Sbe“Bible Bamilij itta&a^ine September - 1930
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“AN IMPRINT OF INTEGRITY AND IDEALS’ The Season's Best Books!
A CONFESSION OF FAITH
Parallel Lives of the Old and New Testaments
Some Living Issues
By Robert E. Speer “ An epoch-making book, as refreshing as a cool breeze on a sultry day. “ Deals with doctrines essential to the Chris tian faith in a masterly way— an immense asset to Evangelical Christianity. “ Should be in the hands of all theological stu dents, and in libraries of ministers, students and laymen everywhere.“ — Dr. David G. Wylie. Cloth, $2.50
By Clarence E. Macartney Each chapter of Dr. Macartney’s new volume — there are nine such— consists of two bright, concise sketches of two familiar Biblical charac ters, one from the Old Testament, one from the New. Some of the chapters are: David and Peter; Moses and Paul; Ezekiel and John (the Beloved); Pharaoh and Herod; Balaam and Judas; Elijah and John (the Baptist); Samuel and Barnabas; Abel and Stephen, etc., etc. $1.75
The Lord’s Prayer in Practice By An Unknown Christian The latest devotional and meditative study, from the pen of the English writer who devotes himself to an examination of the Model Prayer, probing the secret of its devotional content and bringing forth from his treasure-house things both new and old. Cloth, $1.25; Paper, 80c Texts That Have Touched Me By W. S. Bruce, D.D. Short, pithy addresses, suggested by the various texts, simple, practical, and aimed to quicken in the reader an enhanced desire to know more of Christ as a Power, at the center of man’s moral and spiritual being. $1.25
The Keystone of Christianity and Other Addresses By Gerald B. Winrod A clear, clarion-voiced defence of the cardinal truths of the Christian faith, to gether with an incisive declaration concern ing the character and content of these truths, and of the great fact of Christ around which they are builded. $1.25
Woman By Commander Evangeline Booth A notable survey, by one of the foremost women of her genera tion, of woman’s new and widely- enlarged area of usefulness in this present-day world, by Commander Booth of the Salvation Army. (Comrade Series) 60c Fellowship With God By Henry W. Fancher An able study and discussion of one of the great inspirations of spiritual experience. An illum inating book, which shows the need of this relation and examines its various aspects and implica tions. $1.25 The Directed Survey and Visitation Evangelism By A. Earl Kemahan, D.D. The competent director of Visi tation evangelistic campaigns, here adds a valuable and impor tant item, to the literature which he has already prepared dealing with the methods employed and the success achieved in this area of Christian activity. $1.50
Secret of the Life Sublime
By A. Z. Conrad, Ph.D., D.D. Pastor, Park Street Congregational Church, Boston
All who are familiar with Dr. Conrad’s stalwart evangelicalism and presentation of divine truth, will be prepared for the clarity and felicity of expression which character ize his latest book. $1.50 Adventurous Youth By Charles W. Brewbaker, Ph.D. A book written out of a desire to aid youth in seeing and understanding themselves more fully, and to assist them to a higher and richer estimate of their personal worth and potentialities. $1.25
A History of Some Scientific Blunders
By George McCready Price A deeply interesting and vastly entertain ing volume. In it Prof. Price introduces his readers to a study and a survey of some of the scientific blunders which continue to pass for proved science. $1.25
AUTHOR OF “ UNDER WHOSE WINGS”
Quiet Talks on The Bible Story
Eyes in the Dark
By S. D. Gordon
By Zenobia Bird
With this new volume, Mr. Gordon makes a long-awaited and eagerly anticipated addition to his “ Quiet Talks.” It exhibits throughout those fine qualities of clarity and valuable suggestion which have characterized his previous .work and endeared him to millions of readers throughout
Not only will young folks be thrilled by this new story from the gifted author of “ Under Whose Wings,“ but we can hardly imagine anyone, old or young, who gets fairly under its spell, who will give it up before its close.
the world.
