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O u s t R e a d & U S p e a k I ♦ Christian Dress “ Your editorial on ‘Christian Dress’ is arresting. The suggestion is ' that the ac- ¡ knowledgment of sin and need of a Redeem er is denied in type. While slacks and I similar clothing may have some legitimate 1 place in certain occupations or certain I weather conditions, I wonder if there is not some typical meaning connected with their too-frequent wearing.’’ Rexford Smith Barwlck, Ontario, Canada “ I read your editorial on ‘Christian Dress’ and I wish to add> my experience in the matter. I have always worn bathing suits without any feeling of guilt until last win ter as I was praying one night i he;,*an- to feel as: if this were standing between God and me. I reasoned against it. that if mixed bathing were wrong, it wouldn’t be allowed at [a Christian camp] where we go eaeh summer. I dreaded making a de cision not to wear a bathing suit, but I was Convinced that appearing in that suit was the one thing I would have to' quit if I wanted power in prayer . : . So I left my suit at home this year . . . What puzzles me is why other women who have promi nent positions in God’s work, as evangelists and singers, do a number of things, such as use make-up, have short hair, pray with bare heads, etc., which the Lord won’t let me do . . . I am happy to be different for Jesus’ sake, but it’s just puzzling.” (Writer's Name Withheld) Michigan The Cover “ May I express my appreciation for the cover on your September issue? I did not admire the cover on the preceding two or three issues (man on horseback) and feared you had permanently adopted it. . Thank you for changing.” Mrs. A. E. Janzen. Hillsboro, Kans. “ Thanks for the new cover. I couldn’t keep house without THE KING’S BUSI NESS.” Mrs. H. A. Wheeler LaVerne, Calif. “ You speak of improvements . . . . . in some ways, I don’t like - the magazine' as well . . . You have pared down -the devo- tionals and put in more advertising of books and people! I know no magazine can-sat isfy everyone, and there are some very good and helpful articles in each copy-. . .- The cover, too, should contain the message of salvation.” Mrs. W. R. Streeper Long Beach. Calif. Kind Words “ I think THE KING’S BUSINESS is one of the grandest Christian magazines . . . I would never think of being without it and lately it is ‘super-fine’ in every way. I like- the new cover so very much, and it seems to me all .the articles are far above average . . . I send my magazine out to sick and shut-in folk when I am through with it, and they love to receive it . . . The August number alone is worth a year’s subscription, for the two very fine and helpful articles it contains, namely, ‘As Thy Servant Was Busy,’ by Vance Havner, and ‘God in the Home,’ by Dr. Walter L. W il son. Every home needs this number . . . I am praying our Father’s blessing on the paper as it goes out, and all the workers connected with its publication.” A. Rosalea Pendleton Wichita, Kans. “ As long as I can earn a dollar, I want THE KING'S BUSINESS.” Mrs. Sam Dotson Thousand Oaks, Calif. “ In the three years which I have spent overseas, THE KING’S BUSINESS has been a source of rich blessing to me, and has been used to give me a greater love for the Word of God and our Lord Jesus- Christ.” Noel D. Sprunger Berne, Ind.
Yes, Wheaton students like to eat at least three times a day. More than 1000 young men and women are served in three dining rooms. But even three dining rooms are not enough to serve the rapidly increasing student body and the many service men and women who are returning to the campus.
The building of the Memorial Student Center will provide adequate dining room facilities, and much needed space for other student acti vities. It will be a fitting memorial to the 1482 Wheaton students who served their nation, to the 32 who gave their all in her defense. W e invite you to experience the joy of sharing in this ministry. Let us send you full information con* cerning ‘the Wheaton of today and tomorrow.” WHEATON CO L L E G E "For Christ and His Kingdom " Box KP-II5 Wheafon, Illinois
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CONTENTS: The Thankfulness of Jesus, by Wilbur M. Smith ..... ........................ 404 How Should We Give Thanks? by J. Oliver Buswell ..................... 406 Hymn, Come Ye Thankful People, by Henry Alford ..................... 407 Editorially Speaking ........... 408 The Man in the Glory, by J. C. Macaulay ............................................. 410 One Thing for which I am Most Thankful ........................................... 413 The Little White Casket, by Erma W a lk er ........................... .................. 415 The Bible in the News..... ............................................................................... : 417 Junior King’ s Business, by Martha S. Hooker ................................... 418 Devotional Readings ......................................................................................... 420 The Missing Row, by Charlotte E. Arnold ........................................ ....... 421 Dr. Talbot’ s Question Box ..t...-..................................................................... 422 Biola Family Circle ......................................................................................... 426 The Bible Women, by Natalie Romans ..................... 428 The Bible Institute on the Air...................................................................... 430 Young People’ s Topics, by Dudley L. Girod ........................................... 431 Sunday School Lessons .................................................................................. 434 Book Reviews ..................................................................................................... 446 SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION —“ The King's Business” is published monthly; $1.50. one yr.; $2.00, two yrs.; 75 cents, 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. REM ITTANCE— 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 13, Calif., or our eastern representatives, Religious Press Asso ciation, 51 No. 52nd St., Philadelphia 39, Pa. MANUSCRIPTS —“ The King’s Business” cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to manuscripts sent in for consideration. Entered as second-class matter November 7. 1938, at the Post Office at Los Angeles, California, 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, Calif.
