l i f S S
Lighting The World-House By ROBERT G . LEE I saw God light this big world-house last night W ith planet lamps and star flambeaus on high, For where deep darkness dwelt in depth and height He swung His net of stars across the sky. The moon, a monstrous yellow cameo, I saw him pin upon the sky's full breast, While close around white stars were all aglow Like strings of pearls against black velvet pressed. Red comets fled adown the dome's steep place Where once the stars fought Sisera of old; From hand of Him who hangs the earth in space They fell, like jewels down stair ways of gold. Sw ift meteors ablaze sped on their way, Archangels they, it seemed, full clothed in flame, Commanded by the Light of light, today And yesterday, forevermore the same. I saw the moon like a huge jonquil bloom W ithin the spacious garden of the stars, While like tall tapers in cathedral gloom Blazed forth full strong Orion's gleaming bars. The slender tops of ancient tall pine trees Stood on hill rims me and the moon between; And while His glory flamed in Pleiades, These tossed like purple plumes 'gainst silver screen. I saw God light this big world-house last night W ith stars like burning coals on hearthstones green; I would that me He had made in His sight, As starlight sweet, as moonbeams white— so clean.
The Bible Family Magazine
June
1 9 :
Fifteen cents a copy, $1.50 a year in U. S.
R ead Carefully the Following Facts
about
Bob Jones College Cleveland, Tennessee
Located in the beautiful Tennessee Valley of the South Interdenominational. . . Co-educational . . . Orthodox . . . Christian
Students come from the best homes in practically every state in the Union and a number of foreign countries. Enrollment increased four hundred per cent in ten years. Specializes in personal attention. Engaged in training orthodox Christian leaders: lawyers, physicians, teach ers, preachers, business men, business women, etc. A wide variety of courses offered includes four-year college course, four-year high school course, four-year secondary teachers course, two-year elementary teach ers course, one-year business and secretarial courses. Credits accepted by leading colleges and universities everywhere. More than forty per cent of the Bob Jones College graduates have attended graduate schools and have uniformly "made good."
In addition to educational opportunities and unex celled spiritual advantages, the college provides an ideal social life. Attendance is strictly limited to carefully selected students. Alumni are outstanding Christians, all of whom have good positions and are leaders in their profession or business. Parents can sleep at night in peace knowing their sons and daughters are safe physically, mentally, and spirit ually. Four hundred thirty-two dollars and fifty cents ($432.50) pays for room, board, tuition, and fees for the nine months. Payments may be made by the month, if desired.
Offers violin, voice, piano, speech, pipe organ— all taught by well-trained teachers— without additional cost
If you are interested in a college with high educational standards which is at the same time an institution putting God first, write for a catalogue and other literature. Address: Dr. Bob Jones, Jr., Acting President, Bob Jones College, Cleveland, Tenn.
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The Dawn of a Deeper Devotional Life
Awaits You At the Fourth Annual Summer Bible Conference o f the BIBLE INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGELES AND THE CHURCH OF THE OPEN DOOR at the Beautiful Pacific Palisades August 27 through September 5, 1938 Jesus Christ, who is all and in all, will be revealed in messages of new freshness, enthusiasm, and beauty for all who attend this conference. Conference Leaders Include:
T. Leonard Lewis, Pastor, Gospel Tabernacle, Oak Park, 111., is a young and dynamic evangelist and Bible teach er who will be present throughout the conference and will be available for interviews on perplexing Bible pas sages and personal problems.
Harris H. Gregg of New York, a veteran defender of the faith and internationally known Bible conference teacher. He comes with a vigorous message and a wealth of rich experiences through personal association in for
mer years with C. I. Scofield, James M. Gray, R. A. Torrey, A. C. Dixon, and other great men of God of the preceding generation.
Louis T. Talbot, Vice-President of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles and Pastor of the Church of the Open Door. Keith L. Brooks, Editor of Prophecy magazine and an authority on cur rent events in the light of Scripture. Harold Alexander, popular evangel istic singer, will be in charge of the music for the conference.
Paul W. Rood, President of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles.
John A. Hubbard, instructor at Biola and experienced Bible conference speaker.
Paul W . Rood
Louis T. Talbot
The effort is being made to provide the very most for the very least for the entire family. Ample children’s and young people’s programs will be carried on throughout the entire conference period. An ideal way to spend a worth-while vacation.
The conference grounds at the Pacific Palisades are in a canyon near the sea, twenty miles from the heart o f Los Angeles. A Tent House at the Pacific Palisades consists o f board floors, four-foot board sides, and a canvas top and is equipped with kitchenette with complete cooking and eating utensils. Rates include light, water, gas, blankets, linen and housekeeping equipment. A ten-day vaca tion for two people in one of these Tent Houses costs $13.00; for
three people, $16.00 ; and for four people, $20.50. More elaborate accommodations, including Casitas, Green Cottages, and New Type Cabins, may be had at slightly higher prices. Guests may take their meals at the cafe on the conference grounds, if they so desire. For those who care to do their own cooking, food ^may be purchased at reasonable prices from stores within walking distance o f the conference grounds.
