With March Radio Features
CONTENTS THE NEED FOR W IN D ............. 3 EATHQUAKES ......................... 5 DO YOU KNOW ? .................... 7 IMPORTANT TIMES ................. 9 THE BITTERSWEET BOOK ........ 12 LIFE'S QUESTIONS ...................14 JOY IN THE CHRISTIAN HOME ..17 FELLOWSHIP IN THE HOME .....19 BIOLA HOUR SURVEY FORM .....21 QUESTIONS A N D ANSW ERS .....23 PARABLES A N D P E A R L S ............27 STUDIES IN DAN IEL ................. 30 COVER: The Rev. Richard Baldwin, extreme right, is a second year stu dent at Talbot Theological Seminary. His two daughters, Sharon (left), and Frances, are pictured with Dr. J. Richard Chase, academic vice presi dent of Biola.
Monthly Publication of the BIOLA FELLOWSHIP Vol. 6 No. 4 APRIL, 1966 STAFF President ____________ S. H. SUTHHLAND Editor __________________________ Production _____ _______ .VIRGINIA LUBER Photography..............................BILLEHMANN Printing _______________ .CHURCH PRES Published monthly by the Radio Department BIBLE INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGELES 558 So. Hope St., Los Angelos, Calif. 90017
ALSANDERS
Controlledcirculation postagepaid at Los Angeles. California.
YOI1K 1T IH IST IAN W ILL Did you know that there is 4 way to invest in Biola for the training of students while saving costly estate taxes! Ultimately you may be able to leave more money for your loved ones. As a Fellowship member you are under no obligation when you write for information or counsel. B IO L A S T E W A R D S H IP D E P A R T M E N T T H E B I B L E I N S T I T U T E H O U R CALIFORNIA Arroyo Grande-San Luis Obispo KOAG 1280 9:00 AM . MTWTF Bakersfield-Wasco KAFY 550 4:00 P.M. Sun KWSO 1050 9:30 A.M. MTWTF Chico-Marysville KHSL Fresno-Dinuba 1290 8:30 A.M. Sun. KRDU 1130 8:30 A.M. MTWTF Lodi-Stockton KCVR Los Angeles 1570 8:00 A.M. MTWTF KBBI 107.5 (FM) 8:30 A.M. MTWTF KT YM 1460 9:00 A.M. MTWTF Los Angeles-Long Beach KGER 1390 11:00 A.M. MTWTF KGER 1390 10:30 P.M. MTW TF Oxnard-Ventura-Santa Barbara KO XR 910 8:00 A.M. MTWTF Redding-Red Bluff KQMS 1400 8:00 A.M. MTWTF San Bernardino-Riverside KACE 1570 9:30 A.M. MTWTF KFXM Santa Cruz 590 7:30 A.M. Sun. KSCO 1080 8:30 AM . Sun. KSCO 99.1 San Diego (FM) 8:30 A.M. Sun. KBBW 102.9 (FM) San Francisco KFA X 1100 Santa Maria KCO Y 1440 Turlock KCEY 1390 KH OM 93.1 (FM) OREGON Albany-Eugene KW IL 790 KW IL 790 Ashland-Medford KRVC 1350 Coquille-Coos Bay KWRO 630 Portland KPDQ 800 KPDQ 93.7 (FM) WASHINGTON 8:30 A.M. MTWTF 11:30 A.M. MTWTF 11:30 A.M. MTWTF 8:00 A .M .M W F 9:30 A.M. MTW TF Blaine-Vancouver, B.C. KARI 550 Seattle-Tacoma KGDN 630 Spokane KCFA 1330 Walla Walla KTEL 1490 Yakima KBBO 1390 8:30 A.M. MTWTF 7:00 A.M. Sun. 10:30 A.M. MTWTF 9:00 A.M. Sun. 8:00 A.M. MTWTF 3:00 A.M. MTWTF 8:30 A.M. MTWTF 8:30 A .M .M W F 11:30 A.M. MTWTF 11:30 A.M. MTWTF
8:00 A.M. MTWTF 9:00 P.M. M TW TF
(Radio Log continued on page 29)
KDEO
910 4:00 P.M. Sun.
