IN TH IS ISSUE: A Special Timely Report W H A T DO SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISTS DEEIEVE TODAY? by Dr. M. R. DeHaan
BUSINESS
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KAREN RUTH JOHNSON March 31, 1942 — June 6, 1959 “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain ” — Phil 1 21
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"My fife is but o weaving Between my Lord and me: I cannot choose the colors: He worketh steadily. Ofttimes He weaveth sorrow, And I in foolish pride Forget He sees the upper, And I, the under side.
"Not till the loom is silent And the shuttles cease to fly, Shall God unroll the canvas And explain the reason why The dark threads are as needful In the Weaver's skillful hand As the threads of gold and silver In the pattern He has planned.
*7ee*taye 07'itoc*ptfeA able to see it. As far as my life work or life partner I am leaving it in His hands and am willing to do anything He says. I feel that this philosophy is very practical and can be applied to every day life. Every decision can be taken to the Lord in prayer and the peace that comes from knowing Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour is something many cannot understand. Many search for a purpose and reason for life. I know that I am on this earth to have fellowship with God and to win others to the saving knowledge of His Son, Jesus Christ. I know that after death I will go to be with Him forever. Jesus Christ teaches love and respect for everyone throughout the New Testament and we are not to judge anyone because He will on the judg ment day. In God’s sight no one person is worth any more than an other. Knowing and loving Jesus Christ personally makes me want to please Him and accomplish things for His glory. Paul says in the New Testa ment, “Whatsoever ye do, do it all to the glory of God” and “ For me, to live is Christ, to die is gain” . This philosophy contains all of the seven points given in your lecture of April 20th. As I stated in the be ginning, it is very (1) practical to have someone to turn to for any de cision or problem, small or large. What could be more (2) optimistic than knowing that God has a pur pose and plan for one’s life and is willing to keep in constant fellowship with anyone who will. To know I
have accepted Jesus Christ’s gift of Salvation and will have eternal life in Heaven is a most wonderful thing and brings peace to my heart. God has the best for us and if we let Him He will improve our lives and solve our problems. (3) God in His Holy Word teaches us to have love and burden for every person as Jesus Christ Himself. (4) One of my main purposes in life is to share this ex perience I have had with Christ and to show them the peace and happiness that it brings. (5) This is an im portant goal in itself, but more com pletely, my aim in life is to accom plish what the Lord has for me to do, which is certainly the most worth while goal in life. (6) The closer I grow to Him the more happiness I find and the busier I am. He has things for me that the world could never offer and I learn to appreciate more and more how fortunate I am. (7) God’s standards are higher than anything attainable and present a great challenge and make me realize how futile it would be for me to do the best I could, because I, being hu man, could never reach God’s stand ards, and therefore never be worthy of entering Heaven. God has given me contact with the best; in His world, in my bom again friends, and in my fellowship with Jesus Christ. It is well known that the highest beauty, truth, justice, and goodness is found in God’s Word. This is my philosophy, and yet it is not mine, but I am God’s, and what ever I have is His and I have faith that He is the only answer and I do love Him so.
On Saturday afternoon, June 6 of this year, a seventeen-year-old Chris tian girl, Karen Ruth Johnson, riding home to Los Angeles with her friends, was suddenly snatched into the pres ence of the Lord. The group of Youth for Christ teenagers had gone to Palm Springs to make arrangements for the wedding of two in the party. They expected to reach home in time for that evening’s YFC rally. A ll of a sudden, an oncoming car crashed over the double line smashing head on into the teenagers. The other car, being driven by a drunken serviceman, had been travelling at 85 miles per hour. It was fust two days before the col lision, Thursday, June 4, that Karen had prepared a special school assign ment, “M y Philosophy of Life.” It was presented to her teacher the next day, who rightly commented: “A beautiful philosophy! Not many stu dents, at this age, feel free to write in such a personal way.” For the benefit of our readers, we would like to open this month’s pub lication by printing here that sweet testimony. Our sincere appreciation to Karen’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ed ward Johnson for their permission in doing so. May these thoughts be a lasting challenge to our hearts, for Karen “ being dead, y et speaketh.” June 5, 1959 MY PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE by Karen Ruth Johnson My philosophy of life is based on the Holy Bible and the God that wrote it. I know that He has a plan for my life and through daily prayer and reading of His Word I will be
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OCTOBER, 1959
“I have been using the Pilgrim Bible for seven or eight years. I never have any hesitancy in recommending it as being the clearest and most under standable reference Bible of them all.”— S. N . CASTLE, Vice President, Union Planters Bank, Memphis, Tenn.