For further information write to : T H E B I B L E I N S T I T U T E O F L O S A N G E L E S , I N C O R P O R A T E D Extension Department 5 5 8 So. Hope St. Los Angeles, Calif.
John A. Hubbard
Harold Alexander
Keith L. Brooks
June, 1938
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S pecial N otice o f Change o f Frequency o f Publication o f “ The King ’s Business” No issue of T h e K in g ’ s B u s in e s s will appear during the' months of July and August, 1938. T h e K in g ’ s B u s in e s s has decided to re-enter its publication under the provisions of Section 524, of the Postal Laws and Regulations of the United States Government, Edition of 1932, as follows: 2. Publications of colleges and schools, otherwise admissible as second-class matter,, shall not lose such privileges by suspension of issue during vacation. Publications which regularly omit certain issues or suspend issuance during certain periods shall show that fact in connection with the statement of the frequency of issue, as, for ex ample, “ Monthly except July and August,” “ Monthly during school or college year,” This step has been under consideration for some time, as very many edu cational institutions follow this practice. By extension of all existing paid subscriptions, no loss is entailed for any subscriber. Until further notice, T h e K in g ’ s B u s in e s s will be published on a ten- months’ schedule, that is, each month of the year excepting July and Au gust, at an annual subscription rate of $1.25, which is a reduction from the present annual subscription price of $1.50. All existing paid subscriptions purchased on the twelve-months’ basis will be automatically extended two months from the date of their expiration. THE KING’S BUSINESS 558 SOUTH HOPE STREET LOS ANGELES , CALIF . or “Weekly during school year except holiday or examination periods.” Our next edition will be published as of September, 1938.
June, 1938
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“ Next Fall May Be Too Late!” • In the welter of a world gone mad, of nation rising against na tion, of the terror that stalks in the night, of the arrow that flieth by day, of pestilence, of destruction, of the elements in commotion, is there not a warning in the stark realism of these few sentences taken from a letter recently sent us: “I was going to send the money this fall; but the Lord said, Send it now; next fall may be too late. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if He came this Feast of the Trumpets, the in gathering of the Harvest! God does all things in order.” • And here is something for the earnest child of God to think about. What and if He should come at the time of the blowing of trum pets on the first day of the Month Tishri ? What and if you were then suddenly caught up to be with Him? Do you not think it would please Him wonderfully that you should now have your part in a testimony that warns Israel of the wrath to come? And do you know a better way to please Him than to snatch a few brands from the burn ing, a few1Jewish souls that will be your trophies when at last you lay your burden down and meet Him face to face? • The time is short. That is why we keep reminding you of the privilege of sharing with Him in His yearning over the lost sheep of the House of Israel; and that is why so_ many of the Lord’s choicest saints are counting it a joy to fellowship with us in our God-given task of these last days. Perhaps if you will make it a mat ter of earnest prayer, He will lead you also to become a burden bearer with us; and from experience we can assure you it will be a happy day for you. AMERICAN BOARD OF MISSIONS TO THE JEWS. INC. 31 Throop Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y . Dear Friends: Gladly do I enclose $................................my ?ift for Israel's salvation, “ before it is too late."
She!BibleTamii#Tta#^!ne M otto: "Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.” — R ev . 1:5.
Volume XXIX
June, 1938
Number 6
School Number TABLE OF CONTENTS ♦ Cover Illustration by Ransom D. Marvin
Around the King’s Table— Paul W . Rood . . . . The Yellow Thorns of the Orient— George Dewey Blomgren . Our Ministry in the Light of His Ministry— ¿//wa / . McClain . 238 You Be the Doctor— Walter Lewis Wilson, M . D ............................240 “ From a Child . . . ” 242 1st Century Gospel— 20th Century Illustration.....................................243 The Bible Institute Family C i r c l e ...........................................................245 Junior King’s Business— Martha S. H o o k e r .....................................247 International Lesson C omm en ta ry...........................................................249 Notes on Christian Endeavor —Mary G. Goodner . . . . 262 Daily Devotional R e a d i n g s .................................................................. 266 Girls’ Query Corner— Myrtle E. S c o t t ................................................... 272 Facts About S c h o o l s ................................................................................. 274 Evangelistic N o t i c e s ................................................................................. 278 World’s Christian Fundamentals A s s o c ia t io n .....................................278 . . 236 237
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SUBSCRIPTION RATES THE KING’S BUSINESS is pub lished monthly except July and August at the rates below, payable in advance, for either old or new subscribers, in the United States or its possessions. These rates include postage. $1.25—For,one or two subscriptions, $1.25 each per year. One two-year subscription, $2.00. $ -75—For one six-months’ sub scription; 25 cents for one trial sub scription for three months; 15 cents for a single copy. ALL-YEAR-ROUND CLUB OFFERS _$ .75—For three to nine subscrip tions, either to separate addresses or in a package to one address, 75 cents each per year. $ .70—For ten subscriptions, either to separate addresses or in a package to one address, 70 cents each per year.
