i DECEMBER 1945
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Send for your free copy of this remarkable testi mony o f hatred turned to love. A JEW AND THE N A M E o f J E S U S m r r aim m r r u t p k Hear, O Israel; Jehovah Our God, Jehovah is One!
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Daniel Rose« Director Trustee, Bible Institute of Los Angeles, £lder, Church of the Open Door The Bible Institute of Los Angeles maintains a J e w i s h Department whose ministry deals with the preach ing of the Gospel to God’s ancient people, Israel. From this office go out thousands of pieces of literature especially prepared to interest the Jews. Also many of the students are engaged in visitation work, calling upon the Jewish people and inviting them to the meetings. Teams of stu dents hold regular street meetings in places where an audience can be se cured. Various prayer meetings are held and every Sunday at 4 p.m. in the lower auditorium of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles a mass meet ing is held with fine speakers. You are invited to pray for the work of the Jewish Department, and to support this ministry by your prayers and gifts.
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Qu’l Reader Sp&ah Kind Words " I want to thank you for the good review of Therefore Stand in this month’s issue but I was especially impressed with the very scholarly article by my friend, H. Framer Sinith. It is very good indeed.” Wilbur M. Smith Chicago« III, Moody Bible Institute •'I came In contact with your magazine while stationed here.in the South Pacific and it is a very interesting and helpful publica tion. Please send it to my home address.” J. A. Reichenberg Richmond, Va. "Your Christian magazine has been most helpful to us in our mission work In Africa.” Charles Edward Fuller Transvaal, South Africa "Yesterday I received The King’s Business and what a thrill and blessing it is! I am reading every inch of it. I realize as I never did before just how much that magazine means to God’s servants around the world. Congratulations on the excellent material in it . . . How I wish I could take all of you with me for a walk down one of Africa’s trails. I love Africa and its people with all my heart, and most of all I love the Lord for His great goodness in calling me to this needy land.” Gerry Hamlett Minna, Nigeria, Africa Sunday School Lessons "Just this word about The King's Busi ness. I enjoy it more every year. The articles are all so helpful and 1 find the Sunday school lessons are a great help and I certainly don’t want to miss a number.” Mrs. E. E. Smith O la th e, K a n s. Biota Family Circle "You are doing a fine job with your mag azine. When you get a better grade of paper, it will be still better. I am especial ly pleased with the pages of news of for mer students. I am sure they add to the attractiveness ' of the publication' to the great host of former students who are still interested in their old fellow students.” Rev, John H. Hunter Pacific Grove, Calif. Dr. Talbot's Question Box "A s a minister of the Gospel, I- appreciate Dr. Talbot’s Question Box very much. I should like to see one page of the maga zine devoted to Sermon Outlines. Some times you have a few listed, but in my opinion it would improve the paper for all ministers if each issue had these helps.” Rev. Allan Fast North English, Iowa Junior King's Business " I have been rather disappointed to find the Junior King’s Business on two sheets, for when I remove it (for filing) the third page is missing from the magazine . . . I keep the Junior page when passing on the magazine to someone else.” Mrs. Alice Emery Colton, Calif. Young People's Topics "A s president of the Madras Christian Endeavor Union, I find a lot of good ma terial in your magazine to read and preach.” A. Thomas, B. D. Eymore, Madras, lndsa "Through the kindness of a friend, I am receiving your delightful and soul-refresh ing magazine. Already it has stirred the heart of my own son; he had previously accepted the Saviour, but now he is fired with real missionary zeal. Your magazine is going the rounds of the young people’s fellowships of my four churches.” Rev. Ernest Kemp Brlghtside, Sheffield, Eng.
