ever seen. While no doubt there is behind these announcements a sincere de sire to attract the unsaved to the rheetings, we question both the ad visability and the truth of these statements. Certainly it seems to smack strongly of Hollywood’s “stu pendous,” “sensational,” and “colos sal,” which are certainly not at all in keeping with the descriptive ad jectives which are employed by the Word of God. For instance, Abraham, that mighty man of the Scriptures, is simply termed “the friend of God,” while Moses, the great lawgiver, is designated as “very meek, above all men.” You may search the writings of the New Testament in vain to find superlatives to describe him who was without doubt one of the great est men of all times, Paul the apostle. On the other hand, . the Spirit of God does employ such de scriptive words as of one “approved in Christ,” or “my brother, and com panion in labour, and fellowsoldier,” or, “a servant of Jesus Christ.” Re membering that we are dealing in things spiritual, is it not of heavenly wisdom to employ the terms that the Holy Spirit uses and to thus clothe our thought in terms of true humil ity? In this way, there will be no hindrance to the release of spiritual power. ★ Slavery A CCUSTOMED as we are to star- tling items in the news, we were still somewhat astounded at the case of a Southern California couple’s being charged with holding a Negro maid in slavery for thirty years. It was alleged that the woman’s igno rance was taken advantage of, and she was deprived of her liberty and right to personal happiness. The story which the newspapers carried seemed bizarre in the extreme. All of this leads us to state that there is another kind of slavery in existence. It is the slavery of the natural man to the bondage of sin. The Scriptures teach us in no uncer tain terms that everyone is either the bond slave of Jesus Christ, or a slave of Satan and his principalities and powers. While men boast loudly of their freedom and of their ability to choose for themselves, hidden be neath the surface are strong chains of sinful heritage and habit. Men sin because they are sinners from birth and the ways of transgression
become manifest unbelievably early in the life of a child. The grip of this slavery holds on through the entire life unless it is broken by the direct interference of the power of Almighty God. But, praise His Name, there is freedom, real and glorious, to be found in the liberty which Christ gives! This freedom has with in it the essence of genuine liberty, not to do our own will, but to work the will of the God of the universe. How wonderful it is to be able to proclaim that this freedom from sin and self is a gift from a loving and tender God on the basis of surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ! Surely there is need to shout to the high heavens that the Emancipation Proc lamation for all men has been signed, and only awaits one’s accept ance of it for full enjoyment. ★ Peace? FPHE second anniversary of the end of actual hostilities of World War II is drawing near. We are settling down now to the ways of peace, or to that which is called peace. The organizations, committees and struc tures for the maintenance of peace are functioning, and the orators of the world are again proclaiming the progress toward the time of pros perity and millennial happiness which is supposedly being made. But what are actual conditions in the world today? First, in the Holy Land there is an undeclared war to the finish between the Zionists, Arabs and British. In Greece, hostil ities have never ceased. In China, actual peace seems farther away than it ever was. In South America, there have been several full scale revolutions within the past year. In India, the conflicting elements threaten momentarily to fly at each others’ throats. All over the world there hangs the larger threat of the possibility of eventual outbreak be tween communists and capitalists. What, according to the Word of God, lies ahead for this unhappy sphere? Let me outline it briefly. Unto the end of this age, wars and rumors of wars are determined. Each peace will be but an armistice. Wars will grow in intensity and in de structive ability unto the end. Men’s hearts will fail them for fear, but even this will not bring about the desired peace. Knowledge will in crease but even intelligence will not postpone conflict. World conditions will grow worse and worse until T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
God’ s Handiwork
rpHE to poet, writing of his ability compose poetry, admits: “But only God can make a tree.” It is truly a mystery how thinking men and women can view the marvels of God’s universe, and not bow low in grateful acknowledgment before their Creator. How would you like to live in a world without trees? Have you ever considered how much more desirable life is because of them? Think, for instance, of the shade which their leafy boughs pro vide, and of the protection against the elements they afford. Consider the beauty wherewith they enhance the landscape at this season of the year. Have you ever seen a cherry tree in blossom? What a wonderful provision by an Almighty God to arrange for the appearance of fruit to be preceded by a display of color and perfume from the blossom! We would not fail to tell, too, of the utilitarian value of trees with round golden oranges, big red apples, and a multitude of other fruits. A recent news item gives the ac count of the felling of a large red wood tree whose giant trunk was large enough to provide lumber for thirty-one houses. Have you ever thought that it is God’s provision for wood to be thus easily obtained and to be easily handled, that God has given us both soft pine and ebony, and that this supply is an ever in creasing one? So, as you sit before the fireplace in your home, toasting your feet, while the logs crackle merrily, remember that it is God who has graciously provided this means of comfort. Is it possible for intelligent men and women to view a tree, and not pour out their hearts in thanksgiving and wonder to the Giver of all good gifts? ★ “ Internationally Known” VOU can examine the newspapers for yourself, particularly the Sat urday issue, where notices are given concerning the church services for the Lord’s Day. There you will find listed that this speaker is “interna tionally known,” and the next one is “famous from coast to coast,” and still another is “the greatest on the American platform.” You might be led to think that gathered in your city or village for the next Sunday, would be the greatest assemblage of extraordinary men the world has Page Four
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