JULY-AUGUST
She 3 ib le T am ils tWagasine PUBLISHED BY THE BIBLE INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGELES
Roman law court at Leptis Magna, North Africa. Photograph by F. M. Carey.
“Lo, all our pomp of yesterday Is one with Nineveh and Tyre! Judge o f the Nations, spare us yet, Lest we forget, lest we forget!”
^ In presenting this enlarged issue, T he K ing ' s B usiness is combining its July and August numbers, in peeping with the practice of many other school publi cations. It will be noted that the full series of Christian Endeavor Notes and the International Lesson Commentary for the two months are included in this com bined number, so that readers will have no difficulty in continuing their studies in these departments. It is expected that the September issue, the Lord willing, will be off the press before the time of the opening of the fall semester at the Institute. In this number, a new group of unusually rich messages will appear. Others will follow in subsequent months. Among the contributors who have furnished articles for publication in early issues of T he K ing ’ s B usiness are the following'.
Wade C. Smith, Greensboro, N. C., a regular contributor to the Sunday School Times. Mr. Smith’s article is on the subject of soul-winning—an inspiring and highly practical message. It will be illustrated with his famous Little Jetts. Robert Excell Fry, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Augusta, Ga. Mr. Fry has furnished a deeply devotional study of Philippians 4:6 and 7, which will bring spiritual refreshing. Roy L. Laurin, Pastor, San Gabriel Union Church, San Gabriel, Calif. Mr. Laurin has provided a series of four expository articles on “The Gist of Four Great Letters” : Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. W. H. Rogers, Pastor, First Baptist Church, New York City. Dr. Rogers has written on the subject of the Lord’s return—a message with a definite evangelistic appeal.
Other articles are also expected, although not yet received, from Wilbur M. Smith, Pastor, Presbyterian Church, Coatesville, Pa., and editor of Peloubet’s Select Notes on the International Sunday School Lesson; and from Robert G. Lee, Pastor, Bellevue Baptist Church, Memphis, Tenn. Dr. Smith’s article will probably discuss the question: How extensively should a minister read outside of his Bible and exegetical literature? Will you not pray earnestly that the blessing of the Lord may rest upon this and every future issue of T he K ing ’ s B usiness that may be sent forth—“ till he come” ?
Published Monthly by and Represent' ing the Bible Institute of Los Angeles
tH ow to Destroy thej e w s • It is the puzzle of the ages. Hitler can't solve it, and is only bungling the job. Egypt tried it, but only landed in the bottom of the Red Sea! • But there is a way. Pastor H. O. Van Gilder of Ohio, discov ered the secret and allowed us to print it in a 12 page tract. Haman would never have hung if he had seen this tract. Hitler needs to know. Every Jew-hater needs to read this tract. And certainly every Christian will be eager to see it. ® It is yours for 10 cents, includ ing a sample copy of our paper, The Chosen People. Just enclose 10 cents and say, "Send me, 'How to Destroy the Jews.' " • And may we remind you also of the continuous needs of our Missionary undertakings? Our work merits your every confi dence. Your fellowship in prayer and gift is always appreciated. The Chosen People is sent to all contributors.
ï ï h t S i b l e T a m i l s 3 i l a $ a ^ i n e Motto: “ Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.’’- t -R ev . 1 :5.
V o lu m e X X V
J u ly - A u g u s t , 1 9 3 4
N um b e r 7
TABLE OF CONTENTS v/ Around the King’s Table— Louis T. Talbot....................... ............... 250 Awake I Christians, Awake I— Ernest M. Wadsworth.... ............... 252 How God Founded a Church at Sha-Tzu-P’ing— Frank A . Keller..254 Our Ouaking Earth— Louis S. Bauman............................. ............... 256 Girls’ Query Corner—Myrtle E. Scott............................... .............. .261 Bible Institute Family Circle......................................... * .... ................262 Helps for Preachers and Teachers—-Paul Prichard.......... ............... 264 Junior King’s Business— Martha S. Hooker.................... ............... 265 Notes on Christian Endeavor— Mary G. Goodner.......... .... .......... 267 Constrained by the Love o f Christ............... .................... ............... 272 International Lesson Commentary......................................... ...............275 Daily Devotional Readings................................... ............... 292
I N F O R M A T I O N
F O R
S U B S C R I B E R S
TERMS: Single Copies................................................. 15c Annual Subscription.. . . . ............ $1.50 Two-year subscription or two annual subscriptions. 2.50 Five annual Subscriptions............................................. 5.00 Eleven,annual subscriptions.......................................... 10.00 Subscriptions in countries outside of U. S. require 25c extra. ' * REMITTANCE: Should be made by Bank Draft, Ex press or Pt O. Money Order, payable to “ Bible Institute of Los Angeles.“ Receipts will not be sent for regular subscriptions, but date of expiration will show plainly each month, on outside wrapper or cover of magazine. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Please send both old and new address at least one month previous to date of de sired change.
ADVERTISING: For information with reference to advertising in THE KING'S BUSINESS address the Religious Press Association, 325 North 13th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, or North American Build ing, Chicago, Illinois. Entered as Second Class Matter November 17, 1910, at the Post Office at Los Angeles, California, under the Act of March 3, 1879. Acceptance for mailing at special rate of postage pro vided for in Section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, authorized October 1, 1918. MANUSCRIPTS: THE KING'S BUSINESS cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to manuscripts sent to it for consideration.
A M E R I C A N B OA RD o f MISSIONS to the JEWS, Inc. 31Throop Avenue, Brooklyn, N.Y.
