. There is a

his wife who at first refused to accom pany him, by refusal of a permit from the East Indian Company, and, after finally sailing, by being set ashore again. But he was unmoveable. Eventually he landed in India. God used him in trans lating and printing the Bible in nu merous native dialects. He personally had to reduce many to writing for the first time. Some o f his first run prints were spoiled by an upset ink pot. Still he remained unmoveable. His efforts and zeal for God set the whole of Christen dom on fire for the Lord. Missionary endeavor received its first great impulse from Carey’s example. Had not Carey been unmoveable, the plans of God for India, for the heathen world, would have been held back for years. We must not let difficulties hin der us. We must be unmoveable. We must be stedfast and unmoveable, and Always Abounding in the Work of the Lord Now, abounding means “to be in great plenty; to overflow.” The same idea is expressed in Malachi 3:10, “ There shall not be room enough to receive it.” The dictionary reveals that “ abounding” also carries the idea of swarming. All of us have seen bees swarming after their queen; they are sidetracked only by death. This is the kind of devotion and service that counts with God. That is what Paul means in First Corinthi ans 2:2, “ For I am determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” As the sun draws water from the sea to return it in the form of life- giving rain to the needy earth, so we must let the full tide of our abilities and energies be drawn out of us by the love of Christ to eternal life for many. What assurance have we that this stedfast, unmoveable, abounding serv ice will have eternal results? How do we know that our labor is not in vain?. The indisputable answer is that it cannot be in vain if it is “ in the Lord.” Psalm 127:1 puts it conversely, that labor is of no use whatever unless it is in the Lord: “ Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watch man waketh but .in vain.” I f we, with God’s help, faithfully obey the admonition of Paul in the verse we have been studying, we shall be able to say with him, “ For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my depar ture is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Tim. 4:6-8). T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S

difference (Matt. 7:21-23). • Man does much work in the name of Christ. How often do even the most consecrated Christians make plans and then ask God to bless them, instead of first finding His will and then beseech ing Him to use them in His service! We are prone to run ahead of God. We must learn the necessity of waiting. Samuel had to be called three times, not because he was unwilling to hear and heed, but because he wanted to be really sure that it was God who was calling. Once assured, he held back nothing: “ Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth.” Sometimes we make so much commotion that we cannot hear the voice of God. The Psalmist warns in Psalm 46:10, “ Be still, and know that I am God.” Having Obtained God's Will, we are to be Stediast. Most of us become discouraged when things go wrong, when we are rebuffed, or when results are not readily appar ent ! This occurs in spite of the fact that Jesus Himself, in the parable of the sower, tells us that only twenty-five per cent of the seed sown will produce a harvest. The story is told of a boy who thought he was too old to attend Sunday school. The consecrated, persistent teacher sent an absentee card to the boy for one hundred and twenty-six consecutive weeks—almost two and a half years— besides many personal invitations. Then she decided to stop. The Holy Spirit urged her to try once more. That 127th card brought the boy back to Sunday school the next Sunday. The teacher later led him to the Lord and saw him ordained into a blessed, fruitful minis try. Possibly he was like the judge of the 18th chapter of Luke, and returned to escape the constant pressure of the per sistent teacher. But imagine the tragedy had she stopped at the 126th card! How many of us would have sent even the second or the third? Christ requires that we be stedfast. Next, we must be Unmoveable Christ said, “ My meat is to do the will of him that sent me” (John 4:34). This should be our aim as His bond servants: To discover the will o f God for us, and, in His strength, to be un moveable in our perseverance in carry ing it out. While sitting at his cobbler’s bench contemplating a map o f the world, the impelling idea to go to India as a mis sionary came into the heart of William Carey. Then there were no organized missions, no friendly boards, and no ready funds. Such a decision called for far more courage than it does today. He was discouraged by his church, by

Page Ten

J l a A k e A ¿ r c f t t C h i n a

Hunan Bible Institute News

By CHARLES A. ROBERTS, D.D. Superintendent

/'"'f ENERALISSIMO Chiang Kai-shek has stepped down. The personal tragedy o f the Generalissimo is one that might well shake the Church for a decade to come. He was a strong man, and for over twenty years the idol o f his people. He had noble aspirations and will remain the hero who fought unaided at the height of Japanese invasion in China. His weakness was his lack of moral muscle to deal with those around him who, for personal ambition, sought to enrich themselves at the expense of much needed reforms for the country and for the peasantry in particular. Let us not forget to pray for this mbn as he retires (for the present?). Vice-president Li Tsung-ren is a man from the southwest, and has taken over. I f no satisfactory understanding is

faithful colleagues. Three Biola Evangelistic Bands continue their work in three different parts of the province. We are happy to add that it has been a pleasure for us to open our doors and give assistance to a sister Seminary. The Tai Tung Seminary under the China Native Evangelistic Cru sade found it necessary to leave Nanking and find other quar ters. We were happy to make arrangements fo r them to come to Changsha and unite their school with our Seminary de partment for the present school year which ends in June. Mr. Chang Hsueh-kung, the president of Taitung, has ex pressed his great appreciation o f this arrangement, and he and Mr. William Ebeling, acting dean of our Seminary de partment, are working out a schedule whereby both schools can mutually help each other. This now gives us a united stu dent body o f about 165, and a Chinese faculty of more than twenty members. The latest word from Mr. Ho Tzu-chien, head o f the Orphan age, is that our 155 boys and girls are happy and growing fast. The department is looking forward to new changes that will develop industrial projects, thereby providing greater as sistance in teaching the children how to prepare themselves to earn a living later on. Many thanks to all our friends in Amer ica fo r their co-operation in sending in many articles o f wear ing apparel and blankets, and for the many sponsors who are supporting individual children. Pray that our Christian mes sage to these little ones may continue unhindered.

War orphans, twelve to sixteen years o f age, of the Orphan age at Lilang, Hunan Province, about forty miles south of Changsha. Bright and eager to learn, they are seen here making reed furniture. reached with the incoming powers, then a new resistance movement may arise from that direction. The chairman of the Communist party, Mao Tseh-tung, is a Hunanese and went to school at Changsha. Hunan is a border province between the north and the south, and was the great battleground during the Japanese war. The Hunan Bible Institute at Changsha, with its spacious compound and buildings, will certainly be desired should a conflict eventually develop. Therefore the call for continued prayer is urgent that civil strife may cease and the people be spared further sufferings. Remaining at the Institute in China are Mr. Russell Davis (Mrs. Davis and three sons are now in America, residing at the Church of the Open Door Missionary Home, Rock Glen Ave., Glendale), Mr. and Mrs. William Ebeling, Dr. and Mrs. Eitel, and our efficient Chinese staff department heads: Mr. Hsiao Yu-cheng, Mr. Ho Tzu-chien, Mr. Cheng Kuang, Mrs. Cheng Chi-kuei, Mr. Li Tien-ching and a number of other M A R C H , 1 9 4 9

Learning the art of tailoring. Similar projects such as mak ing straw brooms and other small articles, are carried on at the Hunan Institute Orphanage, enabling them to be self- sustaining when they leave the Home. The main object how ever, is to teach them the gospel o f the Lord Jesus Christ. Page Eleven

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