$1.25
$1.50
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Enjoy aLifeIncome Without Curtailing Your Gifts to God’s Work INVEST IN A BIOLA ANNUITY BONDS And Get 4% to 10% Guaranteed Interest giving you a satisfying, regularly paid life income protected against unwise investments and interest losses—assur ing you the ' joy of investing in the work of training young men and women for Christian service here and abroad, the definite work to which the Bible Institute of Los Angeles has long been pledged. A Safeguarded, Enduring Investment— A BIOLA Life Annuity Agreement se cures for the purchaser of $100 or more a positive, promptly paid life interest of 4% to 10% yearly— the highest inter est rates consistent with sound annuity investment practice— every dollar pro tected against loss by time-tested safe guards. An enduring investment, every dollar working for the annuitant for the ad vancement of God’s cause without dis turbing one’s needed income. Payments Made As Wanted— These Agreements may be taken out for husband, wife, brother, sister or friend—permanently safeguarding an nuitant’s income from unwise invest ments and expenditures. Post Coupon Today for Pacts and Figures that Count! Bible Institute of Los Angeles 536-558 S. Hope St., Los Angeles, Calif. Without obligation, please send: Q Booklet AA— “Annuity Agreements.” □ Catalog—Biola Worth-While Books for Profitable S u m m e r Reading. Name: A Worthy, Doubly Profitable Use for Your Funds—
*^ 9 he K in g ’s bu sin ess W illiam P. W hite , D.D., E ditor J. E. J aderquist , P h .D., M anaging E ditor Motto: “I, the Lord, do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day." Isaiiah 27:3. PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY AND REPRESENTING THE BIBLE INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGE l EF Volume XX I September, 1930 Number 9 Table of Contents Crumbs from the King’s Table—The Editor...................................-411 Editorial Comment ..............................:............................ -.......-........-413 Two Divergent Disciples—Merrill C. Tenney..................................415 The Jew and Arab Controversy Over Palestine—J. A. Huffman....417 The Salvation of Scripture—The Manifestation—B. B. Sutcliffe-419 Psalm Fifteen and Its New Testament Correspondence —Ernest Gordon ....................................................................... 421 Seed Thoughts from St. Mark—Wilfred M. Hopkins....... ..........423 Heart to Heart with the Young People —Florence Nye Whitwell .................................-...................425 The Modern Korah—Homera Homer-Dixon.................................. 427 Homiletical Helps for Preachers and Teachers..... ....—....... -.......... 428 The Junior King’s Business— Sophie ShawMeader..........................429 International Lesson Commentary ................ A31 Our Literature Table.............. :....................... -...........-........................ 439 Notes on Christian Endeavor—Alan S. Pearce.... ...........—.............440 Daily Devotional Readings......... ......................................................... 442
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POLICY AS DEFINED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE BIBLE INSTI TUTE OF LOS ANGELES (a ) T o stand for the in fallible W ord o f God and its great fundamental truths, (b) T o strengthen the faith of all believers, (c) T o stir young men and women to fit themselves for and engage in definite Christian work, (d) To make the Bible Institute o f Los Angeles known, (e) T o m agnify God our Father and the person, w ork and com ing o f our Lord Jesus Christ; and to teach the transform ing pow er of the H oly Spirit in our present practical life, (f) T o em phasize in strong, constructive m essages the great foundations o f Christian faith. 536-558 S. Hope St., BIBLE INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGELES, Loi Angele*, Calif.
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■| /"V Three Months’ NEW Subscript I I f tions to The King’s Business, at 25# each— and a FREE copy of JOB— Hated but Hedged. Messages of comfort for believers, by Rev. P. W. Philpott, intended es pecially for those who are undergoing trials seemingly greater than they can bear. Originally delivered by the author to the congregation of the Church of the Open Door, they have already proven a source of sustaining helpfulness. THE ABOVE COMBINATION: $ 2.50 ^ Three Months’ NEW subscrip- A l l tions to The King’s Business, at 25# each— and a FREE copy of either one of the following books: LOOKING UNTO JESUS, by T. Mar shall Morsey. Cloth— (Original Price $1.25). A most assuring book on the world’s need of Christ Himself, written at the request of the many whom Dean Morsey has led out of doubt to strong assuring faith in Christ. It is rich in suggestion for Christian workers who are facing the spiritual unrest of the times. WINNING THE CHILDREN FOR CHRIST, Edited by D. P. Thomson, M.A., Cloth— (Original Price $1.75). One of the most brilliant and pene trating studies of the religious ap proach to the child that has appear ed. The Glasgow Herald says: “We cannot imagine a book more likely to inspire and aid those engaged in the task of Christianizing the world's youth than this volume.” THE ABOVE COMBINATION: $ 5.00
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I Crumbs Cfrom the King’s 13able | By the Editor ->— ««««„J;
Spiritual Life f HE ability to exercise the functions of the soul in a proper way constitutes the spiritual life. Every Christian has received this life; he can never lose it for God never forsakes His own work. Properly speaking, all Christians are spir itual people. But the possession of spiritual life is not quite the same thing as living a spiritual life. The Bible repeatedly warns those who have received this spiritual life against the dan ger of walking after the flesh. This new life is some times under the influence of the carnal mind. Also there are many spiritual diseases that will fasten themselves like parasites upon the new life that weaken the capability of the renewed soul to exercise its proper function. Spiritual life, as such, is never lost. Spiritual apprehension and spiritual mindedness are easily lost. When we say that there is a need of greater emphasis of spiritual life we do not refer to the need of an analysis of this life itself. We refer to the need of more realization of this life, both as to our subjective consciousness of it and the actual revelation of that life in our Christian conduct. Beware of the intellectual type of Christianity. The