a message from the edi ^
COUN T ING THE BLESSINGS OF 150 YEARS AMER ICAN SUNDAY SCHOO L UN ION WELCOMES EVER GREATER CHALLENGES
BY DR. SAMUEL H. SUTHERLAND PRESIDENT, THE BIBLE INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGELES, INC.
HEROES AND HERO-WORSHIPPERS
M e n h a v e a l w a y s been inclined to hold in awe and respect, indeed almost regard with reverence, the great leaders and heroes o f the past. These leaders have been found in almost every area o f human thought and endeavor. As one begins to achieve either physical or mental prowess, immediately he attracts to himself a number o f people, many or few, whose hero he becomes. His devotees hang on every word that he speaks, every deed that he accomplishes, with the greatest attention and admiration. It seems as if he can do no wrong. Psychologists remind us that a twelve- year-old mentality is the normal age for the highest degree o f hero worship. There are probably as many degrees o f hero wor ship as there are individuals who have their idols. Moving picture and television stars o f the present as well as the past undoubtedly claim the greatest number o f ardent hero worshippers, otherwise known as fans. The leaders in the world o f athletics have their share o f devotees. In the areas where there is relatively little sig nificance to be attached to one’s apparent homage to his hero, very little harm or danger will come o f it. But, alas, this is not true in the area o f man’s theological thinking. There is, we be lieve, an alarming tendency today toward a marked degree o f hero worship on the part o f many theological leaders, especially among the neo-orthodox or new evangelical element. We read much today in current religious literature about the writings o f men like Karl Barth, Emil Bruner, Paul Tillich, Soren Kierkegaard, Nels Ferre and others o f the present or past generation, each o f whom wrote and spoke copiously on various theological subjects. These men have their ardent devotees and sharp critics. We sug gest that it is most unfortunate indeed that otherwise devoted ministers o f the Gospel should spend so much time defending what these men wrote or are supposed to have said and, even in some instances, what they mean regardless o f what they actually wrote or said. It seems almost tragic that so many o f our current new evangelical brethren should expend such great effort and energy in defense o f the statements o f one or more o f these the ologies. Practically all o f the theologians o f any given generation
Through one hundred and fifty years American Sunday School Union missionaries have organ ized thousands of rural Sunday schools. Thousands have grown to churchood in many denom inations. The resulting converts to Christ would populate a first class city. Through the chang ing years, the Union pioneered Daily Vacation Bible Schools and the Rural Outreach of youth for missionary training. Since 1917, Union sponsored Bible Conferences have been involv ing as many as 16,500 young people in a single year and the renaissance of the cities is open ing up a whole new vista of urban mission opportunity. SHARE OUR SESQUICENTENNIAL MISSIONARY RALLIES ACROSS THE NATION! Portland, O re................... May 27 to 31 Denver, Colo..................... Sept. 9 to 13 Los Angeles, Cal............ Sept. 16 to 20 Springfield, Mo.................. Oct. 7 to 11 Chicago, III...................................Oct. 14 Knoxville, Tenn......... Oct. 28 to Nov. 1 (Major Area Rallies — see your newspaper for dates of Local Rallies.)
4
CHECK DATES, TIMES A N D PLACES IN YO U R O W N CHURCH OR WRITE TO: American S U ND AY S C H O O L U N I O N Sunday School Organizing and Publishing Since 1817 1816 CHESTNUT STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PENNA. 19103
4
TH E KING'S BUSINESS
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker