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Preacher's Magazine Church of the Nazarene

2-1-1953 Preacher's Magazine Volume 28 Number 01 L. A. Reed (Editor) Olivet Nazarene University

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Recommended Citation Reed, L. A. (Editor), "Preacher's Magazine Volume 28 Number 01" (1953). Preacher's Magazine. 274. https://digitalcommons.olivet.edu/cotn_pm/274

This Journal Issue is brought to you for free and open access by the Church of the Nazarene at Digital Commons @ Olivet. It has been accepted for inclusion in Preacher's Magazine by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Olivet. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Four Tomorrows

1. Jhe Jomorrow of Jutility. Eccles. 1:14

2. Jhe Jomorrow of Postponement ~Acts 24.25

3. Jhe Jomorrow of 'Beginning ^Again ^zek. 18:32

4. Qod's Jomorrow R ev. 21:5

January • February 1953 ^ J lie preacher 3 1/YJac^azine

Volume 28 January-February, 1953 Number 1

Contents

Editorial, The Sick Man in Your Parish ...... 3 New Year’s Sermon, Meditations on an Old Calendar, Hugh C. Benner ...... 6

The Significance of Pentecost, Part III, Charles W. Carter ...... 9

The Core of Positive Preaching, Edwin Raymond Anderson ...... 11 The Prayer Life of the Soul Winner and Intercessor, Arnold R. Carlson, Jr...... 13

The Minister, a Voice of Authority, A. L. Cargill ...... 20

Backwoods Preacher of the Southwest, Mallalieu A. Wilson ...... 22

Kingdoms Hewn Out, J. Kenneth Grider ...... 28 “We Believe” or “The Bible Teaches,” Milton Harrington ...... 29

The Revival We Need, Dwight Boice ...... 30

Sin Is a Bad Bargain, Robert G. Nielson ...... 38

Practical

The Pastor’s Workshop ...... 43 Homiletical, Three Sermonic Studies, M. K. Moulton ...... 45 The Bible and the Church of the Nazarene, Marvin J. Taylor ...... 56 Your Pastor’s Wife, Margaret Houston Hess (from Presbyterian Life) ...... 60

Let There Be Light, Esther Miller Payler ...... 63

Musings of a Minister’s Wife, Mrs. W. M. Franklin ...... 64

Published bimonthly by the Nazarene Publishing House, 2923 Troost Avenue, Box 527, Kansas City 41, Missouri, maintained by and in the interest of the Church of the Nazarene. Subscription price: $1.25 a year. Entered as second-class matter at the post office at Kansas City, Mo. Acceptance for mailing at special rate of postage provided for in Section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, authorized December 30, 1925. Address all contributions to the Preacher’s Magazine, 2923 Troost Avenue, Box 527, Kansas City 41, Missouri. EDITORIAL

The Sick Man in Your Parish

r| 'he m inister of the gospel has to have been reasons for suspicion being do with the spiritual welfare of placed on the minister. Some have men. He deals with the souls of been tactless and indiscreet and have individuals. This is his primary func­ blundered into the sickroom, unpre­ tion as a pastor or even as an evan­ pared to do any particular good. But gelistic Christian. But in this present part of the blame must be laid at the day of expanding emphases and en­ door of the physician. Probably there lightenment, he has learned to achieve is no other profession which is tempt­ his major objective through channels ed more to adopt a materialistic phi­ which may appear to be extraneous losophy than is the medical profession. to some, but in reality are more direct The doctor looks for material causes than a superficial consideration would and treats them by material means. reveal. One authority has expressed the view Among the many situations among that “matter is no longer seen as a parishioners which come under his dull, lifeless substance but is believed supervision, the person who is ill to be spiritual in its ultimate form.” must receive a large portion of his This suggests that there might be attention. Even his constituency as other means than the material in the well as his parishioners expect him to healing of the body, and we believe minister to them in these unfortunate that at this point religion must be emergencies. The pastor is interested taken into consideration. Man is more in the spiritual welfare of such people than a body; he is also mind and first, but he must also be interested spirit, and here is where the minister in their physical being and their men­ steps into the picture. tal attitudes. Even a physician knows As the physician does not seem to that a “kindly word spoken in season” have the time to devote to a patient might do more to relieve a distressed other than to minister to his physical mind and body than medicine or an needs, then the logical person is the operation or much elaborate examina­ pastor or minister, who “ takes up the tion. No good physician is interested slack” where the physician leaves off. alone in the physical well-being of his In any case, there is the minister’s patient, and neither can the pastor be opportunity to satisfy the sick man. interested in the spiritual condition The pastor must first look at the af his people and fail at the point of patient as a whole. There is more to suffering and mental distress. Both be considered than the person’s sick­ pastor and physician know that re­ ness; the minister must think of the ligion and medicine are mutual and patient’s surroundings, his family life, complementary forces. his work, his hobbies, his friends, his In many instances in the past the hopes, and his fears. Secondly, he Dastor has been tolerated by the phy­ must make God real, and bring the sician, and sometimes the doctor has patient’s faith up to the highest de­ jeen either hostile or indifferent to gree. ;he part the minister plays in the The two factors which must receive sealing of the sick. No doubt there great attention are those of fear and