T P h i e
A publication of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles, Inc. Louis T. Talbot, Chancellor
S. H. Sutherland, President
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Ray A . Myers, Chairman o f the Board
OCTOBER, in the year of our Saviour Nineteen Hundred and Fifty-Nine
Vol. 50, No. 10
Established 1910
Dedicated to the spiritual development of the Christian home
The Pilgrim Bible ex plains God’s Word while you read. All notes, helps, etc. are presented with * * / utmost simplicity and ap- U O L i pear on the same page
A TEENAGE TRIUMPH — Karen Ruth Johnson .................................... 3 CAN JESUS COME AGAIN — Ralph Keiper............................................ 10 THE PRODIGAL FATHER — "First Mate Bob" .................................... 13 STRONG CRYING AND TEARS — Herbert H. Richardson ................ 14 WORDS AND THE WORD — Helen Frazee-Bower ............................... 16 YOUTH WORK IN THE CHURCH — Norman S. Townsend ........ 16 IF THE CHURCH GOES THROUGH THE GREAT TRIBULATION — WHAT THEN? — John Linton ............................................................. 22 WHAT DO SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS BELIEVE TODAY? — M. R. DeHaan 27 Fmhm EDITORIAL — Samuel H. Sutherland ...... ............................................... 6 DR. TALBOT'S QUESTION BOX — Louis T. Talbot ........................ 26 WORLD NEWSGRAMS — J. O. Henry ...................................................... 35 BOOK REVIEWS — Arnold Ehlert ............... ..... ................................. 36 SCIENCE AND THE BIBLE — Bolton Davidheiser ............................... 38 TALKING IT OVER — Clyde Narramore ........................................ 41 PERSONAL EVANGELISM — Benjamin Weiss ....................................... 40 CHRISTIAN HOME — Paul Boyles .......................... .................. 42 JUNIOR KING'S BUSINESS — Martha S. Hooker ............................... 44 TALKS WITH TEENAGERS — Betty Bruechert ............. ....................... 46 CHURCH RECREATION — Jim Slevcove .............................. ........... 46 MAKING MELODY — Ralph Carmichael ........................ ....................... 50 UNDER THE PARSONAGE ROOF — Althea S. M ille r........................ 53 ACCENT ON YOUTH — Ken Poure ....................................... ................. 58 finbm READER REACTION . 5 PEOPLE IN THE NEWS .................................. 8 OBJECT LESSONS ............................................................................................. 47 DISC PERSONALITIES .................................................................................... 52 TOWN AND CAMPUS ................. 54 Cm In printing the personal testimony of Karen Ruth Johnson (now home in the presence of the Lord), on page three of this month's King's Business, we felt our readers would like to see a picture of this young woman "who being dead yet speaketh." We earnestly pray that the sincere words of her heart may be a lasting challenge to each of our lives. — All Rights Reserved — S. H. SUTHERLAND: Editor J. RUSSELL ALLDER: Business Manager JANE M. CLARK: Circulation Manager RAY FRIESZ: Advertising Manager EDITORIAL BOARD Irene Boyd, Bolton Davidheiser, Arnold D. Ehlert, Charles L. Feinberg, Edward Hayes, James O. Henry, Martha S. Hooker, AI Sanders, Oran H. Smith, Gerald B. Stanton
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with the verse to which they refer. Dr. E. Schuyler English and 37 contrib utors produced this an notated edition of the AUTH ORIZED K IN G JA M E S v e r s io n . In various bind ings from $5.50, at your bookseller. Oxford Univer sity Press, 16-00 Pollitt Drive, Fair Lawn, N. J.
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Header Reaction HELP FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH We had sort of gotten into a spiritual rut and your magazine has been a true source of inspiration and help toward a closer walk with the Lord. I look {forward to every new issue and have highly recommended it to many friends. Especially have I enjoyed the articles on the development of the Christian home. With pressures so great, we parents need all of the help we can get in bringing up our children in the nurture and admoni tion of the Lord. My special thanks to each of you. Mrs. Ed Ensley, G enesee, Idaho. ENJOY NEW FORMAT About two years ago I was to the point where I had decided not to re-new my subscription, but I am glad now that I continued with it. The articles about pro phecy are wonderful. Mrs. Allen W . Burt, Utica, M innesota From time to time I have ordered extra copies of the KING’S BUSINESS to give my friends. I find the new format a big improvement. I feel that I cannot be without your magazine, and so am en Your magazine is very good. I enjoy it indeed, and only.wish that it would come twice a month instead of once. May God bless you. Flora U. Flores, Long Beach, California QUESTION BOX ENJOYED Thank you for sending the KING’S BUSINESS to our home. I find the articles very interesting and helpful. I like Dr. Talbot’s Question Box very much. May God bless you. Anthony W akelin, Levin, New Zealand This is our gift for the work in Hong Kong. We always enjoy the page by Dr. Talbot. Wish it could be longer. Olan Clower, Rom oland, California FIRST COPY I just received my first copy of the KING’S BUSINESS and what a blessing it has brought to me. The wide variety of topics and the inclusiveness of all ages make it a credit to any Christian home. Mrs. B. M cClair, Anderson, Calif. OBJECT LESSONS AND FICTION We certainly enjoy the KING’S BUSI NESS. How about putting in some object lessons and also some good Christian fiction? Mrs. W alter Goossen, Hulbert, Ok la. SUBSCRIPTIONS TAKEN I like the new K.B. very much. The new format is very good. Please send a subscription to my sister-in-law. Mrs. Esther M ojeske, Flint, M ich. I just noticed my subscription is out. Sorry. I enjoy reading the KING’S BUSI NESS so much. I wouldn’t be without it. Mrs. H. S. Courser, Newberg, Oregon closing my check for renewal. Mrs. Esther M ojeske, Flint, M ichigan TWICE A MONTH