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THE K ING 'S BU S IN E S S
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Voi. 36 Louis T. Talbot, D.D. Editor-in-chief
No. 12 William W . Orr, D.D. Associate Editor
DECEMBER, 1945 CHRISTMAS NUMBER
Ransom Marvin John Bazart Illustrators Betty Bruechert, Managing Editor
feel that our artist, Rev. Ransom D. Marvin, has produced a most IS?'r,er J and sympathetic representation of the virgin-mother of our Lord Jesus Christ. While her face expresses great strength and beauty of character, it is at the same time happily devoid of that beatific and unearthly expression which characterizes many por trayals of her. Mr. Marvin’s Mary is wholly human, rejoicing in the very recent birth of her F'm -born Son, whom she herself worshipped even when a Babe in her arms, as very Lrou of YBry God —• ° Jesus—the Saviour of the world. CONTENTS: Poem, The Spirit of Christmas, by Annie Johnson F lin t ............... 451 The Shepherd of Bethlehem, by Louis T . Talbot. .......................... 452 Editorially Speaking 454 Peace Among Men of Good Will, by Clarence E. Mason, Jr ..... . 456 Smelling Good to God, by W illiam jL, PettingUl ............................. 458 The Forgotten Man of Christmas, by M. R. DeHaan, M.D. ........... 460 That Other Christmas, by N ,, A. Woychuk .... ............................... 462 Devotional Readingg ........ 465 The Bible in the News....... .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................................. 467 Junior King’s Business............ ............................................... 468 Biola Family Circle..........;..............,..,......... 470 Bible Institute on the Air............ ................................................... 473 Book Reviews, by William W. O rr ...................... ....... ......... ....... 475 Young People’s Topics, by Dr. Walter L . Wilson ........................... 478 Sunday School Lessons................................................... 482 Object Lessons for January, by E lmer L. W ilder ........................... 494 SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION— 'The King's Business" is published monthly; $1.50, one yr.; $¿.00, two yrs.; 75 cents, six months; 20 cents, single copy. Clubs of three o rn io re a.t special rates. W rite for details. Canadian and foreign subscriptions 25 cents extra. It requires one month for a change of address to become effective. Please send both old and new addresses. REM'J.T A N c Et-Payable in advance, should be made by bank draft, express, or post office money order payable to 'The K ing’s Business." Date of expiration will show plainly on outside wrapper or cover of magazine. A S|fl Q-TF w , address the Advertising Manager, 558 South Hope f I 3’ Callf-’ or °ur eastern representatives, Religious Press Asso ciation, 51 No. 52nd St., Philadelphia 39, Pa. MA^ U®C^ , l,LT.frr''The. Ii inf ' a Business” cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to manuscripts sent in for consideration. ■ * D a l S „ aS , S ^ Clail s November 7, 1938, at the Post Office at Los Angeles. n o s tS ? nrnvufeJ'in,' °-f ' March 31879. Acceptance for mailing at special rate of ?1S P T P. S dR a .th® Act of February 28, 1925, embodied in paragraph 4, section 538, ,P L and R., authorized October 1, 1918, and November 13, 193SI ADDRESS: The King’s Business, 558 So. Hope St., Los Angeles 13, Calif.
I question if Christmas can ever be “ merry” Except to the heart of an innocent child; For when time has taught us the meaning of sorrow And sobered the spirits that once were so wild, When all the green graves that lie scattered behind us Like milestones are marking the length of the way, And'echoes of voices that no more shall greet us Have saddened the chimes of the bright Christmas Day; We may not be merry, the long years forbid it, The years that have brought us such manifold smarts, But we may be happy, if only we carry The Spirit of Christmas deep down in our hearts. Threefold is the Spirit, thus blending together The faith of the shepherds who came to the King; And, knowing naught else but the angel’s glad message, Had only their faith to His cradle to bring; The hope of the wise men that rose like the Daystar, To lighten the centuries’ midnight of wrong; And the love of the Child in the manger low-lying, So tender and patient, so sweet and so strong. Hence I shall not wish you the old “ Merry Christmas,” Since that is of shadowless childhood a part, But one that is holy and happy and peaceful, The Spirit of Christmas deep down in your heart. Annie Johnson Flint
Coptrighted. Reprinted bo permission, Evangelical Publishers, Toronto, Canada,
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TH E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
I t will bring a blessing to your heart at this Christmas season to meditate upon
ß if JßouU <1. palici
■ I DR. TALBOT I T WAS to shepherds that the first announcement of the birth of Christ was made in Bethlehem of Judea. Not to men of wealth, or of royal distinction, or of in tellectual achievement‘was the good news of the Saviour first given, but to those of lowliest rank. Not only was the greatest event in history announced to shepherds, but Christ Himself also is portrayed in the Word of God as a Shepherd. As the Christmas season approaches, it will do us good to consider these facts anew, and to meditate on the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ who, though He was rich, yet for our sakes became poor, that we through His poverty might be rich. The Shepherd’s Prominence The relationship that the Lord Jesus Christ bears to those who trust in Him must be of supreme importance, for the Spirit of God has emphasized it throughout the Word. In the Old Testament, prominence is given to men whose occupation was the care of sheep—men like Abel, Moses, Joseph, David, and Amos. The reason for this is plain: In various aspects of their life and work, these men foreshadowed the Lord Jesus Christ in His love and care for His people. The Word of God presents Christ as: The Good Shepherd The Great Shepherd The Chief Shepherd As the Good Shepherd, He lays down His life for the sheep: “ I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11). As the Great Shepherd, He intercedes for His people, as the ever-living Lord at the right hand of God: “That great shepherd of the sheep” (Heb. 13:20). As the Chief Shepherd, He is coming again to this earth, first to receive His church, the “members of his bbdy,” and then to rule over the nations in power and majesty: “When the chief shepherd shall appear... to
him be glory and dominion for ever” (1 Pet. 5:4,11). These three aspects of Christ’s shepherd ministry are set forth also in Psalms 22, 23, and 24. In Psalm 22, Christ is the Good Shepherd, laying down His life for the sheep. Note the opening words: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” The Psalm gives a detailed description of the crucifixion of our Lord, even to the piercing of His hands and feet (v. 16). In Psalm 24, Christ is the Chief Shepherd, returning to earth as King of kings and Lord of lords, This is the Psalm that says: “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle... The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.” Between these two portions that deal with the death and the reign of Christ, there is another brief song, often called "the Shepherd Psalm.” In Psalm 23, Christ is the Great Shepherd, caring for His sheep. This is the Psalm that speaks of resting, and leading, and feeding—activities that are common to us all. In Psalm 22, we see Mount Calvary; in Psalm 24, we look off to Mount Zion; but between these two moun tain heights we have the valley representing this present age in which we live. It is with this valley of our own times and experiences that we are concerned in this meditation. The Shepherd’s Protection On the rolling hills of Palestine, the shepherd would take his place above his flock, but never far from them, watching intently against any danger that might over take the sheep. Likewise, from His position at the right hand of God, our Shepherd can observe the slightest trouble that affects His children. The Eastern shepherd guarded his sheep with his own body, placing himself between them and their enemies. And Christ, the Great
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December, 1945
Shepherd, stands between us and all that would threaten to harm us. He is between us and danger; between us and trouble; between us and death, and none of these things can touch us without passing first through Him.
