30C
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
August, 1936
America’s Greatest NEED and wvivflt-
God’s Recovery PROGRAM B y GOTTFRIED ¿TONE * Orland, California
T o effect a material recovery in this country a desper ate effort has been made in recent years. It seems that no stone has been left unturned and no plans have been omitted to gain this end. More and more, men are recog nizing the fact that our economic breakdown is largely due to moral and spiritual failure. We must not forget that our social restoration also depends upon moral and spiritual recovery. A R evival —O ur D esperate N eed A number o f professional and business men sat re cently at a banquet given to the Congressional Naval Com mittee visiting in Los Angeles. A president o f a university, the president o f a large bank, a former president o f the Chamber of Commerce, and other leaders in civic life were present. As they were talking together o f our disordered times, they all agreed that the only thing that could right them would be a genuine revival o f religion. President Wilson once said: “ Our civilization cannot survive materially unless it be redeemed spiritually.” Presi-
dent Coolidge likewise recognized this fact when he stated: “ The strength o f a country is the strength o f its religious convictions.” Not long ago an eminent churchman whose position-keeps him in touch with affairs at Washington made this significant statement: “ We will have no perma nent recovery in this country, no matter what laws are passed, until we experience from coast to coast a sweeping religious revival.” Roger W . Babson, the well-known stat-. istician, has again and again asserted: “ What this world needs is a great religious revival. Prosperity will return only as righteousness and justice supplant unrighteousness and injustice.” Though some o f these observers may interpret the term “ religious revival” far differently than does the evan gelical Christian, it is significant that leaders in many fields o f activity have been conscious o f a spiritual lack. Yes, a mighty religious revival—a revival that comes from God Himself— is our crying need today. The world is in tumult; selfishness and greed have the upper hand; nations are ready to cut each others’ throats; crime is on the increase; and morality is at low ebb. Destructive forces are threat ening our American homes. Our amusement places are crowded on Sunday nights, while most o f our churches are nearly empty. T hings T hat S hould H umble U s There has been a tremendous decline o f religious influ ence in our country. George W . Wickersham, chairman of the Hoover National Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement, named the decline o f religion as the domi nant cause for the rapid increase o f juvenile crime and the growing disrespect for law. What a tremendous responsi bility this statement places at your feet and mine, fellow Christian! Before the world we stand indicted of criminal neg ligence. Millions o f young lives are falling into sin and shame because we have failed to follow closely our Lord and Master who is the Source o f all spiritual strength and power. We have become salt without savor and candles without light. There is a remedy for the world’s ill. God has a sure plan that will lead us out of our difficulties—a plan that will take us out o f our spiritual depression and lead our land into economic and social safety. If we will adhere to His plan, we will succeed; if we will not obey, we will fail. God says: “ If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chron. 7 :14 ). Let it be repeated that as Christian churches we stand indicted before the world as void of spiritual influence. And we are without spiritual power because o f sin. You will remember that Israel o f old always lost power when the people sinned against God. Often they forgot God in their prosperity; they turned aside to idols. Then God permitted them to suffer oppression at the hands o f their enemies. But when they turned back to God and repented [Continued on page 313]
*Pastor, Evangelical Free Church.
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