POLICY AS DEFINED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE BIBLE INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGELES (a) To stand for the infallible Word of God and its great fundamental truths, (b) To strengthen the faith of all believers, (c) To stir young men and women to fit themselves for and engage in definite Christian work, (d) To make the Bible Institute of Los Angeles known, (e) To magnify God our Father and the person, work and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; and to teach the transforming power of the Holy Spirit in our present practical life, (f) To emphasize in strong, constructive messages the great foundations of Christian faith. 558 So. Hope St., BIBLE INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGELES, Los Angeles, California
Ask us for our free booklet, " J E W IS H M I S S I O N B O N D S "
July-August, 1934
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
250
G round the King’s ‘Tables B y L ouis T. T albot
faithful ones have been making possible a greater freedom on the part o f those who have been on the firing line. Their share in the work has been to remain with the baggage, taking care o f the impedimenta which would hinder rapid movement and keen strategy. In our recognition o f true service, let us seek God’s viewpoint. Let us remember that the unheralded servant— the one who remains with the baggage— is to “ share alike” with the one to whom God has intrusted the leadership o f the assault. Misplaced Confidence “ The fear of man bringeth a snare; But whoso putteth
[President Louis T. Talbot, of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles, sailed with his family on May 30 for a four- months’ visit in the land o f his birth, Australia. While the time away from Los Angeles will be spent mainly in rest and recreation, which aré greatly needed, Mr. Talbot will have opportunity also to address a number of large gath erings in Australia. In his absence, Dr. E. L. McCreery, Vice-President and Dean o f the Institute, is serving also as acting pastor o f the Church of the Open Door. For readers who will gather this month “ Around the King’s Table” to partake o f spiritual refreshment, Dr. McCreery has provided three devotional portions— the first three to
his trust in Jehovah shall be safe” (Prov. 29:25, R .V .). I n these days o f uncer tainty and turmoil, how much there is o f looking to man rather than to a higher source for guidance! How much o f governmental and business policy is deter mined by what men think and say, without any regard to God’s thought concerning the problems under consid eration ! The words o f divine in
appear on these pages. The others, while not written by him, were prepared at his direction .— E ditor .] Tarrying by the Baggage “A s his share is that go- eth down to the battle, so shall his share be that tar- rieth by the baggage: they shall share alike” (1 Sam. 30:24, R .V .) T hese w o r d s w e r e spoken by David after He had gone against the en emy, who had taken captive the women and the children as well as the material trea sures o f Ziklag — the city which was the headquarters o f David and his fugitive followers. David had taken up the pursuit, and in order to hasten on, had left two. hundred o f his six hundred men, t o g e t h e r with the necessary baggage, at the brook Besor. When David returned victorious, a dis sension arose. Among the men who had gone to the battle front with D a v i d , there were some who de clared that they would not
^heHag jStill Boats; W. H all , a graduate of the Bible Institute of the class of 1922.
B y G eorge
Oh, earth, can you see through the mists o f the night The flag o f the cross in the fast-fading light; Majestic, alone, all the tempests defying; Can it stand such a storm, is the standard still flying Whilst empire's decay, and proud peoples are dying? Yes! it stands, proudly stands, so decreed by God’s will, And the flag bravely floats o’er Golgotha’ s lone hill. The cohorts o f hell massing all o f their might Are cenfring their guns in the midst o f the fight On one lonely spot; but in vain their endeavor, For though they be wily, seductive, and clever, THY KINGDOM, 0 CHRIST, IS FOREVER AND EVER. Yes! it stands, proudly stands, so decreed by God’s will, And the flag bravely floats o’er Golgotha’s, lone hill. Let Russia’s vast hordes and like armies assail, The kingdom o f darkness shall never prevail;- Come foemen, come henchmen, come traitors, and knaves, Now marshall your forces, now call out your braves, But Truth stands unconquered a,nd Christ ever saves, When death has been ended, and time is no more That flag then shall float from eternity’s shore.
his defeat o f the Amalekites.
struction indicate a very se rious danger— the snare of putting our trust and confi dence in man. “ But whoso putteth his trust in Jehovah shall be safe.” H a v i n g warned o f the danger o f re liance upon man, the clear declaration tells o f the se curity and safety o f the one who is putting his trust in Jehovah. I f nations and communities and individuals were more i n t e n t upon knowing the mind o f God with regard to their difficult u n s o l v e d problems, how much better would be our situation! May the Lord Himself remind us that put ting our trust in man-made devices brings a snare. Enduring W isdom “He that is wise winneth souls” (Prov. 11 :30, R. V .). M an desires wisdom. Men in all ages have sought the counsel o f the wise. They desire to be instructed by those who are outstanding in matters o f judgment. Th W ord o f God describes the course o f action o f the one who is truly wise according to God’s own standard— wise not only for this world, but also for eternity: “ He that is wise winneth souls.” “ And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness o f the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever” (Dan. 12: 3, R. V . ) . It was revealed to Daniel that there was a reward
share the recovered spoil with those who had remained be hind. In giving his pronouncement regarding the division o f rewards, David indicated that equity required a just recognition o f the value o f those who had remained “ by the stuff.” A great principle is set forth here, one which has prac tical application to our daily Christian lives. God does not look only upon the heralded service that is done in His name. He has regard also for the most humble, unnoticed servant who is faithfully carrying out the will o f the Lord. In eternity, much o f the honor of great evangelistic campaigns will be reckoned as due to the efforts o f many humble men and women whose station in the battle has always been behind the lines. But though unseen, these