P
"Never a heartache and never a groan, Never a teardrop and never a moan, Never a danger, but there on the throne, Moment by moment He thinks of His own.”
There are two outlines of the Twenty-Third Psalm that may be suggested here. The first one has to do with Christ’s protecting care for His own. With me ............. "the Lord” (v. 1). Beneath me -— ..."green pastures” (v. 2). After me .............“ goodness and mercy” (v. 6). Beyond me „ ___ "the house of the Lord” (v. 6). In life, in death, and in eternity, the one who trusts in Christ is absolutely safe. The Shepherd’s Provision There is a second outline of the Twenty-Third Psalm that shows the precious provision that is to be found in Christ. There are six words, each one beginning with the letter “ P.” 1. Possession. “The Lord is my shepherd.” You will note that in most Bibles the word "Lord,” in Psalm 23:1, is printed in capital letters. This is to in dicate that the word really is Jehovah, "the self-existent One, the eternal I AM.” How wonderful it is that the Lord in His might, the Lord in His majesty, the Lord in His glory, is my Shepherd! To say that the Lord is a Shepherd is pictorial; to say that He is the Shepherd is appreciative; but ;to say that He is my Shepherd is al together satisfying in its deepest implications. A colporteur, going through Switzerland, saw a little shepherd boy minding his flock. Taking out his Bible, the man tried to teach the little fellow to read the Twenty-Third Psalm, but he failed. The boy could learn only the first five words, and he memorized these by saying them on his five fingers, a finger for each word: “'The Lord is my shepherd.” The colporteur left him, and it was not until four years later that he was able to return. He was interested to know about the boy, and sought him out in his home. The child’s mother received him graciously, and when she found he was the man who had taught her son the Scripture verse, she said with tears: “My boy is dead, but he said that if I ever saw you, I should tell you that he died holding the fourth finger of his hand—‘The Lord is my shepherd.’ ” 2. Position. "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.” It is said that a hungry sheep never w ill lie down. The fact that it does so is an indication that it is satisfied. We are told also that sheep will not drink from turbulent waters, but only from a quiet source. It is in the quiet times of the day—especially during the early morning watch—that the Lord speaks to our hearts and makes known to us the deepest lessons. In Christ there is not only salvation, but also com plete satisfaction. He desires that we shall know the secret of the quiet place, suggested by the “still waters,” that we may enter into a deeper, experimental knowledge of Him. We may say triumphantly: "Jesus, I am resting, resting, In the joy of what Thou art; I am finding out the greatness Of Thy loving heart.” 3. Promise. “He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Beside me ______ “still waters” (v. 2). Before me ______ "the table’’ (v. 5).
"He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in kis bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young" (Isa. 40:11). Restoration and salvation should not be confused. The sinner who comes to Christ in faith and accepts His atoning work on his behalf becomes a new creature in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 5:17; John 5:24). He is "born again,” and does not thereafter lose his salvation, though he may lose the joy of salvation. In that sense we are: But—“he restoreth.” The manner in which Christ re stores us to fellowship is shown in 1 John 1:9: " If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” His restoration of us is for a purpose—to' lead us in paths of righteousness. One cannot be restored, and sit idly with folded arms. The latter condition would be worse than the first. When the Lord restored Peter, He also commissioned him: “ Feed my sheep...feed my lambs.” 4. Progress. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death; 1 will fear no evil: for thou' art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” There are two applications of this verse. The first has to do with the experience of physical death. With that thought in mind, what a sweet message this is! The verse says that " I walk” at that time. I do not run, as though I were afraid, but I walk with all the confidence of a child in the company of a strong father. One does not tarry in the valley; he walks through. There is no gloom; it is not the dark valley, as it is often called, but “the. .valley of the shadow”—and shadows presuppose light. When we pass through the shadow, the Light of the world w ill Himself be at our side! ' There is a second meaning in this verse, and it has to do with the life of the Christian here on earth. The Psalm implies that, spiritually, there is a death that is necessary and desirable. Paul said, “Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3). To ex perience this kind of death will be painful to the carnal nature; but in this, too, the believer may say with joy, (Continued on Page 466) •■v./A "Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it; Prone to leave the God I love.”