fanuary-February, 1953 3 loneliness. The patient has great con­ proach. Here the minister can assure cern in certain areas where the pastor him that there -is -a loving God who can furnish great relief. First is the cares and can forgive his s'ifis and the feeling of helplessness. He is confined sense of guilt can be removed. When to a strange bed; his clothes are all this occurs, then the fear ol death be­ taken from him and he is given a gins to fade into insignificance and queer gown to wear; he cannot select problems do not seem so important his own food; he cannot take his own or at least so large. bath but must be bathed by a stran­ Probably the patient has few if any ger; he is not in control of the situa­ friends or relatives. Here loneliness tion but must submit to nurses, in­ captivates him; and the pastor, sens­ terns, and doctors. He has no privacy ing such a situation, will call more and suffers because of the impersonal frequently and become a friend as attitude on the part of everyone. Here well as a minister. Generally lonely the pastor comes in with a personal people suffer bitterly, especially if interest in the patient, and many times they are sick. To alleviate this the he appears like an oasis in the desert. pastor should contact the patient as Then again he has many new wor­ soon as he goes to the hospital or as ries to disturb him. There is concern soon as he learns of his illness; pos­ about the illness itself. Will I have sibly he could call in the evening of to have an operation? How long will the patient’s first night in the hospital", I be here? Will it hurt? Can I take when he starts off to the operating it or will I make a fool of myself? room, or when the hours have brought These are all questions which are no visitors. But let us remember that, disturbing to a sensitive nature. Then though all normal fears and tensions there are the worries about finances, can be relieved by a minister, there about the family, about his position are abnormal fears and psychoses or job. (Suppose they discover that which should be considered by the they can do without me?) What a physician, for this is not in the realm horrid thought! of the pastor’s ministrations. There Beside these there are positive fears may be a little overlapping in certain which he faces. As we have suggested, areas but let the pastor always re­ there is always the fear of pain. Then member the distinct limits to his pas­ there is the fear of physical handicap toral office. or deformity; fear of an operation and The Great Pattern is found in our the thought of dying 011 the operating precious Lord. Jesus ministered to table; the fear of anesthetic; the fear individuals. Of course in a very su­ of being used as a guinea pig; the fear perior way He knew what was in the of surrendering himself into the hearts of men. He could see beneath hands of a surgeon and into the hands the outward acts and spoken words, of God. Spiritually, there is the fear of as He understood thoroughly human death and a sense of guilt. When a nature. He had an unlimited range patient is not a Christian, the latter of sympathy. He met high and low, is very potent and dynamic as regards rich and poor, educated and un­ the patient’s improvement and recov­ learned, wise and simple, saints and ery. Here the minister can come to sinners, Jews and Gentiles, honored the relief of the patient. At times like and ridiculed, crowds and individ­ this a patient might review all of his uals, old and young, white and col­ past sins, wickedness, disobedience, ored, popular and shunned, well and warrings, and is susceptible to ap­ sick. The Master had a great depth