July-August, 1934
251
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
o f wisdom more enduring than the glittering crowns o f earthly kings. In this verse there is the suggestion o f a crown o f glory—as resplendent as the brightness o f the firmament above. The glory is not a blaze as o f a Fourth o f July rocket that flares up into the sky for a moment,, then comes back to earth, a charred stick. But it is a bright ness as o f God’s own light in the firmament o f heaven. What a halo o f glory awaits the faithful though humble and unseen soul-winner who is laying up for himself that crown o f righteousness which the Lord will give him “ at that day” ! The 1933 Homicide Record P icture a complete massacre o f an American town of between 11,000and 12,000 souls! Such an event, should it occur, would be world news. And yet it is not generally known that that was the number o f homicides in the United States in 1933. “ In the opinion o f the Attorney-General o f the United States, the army o f criminals in this country at the pres ent time is equal to the established military forces of the country” is the startling statement made by Frederick L. Hoffman, consulting statistician, in an article in the Spectator o f April 12, 1934. And the tables which he pre sents would be in themselves an impressive warning. In thirty-one American cities, the consolidated returns concerning deaths from homicide show that for the year 1900, the rate per 100,000 population was 5.1. For these same cities, the rate in 1933 was 10.7. And in the national capital, the homicide rate increased from 22.1 per 100,000 in 1932 to 24.3 in 1933! Primarily, Dr. Hoffman blames “ public apathy toward the root o f the question involving the control o f dangerous weapons on the part o f the authorities.” But the underlying cause o f this appalling condition, as Dr. Hoffman may or may not be willing to admit, is that men “ have cast away the law o f the Lord o f hosts, and despised the wbrd o f the Holy One o f Israel.” Youth Tomorrow I N an incisive comment based upon his observation of youth in America and Europe, Dr. Will H. Houghton, pastor o f Calvary Baptist Church of New York City, while spending a little time in Europe, writes: What is ahead for the young people o f Europe and America: War or peace in Europe? Communism ?Fascism? I am writing from Vienna, the capital of Austria, which has been called by many writers recently, “the . tinder box of Europe.” A match dropped here—and what? Who knows ? The questions in our minds about" Europe are not asked in a detached manner, with the attitude of a spectator. America cannot long be a mere observer, if war comes. God pity this mad w orld! No doubt patriotism is a good emotion when held in proper relationship to other emotions, but after you have mobilized youth and started them marching, where are they going? Will national boundaries hold them? The Red movement in Russia is largely youthful. Hundreds o f thousand^—no one knows how many—are in line and marching, marching. Where? I have just come from Germany, where youth is brown-shirted and on the march. Companies of Boy Scouts, they seem to be. Each is wearing a brown shirt and the Nazi swastika on his sleeve. Here are young busi ness men greeting each other on the streets. They are not in uniform, but as they meet, the arm is raised straight out from the shoulder—the Nazi salute—young men organized and regimented and going somewhere. O f course, no one would believe that all young people everywhere are anxious to attempt something. The in different majority surround us in most countries. Par ticularly is this true in America. We have an increasing number identifying themselves with socialism and communism. Youth is beginning to uncover the falsity o f some ideas which have been current recently. Youth has wit nessed what some one has called “the death o f Pollyanna.”
That is to say, our fathers had given us a theory of autb- matic progress. A few years ago, nearly any one would have said: “The world is getting better and better.” Youth knows better now—Pollyanna is dead! There is something wrong with the world, and it seems hard to find a remedy. Dr. League of Nations says, “ Sit up and take this,” and Dr. Pacifist says, “Try this,” but file patient seems only to grow worse. Youth has been disappointed. He was told that an education was the thing. He sacrificed and toiled to get his college and university degrees, to find that the pro fessions were already overcrowded. He stands disillu sioned and disappointed. Who will make him an offer? Who will tell him of reality—the communist, or the Christian? The issue is far more clearly drawn than is realized by many Christians not intimately associated with young peo ple. What is the “ message o f reality” ? Dr. Houghton offers the old yet continually new and living challenge: There is a new door open for us in America today to reach the youth of this generation with a live, reality giving gospel—a gospel which says, “Accept Christ as your Saviour,” and which goes on to say, “ Invest your life with Christ.” Spurgeon: The Man o f God T hroughout the Christian world, the Lord’s people are this year being reminded o f the centenary o f the birth o f Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the great and humble preacher whose ministry deeply stirred all London for nearly forty years, and has continued in marked influence to the present day. Born June 19, 1834, Spurgeon, like Paul, was a “ chosen vessel.” His life, while not unusually long, extending over a period o f only fifty-eight years, was outstanding in its manifestation o f the presence and power o f the Holy Spirit. Spurgeon died January 31,1892. In a recent address to the Assembly o f the Baptist Union (England), William Olney, for forty-three years a deacon in the tabernacle in which Spurgeon preached, brought this tribute to “ the man o f God” :
I wish I had words to adequately describe the scene in Spurgeon’s first Tabernacle on a Sunday morning. By eleven o’clock, the vast building would be crowded with some four thousand persons. There would be a hum o f conversation and an air of expectancy over the place. Then the vestry door would open, and Spurgeon would be seen slowly descending the steps to the platform. A great [Continued on page 261]
July - August, 1934
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
252
AWAK E ! Christians, AWAK E ! _ B y ERNEST M. WADSWORTH *
Chicago, Tifinois
C
t t f
“ It is high time to awake out o f sleep” (Rom . 13:11).