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June, 1938
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Table
Around the King's By PAUL W. ROOD
God help us all to live as if this were our last year upon earth!
or visit her to explain out of the W ord of God and personal, actual experience— that only Christ can give true satisfaction and happiness both in this life and in the life to come ? May we all pray that this doomed soul may hear the gospel with understand ing and may accept Christ before the year is over. There are many who share the views of this young woman, and there are many more who live as if this life were all. The Lord Jesus Christ had people of this opinion in mind when He told the parable of the rich landowner who said to himself: “ Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry” (Lk. 12:19). After quoting this rich man, Christ tells us what God said to him: “ Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee.” In this con nection we remember the solemn words of Hebrews 9 :27: “ It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.’*; What would you do if you had only one year to live? First of all, it would be imperative for you to ascertain that you were prepared to meet God. You would need to examine yourself to find out whether you were truly saved. There are many who are self-deceived. They are trusting in human philosophy, church membership, ordinances, or mere orthodox mews. These deluded ones will find eventually that they are building on sand and that utter ruin is their only prospect. W e cannot afford to make a mistake about our eternal welfare; we must have a Scriptural basis for sal vation and a Scriptural experience of re- . generation. Christian, what if there is only one year left of your life? You certainly will not choose to live for your own enjoyment. You realize that the purpose of life is to glorify God and to serve men for His sake. Only those who are seeking to exalt Christ and to live for others can be truly happy. We must not be self-centered. “ For to me to live is Christ,” said Paul. By the grace of God, let this be our life purpose. If you have only one year to live, prayer and Bible study will have a prominent place in your life during the next twelve months. You will want to live in unbroken fellow ship with the Lord, and you will desire to grow in grace. The passion of your life will be to help other Christians and to win the unsaved for Christ. You will be kind and considerate to those who are about you, and you will be Christlike in all your relationships. One year to live! Certainly that is true of some one who is reading these lines. It may be true o f many of us. If Christ comes for His church within a year, every Christian will be removed from this world.
Commencement at Biola As commencement week approaches, it is with thankfulness to God that we look back upon the past school year in the Bible Institute of Los Angeles. A wonderful school spirit has been developed— a spirit that reflects the zest the students find in the fellowship of training for the service of Christ. They have been working on such projects as a school paper and a year book, and much initiative and enthusiasm have been revealed. The annual banquet of the Student Missionary Union was far more like a revival meeting than a social ban quet. Days and nights of prayer as well as regular prayer meetings have been sup ported whole-heartedly by the students. These young people have revealed also an unusual sacrificial spirit in their giving to Biola. The men’s and women’s choruses have had successful tours, and pastors have written most enthusiastically about the spiritual influence as well as the musical ability of these student groups. Among the events of commencement week which are of special interest to the general public are the baccalaureate service on Sunday evening, June 5, and the commence ment exercises on Thursday evening, June 9. Henry E. Burke, pastor of the Melrose Baptist Church in Oakland, Calif., will preach the baccalaureate sermon, and How ard Fagan, minister of the Wilshire Chris tian Church of Los Angelas, Calif., will give the commencement address. Both of these men are stanch evangelicals and able preachers, and they will give challenging messages. The Bible Institute of Los An geles cordially invites its friends to join in the services of the coming commencement season. One Year to Live An anonymous writer in a well-known secular magazine relates her reaction to her doctor’s declaration that she, a young wom an of thirty-five, has but one year to live. Surprisingly enough, she has found relief in the doctor’s dictum. Formerly she was dominated by fear of the future. Now this fear is gone because there is to be no future. From now on she is going to live for today. T o her, the purpose of life is enjoyment. She sums up her philosophy in the sentence: “ T o be completely happy, a person must abandon himself absolutely, unrestrainedly, to enjoyment.” Evidently the writer of that article is a materialist. Like the Sadducees of our Lord’s time, she is a nonbeliever in the res urrection. She does not seem to be concerned about eternity. Christians reading the ar ticle will wish that the writer had not remained anonymous. Is there not some one that can ascertain her name and can write
The Wrecking Crew Tw o classes of people manifest themselves in almost every church. Some are construe1 tive and others are destructive. Some are positive and others are negative. And what a difference their attitudes make in the work of Christ! The immediate occasion of this homily is the following which has just come to my attention: “ A good thing to remember And a better thing to do, Is to work with the construction gang And not the wrecking crew.” The wrecking crew is usually present in church business meetings. If a proposal is made by the board or by an individual, the members o f the wrecking crew are on their feet to oppose the measure. They never analyze a proposition constructively, but simply assume that the plan is to be resisted. They are “born in the objective case and kickative mpod.” They are like the deaf brother who used to cup his ear in a busi ness meeting and call out, “ I didn’t hear what the brother said, but I’m against it.” In fact, they remind one most keenly of Deacon Jones on the occasion when his fellow deacons visited him and remon strated with him because of his stubborn ness. A t last the senior deacon suggested that they all kneel in prayer. The brother who led prayed as follows: “ Oh, God, take the stubbornness out of Deacon Jones or take him home to heaven.” “ I won’t g o !” cried Jones as he pounded the chair with his fist. T o be sure, there are times in which we must oppose propositions and resist indi viduals on Scriptural grounds, but there is no necessity for opposing everything and resisting everybody. Why is it that it is almost impossible to secure a hundred per cent affirmative vote on a church building program? While it is true that occasionally a ■church launches out on an unnecessary or too ambitious building project, it is also true that occa sionally a church has to build or remodel in order to do effective work. The major ity of the members may have vision enough to realize the need, but one obstructionist can carry on a program of agitation that makes it needful either to give up the project or to wage a battle that should be unnecessary. The wrecking crew sometimes engages in propaganda to destroy the morale and eventually the usefulness of a Christian leader. Instead of considering the welfare [Continued on Page 277]
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Right: J a p a n e s e marines in C h in a . Below: Japanese war tank in military drill, shown at the crest of a steep incline.
