M/SS/OMAgy SYMPOSIUM not only among the Indians but among the upper class as well. Sev eral priests have been wonderfully saved and are witnessing to the grace of God. Also from one of the fore most influential and aristocratic fam ilies God has raised up a fearless preacher. He renounced family ties, social position and wealth to witness for his Lord. He and his wife are carrying on an encouraging testi mony in La Paz, capital of Bolivia. Besides the Indian Bible Institute, we have both a day and an evening Bible Institute in Spanish. Here na tional pastors are trained to help de velop the indigenous church and to carry on the witness if the missionary is ever compelled to leave. The gos pel is being spread by muleback, truck, open air meetings and radio, and in the low lands .of Eastern Bo livia by river launch and airplane. We also have a leprosarium where lepers not only are relieved of their awful physical condition,- but find hope in the Lord through the gospel. Some have not only found the Lord Jesus as their own personal Saviour, but through the use of powerful new drugs have been able to go to their homes symptom free. If the Jews are blinded as the Scrip ture says, isn't it useless to spend time and money in trying to evangelize them? The Scripture says “blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in” (Rom. 11:25). Israel as a na tion has been blinded, but individ- ' ual Jews may come to Christ the same as anyone else. In 2 Cor- 3:- 15, 16 we are told that “When Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.” The time will come when the nation of Israel shall turn to the Lord. In the meantime, what will happen to Israel in> the future is happening to individual Jews now. Many are turning to the Lord. Where in the Scripture is God's pur pose for Israel revealed? Jews” lists five major prerequisites. The first is a personal experience of salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus, the Messiah. The second prerequisite is a Christian life and character con sistent with one’s testimony. The third prerequisite is love. Because of the increasing Jew- hatred, no one responds more read ily to genuine love than does the Jew. The fourth prerequisite is com mon sense, and the fifth is an abil ity to handle the “sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.” Especially valuable in witnessing to Jews is the Old Testament edge of that sWord. What special training is available at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles for those who are interested in a more ef fective witness to Israel?
In addition to the usual Bible courses, the Bible Institute offers a comprehensive course in Jewish missions which includes the study of Jewish history, manners and customs, Jewish festivals, messian ic prophecy and Jewish missionary methods. Are there different religious views held by modern Jews? Yes, there are at least five or six major classes, which includes the Orthodox, Conservative, Reformed, Christian Scientists and Atheists. Then there are the Zionists who represent several religious classes in an effort to restore the Jewish national homeland. What is the Jewish Bible? The Old Testament is the Jew ish Bible. It is called the Tenach. This word is derived from three words which mark the divisions of the Old Testament Torah (law) Novium (prophets) and Kethubim (Psalms). What is the Talmud? The Talmud is “primarily the basic Code of traditional law— religious and civil.” In the Tal mud is the Mishna, a text to the code of traditions, and the Gemara, a commentary of the Mishna. The Talmud is not a product of any particular school or age but a scheme of laws, precepts and traditions which have mostly re sulted from interpretation of the Scriptures during the different ages by rationalistic rabbis.
God’s purpose for Israel is un folded throughout the Scriptures, but perhaps the most complete pic ture is seen in Romans 9, 10 and 11. Chapter nine gives us a pic ture of Israel in the past—chosen. In chapter ten we see Israel in the present—-disciplined. Chapter elev en reveals Israel in the future— restored. Someone has well said, “Look at the Jew in Romans 9 and trem ble; look at the Jew in Romans 10 and believe; look at the Jew in Romans 11 and rejoice.” What is the most effective way to evangelize the Jews? In my judgment the Jewish peo ple can best be reached by the love and consistent Christian witness of believers in general. While it is obvious that God has called certain individuals specifically to the task, I believe the greater work falls to all Christians in their witness. Good gospel tracts have been pre pared with the Jewish people in mind. Such can be obtained through the Jewish Department of The Bible Institute of Los Angeles. They should have a wide distribu tion during these days when our Jewish friends are more interested and willing to listen than ever before. What are the qualifications necessary for an effective Jewish missionary? Mr. Milton B. Lindberg in his book entitled “Witnessing to the
In the first century of the Christian era there was a crisis. We read in the twelfth chapter of Acts how Her od proposed to stifle Christianity by killing the leaders. He beheaded James and imprisoned Peter with the intention of bringing him forth to the people. The church recognized the threat and prayer was made, without ceasing unto God for Peter. God heard from heaven. He delivered Peter from the evil designs of Herod, and shortly thereafter, the proud monarch met a most ignominous death. The crisis had passed. In spite of the progress of the gospel we have seen doors close to mission ef forts in many lands. Many other lands besides Bolivia are threatened. The Christian church in this time of gospel triumph and threatened crisis has the same access to God and the same promises of deliverance. Will the church today awaken to the world-wide threat?1 Will she employ the same effective method that brought deliverance to the early church? Will the church make unit ed intercession unto God without ceasing that the doors may not be further closed to the gospel and that the lands that are already cut off from the gospel may again hear the good news? And you, dear reader, will you lead your church to make use of this God-appointed method of united prayer against the encroach ments of the enemy of all righteous ness? Herein lies our only hope. ’Director of the Bolivian Indian Mission.
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