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November, 1945
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Send for your free copy of this remarkable testi mony of hatred turned to love. A JEW AND THE NAME of JESUS mrr i r W y»cr ¡ tin mrr bvrai Hear, O Israel; Jehovah Our God, Jehovah is One!
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Daniel Bose, Director Trustee, Bible Institute of Los Angeles, Elder, Church of the Open Door The Bible Institute of Los Angeles maintains a J e w i s h Department whose ministry deals with the preach-? ihg of the Gospel to God’s ancient people, Israel. From this office go out thousands of pieces of literature especially prepared to interest the Jews. Also many of the students are engaged in visitation work, calling upon the Jewish people and inviting them to the meetings. Teams of stu dents hold regular street meetings in places where an audience can be se cured. Various prayer meetings are held and every Sunday at 4 p.m. in the lower auditorium of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles a mass meet ing is held with fine speakers. You are invited to pray for the work of the Jewish Department, and to support this ministry by your prayers and gifts.
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O 'UR LORD as man, partaker of true humanity dur ing His incarnation here on earth, maintained the fundamental relationships to God that you and I as the children of God may and should maintain. He came to do'the will of God; He was often in prayer to God, sometimes all night; He continually rejoiced in the love of God; He was grateful to God for the gifts which the Father wás béstówing upon mankind and specifically upon Him as Son, and for the opportunity which God had given Him to serve men. At this Thanksgiving Season, we can .hardly ascertain in all the Word of God a more fit ting and precious term for meditation, than “The Thank fulness -of Jesús.” I believe it will be discovered that we hj^ve records of our Lord’s thankfulness on five occasions vftiich may be placed conveniently under four headings. Jesus Was Thankful for Food E At the feeding of the four thousand we read, “He com- miknded the multitude to sit down on the ground: He took thie seven loaves, and having given thanks, He brake and gave ,tp, .ljis. disciples, to set before them; and they set them before the multitude” (Mark 8:6; Matt. 15:36). In ttfe feeding of the 'five thousand, we have a similar phrase, “Jesus therefore took the loaves; and having given tflanks, ‘H e‘distributed to them that were set down; like wise also’ of the fishes as much as they would” (John 6:11). What words He uttered in this thanksgiving for food we d# not know, but John’s account of this prayer of thanks giving, offered bn tbé occasion of the feeding of the five thousand,‘ would lead us to believe that there must have been 'Something unusual, something of an overwhelming spiritual beauty, which awakened the hearts of those who heñrd the prayer to a new conception of communion with God, for in the twenty-third verse we have this comment, “fhere came boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place wftere they ate the bread, after the Lord had given thanks.”
Three times a day every Christian gives thanks to God for his food. I am told that an orthodox Jew gives thanks for each course set before him, and I would judge this to be true from observing a number of orthodox Jews on shipboard when going to Palestine; for they definitely seemed to offer thanks, first for fruit, then for cereal, and then for eggs. What is there in a provision of food, let us for simplicity’s sake say, in the provision of bread, that compels us to lift our hearts in gratitude to God? I think, first of all, we should be grateful to God for sending rain and giving sunshine at the right time through ,the months of growing, so that a harvest of nourishing wheat results. It is God who giveth rain from Heaven. Then I think that in this thanksgiving there is In cluded gratitude for that wheat being brought to our table in the form of bread for our nourishment; for you and I really had nothing to do with harvesting the wheat. This is more true today than when our Lord lived in Palestine. In fact, there are millions in our cities today who have never seen wheat grow, and the vast majority of people in our land and Britain have nothing whatever to do with any part of raising wheat, or manufacturing flour, or baking bread. All of this involves the strength of men who work in wheat fields plowing, sowing and harvesting, transportation from distant wheat fields to granaries in other parts of the country, and the preservation of the wheat while in storage. Then, it embraces the skill of - millers in extracting this flour from the kernels of wheat and the skill of bakers to make it appear in the form of bread. We ought to think more often than we do of how utterly dependent we all are on these various processes and labors in which we never participate, that allow us to be properly nourished with the staff of life. And then I believe we ought to give thanks to God as we partake of our daily food, for the pleasure which we derive from eating it. Somewhere Paley has a great pas sage on this thought, in which he sets forth as one of the '»roofs of the goodness of God, this fact, that not only
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does' God provide food for the necessary nourishment of our bodies, but He has so ordained it that in partaking of food, an absolute necessity, we enjoy every moment’s tasting of that food. Well did Dr. Jowett say, “Jesus took commonplace, common bread, and associated it with God.” Jesus Gave Thanks to God for Answered Prayer Just before our Lord called Lazarus by name, and by His omnipotent power brought him forth from the grave, we read that He ‘‘lifted up His eyes and said, Father, I thank Thee that Thou hast heard me” (John 11:41). What does this mean? Well, first of all, it certainly means that God hears our prayers; what would we do if we did not have God. to whom to turn? I should think that today people without God would simply lose their minds. We need Him at every point of life for guidance, for deliver ance from temptation, for hope concerning the future, for power in our work, for comfort in sorrow, for wisdom, for forgiveness of sins, for eternal life, for the ultimate estab lishing of righteousness and for all those profound needs of the human heart, which man has never been able to supply himself. We should be grateful that an omnipo tent, omniscient, eternal, holy God is available to‘ seek in prayer. We too can say every day of our life, ‘‘Father, I thank Thee that Thou hast heard me” ; but there is more here than mere gratitude to God for hearing prayer. We should be grateful to God for what we know He is about to do when we know He is going to do it. Certainly we know some things God plans to perform. If we sincerely ask Him for forgiveness of sins, we know that He will grant it. If we ask Him for pardon for a besetting sin, we must believe He is going to impart it. A minister has a right to thank God before he goes into the pulpit for the blessing of the service which is about to begin. When ever we undertake anything for God, knowing that we are in His Will, even before the work is accomplished, we should give thanks to Him for what He is about to do. Christ’s Thankfulness for God’s Method for Revealing Truth When the seventy returned with joy from their first missionary venture, declaring that even the demons had been subject unto them, our Lord uttered a prayer of thanksgiving which we almost never think of in these days of hurry and the neglect of meditation. “I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou didst hide these things from the wise and understanding, and didst reveal them unto babes: yea, Father, for so it was well pleasing in Thy sight.” Years ago, that peer of all Biblical expositors of this century, Dr. G. Campbell Mor gan, preached a remarkable sermon on this text that may not be known to many today. It was buried away in a periodical seldom ever seen, and I take the liberty of quot ing from it. In my opinion, Dr. Morgan has given us the most satisfying interpretation of these words to be found anywhere in our language: “He saw through all the processes to the con summation. He saw how through all the diffi culty of the present hour He was moving in fel lowship with God to an assured and absolutely certain victory. He rejoiced in the Holy Spirit. The light of the Divine thought and conception and understanding of all the problems of the hour fell upon His spirit; and His spirit rejoiced in the Spirit of God because He dwelt in such relation ship with that Spirit as to enable Him to see the meaning of the things that seemed to be so full of difficulty. "The Will of the Father “What was this consciousness? It was, first 3l all, perfect rest in the will of His Father. To say that, perhaps is hardly to say enough, and cer-
tainly is not to say the deepest thing,•Why-did - He rest in the will of His Father?- Why did He * say, T thank Thee, O Father „ . . that Thou didst hide these things from the wise and understand- •- ing’ ? Why was He glad they were: revealed unto babes? I think if we are not careful,.we may • read that so as to misinterpret it altogether, and so as to make our hearts imagine that there was . a sort of satisfaction that certain classes of men • were refused light. Yet surely that is not the thought. Is there not rather here a statement, of- the fact that in the Spirit He saw the. infinite wis-. dom of the Divine method, that He was brought into fellowship with GOd by the Spirit so that He saw God’s way was the best, and God’s way was right? From whom were these things hidden ac- . cording to this word of Christ? From ‘the wise,’ ; i and the word indicates practical skill or acumen, From ‘the understanding,’ and the word here is a ? word which, if you will let me say So', means abil- . ity to put two and two together. The things of >v God were absolutely hidden from the. men.who came to them with a sense of their own ability to - comprehend them. They always a r e !. Jesus - Christ Himself and all the things of Gòd forever-. i; more elude the grasp of the intellect,, until that. ■ intellect is inspired by the Spirit Himself; and- i that can only be on one condition, and that condi tion is now named. ‘Thou didst reveal them. Unto babes,’ the not-speaking children, the immature little ones. To such, whether they be with John . in prison, or among the rulers, or on the out skirts in Capernaum, to such as .come .to .the : « things of God with - simple child-like heart and . open mind they are revealed. The condition-for. ? the acquirement of knowledge is always con scious ignorance. The one man you cannot' teach anything is the man who imagines he knows everything. “Ten years ago this month, I made a: cutting from a paper that I am not particularly.familiar with. Somehow it carnè into my hands. I read an article in it and made a. cutting. I am refer ring to ‘The Engineer.’ I am not going to inflict upon you the long quotation I have, but should like to take out of it a thought that expresses ( Continued on Page 407)
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It may not have occurred to you that there is a correct. Scriptural kind of gratitude which you, as a Chris tian, should feel and express toward God. It will be helpful at this sea son to consider . . .
pressed in the words, "I thank Thee that I am so much better off than other men.”This is another false inter pretation of the song, “Count your Blessings.” The distinction here must be very carefully drawn. We must not discourage giving thanks for particular blessings. . “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his bene fits” (Psa. 103:2). The word translated benefits, gemoul, signified the dealing of the hand of God. It is possible, however, for us to focus attention upon the things which God has dealt out to us in such a way as to for get the Lord himself. There is danger that in our reaction from the war, in our profound thanksgiving that the fighting is over, we may again have a feeling of self- superiority. How shall we truly and rightly give thanks to the Lord for “all his benefits” ? First, we must realize our utter dependence upon His grace. There are rewards for faithful Christian service. There are times when we have a right to feel grateful to the Lord for working through us in the saving of souls in His good purposes. There are other times when the Lord blesses us in such a way as to cause the deepest huhiiliation and the purest grati tude. All of Grace An experience came to me sometime ago which, in principle, is similar to many experiences of all the saints. For months and years I had wrestled with the Lord over a certain difficulty. I had sought to engage in activities which would help to bring to pass the answer to the
“Always rejoice; ceaselessly pray; in every thing give thanks; this indeed is the will of God in Christ for you” (1 Thess. 5:16-18, from original Greek). I once preached a Thanksgiving sermon on *the text, “God, I thank Thee that I am not as other men.” Or, as it might be literally translated, “ I thank Thee that I am not like the rest of mankind” (Luke 18:11). “The Wrong Kind of Thanksgiving” was, of course, my theme. We love to sing: “Count your blessings, name them one by one And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.” This is a blessed hymn. May nothing in this article spoil it for anyone. The thought is thoroughly Scriptural. However, sometimes when we think we are counting blessings from the Lord, we actually fall into a way of counting our own achievements. One has heard the familiar words in prayer, "and we shall be careful to give Thee all the praise,” accompanied by self-praise to such an extent that it might be supposed that the per- son praying was composing his own obituary. The words, “I am satisfied with Jesus,” in a testimony, can be ac companied by an unconscious expression implying, “and I am well pleased with myself also!” Definite Thanks * Another false form of thanksgiving may be ex
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prayer. I devoted myself to the object with all the re- sources I possessed. I spent many hours in prayer. I often experienced deep defeat in my soul with reference to this burden. Then, one day, surprisingly, in such a manner as to completely set aside all my strivings, in such a manner as to bring deep personal humiliation for failure, in such a manner as to show that the result was wholly of God and not in the slightest degree of my own efforts, God answered prayer and completely solved the problem. As I look back upon the experience, I feel sure in my own heart that it was the purpose of God to teach me pure gratitude. Every Christian has some such experience as this with regard to his own salvation from sin and wrath. The grace of God is not one of those things of which we can say, “God enabled me to accomplish the results.” The Apostle Paul plainly states, “So thin it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy” (Rom. 9:16). This text has been ex- tremely hard for me to believe. In my earlier ministry I confess that at times I sought to give credit to man for at least a part of his soul’s salvation. I do thank God that He has enabled me to see my error. When at last I realized the truth of the above text, when it came over my soul that I had not saved myself in the slightest degree, but that Christ had done all this work of saving— it was then that the purest and deepest thanksgiving welled up in my heart. What Should Be Our Attitude? The correct attitude toward self is expressed by the Apostle Paul as he penned the great victory chapter, Romans, chapter eight. “But we having the first fruit of the Spirit, even we ourselves with reference to our selves, are groaning, looking forward to the full estate of mature sonship, [even] the redemption of our bodies” (Rom, 8:23, Greek). It is right for us to rejoice and be thankful in the Lord, but we have no right to be pleased with ourselves. In this life the deepest dissatisfaction , with self accompanies the highest satisfaction in Christ): “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that ■ the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, I and not from ourselves” (2 Cor. 4:7 R. V.). One who contemplates the sovereign grace of God will learn to offer the “sacrifice of thanksgiving” (Lev. 22:19, Psa. 107:22, Psa. 50:12-14, Psa. 69:29-31). “By him therefore . let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name” (Heb. 13:15). Pure thanksgiving out of the deepest sense of grati tude for the sovereign grace of God, moves forward toward missionary service. We do not thank God because we are better than others, neither do we give thanks to Him because we are better situated than others, but we thank God because of His own goodness toward us in our utter helplessness. “To the Greeks and to the Bar barians, to the wise and to the ignorant, a debtor am I! Thus my readiness to preach the Gospel” (Rom. 1:14, 15, Greek). If indeed I preach the Gospel, it is not for me a matter of boasting. Necessity lies upon me. Indeed, alas for me if I should not preach the Gospel! If willingly I do this I receive a reward, but even if unwillingly, a stewardship is entrusted to me” (1 Cor. 9:16, 17, Greek). Thus it is that, “The love of Christ compels us, reasoning this, that since one died for all therefore all died. Furthermore He died for all in order that the living no longer should live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” (2 Cor. 5:14, 15, Greek). *See Chapter V on Thanksgiving in my book, “Problems in the Prayer Life,” Moody Press, 1928.
COME, YE THANKFUL PEOPLE Come, ye thankful people, come, Raise the song of harvest-home: All is safely gathered in, Ere the winler storms begin; God, our Maksr, doth provide For our wants to be supplied: Come to God’s own temple, come Raise the song of harvest-home. All the world is God’s own field, Fruit unto His praise to yield; Wheat and tares together sown, Unto joy or sorrow grown; First the blade, and then the ear, Then the full corn shall appear: Lord of harvest, grant that we Wholesome grain, and pure, may b«. For the Lord our God shall come, And shall take His harvest home; From His field shall in that day All offenses purge away; Give His angels charge at last In the fire the tares to cast; But the fruitful ears to store In His garner evermore. Even so, Lord, quickly come To Thy final harvest-home; Gather Thou Thy people in, Free from sorrow, free from sin; There, forever purified, In Thy presence to abide: Come, with all Thine angels, come, Raise the glorious harvest-home. —HENRY ALFORD
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The Thankfulness of Jesus ( Continued from Page 405)
this point. In a very cleverly worded article, the writer declares that the bicycle is an impos sibility, and that twenty years ago if a man had talked of constructing a machine weighing twenty- eight pounds to carry a man weighing twelve stone, it would have been said it never could be done. In conclusion the writer says, and to this I am anxious to draw your attention, ‘Knowledge is too often assumed to have reached finality when it has done nothing of the kind, and the belief is fostered and inculcated by those who write books and treatises, and teach in various way.. . Lastly, we would point out that it is not the possession of knowledge that stops progress, the mischief is done by the assumption that the knowledge is final.’ The babe is the man who says, ‘Whatever I know is not the last thing.’ ( Continued on Page 412)
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EDITORIALLY SPEAKING. . . „ a m
Roberts has been in China, he has flown over ten thousand miles, ac companied by an official photographer and reporter, .and has been entrusted by the minister of finance with two and one half billion dollars in cur rency. During his spare tiipe, Dr. Rob erts has conducted conferences, church speaking engagements, and has spok en practically every night in various Gospel halls. Let us continue to re member in our prayers the health and labors of our Brother R" Throughout the years, many of God’s stewards have been le^< <,c ^u- tribute generously to this work of the Lord in Central China. Now, with the re-opening of these lands, so long closed by war, there is a great need for generous contributions to rebuild the school and begin operations. It is estimated that over 2,000 Prot estant missionaries will return to China within two years. Most of these are former workers in China who were forced to leave on account of the war. The first contingent of fifty re turnees is already on the way. These missionaries return to a land which has opened wide its doors and has begged them to come back. China presents one of the most fertile fields for current missionary endeavor. It is at present a country which seems to have all the necessary qualifications for a great sweeping revival. God is stirring the hearts of Chinese young