Photos courtesy of the Los Angeles Examiner
The Yellow Thorns of the Orient
By GEORGE DEWEY BLOMGREN* Chicago, Illinois
W AR, famine, earthquakes, floods, pestilences— all in one year—have afflicted China. Japan’s successful aggression in large areas of China brings her forth as a forest of yellow thorns, in which forest poor subdued Chinese are being forced to roam. However, the evil now going forth in the world with lightning rapidity was long ago unveiled in the Book of books. Jeremiah prophesied: “ Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation” (Jer. 25:32). It cer tainly does not take much of an observer to see that evil ^its enthroned in most nations of the world today. Japan at present is one of the foremost leaders in creating the dis tress and disturbance that cause world leaders to look with fear and trembling “ after those things which are coming on the earth” (Lk. 21:26). Our Failure to Evangelize Japan For the most part, evil rather than good has gone forth from Western nations to the Orient. The church of Jesus Christ was given a commission by our Lord nineteen hundred years ago to “ go . . . and teach all nations . . . to observe all things whatso ever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you . . .” (Matt. 28:19, 20). “ Go” was our commission. “ Lo, I am with you” was our provision. This commission has been neglected. Instead, in spite of un paralleled opportunities for entering foreign lands, Christendom has busied itself of late in preaching a social gospel. The cry has been “ Education-education!” Jesus Christ *Evangelist, author, and foreign-news correspondent.
emphasized “ Regeneration!” For years men have proclaimed reformation when our Lord taught transformation. Indeed, transforma tion by regeneration is the only message for this sin-cursed, sin-damned world in this hour. Failure, I say again, to have promul gated that message in all its fullness in Japan has allowed a forest of yellow thorns to flourish in the Orient. Japan practically can be called our prod uct. If, and when, there may be a shift of world supremacy from the Caucasian to the Mongolian peoples, the white race will find at least one explanation. That reason is that we exported our products, ideas, and educa tion to the Orient before we brought them the gospel of regeneration. The United States rejoiced in the early days of the “ open door” to Japan. When we saw our ships sail for the East loaded with cargo for the open and profitable East ern markets, we failed to comprehend the fact that those same ships carried something besides our products. They were carrying valuable designs and ideas, not alone good ideas but impressions and suggestions of different kinds as well. Within a few years, Japan had planted those new Western ideas and designs in fertile soil. Thus grew the banking systems, schools, railways, public utilities, armies, and a powerful navy. Japan rose high and grew powerful among the nations. Japan's Inability to Help China in Religion But what will Japan give to the nations of the Orient if she gains the leadership she seeks? W ill it continue to be that “ evil [ Continued on Page 276]
DR. BAUMAN’ S COMMENT Thrice blind is the man who does not see that the steel-clad nations of the earth are marching under the banners of all that is anti-Christ in this world of men— on a march that cannot possibly end otherwhere than in “ the valley of Jehoshaphat” (Joel 3:2 ) — Armaged don! Mr. Blomgren has written of Japan. But the spirits of warlike lust that possess Japan are not unlike the spirits that are ascendant in nearly all the other nations of the earth— all are but the seven spirits of the field marshal of hell who “ shall prosper till the indig nation be accomplished” (Dan. 11:36) when vast armies will indeed ride to death by gathering “ together to make war against him [Christ] that sat on the horse, and against his army” (Rev. 19:19). Japan and all the other nations are in the predicted “ distress of nations” from which there will be “ no way out” (Lk. 21:25). (The Greek word trans lated “ perplexity” means just that— “ no way out.” ) The United States plans to borrow and to spend her way out. In her rearmament program, however, she is giving strong indication that she, too, will join the nations on the mili taristic pathway to peace! What dupes of Satan the nations are! That pathway leads to Armageddon and nowhere else. But the prophetic seers of the God of Israel have revealed to us the day after Armageddon, and we are not dismayed. We look with confidence for the day in which “ the Sun of righteousness [shall] arise with healing in his wings” (Mai. 4:2). — LOUIS S. BAUMAN
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m O u r Ministry in the Light of
„„
U / m ^ 6 c < w v “As thou hast sent me into the 'world, even so have I also sent them into the world” (John 17:18). O UR text is a sentence from that matchless prayer uttered by our Lord as He stood within the falling shadows of the cross. About Him were gathered a little group of men who had been chosen to be the first heralds of re demption to a lost and hostile world. Con cerning them, not for the world, He prays, saying to the Father: “ As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.” A t first thought it would seem a daring and presumptuous thing for us to attempt any comparison whatever between the min istry of mortal man and the glorious minis try of the Son of God. Yet it is clear that our text invites us to draw this very com parison. “As thou hast sent me,” He says, “ even so have I also sent them.” The true servant of the Lord indeed may find in the lives of the church’s illustrious preachers much that is worthy of emulation, but in the last analysis our ministry is not to find its perfect model in Moody, or Spurgeon, or Wesley, or Luther, or Chrysos tom, nor even in Paul. The flawless Proto type and Example of ministry is found in the glorious ministry of Him who “came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Upon the authority of His own words, ut tered in this great High-Priestly prayer, I declare to you that there is a genuine re semblance between our ministry and the ministry of our blessed Lord. Certainly, there is a limit beyond which we may not press this resemblance without uttering blasphemy. He is G od; we are men. He was sinless; we are sinful. He alone, with no help of man, could pay the ransom price in death for the souls of men. Neverthe less, it is true that in His ministry we are invited to discover certain elements of that ministry into which God is calling men to day. As it was with Jesus Christ whom [This message by the present President of Grace Theological Seminary, Akron, Ohio, was delivered during a commence ment season at Biola and is brought to K ing ’ s B usiness readers in this special school number as setting forth the ministry and message to which the Lord is calling Christian students in America .— E ditor .]
the Father sent into the world, even so it must be with those whom Jesus Christ sends into the world. And how was it with Him? Out of the richness of His ministry it is not easy to select, but shall we not consider the following six facts? I. The Lord Jesus Christ Was "Sent" of God into the World. W e are fully aware that He came into the world voluntarily. I know there was no hard and immutable decree which com pelled Him to enter upon His earthly min istry. I know that He “ emptied himself,” that He “ humbled himself.” For all of this and for His sublime “ voluntariness” we thank God. But we also know that our Lord was sent into the world, sent of the Father. He was not one of those prophets who “ went” but were not “ sent,” concern ing whom God speaks in Jeremiah, saying: “ I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied” — self-appointed, self-ordained, and self-accredited prophets. Christ laid great emphasis upon this fact that He was sent. In the face of His deadly enemies, He lays down His tremendous claim: “ I . . . came forth from God” ; and then quickly He adds: “ Neither came I of my self, but he sent me.” In the Gospel of John, no less than forty-three times our Lord declares that He is sent of God. The first appears in John 3:17. The last is found in 20:21. In His great High-Priestly prayer the claim is made no less than six times (vs. 3, 8, 18, 21, 23, 25). Can we be wrong therefore in saying that herein lies the initial test of the true Chris tian minister: Is he sent of G od? It is not enough that men should go; they must also be sent! From the churches, the home field, and the foreign fields, the cry goes forth asking for volunteers— for men and women who ate intelligent, who possess ability, who are trained, who know the Word, and who are willing to make sacrifices. Surely, these are important qualifications, but a ■ young man or young woman may possess all of these qualities and still fail if that one is not sent of God. There is nothing quite so important to the laborer or worker, as being sent of God. When our Lord looked upon the vast multi tudes of the unsaved and was moved with compassion because they were as sheep not having a shepherd, did He say, “Pray ye
therefore the Lord of the harvest that laborers may go forth into His harvest” ? No! He said: “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth la borers.” When, in the year that King Uzziah died, the prophet Isaiah saw his astounding vision of Jehovah, you will re member that he heard a voice. And that voice asked of the prophet two questions— “Whom shall I send?” and “Who will go for us?” Have you ever noticed how un erringly the prophet chooses between these two questions? He does not say, “ Here am I ; I will g o ” but “ Here am I ; send me.” Isaiah was willing to go, but he wanted to be sent. He recognized the tragic possi bility that men might go, and not be sent. God give us a ministry of sent men! Give us more men borne down with an over whelming conviction that God has sent them to preach His Son I The church does not need more “ I will go” ministers and missionaries; it needs more ministers and missionaries who are sent of God! II. The Entrance of Jesus Christ Into His Earthly Ministry Involved Great Personal Sacrifice. “ Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” I wish to fasten forever in your minds two phrases from this scripture: “ He was rich.” “ He became poor.” I shall not pause to speak of His riches, riches that are unspeakable and full o f glory! But that you may somehow real ize the enormity of His personal sacrifice, let us bring together in sharp contrast two of our Lord’s utterances: A t one time we hear Him speaking of “the glory” which He had with the Father “ before the world was.” A t another time we hear Him say: “ The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” It cost the Son of God something to take up His ministry on earth for us. There are times when the pomp and glory of this world, its riches, advantages, and rewards, enter our hearts and steal away our vision. It is then that we begin to talk about the great sacrifices we are making in order to become ministers of the Lord Jesus Christ. A t such a time, may God make us to remember that “ He was rich, yet . . . he became poor.” Certainly, I would not seek to dismiss lightly those
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Juna, 1938
His Ministry
By ALVA J. McCLA IN Akron, Ohio Silhouettes by Ransom D. Marvin