R£l/1 / f t L S
fashion, content to go along the path of propriety, along the path o f dull routine, but never weeping for sinners, never agonizing for souls. All the ministers of Christ are not awake yet. Are you awake ? .Have you roused out o f the sleep o f self-indulgence, spiritual slothfulness, and passionless ser vice? The world will not be turned right side up while we sleep. Oh, for the passion o f Pau l! Oh, for the spiritual vigor o f Wesley, Whitefield, Brainerd, Spurgeon, and M ood y ! An aroused ministry will mean a revived church, and a revived, reempowered church will mean the conver sion o f millions. D. L. Moody used to say, “ The best way to revive a dead church is to build a big fire in the pulpit.” May God use us to do our best in this evil day. But we need grace to awaken and empower. May God speak to our hearts n ow ! Edgerton Ryerson Young, the noted missionary to the Indians in the Hudson Bay territory, once told us that he was making a long journey by dog sled in an exceedingly low temperature, when suddenly he became aware o f a great drowsiness settling down upon him. He tried to raise himself on his sled. As he did so, it seemed as if a great organ pealed forth the most beautiful music he had ever heard. A glory seemed to fall upon earth and sky. The very tracks.of his dogs in the snow turned to gold. A sense of exquisite comfort delighted him. He said to him self, “ I must stay here and enjoy this scene and this en trancing music.” Suddenly, as if some one shouted in his ear, a voice seemed to say to him, “ Edgerton Ryerson Young, you are freezing to death!” Mustering his re maining strength, he called to his faithful dogs a signal
I n this crucial period o f the world’s history, the church o f God needs to be wide awake and to put on her beau tiful garments and go put against the foe as “ terrible as an army with banners.” But when she ought to be doing thus, a great drowsiness is upon her. A spirit of lethargy seems to have taken possession o f the people o f God. Brethren, are we awake? Have we yet one eye open? The call o f God is sounding in our ears: “ It is high time to awake out o f sleep!” “ Awake thou that sleepest, . . . • and Christ shall give thee light.” “ What meanest thou, O sleeper ? arise, call upon thy God.” T he N eed of a G reat S piritual A wakening [The ends of the world have come upon us. The Judge standeth at the door. “ It is high time” to be awake to the state o f the church, and the gospel privileges and oppor tunities that are ours in our parishes, communities, nation, and on the mission fields o f the world. Brethren, rouse yourselves! See what God will do through you to awaken His sleeping churcRT] Is not our land barren of spiritual harvests ? Is there not much soul-pOverty among the saints ? Is there not much guilty neglect among the ministers of God? Where is the church that burns with holy ardor? Where does the “ plowman . . . overtake the reaper, and the treader o f grapes him that soweth seed” ? Where are preachers preaching'to fully awakened congregations? Come, brother, is not a revival needed among us ? Do you think the pulse o f the church fast enough? “ It is high time to awake.” W e have passed the noon. Evening shades are appearing. Awake, Christians! Awake, espe cially ye ministers o f our God. Charles Haddon Spurgeon was wide awake. The church does well to honor this year his memory, for “ the memory o f the just is blessed.” The following is from his gifted pen : Oh, we never can be content with churches going on as they have been during the last twenty years. I would not be censorious, but solemnly in my own heart I do not believe that the ministers of our churches have been free from the blood of men. I would not say a hard word if I did not feel compelled to do it, but I am constrained to remind my brethren that, let God send what revival He may, it will not exonerate them from the awful guilt that rests upon th?tn for having been idle and dilatory during the last years.., Let all be saved who live now; what about those that have perished while we have been sleeping ? Let God gather in multitudes of sinners, but who must answer for the blood of those men who have been swept into eternity while we have been going on in our canonical.. * Director, Great Commission Prayer League.
which meant home! O ff they went. The music lulled him into a blissful sleep, a sleep from which he did not wake for some time; and when he did waken, Christian Indians were working over him. They had saved his life. The warning message which he had acted upon turned tragedy to tri umph. Oh, that I had a voice to speak to the hidden depths of many a heart! May God rouse us brethren! A great numbness has seized our hearts. Iniquity abounds, and the
July-August, 1934
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
253
love o f many has waxed cold. D o we realize our spiritual condition as we should ? Recently in an Eastern city a friend told the following story: “ Last night our entire family came near being wiped out. W e were all at home, something unusual in our household. Father was reading the evening paper; Mary was doing her home-work; and the boys were playing games on the floor. I had just finished my housework, and was sitting in my accustomed chair mending socks, when, suddenly, as if noisy machinery had stopped, all became appallingly quiet, and I seemed quite unable either to rise or speak. I remember saying to myself, ‘This is a queer house.’ I seemed to have consciousness to realize that every member o f the family had fallen asleep. Father was asleep in his chair; Mary, book in hand, had fallen over asleep on the couch; and the boys were prone on the floor beside their games. I felt an urge to open a door. Mus tering my strength, I got to the outside door and opened it. The fresh air somewhat revived me. I went out onto the veranda in a daze. Finally I managed to call out, ‘ Some body please come and help u s!’ A man rushed into the house; others followed. I heard doors and windows being opened. Soon doctors arrived and worked over the gas- poisoned members o f the household. They were revived, and were by and by out o f danger. Our whole family, as you see, came within a narrow margin o f being wiped out by asphyxiation. How we thank God we were spared.” God used that half-gassed woman to save her family from death. But it is something infinitely better to save brethren and sisters from sins which are unto death, and to get life from God for them, in this hour o f the world’s direst need. Brethren, God’s voice is sounding in our ears. A holy im pulse to do for the welfare o f the church something beyond what we have ever done, is moving us. Shall we respond ? Brother, do you see the state o f the church? Have you yet one eye open? In 1910, God wakened Thomas E. Stephens, founder of the Great Commission Prayer League. Through this con secrated Christian journalist, the Spirit o f God inaugu rated a pray-for-revival movement. Since Mr. Stephens’ first bulletin in the fall o f 1910, hundreds o f thousands o f people have been stirred to pray for revival. This need stirred him to write for publication short articles which editors were glad to use. He issued monthly bulletins, sometimes sending out over forty thousand copies a month. He never appealed for funds, yet God moved Christians to share in the ministry o f the League, with the unshakable confidence that this ministry was o f the Lord. Thus the Great Commission Prayer League was born o f a Spirit- given passion to see the Christian world shaken from end to end with a great work o f God. A n A wakening in the P ast The revival o f nearly seventy-five years ago followed a great period o f financial depression which turned princes o f wealth into paupers overnight. Mighty fortunes were wrecked as by a tidal wave. Rich men became beggars. Everybody learned the instability o f things. Following this terrible financial crash, men and women turned to God. They became exercised about spiritual matters. Religious conversation supplanted market talk. The secular press also turned to this subject. All ranks and classes o f people were stirred to seek God. A strange fear followed men and women everywhere. A thrill possessed the hearts o f thousands at once. In some towns in New England, there was scarcely one unconverted person. A marvelous spread o f religious-mindedness over the whole land was as general as was the financial disaster before it. The whole move ment was above and beyond every other sponsored by re
