Friends meet together for fellowship at Biota. From left to right. Dr. Milton C. Gould, Biota Alumni President and pastor of the First Baptist Church of Downey, Dr. Walter L. Wilson, Dr. L. T. Talbot, and and Dr. S. H. Sutherland. MAGNIFYING CHRIST
City, he read a popular book, “How the Other Half Lives," written by a man in the slums of the metropolis. Mr. Roosevelt wanted to meet the au thor personally, so he headed for the poorer section of lower Manhattan. There he found the dingy place, went inside and climbed the rickety stairs to a modest-looking apartment. He knocked several times but there was no response; no one was at home. Taking out his personal card, he wrote on the back of it, “Have read your book and came to help. Theodore Roosevelt.” The story reached the pam pers and much was made of the con descension of this great man. In a sense, this is the real message of the Christmas season. Looking down on the record of impotent mankind’s sins and failures, Jesus Christ paid a visit to earth. “He came unto His own and His own received Him not.” He left a message, a calling card, written in His own blood reminding us, “I am come that ye might have life and that ye might have it more abundantly.” This has been the message which Biola students have proclaimed faith fully ever since the school first opened its door in February, 1908. It is the same message which Biola graduates are proclaiming today around the world, and will continue to promulgate until that blessed day when our Saviour calls us to be with Himself.
I f we go no farther than merely complaining about the sentimentalism and commercialism (which borders on paganism) spoiling much of the truth of Christmas, our complaints will hardly be justified. In a positive man ner, our business is to be witnesses of the good tidings of great joy which need to be shared with all people. We frequently hear of the importance of putting Christ in Christmas. (Surely He needs to be given His rightful place.) The Christ of Christmas, how ever, is not only the Babe of Bethle hem but also the Christ of Calvary, the only true Victor over sin and death. We need to proclaim Him for all that He is: Lord, Saviour and Mes siah. Here at Biola this Christmas time, while our students are taking a brief vacation, no matter where they go—to their homes, to places of em ployment during the busy holiday sea son—their message is still the same vibrant testimony about which they have studied in the cla ssroom s through past months. What is that message? “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved."
TRUE CONDESCENSION When Theodore Roosevelt was po lice commissioner of New York
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