worship the same God. In Einstein’s mathe matical world, we are told, parallel lines finally meet; but not even Einstein can ever make these meet—the W ord of God and the mere opinions of fallen men. It is not, as some have suggested, the problem of getting the conservatives to overtake the self-styled “ liberals” of the modern religious world. Those of us who hold the old-fash ioned faith of the Bible never expect to catch up with modernism. W e are not traveling in the same direction. And time will only increase the distance between us. IV. Jesus Christ Came into the World with a Profound and Unshakable Conviction that God Had Sent Him to Accomplish a Specific Task. Christ’s first recorded words were: “Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” His words on the cross were: “ It is finished.” During the years which intervened between these two utterances, many attempts were made to turn Him aside from the purpose of His life, that work which He was sent to do. Satan of fered Him the kingdoms of the world with all of their glory. Herodians tried to en tangle Him in the political problems of His nation. Others sought to draw Him into attempts to solve the social questions of the day. The people would have taken Him by force to make Him King. But through it all, His purpose remained un shaken. God had sent Him to die. And without wavering, He set His face “ stead- fastiy” toward Jerusalem, the city of His death. Even so, the Christian minister must go forth with an unshakable conviction that God has called him to accomplish a definite task. Let him, like the Son o f God, set his face “ steadfastly” toward that place. Let him refuse to be turned aside by any cir cumstance, any difficulty, any ambition, or any other thing. Let him not be satisfied until, like the Lord whom he serves, he can look up into the face of God and say: “ Father, . . . I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” \Continued on Page 273]
say, and what I should speak” (John 12:49, R.V .). Men have spoken of Christ as the great “ independent thinker of the ages.” But they are wrong. He was the most de pendent thinker the world has ever heard. How can this strange attitude of depend ence be explained? There is but one an swer: In part, His purpose in coming was to be the perfect Servant, the flawless Ex ample to all ministers who would come after Him. Therefore, He spoke only the words which were given Him of the Father. God is not calling men today to originate the message which they preach. The mes sage of God has been given in His revealed Word. The preacher is not called to invent a “ New Theology,” but to preach “ The Old, Old Story.” If he finds within him self a genius for originality, let him expend it in new and startling ways of preaching that which is written in the Book. But let him beware of changing the Message, for that Message is eternally settled in the heavens. The preacher who adheres closely to the written Word of God need never fear that he will become a purveyor of dull or tire some platitudes. In this Word he is drink ing from the very fountainhead of original ity. No one ever accused our Lord of lack ing originality; men were astonished at His teaching. They declared that no man ever spake as He spake. At times, they sought to stone Him for His words. But they never accused Him o f being dull, nor did they sleep under _His preaching. Yet He says: “I spake not from myself.” Repeated ly in the great crises of His life, He rested upon Old Testament Scripture for His wis dom, His strength, and His rock of defense. We can do no better than to follow Him. It is just here that the Protestant world has split from end to end. Has God re vealed Himself to men? And is this Reve lation written in Scripture? Or must the race slowly evolve the knowledge of God out of its own heart and consciousness ? Between these two viewpoints there can be no compromise. Tw o different worlds have clashed; and the two factions do not even
sacrifices you must make in order to become ministers of the cross. I am not unfamiliar with them. Sacrifices there have been, and must be. But I find that in the presence of this Saviour of mine, all of my sacrifices become as nothing, yes, less than nothing. When I hear Him Say, “The foxes have holes, and the birds o f the air have nests; but the Son o f man hath not where to lay his head,” I find that I am unable to speak of my losses and my sacrifices. They tell us that today many splendid young men and women are hesitating to yield their lives to Christian service because of the great personal sacrifice involved. I answer seriously, "Let them hesitate.” For the ministry of Christian service is a call ing which begins and ends in sacrifice. It thrives and finds its highest glory in the midst o f sacrifice. It declines and grows feeble when there is no need for sacrifice. Do not misunderstand. Certainly, the “ laborer is worthy of his hire.” And I would be the first to censure a people who would permit their ministers and mission aries to suffer privation while they them selves lived in luxury and ease. But I de clare to you, nevertheless, that it will be a sorry day when we shall have so adjusted matters that men can enter the ministry of the gospel at no cost to themselves. I I I . Jesus Christ Was Sent info the World, Not to be the Originator of His Own Mes sage, but to Speak Only Those Words Which W ere Given Him by the Father. This is one of the startling things about Jesus Christ. If any preacher was ever qualified to originate his own message, sure ly it was Christ. He was the Second Per son of the Triune God. In Him were hid all the treasures of infinite wisdom and knowledge. Yet He chose to enter the world as an empty vessel, utterly dependent upon the Father at all times for His message. He was the most original preacher that ever lived, yet He was not the Originator of the things He taught. W e have His own word for this: “For I spake not from my self, but the Father that sent me, he hath given me a commandment, what I should
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
June, 1938