vivalists, as a seasonable shower is superior to a watering- can shower. It was acknowledged as a work o f God. It is a work like this, beginning with God’s people, extending throughout the world, as a preparation for the Lord’s re turn, that is wanted everywhere now. Thousands have an intense desire that God may send a revival, like that which came in ’57. Every one o f us ought to pray AND LABOR FOR IT. A T rue R evival I s a W ork of the H oly S pirit The day o f Pentecost witnessed a mighty attending supernatural power when Peter preached— and apostles witnessed to the truth o f the gospel. God did something. Three thousand souls were converted in one day, not in name, but in heart. The Spirit o f God took Peter’s simple preaching and made it as a sword that found its mark, and as a tornado that swept everything before it. The remark able success o f Peter’s ministry cannot be attributed to Peter, or to a society or an evangelistic party or anything o f the sort. Remarkable■ministries o f this kind are all attributable to the Holy Spirit and to no one else. There is certainly no limit to the power of the Holy Spirit. He can bless a sermon to a thousand as easily as to one. God’s power has no limitations restricting it. In [Continued on page 260]
FA ITH ’S SURE REW ARD B y E . M a r g a r e t ^ l a r k s o n “ Launch out into the deep, and let Your nets down to the sea.” It was the Master speaking, by The morning Galilee. “Lord, we have toiled all night,” they said, “And not one fish have w e ; Yet at Thy word, O Lord, will we Return unto the sea.” They turned their boats, and then began Again their nets to take —- And they were filled, and filled again, Till they began to break! “Pray ye,” the Master says today, “Pray for the souls o f men. Pray that their steps may turned be Back to the Way again.” “ Lord, we had prayed so o f t ” we said, “And no results saw we, That we became disheartened, and We’ve prayed less faithfully. Yet at Thy word, our souls, retouched Afresh with living fire, Would turn, encouraged, back to prayer — And souls shall be our hire!”
254
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
July-August, 1934
How God founded a Church at / f l l S S / O A S S B y FRANK A. KELLER* 0 Ay f A j rj Changsha, Hunan, China A ll who read in the March number o f the K ing ' s B usiness the editorial on “ Evangelism in China” will be deeply inter ested in the record o f a truly wonderful work which God Himself recently wrought
sionary, it became possible for the Institute to send Biola Evangelistic Band No. 4 into his large and needy field. And God had been preparing a harvest for the laborers whom He thrust forth. T he V oice About a year ago, a Mr. Chiang Ta Sung, o f the village o f Sha-Tzu-P’ing, was awak ened one night by a voice speaking to him. Mr. Chiang’s wife had been dead for several years, and he was living in a little house with his son as his only companion. His father and mother and brothers and sisters were living in another part o f the village. Mr. Chiang was a confirmed opium-smoker,
for and through Biola Evangelistic Band No. A — the Band to which reference was made in the March editorial. In the province o f Kwangsi near the southern border o f Hunan, nestling among the trees on the mountain side, is the village o f Sha-Tzu-P’ing. Running through the village is a swiftly flowing stream that, be cause o f its many rapids, is not navigable until a point is reached that is more than ten miles downstream from the village. W ithout the G ospel
M r . Y i T so L in Leader o f Biola Band No. 4
one o f the millions o f victims o f China’s curse. That night when he heard the voice speaking to him, he jumped up from his bed and looked around, but could see no person. He continued to hear the voice, however. It was a very dark night, the moon was not shining, and Mr. Chiang had no lamp. He quickly gathered some small branches and kindled a fire, that he might be able to look around the room by the light o f the fire. In spite o f his efforts, he could not find any one, but continued to hear the strange voice. The voice said, “ Why do you not go to the gospel hall and hear the doctrine?” A t that time there was no church at Sha-Tzu-P’ing; the nearest church was Ta-Fou- Tou, the town at the head o f navigation ten miles away; and those ten miles were over the rough and difficult moun tain roads just described. Mr. Chiang replied, “ The church is too far distant from here, and I have no money for traveling.” He heard the voice say, “ When you want to smoke opium, you have money to buy the opium.” In self-justification, Mr. Chiang answered, “ I have a serious illness, and I am therefore compelled to smoke opium.” Quickly came the reply, “ If you will obey me, and from this time will stop your smoking of opium, I will promise you that you will recover from your sickness. Pay special attention to this. That boy who has been sleeping with you has also heard my voice and will bear witness to the promise I have made.” In telling o f the incident later, Mr. Chiang described the circumstances: “ A t that time the boy was sound asleep and had not awakened. Strange to say, although I heard the voice in the room, I was not the least bit frightened because I knew that it was a spirit speaking to m e ; still I did not dare to ask his name.” Mr. Chiang felt confident that a spirit had brought him a message, but up to that time he knew absolutely nothing o f God or of His saving, grace. O bedience , D isobedience , F ailure
Before Band No. 4 went into southwestern Hunan, no missionaries or Chinese evangelists had ever visited Sha- Tzu -P ’ing. This lack o f gospel witnessing was partly be cause the village is far from any main road, hidden away on the mountain side, and extremely difficult to reach on account o f the narrow, steep, and very rocky road that leads to it, and also because o f the impossibility o f reaching the place by boat. Then, too, the scarcity o f workers was another reason why this village had not been visited. This place was like many thousands o f Chinese villages which are still un evangelized. There is no post office at Sha-Tzu-P’ing, and the people have little intercourse with the .outside world. The morals o f the villagers are very bad, and gambling and opium-smoking are sadly common. For several years, a missionary in southwestern Hunan had written each year, begging the Hunan Bible Institute to send an evangelistic band to his large district where there still are vast numbers o f people who have never yet heard the gospel. Last September, to the great joy o f this mis* Superintendent, Hunan Bible Institute, the China department of
the Bible Institute of Los Angeles.
