and clarity of his prose was acquired through reading and memorizing the New Testament. One of the first Acts of Congress was to approve the printing of a large edition of the Bible which officials recommended to the people of our land. Those who have studied the documents find in our Constitution and our Declara tion of Independence the unmistakable influence of the imperishable Word of God. Nor has the influence of the Bible on American life ever waned, for from the earliest times until the present it has maintained its position as a best seller. Though some of our citizens scarcely realize it, there is a very def inite crisis in our national life. We are being called upon to manage not only our own affairs, but the affairs of half the world. We can do this to the extent, and only to the extent, that the states men of our country rely for help upon the Scriptures and the God whom the Scriptures reveal. Are Christians Sissies? Y OUNG people of today meet this taunt. They are told that if they become Christians they are lacking in courage; that the Christian life is for weaklings. But what is the actual truth? Why, that the Christian life rightly lived is most courageous, most unselfish, and most challenging. Consider the life of Jesus Christ. Was He a sissy? You know the answer. Even His bitterest enemies acknowledge that His was the most courageous life ever lived. Although constantly dogged by scheming, unscrupulous foes, He did not turn aside from His purpose to redeem the world from its bondage of sin. When the supreme test came, He did not hesi tate, but set His face as a flint to go to the cross. The followers of Christ exhibited the same kind of 24-karat boldness. Witness the stand of Simon Peter on the day of Pentecost. Witness the life of Paul, ex ponent o f triumphant Christianity. Time does not permit to tell of Stephen, Poly carp, Ignatius, Athanasius, Justin, Hus, Luther, Bunyan, Tyndale, Wesley, Liv ingstone, Judson, and a thousand other’ brave men who were “ the salt of the earth.” Certainly there was not a sissy among them! Christians of today who are deter mined to really live the Christian life will be called upon to exhibit the same kind of courage. If you are wondering whence that courage will come, let me put your mind at rest. There is holy boldness available for you in your companionship with the risen Christ. What is our part in the matter? Just this: We are to com mit each day in its entirety to the Lord Jesus Christ. We should expect testing, remembering that the Lord knows all about it, and that only as we walk in His will shall we have the courage to with stand the trials of life. T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S ☆
help offered wherever needed. The re sults which would accrue from such a crusade are beyond imagination. The peace which would result would not be founded on the sands o f economic theory and experiment, but on born- again and cleansed hearts. Industries would follow with the chief by-product, contentment. In a short time outside help would not be required. Of course, such a plan will never be realized. The Satanic forces in this world will rise up and offer a million excuses, which will find agreement in the minds of those who have the problem in hand, because their hearts are sinful. But let us not be discouraged; let us do what we can. If we have not $900,000,000, and we have $9,000, let us spend that wisely and well, remembering that every dollar spent in sincere Christian enterprise will bring results that will outlast eternity. The Bible Our Foundation A N 'interesting study is being made by historians in an attempt to dis cover the greatest influences which were exerted in laying the foundations of our nation, which is undoubtedly the mighti est nation from an industrial standpoint, that the world has ever known. The conclusion seems to have been reached, at least in the minds of some, that it is the Bible which has had most to do with establishing the foundation on which the mighty framework of our country has been built. It was the first textbook in the American colonies; it was the most important factor in the educational system of that day. The New England Primer, which was employed extensively in the early history of our country, was filled with quotations from the Scriptures. In addition, the task of making the Bible better known appeared to be the whole purpose of early Ameri can education. Of the ten colleges which were found ed before the Revolution, there are still in existence nine which originated in or der to furnish adequate training for ministers of the Word. Thomas Jeffer son, who was asked to frame the Declara tion of Independence, admitted that he had steeped his mind in the truths of the Word so that much of the beauty ☆
Tithe The Marshall Plan? A CCORDING to our Secretary of State, George C. Marshall, it will be necessary to spend a minimum of $3,000,000,000 annually for the next three years in order to rescue the coun tries of Western Europe from their pres ent economical difficulties. It is proposed that this money be distributed to vari ous nations included in the plan accord ing to the need of their individual gov ernments. P r e sum a b ly , these funds would strengthen and stabilize the national currency and create ability to purchase the machinery necessary for the rehabili tation of each national economy. With out a doubt there is some real value in this plan and the need of the nations in question is great. Whether or not the money would fall into the hands o f un scrupulous politicians and self-seeking interests who would use it for the ad vancement of their own ends is ex tremely doubtful. If for $9,000,000,000 the peace of Eu rope and the world could be assured, it would be a splendid investment. But .we know from the Word of God that the expenditure of $9,000,000,000 or even $90,000,000,000 will not bring peace to a world in the grip of a fallen nature and under the domination of the arch enemy of God, that old serpent, the devil. On the other hand, if even a tithe of this money were used in the propaga tion of the gospel to these war-weary lands, the results would be amazing, far- reaching and permanent. Let us say that a tenth of the Marshall Plan ex penditure could be allocated to the work of preaching the gospel on foreign soil. With the $900,000,000 thus available, missionaries could be sent out by the thousands. Support of them would be forthcoming from this fund and the missionaries could establish themselves in the communities where they were serving the nationals. As soon as possible, they would begin a teaching ministry, taking the Word of God right into the homes and hearts of the people and particularly the children. There would need be no interference with the local religious work; this would be a house-to-house, person-to-person ministry. Co-operation with established agencies could be strictly maintained and Page Four
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