PANEL DISCUSSIONS w ith Dr. Samuel H . Sutherland and Dr. Charles L. Feinherg
Q . Madison, Wisconsin — “Wouldn’t there be fewer atheists if there were less suffering in the world?” A. History reveals just the opposite to be true. In times of great prosperity and wealth, when everything seems to go along very satisfactorily, people for get God. This is true in our economy today. The nation becomes pleasure mad, seeking the pleasures of this life with never a thought of the life here after. Men instinctively turn to God when they do not know which way to go. We are not advocating a philos ophy of going through all the suffering possible in order to turn to God. We ought to turn to Him even though we are well off. Unfortunately, however, the human race has never done this and history is our record. Sometimes God has to put us flat on our backs so that we will take time to look up into His face. Q . Lot Angeles, California — “What is meant by l Corinthians 1:22 and 23 stating, ‘For the Jews require a sign and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness!’ ”■ A. Paul is addressing a philosophy-lov ing people. He explains why that which appears to be the greatest fool ishness to the unsaved world neverthe less was the means used of God to bring redemption for the entire world. The Jews believed in miracles. The
greatest aggregate of miracles in the Bible concerns God’s dealing with Israel. This was true with Moses, Eli jah and Elisha, and of course in the earthly ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Greeks, however put their premium on learning and education. But greater than any miracle and more wonderful than the whole realm of philosophical reasoning is the marve lous truth of God’s grace and mercy. The Jews didn’t see why they should worship anyone who had been cruci fied. The Greeks wouldn’t give cre dence to a carpenter’s son. But the mes sage of God is in power through Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice on Calvary. Q . Salem, Oregon — “In Revelation 2:17 we read, ‘He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and w ill give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.’ What is meant by the white stone?” A. In the book of Revelation the Spirit of God makes use of certain symbols. God is speaking here of the one who has an ear to hear, heed and obey. The manna mentioned refers to the children of Israel being miraculously fed by the Lord. A part of that manna substance was kept in the Ark of the Covenant. It was hidden manna as a memorial of that which fed the Jews, satisfying them physically. Christ Himself, the 22
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