When morning came and the father and son arose, the boy said, “ Father, are you going to smoke opium again today? I exhort you ten thousand times not to do so, for last night I heard everything that man spoke to you.” Mr. Cbiang was amazed beyond measure,
July-August, 1934
255
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
and that morning he did not smoke opium. Ever since the death o f his wife and the sep aration from his own family, he had been smoking opium, until he had been reduced to poverty and was unable to do any work without first smok ing this terrible drug. That morning, he seemed to have new strength. He went out into his field without having smoked and was able to work with ease and comfort. There is an old Chinese proverb that says, “ I f you ad vance a foot, the devil will ad vance ten feet.” About noon that day, there appeared a Mr. Liu, an old friend o f Mr. C h ia n g ’s, w h o had o ft e n smoked opium with him, as is the Chinese social practice. Mr. Liu asked1Mr. Chiang how it was that he was not smoking opium that day. Mr. Chiang replied that he had stopped smoking and would never smoke again. Mr. Liu did not believe him; he said that he was sure Mr. Chiang had bought some crude opium and had prepared it for smoking in his own home. He declared that he was going to spend the afternoon with Mr. Chiang in his home in order to see whether or not his words were true; The two men went to Mr. Chiang’s home, and Mr. Liu
in white, a man who clearly said to him that he should go to the gospel hall at Ta-Fou- Tou, ten miles away, that there he should worship God, and that he would be given strength to break away from his opium. From that time, Mr. Chiang believed and obeyed. He went to the gospel hall, heard the Word, and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ. He repeatedly walked the more than ten miles to Ta-Fou-Tou to a ttend church and worship God. God not only saved his soul, but also delivered him from his opium bondage, and enabled him to make steady progress in his Christian life and experience. Before many m on th s had passed, Mr. Chiang had led his father, his mother, his brother, his brother’s wife, and other relatives—more than ten in all — to a real faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus God in His grace and wisdom prepared this place for the coming o f the Biola evangelistic band. When the men reached Sha-Tzu-P’ing, they received a hearty welcome from Mr. Chiang and his fam ily and from other villagers who had learned o f Mr. Chiang’s ■remarkable experi ence. The hearts o f the peo ple had been prepared by the Holy Spirit for a glad recep tion o f the message o f the gos
T HE Lord sometimes works in strange and striking ways to open doors in heathendom. He works in new territory in a manner that He does not in gospel-hardened countries. Dr. Keller's account of Mr. Chiang's experience, startling though it may appear, is not unlike the reports given by numerous other missionaries. Like the vision of Cornelius, such remarkable instances of the Lord's dealing in unevangelized districts always fall short of the revelation necessary for sal vation. In His mercy, the Lord sometimes uses unusual means to bring hungry hearts within hearing of the preached Word. But the work of grace was completed only as faithful witnesses were ready to give forth the gospel— the "words whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved" (Acts 11:14). The work of the Hunan Bible Institute has eight major branches: evangelism, boat work, Biola bands, day school, summer school, newspaper evangelism, correspondence courses, and poster and tract distribution. The Biola evangelistic bands are perhaps the best-known feature of the work. These groups of about seven members locate in some center, often at the invitation of a mission society, and go out two by two in every direction for about five miles, aiming to give the gospel in every home. Bible classes for further teaching are often organ ized. Dr. Keller writes: "W e have urgent invitations from various missions for nineteen student evangelistic bands for the summer vacation. . . . Humanly speaking, we will not be able to send out more than eight or ten of the nineteen bands requested." Let us remember prayerfully this China depart ment of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles.' "Pray ye."
soon began to smoke some opium that he had already pre pared. He then urged Mr. Chiang to join him. When Mr. Chiang refused, Mr. Liu continued to coax him until at last Mr. Chiang yielded and smoked with him. At once all the joy left his heart, and his body trembled as i f he were drunk. Soon he realized that the disease which had troubled him so long had returned. His son then said to him, “ You should not have disobeyed the voice o f that spirit.” Mr. Chiang’s own conscience also upbraided him, and he real ized that he had sinned. He therefore quickly bought some incense and colored candles to burn in sacrifice to the gods. T o use the words o f the writer o f the report, “ The Lord Jesus does not care for the burning o f incense and colored candles, and strange to say, no sooner had Mr. Chiang lighted the in cense and the candles, than-the flames went out. He tried over and over again with no success.” But although Mr. Chiang had yielded to temptation and had disobeyed the voice, God was still merciful to him and had compassion on his ignorance and on his darkened heart. God gra ciously relieved Mr. Chiang o f his illness, al though the man did not yet have the strength to resist the devil’s temptation to smoke opium. O bedience and B lessing Some time later, a voice again spoke to Mr. Chiang, this time in a dream. He saw, clothed
pel which the evangelists eagerly and hopefully preached to them. In a short time, nearly forty others had accepted Jesus Christ as their Saviour. And before the evangelists left that place, a church had been established with over fifty charter members. That new little church needs prayer.
