300
T h e ' K i n g ” s
B u s i n e s s
May 1928
Whither Is Dr. Jones Now Headed? During the absence o f the Editor-in-chief, on a European trip last year, I prepared editorial matter for this magazine in defense of the position previously taken with regard to Dr. Stanley E. Jones’ book, “ The Christ o f the Indian Road.” I did not feel that this book furnished sufficient evidence, itself to warrant con demning Dr, Jones as a Modernist. Opinion at that time seemed to be about evenly divided and I quoted the endorsements o f such men as Dr. Leander S. Keyser, Dr. H. C. Morrison, Rev. Gerald B. Winrod, Dr. P. B. Fraser, Dr. H. C.. Waddell, Prof. Newton Wray; and a number of Fundamentalist papers. I also quoted from the letters o f orthodox missionaries who had written Us that they considered Dr. Jones to be sound in the Faith. A t that time I said: “ If we have been deceived, many other Christian leaders who have not been known as super ficial thinkers have also been deluded. I f Dr. Jones in the future, should betray his trust, we should certainly consider it our plain duty to - publish the facts.” \ It had been my hope that Dr. Jones, in his forthcoming book, “ The Christ o f the Round Table,” would make his position clear to all. This book, like the first one, contains much that is interesting and helpful, but there are the same sad gaps left, and some new definitions appear with which I cannot agree at all. That which has recently caused me greatest •concern, however, is the appearance in Dr. Jones’ paper, The Fellowship, o f articles which certainly contain the teaching o f evolution. Dr. Jones is not the author of any of these objectionable articles, so far as I have observed, but the acceptance o f such material with apparent approval, places1me under the necessity of taking my stand against him, in view o f my pledge to the readers o f T he K ing ’ s B usiness , I gave him the benefit of every doubt. I am now deeply disappointed and humiliated. My friends know from my various books and articles that I have been out-and-out against Modernism and Evolution, and I cannot afford under any circumstances to lend my influence to any man who has given clear evidence that he is compromising. I have tried to be absolutely fair to Dr. Jones at the price o f much abuse from some of my^brethren who ought to know that I am not sympathetic with Modernism, but the publi cation o f these articles in his paper has raised a serious question in my mind as to the course upon which he is embarked. I am continually praying that God will save Stanley Jones to the Conservatives. — Keith L. Brooks.
The Preacher and Politics 'T T I E preacher’s commission is to preach the Word. The Word o f God covers the whole realm o f faith and the whole realm o f duty. Nothing could be more comprehensive. The central theme of the Bible-is'the Cross. The minister’s greatest ‘ emphasis- should be there. But centered in and about the Cross we find a vast world of ethical teachings in the Bible. The min ister must preach these in the light of thé Cross. Walter L. Lingle in Presbyterian o f the South had this to sày on the ques tion of the preacher’s relation to political questions : “We do not find any partisan polities in the teachings of the Bible, but we do- find great ethical principles which ought tp be applied tq political life. For ex ample, the Bible tells Us in more than one place the kind; of men our civil rulers ought to be. In Exodus 18:21 we find these words : ‘Provide out o f all the peo ple able men, such as fear God, men o f truth, hating covetousness,'and place such over them to be rulers.’ In this verse we have some striking qualifications for Civil rulers,- This verse is a part o f the Word o f God and it is proper that the minister should expound it and urge the people to choose such men for their rulers. That might sound like politics to some. - “ It is the duty o f thé preacher in preaching to go wherever- the Word of God may take him, but no further. I “ The Word o f God teaches obedience to civil law., It may be necessary for the minister to preach on that subject. : “If he does preach on that subject someone is sure to complain that he has gone into thé field o f politics.- -
“ The Bible stands for temperance and righteousness, but if the minister preaches along this line someone is sure to remind him that he ought’ to stick to the Gospel and- let politics alone. . “However, he;will never forget that the' Cross is the great central theme of the Bible and that it must have the central place in his preaching.” SPIRITUAL HELPS IN VERSE ‘•‘Not I, But Christ” Not one thought o f all I know, Not one: thing my hands,.bestow, Not. one step I take below, Can avail from Him apart. Not my undiminished zeal, Not intensity' I feel, Not my yielding tp appeal,, Constitutes a loving heart. But God’s love through Christ who died, To my sinful heart:applied, And myself in Him I hide, Then I say, “ Oh, Christ, Thou art!” " — o — Power of Prayer This is Archbishop Trench’s fine sonnjet on prayer. Learn it by heart. Lord, what a change within us one short hour Spent in Thy presence will' prevail to make! What heavy burdens from our bosoms take, What parched grounds refresh as with a shower! We kneel and all around us seems to -• lower,- - irtA-Everett L. Ely.:
We rise and all the distant and the near Stands forth in sunny outline brave and clear. We kneel'how weak, we rise how full ©f power! Why therefore do we do ourselves this wrong, Or others^that we are not always -Strong, That we are ever overborne with care, That we should ever weak and heartless be, Anxious or troubled, when with us is prayer, And joy, and strength, and courage are with'Thee? . - Ye Will Not “Ye will not come to me that ye might have life.”—Jn. 5 :40. Here is the world’ s greatest need—3 “life” ; the world’s greatest privilege— “ come” ; the world’s greatest folly— “Ye will not.” The loss of man’s soul is always attrib uted in Scripture to man’s own want of Will to be saved. It is not any decree o f God., It is not God’s unwillingness, to receive. It is not any limitation o f Christ’s re deeming work and atonement? It is not any want of wide, free, full invitations to repent and believe. 1 It is simply and entirely mart’s own fault—his want of will. Man’s salvation, if- saved, is entirely of God. “For by grace are ye' saved through faith; and that not o f yourselves: It is the gift o f God” (Eph. 2:8). . Man’s ruin, if lost, is entirely of him self. “He loves darkness rather than light” (J n .-3:18). He WILL have his own way.
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