I f a man really holds to right views concerning the atonement made by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary, he will sooner or later get right on every other question. r . a . torrey .
B adger Pass, Y osem ite
1940 JANUARY
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1
TH E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
January, 1940
ROY L, LAURIN, Editor-In-Chief MILDRED M. COOK, Managing: Editor W. F. KEMPF, Advertising: and Circulation Manager
"TOTHEJEWFIRST'
Official Orgân of The Bible Institute of Los Angeles, Incorporated
This is the bedrock of the Jew ish Mission appeal to every Bible- believing soul. “To the Jew first” is as basic in Missions as faith in Christ is basic in Salvation. Every January brings us an increasing number of gifts “To the Jew first.” And many letters tell us, “Thank you so much for calling my atten tion to my duty and privilege. I want to start the New Year right.” Think it over, for some day you too will join this blessed host and you too will say, “I want to preach. God’s Gospel in God’s way—to the Jew first.” Was there ever a time in the world’s history when this precious privilege, “To the Jew first,” was more imperative than in this present .hour ? With Israel in the caldron of demon hate, with the world being driven by Satan himself to exterminate, if that were possible, the people whom God has called His very own, can any true child of God withhold the heart and the hand of pity? Ought we not while He still tarries, r e a c h out with a ministry of love to those sorely harassed and distressed peo ple, who know not which way to turn? “To the Jew first” indeed has a potent meaning in such an hour as this! Our work merits your every con fidence. Our field is not only the 4,000,000 Jews of America, but, un der divine impulse, we are at grips with the problem of reaching a world Jewry with the Gospel. In America, branches are maintained in the larger cities. Abroad the Lord is Wonderfully blessing our Gospel and relief ministry among the refugee Jews with whom we come into direct contact, in large numbers, through our stations in Paris, Brussels, Antwerp, Vienna, etc. Through these Branches and affiliated missions and missionaries, our Yiddish publications are being distributed in other important Jew ish centers of the world. Your help and prayers are al ways n e e d e d . “THE CHOSEN PEOPLE,” loved by Bible students for its helpful information on Pro phecy and the Jews, is sent to con tributors. MAY WE HEAR FROM YOU? AMERICAN BOARD OF MISSIONS TO THE JEWS, INC. 81 Throop Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y. Here is my offering, $................... “To the Jew First.” May the Lord bless this gift for Israel’s salvation. Name............»_______ ...I._____ __ ___ Street.---- --------------------------------- -— City..._______________State......... ......
2 he 3 ible Tamil#O liatine Motto: “ Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.”— Key. 1 :5.
Volume XXX I
January, 1940
Number 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS • - Ransom D . Marvin, Staff- Artist Around the King’s Table -—Roy L. Laurin ........... ;........ .................. . 3 Views and Reviews of Current News — Dan Gilbert ............ . 4 The Most Dangerous Shortage of the Present Day— R. A . Torrey .... 5 When New Zealand Witnessed “ Fresh Power ” —Robert A. Laidlaw.... 6 “ Remember . . . Contemplate . Imitate”— F. C. H . Dreyer .............. 7 Life’s New Commission— Roy L. Laurin ............ ...................... .......... ... 8 Understood — Evelyn McFarlane McClusky ...... ..................................... 10 “When?” “ Then !”— Louis S. Bauman ___12 The Strange God, Part II — Grace Livingston Hill _____ ______ _______13 Daily Devotional Readings ...................................... ................................... 15 Junior King’s Business —Martha S. Hooker ____..._______ __________ _ 17 Bible Institute Family Cirgje ..................:........'.___ _________________ .... 21 International Lesson Commentary ______________ ____________ __________ 22 Notes on Christian Endeavor —Mary G. Goodner ........... ..................32 Our. Literature Table ...*... _______......____ ......__............________ .....-----39 The quotation from R. A . Torrey appearing on the cover is taken from The Fundamental Doctrines of the Christian Faith, by R .,A . Torrey, copy righted by the Fleming H . Revell Company, 1918, and used by permission. IN F O R M A T I O N F O R . SU B S CR I B ER S THE KING’S BUSINESS Is pub lished monthly at the rates below, payable in advance, for either old ot new subscribers, in the United States or its possessions. These rates include postage.
REMITTANCE: Should be made by Bank Draft, Express or -P. O. Money Order pay able to "The King’s Business.’’’ Receipts will npt.be sent for regular subscriptions, but date of expiration will, show plainly each month, on outside wrapper or cover of magazine. ADVERTISING: For information with refer ence to advertising in THE KING’S BUSI NESS address the ADVERTISING MAN AGER,' 558 SOUTH HOPE STREET, LOS ANGELES, CALIF., or our eastern represen tative, Religious Press Association, 1108-10 Colonial Bldg.*, 13th and Market Streets, Philadelphia, Pa. ■Entered as Second Class Matter November 7, 1938, at the Post Office at Los Angeles, California, under the Act of March 3. 1879. Acceptance for mailing at special rate of postage provided for In Section 1108, Act of October 3. 1917. authorized October 1, 1918. MANUSCRIPTS: THE KING’S BUSINESS cannot accept responsibility for loss or dam age to manuscripts sent to it for consideration.
50 cents—For one annual subscrip tion, 50 cents per year (Twelve maga zines). One two-year subscription. $1.00 (Twenty-four magazines). 25 cents—For one six-months’ sub scription (Six magazines). Subscriptions to Cuba, Dom. Repub lic, Haiti, Spain, Central and South American countries, except the Gulanas and B ritish Honduras, 50 cents per. year. To all ■other foreign countries, Including the Guianas and B r i t i s h Honduras, 75 cents per year. (Canada 62 cents.) It requires one month fo r a change o f address to becom e effective. Please send both old and new addresses.