W itnessing with G ospel P osters
July - August, 1934
256
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
Our QUAKING Earth B y L 0U IS S- SAUMAN*
C jtn fT T M t C 'C P ty
Long Beach, California
Christ: “ Thus saith the Lord o f hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; and I will shake all nations, and the Desire o f all nations shall come.” And the inspired writer o f nearly six hundred years later, commented thus on this passage: “ And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing o f those things that are shaken, as o f things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken
When Men Groan, Nature Groans v ^ T o one who reads the newspapers can fail to be im- JM\| pressed with the terrible seismic catastrophes which nave overtaken the earth during the past fifteen years. Hardly a week passes without a press dispatch from Occi dent or Orient telling o f nature in convulsion, taking a ghastly toll o f life and property. Apparently it is true that
may remain” (Heb. 12:27) ; and then proceeds to inform us that the removal o f things that can be shaken means the coming o f “a kingdom which cannot be moved” (Heb. 12:28). Lord God o f the heavens, let Thy kingdom come! E arthquake A ccompanied P re -A damic J udgment It seems ordained o f God that vast convulsions in nature shall shake men out o f their lethargy (if that shall be possible) and warn them o f the removal o f their worn-out cosmos. Probably most o f those who read these words are familiar with the fact (o f which even the wisest worldlings are woefully ignorant) that God did not create this earth “without form, and void” (Gen. 1 :2 ). “ He created it not in vain” [i.e., not a waste], but “ he formed it to be inhabited” (Isa. 45 :18 ). It was nothing less than a fearful pre- Adamic judgment that sent a pre- Adamic race o f beings to their doom, and called for the Spirit of
in proportion as sin plays havoc in human life, it plays havoc in _.natureT) When our first parents ^ sinned^ not only was there catas- trophe in the moral and spiritual realm, but there was also catastro phe in nature. No sooner did Mother Eve bite into the forbid den fruit, than the animals of the earth began to scowl and growl at each other, and, tearing at each other’s throats, developed their appetite for flesh and their thirst for blood. Immediately, thorns and thistles leaped forth from the ground. And from that day on ward, the whole creation began to groan in travail, and it continues in pain until now (Rom . 8 :22 ). Nature is but a reflex o f the world o f men. Disorder has affected all nature, so that confusion is every where. A careful study o f the passing o f past dispensations can only give to one the conviction that God has ordained that the nightfall o f each dispensation is to be accompanied by celestial and terrestrial convul
9 FIVE hundred boys and girls were assembled in the auditorium of this junior high school in Southern Cali fornia on the afternoon of March 10, 1933. The director of the program, a woman from the East, said she "had a feeling that a storm was coming"— although there was nothing really unusual in the atmosphere. Much against the wishes of the pupils, the instructor dismissed the group slightly earlier than had been planned, feeling that she must start the children homeward. Ten minutes after they had left the building, an earthquake occur red, the seriousness of which may be judged by the ac companying photograph. To some grateful parents, the safety of their children was merely a matter of good fortune. But to others, the shielding of their boys and girls from impending danger was evidence of the mercy and grace of a loving heavenly Father, to whom they offered praise, rejoicing that "his compassions fail not."
God to move upon the face o f the waters (Gen. 1 :2) in re-creation. It was back upon this scene that the seer looked, when he exclaimed: “ I beheld the earth, and, .lo, it was without form,, and vo id ; and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they, trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds o f the heavens were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence o f the Lord, and by his fierce anger” ( Jer. 4 :23-26). If, as we believe, all this refers to a great pre-Adamic judgment, then that judgment was accompanied by tremen dous convulsions in the heavens and in the earth. The shaking signified the removal o f the dominion o f the pre- Adamites, that the dominion o f the Man — a dominion that “ cannot be moved”—might come. How hard Satan has tried to remove the dominion o f the Man, through,sin and rebellion, but there is a cross in the way, and that cross, thank God, frustrates all his efforts! E arthquake A ccompanied the J udgment of the A ntediluvians The devices o f Satan upon the Adamic race were such that there came a time when again “ God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had cor-
sions. What more effective way can the Almighty have for declaring His anger and causing men to think upon their- ways? “ Then the earth shook and trembled; the founda tions o f heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth” ( 2 Sam. 2 2 :8 ). Aga in : “ Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out o f her place, in the wrath o f the Lord o f hosts, and in the day o f his fierce anger” (Isa. 13:13). I ncreasing T errestrial C onvulsions —A S ign For several years, we have been impressed, not only with the ever-increasing number o f earthquakes, but also with the intensity o f them. Doubtless there are scientific explanations, and we respect them. But, scorn the idea as worldly-wise men may, we still believe that there is a God in the heavens who holds all power in His hands, whose voice can shake the earth (Heb. 12 :26), and who can com mand the time o f its shaking to suit His eternal purposes. fWe doubt not but that the multiplication o f earthquakes is one o f the most outstanding signs o f the end o f Gentile dominion, and the coming o f the unmovable kingdom o f our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christj-Jt was written by the prophet Haggai ( 2 :6-9) over fiW hundred years before
*Pastor. First Brethren Church.