THE NEED FOR WIND
by Dr. Vance Havner
I T was INTERESTING to read the newspaper accounts at our home in North Carolina about the unusually bad spell of smog here in Los Angeles. An official was quoted as saying, “Only a sweep of winds from else where can relieve the pollution.” We live in a blinding haze with the world smog-bound politically, morally and spiritually. Men are groping, in dark ness. A college in the East, advertising its facilities and recommending itself, made a slight typographical error stating, “We have three thousand stu dents in our ‘mist’.” The “d” was left out. Too many people find themselves in just such a position today. Only the breath of God can dispell this pressure gripping mankind. Experts abound, waiting for the wind to blow. No one really knows what to do, and Washington is help less. No one seems to look beyond the cloudy covering to heaven for the an swer. The smog has blinded too many who will not admit that they are blind leaders of the blind. All sorts of ex
periments are being tried, social re forms, political projects, legislation, education, reformation but the smog doesn’t lift. The winds of God must move in before the plague is con quered. The real problem is sin. Sci ence and sociology don’t have the an swer to man’s iniquity. It is a sad comment to report that the Church is smog-bound, too. The religious world has never been *in greater confusion. There are even those who say, “God is dead.” Such has been said down through the cen turies. The old Book comes to life in the midst of the funeral, outliving all the pallbearers. Experts sit in sym posiums where they mutually pool their ignorance, but they have no an swer. Some don’t even know what the question is. Who is praying with Isaiah today, “O that Thou woulds’t rend the heavens and come down.” Only a divine visitation can meet our need. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came with a sound from heaven, as of a mighty rushing wind. The word for 3
“wind” and “spirit” are the same in Hebrew, Greek and Latin. Only a Wind from elsewhere will clear out our theological and spiritual smog. The Lord said, “The wind bloweth where it listeth.” The problem is, we are trying to work up something in our churches that isn’t there. We have all kinds of bellows these days blowing hot air into the assembly. All our puffing, however, cannot clear the smog; it only adds more. We must bow to the sovereignty of the Holy Spirit who divideth severally as He will. “We cannot kindle when we will, the fires which in the heart resides; the Spirit bloweth and is still, in mystery the soul abides.” This doesn’t mean that we are to sit with folded hands. While we can’t produce or con trol the natural wind, yet we can set our sails and put up our wind mills, getting in the path of the power. Even so, we cannot produce the winds of God but we can pray for a visitation of the Holy Spirit on the Church, as well as on our own lives. One reason why a lot of people don’t go to prayer meeting is that because most of the things we are doing today we feel we can do anyhow without God; why bother Him ? When we come to the place where we will cast out all and look in desperation upon Him, we will pray. To pray down the winds of heaven will take more than some little formal day of prayer where everybody mumbles the same worn phrases and has no urgency or concern. Listen to the average church member’s prayer and you will see there isn’t much agonizing there. The trouble is, the situation is desperate today, but the saints are not. Then there needs to be preparation so that men will ask the Lord to re move the sin from their lives. Too many revival prayers these days are not accompanied by revival prepara tion. There is no repentance, confes sion and forsaking of sin. This in cludes restitution and reconciliation with separation from the world and submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. After this, there is the need to par
ticipate. One must believe and receive. Those are two of the hardest words to learn how to spell. It is “ie” in one of them, and “ei” in the other. These are hard words for Christians to learn. Everything we get from God comes by believing and receiving. This is the law of the new birth. We are filled with the Spirit to over flowing from within. Too many people “enjoy” revivals who never try to bring anybody else to share the bless ings. This is selfishness of the very worst sort. When the church began at Pentecost what a smog-bound world it faced because of the Roman Em pire. The winds of heaven lifted the haze and brought spiritual victory. The Wesleyan revival found England in a polluted fog. The fresh breath of heaven cleared the atmosphere. No social reform could ever do it. Today, we are trying to air condi tion this age with education and legis lation. How foolish this is. No wonder there is deadness and dryness in mod ern Christianity. It is not enough to deplore the smog besetting the church. We need to pray, prepare and partici pate. What we need is a supernatural visitation from above. We must meet the conditions. The Lord has prom ised to bless a praying and prepared people who are willing to participate.
Dave Bancroft (right) interviews Dr. NicholasKur- tanek, Biola Collegeprofessor, as the students present him a check to help pay expensive sur gery costs following his recent cancer operation. Mr. Bancroft is vice president of the Asociated Student Body. Dr. Kurtanek was totally surprized at the students'generosity and expressionof Christian love.
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O ur L ord told us that among the disturbances which would pre cede His return would be earth quakes. There are many of them today which are not just physical and found recorded on siesmographs. There are political, social, moral, and religious earthquakes convulsing the world. Crime, violence, lawlessness, anarchy, blood-shed, perversion, riots, wars and rumors of wars, cause every con tinent to tremble in world upheaval. Unfortunately, most of the earth quakes that are shaking the world to day are not the work of God. Satan is the prince of this age. Many of these convulsions are the mystery of law lessness working up to its climax through the antichrist. We had a major earthquake in 1917 when Communism started an upheav al. It has kept the world in turmoil ever since. Lawlessness has made streets no longer safe. Humanity has gone sex crazy with perversion eating like a cancer. Science has had its own revolution making men so self-suffi cient that they have sought to give God H is “walking papers.” The church, too, is in the midst of an earthquake. Recently one of our lead ing magazines carried an article on the coming church of the future. Thank the Lord I won’t live to see it. The ecumenical movement heads steadfastly toward a colossal world church. We need the power that shook the world 20 centuries ago. The apostolic age has the answer to the atomic age. The only way to meet this demonstra tion (this demonstration of demons) is with a demonstration of the Holy Spirit in power. The Gospel really started with two earthquakes. When the Saviour died on Calvary’s cross (Matt. 27:51) and when He rose from the dead (Matt. 28:2). He died for our sins and rose again for our justi
fication. I believe those were literal earthquakes. God invaded history vis iting the earth through His only be gotten Son. This was the greatest double event the world has ever known. The Gospel started with earth quakes and so did the Church. The fourth chapter of Acts illustrates that. You see, God is in the earthshak ing business. These early Christians were in partnership with the Lord. Instead of shrinking in fear, they asked for more of the very thing that got them into trouble the first time. This was boldness. We are at the crossroads today. Shall we let the hostility of satan snare us into becoming diplomats on good terms with the world? The early Christians stirred up the devil. Our best endeavors today are usually met by a polite “yawn.” The liquor busi ness hardly knows we are in town because too many church members make it, sell it, buy it and drink it. We need to stop passing resolutions and begin promoting “revolutions” such as did the apostles. They had prayer meetings which ended in earthquakes. The only time some churches shake today is when they have a dance in the recreation build ing. If the emphasis were put on re creation instead of recreation, what a difference would be made. The salt of God's people needs to be shaken out of its smug compla cency into the carcass of a putrifying society. We are not going to have a spiritual earthquake in the world until we have one in the Church. When the Gospel hurts the devil’s business, trouble always starts. When Paul’s preaching in Ephesus turned people from idols to the Lord, the image makers started an uproar. It always happens that way. There is something wrong when the Church 5
