August, 1942
T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
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By turning to the Word of God, they are able to discern what lies ahead and to comprehend the causes of this present period in world history. From the Bible, they are able to derive an understanding of the course of his tory and the nature, of this world' conflict. It is said that millions of Americans sit by their radios, listening to war commentaries, with an Atlas and a Bible spread open before them. If that is true—and it ought to be— then there is real hope for revival. The country parson was not far wrong when he pronounced revival as re- Bible. The re-discovery of the Bible, as a final authority, as God’s own truth, is the way tir revival.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NEWS [ Continued, from Page 284] a return to a sober recognition of the existence of Satan. The engulfing-of Civilization by the forces of evil cannot be explained unless' it is postulated th a t' behind the operations of puny men is the gu iding genius of a supreme Evil One (supreme only in the sense of hir, being the director over e v il. and evil men). The incredibly monstrous and mammoth feats of wickedness committed by Hitler cannot be ac counted for on the basis of his human brain alone. Before Hitler attained power, most foreign observers of the man and his movement contended, dogmatically, that he was not “dictatorial timber.” How could a man, they said, with Hitler's background and display of mediocre ability, ever become dictator of' a great' nation, let alone master of a large part of the European con tinent? Every nation that has been conquered by Hitler, every nation which is now flighting Hitler, made the same mistake, on the "authority of the experts” : the mistake of under estimating the powers of evil of which this man was Capable. , The whole mistake and miscalcu lation of the United Nations has been to underrate the strength and strategy of the forces of evil loose in the world, today. Acute analysts have been com pelled, in the face of the world-wide sweep and amazing accomplishments of the totalitarian dictators, to “re discover the devil.” Every war head line heralds the fact that there is a personal devil. Beyond and back of the actions of A e totalitarian war- makers are the machinations and maneuverings of Satan, as he utilizes human beings as his instruments. LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR REVIVAL: • Without being dogmatic on the subject, it appears to us that the basic conditions for revival are being es tablished in the hearts and minds of our people, God does not send revival unless these conditions are found in the consciousness and inner life of a people: First, there must be an awareness of sin, an appreciation of the “ex ceeding sinfulness of sin.” The fact of sin must „be “ discovered.” . ■Second, there must be a realization that men are lost and on their way to he'll, without Christ. The reality of hell must be “ discovered.” Third, there must be a looking unto the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world. Men must recognize their need of a supernatural Saviour. They must know that they cannot save themselves. They must
know that they are helj lessly and hopelessly in the clutche: of Satan, and that only Christ can save them. They must look to God .or deliver ance, knowing that education and sci ence and all human striving are im potent. THE "RE-DISCOVERY OF THE BIBLE" • Several of our most widely read newspaper columnists> ham. “re-dis covered” the Bible; as guide to future events, as an unfolder of what lies ahead, as an interpreter of the news. They are “re-discovc ring” what simpler folks have always known— that the Bible contains i\ prophetic record which is history pra-written.
Reaching Them Now
By BETHEL FRANCE Los Angeles, California ■ MAY BREEZE passed noise lessly through the shrubbery in the L i b r a r y p a r k and of the Open Door. There were almost one thousand boys and girls from Kindergarten age t h r o u g h Junior High, and they represented several races. They stood about in small groups. Some were humming through a chorus; others were repeating verses softly, to have them in readiness, while still others were talking or laughing happily. It was the Sixth Annual Rally of the Child Evangelism Fellowship of Southern California, gathering in the auditorium of the Church of the Open Door, on that Sun day afternoon to' climax a year of faithful work on the part of the co operating teachers and workers. Inside the large auditorium, the great audience stirred to attention as two stalwart lads appea: ed at the doors at either side of the >ack of the [Miss France , who was graduated from the Bible Institute of Los Angeles in the Class of ’2&, has served as a inissi mary in the Philippine Islands and is now * Office Sec retary in the Los Angeles office of the Child Evangelism Fellowship of Southern Cali - fornia. — -E n iT n a .1
church, bearing the American and Christian flags. Following them down the aisles came class after class of the boys and girls, with their teachers, and took their places in the great choir loft, also the Junior choir loft, and then filled the side wings of the first gallery, i To those who knew that these young people had come from classes in Los Angeles and from outlying communities as far north as Santa Barbara and south to San Diego, there may have been some, misgivings about the program. Could such a motley group of scattered classes be brought together without any previous rehearsal by the group as a whole, and present a smooth and interesting program? But from the Bible Salute to the Benediction, the service moved forward as though there had been many rehearsals, e v i d e n c e of the thorough training each class had re ceived in its weekly gatherings. When all the children were in their places, a chosen number stepped for ward and, facing the large audience, led the entire group in their pledge of allegiance to the Bible. No child [ Continued on Page 317]
paused to whisper to the large group of children waiting outside the Church
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