in tellect is a powerful means of knowing God and a leading up to a real, healthy spiritual life, but nothing will do more mischief to one’s spiritual life than relying upon the intel lect. None are more vain, conceited and pleased with them selves than the Christians who think that knowing a few things is of principal importance. It is usually through the intellect that the devil does most of his mischief, and he does it also among Christian people. O f course I do not wish to detract one iota from the importance of the intel lect in relation to Christianity in general and to true spirit ual life in particular, but I mean to say that Christianity is more than a fine theory, and real spiritual life is infin itely more than clear, intellectual conceptions of the doc trines of salvation. Even the most orthodox type of Christianity is not to be confused with genuine spirituality. I fear that ortho doxy makes many of our people an easy prey of the devil, for not a few boast of their orthodoxy while their lives show very little, if any, of “ a faith which worketh by love,” and humble devotion to the cause of Christ. Intellect may be properly called the starting point of genuine spiritual life, .but it must never be considered to be its completion. God grant that we may become more intel- ligent with respect to “ the faith which was once delivered unto the saints,” but let us never think that a highly intel ligent Christian is also of necessity a truly spiritual Chris tian, for when the intellect is strongly developed without being placed under the proper control of a humble faith, it will at best be a counterfeit of spirituality. It never is that spiritual mindedness which is “ life and peace.” Beware also of the experimental type of Christianity. I fear that much of so-called experiences and feelings are merely imaginations run wild. Nothing looks so much like
spiritual life as does much of this experimental type of Christianity, while in reality nothing is so little like it. It is pretended and not real at all; and much of it is the result of a religiously unbalanced mind. God does not want us to be unreasonably spiritual. We have a “ rea sonable service,” says Paul, and we should remember that true spiritual life manifests itself in humbly serving God, serving Him not necessarily in an unusual way, but serving Him in quietude in our own place in the common walks of life. God put us in the world, not to live a worldly life, but to live a true spiritual life in the midst of a “ crooked and perverse nation.” It is more to the honor of a Christian soldier by faith to overcome the world than by a monas- tical vow to retreat from it, and more to the honor of Christ “ to serve Him in a city than in a cell.” We shall never have a robust, strong, joyful, spiritual life till we get- out of this artificial, unnatural piety, and out of the narrow considerations of man-made spirituality. To be sure, there is a place for solitariness in the true spiritual life, but as Christ did not pray to His Father to have His people taken out of the world but to keep them from the evil one, so we must pray that by His grace we may live a spiritual life while performing common duties. What we need, in order to be more spiritual, is a firm grasp by faith upon the things eternal, and a clear view of their glorious reality and unlimited value. If we seek that, .we shall obtain it; and having that, we can face the world and take our part in everyday life without the danger of being defiled thereby. There is another type of Christianity of which we should beware. Under the motto o f “ Practical Christian ity,” and similar terms, we are confronted with a form of unspiritual and often unchristian Christianity which is playing havoc everywhere. Doing this and that and the other thing is considered to be genuine Christianity and consequently the highest type of spiritual life. People are wearing themselves out nowadays to do certain things which they themselves or others claim to be “ of utmost religious importance,” but which in reality have nothing at all to do with their specific duties as Christians, or which are at the most only some little fruit of Christian love. All that any Christian can ever do cannot take the place of that whole-hearted devotion to God which makes us an entire and living sacrifice for Him. Spiritual life is not merely the doing of a thing, but it is the attitude of the soul toward God which prompts the doing. The action type of Christianity is often full of self-righteousness. It is trying to make a compromise between God and the sin ful heart, and would satisfy the justice of God by a few small actions which it considers of great value while the Lord said, “ When ye shall have done all these things which are commanded you, say, W e are unprofitable servants', we have done that which was our duty to do.” To live spir itually is to exercise all the functions of the soul, both out wardly and inwardly, toward God and in fellowship with Him.
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want to lead my people there and I ought before I die to show the young men and women in Israel that there is a God who can overcome giants!” What a lesson here for those of us who think that we have borne the burdens of the church so many years and that it is now time for us to retire! We may be looking at the past with a bit of pride and at the present and future with a bit of anxiety. We may be recalling great victories of faith in the days gone by, and saying, “ The former days were better than these.” We. may be whining about the condition of the young people and saying that they are not measuring up to their fathers. Quit criticizing the young people; that will do them no good. We did not have half the temptations that they are having when we were their age. They do not need our criticism; they need our en couragement, Attention, comrades! Faint not. Ask God to take that scowl off your face. Get back into fellowship with God.