Literary Filth W E have been thinking about this vile scourge for a long time. Re cently our attention was directed again to this subject by an article in the cur rent Reader’s Digest. Almost anyone who passes a corner newsstand, or fre quents the neighborhood drugstore, is horrified at the epidemic of lurid and sordid subjects being purveyed by our magazines. We have not made a count, but we have estimated that a full three- quarters of the total seem to be devoted to a sorry trio of subjects—illicit love, illicit sex and illicit crime. As far as the covers are concerned, it would seem that nothing else is allowed there but pictures of girls wearing as little cloth ing as possible. Who is to blame? Well, of course, one would naturally charge the publishers, and certainly their hands are red with the responsibility of making such filth available to the public. But that is not the answer. The magazines would not be there if they were not purchased. And surveys made by independent re search groups reveal that the demand for such pornographic literature per meates every social group. Boys and girls are allowed to buy without any restrictions. But adults are avid read ers as well, and the men in the armed forces are heavy purchasers. Coupled with this magazine problem is a similar one; the 25c pocket edition. Ostensibly created to provide reasonable editions of standard volumes, this idea has been captured and subverted to promulgating a flood of trash unfit to read, highlighted by vividly-colored cov ers, strategically placed in public places. It has been a source of high revenue and a sickening blight upon our land. What is to be done to stem this en gulfing tide? Well surely there are enough right-thinking and clean-living people to see the terrific dangers in volved. Censorship has its dangers, but could there not be a self-appointed standard of decency to clean up the newsstands? Some may argue that there have always been publications of this character. This is true, but the pub lications were kept in the back-rooms of pool halls and saloons and were not available to the average public, and par ticularly to the teen-agers. The Scrip tures have succinctly stated that as one thinks in his heart, so is he. A nation cannot fill its mind with filth and be strong and pure at the same time. Proof of Our Thanksgiving I T is one thing to have a day in the year officially designated as Thanks giving Day. It is quite another thing to be genuinely thankful to God for His blessings. God is not deceived. Thanks which are offered in a perfunctory way and not from the heart-depth mean ab solutely nothing to Him. He looks be yond mere lip appreciation for heart gratitude. There is not the slightest doubt that our beloved land of America has been
Striking Testimonies M OST of the readers of The King’s Business know that the Bible In stitute of Los Angeles sponsors a thrice- weekly radio program along the west ern division of the Mutual Broadcasting System. One of the features of this broadcast has been the true-to-life testi monies of the students. These testimo nies daily reveal that God’s hand is just as real today and God’s power is just as able to work as at any. time of the world’s history. For instance, there was Henry Robin son, an officer in the United States Air Force with a very important position among the occupation forces in Ger many. But drink was his besetting sin. In fact, he was crowned “king of the drunks” at a Christmas night party. The army, however, thought so much of him that they sent him to four of the finest psychiatrists on the continent in order to help him. But it was all to no avail, and he was discharged for other than honorable reasons. Back to this country again, and he again fell into the clutches of this diabolical habit. Finally he came to the West Coast and to the Union Rescue Mission in Los An geles where the Lord forgave his sins and made him a new creature in Christ. Myron Perl was a Jew. From the age of 7 to 15 he aspired to be a Rabbi, but through agnostic speculation came to the conclusion that the Old Testament did not fit into the present day. So it was the business world next, and then 45 months of military service. But all the time there was an empty void in Mike’s heart. So sure was he that life held nothing that he decided it was not worth the living and that suicide was the easi est way out. Once a Christian worker had faith fully presented to him the claims of Christ. So when suicide threatened, this friend exacted a promise from Mike that he would pray to God (if there was a God) and ask for His help (if He were able to help). Of course, God met; tne need and Myron Perl was wonderfully saved, and there was born in his heart a deep desire to carry the news of Is rael’s great Messiah to his own people.
Christmas Cards That Honor Christ T HE Christmas card industry is a tremendous one. Practically every family in our United States uses several dozen and many families a hundred or more. We know there are more than fifty million families. This means that many hundred of millions of cards are used. It is safe to say that far too small a percentage of these cards really honor Christ. There are designs of all sorts from Scotty dogs to Eskimos. There are all sorts of sentiments expressed, some attempting to be rollickingly funny. This rather strange phenomenon is not unexpected in a world that has no true knowledge of the Christ-child and why He came. It is rather to be expected that the average rank and file of people would want to avoid either reference or remembrance of the sig nal fact that God so loved a world He sent His own dear Son. In other words, the state of the Christmas card indus try graphically reveals the state of the unregenerate American heart. But for Christian people it must be different. Their hearts have been made anew by the miracle of salvation. We understand the purpose of the incarna tion. Our lives are graphic demonstra tions of the power of God. So everything we do ought to be consistent with the ruling passion of our new lives and that is to set forth Christ in no unmistakable terms. There is no question that Christian people should purchase Christ-honoring Christmas cards. Here is an opportu nity to further spread abroad the im perishable gospel. Who can tell to what extent carefully-chosen Christmas cards will be used to bring light of the Lord to darkened hearts? Now is the time to remember, be cause so great is the Christmas pressure that Christmas cards even appear in the shops immediately following Labor Day. If enough demand is created, the manu facturers will print more Christ-honor ing cards. This is not the great answer to all the world’s problems, but it is a step in the right direction.
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