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T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
Behind the News By DAN GILBERT
of nations to carry on orderly and peaceful relations with their neigh bors. Many of our internal national prob lems are evidences of the bankruptcy of the social sciences. Some of the “solutions” adopted for these prob lems would cause the founders of America to smile with bewilderment, or to weep with pity. In the twentieth century, there has been a world-wide collapse of the processes o f intelligent and moral self-government. Dictators have used bullets instead of ballots as a method of government. Discipline in the home has broken down. In place 9£ parental control, we have police control. Millions of people in our own land have failed to achieve self-govern ment in their own thinking, dreaming, and living. As the consequences of self-uncontrol grow more aggravating, we- may expect new epidemics of “col lective insanity.” New “ crackpot” schemes and theories w ill be ad vanced on all sides. Multitudes w ill be deceived, There will be false teachers, theorists, prophets, and leaders in all walks of life. The whole life of man kind w ill be regimented under the rule of unreason, immorality, and ir- religion. CHRIST'S COMING—OUR ONLY HOPE: • The preachers of the social gospel. , claim to have a cure for every social ill. When Bible believers tell them that their schemes w ill fail, they ac cuse us of being pessimists. They say we are engaging in destructive criti cism. But, without Him, there, is no hope. A ll the peace planners, all the or ganized good will of mankind, were unable to head off World War II. What ground is .there for indulging the hope that they can head off World War III? A ll the social theorists.and experts have miserably failed to elim inate poverty, crime, and evil in all their generations o f' striving. What reason is there for expecting them to succeed in the future, when they have uniformly failed in the past? In Christ, we have hope for the fu ture. In Him, we have help for the present. In Him, every young person can find the power and strength to resist evil temptations, No young per son w ill find that power and strength anywhere else—certainly not in dance halls which multiply evil temptations while breaking down self-control. In the midst of the clanging chorus of the voices of the false teachers and false prophets, we need to raise our voices in clear and Scriptural tones. We must speak out against pagan so lutions to present problems, and point the way to a full acceptance of God’s Word and a full reliance upon His Son to save and keep from sin.
SOLVING THE DELINQUENCY EPIDEMIC:
ing the night clubs, roadhouses, and dens of iniquity tomorrow. NATIONAL INSANITY? • A noted psychologist once said that the American people; were subject to spells of “episodic collective insanity.” One wonders whether there may not be truth in .that claim, when he ob serves presumably intelligent people recommending dancing as a cure for delinquency. The real'solution to the delinquency problem is Bible classes, not dances, in the high schools of the nation. Hu man nature does not change. The only way to keep young people from sin is to lead them, to hide away the Word of God in their hearts (cf. Psa. 119:9, 11). | The Church holds the only sufficient answer to the ‘ heeds of youth. But while the program of dancing and recreation- for youth- is being unduly publicized, many church leaders re main silent, indifferent, and uncon cerned. It is time for Protestants to protest against the paganizing of youth, and to insist upon a program which w ill use the people’s tax-sup ported schools to advance the Bible solution, to the delinquency peril. BANKRUPTCY OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES: • Most of the social experts and the orists would classify themselves as “social scientists.” “ Social science” is that branch of knowledge which deals with human affairs, human relations, and the activities of men in group life. In the physical sciences, there has been great progress in the past cen tury. Man has learned how to use chemicals, drugs, and the forces of nature in new and novel ways. He has added to his knowledge of the human body and the ailments which afflict it. But he has unlearned many things about himself. No previous generation did a. poorer job of managing its a f fairs in an orderly way. Divorce and delinquency are symptoms of the in dividual’s incapacity to govern his own emotions and inner life. War is an evidence of the inability
• Some months ago, the rising rate of Juvenile delinquency was headlined by police officials throughout the na tion. In many cities, committees of ex perts were set up to devise ways and means of dealing with this growing evil. Their solution to the; problem is now being tried out in leading cities. Generally, the solution consists of the setting up of “ teen towns”—recrea tional dance halls for young people. One renowned “ expert” declared that, the way to keep youngsters out of trouble was to encourage them to. dance and “jitterbug” themselves into exhaustion. In one large Midwestern city, danc ing was officially introduced into the school program. Never before had dances been permitted in the tax- \ supported 'high schools. But in the face o f the emergency, the school au thorities reversed this policy. Promi nent ministers withdrew their objec- tions to school-sponsored dances, “in view of the emergency.” The idea that dancing will cure de linquency is on a par with the con tention that getting one’s feet wet will cure a cold, or that contracting a cold is a -safeguard against pneumonia. The dance hall has always been the gateway to delinquency. Of course, the sponsors of this pro gram for “ teen town” dance halls rec-^ ommend that liquof shall be forbid den and that only soft drinks be made available. But where there is dancing, , alcoholic drinks will be smuggled in. The program for reforming and pu rifying the dance hall is reminiscent of the recent attempts to dignify the saloon. A saloon may be called a “ cocktail lounge” or a “ tavern,” but it is'still a saloon. A dance hall may be called a “ teen town,” but it is still a dance hall, the gateway to immoral ity. Young people encouraged to en gage in recreational dancing in the schoolhouse today, w ill be frequent
"In view of the emer gency," we had better get back to Psalm 119:9,11.
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