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THE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
EDITORIAliy SPEAKING
• • • • •
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsel lor, The mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. "Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this” (Isa. 9:6-7). Book of the Month "DEGINNING with the January issue, and continuing throughout the
the land of Germany, so torn and bleeding, so destitute and hungry, the same proud and arrogant nation which so loudly screamed that the Jewish race would soon be no more? Does that sorry group of men now in prison, and soon to be led to the gallows, include the same leaders who strode through the land boasting that they were supermen, and that Jews were but dogs? If one refuses to see in today’s picture of Germany the in escapable judgment of Almighty God, that blindness is one of choice. Thank you, Mr. President. We be lieve that it took real courage to espouse the cause of the poor, despised Jew. But we believe that you will be eternally glad you did it. We are continuing to pray for you. M O S T of our readers are aware that 1TX the China Department of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles is another Bible Institute in the heart of China which, before the war, was fully equipped and in operation. Quite re cently, our Board of Directors dis patched Dr. Charles Roberts, Super intendent of the China Department, and Mr. Russell Davis, former mis sionary to China, to Hunan, to deter mine the damage done by war, and to recommend future proceedings. We are now in receipt of a report to the effect that our entire group of buildings is badly damaged. The roof of the administration building is off, and the dormitory roofs are al most as hard hit. The missionary homes which were within the com pound are completely demolished. The wall which surrounded the compound is broken in many places. While no figures are available as to the cost of rebuilding, it is certain the amount required will be tens of thousands of dollars. The many friends of the Hunan Institute are asked to pray earnestly for the restoration of this valuable school to China and to the work of the Lord. Gifts for this purpose may now be made. Further information will be published as soon as available. ★ ★ Further Netvs from China
year, The King's Business will include a new Bible Study Department, edited by Dr. John A. Hubbard, Head of the Department of English Bible at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles. Each month a book from the Bible will be selected for special reading and study. Following Dr. James A. Gray’s method, the readers of our magazine will be asked to read and reread the book as m a n y times as possible during the month, using the helps and suggestions compiled by Dr. Hubbard. It is our profound conviction that no extraneous reading can ever take the place of the actual study of the Bible text itself. With this thought in mind, we want to urge upon our readers that they “purpose in their hearts” to take advantage of t h i s splendid spiritual exercise. They will find themselves growing mightily in grace and in the knowledge of Christ. TYHE news releases of the past month have carried word of our Presi dent’s earnest ende: /or to press the claims of the Jews for a permanent home in the ancient land of their fathers. At the present writing, the decision of Great Britain in this mat ter is not fully known. It may be that the Jew will be refused entrance into Palestine, that the time has not yet come for this part of God’s plan to be fulfilled, as - it surely must be— some day. The failure of the President’s efforts on behalf of the Jews does not in any way dim the happy fact that he tried. And we most firmly believe that the President will be honored by God for this. More than that, we believe that our land of America, too, will come under the blessing and favor of God, because of the sincere endeavor on the part of lawmakers and others to give a world haven to the distressed chosen people of God. Step back and look a moment. Is ★ ★ Thank You, Mr. President
It’s His Birthday P LEASE understand, won’t you? Christmas is Christ’s birthday. It’s tragedy to lose the tender, the beauti ful, the real significance of the day! A ll this folderol, all this ballyhoo which has grown up around the day is secondary — the frantic rush for gifts, the l e g e n d s of Kringles and Clauses, the immense dinner, the pretentious musicals — these are not Christmas. It’s not right that we should smoth er the rich meaning of the day with the inconsequential trash that sur rounds it. It’s folly—it’s wrong—it’s sin that we should accord to Christ the tenth, fifth or even second place on this day of His birth. It’s wrong that we should com? to worship Him after we have become weary from engaging in frivolous things. It’s the same old strategy from the pit. The devil operates on the theory that, if he can’t erase from the mem ory of the world the greatest event in time or eternity, then he w ill surround it with things. These things may be even good things. Satan would pile them so high that man, engrossed in them, would have no time for Him. God forbid that we should follow his plan! Dear Lord Jesus Christ, all honor to You on Your birthday. Again we bow low today before the Manger- Throne. Truly, You are the world’s Creator, and there could be no world without You. Then, You are the world’s Saviour, and all men would die in their sins without Your loving sacri fice. And wonder of wonders, You are the world’s King. And on this day, O King of kings, we lay our gifts, our love, our lives at Your feet, and say “Happy Birthday:
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Soap Wrappers /^NE day a young pastor in a South- 'w' ern California community received a bland letter from one of our large soap companies. Here was the special offer: Why not suggest to the mem bers of his congregation that they save the wrappers from this particular brand of soap? Next, they were in structed to bring them to the church. For all such wrappers that the pastor and people would send in to the com pany, they would be paid at the rate of one-half cent each. Of course, they were assured that all of this would enrich the church treasury and would further the work of the Lord! Soap wrappers indeed! Now, don’t misunderstand me here. I am not blaming the soap company. I do not expect them to understand spiritual truths. No doubt one of their brilliant sales personnel suggested this to the head of the merchandising depart ment. But here is the sad part: Many churches actually receive and act upon this and like suggestions, in order to supplement their dwindling offerings. The call is, “Make a quilt and sell it,” or “Bring in your old papers and sell them,” or “Let’s have a bazaar to palm off stuff for which no one has any further use.” Thus is augmented the treasury of the Church of Christ! But such a practice is sin. Christ Himself summed up man’s obligation to the God of the Universe by saying that man should love Him with the whole heart. How can one love God with the whole heart and present to Him soap wrappers? Over and over again on the pages of Scripture, the w ill of God in this matter is revealed. God requires first place. The first- fruits are for Him. He is to be gifted before others. Our gifts are to be presented with the full realization that He is King over all. TT WAS in the great auditorium of -*- the Church of the Open Door in Los Angeles. The student body from the Bible Institute was assembled for the Weekly missions hour. Dr. Charles E. Fuller, of national radio fame, was the speaker. He had just begun to speak and, as is his wont, he called for his hearers to follow him in their own Bibles. “Turn to Paul’s second letter to Timothy,” said he. Then across that expanse of seats sounded some of the sweetest music ever heard. It was the soft murmur of the leaves of Bibles as fingers sought the passage designated. Again, as the speaker directed, “Now in the next ★ .★ Sweet Music
today, what has been accomplished? God speaks again, asking Christian men and women to give of their sons and their dollars to His cause. Will you now hear and heed? W ill you now become dead in earnest about doing the will of God? Or, must God allow a third world war to wreak its unthinkable destruction upon us? To a certain degree, the choice lies with us. ★ Bible Reading A GAIN this year, at the suggestion of the American Bible Society, the civilized world is asked to read regu larly the Book of Books. The King's Business is delighted to urge upon its readers the loving meditation of the passages which have been selected by a world-wide canvass of the men and women in pur armed forces. These Bible'readings are as follows: Thursday, Nov. 22....Josh. 1, Psalm 121 Friday ............. Psalm 23, John 10:1-18 Saturday .................................John 14 Sunday, November 25.............. John 3 Monday .................... ......... Matthew 5 Tuesday ............ ....... ..........Romans 12 Wednesday ............. ........ John’ 1:1-14 Thursday ...... Ex. 20:1-17, I Tim. 2:1-8 Friday ...................... ............. James 1 Saturday ..........................Ephesians 6 Sunday, December 2 .............. I Cor. 13 Monday ................... ........... Psalm 24 Tuesday ..........Hebrews 11 and 12:1, 2 Wednesday .............. ......... Matthew 6 Thursday.................. ...........Romans 8 Friday ...................... ........ Matthew 7 Saturday.................. ........... Psalm 91 Sunday, December 9 ........Galatians 6 Monday .................... .......Colossians 3 Tuesday................... ........ Ephesians 4 Wednesday............... ..... Philippians 3 Thursdav .... ............. .. 1 Corinthians 3 Friday ...................... ......Philippians 4 Saturday ................... ............. John 15 Sunday, December 16 .............Psalm 1 Monday .................... ............Psalm 27 Tuesday.................... .1 Corinthians 15 Wednesday............... ............Psalm 46 Thursday .................. ....... Matthew 28 Friday ....................... ......II Timothy 2 Saturday ................................ John 17 Sunday, December 23.... Revelation 21 Monday .................... ... Revelation 22 Christmas, December 25 ......... Luke 2 ★
chapter,” the music swelled again. Of course, we do not know the infinite mind of God, our Heavenly Father, but some say that He loves this music best of all. Recently, we traveled on a public bus on a Sunday morning. It warmed the heart to see the young and old board that bus with their Bibles tucked comfortably underarm. Pic tures of sturdy Puritans of other days invariably show them heading for the “meeting house,” carrying their prized copies of the Sacred Book. Nothing so delights the heart of a true pastor as to note that his people habitually bring their Bibles to church. Bibles don’t become your friends un til you learn to know them. Written notes, underlinings, and even finger smudges make the Book dearer. And if Bibles could weep, I am sure that copious tears would flow from those which must live forever on the library table. How about your Bible? A Bible student once said: “ Shame on you, Christian, if you don’t wear out your Bible at least every two years.” "DRIEFLY stated, the principle in- volved in giving seems to be this:. If you will not willingly give of your self and your means to the spreading of the Gospel of Christ, and to the furtherance of the will of God upon the earth, then God will take forcibly from you many times the amount that would have been necessary for His cause. When all is over, you will have less than nothing in return. Let us review the object lesson, which has been exhibited to us recently. Between the close of the first world war, and the opening of the second world war, the Christian world, and particularly the Church of Jesus Christ, was given a golden opportunity to both accomplish the will of God, and to avert further world combat. But what actually happened? The Church just “played” at missions, and the rest of the world went on in blissful, selfish carelessness. In many churches, the amount contributed for the cause of world-wide missions was less 'than the cost of the Sunday bulletins. Then God spoke. There took place the march of the German armies into Poland, the bombings of London, and eventually Pearl Harbor. The world leaped to the manufacture of costly implements of war; men were maimed and killed; cities were razed at a terrifying rate. The cost in lives was threescore millions, and the monetary cost a full trillion dollars. And now, ★ ★ Will You Give Now?