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Summer vacation months offer to the Christian oppor tunities for unhurried conversations with unsaved friends and strangers. From wide experience as a physician and soul-winner, Dr. Wilson shows how those who know God ’s Word and the plan of salvation revealed therein can diagnose spiritual needs and apply G od ’s remedy under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. You Be the Doctor By WALTER LEWIS WILSON, M.D. Kansas City, Missouri
with the Lord Jesus Christ throughout eternity?” The answer will show the in dividual’s heart attitude toward the person of Christ. And this is most essential for the subsequent handling of the case. Those who are in Group 4 will reply quickly in the af firmative. Perhaps those in Group 2 will say “ Yes” also, for they are not opposed to Christ but are seeking to know Him, are seeking to be saved by methods and means quite contrary to the truth of God. Still another attitude of heart may be revealed by asking the question, “ Is your faith in religious things quite satisfactory to you, enough so that you would recom mend your faith and belief to me for me to die on it and go out into eternity with
ourselves? W e shall find that many cases may be grouped in a general way as fol lows : First, there are those who are quite antagonistic to anything that savors of Christianity. Such a one was Pharaoh, who did not know God, did not want to know God, and was antagonistic to the very thought of God. Second, there are those who apparently are seeking the things of God but are wrongly informed, badly taught, and sometimes wickedly taught. They are not antagonistic to God, but they are seeking to find God along paths that lead only to the dark. Such were the Sad- ducees. Third, quite a number will be found who are just disinterested. They have no antagonism toward G od; neither
PART I M aking the D iagnosis H a v e you fo u n d the Lord Jesus
so wonderful that you lo n g that others may know your precious Sav io u r ? D o you wistfully imagine that you might bring oth ers to Him if you knew ho Dr. Wilson do they have a hunger for God. They are of the world and love the world and have no interest in spiritual things. Gallio was such a case (cf. Acts 18:17). Fourth, you fre quently will encounter those who compose a very large group, those who have been reared in a Christian atmos phere and attend o rth o d o x churches, have believed gen erally in orthodoxy but have never personally appropriated the Lord Jesus Christ. These are attempting to save them selves by good works plus an orthodox belief. These will be found on every hand. Questions that Probe Kindly By wise questioning you will learn quickly where your friend stands with re gard to these four attitudes of heart. You might ask him the question, “ Do you believe in the things of G od? Are they attractive to you?” The answer which you receive will place this subject quickly in one of the above-men tioned groups. His reply will indicate his attitude of heart. It w ill r e v e a l at once whether he is friendly to spiritual things or whether he has a hostile spirit. Another helpful question is this: “ Do you expect to live the life-giving power of God’s W ord are supremely important, there are many little practical methods that can aid the Chris tian’s testimony. In this series of three arti cles which will appear in three issues of T he K ing ’ s B usiness , we shall attempt to present to our readers some aspects of soul winning which will be profitable in the blessed business of winning hearts for our Lord Jesus Christ. This first o f the series w ill be occupied with how to make a diagnosis of the case. W e shall attempt to discover the need of the heart and soul that we are attempting to attract to our Lord, in order that we may know the line of truth to present and the Scripture portions to use in dealing with the individual heart. The second article will be occupied with the presentation of the proper truths to suit the kind of case that we have discovered. The success of our work will depend largely on a correct diagnosis of the per son’s need and then a proper presentation of the remedy that has been indicated. The third discussion in the series will suggest wise ways of handling “ patients” who do not wish to take the “medicine” that we offer to them. Sometimes, without omission of the essential remedy, the dose may be changed or the prescription altered to adapt it to the whims and ideas of the one with whom we are dealing. This mat ter will be taken up in the third and last in the series of articles. Classifying the Case How can we ascertain the condition of the heart of the one to whom we address In the Doctor’s “Bag” For the Condition of the Heart: “ The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jer. 17:9). *‘Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Psa. 51:10). For Soul Thirst: “ Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink** (John 7:37). “ Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlast ing life** (John 4:14). For Extreme Weariness: “ Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and 1 will give you rest** (Matt. 11:28). “ There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God** (Heb. 4 :9 ). For Distress of Mind: “ Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5). “ Christ died for our sins” 241 T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S June, 1938 The answer will be quite general in character, for it'has never dawned upon the inner conscious ness of many Cath olics that the Lord Jesus did anything for them personally and individually. Your friend prob ably will not be able to tell you the name of any one. Your next ques tion will be, “ Do you su p p ose He was d y in g there for you and for your sins?” The reply will be, “ Oh, yes, for me and fo r e v e r y body.” You might then inquire, “ Did His death do you any good? Do you get any blessing from it, or did Jesus die in vain as far as you are concerned?” At this point your Catholic friend will be extremely puz zled, and. if he is honest, he will be distressed. I