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October, 1944
Current Business LOUIS T. TALBOT, Editor-m-Chief
is possible, church bells are to. be rung; but it is never quite clear whether the ringing of the bells is to call people to the house of God in humility arid praise, or simply to increase the general bedlam of jubi- *lation. If God in His mercy grants any measure of peace to this warring, sin- scarred earth, men ought to praise Him from hearts that are rid of con ceit and rebellion against Him. But will they? Probably the next few weeks or months will bring the an swer. Need we wait for that answer to be given? • Guidance A. B. Simpson used to say-that there are three kinds of guidance described in Psalm 32:8: “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” ; The first is the guidance Which comes from instruction, teaching, and practical wisdom through the exer cise of our own sanctified judgment. The second is a more direct and immediate suggestion from the Lord through the intuitions given us by the Holy Ghost. The Master has a glance which the servant should al ways be able to comprehend instinct ively. The third is the guidance of the bit and bridle, which is the only thing that the mule or the willful Christian understands. We have our choice of which kind of guidance we will have. To Supply a Great Need The manpower shortage is not lim ited to secular vocations. This fact is pointed out by George M. Cowan, representative of the “Wycliffe Bible Translators: My heart'is stirred these days when I hear of mission boards 4vith money to -send out fifteen, twenty, yes, twenty-five mission aries, but they don't have the can didates to send. Can this be com pletely explained by the war emergency and its taking of mul titudes of young people? Perhaps so. I hope it is not indifference or lethargy that keeps young people
Planning for Peace What a man plans to do is as truly indicative of his character as are his actual accomplishments. Here is an individual who yearns for an education. He maps out a course of study and works hard' to complete it. Whether or not he ever achieves prominence, he wins for himself the appellation of a student: all because of the direction he has set for his life. Here is another person who de clares he will be a Christian “some time”—when youth is past, and wealth is gained, and a sure entrance into heaven is the most desirable thing in the world. You label that man a dangerous procrastinator; your appraisal }s based, and properly, on what he says he wants to do. At the present time, America is planning: she is planning for peace. Newspapers and radio comments are full of suggestions for V-Day. Perhaps before the ink on this article is dry, the cessation of warfare in Europe will have come, and the plans of the nation to celebrate the event will have gone into effect. Whether or not the celebration is carried out as it has been indicated is unimportant. America has “purposed in . . . heart” to do certain things, Therein is the significance. It would appear that as a whole, the nation has decided that to get drunk is the best wajT to rejoice over victory. Not a few communities are exercised over the situation that is likely to take place, and have re quired th a t. liquor stores be closed on V-Day. The order is highly desir able, and we trust it may go into ef fect. But what about the heart of a people that can petition Almighty God for victory in battle, and then— as a supposed evidence of thanksgiv ing—insult Him by debauchery that He hates? America is planning to rejoice, and this is right. But one hears far more abovlt what we have done in winning the war, than about what God has done for us. One large department store has issued this instruction to its. employees: “If you are waiting on a customer when the news of victory comes, finish the transaction, if you- can, and then get out and celebrate to your heart’s content over the vic tory we have won.” It is true that orders have been given that, in communities where it
FELLOWSHIP By William M. Runyan Could- we know each other's heart. Could we know each other's care. Could we know how others wrestle In an agony of prayer; . Could' we know how' brave hearts carry Heavy loads, despite the smile. We would love each other better As we walk life's weary mile. If our fellowship is waning, If( we easily forget. If our neighbor has a sorrow. Or with care is sore beset. Let him know he has a neigh bor Who is faithful, kind, and true. And you'll see how quickly, kindly. He'll respond to "Christ in you."
from responding to the Lord’s Great Commission. As an antidote for this cdndition it is heartening to know that this fall a larger number of young men and women applied foT entrance to the Bible Institute of Los Angeles than In any previous year. Over 650 applications were received; and it was necessary to request many of the young people to postpone their entrance, since sufficient dormitory space was not available. On the opening day of* the fall se mester, September 7, the auditorium of the Church of the Open Door (whose facilities the Institute shares) was crowded with eager youth, en rolled in three- and four-year cours es In Theology, Christian Education, Music, and General studies. How many of them, in the plan of God, will find their places ultimately on foreign fields as missionary witness es, only He knows. But many of them will— for the Institute’s e m p h a s i s upon the unfinished task of world evangelism is the keynote of its min istry. • ■• hw M
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