August 1931
345
T h e . K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
to lodge; how even in such matters as birth, death, or sickness, they find it often impossible to secure adequate help because of the antagonism of the priests. Over against this, these poor people are often offered money or easy jobs, to buy their allegiance to Rome. “One of your workers told us, at one of the informal testimony meetings during our meal time, of three heroes of the faith at his post. One was a notorious blasphemer, the second a great drunkard, and the third r fighter and a thief; now they have all become mighty in prayer and in soul-winning. As he spoke, I thought of David and his cave of Adullam to which all such desperate characters resorted to be transformed into heroes of the faith. An other worker of the mission, from Willebroeck, told of the victories of the cross at that post. How staggered we were to hear him tell of one man who spoke out of his anger and disgust at the Roman Catholic church: ‘I had made up my mind long since, that if I had to choose, I would prefer to spend eternity in hell with saloon-keepers, immoral persons, thieves, and prostitutes, rather than to be in heaven in the company of priests, nuns, and the like pious people!’ ” P ersecuted for th e G ospel ’ s S ake One touching story of constancy in long continued persecution has just come to us from Flanders. A young man in a certain village found Christ as his „Saviour, through personal conversations with one of ourJ^orkers. Night after night, he made his way to the worker’s home in his quest for the truth, and at last, fully convinced, he surrendered utterly to the Lord, In obedience to Christ’s command, he began witnessing to his own house hold, and then to the employees of his father, who was a big flax merchant. When the news reached the ears of the priest, it soon brought a visit from this worthy. A solemn conclave took place at which the priest and the family of the young man were present. The new con vert was arraigned before them and closely questioned regarding his conversion. His reply was unequivocal: “I can no longer accept the teachings of the Roman Cath olic church, for I have found peace and joy at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ.” This grave declaration astonished his family—to think that a son of theirs could so confront and affront a powerful priest of Rome! They ordered him imme diately to discontinue his visits to the evangelist; he was watched day and night; and his clothing was constantly searched for booklets and tracts which, upon discovery, were immediately burned. His beloved Bible and New Testament were likewise destroyed. On Sundays, he was obliged to go to mass with two of the family, like jailers, dragging him between them. However, they could not compel him to go to confession; they threatened to force him, but upon his declaring that even though he were dragged thither against his will, they could not make him confess, they wisely abandoned their design. Although deprived of the meetings at our hall, he was given another Testament by the mission worker, who met him one day unexpectedly on the road, and after demand ing an explanation of his absence, was told all the history of the long-drawn-out persecution. The young convert was overjoyed to possess again a copy of the Scriptures and spent precious moments along the banks of the canal, in communion with God. Here also, he had opportunity to witness for Christ to the fishermen. Later on, the young man married, but the persecution of his family has not ceased. They are all wealthy flax merchants; but, unfeelingly, they "have refused to give
employment to their young relative. In his dire need of employment, he recently approached his father to ask for work, as he knew that many men were in his employ. The answer was: “I.will not only give you employment, but a house of youf own and all the money you want, on the sole condition that you return to the Roman Catholic church.” The young man’s answer was definitive: “Not if you gave me this whole town in which we live, would I grieve my Lord and Saviour by doing a thing like this. I pre fer poverty with my Saviour to riches without Him. If this is your ultimatum, then, Father, you must keep what you have for yourself, and I shall continue to keep what I have—my peace and joy and assurance of salvation in Jesus Christ;” The only work that this young man can find is of the heaviest, dirtiest kind, but in it all he rejoices. He is only one of many in Belgium today who are suf fering for their faith. But they “count it all joy” and endure, having “respect unto the recompense of the re ward.” pparently people todaiy are not only tired out physically, but are discouraged. They lack the faith which is essential to personal or national progress. Accompanying this lack of faith is a disrespect for law, order, and experience. Faith, to be effective, must be backed up by righteousness. Faith cannot be bought and quickly obtained when in trouble—like medicine. Faith must be acquired slowly before it is needed—like educa tion. Faith comes through patient devotion, right living, and service to others. A great mass of wage earners, executives, and young business people haye never before witnessed a severe busi ness depression. Ever since Germany declared war in 1914—with the exception of a very short readjustment period after the war ended—there has been a constant demand for labor. In view of the steady work and easy profits . . . this new generation has felt sufficient in itself. Sabbath schools and churches have been neglected; family prayers have been given up, and Sunday has been made a common holiday. Hence, unlike previous generations, a large per centage of the people now unemployed or losing money in business have no faith upon which to fall back. When employed or making money, they did nothing to store up spiritual reserves, and hence have none to draw upon now that employment and profits have vanished. As a result, great masses of people are discouraged and know not where to turn. The material wealth upon which they solely depended has gone. They have no spiritual wealth upon which to draw, and they are tired out physically. What is true of individuals is also true of nations. More religion—rather than more legislation—is the need of the hour. The solution of Britain’s economic dif ficulties will come, as in the past, when a great religious revival sweeps the nation , . . Yea, I expect to see such a revival sweep Europe and America during the next decade. It seems inevitable to any one who studies re ligious and economic history. “O Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy” (Hab. 3:2). The Need of the Hour B y R oger W. B abson
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