THE KING’S BUSINESS 558 South Hope Street_____________________________ Los Angeles, California
2
T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
January, 1940
Plan to Attend the Fifth Annual TORREYMEMORIAL BIBLE CONFERENCE
BIBLE INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGELES January 21 to 2 8 ,1 9 4 0
CONFERENCE THEME
Dean, Bible Institute of Los
Angeles, 1912 to 1924 "To Know Chr i s t and Make Him Known" The speakers of the Torrey Memorial Bible Conference are men of God who know Christ, and by their faithful, effective ministry have won many souls for H i m . . . . You will hear challenging, inspiring, soul-stir ring messages that are o f vital interest to the Christian in these perplex ing days. Your presence and prayers are earnestly desired. PROGRAM SUNDAY, JANUARY 21 11:00 A. M.—James McGinlay 2:30 P. M.—P. W. Philpott 7:30 F. M.—Herbert Lockyer FRIDAY, JANUARY 26 8:30 A. M.—Everett B. Cowan 9:80 A. M —Dr. McGinlay 10:30 A. M.—Dr. Lockyer 2:00 P. M.—Founders’ Day Service 7:00 P. M.—Kenneth M. Monroe—Picture« 8:00 P. M.—Charles E. Fuller
Dr. Fuller
Dr. Lockyer
MONDAY, JANUARY 22 8:30 A. M.—Mrs. Edwin B. Young 9:30 A. M.—Dr. McGinlay 2:00 P. M.—Louis S. Bauman 3:00 P. M.—Dr. PhUpott
SUNDAY, JANUARY 28
11:00 A. M,—Dr. Lockyer 2:80 P. M.—
10:30 A. M.—Dr. Lockyer
7:30 P. M.—Dr. McGinlay SPEAKERS
7:30 P. M.—Dr. McGinlay
A* C. Ackley
Calvary Memorial Church Manhattan Beach, Calif.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 23
8:30 A. M.—Paul Jackson
Louie S. Bauman
F irst Brethren Church L ong Beach, Calif.
9:30 A. M.—Dr. McGinlay
10:30 A. M.—Dr. Lockyer
Everett B. Cowan
2:00 P. M.—Mr. Jackson
Calvary Church H awthorne, Calif.
Dr. McGinlay
3:00 P. M.—Dr. PhUpott 7:30 P. M.—Dr. Lockyer WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24
Charles E. Fuller
Pres. Gospel B roadcasting A ss’n L os Angeles, Calif.
Paul Jackson*
F irst Baptist Church Ceres, Calif.
8:30 A. M.—Earl Morgan
9:30 A. M__Dr. McGinlay
Herbert Lockyer
10:30 A. M.—Dr, Lockyer
L iverpool, England
2:00 P. M.—Mr. Morgan
James McGinlay
Central Baptist Church London, Ontario, Canada
3:00 P. M.—Dr. PhUpott
7:80 P. M.—Dr. McGinlay
Kenneth M. Monroe
Dean, Bible Institute o f Los Angeles L os Angeles, Calif.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 2ß
Earl Morgan
8:30 A M.—
Emmanuel F aith Church E scondido, Calif. T oronto, Ontario, Canada
9:80 A M.—Dr. McGinlay
10:30 A. M.—Dr. Lockyer
P. W . Philpott
2:00 P. M.—A. C. Ackley 3:00 P. M.—
Dr. Philpott
Mrs. Edwin B. Young
Leader o f M issionary P rayer Groups W ayne, Nebr.
7:30 P. M.—Dr. Lockyer
I Torrey Memorial Bible Conference Committee THE BIBLE INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGELES, INC. 558 SOUTH HOPE ST. • LÖS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA-
*
TH E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
January, 1940
Around the King s Table By ROY L. LAURIN
Psalm 119:89 we read, “ For ever, I» Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.!' The construction of the word “settled” indicates the thought of being “set up.” The idea conveyed is not merely the set tling of an issue, or the conclusion of a dispute, but indicatés that the Bible in all sixty-six books of its revelation ex ists as a complete and composite volume in its original writing. It is there as an eternal witness against subtraction and addition. It is there as thè Magna Charta of Salvation and the guarantee of the rights and privileges of the Sovereign’s blood-bought subjects. Any Bible muti lator has this “settled” Word as a wit ness to condemn his unholy deeds. All the cultists with their brazen additions and subtractions, have this “settled’’ Word to condemn them. , . Thank God for a Word “settled” in heaven and secure on earth! The Bible which is “settled” in heaven should be loosed on earth and sown in the hearts of men. Only in such manner can it work its mighty miracle of grace. A Mad World These lines are being written at the moment that word has come of the ruth less bombing of Finnish civilians by the conscienceless Communists. It is difficult to refrain from speaking in bitterness. These are madmen off of leash in. the world and running amuck through \he bloodied streets of a vaunted civil!1 zation. At last the true stripe of Com munism shows beneath the hypocritical garb of a boasted proletarianism. Here is humanity at its worst. Let the rest of the world bear in mind that neither Germany nor Russia can espouse anti- Christianity and remain either civilized or gentle. In Los Angeles Superior Court, it is reported, “The business of determining the sanity of more than a score of per- sons brought into the psychopathic department was interrupted sudden ly when the judge announced, ‘This court will now listen to the great est madman in the world.’ ” What a •setting for hearing the radio broadcast of Hitler’s war speech! It is indeed a mad world. Let us preserve what remnants of peace and liberty yet remain by remembering that the Bible and its Christ are our last bulwarks. To this end the church can render service
The Magna Charta of Salvation On November 28, 1939, the Associated Press carried this dispatch: "The British Government, which burned the American Capital 125 years ago, today turned over to the United States for safe keeping one of its most precious pieces of paper —the Magna Charta, signed by King John of Runnymede in 1215 A.D., and regarded as the foundation of British liberty.” There are four copies of this historic document, of an original twelve, now in existence. Three are in England and- this fourth is in our own Congressional li brary. This copy was brought here for exhibition at the New York World’s Fair, and to avoid the risk of a dangerous ocean transit, it will rest opposite our own Constitution and Declaration of In dependence under constant guard. The Magna Charta is a document of great significance because it sets forth the principles of political and social liberty. So far as the intrinsic, value of the parchment itself is concerned, it has none. The document’s entire value lies in the principles it sets forth. Apart from the fact that this copy of the Magna Charta is, in the words of Lord Lothian, the British Ambassador, just “a musty parchment,” that very parchment is important because it is one of the original instruments which con veyed the priceless privileges of a free people. Therefore its safe-keeping is of great importance. «The elaborate ceremony and meticu lous care for the protection and reten tion of this document remind us of an other Magna Charta. It is the Bible, which we may rightly call the Magna Charta of Salvation. This charter of freedom is for all peoples and for all ages. Upon earth there is not a single manuscript remaining of the original in struments. All have gone, and our Bible has come to us through transcriptions from these original documents. This fact may seem tragic when in reality it is providential. The Bible might then be come a physical relic instead of a spir itual reality. It would be worshiped as a curio instead of being enshrined in daily life. But despite the earthly absence of the original sixty-six sections of the Bible, there appears a p - -sibility that the Bible as a complete revelation is kept in safety as an eternal witness. In