and discuss the Sunday’s lesson together. Take-home papers bring the lesson teach ings into the home. Families are drawn closer to Christ, to the church and to one another. • T R U E T O T H E B IB L E ...S T R O N G L Y E V A N G E LIS T IC Every lesson is based on a Scripture text from the King James version of the Bible, and unfolds its meaning in harmony with the evangelical faith of all dedicated Chris tians. There is no hint of modernism. The authority of the Bible, Christ’s unique posi tion as the Son of God, His death for the sins of all men, His resurrection, ascension and coming again to judge all men are faithfully taught. Whether you teach a class of Beginners or Adults, there is a David C. Cook Bible teaching course “ tailor-made” for your needs. Find out why nearly two hundred thousand teachers of all leading denom inations use and prefer David C. Cook unified lessons by mailing this coupon. • A G E -G R A D E D T O S U IT AN Y SU N D A Y S C H O O L O R C L A S S
• S A V E H O U R S O F P R EP A R A T IO N TIM E All information necessary to prepare an interesting, class-appealing lesson is in the teacher’s book. No need to consult any other source to find Bible background, in formative sidelights and historical facts to teach a complete well-rounded lesson every Sunday. • A S S U R E IN S P IR IN G , IN T E R E S T IN G C L A S S S E S S IO N S “ Facing-page” teacher’s book (exclusive with David C. Cook) assures a properly directed, effective class teaching period. Printed opposite each page of teacher in struction is the actual lesson page which the pupil is reading in his quarterly. From “ how to open the lesson” to closing prayer, the teacher is always in step with the pupil. A revelation in teaching ease and freedom. • HOME AND SU N D A Y S C H O O L W O R K T O G E T H E R With David C. Cook unified lessons, all classes in the Sunday School study the same Bible lesson theme on the same Sun day. All members of the family can study
David C . Cook Publishing C o ., Elgin, Illinois Please send all publications you recommend for the age group(s) checked below. I enclose 10£ for each age group for which samples are ordered. □ Beginner Ages 4 and 5 □ Junior High Ages 12,13 and 14 □ Primary Ages 6, 7 and 8 □ Senior High Ages 15,16 and 17 □ Junior Ages 9,10 and 11 □ Adult Ages 18 and over Name,______________________ ____________— —— ---------------------- ------------------------------------------ A d d re ss._________________________________________________ — --------------------------------------------------— ---------- State or r.ity ____________________________________________ „Province-------- ------------------------------------- Position in Sunday School--------------------------- - ------- ----------------------------------------------— □ Please send free copy of your 1959-60 Catalog. Dept. K10
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OCTOBER, 1959
IF AMERICA ELECTS A CATHOLIC PRESIDENT By Don W . Hillis, D.D. Here is a timely book by a veteran Christian leader, giv ing history and data on Ro manism, showing trends and seeming prospects and answer ing some vital questions. Non-political, timely, tremen dous! Beautifully bound. 50c ALSO
A MESSAGE from the editor
Several months ago a sig n i f i c a n t b o o k was p u b lished, entitled, "In Every War but One" , by Eugene Kin- kead, which is a report on a five-year study of Army per sonnel on the behaviour of American prisoners of war in the late K o r e a n war. The facts which are revealed by this authoritative report should have a most profound and sobering effect upon every American citizen, and in turn, upon our entire American society. So far this does not seem to have been the case, although the Armed Forces are undertak ing some remedial measures. For the most part, the USA is going on its merry way, completely ignoring the im
THE PROPHETIC SIG N IFIC AN C E OF POPE JOHN'S APPEAL FOR CHURCH UNITY by Dr. Lehman Strauss 35c From your book Dealer or DUNHAM PUBLISHING CO. — Findlay, Ohio HO. 9-5883 HO. 9-5883
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We’vegotgoodnews foryou! . . • IF YOU WANT to make your life count more for God . . . if you want to become a more effective witness and soul winner . . . if you want to make your money work for the Lord... BE SURE TO READ THE B IG O C TO B ER MOODY MONTHLY FEATURING DOORWAYS TO SERVICE You'll find help and inspiration in these: ■ MINISTRIES ON YOUR DOORSTEP ■ A PLACE FOR YOU IN FULL-TIME SERVICE ■ MAKING MONEY WORK FOR GOD ■ THE SECRET OF BEARING FRUIT ■ MECHANIC WITH A MISSION ■ GOD TOLD ME TO GO—GOD TOLD ME TO STAY plus other good reading M A I L T O D A Y ! M OOD Y MONTHLY Dept K -9-695 \ 820 N. LaSalle St., Chicago 10, III. Please enter my subscription to Moody Monthly i for one year, beginning with October issue, at | special rate of S3 (Reg. price *4)—U.S. and Canada i only. Add 50^ for foreign. □ S3 enclosed. □ Bill me. j (An extra issue FREE, if S3 accompanies order) Name ____________ Address ___________ __________ ! City ---------------- Zone Flintp Introductory Offer 1Year ONLY $300 Regular Price - $4.00 BEGINNING W ITH OCTOBER ISSUE