‘ Let the joy of the Lord be your strength. Get all the old people of your congregation together. Seek the face and favor of your Joshua; ask Him for the hard places in the ranks; seek His grace and power to lead the young people—not to drive them; show the young people of your community an example of true spiritual life, and you shall see a work of grace that will do your old heart good. May God give us a real revival among the old people. Challenge which they sent to every minister in the English speaking world. These volumes were called, “The Fundamentals : by Two Christian Laymen.” There can be no doubt that the great movement, which today spreads over the Christian world, to preserve the faith once for all delivered to the saints, is indebted to these men and to the books they sent out. Dr. Reuben A. Torrey, who had served as Dean o f the Moody Bible Institute, following his world evangelistic tour, became the Dean o f the Bible Institute of Los Angeles and held that position for fifteen years. The coming o f Dr. Torrey was a fitting union of the work and spirit o f the two Institutes. The first class o f four men and two women was gradu ated from the Bible Institute in 1911. Since the beginning there have been, in Day and Evening and Correspondence Courses, more than fifteen thousand students, coming from every State in the Union and from forty-nine foreign countries. In commemoration of the founding of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles, a convocation will be held at thè beginning of the new school year to fittingly mark this twenty-fifth mile stone in our history. Have the twenty-five years proven the worth o f the idea? Have the students who received their training in Christian leadérship demonstrated at home and in foreign lands the value o f this great contribution to the church? Shall the work go on? The Institute is in the hands of its friends. Their response to the Biola Challenge will indicate to the Board of Directors what plans for the Institute they can make. We have adopted a policy of rigid economy but no retrenchment. We cannot curtail our program and think we are in the Lord’s will; and yet, if our friends do not sense the inestimable value o f service rendered, such cur tailment is inevitable. The largest registration of Day School students in the history of the Institute has been made for the Fall Semester. God has answered our prayers, and we believe that “he which hath begun a good work . . . will perform it”
A Crumb for the Old People R EAD the fourteenth chapter of Joshua. The great leader was dividing the land among the tribes when one day an old man, eighty-five years of age, came up to Joshua and said, “ Give me Hebron!” I think Joshua must have smiled for the man who stood before him had been his chum for many years. It was Caleb. Joshua and Caleb were the only old men in Israel at this time. They were the only ones over forty years of age. They had seen each other in mighty tests of faith. Years before they had re turned to Kadesh-barnea with ten others from spying out the land. The ten others had fallen, but- these two mighty men of faith had said, “ Yes, there are giants up there but we are well able to overcome them.” They were a despised minority in Israel but they stood faithful to God and did not wayer. And now Caleb stands before his old friend, who has become the leader of Israel, with this one request, “ Joshua, give me Hebron!” I can see the old general looking at his chum with great admiration and I can hear him say, “ Caleb, do you not know there are giants over there? Do you not know the danger?” And then I hear the old man say, as he straightens up to his full height and looks be seechingly info the face of his companion, “ Oh, give me Hebron! I know that is where the giants are, but I The Biola WENTY-FIVE years is a good long time to test an idea. That is the lapse of time since the seed was sown from which has grown the present Bible Institute of Los Angeles. In 1905 a Men’s Bible Class, known as “The Fishermen’s Club,” and a Women’s Bible Class, known as “The Lyceum Club,” were organized in the Immanuel Presbyterian Church of Los Angeles. Within these groups the idea, o f a Bible Institute for Christian training was conceived, and in 1907 Mr. Lyman Stewart resolved to join Rev. T. C. Horton in the founding of the Institute which was incor porated in February, 1908, as the Bible Institute of Los Angeles. Mr. Lyman Stewart became the President o f the Board and remained so until his death in 1923. Mr. Horton became the Superintendent of the Institute and remained so until his retirement in 1925.-The providence which made possible the founding of the Institute was the interest which Mr. Stewart had in the . oil industry and in his one book, the Bible. In th'e early eighties when the world-famous evangelist, D. L. Moody, was founding the Bible Institute of Chicago, which now bears his name, his friend Mr. Stewart left his home in Titusville, Pennsylvania, where oil wa*s first dis covered in America, came to California and began pros pecting for oil, probably hoping that if he got it he might emulate' Moody and build a Bible Institute in Los Angeles. Mr. Stewart was a pioneer. He is credited with drilling the first oil well o f California, building the first oil re finery in the United States, and the first tank vessel on the Pacific Coast; he fitted up the first oil burning locomotive; he founded the Union Oil Company o f California. But material things were secondary in his life. He found the Bible to be the only supply for every need of life, the solution of every problem. He tested its strength; he tri umphed in its revelation. His dream was that all men every where might hear its message and receive Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord and have eternal life. To this end he gave himself and the means with which God had. entrusted him. Shortly after the Bible Institute had come into being, Lyman Stewart and Milton Stewart, his brother, foresaw the dangers to the church through attacks on its foundation of faith, and caused the best defenses of the Word to be gathered from all parts and assembled into twelve volumes
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Miracle Myth or Miracle Book—Which? FEW months ago Professor Wooley found at the traditional site of Ur of the Chaldees positive proof that the Biblical story of the flood is founded upon fact. A new confirmation is fur nished by Prof. Stephen Herbert Langdon who has been excavating at the ancient site of Kish, located riot far from Babylon. He discovered a buried city under a mud stratum eighteen inches thick upon which later civilizations had been built. At both Ur and Kish there is conclusive evidence that the pre-flood period had a much higher, grander civilization than that which suc ceeded the catastrophe. Thus again there is verification of the early chapters of Genesis. They certainly contain accurate history which must have been obtained from reliable records. And yet many “modern scholars,” in spite o f these corroborations of Scripture, would have us believe that there was a “ flood myth” carried forward for centuries and even mil lenniums through times of darkness and superstition, and that only a few centuries