A Call to Remembrance Within the Word of. God is this sig nificant command: “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow” (Heb. 13:7). In this issue of THE KING’S BUSI NESS, where some of the words and work of Reuben Archer Torrey are again recalled, effort has been put forth to direct the Lord’s people in a refresh ing obedience to this Scriptural injunc tion. Dr. Torrey gave to the Bible Insti tute of Los Angeles “twelve of the best years” of his life—to use his own de scription of the period, 1912 to 1924, when he served Biola and was known as its beloved Dean. In him was a rare combination of the scholar, the teacher, the executive, and the evangelist. And in the course of his lifetime, which Closed with the Lord’s call on October 26, 1928, his field of service embraced the world. In recalling the anniversary of his birth (January 28, 1856), what better exercise for Christians could there be than meditation upon the grace of God, revealed through Dr. Torrey’s yielded personality ? He was a man of one Book. To him, the Bible was to be studied, believed, and preached enthusiastically, and he centered all his remarkable intellectual and spiritual powers upon the fulfill ment of that task. Many a grateful soul will forever praise God that R. A. Torrey was among- those who “have spoken . . . the word of God”—not opin ions about the Word, but the powerful, convicting, Spirit-inspired Word itself. Read his sermon on page 5 of this issue. He was a man of faith. Since “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17), it is not surprising that Torrey’s daily assimila tion of the Word should make him a man of gigantic faith. Not to extol the memory of any in dividual, but to magnify the power and grace of God, the Torrey Memorial Bible Conference has been planned .for this year—the fifth of such gatherings. It is the hope of Institute leaders that attendance upon the Torrey Memo rial Bible Conference and the reading of this Torrey issue o f . THE KING’S BUSINESS will result in increased love of the Word of God and faith in the Christ of God-—qualities which marked the life of R. A. Torrey.
Hear Biola’ s “ Back Home Family Hour” Program, Radio Station KMTR, 570 Kilocycles, 9 :3 0 to 10:15 P. M., Sundays
4
THE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
January, 1940
harmony in relation to everything else. There needs to be not only faith but actually a maximum of faith. This view does not refute the idea of faith that is like a “grain of mustard seed” which is able to remove mountains. Here the minimum does not conquer the maxi mum. But it does infer that if we used our present faith, be it as a grain of seed, its use would solve our greatest problems. Faith is not human in origin. We do not create it, but rather acquire it. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” And thus, if we would have a maximum faith, it will be the result of our consistent contact with the source of all faith—the Bible.
in a crisis, the greatest in our history, by proclaiming the teachings of the Bible and living them. Maximum Life on Minimum Faith It has been said, and wisely so, that many people are exemplifying the trage dy of “trying to lead a maximum life on a minimum faith.” The Scriptures say concerning God!s view of faith, “Without faith it is impossible to please him.” This statement refers not merely to some mystic quality of divine pleas ure but just as much to its normal re action in the quality of human life. The life that is out of step with God is out of step with everything else. The life that is out of tune with God is in dis-
The spirit of Christianity was kept out of the peace conference. The seeds of future wars were sowed in the name of peace. GUESSING G A M E : In approximately six months, the Democratic and Repub lican presidential candidates will have been nominated. For the first time in many campaigns, the identity of the nominees is not reasonably certain at this short time in advance of the con ventions. At least eighteen months before the 1936 conventions, it was known with fair certainty that Governor Landon would oppose President Roosevelt. Two years in advance of the 1932 conventions, it was virtually assured that Governor Roosevelt of New York would oppose President Hoover. Even three years in advance of 1928, it was generally con ceded that if President Coolidge did not “choose” to run, Herbert Hoover would be the likely opponent of Gov ernor Alfred E. Smith. Today, however, all is in a state of complete uncertainty. While Senator Vandenberg and Thomas Dewey seem to have the “inside track” in the Re publican race, there is no conclusive rea son to suppose that either necessarily will be the nominee. If President Roose velt fails to stand for a third term, the Democratic scene will turn into a simi lar scramble. Farley, McNutt, Hull and Garner seem to have the best chance—but there Is no certainty that any one of the four will be the object for the “lightning” to strike. For the first time since 1920, the chances permit of the possibility of two “ dark horses.” But, of course, the chances also permit of the possibility of almost any other conceivable set-up. In Washington, D. C., the “experts” do not even profess to know. One man’s guess is as good—or as poor—as an other’s. Mr. for Rev. Nothing so infuriates a minister named Jones as being called “Reverend Jones.” Reverend is an adjective, not a title. If a parson is not a doctor (D, D. or Ph. D.), he is, like other men, a mister.* Last week the Ministerial As sociation of Lansing, Mich., formally resolved that “in addressing one an other, or in referring to one another in speech or in writing, we discard all titles except that of mister.” Lansing’s rev erend misters hoped that their friends and the press would stop infuriating them.—From Time, November 27, 1939. *In good usage " Reverend‘ is not found with only a last name after it. In correct: Reverend Jones. Correct: the Reverend Dr. Jones; the Reverend J• A , Jones; the Reverend M r. James Aloysius Jones. — Time.