people as never before, and leading them to present themselves as willing missionary candidates to carry to their own, and other peoples, the glorious news of the Saviour from sin. ★ ★ Bible Sunday O NE of the bright spots of the dark years of the war was the fact that literally millions upon millions of copies of the- Scriptures were be ing circulated in all parts of the earth. This year, on the 9th day of Decem ber, we are to celebrate a Universal Bible Sunday, sponsored by the Amer ican Bible Society. This was attempt ed last year and met with success. New attention will be focused upon the Book of Books. Coupled with this Bible Sunday, there is a prescrib ed period for world-wide reading of certain Bible passages b e t w e e n Thanksgiving and Christmas. Selec tion of the passages to be read has been made by servicemen. It is hoped that the interest taken in this matter of Bible reading will exceed even that of last year. It is one of the most heartening
Oh, So Much! A S we come once more to the season of the year in which our hearts are lifted to the Lord in special thanks giving, truly there is a sense. of the immeasurableness of His blessings. The one. really bright spot of all the world is our own beloved land of America. We have escaped the ray- ages of war’s destruction. We have been blessed during the lean years with fat harvests, and by apparently unending supplies of natural resources. We have suffered the least; actually, we have prospered, materially, during the war. Now, in addition, God has given us victory . . . victory on the continent of Europe over a nation prepared for conflict as no other nation ever has been; victory in the far Pacific in the face of almost insurmountable diffi culties of distance, topography, and transportation. Surely, if ever a nation should bow before the God of the ages, it is our land. Do not think that God is unmindful of the gratitude of the people He has created. Rather, after pouring out His blessings, He waits to receive a sincere expression of appreciation. So, from our hearts, we cry: “America, stop, and give thanks to God ! Count your un deserved blessings, and praise the name of the Lord!” God forbid that we should commit the sin of ingratitude after being so favored by Him! “Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.” ★ ★ Latest Word from China O UR readers will remember that the China Department of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles is another completely equipped Bible Institute in the h e a rt of China. However, our Chiria p r o p e r t y has been in Japanese hands during the war years; and, only recently, have we secured details as to the extent of the damage. A cable from Dr. C h a r l e s Rob erts contains the news that all of the compound walls are down, and, out of the six main buildings, only three are l e f t standing, intact. Six missionaries’ residences on the com pound were completely demolished, and it is thought that the entire equip ment contained in these buildings has been removed by the Japanese. There is at present need for much prayer regarding the rehabilitation and re opening of this school which is almost invaluable in the evangelization of the new China. During the last few months that Dr.
signs on today’s horizon that the presses of the land continue to turn out in nearly eleven hundred differ ent languages and dialects the imper ishable Word of God. ★ ★ Still in the News TT is passing strange that a small segment of the world’s population, comprising but two-thirds of one per cent of the peoples of earth, should claim year after year the top spot in newspaper headlines. Yet this is the experience of the Jew, Throughout the late war, the Jew and his plight was the current topic of our news papers, magazines and radio broad casts. Now, with the war over, the problem of what to do with the world’s No. 1 Wanderer is still claim ing public attention. It would almost seem as if the notice by the press is somehow bound up with God’s pur pose for His ancient people; that it is in some way related to the story of God’s faithfulness and Israel’s failure. Evidently, this is one method the Lord is using to impress upon men that there is coming a day of wrath and judgment in which all men must stand before Him. No intelligent per son can know the- sad history of the Jewish nation, or look upon their pres ent hopeless plight without having brought to mind most vividly the all-important fact that one cannot deny God, and live. As for the Jew’s future, he will con tinue to remain in the world’s head lines. There will be, first, his connec tion with the coming world ruler, the antichrist, and-then his miracu lous rescue from ann’hi’ ation at the battle of Armageddon. Then, finally, a never-ending stream of blessing will flow through a saved Israel to the nations of the world.
