READ ING Q. Our boy will be just under six when he starts to the first grade this year. Do you think he is too young to start reading? A. That depends upon the individual child. However, numerous studies have been made in the field of read ing, and it is clearly shown that the average youngster is ready to begin reading when he is about six-and-one half years of age. That means that some children are ready before and some are ready afterward. Reading is a complex process, re quiring considerable background and maturity. There is no virtue in forc ing a child ahead of his natural de velopment. A wealth of reading readi ness activities are highly beneficial, and I am sure your son’s teacher will give him such activities to prepare him for more formal reading. Many children have been handicapped be cause they were pushed into activities before they were ready for them. Most parental errors occur more from thoughtlessness and from lack of insight than from lack of affection or concern for the child. W ITNESSING Q. I’m 'a student in a junior college where I try to witness to other stu dents about my Saviour. Although I have been saved about three years and have talked to a number of the fellows about the Lord, about all they do is argue. How can I be a better soul winner? Maybe I need some psycho logy. A. Maybe you do! One of the great est privileges we have is that of tell ing others about Christ. Our high schools and colleges constitute two of the most important and most fruit ful mission fields of the world. Concerning arguing, it sounds as if you may be doing a little yourself.
our private lives is usually not the part of wisdom. Such knowledge is usually detrimental. If God forgets, then why don’t you? An additional facet to this problem concerns marriage. If you are looking toward marriage soon, you have a sacred obligation of confidence to the one whom you love. Happy marriages are based upon godliness, truthful ness, consideration and love. If two consecrated Christians are in love, they can overlook unfortunate experiences of the past, but one might question whether they would be ex pected to overlook outright intentions to deceive. An excellent preparation for tomorrow is a clean slate today. I know of a young couple who were married several years when the husband learned about the sinful acts his wife engaged in before they were married. He was shocked, and for a time he lost confidence in her, not because of her past life (he had been guilty of the same), but because he had taken the marriage vows in hon esty, having confided in her, but she had taken her vows in deceit. WHERE TO LOOK Q. A close friend of mind is in need of psychological or psychiatric coun seling. He is a devoted believer and insists upon seeing a Christian in this field. How should I go about locating one? As you can realize, there are none here in our small town. A. This qusetion is often asked, but I know of very few Christians in the field. You might ask a local minister or an outstanding Christian layman. Another good source is a near-by Christian college or Bible institute. Very often there is a Christian psy chologist or psychiatrist on the facul ty of such an institution. At least they could refer you to one. If your physician is a believer he might be able to make suggestions.
It takes two. Some of the most effec tive witnesses on college campuses make special efforts to know and be come interested in certain students. Afterward, they give them a simple account of their own experience. A simple, sincere testimony is almost irrefutable. There is also great value in giving people well-chosen tracts. You might invite college students to meetings, to Christian social af fairs, to showings of Christian films, and to Christian camps. Like many of us, you may be placing too much emphasis upon the value of reaping instead of upon sowing. Our joy should be in sowing as well as in reaping. PAST, PRESENT A N D FUTURE Q. A few years ago, before / Was saved, I had a personal experience with a boy friend — an experience I look back on as being unfortunate. Now that I am living for the Lord and I am dating a fine Christian young man, I am uncertain just what my attitude should be toward telling him about the past. A. All of us have had unfortunate experiences in the past. They may not have been the same kind of ex perience you had; nevertheless, no one can boast of a sinless history. We learn from the Bible that sin ful experiences are harmful. (See James 1:15). The young person whose past is marked by many sinful ex periences, begins adulthood at a dis tinct disadvantage. However, God forgives and He for gets. On the authority of God’s Word, when you were saved, you were for given, and God has forgotten! Isn’t that wonderful? I suggest that you realize God’s forgiveness by reading such passages as Acts 13:38, Ephesians 1:7, and 1 John 1:9. Public announcement concerning
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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