before the Christian era, after many writers and revisers had been occupied with the task, the story as we have it was completed. That would be a miracle myth indeed. How much easier it is to believe in a miracle Book. — o— What is a Christian School? T HE American Magazine for June published an inter view with Dean Shailer Mathews, of the Chicago School of Theology. In this he is quoted as saying that in their institution they are “ putting religion to the test.” He outlines their program somewhat as follows: Today we do not require Hebrew or Greek for gradu ation. We use no textbook in Theology. The Bible is studied as a rich case-book o f religious experience, but not as an infallible revelation. The life of Jesus is taken as an example of perfect, coordination and cooperation be tween a human being and the personally-responsive forces o f the universe, under conditions of His time. Beyond formal courses in religion, an almost unlimited range of subjects is open to students. They touch most o f the sci ences enough to learn their technique. The Dean goes on to say that they teach mental hy giene in order that students may learn how to deal with people who are troubled by fears, worries, and complexes. They study sociology to discover, among other things, what such “ social factors” as sunlight, housing, divorce, and gangs have to do with making a people good or bad. The approach is experimental. They first seek the facts. Second, they inquire what religion can do. Third, they ask, “ What technique does scientific knowledge suggest?” In such a school they evidently teach that religion is man-made. They study the Bible as a man-made Book which details many varieties of human experience. Their final authority in religion, if they have any, seems to be man-made science. The result, of necessity, will be the
worship of a man-made God. The whole thing rises no higher than human genius and speculation can go. It will never lead the student to the Lord Jesus Christ. It will probably land him either in the lap of Buddha or in the despair of infidelity. It is quite unnecessary to attempt to point Out that such a School of Religion bears no sort of resemblance to a Biblical “ school of the prophets.” It is not, and never has been, unscholarly to believe that God still lives and loves, that He speaks with authority in His Word, and that the well-being of sinful men depends upon their readjustment to His will and plan. A school that ,does not lead souls to a divine Saviour may. be a “ School of Religion,” but it cannot be called Christian. — o — Do Doubters Want to Believe? D R. ROBERT DICK W ILSON deals with critics of the Bible in a very direct and effective way. After teaching for half a century he knows what ails the doubter and is expert in dealing with him. In Christianity Today for June he writes as follows: I have learned that if they give me a student who wants to believe in God and His Word, his objections and doubts as to both will be dissipated by showing him the fal lacies and absurdities that underlie the objections and doubts which he has had; and, on the other hand, his faith will be awakened and strengthened by presenting the evi dence in favor of it and the reasonableness of it in the light o f the divine revelation presented in the Scriptures. Three simple things stand out in this brief statement: First, the student must “want to believe in God and His Word” if he is to be convinced. A modernist may have a “ closed mind,” saying dogmatically, for instance, that he cannot believe in miracles. If he takes such an attitude upon philosophical grounds his case is practically hopeless. The late Dr. R. A. Torrey was asked once how it happened that an old friend of his, once an evangelical preacher, had become a modernist. He replied, “ I do not know how it happened, but I know when he began to drift —when he came in contact with big money as the pastor of a wealthy city church.” That was not the first time that big money or popularity in “ this present world” caused a man to depart from the faith. He wanted to doubt because of present gain. ■Second, it is an easy matter to prove to one who is willing “ to believe in God and His Word” that “ the assured results” of modern criticism are nothing better than wild guesses and speculations. Dr. Wilson would do the church a great favor if he would write a book in which he gave a list of the critical theories concerning the Old Testament during the past fifty years which were once held to be settled facts and are now wholly discarded. Third, the evidence in favor of the Bible is so abundant to the reverent, obedient student that serious doubts can not enter his mind. This is not to say that there is no room for proper scholarly research. It was never more needed than today.
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f ONDITIONS in China seem to be drifting from bad to worse. It is impossible to imagine what a day may bring forth. Civil war and banditry have put much of the .land in turmoil. While this condition has interfered in some measure, especially in the war zone, with the work of the missionaries, reports indicate that in much of the land there is still an open door for the Gospel messenger, and that the preaching of the Gospel is bringing a harvest of souls. Missionaries have never been quick to run away from danger. They are quite ready to take risks under the lead ership of the Lord Jesus whose ambassadors they are. The Christian soldier feels that he should be as courageous as the member o f any army on earth. Also, the church that stands behind the missionaries, if it has the right perspec tive, will not hesitate when hindrances arise and perils threaten, but will seek to press the battle more strongly than ever. It is not the desire or intention of the Directors of the Bible Institute o f Los Angeles to have the Institute’s for eign messengers go recklessly into danger, but they have consented at this time to the return of Dr. and Mrs. Frank A. Keller to their field in Hunan, and to the send ing forth of two new recruits, Rev. and Mrs. Everett F. Harrison. Greetings from these workers sent on the eve of their sailing from Vancouver are passed on to the read ers of T he K ing ’ s B usiness . Dear Friends: Thè recent reports in the daily papers regarding mat ters in China have been so distressing that many of our friends are wondering what we will do. God willing, we will sail tomorrow (August 7) on the steamship “ Empress of Canada.” We hope to spend August 13 with friends in Honolulu. On August 21 and 22 we expect to be in Japan, stopping at Yokohama and Kobe and sailing through the beautiful Inland Sea. On Sunday, August 24, we are due at Shanghai. A cablegram was sent to us recently from Hankow by our colleague, Mr. Charles A. Roberts. It read in part: “ School buildings occupied by Communists; residences looted.” This message gave us the comforting assurance that Mr. Roberts had reached Hankow in safety, and that the buildings of the Hunan Bible Institute had not been destroyed, as so many other buildings were. They are being occupied by Communists, but we believe that God is using this plan to save the buildings for His work. Thus He makes even the wrath of man to praise Him. We believe that the work of the Biola Evangelistic Bands will go on without interruption. One of the blessed features of this work is that it can continue even when mis sionaries are forced to retire for a time. O f course, the evangelists will meet new dangersJ- therefore they need your prayers in a special way. Will you not pray for them daily, and for us ? Two fine young missionaries, Rev. and Mrs. Everett F. Harrison, are sailing with us. As they face, with us, the
terrible conditions in China, we trust that you will take them on your hearts and give them a place in your prayers. Mrs. Keller joins me in sending kindest regards. Most truly yours, Frank A. Keller. Dear Readers o f T he K ing ’ s B usiness : “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord” (Psa. 27:14). Before departing for China, to be associated with the Hunan Bible Institute at Changsha, we want to assure the readers of T he K ing ’ s B usiness that we are count ing on their support in prayer. After receiving a call to this work, we faced the disappointment of a closing door. Prayerful and watchful waiting was our only recourse, and we can truly say that the Lord has strengthened our hearts. He gave us His peace that passeth understanding. In answer to prayer, the Lord has marvelously overruled circumstances and conditions until the way has been opened up before us once more. We praise Him for His goodness and we seek to be separated so completely unto His Holy Spirit that He will be able to manifest something of His grace and glory through us as we serve Him in China. Our joy in responding to the Lord’s call is enhanced by the privilege of working with Dr. and Mrs. Frank A. Keller, who have labored so long and faithfully in China. Brethren, pray for us, and for the work that has enjoyed God’s signal blessing since the day it was established. Faithfully yours, Everett F. Harrison Arline Prichard Harrison. Adjusted Subscription Rates T HE Bible Institute of Los Angeles has never at tempted to commercialize T he K ing ’ s B usiness . Its motive is to give to the public the best Bible and Fam ily Magazine that is possible at prices which will insure a large circulation. A little readjustment seems necessary at present. Until September 30, 1930, the price of single subscriptions in the United States will continue at $1.25 a year. On and after October 1, 1930, the price will be $1.50; twenty-five cents should be added for postage by Canadian and foreign subscribers. Clubs will be received at the rate of ten annual sub scriptions for $10.00 in the United States; twenty-five cents additional for each Canadian or foreign subscription. While this change may add a trifle to the cost of the magazine for a few, it will actually reduce the cost to many who are able to induce their friends to join a club. Attrac tive book premiums will continue to be offered. Readers of the magazine will notice that it is possible to obtain a year’s subscription and a valuable book for the price o f the book alone, or even less.
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Two Divergent Disciples B y M errill C. T enney ( Boston, Mass.)
“And he went out, and wept bitterly" (Matt. 26:75). “And he went a/way, and hanged himself” (Matt. 27:5). p S g g ^ H E S E brief texts, startling both in their similar- ity and dissimilarity, form the dramatic epitome of two men’s lives. They are the record of the ^sggBÿj common failure and of the diverging fate of two ¡pLjt men who sinned shamefully and inexcusably. 4 Both deserted their dearest friend in the hour of his greatest need. Both violated even the common loy alty that binds man to man, to say nothing of any ties of spiritual allegiance. Both realized their failure, and were wrung by pangs of poignant regret. Yet one was melted to tears, and the other maddened by terror. One was
cluded. Both, doubtless, experienced the joys of success ful service, and the inner stimulus which comes from pro claiming truth. If, then, these men had in general the same social and intellectual advantages, the same opportunity for contact with Christ, and the same experience in practical service, why was their ultimate divergence so radical ? The answer lies deeper than external circumstance; it is in the hearts and dispositions of the men themselvps. I. Peter had a keen sense o f sin, and Judas did, not. Jesus, on His first Galilean tour, was preaching by the lakeside. Pressed by the crowd, he borrowed Peter’s boat for a pul
moved to repentance; the other lashed by- remorse, One came back to Christ; the other leaped unbidden into eternity. One went to Pentecost; the other, to perdi tion. One became the first great preacher of the C h r i s t i a n Church ; the other, “ a hissing and a byword among the nations.” Why? It was not because of any difference in the external oppor tunities which these men enjoyed. If anything, opportunity was on the side of the man who failed. Both were men of ability. Peter was a fairly successful fisherman who, with his associates, John and James, conducted a fishery in Bethsaida. O f Judas’ past we
pit. When He had ended the dis course, Jesus returned the boat with interest, a catch of fish that was so great that the men could bring it to land only with diffi culty. So mightily was Peter overcome by a realization of the power of Jesus, and so unwor thy did he feel in His presence, that he sank on his knees before Him, and cried out: “ Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Lk. 5 :8) ! This was a good beginning. No man can be saved unless he first feels the need of salvation. No man appreciates the salvation of Christ unless he realizes the awfulness of the peril from which he is saved. F. W . Bore-
Which Way ? To every man there openeth A way, and ways, and a way, And the high soul climbs the high way, And the low soul gropes the low ; And in between, on the misty flats, The rest drift to and fro. But to every man there openeth A high way and a low
And .every man decideth The way his soul shall go.
—John Oxenham.
know little, save that, unlike the rest of the disciples, who were Galileans, he was a Judean. He possessed some ex ecutive ability, for he was the treasurer of the little band. Certainly, he was not a man of inferior intelligence. Prob ably he was Peter’s superior in culture and in learning. The divergence was not due, then, to the social or intellec tual inferiority of Judas. Neither was the divergence due’ to any lack o f oppor tunity on Judas’ part for communion with Jesus. Both men had been made members of the inner circle of apostles at the very outset of Jesus’ ministry. To this group He revealed more of Himself than He did to the curious but unsympathetic crowds who thronged about Him. Both Peter and Judas had access to the explanation of those parables that mystified the multitude. Both witnessed the healings that astonished thé learned. Both, doubtless, heard His prayers rise to His father in the midnight still ness of the desert. Jesus never discriminated against Judas in favor of another. Both Judas and Peter had the same opportunities in service. When Jesus commissioned the Twelve “ that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons” (Mk. 3:14, 15), Judas and Peter were in
ham, the great Australian preacher, in one of his delightful essays, relates an experience he had in his student days. In a village where he preached occasionally there lived an aged man of saintly character. It was the young preach er’s custom to call on the old gentleman when he was in town. “ One afternoon,” he says, “ I found the old gentleman bewailing the exceeding sinfulness of his evil heart. This seemed to me, viewing the matter from the point of view of a theological student, a very primitive experience for so mature a saint. Perhaps I as good as said so: I for get. I only remember that in response to my shallow obser vation, the old gentleman sat up straight in bed—a thing I had never seen him do before— stared at me with eyes so full of reproach that they seemed to pierce my very soul, and slowly recited a verse that I had never heard before and have never since f orgotten: ■ ■ ‘What comfort can a Saviour bring To those who never felt their woe? A sinner is a sacred thing, The Holy Ghost hath made him so,’ ” The old man was right. Keen consciousness of sin is in dicative of progress toward holiness. Impurity is never
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a deep, though perhaps somewhat crude, loyalty. He found Him the most attractive person he had ever seen. He gave to Him a devoted and straightforward affection. True, his love was at times ignorant and mistaken. When Peter confessed Jesus as the Messiah, he protested against the prophecy of the Cross; and Jesus had to rebuke him sharply for his utter lack of spiritual understanding. Yet his protest was against that death which Jesus predicted, for Himself, and which he felt would be utterly unjust. His love was unenlightened and misdirected; but it was love, nevertheless. It is noteworthy that Judas never so much as ventured a word' of sympathy; Jesus’ prediction of His own death did not seem to trouble him. Look at Peter on another occasion. Some disciples, puzzled by the strange words of Jesus about eating His flesh and drinking His blood, had begun to withdraw slowly. Jesus turned to the Twelve, and said: “ You are not going away also, are you ?” It was Peter who loyally replied: “ Lord, to whom shall we go ? Thou hast the words of eternal life.” Love has learned its lesson. Though he may not understand the meaning of the coming shadows, he will accept them because his Master seems sat isfied, and he will share them with Him. Listen to him on the eve of his sad failure: “ Lord, I am ready to go with thee to prison and to death.” He meant it. See.him in the Garden, the only disciple who dares to offer resistance to an armed force. See him fol low to the judgment hall, though “ afar off.” Though he blundered, and faltered, and failed, Simon Peter loved Jesus with all his heart. Judas, on the other hand, was always cool, calculating, and self-contained. He was not afflicted with Peter’s boisterous enthusiasm. He was not an incorrigible blun derer ; what was worse, he was selfishly proper. He did no unseemly thing because he did not care enough about Jesus to do anything. His thought was centered on Judas. Jesus was the instrument of his ambitions rather than the object of his love. No genial warmth emanated from his soul; he lived in the dead calm o f a frozen selfishness. IV. The fourth and greatest reason for this divergence was that Peter acknowledged Jesus as Lord, and Judas did not. Peter, from the very first, acknowledged the superiority of Jesus, and finally acknowledged his sovereignty over his personal life. There is no record that Judas ever addressed Jesus by the title of “ Lord.” He saw in Jesus a great man, a possible king, a popular hero, a religious leader, but not a personal Lord. He maintained an attitude of exclusive ness. He never allowed Jesus to influence his personal life. Peter accepted Jesus” rebukes, and changed for the bet ter; Judas, was not sufficiently interested to make efforts to please Jesus, and changed for the worse. Because Peter had acknowledged the lordship of Jesus, he had the protection of Jesus at a time when he needed it sorely. “ Simon, Simon,” said Jesus, “ Satan hath desired you that he may sift you as wheat, but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.” The intercession of Jesus stood between him and the powers of evil; and though he failed under trial, he was not lost, Jesus did not pray for Judas; in fact, he made a defi nite exception of him. Judas, who would not acknowl edge His lordship, did not merit His protection. Satan, who sifted Peter, entered into Judas. The power o f evil shook Peter, but possessed Judas; for the life which is not dominated by Christ, sooner or later is dominated by evil. ( Continued on page 422)
God Hath Chosen Us in Him Ephesians 1 :4 B y A da E. B rowne Chosen first by God the Father In eternal ages past; Human thought can never fathom Love so wondrous and so vast. Chosen in Him, God’s well-beloved, Chosen from among the lost, Lifted up through grace . to glory, Saved at such tremendous cost. Chosen by the Eternal Spirit, Sealed, securely—His alone, Earnest o f the blood that bought us, Precious pledge “ Until He come.” Sing my soul in exultation For the wondrous grace bestowed; For the love that stooped to save us; Glory to the Triune God. —Christ Life.