have found that right here at this very place, you may turn the heart of this it?” By this question you will learn whether the person is quite satisfied with what he has or whether there are some doubts in his mind as to the value and efficacy of the faith which he has accepted. Quite often this type of question will do more to un cover the hunger of the heart than will any other. It is well to remember that you are to be friendly and helpful toward the person you are seeking to win. Come to these friends in the spirit of seeking to be their servant in this matter of relieving the dis tress of the heart. People will not open their minds and hearts to those who ap proach them merely as religious agents or professional preachers or teachers of spirit ual dogmas. Every human heart hungers in some way for a sympathetic person to whom he may confide his innermost desires. You must be that friend, else you will not win the one you are seeking to approach. Make very kindly inquiries concerning the faith wThich this friend professes to hold. Ask all kinds of questions about his belief, his attitude toward the Bible, his feelings about the Lord Jesus Christ, his view of spiritual truths in general. It is not necessary for you to tell him your thoughts at this junc ture, but it is absolutely necessary for you to discover his thoughts. Most people will tell you freely what is going on in their minds if they are approached in a kindly and humble and earnest spirit. Coming to th$ Root of the Matter If you find that your friend does not know the Lord Jesus Christ as a personal, living, powerful Saviour, you may ask questions concerning important points in the view which he holds. Here are some sample questions: To a Mormon: “ Is it true that one of the doctrines of your church is that sins are put away by- baptism administered by one of your auth orized leaders?” The answer will be “ Yes.” You will then ask, “ Does baptism put away all of the sins from the cradle to the grave?” His reply will be that it does not, but only puts away the sins up to the time of baptism. Your next question will be, “ How are the sins to be put away which have been committed since the baptism ? And what happens to the person who dies without having been baptized just at the time of death in order to be sure that all the sins are washed away?” ‘ The Mormon has no sufficient answer for this question. You have not burdened him with any statements of your own faith, but you have made it necessary for him to explain the efficacy of his own doctrines. If he is honest, he will ask you for help about this serious matter. To a Roman Catholic: These friends are occupied with a Christ on the cross dying for sinners. Ask the friend, “ For whom did Christ die?” The answer will be, “ For sinners.” You will then ask, “ Can you give the name of any particular sinner for whom Jesus died on the cross?” Fhoto by H. Armstrong Roberts Sunny days . . . quiet talks . . . What an opening for long conversations about the Saviour who can heal every heart! that there is such a Person in the universe. To thè indifferent one: You will find out quickly whether or not your friend is interested in spiritual things if you say, “ There is a wonderful speaker at such a church. Would you like to attend with me this evening? I will come to get you. I believe he will interest your heart in spiritual matters.” The reply of the careless man will be, “ I have no interest at all in religion. There are so many kinds of religion that no one can know which is right. They are antag onistic to each other and preach things that are opposite, and I care nothing whatever to be tangled up in such a mess. Religion is all right for those who want it, but I am quite happy without it.” On some occasions it might be well to open the inquiry with, “ Do you carry a Bible with you? What is your favorite method of studying it?” The answer will come very quickly. “I never read it because I am not religiously inclined. I got plenty of religion at home and had it stuffed down my neck until I got weary of it. I love the things of this world, and my religion is that ‘a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush’.” The more this friend says to you about himself, the more easy it will be for you to place him in his proper category and therefore to find the correct remedy. To the zealous one in a false cult: Those who have forsaken the truth of [ Continued on Page 271] friend to a personal faith in Christ by pressing the personal value of Christ to the heart, providing of course he has a heart hungry for peace. To the Atheist: You may not know that the one to whom you are speaking is an atheist, but a ques tion after this order will elicit that infor mation: “ Are you a thankful man, express ing your thanks to the living Lord for all His kindness to you?” In just a moment you will know whether this individual believes in God and is friendly toward Him, or whether he does not. He probably will come right out at once and say, “ I do not believe that there is a God. I certainly do not believe in a God that would permit all the suffering and injustice that exist in the world today.” This answer reveals at once the unbelief and the hostile attitude of the one with whom you are conversing. You might ask this friend, “ Is it not wonderful that God should make us to enjoy nature and then make nature to satisfy us? The flowers are so beautiful to the eye and so fragrant to our sense of smell; these are given us to rejoice our hearts. Fruits and greens and vegetables are given to us as well as meats to sustain and strengthen our bodies. Coal and oil are deposited in the earth to supply our need of warmth in the winter time. Do you not think our God is wonderful in thus providing so richly for us?” The reply to this will give evidence that your friend’s heart hates God or else denies
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