can exist in the community with all the owners of iniquity making no pro test. Paul didn’t lecture on demonism at Philippi, he preached the Gospel. When people really believe the Gos pel, however, they will quit patroniz ing the devil. Every time Paul won a convert the devil lost a customer. Right here is our trouble today. Too many people join churches and go right on doing business with the devil. He has too many professing Christians on his side. Too many con verts of the church are still custom ers of Satan. People often ask, “Do you think the Church will go underground?” I don’t know, but if it does, it may de velop more power there than is now manifested. It was the Christians in the catacombs who put the coliseum out of business. We are not going to pray down earthquakes at committee meetings in church basements sipping hot chocolate and listening to the minutes of the last meeting. We are heirs to a movement that started with an earthquake. We are not going to move the world until the Gospel that shook our forefathers shakes us. The Lord is coming again. There will be one more quake which is clearly spoken of in the Word of God. Read the book of Revelation and get a graphic picture of this cataclysmic event. We are living between the earth quakes of grace and the coming earthquake of glory. Are you ready for it? I heard of an old lady who, in the midst of an earthquake, said, “I’m glad I’ve got a God who can shake this world like that.” He has done it and He will do it again. We thank God for a faith that shakes the world. If you are not prepared for this final earthquake, dear friend, the only way to get ready is to avail yourself of the provisions of God’s grace made ours through the two events surrounded with earthquakes: the death of our Lord on Calvary’s cross for our sins, and His rising again for our justification.
STARS IN DAYLIGHT Did you know that one can see stars in the day time? To do so one must go down into a deep hole, far enough so that he is in complete darkness. Then, it is said, the stars can be viewed. It would be an interesting experiment. Actually, it is a fact that we can’t fully appreciate the beauty of the night sky when surrounded by street lights or the brightness of a neon sign. One has to get away from the artificial light made by man to see the luminaries the Lord has created in all their beauty and won der. “The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth his handiwork.” Similarly, we can see and appreciate the love of God only if we first realize the darkness of our own iniquity. We must see our sins before we can truly see our Saviour. How long has it been since you took an honest look at yourself. When was the last time you really thought about the Lord? Sel dom do we ask what God would want of us, because we are usually too busy thinking, “What do I want?" When the darkness envelopes your life, remember, the Lord will take us on no pathway over which He Himself has not already passed victoriously. So th e Psalmist beautifully penned, under the Spirit’s guiding, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me."
Seated at the microphone is Dr. Vance Havner, beloved Bible teacher from North Carolina. With him, standing from left to right, are Mr. Al Sanders, vice president of Public Relations, and Dr. Milton C. Gould, director of Development for Blola. Dr. Havner's unique presentation of the Gospel messagehas been greatly blesed of the Lord.
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I T is AN amazing fact to realize that the outstanding characteristic of this intellectual age is ignorance. There has never been a generation priding itself more on its cleverness and sophistication. Although we are informed on all subjects, we are clearly marked by educated ignor ance. There has never been a time when men have been so smart while at the same time being so stupid. Will Rogers used to say, “The dumbest person in the world is an educated man, wheii you get him off the sub ject on which he was educated.” Men are most ignorant on the Bible and God’s will. Whatever else a person may know, if he is not familiar with what God wants him to know, he is simply an ignoramus. Our Saviour said, “Ye do err, not knowing.” He had in mind two things, the Scriptures and the power of God. Herein is the cause and the cure for everything. God has said something to us in His Word, and He has done something for us in His Son. Not knowing these two things man lives in error. While we may travel faster, what does it avail if we are going in the wrong direction? In the last 100 years we have learned amazing things about the world in which we live. The problem is we haven’t learned how to live in it. We correct one social evil and yet jails are filled with criminals under 25. Modern man, in all his affluence, doesn’t know where he is going. It is as though he were wandering in a wilderness which can only wind up in the eternal hell. The world doesn’t realize its peril. When our Lord comes again it will be as it was in the days of Noah and Lot. The peo ple then didn’t know what time it was nor the gravity of the hour. How amused they must have been at the strange creature who built an ark
while warning his generation of im pending judgment. Today men are extremely ignorant of God’s program. The same things are happening today as they did in Noah’s time. Old Josh Billings used to say, “I’d rather know a few things for certain than to be sure of a lot of things that ain’t so.” How many people there are who don’t know things that are for certain. They know the baseball and football scores, but they don’t know God’s scoreboard. They listen to news com mentators while the only Book that tells them where they came from and where they are going lies neglected. On Paul’s voyage to Rome he told them that they were headed for trou ble. They listened to the mariner, however, and not to the minister. They must have said, “What would a preacher know about navigation?” The result was a tragic shipwreck. The same thing is happening today. The world doesn’t realize its real peril although it may be scared. Peo ple want to know what to. do if the atom bomb falls, but not many of them are asking what can be done if God’s judgment falls. Our problem is not atomic, it is adamic. It is sad that the Church doesn’t know its need. Our Lord said of the Laodicean church, “Thou sayest, I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing and knowest not.” They didn’t realize that they were actually wretched and miserable. The Bible tells us, “I would not have you ignorant about spiritual gifts,” in I Cor. “I would not have you ignor ant about them that are asleep,” in I Thess. “I would not have you ignor ant about Israel,” in Romans. It is high time for us to awake out of sleep. One of the real heartbreaks is that Christians do not know the Lord as 7
the world because he didn’t under stand God’s program. Someone has well said, “Education g ives me spokes for my wheel, but it doesn’t give me a hub.” A lot of people are learning a good many things but they have no center or hub without Christ. By Him all things consist and hold together. If you are ignorant because you don’t know the Scriptures and the power of God, you can know Him through personal faith. To “believe” does not mean an intellectual accept ance of the fact. The word for “be lieve” in the New Testament doesn’t have a verb. In English it does. Our term “believe” is not exactly what the word says in the New Testa ment. It means putting all one’s de pendence on the Lord Jesus Christ. The bank is not going to keep your money until you push it across the counter and deposit it. So it is with faith. Don’t go around saying, “I be lieve in the bank.” That won’t keep your money. Even so, you can have an intellectual faith in Jesus Christ and yet it still won’t save you. Have you made the deposit? Do you know that you have been passed from death unto life? We know He abides in us by the Spirit which He has given to us. Here is the Lord’s cure for ignorance: know the Scriptures and the power of God.
they ought. The Saviour said to Phil ip in John 14:9, “Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip?” After three years with our Lord, hearing the teaching and witnessing the miracles, he still was not fully persuaded in his own heart. But don’t blush for Philip, blush for yourself. We have had 2000 years of His church, His Spirit and His Scriptures, and look at us! Some are well “over the hill,” and still don’t know Him intimately. We are so slow of heart to believe. How we need to be closely acquainted with Him. I think of a great old bishop who was told one day by a certain lady, “I have followed all the rules and read all the books, and yet I don’t seem to know the Lord very well. Does God have favorites?” The saintly man responded, “No, He doesn’t have favorites, but He does have intimates.” It is certainly a fact that sinners don’t know the Saviour. “This is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.” A woman was telling her husband when he came home from work, “Somebody knocked at the door today. When I opened it a stranger stood there. He asked me ever so abruptly, ‘Do you know Jesus Christ?’ I didn’t know what to say. I stared at him and finally closed the door in his face.” Her husband re plied, “Well, why didn’t you tell him you teach the ladies’ Bible class and are president of the women’s mis sionary society?” She sadly answered, “Because that’s not what he asked me.” It would be a good thing if some of us would open the door on ourselves and say, “For all your re ligious activity, do you really know Jesus Christ?” Because of ignorance we live in error. We err because we know not the Scriptures for, “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” The wise man is the man who knows God’s Word and God’s will. Head knowledge is useful if it is sanc tified by the Spirit of God. Other wise it is dangerous. Hitler wrecked
Water is a precious com odityin Southern Cali fornia, therefore, withthe smallcreekwhichflows throughthe Campus, maintenance engineers have constructed small conservation damswhich allow irrigation of the playing fields, in the background are some of the many olive trees which enhance the landscape.
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T here are interesting words giv en by Amos telling us, “There fore, the prudent shall keep silence in that time, for it is an evil time.” We are told in Eccl. 3:7 that there is a time to keep silence and a time to speak. It was a most inappropriate time for the kind of preaching Amos did. Business was booming at Bethel and the people “never had it so good.” It was a time of plenty and the house of God had become a house of idols. Within 50 years all the ter rible things Amos prophesied came to pass. No one saw anything wrong with religion at Bethel until after Amos came to town. As a matter of fact, the Pharisees didn’t see any thing wrong with Judaism until our Lord came to Jerusalem. It takes a prophet to show up religion when it is merely a farce rather than a force. Centuries after Amos, Paul de clared that the days were evil. Think of the grandure and glory of Rome in those days. Why would one want to turn from all that pomp and pag eantry to this little preacher with his bodily presence weak and his speech contemptible. People could have pointed to the worldwide dominion of the mighty empire and look at her armies and her art, her cities and her culture, her language. Frankly, it is poor psychology to be saying the days are evil. Paul, however, was right. If we had been there when he was on trial before Nero, we might have wanted to take our stand with Nero. Nowadays, however, we call our dogs “Nero” and our boys “Paul.” Anybody with his eyes open, his Bible in one hand and a newspaper in the other, certainly must see that the days are evil. There is no word in the English language to describe the corruption of this 1966 moral cess pool. There is a right way and a wrong way to keep silent in an evil
time. Amos didn’t mean that we are never to speak. He was actually one of the most vocal ,of men in his day. There are situations and conditions in which a Christian, who knows his Bible will keep silent. He is not alarmed or afraid of evil tidings. For the Christian everything is just in reverse from the man of this world. Good news is bad news, and bad news is good news. For instance, when they shall say, “Peace and safe ty,” that sounds like good news. It isn’t for the Christian, however, be cause he knows that sudden destruc tion is coming. On the other hand when men’s hearts fail them for fear and perplexity abounds, that sounds like bad news. For a Christian, how ever, it is good news. We read that when we see these things begin to come to pass, we can lift up our heads and know that our redemption draweth nigh. I positively refuse to take part in all the howling and moaning of the times. There is no use trying to discuss the times to the man on the street if he is not a Christian and is not reading his Bible. One may as well try to describe a sunset to a blind man or to play music to a person who can’t hear. This is the same as cast ing pearls before swine; giving that which is holy to the dogs. “The nat ural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit, because they are spiritu ally discerned.” A person needs to get saved so that his heart is changed and his eyes are opened. I read the other day about a new kind of cough syrup that has an in gredient known as “silentium” in it. It is supposed to keep one silent. I don’t know much about that medi cine but I do know some saints who need a double dose of it as well as some churches. They are talking their heads off answering questions 9
nobody is even asking. Then, too, Christians have no business “whoop ing” it up for all the reforms and projects by which this world tries to superimpose a false kingdom of heav en on an unregenerate society. We need to wait patiently for God’s time of deliverance, all the while in silent submission. Christians who know their Bibles do not ride the bandwagon headed for the “prom ised land.” They are not demonstrat ing some scheme to build a new world order down here. We are looking for a pearly white city coming down from God. We will be criticized and ostracized, however, since these pro grams for a counterfeit millennium leave us “cold” and unimpressed. It is an evil time and we must not waste precious moments on man’s foolish ness as he vainly seeks to work out his own salvation. At the same moment, however, there is a wrong way to keep silent in an evil time. Ecclesiastes tells us that there is also a time to speak. Christians who know their Bibles ought to speak out in churches today. The Word of God is being denied from many a pulpit. Good men dare not keep silent. It was well said that,
“The only thing necessary for the tri umph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” We must cry out against the sins of society, warning men of judgment to come. Amos certainly didn’t keep silent. Alexander Mac- Laren said, “Good men become so ac customed to the corruptions of society that they feel no call to rebuke them or to wage war against them.” Such silence is tre a s o n against J e su s Christ. There is a lot of high sounding talk today about not getting involved in controversial issues. It is my claim that any issue worth talking about is controversial. There isn’t a doctrine in the Christian faith that isn’t con troversial. Jesus Christ Himself was a very controversial figure. As believ ers we have the only remedy for the world’s ills which is the Gospel. This can be a day of good tidings. Those lepers in Samaria had a lit tle committee meeting when the city was beseiged and people were starv ing to death. Nobody knew what to do. They said, “If we stay here we will die of leprosy. If we go into town we will starve to death. There is only one direction left. Let’s go straight ahead and see what happens.” They
Picturedbeloware the speakers featured during Biola's 31st Annual Torrey Memorial Bible Con ference recently held in Southern California churches. Seated from left to right are: Dr. Ralph L Keiper, Dr. ManfordGeorgeGutzke, Dr. Samuel H. Sutherland, Dr. Bruce W. Dunn, and Dr. Wil liam Ward Ayer. In the back row are: Dr. Clarence H. Didden, Dr. W. Elwyn Davies, Dr. Ralph W.
Kraft, Dr. Ord L. Morow, Dr. Clarence R. Sands, Dr. D. Stewart Briscoe, Dr. Francis R. Steele, and Dr. W. Robert Smith. During the courseof the wek, it was estimated by the Rev. Thomas E. Steele, directorof the Conference, that the men had the opportunityof ministering to an aggregate audience of 70,000 people.
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went out and God scattered the enemy. All they had to do was to gather up the spoils. In doing so one thoughtfully remembered, “We are not doing well. It is a day of good tidings and we are holding our peace.” There isn’t any greater in iquity than sinful silence; failure to witness privately and publicly for Jesus Christ. We have been entrusted with the good news of the Gospel. We shouldn’t be ashamed to tell it wher ever we go. Old Aunt Sophie had bad eyesight. They found her one day doing per sonal work with a wooden Indian in front of a cigar stand. When she found out her mistake she said, “Well, I’d rather try to talk to a wooden In dian about Jesus Christ than be a wooden Christian and never talk to anybody about Him.” There is a time to keep silent and there is a time to speak. When it comes to supporting the u se le s s schemes of this world, let us keep silent. But when it comes to crying out against evil in the church as well as in the world, we ought to be heard! Blessed is the man who knows when to keep still and when to speak. Christ died for our sins and rose again for our justification. This is the greatest news ever to strike this planet, “Believe On the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.”
ALCOHOLISM Dr. William B. Terhune, recently re ported in the New York State Journal of Medicine, that alcoholism is now an epidemic. He declared that at least 16% of the population are alcohol dependent. Our nation spends between ten and eleven billion dollars annually on liquor and whiskey with an ever increasing rate of consumption. Those who seek to carry on a spiritual ministry with these needy people see the sad and tragic re sults. The Biola students whom you help us to train not only work in churches but also have the opportunity of going behind prison bars, in Los Angeles área jails as well as juvenile halls where youth are incarcerated. UNSEEMLY SEPARATORS Without question one of the ugliest walls in the world is that which is con structed in Germany between East and West Berlin. Since 1961 it has pene trated through houses, across streets, blocking all doors and windows in its path. In numerous places there are heavy strands of barbed wire on the top. More than this, however, families and friends are separated. Christians in the East aren’t able to attend their churches because of these nearly im pregnable walls. While this is a tragic sight yet some of the worst walls sep arating men are not just those made of brick and barbed wire. Cain built a wall in his mind through the bitter hatred of his brother Abel. This was because the sacrifice he himself offered was self- righteous and proud. The worst kind of a divider is the one which is built be tween man and God. You can be sure that the Lord didn’t put it there. Be cause of our sin this has separated us from our Creator. When Jesus Christ came to this world, however, He tore down these walls. He broke through every partition keeping man from God. Now, by faith in Him, we have immedi ate access into the presence of the Lord. As a result, we may enjoy the same peace which is God’s portion. Are there walls in your life? Have you ever al lowed Jesus Christ to come into your heart? I f you are a believer, is there a wall between you and someone else? You cannot be constantly abiding in the Saviour unless you tear down this “un seemly separator." Otherwise, the eco ll will be between you and God. Davidsaid, “I f I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” 11
Taking care of the Campus is a never ending job for a faithful crew of maintenancemen directed by Mr. William Bennett. Picturedbelowis Biola student Buz Jensen from Watsonville,Calif, get ting rid of some of the many we dswhich sprout outafter a rainfall.