July-August, 1934
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
257
rupted his way upon the earth” ; and God was compelled to say unto N oah : “ The end o f all flesh is come before me” (Gen. 6 :12, 13). Therefore, “ In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains o f the great deep broken up, and the windows o f heaven were opened” (Gen. 7 :11 ). What mean those words, save that a mighty seismic upheaval lifted the bottoms of the seas so that the waters were hurled in mighty tidal waves out over all the land, an inundation which, together with a torrential downpour for forty days and forty nights, swept man from the earth! But when all was over, behold, God had pre served a seed! Man was still on the earth, and Man had dominion (Gen. 9:1, 2 ). O ther J udgments A ccompanied by E arthquake As the years passed by, Satan, by continuing his de vices for the overthrow o f Man’s dominion o f the earth, brought forth a time when the highest glory of man’s civili zation, even Sodom and Gomorrah, fell under the wrath of the Holy God, who determined their removal. Once again the earth shook, and mighty convulsions in nature took place. That great and godly
E arthquakes W ill A ccompany F uture J udgments As in the past, so the revelation o f God declares it will be in the future: Divine judgments are to be preceded or accompanied by convulsions in. nature, especially earth quakes. When God’s two last messengers to men in this age are slain and their dead bodies defiled, judgment will fall, and there will be a great earthquake in Jerusalem. Men will be “ affrighted” and seven thousand will be slain. Thereupon, “ the seventh angel” shall sound, and all heaven shall proclaim that now “ the kingdoms o f this world are become the kingdoms o f our Lord, and o f his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever” (Rev. 11 :3-15). When, with the breaking o f the sixth seal, the seer o f Patmos, looking ahead, beheld man’s day pass and “ the great day o f his wrath . . . come” (Rev. 6 :1 7 ), the seer cried : “ I beheld . . . and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth o f hair, and the moon became as b lood ; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth . . . And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled to gether ; and every mountain and island were moved out o f their places.” And the mighty men o f earth cried “ to the
the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide u s!” (Rev. 6:12 -17 ). The scene closes with Omnipotence convulsing the earth by the arm o f His might, for a new day has come! Like wise, as he beheld the sev enth seal break, the seer of Patmos saw the seven an gels which had the seven trumpets, prepare them selves to sound, and warn ing came to man through “ voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake” (Rev. 8 :1 -6 ). When, in the course of the stupendous events he was witnessing, the seer saw “ the temple o f God . . . opened in heaven,” in that
archaeologist, the late Mel vin Grove Kyle, says in his book, The Deciding Voice o f the Monuments, p. 67: The geological theory of the destruction o f the cities of the Plain has also been very exactly con firmed by the examination of the strata. Professor Emerson, one o f our most eminent geologists, de scribes the region about the Dead Sea as one “ where sulphur, deposited by many hot springs, is abundant in the clay, and where bituman oozes from every crevice o f the rock, and every earthquake dis lodges great sheets of it from the bottom o f the lake.” A bituminous re
U N S H A K E N ?
gion, a great stratum of rock salt capped by sulphur-bear ing marls and conglomerates cemented by bitumen, an ex plosion of pent-up gases, which collect in such geological formations, blowing the burning sulphur high into the air, and the waters o f the Jordan coming down and dissolving the ruptured rock-salt stratum—all this provides for exact ly what the Bible describes and for the conditions found there today; the pillar o f smoke rising up to heaven, the rain o f fire and brimstone falling back from the blowing- off crater, and the catching o f Lot’s wife in the cataclysm and her incrustation with salt. Professor Emerson says it was a “ sinking of the ground, at the time when geology and history join, which, with its earthquakes, overthrew the cities of the Plain and caused the outpour o f petroleum from the many fault-fissures and the escape of great vol umes o f sulphurous and gaseous emanation, which, ignited either spontaneously, by lightning, or by chance, furnished the brimstone and fire from heaven, and the smoke o f the land going up as the smoke o f a furnace which Abraham saw from the plains of Judea.” And once again, there came a day when “ the dayspring from on high . . . visited us” (Lk. 1 :78 ), only to find that man had fallen so low in his iniquities that he deliberately spit into the face o f Omnipotence incarnate! With that insult, God ordered the curtain to fall on the age. Then “ the earth did quake, and the rocks rent” (Matt. 27:51) until the graves o f men were torn open (v. 52), and seismic terrors caused even the unregenerate Roman crucifier to cry out in terror: " Truly this was the Son o f God” (v. 54).
temple was seen “ the ark o f his covenant” (R . V .)— the ark that ever was seen and only seen when God walked with Israel. The bringing forth o f this ark now can only mean that the sun o f the Gentiles has set, and that God will again show forth His mighty wonders and salva tion through Israel. The setting o f the one sun and the rising o f the other was accompanied by “ lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail” (Rev. 11:19). And when, in the vision, the utter end o f the age came, and the moment arrived for the heavens to open and for the Conqueror on His great white horse to ride forth with His armies to Armageddon (Rev. 19:11-21)— in that moment “ there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great . . . . and the cities o f the nations fe ll: . . . . And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found” (Rev. 1 6 :17-20). The utter removal o f man’s mis erable cosmos is to be brought about by earthquake. Isaiah, eight and a half centuries before the seer o f Patmos wrote, gave a vivid description o f these same stupendous events: “ Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear o f the Lord, and for the glory o f his majesty . . . . the loftiness o f man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness o f men shall be made low ; and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day . . . . And they shall go into the holes
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52Made with FlippingBook HTML5