US
MARCH, 1948
"THE LIKES O' ME” Rev. E. TV. Goodrick r [ HAS become quite a common say ing in the Christian world that you cannot lead others farther into the spiritual life than you yourself have gone. What a lot of spiritual arro gance would be required of anyone who believed this, before he would dare to minister the Word of God to a radio audience, a church congregation, a young people’s society, a Sunday school class or an individual. He is saying, in effect: “I am more spiritual than you are, or I would not have the audacity to try to lead you into deeper spiritual things.” It is hard to understand how such a teaching can command a following in the face of the clear command of Paul: “Be of the same mind, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind; doing nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself” (Phil. 2:2, 3 R. V.). Paul practiced what he preached. For it was he who claimed to be “the chiefest of sinners” and “the least of all the saints” (1 Tim. 1:15; Eph. 3:8). Peter exclaimed, “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 5:8). Isa iah cried, “Woe is me! for I am un done; because I am a man of unclean lips” (Isa. 6:5). And “Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone” (Ex. 34:29). This teaching probably grew out of the axiom, “The cleaner the vessel, the more it is used of God.” Nor should we in any way discredit this state ment, for, if any truth is taught clearly in Scripture, this is. Paul declared to Timothy that men should depart from unrighteousness: “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and pre pared unto every good work” (2 Tim. 2:21). It is good for us, both as lead ers and followers (for we are all priests of God) to keep always before, us the need for purity and the value of spirituality. Yet it does not necessarily follow that we cannot lead folks higher than we ourselves have gone. For it is the Word of God that nourishes and causes one to grow. We are but the vessels in which the truth is carried. of things hoped for." The original significance of the word "substance” was the collection of legal documents dealing with the possession of a piece of property. Hence, the modern equiv alent is “title deeds.” Faith, then, Is our legal claim, our just rights, for the good things to come: “ the things hoped for.”
Humility is one of the greatest vir tues. Certainly, Christian leaders should possess it But it would be impossible to be truly humble if the foregoing teaching were true. One’s poor opinion of himself would keep him from thinking that he was quali fied to lead. “One who is less spirit ual cannot lead one who is more spir itual. I am less spiritual than you. Therefore I cannot lead you” would be his natural syllogism. The Chris tian Church would thus be bereft of all of its self-effacing leaders who in turn would be replaced by those who had the spiritual pride to think them selves better than those to whom they ministered. Clean vessels, it Is true, God prefers to use. He can make better use of thpm. But is it not the sad truth that wholly clean ones are so rare that God must often make use of others in or der to get His work done at all? Es pecially it should be so as we look into the expectant faces of Christians whose spiritual attainments we scarce ly dare hope ever to achieve. We, none of us all that we should be, are yet privileged to break the Bread of T.ifp to needy souls. And they are blessed! Praise be to God for His in finite grace! I, vessel, tarnished here and there By worldliness, by want of prayer, Here in my darkened corner stand, Unfit for use in Thy clean hand. But wait! Thy cleansing touch I feel; My shallow brim You fill with meal; Some longing, hungry soul in need, My unkempt self is used to feed! Wondrous grace! How can it be That Thou would’st use “the likes o’ me!” Publication of the Breakfast Table Autocrat featured by the Moody Press, on page 91 of our February issue has been delayed, but will be ready April 1st. CALIFORNIA ITINERARY OF DR. WILLIAM L. PETTING1LL March 5-8—First Brethren Church, Ingle- wood. March 10-15—Calvary Baptist Tabernacle, Los Angeles. March 17-29—First Baptist Church, Ventura. April 7-12—Lincoln Ave. P r e s b y t e r i a n Church, Pasadena. April 14-19—Calvary Church, Santa Ana. April 21-26—Immanuel Bible Church, Santa Monica. April 28-May 5—First Brethren Church, Long Beach. May 12-26—Central M e t h o d i s t Church, Stockton. May 28-31—Boulevard Chapel, Sacramento. June 2-8—First Baptist Church, Loekeford.
Greek Word Treasures Bernard fiamm, A.B., B.D. Acts 11:26: “And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” The word “Caesar-ian” meant an imperial slave or soldier of Caesar. So the word “Christian” meant in that day, a slave or soldier of the imperial Christ! Romans 16:4: “Who have for my life laid down their own necks.” A similar expression has been found in an inscription in the r u i n s of Visenius (79 A.D.) which reads, “For the most beloved of his relatives or friends he would readily stake his neck.” Our modern term is “to go through fire and water” for someone. Mutual effort in the proclamation of the Gospel, especially when it involves risk and sacrifice, is a very sweet and enriching experience, and the servants of the Lord are in need of this grace to endure hardships for each other. 2 Corinthians 1:22: “Who hath . . . given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” 2 Corinthians 5:5: “Who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.” Ephesians 1:14: “Which is the earnest of our inheritance.” The word “earnest” appears in the papyri. In one instance, it referred to the down payment on a cow; in an other to the money paid dancing-girls as the first portion of their promised salary before their actual performance. So we now enjoy the earnest of salva tion, the sample and surety of the consummation to come. Philippians 3:7: “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.” The word “loss” has been found in the papyri inscriptions as a reference to scraps thrown out into the street for dogs. We might even call it “gar bage.” The most glorious achievement in religious living ever recorded of a man is that of Paul as described in Philippians 3:4-6. Yet, when he compares his self-righteousness with that of Christ’s righteousness, his own robe resembles garbage! Philippians 4:3: "Whose names are in the book of life.” The phrase **of whom the names,” as it is literally rendered from the Greek, is a legal term. It indicates an official record of names. So Paul tells us that a saint is one whose name is on the official registry of Heaven. Colossians 2:14: “Blotting out the h a n d w r i t i n g . ” When a piece of papyrus was to be used a second time, it was “erased,” that is, the old writing was washed out. Thus are our sins washed out, erased completely, from the record book of God. Hebrews 11:1: “Now, faith, is the substance of things hoped for.” Faith is defined as: “The substance
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