THE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
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Among Men of Good Will
A Christmas Meditation By Clarence E. Mason, Jr.
rendering, using the familiar words of the Authorized Version in reversed order for easy comparison and con trast. But it would be worth our while to examine this phrase which I translate “among men of good will.” The Revised Version translates the passage, “And on earth peace among men in whom he [God] is well- pleased” (margin—“men of good pleasure” ). The Cen tenary Version renders it, “peace among men who please him.” Weymouth reads, “ peace among men in whom He is well pleased!” Souter’s Lexicon (out standing authority based upon archaeological findings concerning first century A.D. Greek) states that the words are a technical phrase which we now know to mean: “men with whom God is well-pleased.” It is evident, therefore, that the angels-were* not say ing that because of Christ’s coming there would be peace among the nations, because men would have good will toward men, but rather that, in the very gift of His Son, God was showing His good w ill toward men, those men with whom He was well-pleased because they were men whose hearts were waiting for the Saviour to come— hearts ready to believe and receive His Son as their peace! Thus, not political peace of the world, but spiritual peace in individual hearts through trusting the incar nate Saviour, is the message the angels were heralding to the shepherds that night many long years ago. And with this new translation all Scripture is in agreement. Indeed, “He is: our peace:. ; . so making P“ ?ce . . . He came and preached peace” (Eph. 2:14, 15,17)! “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1), “Now the God of peace be with you all” (Rom. 15:33; 16:20).
T T T Q r p what did the angels really say that night-to ** ^ -*- the amazed shepherds in the fields outside lit tle Bethlehem of Judea? As rendered by our Authorized (King James) Version, one of the best known and most widely quoted passages of the Bible reads: “ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” However, since 1611, when the King James Version was translated, in the providence of God, a vast quan tity of ancient texts of the New Testament have come to light, many of them earlier than any available in 1611. This has made possible a recheck of the entire New Tes tament text, providing a surer basis than ever that we now have, in every essential particular, the text as origin ally inspired of God. Fortunately, so carefully were the texts copied, that there is very little variation of impor tance between the texts available in 1611 and now. How ever, occasionally, we come across a passage where the sense is materially changed by the new reading. This passage in Luke 2:14 is one such place. Although only the Greek letter “s” is involved, the whole construction aqd sense of the verse is changed. And instead of the angels saying “ . . . on earth peace, good will toward men,” they really said . . on earth peace among men of good w ill!” Not Political, but Personal Peace Even the most casual reader can immediately see a wide difference in meaning. I have given the literal
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self on the matter of world peace any more than the late President Roosevelt. The San Francisco Security Con ference was his baby—the child of his mature political skill and his highest hopes and fears. No man in mod ern times has ever made world peace sound more plaus ible, more desirable, and more possible than he. But in an interview a few weeks before his death, which many may have missed, he was pinned down by certain re porters who insisted upon knowing just how fully he was convinced that permanent world peace was possible and probable through a world security council such as the nations intended to set up at San Francisco. Mr. Roose velt Was forced to bring his dreams down to earth and to radically qualify his- previous assurances by saying in effect, "If we can all agree on a form of organization, and if the nations are determined to make it work, we can have peace at least for a generation." A ll of our great political leaders, when pressed for proof or particulars, inevitably qualify and neutralize their statements by saying that if everybody works to gether we shall have peace. Of course, but that is no news; we know that already. The whole question is will everyone work together? On what historical basis may anyone rightfully hope that the nations w ill work, to gether? They never have! So the thing that is to be proved—the possibility of' permanent peace—is, in the end, simply assumed. ( Continued on Page 459)
‘‘Peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 1:3). “The Lord peace himself give you peace always” (2 Thess. 3:16). “Being also King of Salem which is King of peace” (Heb. 7:2). “Peace with you all that are in Christ Jesus” (1 Pet. 5:14). “Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of . . , Jesús our Lord” (2 Pet. 1:2). “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you” (John 14:27). Perpetuating Poison Propaganda From what gross misunderstanding has this passage suffered! How often has it been made the pretext of the pious poison that the church’s chief business is to bring peace on earth, by spreading good will toward men! This Christmas, millions of Christmas cards will pro claim this uriforturiate mistranslation as the theme of Christmas—the mission of Christ and of His Church, Thousands of editorials, articlés, radio speeches, etc.,' will ring the changes on this phrase “peace, good will toward men.” From thousands of pulpits preachers, who should know better, w ill continue to spread this miscon ception. Even fundamentalists, who do not believe in world peace through human means, w ill do their part by continuing the misquotation, so that their congrega tions \vilT have no'answer for those who hold unscrip- tural ideas on world peace, largely based upon this text. How' tragic that, in the crucial hour when men are blindly striving, f e get the world at peace without the Prince of Peace, we cannot once and for all correct the centuries-long misquotation of this verse! We would thus help to emphasize the true scriptural