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with no transformations—not even one.” We wish that there would be raised up in our classrooms men of courage who would dare to stand before their pupils and unequivocally enunciate the truth that the scientific world, as a whole, by no means accepts the theory of evolution. It is only fair to the young scholar, with his eager, seeking intellect, that this hypothesis be reviewed honestly, in the light of the philosophy of life which naturally follows its acceptance. It should be pointed out that, evolution is anti-God and anti-Christian, and that moral breakdown inevitably results from concurrence with this teaching. ★ ★ The Whisky Ads T TP and down the highways and byways of our fair land are color ful billboards; plastered with adver tising paid for by the brewing and distilling interests. Really, one can learn a great deal from these ads, that is, if he is naive enough. For in stance, it may be inferred from their statements that no one ever really gets drunk from their product. Oh, no! it merely widens one’s enjoyment of life and strengthens the bonds of good fellowship. Of course, it is im plied, that all the people, and particu larly all the good people of the land, indulge in liquor, and indulge very fre quently. To be sure, the stuff is non fattening (unless you drink it!) and we are assured that it promotes good digestion and lengthens life Itself. How often we have wished that this abominable and filthy stuff could be depicted in its grim reality. We would like to portray on a billboard the drunkard with his bloated face, his bleary eyes, his disreputable clothes, and his hopeless bondage. It would be well, too, to show the true condition of the girl who drinks—not the picture of a bright-eyed, high-spirited, healthy and happy young woman—but as the soiled, diseased, and debauched speci men of humanity she really is. The billboards do not tell the truth, but the Word of God does, and therein is stated clearly that the end of these things is death. Here is a field for honest educators. If they will take the time and trouble to point out to young people the lies of the liquor ads, their effort will pay big dividends. ★ ★ The Real Kagawa TJflTH the close of the war against Japan, the figure of Toyohiko Kagawa again comes into the lime light. Of course, his activities and utterances for the past few years have been hidden from view by the veil of
A Great Book /''tNLY occasionally through the years does there appear a book ol such magnitude as “Therefore Stand” by Dr. Wilbur M. Smith, which has come off the press within the last few months. Our spirits have been lifted and pur minds refreshed by this volume. ? In his preface, \f)r. Smith expresses his desire that his book be used of God to kindle within the hearts of many young men fires of courage and determination to press thè battle for Christ. To this high and. noble pur pose, the, pages ; which follow cer tainly measure up. He sets forth with remarkable clarity, and emphatic fi nality, the great beliefs of the Chris tian faith and authenticates his state ments with proofs from recognized authorities. In the opinion of many, this book should be required reading for all young people' training ‘for Christian service as well as for all leaders of evangelical Christianity. Surely, God has inspired this work, dhd He will use it to challenge, edify and strengthen the Church of Christ. This book may be secured from the Biola. Book Room, 560 So. Hope St., Los Angeles 13, Calif, for $3.00. ★ ★ i Let’s Get the Record Straight jpvNE of the most t r a g i c things about today’s educational system is the unfair practice on the part of the professors Who take advantage of the ignorance of the untaught pupil. Too often the student is assured that now “all scientists agree” that the theory of evolution is no longer "considered a mere hypothesis, but is rated as an established branch of science. Nothing could be farther from the truth! As a matter of. actual fact, there has never been unanimity: of opinion among scientists with respect to this man-made explanation for the won ders of creation. Today, in the scien tific world, the opposition, to evolution iS stronger than ever; not a few of those who were neutral in their opin ion have cóme over into the camp of those who teach that evolution is both unscientific and untenable. We quote from a few authorities: , G. Barry O’ Toole (Zoologist): “We shall endeavor to show that evolution has long since degenerated into a dogma, which is believed in spite of the facts, and not on account of them.” Maurice Thomas (Zoologist and Entomologist): “The whole' animal kingdom rises up against the trans- formist conception.” Arthur P. Kelley (Botanist): “Evolu tion cannot exist for a moment with- o u t demonstrable transformations. But- botanical phenomena provide us
censorship, but now, once more, he is being interviewed, and press notices are following his movements. There seems to be no doubt but that Kagawa was pro-Japanese during the war and completely subservient to the military clique in control. Now that MacArthur is in the saddle in Japan, Kagawa comes bowing and scraping, and offering explanations for his war-time activities. The future will reveal the truth about this matter, but' we are concerned that it be under stood that this man and his modern istic teachings on Christ and Chris tianity have never been acceptable to the evangelical conservatives of this country. He was paraded by the Fed eral Council of Churches and by liber al leaders who claimed for him the ostentatious title of “The greatest Christian since Jesus Christ.” This only bolstered the conservative con tention that this Japanese, with all of his so-called Christian trappings, knows almost nothing of the simple basic truths of the Gospel which are the common knowledge of all born- again believers. Nor is this merely an opinion: during his years of world- touring, the publications from Kaga- wa’s pen proved conclusively that he was ignorant of Christ and the mean ing of His death. Kagawa’s wartime record is but another example of the chameleonic character of those who are Christian in name only, and who so easily fool the liberal intelligent sia. ★ ★ They are at it Again A C OMP L A I N T from servicemen abroad sheds light upon the un derhanded workings of some of the powers' that be. In a great number of “PX” depots, the amount of drinks supplied is in the ratio of one soft drink to fifteen beers. We quote from one soldier in Italy: “We got our ‘PX’ rations today and there was one bottle of ‘coke’ per man. Bottled in Italy, it is rather poor. In comparison, ea'ch man received 15 bottles of beer brewed in the States.” A Naval Chap lain writes: “We are back in the States for repairs. Recently, we went to a large supply depot. The f i r s t thing we took aboard was cases' of beer. I have men who never drank before they entered the Navy . . . They drink now primarily because it is beer or thirst. How come?” The matter is too involved to be discussed fully in this article. It looks" like an other secret attack by the entrenched wet forces. The alcohol consumption in this country has reached such proportions as to alarm every Christian and every decent person. With thousands of servicemen returning daily . . . the situation grows more serious. There must be prayer—and work.