Views and Reviews of Current News By DAN GILBERT Washington, D. C., and San Diego, California
all past ages, dictatorship has found that “religion” which leaves out Christ and the Bible is as deadly a weapon as atheism itself. Dr. Gaebelein, I believe, wrote a book entitled Religion vs, Christianity. The strong points it brings out may well be impressed upon the minds of our peo ple today. Religion, as such, is the en emy of Christianity. And religion, as such, is the enemy of democracy. It is Christianity which is the creator and the conservator of Constitutional lib erty and American democracy. AFTER THE WAR— ? Men do not like to contemplate the horrors that must be ahead in the current war. Hence, they try to look beyond the struggle itself to the peace which, they hope, will come eventually. Both sides are promising a “new Europe,” after the victory. Both sides promise to cre ate a new era of perpetual peace and prosperity, once victory is achieved. There is good ground for not taking solid stock in any of these promises. During the last World War, there were many assurances of “a peace without victory.” There were promises of “ a treaty without vengeance.” Lip service was paid by all to the noble principles and the Christian precepts set forth by Woodrow Wilson in his famous “points.” Once the war was won, however, the forces of greed and vengeance were un leashed. Wilson was rendered helpless. Among the leading powers, only Amer ica refused to accept colonies and repar ations. The other victorious powers for got their promises of “justice tempered by mercy” and gave way to greed and rapacity.
RELIGION AND DEMOCRACY; A dec ade ago, many of our foremost political commentators and social scientists re garded democracy as a m e c h a n i c a l structure, which required no other sup port than an adequate police force and a strongly organized public opinion. To day, many of these same observers are conceding that democracy requires the additional support of articulate religious faith. The experience of the European de mocracies has shown rather clearly that dictatorship is inseparable from a mili tant anti-religious sentiment approach ing outright atheism. As dictatorship is necessarily allied with atheism, so de mocracy cannot exist without the sup port of religion. This is far from a “new” idea. George Washington, in his Farewell Address, warned that reli gious faith was the bulwark of Ameri canism. Indeed, he went so far as to say that no enemy of religion could claim “ the tribute of patriotism,” since the infidel was engaged in tearing down the foundations of the American re public. In considering the relationship of re ligion to democracy, however, it is need ful to avoid sweeping generalizations. It is well to be specific. Democracy historically has been the flower and fruitage of Christianity. Horace Greeley said, "A Bible-reading and a Bible- believing people is always a free people.” Nations which have “religion” but do not have the. Bible are never free and democratic lands. Bible-less, Christ-less religion provides as effective an ally for tyranny as do atheism and agnosticism. Only in this “scientific” age do we find atheism implementing dictatorship. In
TH E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
January, 1940
The Most Dangerous Shortage of the Present Day By R. A. TORREY
' In the second place, the time is short in which to make adequate preparation for eternity. Preparation for eternity does not end with our being saved. In deed, when we are saved, when our sins are forgiven and we really become chil dren of God, our preparation for eter nity is very far from complete; it has just begun. Many imagine that the mo ment that they are saved, the moment that their sins are forgiven, they are ripe for heaven. This is not so. After one has received, through faith in Jesus Christ, full pardon for all his sins, and has been born again and has become a true child of God, there is still to be wrought a great work of moral and spiritual preparation for heaven, for eternity, for eternal companionship with God the Father and Jesus Christ. Preparation for heaven begins with salvation; it does not end with it. A full and adequate preparation for heaven is a matter that requires time.- It re quires much time. The more time .we have to devote to preparation for eternity, and the better use we make of that time, the better it is for us; and the more abundant will be our en trance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and the richer and fuller and more satis factory will be our eternity, and the bet ter we shall be fitted to enjoy heaven . and. its holy and peculiar -joys. / If we begin our preparation for an eternal heaven at the very dawn of a long life, the time is none too long. The time is very short, indeed, for this all- important work. Let us make the most of it. The development of a Christlike character is not the work of a day. We have not one hour to lose. It is true that we have an eternity to live in, but we have only a brief lifetime in which to prepare for it. - ’. In the third place, the time is short for laying up treasures in heaven. It is the clear teaching of the Lord Jesus that by certain definite courses of ac tion we make deposits in the eternal “Reserve Bank” of heaven, deposits ( which it shall be our future and eternal.; privilege to enjoy. Most men do ng begin soon enough to lay up for old and, therefore, when -Id age steals them, they must spend it in penurj distress. But deposits which wej
[This remarkably stirring sermon by the late Dr. Torrey has been supplied for T he K ing ’ s B usiness by Mrs. R. A. Torrey. I f the urgency Dr. Torrey has described existed in the years, fol lowing the World War when this mes sage was uttered, how equally important it is that in the present hour we-shall realize the fact, "T h e time is short"! EDITpR.] “The time Is short” (I Cor. 7:29). JL has brought its natural and in evitable result, world-wide want. But there is a shortage which is far more serious and involving infinitely more peril than is this material scarcity. What that shortage is you will find in my text. You will find the text in 1 Corinthians 7:29: “The time is short.” There is nothing of which any of us has less to spare and yet of which most of us are so prodigal and so wasteful as time. Happy, yes, thrice happy, is the man who not only believes but feels the truth set forth in the short, solemn, and startling statement of our text, “The time is short.” The word translated “time” means time of opportunity, time for doing the thing that needs to be done. The word translated “short” means “drawn to gether,” "contracted,” that is, exceed ingly limited, and, therefore, in great need of being conserved and improved to the uttermost. And the time of oppor tunity at our disposal for doing the many things of tremendous importance that clamor to be done before we go into eternity and meet God, is exceed ingly contracted. If any one of us will stop to think how many things of the highest import ance there arc that we must do before we can satisfactorily shut our eyes upon this world and pass out to meet God in judgment in the next world, his own reason will cry with stentorian tones, “The time is short.” The average man and the average woman seem to think that whatever else may be scarce, there is plenty of time. No, No, No, “The time is short.” The day of opportunity is flying more swiftly than in aero plane. The unsaved man thinks that títere is plenty of time to repent and be saved. The Christian thinks that there is plenty of time to get ready for the coming of the Lord. The one who HE terrible curse and waste and destruction of- world-wide war