message that Christ’s coming was to bring peace only to men upon whom the favor of God rested because of their faith in the Saviour’s redeeming blood! A Fantasy and a Fallacy It requires no documentation to prove to an Ameri can reader that many men in high places, in this and other lands, have been responsible for a great deal of extravagant talk about permanent world peace in radio speeches, press releases, and articles. Again and again I have heard reputable and informed men shift from news reporting, or from solid logic in a speech, to the fantasy of illogical wishful thinking concerning the pos sibility of a permanent peace. They go from fact to fancy with no apparent realization of such a transition. Of course, the main theme song is, “This is the war to end wars. We must not make the mistakes that we made after World War I and we shall not! This is, and must be, the last war!” Actually such statements are no more than a pep talk. ' No evidence is given to prove that World War II is or w ill be the last war; the state ment is made in the form of an assertion which, in some cases, sounds more like a plea of one who dares not think of the alternative to a permanent peace. Thát alternative would be a war of such terrific destruction that no thoughtful person can reasonably consider that civilization could survive it. And now, to all the dread forebodings previously present, there must be added the awful specter of supersonic atomic bombs! How men who know the facts can say what they do about world peace, without tongue in cheek, is beyond the grasp of my reason. They are well aware of the terrific and in volved dangers of international relations. Presumably it is considered good for morale to set high the nation’s sights. An Enduring Peace? Possibly no man in recent years, not even excepting Winston Churchill, has taken the lead in expressing him
" C A N S T T H O U S E N D LIGHTNINGS. T H A T TH EM M A 9 6 0 , A N O S A U U N TO T H E E , H£Ñ£ WE ARE/ “
c h i r m u c h e r ^
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SMELLING GOOD TO GOD
t L
A timely message for the believer
B y W illiam L. P ettingill
Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, Photographed by George R. King.
I N THE fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth verses of the second chapter o f his Second Epistle to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul makes an astonishing statement. He says: “ Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. I "For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: “To thè one we are the savour of death unto death: and to the other the savour of life unto life.” Let us study this amazing passage together, and, : by God’s help, see somewhat of its indescribable sweet ness. The Victorious Paul “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ." From the viewpoint of natural wisdom, this man was anything but triumphant. In the flush of his young manhood as Saul, the proud, freeborn Roman citizen of Tarsus, “ no mean city,” he gave promise of great things. Long he had sat at the feet of the renowned Gamaliel. He afterward described those days: “I . . . profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more ex ceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers” (Gal. 1:14). Had he continued in the direction in which he was going, he might have been the greatest rabbi in Jewry. But Saul gave up all of it. By obedience to a vision of Israel’s Messiah, whom he had hated, he became that Messiah’s slave in the bondage of love. Like Moses of old, this man, now become Paul the Apostle, “ es teemed the reproach of Christ greater riches” than any thing the world offered. Again, like Moses, he was willing to be accursed from Christ for his brethren according to the flesh (Ex. 32:32; Rom. 9:3). How could this be called "triumph” ? The world would not so designate it. Look at the record of Paul’s sufferings in 2 Corin
thians 11:23-33; read of his “labours more abundant,” of “stripes above measure,” of his frequent imprison ments. Said he: “Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, onee was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep.” Consider the perils he endured; think of his weariness and painfulness, of his hunger and thirst and nakedness,, of his daily care of all the churches. How could Paul speak of himself as one always triumphant? “And maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place." Savour is odor; it is fragrance; it is smell. Paul refers to the fragrance—the smell— which he brought to souls “ in every place.” He was a messenger of God to take the knowledge of Christ to men everywhere. “For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ." This means that Paul himself had about him the fra grance of Christ. He "smelled good” to God . . . think o f it! “In them that are saved." Yes, of course, whenever through oUr efforts men are saved, this is pleasing to God.- In this we may Waft Heavenward a delightful scent. It surpasses all human imagination that we can thus bring pleasure to God. “And in them that perish." This is the strangest part of this passage. Even when our testimony is rejected, and by this rejection people perish; even in this We are unto God a sweet savour of Christ; even in this we "smell good” to God. It is not the attitude of the one who receives the message which determines God’s pleas ure; it is the faithfulness of the witness. Noah's Incense It is written in Hebrews 11:7 that “by faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” Noah did two
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When He Returns
Because our Lord was human, too, perhaps some day His feet May seek the scenes where once He trod; His heart may find it sweet To see again the manger where the Lord of glory lay. His boyhood home in Nazareth, fields where He used to play; But when He stands on Olive's brow, where once His brow sweat blood. And where He prayed that night, alone, "Thy will, not mine, O God," Although they hail Him Lord of lords, and mighty, everlasting King, While men and angels praise His name. His heart will pause, remembering. —Martha Snell Nicholson. And sometimes He may linger on the shores of Galilee, Or find again the winding road which led to Bethany.