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By J. G. Macaulay | fTT^HIS MAN. .. sat down on the right hand of God,” states the writer, to the Hebrews (Heb. 10:12). “Be- 1 hold, I see , . . the Son of man standing on the fight hand of God,” cried the first Christian martyr, al ready exulting in the beatific vision (Acts 7:56). But the. last of the seers begins his letters to the seven churches with this: “These things saith he that . . . walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks” (Rev. 2:1). The Appearance of the Son of Man The description of our exalted Lord which St. John gives us in the first chapter of his Apocalypse cannot be transferred to an artist’s canvas. It is a spiritual vision, not a carnal likeness. Christ is seen “clothed with a garment down to the foot,” bespeaking the dignity of His person, Even our college girls have a dignity of person when they wear long formal dress, which is lacking when they are clad in sweaters and short skirts. In the days of His flesh, our Lord was subjected to the disgrace of another sort of raiment. Herod stripped Him of His own garments, and put upon Him a scarlet tunic, probably the cast-off of an army captain. So ar rayed, He was forced to undergo the brutal mockings and sport of the, soldiery. Apparently, He was similarly treated in Pilate’s hall. Then, on that skull-like knoll without the city, the Lord of glory bore the humiliation of being stripped again of all but a meager loincloth. Thus degraded, He hung upon the Cross. Upon the Son of God earth heaped its indignities. But now in Heaven, as Son of Man, He wears the robe of infinite majesty, and carries it with kingly dignity. Christ appears “girt about the breasts with a golden girdle.”' What a contrast to His earthly girding! “He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded Himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet” (John 13:4,5). This was the garment of His hu miliation, the livery of toil. Peter, who opposed his Lord’s stooping to the menial task that day, learned that this is the earthly lot of every follower of Christ. He had it written for us: “Be clothed with humility” (1 Peter 5:5). This is a reference to the attire of a slave. Now, another girding is our Lord’s—the girding of regal authority. “ His state Is Kingly, thousands at His bidding speed And post o’er land and ocean without rest.” Some day we, too, shall lay aside the girdle of toil, and share the royal habiliments of our exalted Head. “His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow.” John saw Jesus crowned, not with a crown manufactured and imposed upon His brow, but with the native diadem of holiness and wisdom. Earth gave Him a crown—a crown of thorns, which pierced and tore His brow. The thorn trees in the Ozarks re mind me of that crown, for nowhere else have I seen thorns so long, so sharp, aAd so abundant. The crown our Lord now wears is not one of sorrow and suffering.
but of joy and triumph. It did not grow on earth, but is a manifestation of His own inner being. A halo com bined of infinite holiness and perfect wisdom forms this snow-white diadem upon the brow of our multi-crowned King. “His eyes were as a flame of fire.” The eyes of men express more than do the lips, and often more truth fully. A Scottish song makes this the mark of “ma ane lassie,” that “true love is in her e’e.” The eyes of our Lord bespeak His character. I have never cared for this sentiment in one of oUr hymns: “While we see divine compassion Gleaming from His languid eye.” . \: = / Divine compassion, yes; but languid eye, no! It was no languid eye which • turned upon the rabble which came to arrest Him in Gethsemane, and hurled them back ward to the ground. “His eyes were as a flame of fire,” penetrating, consuming. “AH things, are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do” (Heb. 4:13). They are eyes that search, out the inner most thoughts of the heart. 1 “And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace.” On earth, the feet of Jesus were torn with the nails of the Cross. AH of this piercing was a furnace for burnishing, until now His feet appear as bur nished copper. So all our piercings and woundings, as we follow His steps, are for our refinement, not for our destruction. But more! The burnished .copper speaks of judgment. We are hastening unto the day when “He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God” (Rev. 19:15). Who shall stand when He appeareth? Only those who have kissed His feet for the wounds and the blood of His salvation shall stand in His
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