church which cannot endure sound doctrine. The man who takes his Bible seriously must soon learn that there is a price to pay. He must take the bitter as well as the sweet. Dr. A. H. Gordon, that great Bos ton preacher, said that because of his advocacy of the doctrine of our Lord’s return that it cost him estrange ment and suspicion on the part of those who should have been his friends. Such a truth is not wel comed by a church with millionaire merchants and great university lead ers. It was for the assertion of this, remember, that Christ Himself was crucified. When you take this Book for your guide, you may have to re nounce something you hold most dear, undertaking what you may not want to do. Your whole pattern of life may be upset. While the Bible is sweet to the Christian, such a diet of sweets is not good for anybody all the time. There needs to be the bitter, too. There is too much of a sugar-coated Christian ity today. There needs to be the bit terness of repentance, persecution, and hardship. We have been called upon to deny self and to take up the cross and follow a crucified Saviour. Promises are sweet, but Command-
I N the tenth chapter of Revela tion there is the announcement by a mighty angel concerning the fact that time would no longer be delayed. Held in his hand is a little book con taining the secret of destiny, the meaning of history, and God’s title deed to this earth revealing His pro gram for this age. John was com manded to eat it and when he did he found that it was sweet to his taste but bitter after he swallowed it. There is another volume which is a bittersweet book, the Word of God. The Bible has a message of salvation to all who will receive it. At the same time it has a message of condemna tion to all who reject it. This makes it sweet to the believer, but bitter to the unbeliever. The same sun that shines on ice and melts it, shines on clay and hardens it. The Word of God either humbles or hardens the human heart. “He that believeth is not con demned; but he that believeth not is condemned already.” I hear some people who say, “All we have to do today is to preach love.” This is folly for we must preach both the wrath as well as the love of God. This is a “bittersweet” Book. All men will be judged by this eternal Word. Be careful how you handle that Bible which may be un used in your home. You may do noth ing about it but it will do something about you! Because of its truth each of us is without excuse. When we first become Christians, God’s Word is very pre cious and sweet to our taste, “sweeter than honey and the honeycomb.” As we begin to face up to this Book, however, it makes demands of us. It tells us to separate ourselves from the world; it makes us aliens in exile in this old Babylon. If we preach -the whole Gospel of God, we shall be ac cused of extremism, not only by the world, but also by a professing
Research is an important aspect of training for students in Biola's Schol of Missionary Medicine, of whichMiss LeonieV. Soubirou is dean. Here George Mohlenhof of Californiaand Sara Webster of Texas, check out some assignments in the library. The programof education is a one year post graduateschol.
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Book. In these frightening hours, it still says, “The morning comes and also the night.” This is a bittersweet prediction. For the Christian, good news is bad news, and bad news is good news. When they shall say, “Peace and security,” that sounds like good news, but sudden destruc tion comes. On the other hand, “dis tress of nations,” “perplexity,” “men’s hearts failing them” indicates bad news. The Christian, however, is told to look up, to lift up his head for our redemption draweth nigh. What is bitter for the unprepared is sweet for those who are ready. As bad as conditions are, they are not bad enough yet. As soon as they get this way with man at the end of his tether, completely ensnared by his own gadgets, God is going to step in and say, “You boys have had it long enough, now I’ll take over.” No man is able to put up a sign, “This way out.” The Christian can take the first letter off that sign and with assur ance declare, “His way out.” The only correct interpretation of what is going on in America as well as around the world is not learned from news commentators or histo rians, but rather from the Word of God. It is a waste of time to discuss world events with people who know nothing of the Bible and . its escha tology. It is a different language. There isn’t any dialogue there until their eyes are opened to the truth. The angels must look on in wonder at the stupidity of the human race in graduate school scientifically and still in kindergarten spiritually. Here we are trying to get to the moon when we don’t know how to live on earth. When the world is a madhouse and the inmates try to run the asylum, the man who knows his Bible finds it sweeter than honey and the honey comb. That day will not overtake him as a thief. “Watch ye therefore, and pray always.” Keep close to the bitter sweet Book, and be prepared for its message of joy, while at the same time prepared to answer its challenge to sacrifice. 13
ments are sometimes bitter to our in clinations. In our Lord’s parable of the sower there are some who hear the Word receiving it with joy, but they are soon offended and cannot take the bit ter along with the sweet. Even our Lord said, “If it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.” There is a great mistake in working with young people, giving them the Gospel and preaching Christianity as though it were just a better way to have a good time. We try to get the youth to volunteer for the Lord’s service STRESS FOR STRENGTH The tree that never had to fight For sun and sky and air and light, That stood out in the open plain And always got its share of rain, Never became a forest king But lived and died a scrubby thing. The man who never had to toil To heaven from the common soil, Who never had to win his share Of sun and sky and light and air, Never became a manly man. But lived and died as he began. Good timber does not grow in east, The stronger wind, the tougher trees; The farther sky, the greater length, The more the storm, the more the strength, By sun and cold, by rain and snows, In tree and man, good timber grows. saying, “Here am I, Lord,’! like Isaiah, but before they have first said, “Woe is me.” The latter symbol izes crucifixion and death to self. If you take the Bible seriously, and you should, you will find that when you taste it it will be sweet, but when you swallow it, it may become bitter. Too many “Bible - tasters” have never really swallowed it, mak ing it their daily food. The Bible is bittersweet as it re lates to the days in which we live. We are in the atomic age, and the watchman studies the radar screen. The best sentinel for the ramparts o’er which we watch is this old
Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.” Jesus didn’t come just to show us what God is like. Although He did that, to be sure. God took the initiative. What keeps us from know ing God is sin. Science doesn’t have any answer to sin, a question as old as history itself. On the cross, the perfect Son of God and Son of man bore our sins in His own body, suf fering the just for the unjust that He might bring us to God. The answer to the sin question is the Son question. “There is no other Name under heav en, given among men, whereby we must be saved.” The Saviour is certainly the an swer for how to live. He is not just a way to live, but in actuality is our life. He came that we might have not just life, but that we might have it more abundantly. Men ought to live like Christ, but, remember, o n e doesn’t get to heaven merely by living like Jesus. None of us have what it takes. Some people start out living for Jesus which is very noble and very fine. This will never give a per son eternal life. The Christian life must be implanted in us by the mira cle of regeneration. Christianity is moving on from the “unchanged” life
H aving spent over 50 years in the ministry there are a few observations which impress them selves on my mind. “Youth has fire without light, and age has light with out fire.” We need both the burning and the shining light. Someone has said, “If youth knew now to live, then old age could.” I have come from the horse-and-buggy days to the space age. Man has stepped up the pace these last 50 years faster than in all the centuries before. Yet his sins have gotten him into more trouble than his science can get him out of. There are some things computers just do not tell us. The first big question is how to find God. How does one get in touch with Him? Can He be known? He is cer tainly not found in the test tube. “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth His handi work.” The sad situation is, however, too many know the “art” of God but not the “heart” of God. Knowing more about God as the Creator is not know ing God personally as a loving heav enly Father. The second thing computers won’t tell us is how to live. It is true that, physically, we are living longer. Life is not measured by its length, how ever, but by its depth. America is turning out scientists today, but not saints. We ride under the water like fish and fly in the sky like birds. The problem is, if only we could walk on the earth like men. Another thing the computers don’t tell us is about life after death. What happens one minute after a person dies? Science' cannot help us there. Where are our loved ones now de parted? The wonderful assuring an swer to all three of these queries is found in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Saviour is the answer to how to know God for He was the express image of the invisible God. “The
Mr. William Eitzen (right), executive secretary for the Biota Alumni Association, looksover in formation concerning a forthcoming Campus event with the Rev. Rusell Kilman, vice president of the organization. Mr. Killman is Directorof the Heaven and Home Hour, Glendale, California.
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how we may may get in touch with Jesus Christ. Almost everybody be lieves that there was a person by the name of Jesus Christ as well that He died. Few people really believe that He arose again from the dead. It is one thing to believe about these facts and another thing to believe “in” them! Christ died for our sins. Our faith is not based on feelings, but rather upon facts. “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” This is the age of the demythologiz- ers who tell us that the resurrection, as an example, did not really happen; it is just the beauty of the thought that is important. The Bible prophe sies that in the last days men will turn from the truth to teach myths and fables. Don’t be mystified by these false teachers. The sad thing is that men can know the Scriptures but yet not know the Saviour. It is not enough to believe that the Bible is the Word of God and that Christ is His Son. I could declare that I believe this bank is a dependable one, yet that won’t keep my money. There must be a deposit made. Paul testified, “I know whom I have trusted. (I know where I have made the deposit.) I am persuaded that He is able to keep it.” I think of a woman who was given her first check to cash. She had never done this before. When she took it to the bank, the teller told her she would have to endorse it. Following instructions she turned it over and penned in, “I heartily endorse this check.” How much this is like so many who say that they believe that the Bible is the Word of God and heartily endorse it. This in itself, however, won’t save anybody. Each of us must sign on the “dotted line.” When you make the deposit of your faith, the Lord will also make His deposit with you. We are to keep that which has been committed. We have been given this treasure in earthen vessels. The privilege of witnessing is our high and holy calling. Come just as you are, on the ground of His shed blood and you will find in Him the answer to every question for time and eternity. 15
to the “changed” life to the “ex changed" life. Our Lord came down to earth not just to take our part but rather to take our place. How wonderfully the Lord is the answer to life after death. Whatever we know about heaven and most of what we know about hell was told us by Him. It was the meek and the lowly Jesus who told us more about hell than anybody else in the Bible. It was M Y UNSEEN FRIEND I have a friend so dear to me, And yet He is unseen; Almighty, yet invisible, The Arm on which I lean. He never fails me, never leaves, Is always by my side; And, in that wondrous presence, He Has taught me to abide. His love is past all human thought, He gave His life for me. That He might win me for His own. His cherished friend to be. When sorrows on my spirit press. And eyes with tears are dim; He draws me closer to His breast, And bids me rest in Him. I turn to Him with all my need, He shares both joy and pain; And for His help and sympathy I never look in vain. This blessed communion divine, Is so surpassing sweet; E'en here below— what will it be, When face to face we meet? — E. May Crawford our Lord who said, “I go to prepare a place for you . . . if it were not so, I would have told you.” How wonderful to be able to trust His unchanging words. Don’t ever say you have lost a loved one if he has known the Saviour. You know where he is if he is in Christ. You are still united in the Lord. I used to urge in my preaching, “Get ready to live,” rather than, “Get ready to die." (I thought that sounded pretty smart.) When you are ready to die, however, you are actually ready to live. We need to concern ourselves with