plications of this devastating and reliable information. The theme of this book is that in every war in which America has engaged, except the Korean conflict, the con duct of American servicemen who were captured and held in enemy prison camps, was exemplary from the standpoint of their loyalty to country and presented no problem to the Armed Forces. There was no evidence of betrayal of either American ideals or Americans. But in the Korean War it was entirely different. The alarming fact has been uncovered that out of every three American POWS, one collaborated with the enemy. These "sell-outs" varied from merely pla cing their names on petitions to outright acceptance of Communist doctrine and complete repudiation of American principles and policies. Of course, these betrayals were due to elaborate brain washing employed by the Communists. It was a type of brain washing for which the Americans had not been prepared. It was a subtle, n e w t e c h n i q u e , permitting a degree of leniency, which was alternated with certain psychological pressures. These methods brought about a strange feeling of aloneness on the part of the POWs. Although they were al lowed to mingle with their fellow-prisoners, so clever had been the Communist indoctrination, that they regarded each other with suspicion. Influenced by gentle persua siveness on the one hand, and charges and counter-charges on the other, their morale was c o m p l e t e l y broken down. Actually they came to the place where they believed the propaganda lies that were poured into their ears, which was the exact objective of their captors. It is a shocking and sickening story and those who defected are to be pitied because they fell into the hands of a clever and ruthless enemy. But what were the underlying causes for this situation and why did such betrayal occur in one war and not to any
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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CHRISTMAS PRO G R AM HANDBOOKS Compiled By GRACE RAMQUIST i J HANDBOOK NO. 1
great extent in any other? This is what this book seeks to explain. As Christians we are interested in it for many reasons. As Mr. Kirsch of the Los Angeles Times so truly stated in his review of this book, "This is not only an Army matter. It is a national problem involving every parent, teacher, clergyman — all of those who mold character and personal ity. " First of all, this report reveals the complete spir itual poverty into which American youth has been plunged. It is our conviction that this spiritual decadence is due, not to enemies who have attacked the church from without, but to enemies who have crept into the church of Jesus Christ and undermined its effectiveness. Many pastors no longer proclaim "Thus saith the Lord" from Christian pulpits, but have substituted instead a weak, "social gospel" which does not take into account the moral depravity of man and his need of a Saviour. Our young men have gone off to war with out a knowledge of the Word of God. How could they cope with a deadly enemy like Communism? That is not all. This report points out that certain changes in Army policy, as in training and leadership re quirements, had actually so undermined discipline that the POWs lost all sense of identification with their fellows and their country. Do we not see a similarity in the break ing down of disciplines in our whole society, beginning with the church of Jesus Christ? In large measure, we have forsaken the doctrines, with their consequent discipline, found in the Word of God. We have put men's opinions in their place. Modernism of all breeds and shades has been welcomed. Modernists have sown the wind and we all are beginning to reap the whirlwind. The tragic part is that so many ministers apparently do not realize the actual cause of all this inner deterioration; they are still assuming the "Pollyanna" attitude and wast ing their time and the time of their hearers as they mouth sweet-sounding platitudes to tickle ears and appeal to fancies. They are not furnishing any solid material upon which to build convictions and character which will be rugged enough to stand up in the times of testing, trial and temptation. Every minister and educator of Christian youth should read this book and take heed to its warning. Let us proclaim once again throughout the length and breadth of our land the truths of the Word of God concerning the wickedness of the human heart, the terrible results of sin in the life, and the need of discipline in one's own life and the life of society as a whole. Let us hear once more the call to repent ance and to acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ as our per sonal Saviour. He alone can transform hearts and make life really worth living. He alone can build sturdy Christian character. As the Army tries to set its house in order to prepare for what may be a greater onslaught upon our armed forces in the future, let us who are responsible for Christian youth take into account the might of our foe, Satan, and get our young people ready for the conflict which lies ahead of them. God have mercy upon us if we do not !