would save souls thinks that there is plenty of time in which to do it. But to one and all, God thunders in the words of the text, “The time is short.” Things for which the Time Is Short We shall look first at the things for which the time is short. First of all, the time is short in which we must be saved if we are to be saved at all. Do I need to say how infinitely important it is that we be saved? We all know that the differ ence between an eternity of joy and honor and beauty and glory, and an eter nity of sorrow and shame and moral hideousness and utter degradation and blackest despair, depends upon our be ing saved. Yes,' we all feel in some measure at least that we must be saved sometime. But alas, many think that there is plenty of time in which to be saved. There is not. “The time is short,” exceedingly short. If anything is to be done to secure our salvation, it has to be done quickly. If not done quickly, it will not be done at all. If you are not saved soon, you will never be saved. Just how short the time may be in which any one of us can be saved, none of us can tell. It may be measured by a few weeks, it may be measured by a few hours, or a few minutes or a few heart beats, but at ttr very long est, “the time is short,” very, very short.
draw upon and enjoy for are vastly more important that the prudent man makes [Continued onl
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T H E K I N D ’ S B U S I N E S S
January, 1940
When New Zealand Witnessed "Fresh Power"
An Employee’ s Remembrance of Torrey It was in Dr. Torrey’s last year at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles that I entered as a student. Having been an experienced stenographer, 'and finding it necessary to find em ployment in order to pay my ex penses at the school, I had the won derful opportunity to work for Dr. Torrey. While in the classroom stu dents stood in great awe of him (especially if a lesson wasn’t well prepared), as an employee of his, I found Dr. Torrey gracious, humble, and kindly in spirit. One remembrance that has been a great help to me in the Lord’s work, is that of Dr. Torrey’s preparation of a series of sermons for publication. He would pace up and down the room dictating, then would suddenly •top to pray, pouring out his heart to God for guidance and blessing. This practice of his impressed me with the great need of preparing messages prayerfully. I praise God that He led me to the Bible Institute of Los Angeles in time to have this personal contact with a man of God who lived and preached the Word of God. Mrs. E. Rexford Smith, Missionary to the Mexicans, Coachella, Calif. Priest of the Household During my last six months as a student at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles, I worked in the home of Dr. Torrey. What impressed me most was how he conducted family wor ship, Every one in the home, includ ing servants, was asked to Join, and each one was mentioned personally, by name, in prayer. Jennie Zimmerman Eymann, Los Angeles, Calif. Vacation Evenings One summer I spent five weeks with the Torrey family at Northfield, Mass. Our happiest times were after supper when we gathered in the din ing room and played games. Dr. Tor rey was always the leader in our fun. You would never believe when see ing his dignity and sternness in the pulpit and classroom that he could so playful at home. We played |s of guessing games, and I always gd to be on his side as it was usu- tthe winning one. We would play ^ibout nine o’clock, then good- jiwere said to Dr. Torrey, and gent off to bed, leaving him i. Ora Augustins Owen, % U .
By ROBERT A. LAI DLAW Auckland, New Zealand
B HE Torrey-Alexander Mission in Melbourne, Australia, had stirred the world, and the reports that 10,000 people, had been filled night after night, had awakened great expectations on the part of Christian people in Dun edin, New Zealand, which was the next city to which the evangelistic party was to come. The Mission commenced on a Tuesday night, and it continued nightly until Friday with little blessing. On Friday night, Dr. Torrey said, “We cannot run a Mission in Dunedin on the blessing we had in Melbourne. Each fresh effort needs fresh power. I call you to a half night of prayer tonight.” And, turning to the piano, he said, “Mr. Harkness will take charge of it in the Y. M. C. A. Hall.” The meeting over, Mr. Harkness pro ceeded to the Y. M. C. A. Hall, expect ing to find a dozen or so zealots willing to pray through half the night, but to his surprise the hall was full, and hun dreds of people were out on the street, not able to obtain admission. He pressed his way through, and eventually reached -the piano. After playing a chorus or two, he suggested the meeting get to prayer. A man in the audience rose and said, "Excuse me, Mr. Harkness. I believe God wants to bless Dunedin just as much as He blessed Melbourne. There must be something wrong with us, and I know what is wrong with me. I have given up my family altar, but I confess my failure and promise that by the grace of God tomorrow morning my family altar will be raised again, and we will meet to read God’s Word and to pray together.” Another arose and said, “Years ago I was a soul-winner, but have grown cold in heart, and never speak to any one now. As God shall help me, I will start out again to point men to Jesus Christ.” As one and another made confession, the Spirit of God spoke to Robert Hark ness, and he arose and, as I remember his testimony, said something like this: “I am a musician. I was converted only a few weeks ago in Australia through Mr. Alexander, but have never dedicated my life to Christ, and it may be that I am a hindrance. By the grace of God, I here and now lay whatever talent God has given ms on the altar for Him.”