WHEN THOU PASSETH THROUGH THE WATERS Is there any heart discouraged as it journeys on its way? Does there seem to be more darkness than there is of sunny day? Oh, it's hard to learn the lesson, as we pass beneath the rod, That the sunshine and the shadow serve alike the will ot God; But there comes a word of promise, as promised in the rainbow— That however deep the waters they shall never overtlow. When the flesh is worn and weary, and the spirit is depressed, And temptations sweep upon it like a storm on ocean's breast. There's a haven ever open for the tempest-driven bird. There's shelter for the tempted in the promise of the Word. For the standard of the Spirit shall be raised against the toe, And however deep the waters they shall never overflow. When a sorrow comes upon you that no other soul can share. And the burden seems too heavy for the human heart to bear. There is One whose grace can com fort if you'll give Him an abode; There's a Burden-bearer ready if you'll trust Him with your load; For the precious promise reaches to the depths of human woe, That however deep the waters they shall never overflow. When the sands of life are ebbing and I near the Jordan's shore, When I see its billows rising and I hear its waters roar, I will reach my hand to Jesus, in His bosom I shall hide, And 'twill only be a moment till I reach the other side; It is then the fullest meaning of the promise I shall know, "When thou passeth through the wa ters they shall never overflow."
THE MISSIONARY CALL Mission fields are calling, we dare not longer wait, Our Master bids us hasten before it is too late. The demon powers oppress us, we must not be afraid, The heathen world is crying with hands outstretched for aid. He bids us rise and follow for tribes are waiting still, And we must bear the message, it is our Master's will. The fight will soon be over and our Lord will come to reign. Then let us tell the story and bring Him back again. Our prayers at last will conquer as in His name we go To those in heathen darkness, the love of God to show. For millions still are waiting, their hearts are filled with fear And we must take the Gospel or they will never hear. O Church of God awaken, and bring them to the fold, Our Master desires service, our silver and our gold; Then let us do His bidding though bitter be the fray, A rich reward is promised; O church of God, obey. COMMUNION Fill Thou my life, O Lord, my God, In every part with praise. That my whole being may proclaim Thy being and Thy ways. Praise in the common things of life, Its going out and in; Praise in each duty and each deed, However small and mean. So shall no part of day or night From sacredness be free; But, all my life, in every step, Be fellowship with Thee.
— Horatius Bonar
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Christian Home Series
by Dr. W. Robert
JO Y IN THE
Smith
CHRISTIAN HOME
I T IS WELL FOR US TO REMEMBER as we progress in our spiritual growth that there are not two classes of peo ple, those who succeed and those who fail. All of us meet with failures. The difference comes in the classification of those who fail, for there are many who are not aware of their problems, perfectly content to go along in their same sins and weaknesses, never ex periencing true victory. Others get so discouraged and disheartened that they give up thinking that it is hope less and futile. The third class is made up of those who recognize their fail ure but are driven to depend upon the Lord Jesus Christ for all their strength, power and encouragement. It is to this group that all of us should belong. The pferson who thinks he is not a failure is a sorry and naive individual. While no one is perfect in the abso lute sense as is God, yet we ought to be striving for increased success through victorious living. It ought to be our desire to be more like ouf dear Saviour. One chief failure is that we will not trust the Lord and be joyful in Him. One of the things parents need to learn is how to enjoy their children, having fellowship together, even in times of difficulty. How wonderfully Christ exemplifies this aspect in our lives, providing a perfect pattern for us to follow. In answering questions listeners to “The Biola Hour” have sent in, we must realize that our help comes wholly from the Word of God through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will point out to us the limitations and weaknesses if we wish Him to. If we are honest we can see ourselves as He wants us to, and yet we can look out and see the Lord Jesus Christ, rejoicing in
the wonders of His love and His for giving grace. How marvelously He encourages us day by day to move ahead in our lives. Some of the problems which have been submitted have deep moral sig nificance. Because space is limited we will not have the opportunity to de velop these answers to the extent that we would like. One of the most beneficial discus sions can center around the desire for Christian growth in asking, “How does one start a family altar, especially where the husband is not interested?” The mother, in the early years of her children’s lives, must make it a point to spend time with them at frequent intervals. It may have to be when the husband is at work. Never put your husband in a bad light before the children. Be fore the little ones go to bed is a good time to read Bible stories to them, teaching them to pray. Let them lead out, too. Ideally, the family altar is a time when every member gathers together around the Word of God. There is re joicing in reading the Scriptures, praying together, giving thanks to the Lord for all His blessings, and ask ing Him for guidance and wisdom that each may grow in Christian grace and maturity. When our five children were born, we prayed over their crib from the moment they came home from the hospital. We prayed as if the child were doing it, and by and by he would come to understand this. In addition, there should be prayer at the table before every meal. This is not to be a ritual, or something per functory, but that which is meaning ful. Let the children have a part in this, too. The family altar should be a joyful 17
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