King's Business - 1949-11

I TALKED TO GENERAL MacARTHUR By Louis T. Talbot, D.D.

I N MY current trip around the world in the interest of foreign missions, a real highlight has been my audience with the distinguished and beloved Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Japan, General Douglas MacArthur. This honor which I had coveted since the close of World War II took place at 6:30 P.M. on September 23rd. Dr. Bau­ man and I had been allotted twenty minutes for this impor­ tant interview and we determined to make the most of it. If we had any misgivings about meeting this imposing military leader, they were dispelled as soon as we were ushered into his presence. Although he is just as impressive a personality as the American press had led us to expect, he put us at ease at once with the gracious words, “Welcome to Japan! Come over and sit on the davenport, and we’ll have a talk about the Japanese problem.” We began to converse as if we had been friends for years. The General’s direct question, “ What brings you to Japan?” opened the way for us to tell him about our schools. I described the Bible Institute of Los Angeles, with its one thousand stu­ dents in training for Christian service. His eyes kindled when I stated that twenty of our graduates were laboring as mis­ sionaries in Japan, and hundreds more all over the world. He was greatly interested to learn that the Board of Directors of our schools had commissioned us to visit these mission fields to photograph our graduates in action, and to acquaint our­ selves at first hand with the needs of these lands in order that we might better equip our students to serve the people. I explained further that the films would be used to challenge others to join forces with them for the evangelization of the foreign fields. Then I asked General MacArthur: “What is the very best equipment we can give our students to fit them for service in Japan?” To this he replied that it was his conviction that the only permanent solution for Japan’s problem was to put the Bible in the hands of the people. In order to accomplish this, he has called for 3,000 missionaries and for 10,000,000 Bibles for Japan within the next three years. Later he will ask for 8,000,000 more copies of God’s Word, or a total of 18,000,000. Never in the history of any land has a topflight general, or any military power, ever made such an astounding request! I was deeply impressed with the General’s unequivocal declaration that he believed the Bible to be the Word of God, the foundation of all lasting government. He said that after the Scriptures were placed in the hands of the Japanese, it would then be “ up to the Bible to demonstrate itself.” He added, “It is my firm conviction that there is power in that Book, for it has never failed.” Then he became very grave indeed and he spoke with deep emotion: “Now is the time to strike. The Church has the greatest opportunity of her career right here in Japan, and if she fails to rise to it, history will write it down as the greatest tragedy since the beginning of the Christian era. God will hold us responsible.” Dr. Bauman and I both felt that General MacArthur was expressing convictions he felt very keenly, hut at the same time we sensed deep disappointment and discouragement be­ cause the Church’s response to this wide-open invitation for Bible distribution and evangelization had not come up to his expectations. We told him about our Bible Institute in China and asked his opinion of the future of that war-torn land, hut his only response was, “ Japan is the land of opportunity today. Send your graduates out here.” As we were leaving, I said, “ General, when you return to the United States, the people will give you a great welcome home.” He replied seriously, “ I have a job to do and I must complete it first. I long to see the homeland again. My eleven- year-old son has never seen his country, and it is hard, but the job is yet unfinished.” What a lesson to ministers and missionaries! We assured the General of our prayers and N O V E M B E R , 1 9 4 9

General Douglas MacArthur co-operation, and promised to convey his challenge to the Christian youth of America, and to urge them to have a share in enabling him to realize his dream for Japan. We shook hands heartily, and with a parting “ God bless you” we went on our way. As we were escorted down the elevator by a Lt. Colonel, we looked at our watches in astonishment. It was 7:30; we had been with the General a full hour! Surely he is one of the greatest men of our nation, and I wish there were more like him! The very next day we had a fine talk with Lieutenant Colo­ nel John W. Stewart, judge of the Provost Court, who, al­ though he did not know of our visit with General MacArthur, expressed the same views with regard to Bible dissemination. He asked me to recommend a course of Bible study which could be translated into Japanese and distributed among the university students. I assured him the Bible Institute would place such a course in his hands. Through his influence, Rev. Timothy Pietsch, one of our graduates, will be permitted to place a New Testament in the hands of every policeman in the city of Tokyo. The ten days spent in Japan have been filled to the brim with unforgettable experiences. We have visited temples and shrines, witnessed heartbreaking sights, and heard stories of untold woe. On every hand we have been appalled by the bewildered spiritual and economic condition of the people. The brightest spot has been the fellowship with the brave mission­ aries, including many of our own graduates, who have the real key to the situation. Wherever we have preached, to university students, to peasants, to prisoners—hearts have been open to the gospel. So, although the need is overwhelm­ ing, the Spirit of God is working, and something is being done to dispel the darkness. The church of God must not pass up this unprecedented opportunity to give the Word of God to a new Macedonia which is stretching forth her hands for the gospel. If we do not fail in this task, it may be in deed and in truth that a “ nation will be born in a day.” &aqe Five

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