The next meeting was scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 3:00 P. M., and the Spirit of God came down upon the gath ering in mighty power, and large num bers came to Christ. That afternoon I, then a youth of seventeen, was almost converted myself, but I left the meeting with a heart as heavy as lead, deter mined, however, to come back at night and make my decision for the Lord Jesus Christ. That night, the Garrison Hall, which seated 2,000 people, was full an hour before the meeting was due to start, and enough people were out on the street to fill the hall a second time. Dr. Tor rey sent out word that if they would wait he would preach a second time to them. I contrived to stay in to both meetings, and made my decision for Christ at half past ten that Sunday night Revival had broken out in earnest The total population of the town was only 47,000, and the Garrison Hall was the largest building, but it was alto gether inadequate for the numbers who now nightly clamored to hear the gos pel. On every street car the campaign hymns were sung. Some objected, but there was such a movement in the city that no one could stay the rising tide. Dozens of businesses closed down from 12:30 to 1:30 daily so that their employees might attend the midday meeting. No one who passed through that cam paign will ever forget the movement of the Spirit of God, which resulted in over a thousand conversions in a period of less than three weeks, and left be- [As manager of the Farmers’ Trad ing Company, the largest mail-order de partment business in N ew Zealand, which. has over sixty branch stores throughout the dominion, M r. Laidlaw has been honored by the Lord with suc cess in business, but even more far- reaching has been his influence as a soul- winner in gospel preaching. Having been in England when the present war broke out, M r. Laidlaw remained to serve as a field director of the Soldiers', Seamens, and Airmen's Christian Asso ciation. H e is best known to most read ers as the author of the booklet, " The Reason W h y ” of which nearly eight million copies, printed in various lan guages, have been circulated."]
the great Exhibition Building, 'seating
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January, 1940
NESS may bring back to many who revere his memory a ires’" anointing of the same Spirit who moved so might ily upon him. Come, Holy Spirit Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove, With all Thy quick’ning powers; Kindle a flame of sacred love In these cold hearts of ours.
^ Torrey’ s Use of Precious Minutes People who said.Dr. Torrey lacked sociability merely approached him at the wrong time. He was a prince in matters of courtesy. But when he needed time for the Lord, he knew how to say to people simply, “How do you do?” or “Good-bye.” I often traveled with him to meet ings, and I used to wonder that, on these trips together, I could never engage him in conversation. One night, returning to Chicago from Hammond, Ind., he said to me, “Jim, do you know why I don’t talk to you on our way to meetings? I will tell you. No matter how many times I have preached a sermon, I never go.to preach until I get every point of that sermon freshly and clearly in my mind, so that the devil has no opportunity to confuse my mental powers and thus hinder the working of the Spirit of God.” James R. “Railroad Jim” Smith, Kingman, Ariz. • A Commencement Exhortation When Dr. Torrey gave us our diplo mas (I was privileged to be one of the three members of the first grad uating class to receive diplomas from his hand, June, 1912), he spoke brief ly words that I have not forgotten during the past twenty-two years in Korea; he bade us to remember the power of the blood of Christ, the power of the Word of God, the power of the Holy Spirit, the power of pray er, and, finally, the power of per sonal work, individual preaching to individuals. How I thank God for the life, and teaching, and friendship, and prayers of R. A. Torrey! Harry J. Hill, Pyongyang, Korea. • High Standards for Students In the classroom, Dr. Torrey de manded of the students the best they had, and was satisfied with nothing less. He was very firm, but also very just. If a student, when called upon, answered “not prepared,” he knew he would be questioned before the class as to his unpreparedness. This requirement was quite embarrassing,' unless one had a valid reason, fit which case Dr. Torrey was always kind and considerate. Otherwise^ he could be pretty severe—with the logi cal result that the words “ndt pre pared” were heard in Dr. Torrey’s classes much less frequently than In the others! Mrs. Lyman.'’Stewart, f ♦ Los Angeles, Calif.
hind it an impress upon the city that lifted its spiritual tone for more than a decade. How greatly was the power of God manifested through His yielded servant! I often visualize Dr. Torrey as I saw and heard him during the nights that followed my conversion, and gladly bear testimony after all these years to the influence of his deep spirituality, and the logic of his gospel presentation, and I pray this issue of THE 1. TG’S BUSI-
—Isaac Watts.