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Peace Among Men of Good Will (Continued from Page 457) Whv Wars Are Inevitable
things: he saved his own family, and he condemned the world, Including himself, there were only eight persons saved; everyone else in the world was drowned. Upon leaving the ark after the flood had dried up, Noah built an altar unto Jehovah, and offered burnt- offerings thereon, the odor of which rose to Heaven as a sweet savour. Not only in saving his family, but also in taking a stand against the wicked world of his day, Noah “smelled -good” to God. Fragrant Offerings In the offerings of Leviticus, there were sweet savour and non-sweet savour offerings. Of course, they -all typified the:one offering of Christ on Calvary. Dr. C. I.: Scofield commented thus on this subject: “The sweet savour offerings are so called because they typify Christ in His own perfections, and in His affectionate devotion, to His Father’s will. The non-sweet savour offerings typify Christ as bearing the whole demerit of the sinner. Berth are substitutional. In our place Christ, in the burnt- offering, makes good our lack of devotedness, and in the sin- 9 ffering and. trespass-offering, suffers because of our disobedience.” In all of this pouring out His soul unto death, He was.a sweet fragrance to the Father. Isaiah, in describing Christ as the King upon His Millennial throne, states that Jesus is “ of quick under standing in the fear of the Lord” (Isa. 11:3). However, the Revised Version marginal reading shows the original Hebrew rendering to be: “ quick of scent.” This was revealed when Peter sought to dissuade1 Jesus from going to the Cross (Matt. 16:21-23). “But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” Peter did not “smell good” to his Lord ,on that- occasion. Calvary and Christmas It was in order that He might go to Calvary that Jesus was born. Bethlehem was only the door to Calvary. It is not by His birth that we are saved, but by His death. The event which should be celebrated by Christians is that “ decease” which He accomplished at Jerusalem (Luke 9:31) rather than that birth which took place in Bethlehem. Certainly we thank God for Christmas, for without Christmas there could have been no Gethsemane, no Golgotha, no Calvary, no resurrection morn. From our hearts we cry: “ Thanks be unto God for His unspeak able gift”!
Now, no right thinking person wants war. Wars have only losers; some lose more than others; no one ever wins. “Blood and sweat and tears” are war's in evitable concomitants. But, as General George S. Patton recently reminded us, those who believe that wars are the result of “logical events” and that wars are finished for all time are mere “wishful thinkers.” “For,” said he, “no wars are logical, because logical thinkers would not create them. There fore, we have to conclude that wars are started by mad men—madmen who claim some kind of outrage. Since 1812, 133 years, there have been nine wars in which the United States has participated. In every one except the War between the States, they were fought outside of the United States! Who, except God, is capable of tell ing when or where a situation will occur that will de velop another madman? .And who can tell,” concluded General Patton, “if the next madman will be fully clothed, or in short pants, or diapers?” Pacifists or Realists? When such madmen appear, one must take his stand as either a pacifist or a realist. “Pacifism,” says Dorothy Thompson, “is an individual anticipation of a world society that does not exist.: Though the pacifist, like the rest of us, lives in this world, by rejecting equal moral responsibility for its failures, he invests himself with a righteousness that he does not deserve. He pub licly washes his hands of the dirty business . . . But pacifism is a moral luxury.granted to the few by the many who live life as it is. The pacifist wants to get to Heaven before he dies, and ho lives in a world of pre tense . . . He demands the unique prerogative of divorc ing himself from catastrophe, as though he were not a co-member of the human race . . . Yet pacifism defeats its own purpose. Action in 1933, or as late as 1936, would have m'ade World War II a police expedition, and a rela tively bloodless affair, if it had occurred at alt. But even that was too much for the pacifists.” The realist, on the other hand, deplores war, but rec ognizes that there is something worse than war: for in stance, living under the soul-destroying wickedness of Nazism. Like Dr. George W. Crane, he recognizes that mankind has “changed from sailing ships to the great (Continued on Page 466)
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