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HANDBOOK NO. 2 HANDBOOK NO. 3 HANDBOOK NO. 4 Ea c h o f t h e s e handy v ol umes contains new and « « o r g i n a l s k i t s , ¡¡¡I readings, poems, " p l a y l e t s a n d dramas. Sunday schools and other c hu r c h groups w i l l w e l c o m e these pr ogr am helps, c ompl et e with easy -to - fol io w instructions and offering ma terial for all ages, including adults. Size of each book, 32 Pages. Paper, each 35c
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Rev. Wilbur Nelson, director of the “Morning Chapel Hour,” has re signed as pastor of The Grace Church of Huntington Park, California. Mr. Nelson will be continuing his grow ing radio ministry and at the same time will be available for his distinc tive ministry in churches across the country. Music will be an important part of the popular speaker’s ministry since his voice is so well loved in churches, over the air, and via record ings. Rev. Robert W. Ross has been ap pointed Biblical and Educational Research Editor of Scripture Press in Wheaton, Illinois. Mr. Ross will carry on editorial duties in connection with all Scripture Press products and serv ices. Mrs. Billy Graham, w i f e o f the famous evangelist, will have her first book released this month, entitled, “OUR CHRISTMAS STORY.” Pub lished by Thomas Nelson and Sons, the volume is a written version of the story told each year by Ruth Graham to her five children. Dr. Merv Rosell, well known evan gelist of the American Crusade, re ports production is progressing on a new five minute series of radio pro grams, “ Take Five For Faith.” Rosell is also sending out his weekly half- hour programs, “The American Cru sade,” and a daily inspirational pro gram, “ Favorite Fifteen.” Dr. Ted W. Engstrom, president of Youth for Christ, International, states that three new publications will be launched during 1960. Two will be Portuguese and Spanish editions of the Youth for Christ magazine, and a house organ for the 45 nation family of YFC, “ The Eye.” Dr. George L. Ford, executive director of the National Association of Evan gelicals, has announced that October 18 to 25 will be NAE Week. The period will be set aside to pinpoint the work of the association over the
past 17 years. This year’s theme will be, “ Standing for the Changeless Word in a Changing World.” Rev. Harold Shaw, director of the Moody Bible Institute’s Correspond ence School, has outlined a new free home Bible study course in the basic truths of salvation. Entitled “The Good News,” the community evan gelism program is detailed in a 12- page descriptive brochure available from MBI. Dr. David Morken, associate evangelist with Billy Graham, has been invited by the 38 Protestant churches of Fukuoka, Japan, to conduct a special evangelistic crusade which will con clude October 4. Scene of the meetings will be the immense 7,000 seat sports arena in the seventh largest city of Japan (more than 700,000 inhabit ants). Dr. Clyde S. Kilby, chairman of the Department of English and Literature for Wheaton College, has announced the Fourth Annual Writer’s Confer ence to be held October 23-24 on the school’s campus. Among the many writers participating will be Wheaton alumna, Margaret London,, author of “ Anna and the King of Siam.” Don J. Odle, director of Venture for Victory (basketball evangelism), has reported that this year the team min istered to upwards of 350,000 people in nearly one hundred games. This distinctive means of witnessing for Christ has seen nearly 6,000 people decide for Christ this year. Jock Sonneveldt, president of Gospel Films, has announced the appoint ment of Joe Weatherly as Overseas Director of the Christian film organ ization. Gospel Films has just com pleted its fifth youth dramatic pro duction, “ Teen-age Rock,” which is available free for high school show ings. Miss Gladys Aylward, heroic mission ary whose life is portrayed in the
USE and GIVE SUPERINTENDENTS GUIDE ALL NEW FOR 1960 The only complete single volume covering a whole year. Leader guidance ma terial — program helps — order of service — desk
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
book, “ THE SMALL WOMAN,” has been speaking in churches and special gatherings across America during the past three months. A recent film pro duction, “The Inn of the Sixth Happi ness” was made from the book, “The Small Woman.” Rev. Robert W. Culbertson, pastor of the Evangelical Free Church of Coralville, a suburb of Iowa City, was ordained to the ministry by a group of leaders of the EFC denomination. The charge to the candidate was given by the new minister’s father, Dr. Wil liam Culbertson, president of the Moody Bible Institute. Paul O. L. Carlson, publications sales manager of Inter-Varsity Press, in an nouncing the new IVP Chorus and Song Book, has stated that to be in cluded will be the song, “ 0 Wondrous God, How Great Thou Art!” The selection is a translation from Swedish by Joseph T. Bayly. According to the IVP editors, the Swedish pastor wrote the selection originally in 1886 under the title, “ 0 Sture Gud.” Rev. Ulphin Davis, director of the Third Annual Central California Sunday School Fair, has announced that 30,000 people are expected to at tend the conclave in Fresno, October 28 to 31. Senator Frank Carlson, senator from Kansas, was named General Chair man of the Capitol Teen Convention to be held in Washington, D.C., un der the sponsorship of Youth for Christ International. Rev. Roy B. Mc- Keown is the executive director of the program. Dr. Billy Graham and Dr. Bob Pierce will be special speakers. Dr. John H. McCombe has been ap pointed by the American Bible So ciety as fraternal secretary to the Japan Bible Society. Dr. McCombe has served as a pastor in New York since 1951. Culter Academy, evangelical Christian day school in Los Angeles, continues to move forward in its building program. Shown below are dignitaries at ground breaking ceremonies for one of the new-structures. Shown left to right are E. E. Spitzer, L.A. Dept, of Building and Safety, L.A. Council man Ransom N. Callicott, Culter President John Blanchard, and Culter Board Chair man Alfred Dixon.
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M ission f i e l d !