"Remember.. Contemplate ...Imitate" By F. C. H. DREYER Chefoo, Shantung, North China
M Y FIRST contact with R. A. Torrey was in 1892, when I was a student in the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago. In common with the other students, I reveled in the “feast of fat things” from the Word of God that he spread before us. The outstanding event during my time at the Institute was Mr. Moody’s great evangelistic campaign during the Chi cago World’s Fair in 1893. How rich in experience for us students were all these meetings! Dr. Torrey was Mr. Moody’s chief-of-staff, and thus we students were brought into closer touch with him. I was assigned to work in the Moody Church in connection with a large Bible class, of which Dr. Torrey was the teacher. This afforded the opportunity of learning some of the most precious lessons of my Christian life. When I felt the call to become a missionary to China under the China Inland Mission, Dr. Torrey, of his own accord, put my name on his prayer list. He was like a father to me right up to the time of his death. His letters were always so encouraging [Benefiting greatly from their con tacts with Dr. Torrey, M r. and Mrs. Dreyer, members of the China Inland Mission, were able to establish in 1910 the Shansi Bible Institute in Hungtung, Shansi, China. Several hundred young men passed through their hands for training in the eighteen years of their service in the school. In connection with that work, M r. Dreyer prepared in Chi nese a book entitled Studies in Bible Doc trine, which contains, along with other material, most of Dr. Torrey’s What the Bible Teaches, and has been a text book in a dozen or more theological seminaries and Bible Institutes of China. H e has also written numerous volumes of the Mandarin Bible Commentary .]
and helpful that it was a joy to receive them—and, busy as he was, one could always count upon a prompt answer to every letter. . Even during his great evangelistic campaigns, we corresponded quite regularly, and almost invariably he reminded me that he was continuing to pray for me by name day by day. This message had a very solemnizing effect upon me. I said to myself, “Here is a busy man. upon whose words thou sands are hanging, and yet he finds time day by day to pray definitely for me, a lonely missionary in far-off inland China!” It made me realize my respon sibility to be my best for God. As the years have passed, I have come to rea lize in an increasing measure that what ever blessing has attended my ministry in China has been, in the providence of God, very largely due to Dr. Torrey and other praying friends. The crowning privilege came in 1921, on one of Dr. Torrey’s visits to China. We were in Shanghai when he and Mrs. Torrey arrived, and what a joy it was to welcome them! And later, what an opportunity it was to be asked to ac company him on some of his journeys in China, to act as his escort and inter preter at various Bible conferences! To be permitted to be Dr. Torrey’s inter preter was wonderful, but yet more wonderful was it to share his room on different occasions during our journey- ings, and to enjoy the closest fellowship with such a man of God as Dr. Torrey was. Never shall I forget the impres sion he made upon me at that time. Every memory I have of Dr. Torrey is sacred. Thinking of him, I am re minded of Way’s translation of Hebrews 13:7: “Remember those who once were your spiritual guides, who uttered to you the word of God. Contemplate the issue of their life, an ' imitate their faith.” Truly such a life as this one furnishes much to remember, to contem plate, and to imitate.
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January, 1940
Life's New Commission I Peter 2:1-10 By ROY L LAURIN Los Angeles, California
■ WO great and grave dangers lurk in the shadows of our carelessness in these busy days. The one is other is a peril for the Christian. First, there is the danger of relying upon what science and the world can Offer, to the exclusion of the Bible. Sec ond, there is, in the case of the Chris tian, the danger of relying upon what we can do through fleshly human ef fort, to the exclusion of grace and the Holy Spirit. A missionary statesman said some time ago, “An alarming weakness ;among Christians is that we are pro ducing Christian activities faster than we are producing Christian experience and Christian faith.” There is tremen dous activity in church circles today. In a way, the present-day church pro gram corresponds to Broadway at Times Square. The din of traffic there is pretty well paralleled by the tumult of organizational activity in our churches. Bishop Freeman rightly counsels us, “Let the church remain the church.” Yet how many are trying to build it after the fashion of a Rotary Club or a Masonic lodge! The clatter of pots and pans becomes increasingly impressive. Yet God says, “In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.” I fear for any church and any Chris tian that is working more than wor shiping. When committee meetings and board meetings are held during the hour that worship is being conducted, Satan is using a subtle way of getting us overbalanced—of robbing our souls to conduct our activities. Every Christian has an obligation to his own soul first and foremost before he has any obligation to the soul of another. I have witnessed tragedy after tragedy in this connection—the failure of people who busied themselves about others and who depleted their own spir itual resources and reserves until they were so weakened spiritually as to lose out completely in their Christian ex perience. I would very earnestly caution every 'young Christian to seek those means of grace that are offered us in the church for growth and strength and develop ment. We say, “ Get busy.” Yes, every body ought to be actively serving Christ, [This is the third article in a series dealing with the Ep'stles of Peter
but also, “ Get ready to get busy.” And if we get busy without getting ready for our business there may be the tragedy of an abortive service. Having “tasted that the Lord is gra cious,” and having been thrilled with the loveliness of Christ and the joy of our new-found Hfe, let us tarry at the place and source of our new birth and become established and grounded in our new life, and-then we shall be able to meet the antagonisms and the adversi ties of life. The teaching contained in our pas sage in 1 Peter 2:1-10 extends over a wide range. It begins with an individual believer who is an infant in grace. And it widens to include a “holy nation,” a vast company. This holy nation, how ever, finds its inception in that infant. God always begins with the individual, and the individual always begins as an infant. Three things stand out: First, A New Program of Life, vs. 1-3; second, A New Priesthood of Believers, vs. 4-8; and third, A New People for the World, vs. 9 , 10 . I. A New Program of Life (vs. 1-3). This new program is a three-point one. It begins with: 1. A Personal Experience of the New Birth. This starting point is inferred by the term “newborn babes.” All real life be gins here and any religious experience short, of this is a tragedy of the first magnitude. 2. A Personal Cleansing of the Life (v. 1). The biggest hazard to a healthy phys ical life is dirt and filth. One of sur gery’s most important developments in the past hundred years was .the discov ery of the fatal presence of germs and the discovery of gemicidals and anti septics. A surgeon may be as skillful as a Mayo, but if either the field of his operation or the instruments his skill employs are septic, his operation is very likely to be fatal. It is so in our spir itual lives. And here is a list of vicious, filthy, septic sins we must be rid of to live healthy lives: “malice,” “guile,” “hypocrisies,” “envies,” “evil speakings.” 3. A Personal Nourishment on the Word (v. 2 ), Tht central word here is "desire.” It brings up three questions:
WHO are to desire? “Newborn babes.” These newborn babes are of course newly born believers. What is a baby’s one and chief occupation? Eating. And if the baby has another occupation, it is that'of crying for more food! And a normal Christian birth is followed by a consuming appetite for the spiritual milk of the Word of God. WHAT is to be desired? “The sincere milk of the word.” The same means of the individual’s new birth must now be employed in the nourishment of his new life. It is “ milk” that is to be desired. The Bible is also “meat’’ (Heb. 5:12-14). But milk must be first in the spiritual diet. Milk is the most complete food in the world. Like milk for the grow ing babe, the Bible is not only desir able but also indispensable to growth and development. WHY is the Word to be desired? “That ye may grow thereby!” Growth is as vital as birth. The process means normal life. Note the central word — “desire.” The command does not say “dissect” but “desire.” The babe is not analytically critical of its food. He simply eats it because he craves it. Don’t try to analyze or criticize the Bible before you eat it. Eat it and you will not want to ’ criticize it nor need to analyze it. But there comes a time when analysis and dissection of the Bible are both per missible and profitable. That period oc curs when we have passed out of in fancy into the age of learning—when we are not onily growing but learning as well. Then comes the command to “study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not. to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). If the declension of modem Christian ity can be attributed to one cause more than another, it is to the fact that /e have Bible-less hearts, Bible-less homes, Bible-less schools, and Bible-less pulpits. An example of the extreme that can be reached occurred recently when a church in Canada changed its hour of worship so as not to interfere with the ventriloquist radio program of the "wooden wizard,” Charlie McCarthy! Bible-less churches! A university president, himself an extremist in re jecting the authority of the Word of God, nevertheless has recognized a lack in the modern church. He has made this statement:
a danger for the non-Christian, and the
January, 1940
TH E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
“I attribute the decline of the church in this country to the decline of the theological schools. Why is it that the clergy do not command the respect that we should all like to feel for them? I think you will find the answer by looking at the catalogue of the divinity school . . . The student learns about building management, and community sing ing, and church socials.” Yes, the Bible, loved as the revealed truth of God, is essential for growth and power. A Christian,Indian boy, writing to a missionary of a spiritual awakening they were having in his community, said: “We are having a great rebible here.” It was not a bad mistake. I know of many communities, great num bers of churches, and a host of Chris tians who need to be “rebibled.” We need to get back to the Bible, back to the place where the Word of God be comes our light, our food, our desire, and our spiritual atmosphere. II. A New Priesthood of Believers (vs. 4 -8). At this point we advance from the state of becoming to the state of being. The movement is from the state' of in dividual units of newborn life to the state of collective life wherein we who are believers are living stones built up into a great temple. These living stones find a new sphere—a sphere of fellow ship and a bond of union in the living Christ. Two things are in view in these verses: First, The Foundation or Sub structure, v. 4; and second, The Build ing or Superstructure, v. 5. 1. The Foundation or Substructure (V. 4). Without controversy, this is Christ who is described as “a living stone.” Christ is both the foundation and the comer stone of the Christian commu nity of believers we call the church. When He said to Peter, “Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church,” the rock was not Peter, the small stone, but Christ the great comer stone. We note in our passage that Peter himself is teaching that Christ is the foundation of the church. Remember that He is a living founda tion. Every foundation under every building is a dead one and deteriorates with time, but whoever believes on Christ “ shall not be confounded,” for he is built upon a living foundation. 2. The Building or Superstructure (v. 5). I call to your mind the distinction between the individual life structure of the Christian, and the collective life structure of the church. In the individ ual structure of each life, the founda tion is Christ (His Person and work); the building is Christ’s teaching, devel oped in the life. But in the collective structure of the church, the foundation
a rock of offense,” and society and fam ily and individuals which are not built upon Christ fall to pieces and go to min without Him. III. A New People for the World (vs. 9, 10 ). Here is a new people created not to be spectators in a crumbling and chang ing world, nor a spectacle of a crystal- dead piety; but to be servants of the Lord God to exert a benign and heav enly influence upon the society iri which they live. The Christian’s obligation is in the present tense: “Ye are.” Christians are four things: 1. “Ye are a chosen generation.’' .This is our CALLING. We are called as an “elect : ce,” moving in the world, but never a part of its sordid life. 2. “Ye are . . . *a royal priesthood.” This is our PREROGATIVE. 3. “Ye are . '. . a holy nation.” This is our CHARACTER. The new society is produced by re generation. The old society that wal lows now in crime and war is seeking to improve itself by the twin sciences, eugenics and euthenics, but the only hope for the world is a re-bom hu manity. 4. “Ye are . . . a peculiar people.” This is our DISTINCTION.
is Christ, while the building is com posed of the Christians as “living stones.” In this great temple we are: Built UPON Christ. This is our foun dation. Built INTO a Spiritual House. This is our corporate existence. Built UNTO a Holy Priesthood. This is our office. Built FOR the Offering of Spiritual Sacrifices. This is our ministry. Thus the sacredness of a certain house and a certain order of men and a cer tain ritualism is past. It is superseded by spiritual things. It is replaced by a spiritual house*—collective believers; by a spiritual priesthood—individual believ ers, and by spiritual sacrifices—obedi ence, love, praise, and worship. If Jesus is a living stone of magnifi cent and majestic proportions and of precious value, He is not such to all kinds and classes of men. But their choice for or against Him creates a wide difference. To the believer He is a comer stone (v. 6). To the unbeliever He is a stum- blingstone (v. 8). The presence of Christ makes Him a comer stone. The absence of Christ makes Him a stumblingstone. In one case He is precious. In the other, He creates a predicament, for He is then “a stone of stumbling, and
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