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T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
July, 1939
Around the King's Table E D I T O R I A L
Union or Unity Certainly the most significant religious event of recent days was the merger of three branches of Methodism—the Method ist Episcopal Church, the Methodist Epis copal Church South, and the Methodist Protestant Church—into "The Methodist Church.” This constitutes the Methodist Church as the largest Protestant body, with a membership of almost eight million people in the United States alone. The three merged churches have 65 bishops, 25,000 ministers, 43,000 churches, 2,900 schools and colleges, and a property investment of considerably more than a billion dollars. Here is an imposing institution with potential possibilities for great good, if it would recapture the evangelistic fervor and evangelical convictions of John Wesley. Upon the face of this great event there should be rejoicing. It is an impressive thing to see eight million people who have been existing in three divided camps, now composing their differences and determin ing to live as one Church family. But if this union has meant the sacrifice of vital
the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (Eph. 4:11-13). It is significant that the word “union” does not occur in the whole Bible. But even so, we have no right to disparage honest attempts to unite divided forces, provided the union is both Scriptural and practical. It is both poor taste and poor policy for fundamentalists to disparage attempts at denominational unification when among fundamentalists themselves is an ever-in creasing scourge of division. W e agree with this sentence found in a current evangelical magazine: "One thing that is paralyzing the church today is the failure to agree to disagree doctrinally.” This statement does not refer to disagreement on essentials but on nonessentials. Funda mentalists should determine to seek unity on the things essential to salvation and then maintain charity concerning every sub ordinate matter. When fundamentalism can evidence “the unity of the Spirit," it then rightfully can look askance at everything short of Scriptural unity.—R oy L. L aurin .
What Merits Our Good Will? A national liquor institution has placarded the nation with signs seeking to give this business a tone of respectability, hitherto unassociated with that industry. The sign says in large and attractive letters, “W e want the good will of our community.” It then gives nine reasons for requesting this good will. Among the reasons are the advocating of moderation in drinking, refusal to sell to minors, and the statement that "drinking and driving do not mix.” This appeal of the whiskey distiller brings up the question, “What merits our good will?” Does whiskey deserve the good will of any community under any circum stances? Can a rattlesnake be made respect able by putting him under certain re strictions? The Bible calls strong drink a serpent, and a serpent is no less a serpent when kept under so-called respectable re strictions. Whiskey is no less a peril to the nation when it is refused to minors or advo cated in moderation. These restrictions do
principles of Christian faith, it will offer little benefit to the world other than the advantage of numbers. There is something far more important and necessary than union. It is unity. Unity is more than amalgamation and more than multiplication. It is what Jesus prayed for when He said, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17:21). This unity was based upon re generation. It meant a unified new life with each unit knit to other units in a compacted and integrated whole. It was a unity manifested at Pentecost where "they were all with one accord in one place” (Acts 2 :1 ). And it is this unity which we are urged to keep— "endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4 :3 ). It was a unity which is the goal of the church’s corporate existence. “And he gave some, apostles: and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edi fying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of
not moderate the peril of its use to those who consume it. And, furthermore, liquor is of such a nature than no matter how many restrictions are thrown around its use, it will find its way to the brain of the automobile driver just as quickly as to the pedes trian. T o put nice signs in grog shops is not going to stop drivers from drinking. It may be only a subtle way for a more damnable approach to a poten tial market. W e do not believe that liquor merits anybody’s good will. It is both destructive and damn ing. It is an enemy of man. It deserves our repugnance and not our respect. —R oy L. L aurin . Too Big and Too Bad It is the studied opinion of the Carnegie Foundation for the Ad vancement of Teaching, through the report of its able president, Walter Albert Jessup, that coL leges in the United States are “too big and too bad.” The opinion is not too generously amplified with printed facts available at this moment. But we judge that the criticism is aimed chiefly at the unwieldy character of our vast educa tional institutions. [Continued on page 258]
Illustration from John Wesley, the Christian Hero, by Elsie E. Egermeier, Gospel Trumpet Co.
John Wesley, Spirit-filled revivalist of the eighteenth century, engaged in outdoor evangelism which resulted in the world-wide extension of the Methodist movement. He wrote to a friend thus: Ml look upon all the world as my parish; thus far I mean, that, in whatsoever part of it I am, I judge it . . . my bounden duty, to declare unto all that are willing to hear, the glad tidings of salvation."
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