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The passion for souls and missionary vision of the Institute’s renowned founder, Dwight L. Moody, is an ever-presefit challenge to students and grad uates, to the dedicated faculty ¿nd more than 500 full-time employees. In the classroom, at chapel services and on practical work assignments . . . students are trained and led into an understanding of God’s missionary pur pose for their lives and encouraged to choose their lifework on the basis of where and how God can best use them. To Christians around the world, MB I is more than a school . . . it is liter ally a “mission station” in the heart of metropolitan Chicago, seeking to win lost souls everywhere —on Madison Street or in Malaya, New York or New Guinea, California or Calcutta . . . and by all means— through personal testi mony, preaching, distribution of gospel literature, films, television and radio. The tuition-free training and MBI’s many ministries are supported by the prayers and gifts of Christians with a missionary vision. Without these gifts, the training and missionary challenge afforded by MBI would not be available to many dedicated young men and women. The directors of many of the large mission boards are former students who received their training and missionary vision at MBI. Today, there is a greater need than ever for your prayers and your gifts to help the Institute maintain this tuition-free training and expand its far- reaching ministries to the far corners of the world. IN T E R D E N O M IN A T IO N A L . . . E V A N G E L IC A L M O O D Y B I B L E I N S D r . W illiam C ulbertson , president • D r . S. M axwell C oder , dean 820 N. LA SALLE STREET • CHICAGO 10, ILLINOIS ACCREDI TED BY ACCREDI TI NG AS SOC I AT I ON OF BIBLE COLLEGES
OCTOBER, 1959
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BUSINESS
m s m He reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest." Jeremiah 5:24
/T A ne of the precious truths in the Word of God is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ our Lord. We share the expectancy of the Apostle Paul which he expressed when writing to young Titus: “ Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:11,13,14). And we join the spirit of the Apostle John as he closes the last book of the New Testament, the Revelation, giving testimony to the Lord Jesus Christ: “He which testifies these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:20). The question we ask is how can the Lord Jesus Christ come again? Several years ago, there was held in the city of Evanston, Illinois, under the auspices of the World Council of Churches, a series of studies which had to do with the Second Coming of Christ entitled “ Jesus the Hope of the World.” Theologians were gathered from the world around — from Europe and America. The conference was covered by the press, and one who followed the meetings carefully could soon see that there was division among theologians present. The European theologians had no
difficulty in believing that Jesus was the hope of the world, but our American theologians were not so sure. In analyzing the messages, it did not take long to find the reason for their uncertainty. European theologians had no difficulty in believing in Christ’s return simply because the Christ they had in mind was a Christ Who had died, Who was buried and Who had risen again from the grave. But the American theologians were not sure that Christ had risen. Consequently, they did not believe He would return again. There can be no doubt of the fact that there is a vital relationship between the resurrection of Jesus Christ and His return. He Himself sets this relationship clearly before us. In the 14th chapter of John’s Gospel, in his farewell address to His disciples, our Lord Jesus says, “ Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3). This passage is familiar to us all, but the clause that interests us now is that of verse 3. “ If I go away, I will come again.” We must keep in mind that this was spoken by our Lord
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
by Dr. Ralph L. Keiper
SUS COME AGAIN? to His disciples before the cross. He had yet to be betrayed; He had yet to be denied; He had yet to go before Pilate and to suffer in the garden, and of course, He had yet to die. What did He mean, then, when He said, “ If I go away, I will come again” ? Where was He going? The answer is easy for us on this side of the cross and the resurrection. But when we realize that those to whom He was speaking were on the other side of the cross before the resurrection, we can well understand that His state ment would puzzle them no end. They were greatly confused. They expected to find in the Lord Jesus Christ a great political king who would deliver them from the Roman yoke. They regarded Him as the conquering Messiah, James and John even going so far as to get their mother to plead with Him to make them His chief ministers. They expected to become well- known princes; they were about to become unknown peasants, scattered and disowned. Even as He speaks to them they do not believe Him. Thus, He says to them ever so kindly, “Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me [and you don’t you know], ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe” (John 14:28, 29). The question we ask is simply this: Did Jesus Christ know that He would rise from the dead even before His death? When He said to the disciples, “ If I go away, I will come again,” did He really believe that He would go and by going He meant His resurrection, His ascension into Heaven and that by returning He meant His coming again? Upon this “ i f ’ of our Lord Jesus hangs the greatest truth in all of Scripture — the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For if Christ be not risen, our hope is vain, our preaching is vain and we are of all men most miserable. As we turn to a study in the Gospel before us, there are three great instances in which the Lord Jesus Christ has given clearcut testimony to His own belief in His resurrection. This knowledge did not come, as the critics would have us believe, through a dawning consciousness of Messiahship. Our Lord Jesus Christ speaks as the God- Man Who made Himself of no reputation, took upon Himself the form of a servant and humbled Himself, becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross. But though He was a servant, though He was in the form of man, essentially He was God incarnate, and thus He speaks. The first instance occurs in the second chapter of John’s Gospel. He has just been to the Temple and cleansed it of its religious racketeers. This causes a great stir among official Israel. They ask Him by what right He does this; what sign does He have to show for His authority? Imme diately He meets the challenge: “ Then answered the OCTOBER, 1959
Jews and said unto him, What sign do you show unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and will you rear it up [will you build it up] in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body” (John 2:18-21). There can be no doubt of the fact that the Jews were very proud of the Temple. Even the disciples at the close of our Lord’s ministry take Him on a tour of the building to show Him its wealth and its greatness. It took 46 years to build it, so we can appreciate the shock that the answer of our Lord must have given to the Jews when He said, [ “ If you] destroy this temple, I will raise it in three days.” It has been my privilege to visit the two great cathe drals in the city of New York — the Episcopal Cathedral of St. John the Divine and the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Patrick’s. The mass of masonry of each covers several city blocks. They have taken many years to build. Well can I imagine if some tourist were to say to Cardinal Spellman or to Bishop Donahue, “ I believe your cathedral should be run differently,” and if they should say to the tourist, “What right have you to say this to us? What sign do you give us of your authority?” and the tourist would reply, “ Destroy this church, and in three days I will build it up,” the shock of the Bishop and the Cardinal would doubtless be tremendous. But this shock is not worthy to be compared with the shock which is to follow. Notice the text: “ Then said the Jews, Forty-six years did it take to build this temple, and will you build it in three days?” Now the shock. “ But he spoke of the temple of his body.” The true God from Heaven does not stop to argue as to whether He can build a temple in three days. After all, all creation came into existence at the breath of His Word. In effect He says, “ Not only could I raise this temple in three days, but I will do something greater. I will rise from the dead.” The words which our Lord Jesus uses here refer to more than a spiritual resurrection. The words “ temple” and “ body” force us to acknowledge physical, bodily, historical resurrection. Take for example 7 the word “ temple” itself, a metaphorical word. The temple is the place where the worshipers assemble to worship God. The temple is not the worship; the temple is not the worship ers; the temple is but the place where worshipers may gather to worship God in spirit and in truth. He equates this with the word “body,” this body which was prepared for Him, this holy thing which was bom of Mary, the house in which He was to make His home while on earth. He does not refer to Himself, saying, “ I shall rise from the dead.” He sharpens the focus with more precision. John says, “For he spoke of the temple of his body.” To assure that our Lord spoke of His phvsical, bodilv, histor- (CONCLUDED ON NEXT PAGE) 11
ical resurrection, the Holy Spirit leads John at verse 22 to make an inspired comment on this passage. We read, “When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.” In the second instance, our Lord tangles again with the scribes and Pharisees over the question of resurrection. In John 10 we read His discourse on the Good Shepherd. “ I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” He has pointed out how the hireling comes to lead the sheep away that he might kill them. But He reassures His disciples that He is not a hireling but the true Shepherd. He says, “ I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knows me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” Now we come to the statement which shocked the Jews beyond their sanity. “ Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that / may take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. 1 have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. And many of them said, He has a devil, and is mad; why do you hear him? Others said, These are not the words of him that has a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?” (John 10:14-21). There is.no room here for allegorizing or explaining away the text. Our Lord here speaks of physical dying and physical rising. Three considerations of this text would show us defi nitely that the physical, bodily resurrection is demanded. First of all, the context: what He lays down He will pick up, and logic forbids us to change the terms in midstream. If He lays down a physical body, He must pick up a physical body. If He lays down a spiritual life, then He only can pick up a spiritual life. But there is no question whatsoever that He laid down His body. In fact, this is what He came to do For the second consideration turns our minds to the Book of Hebrews where, upon leaving Heaven for earth, the Lord Jesus announces this very fact. “When Christ came into the world, he said, Sacrifice and offering you did not want; but a body have you prepared for me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy .will, O God” (Heb. 10:5-7). It was the prepared body He laid aside. It was the prepared body He took up again. For it was the prepared body of the living God that was the eternal sacrifice for our sins. And He did this because the Father had commanded it, and having done it, the Father loves Him. It is not too much to say that the eternal love of the Father for the Son is based upon the bodily resurrection of the risen Son of God. Otherwise, the work He came to do would be unfinished. The third consideration of this text demands a physical
resurre'ction. Let us remember that death is not natural; it is abnormal even for human beings to die. God has told us in His Word that “ the wages of sin is death.” This is why we die. Every graveyard is a memorial to our sinfulness. But Jesus Christ, in Whom there was no sin, did not have to die. Therefore, He could die at will, by laying aside Flis life. And because of this, Paul is not only able to say, “ The wages of sin is death,” but he can also say, “ the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:23). The third instance is the capstone in the testimony of Jesus Christ to His own resurrection. The occasion is the death of Lazarus. Often our Lord had visited the little home in Bethany. Mary, Martha and Lazarus formed His inner circle of friends. News comes to our Lord that Lazarus is sick, but before the Lord arrives in Bethany, Lazarus is dead. Martha hears that Jesus is approaching. She goes out to meet Him; and, typical of her nature she rebukes Him by saying, “ Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever you ask of God, God will give it to you. Jesus says to her, Your brother will rise again. Martha says to him, I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this? She says unto him, Yes Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, who should come into the world” (John 11:21-27). Through the raising of Lazarus, the Lord Jesus Christ gives to the family and friends at Bethany and to His disciples a preview of His power over death, which was to culminate in His own rising from the dead. It is inter esting to note that though often we think of Martha as being officious, yet there is a certain