pained by its own defilement. Peter had started on the right road. We may search Judas’ life in vain for any confession like Peter’s. The argument from silence is, of course, indecisive in itself. Perhaps he did say something of the sort, which has not been recorded for us. However, Judas never once, in any recorded speech, expressed con trition for any act, or sorrow for any sin, until his day of opportunity had passed. When the realization of his sin burst upon him, his sorrow was the foretaste of retri bution rather than the evidence of repentance. II. Again, Peter was eager for truth, and Judas was not. Peter was always asking questions. Sometimes they were foolish; often they were impertinent. He was slow to understand many things. He frequently blundered, and on one or two occasions showed a lack of spiritual discern ment truly surprising in a man who had companied with Jesus as long as he had. Nevertheless, he was eager to learn all that he could concerning the marvelous things of which Jesus spoke, and he seldom lost a chance to interrogate Jesus on some point. Not so Judas. Only once is it recorded that he asked Jesus a question, and that was really an insinuated criti cism of Jesus’ act: “ Why was not this ointment sold' for three hundred pence, and given to the poor” (John 12: 15) ? Here is no eagerness for truth, but a smug self- satisfaction and carping criticism, coupled with avarice; for Judas’ glittering eyes could see only shekels. The spontaneous sacrifice of a loving heart was, to him, only “ waste.” The significance of the act provoked no ques tion, from Judas which might indicate interest in spiritual matters; instead, it elicited only disapproval. He was sat isfied with himself; he cared only for shekels. III. A third cause for the divergence was that Peter aban doned himself to love for Christ, and Judas never did. From the very beginning, Peter seemed bound to Jesus by
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The Jew and Arab Controversy Over Palestine B y J. A . H uffman {Marion, Indiana)
Î AM keenly conscious that I am to discuss a sub ject of international interest and of world con sequence. What has happened and is happening in Palestine affects the world politically, socially, economically, and religiously. As Palestine was once the battle ground of the nations of the east, so now she has become the battle ground of the nations of the world. J ewish and A rab C laims Briefly stated, the Jews claim Palestine. This claim is based upon God’s promises to Abraham, and the fact that, apart from Palestine, the Jews have no national home.
dren. They erected three or four electrical plants for light and power. It is estimated that the Jews have invested sixty millions of dollars in Palestine. Incidentally, this money has made rich men of a few Arabs, extensive land holders from whom the Jews purchased. In the ten years previous to 1929, the Jewish population in Palestine in creased from 83,794 to 160,000. C lash of I nterests Every success achieved by the Jews appears to the Arab to spell defeat for him. He now discovers that the Jews are in possession of a large part of the most fertile farm land in Palestine,, while the Arabs are tilling rocky
It is further based upon the B a l f o u r Declaration of 1917, made in behalf of the g o v e r n m e n t of Great Britain, and ratified by the League of Nations in 1922, when the mandatory power over Palestine was given to that government. The Bal four Declaration reads as follows: “ H i s Majesty’s Government view with fa vor the establishment in Palestine of a n a t i o n a l home for the Jewish people, apd will use their best en deavors to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of
hillsides. The Arab sees himself outclassed in meth ods of agriculture. The Jews are being financed from wealth across the seas, with a low rate of interest or none to pay, while the borrowing Arab in Pales tine must pay an average of not less than thirty per cent interest. The Jews are liv ing in more comfortable houses than the Arabs, and enjoying a better living. The Arab fears for his future. He believes that the Jew intends to drive him from his home. He pro fesses that he does not fear so much for his religion, as for his political and eco nomic safety. But for the
existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by the Jews in any other country.” The Arabs of Palestine claim the country because of their conquest and centuries of occupation. Mohammedan Arabs press their claims upon Palestine as descendants of Abraham through Ishmael. They argue that the Jews have lost all claim to Palestine because of their disobe dience which resulted in their captivity. They quote cer tain prophetic utterances to prove this. Still further, they claim that Great Britain promised Palestine to them in 1916, in return for their joining the armies of the Allies in the World War. J ew ish A chievements It is evident that the Jews took the British Mandate, based upon the Balfour Declaration, at its face value. Led by the Zionists, they commenced in earnest the movement toward their long-desired national home. They began im migration, purchased lands, farmed colonies, erected houses, built towns, introduced modern methods of agri culture, drained swamps, organized manufacturing indus tries of various kinds, and planted forests. They also pro vided hospitals for their sick and schools for their chil-
Mohammedan Arab there is unquestionably the religious aspect, and therefore a religious fanaticism constantly fans the fire which burns in the hearts of the Arab popula tion. All these things were back of the Arab uprisings in 1929 which cost hundreds of lives of both Arabs and Jews. As in most unfortunate incidents, there has been fault on both sides. It is quite evident that the Jew has not come to Palestine to live with the Arab, but quite apart from him. The Jew in Palestine is frequently bigoted, and often carries “ a chip on his shoulder.” It is well known that* the Jews themselves were partly to blame for the riots of 1929. But this does not justify the Arab for his false hoods which helped to incite the trouble, nor for the mur der of men, and even women and children, of which he is guilty. It was an Arab massacre, in which Jews sought to defend themselves. T he P alestinian M andate D ifficult It is easily seen that the British Government has a dif ficult proposition on hand in the Palestinian Mandate, for it involves two nations with conflicting interests. Whether the Mandate can be administered so as to make Palestine a “ national home” for the Jews, without prejudicing “ the civil and religious rights of non-Jewish communities in
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