sense in which her faith was very practical and as strong as Mary’s faith. For after the great statement of our Lord, “ I am the resur rection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?,” unhesitatingly Martha answers, “ Yes, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, who should come into the world.” Martha realized that she stood in the presence, not of a religious racketeer, not of an insane fanatic, but, indeed, in the very presence of God incarnate, God Who had come into the world. We, too, will never fully understand and believe the fact of the physical, bodily resurrection of our Lord unless we recognize Him as the God from Heaven and not merely the babe of Mary’s womb. God came from Heaven to die, that He might rise again. He ascended into Heaven and sits on the right hand of God the Father, to make inter cession for us. And this very same Jesus is coming again — this risen Lord Jesus. Paul gives testimony to this fact: “ So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many. And unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. Because He has arisen from the dead and ascended into Heaven, the message of the angels to the disciples on the Mount of Ascension can be fulfilled: “Ye men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who is taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). We rejoice today because Jesus can come again. He went as He said He would. He went to the Cross; He went to the tomb; He rose again; He went to Heaven. And now we await His coming even as He promised. And with John we, too, say, “ Even so come Lord Jesus.” END THE KING'S BUSINESS
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Dr. Ralph Keiper is the Editorial Research Direc- tor of The Evangelical Foundation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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"FIRST MATE BOB" (PAUL MYERS) writes for THE KING'S BUSINESS about: The Prodigal Father
», TQ oets since time immemorial have sung of the prodigal JiT son and how he, remorseful and penitent, returned to the home of his boyhood to receive the parental blessing , and forgiveness. The beautiful parable which Jesus tells, as recorded in the 15th chapter of the Gospel accord ing to Luke, bespeaks the tender mercy and forgiveness of a Heavenly Father for the Prodigal sons of earth. But say, how about the legions of prodigal fathers today? How many times, at the close of a service, have I gazed into the face of some boy or girl, or young man or woman, i and heard this pitiful plea, “ Please, First Mate Bob, pray for my father: he has left mother and us.” And again, “ Please pray for my daddy, he isn’t saved.” Prodigal Fathers! Say, there’s a thought! The parable of the prodigal son in reverse. Still more startling and appalling is this fact, As we have journeyed up and down the land, visiting many different churches, we have, times without number, met young men and women and boys and girls to whom the Bible and things spiritual are entirely foreign. As we have prayed and pulled on the net, in giving an invita- tion and an altar call, they have come forward and knelt and given their hearts to Jesus. When we kneel beside them and begin to deal with them about their souls, we have discovered to our utter astonishment, that they are TWO AND THREE GENERATIONS REMOVED from any spiritual influence whatever. Their fathers and their father’s fathers have been without Christ. These children have never read a Bible; they have never been taught to pray. Many do not even know the gospel hymns. It is pitifully true that they are the product of godless homes. This is a tragedy of national proportions. How many hun dreds of thousands of Prodigal Fathers there must be today! A number of years ago, Dr. Joplin gave this version of the parable of the prodigal son. It should be read by every father today. I quote it for you below: A certain man had two sons and the younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the portion of thy time, and thy attention, and thy companionship, and thy counsel and guidance which falleth to me.” And he divided unto him his living, in that he paid his boy’s bills, and sent him to a select preparatory school and to dancing schools and to college, and tried to believe that he was doing his full duty by his son. And not many days after, the father gathered all his interests and aspirations and ambitions and took his journeys into a far country, into a land of stocks and bonds and securities and other things which do not in terest a boy, and there he wasted his precious opportunity of being a chum to his son. And when he had spent the very best of his life, and had gained money, but had failed to find any satisfaction, there arose a mighty famine in his heart, and he began to be in want of sympathy and real companionship. And he went and joined himself to one of the clubs of that country and they elected him chairman of the House Committee, and president of the club, and sent him to the <
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"The father to the children shall make known thy truth" legislature. And he fain would have satisfied himself with the husks that other men did eat, and no man gave him any real friendship. But when he came to himself, he said: “How many men of my acquaintance have boys whom they under stand and who understand them, who talk about their boys and associate with their boys and seem perfectly happy in the comradeship of their sons, and I perish here with heart hunger? I will arise and go to my son and will say unto him: “ Son, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight and am no more worthy to be called thy father. Make me as one of thy acquaintances. And he arose and came to his son. But while he was yet afar off, his son saw him and was moved with astonishment, and instead of running and falling on his neck, he drew back and was ill at ease. And the father said unto him, “ Son, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight. I have not been a father to you, and I am no more worthy to be called thy father. Forgive me now, and let me be your chum.” But the son said: “Not so, for it is too late. There was a time when I wanted your companionship and advice and counsel, but you were too busy. I got the information and the companionship, but I got the wrong kind, and now, alas, I am wrecked in soul and body. It is too late — too late — too late!” These are the words of admonition which God gave to fathers, concerning His laws and words. “Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down and when thou riseth up.” (Deut. 6:7.) “ Only take heed to THY SELF and keep THY soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and they depart from thine heart all the days of thy life; but teach them to thy sons, and thy son’s sons.” (Deut. 4:9)
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OCTOBER, 1959
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