4 Th^ Preacher's M agazine of compassion on all who were sick, he can have compassion as his Lord hungry, sinful, naked, insane, im­ and a never-failing concern for peo­ prisoned; those who were widows, ple. He has further a consciousness orphans, oppressed. He had a never- of a mission to perform in this realm failing concern for PEOPLE. They of which we are writing; he need not were more important than laws, rules, be sentimental but practical; he must regulations, customs, traditions, mon­ be patient, never hurried; never of­ ey, property, government, or church. fended. He must cause people to face And, Brother Pastor, remember that their difficulties in a realistic manner the same obtains today. Your con­ and should follow the teachings of cern should be for people far more Jesus as regards sickness and health. than any of these other things, im­ But one thing is certain; he must portant though they may be. Notice have, like the Master, a well- that Jesus was unhurried and patient; integrated personality, which can be never disgusted or offended; He never brought about by the presence of the shrank from the repulsive or the Holy Spirit in his own life, and not diseased. This Christ was a Physician substitute the “do as I say and not of the body as well as the soul. “There as I do” method. If he ministers was no question about the mandate. rightly, then he too gives people some­ He who went about doing good was thing to live for. a physician of the body as well as of There is one further item to bo the soul, and could the rich promises added and that is that the pastor has of the Gospel have been fulfilled, a wonderful opportunity in dealing there would have been no need of a with the sick, not only to win them new dispensation of science . . . All through the centuries, the Church has to Christ and assist them to normalcy never wholly abandoned the claim to of health, but also to win them to the apostolic healing; nor is there any church. People are more approach­ reason why she should” (Osier, Evo­ able during an illness than at any lution of Modern Medicine, p. 29). other time. They are thinking seri­ Jesus’ teaching is still valid today, ously and are ready to carry on that for He taught that disease is not nec­ serious thought into the realm of their essarily the result of sin. This gives spiritual needs. A good pastor will to the minister a leverage of optimism make more friends in the hospital and in assisting the sick person. But at funerals than in any other place. Jesus did two other things. He worked Brethren, let us never be too busy to through His own tremendously pow­ take care of that sick man in the erful and well-integrated personality parish, for we might not only bring and He gave people something to live him contentment and restore his con­ for (paper by Chaplain Malcolm B. fidence but we might save a soul Ballinger, of Ann Arbor, Michigan. from death. Previous paragraph credited to above). A few bits of advice. But we would like to parallel these 1. Keep friendly with the hospital characteristics of the Master and ob­ and the physician. Make him feel serve just to what extent the pastor that you are helpful and not harmful. or minister should measure up to 2. Stand or sit where the patient his Lord. Even though he is not God, may easily see you. he can have insight. He must have sympathy unadulterated by partiality; (Continued on page 42)

January-Febiuary, 1953 5 Meditations on an Old Calendar

By Hugh C. Benner

See then that ye walk circumspect­ I. S o l e m n F a c t s C o n c e r n i n g T i m e ly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming 1. The Character of Time the time, because the days are evil (Eph. 5:15-16). Time never is static. Time is al­ Walk in wisdom toward them that ways “on the move.” It will not are without, redeeming the time (Col. stand still. Relentlessly, ceaselessly, quietly, time passes, adding second to 4:5). second, minute to minute, hour to It was the last week in the year— hour, day to day, week to week, the last day of that week— December month to month, year to year. Time 31. On the wall near my desk hung cannot be sped up or slowed down. a calendar which for twelve months On it moves, at a uniform pace. had served its purpose of keeping me Time is irretrievable. No past “in touch with the time.” On my desk moment can be called back in order lay a brand-new calendar that within to regain an experience of joy. Neither hours would begin its year of service, can it be retrieved in order to banish and the old calendar would be dis­ an unpleasant event or to erase a carded and destroyed. haunting memory. “Just an old calendar,” someone Time is swift. Well has the hymn might remark; but as I meditated on writer sung, “ Swift to its close ebbs the situation, that old calendar came out life’s little day.” In the earlier to have a meaning and a message of years of life, time seems to pass so lasting significance. very slowly, but one does not have to Time! Here was the essence of that live too long to sense the apparently message. Another major unit of time quickening pace of time. And those had passed, and I was impressed that, in their seventies and eighties are if we could understand all that an unanimous in their testimony con­ old calendar means, we would be cerning the swift passage of time. The moved to most serious thought and Word of God reminds us, “The time reflection. Surely time represents is short.” one of the most solemn of all the 2. The Meaning of Time elements of existence, and it behooves us all to give it our interest and con­ Time is a gift of God, and thus, very sideration. precious. It should not be treated It seems that humanity is unwilling lightly or carelessly. One might better to face the issues of time. In earlier cast away diamonds and pearls than days one could “ hear” the time pass, to take an indifferent, apathetic atti­ with the “tick-tock, tick-tock” of the tude toward time. clock. But now we have well-nigh Time represents opportunity. In eliminated such timepieces, substitut­ time is found our period of probation, ing a clever gadget that spins around our period of stewardship. What we noiselessly, with no indication of the do with time determines what eterni­ passing of time. But time is still a ty will do with us. It is our period of part of existence and bears a vital choices, of determining our attitude relationship to eternity. toward God and our relationship to

6 The Preacher's Magazine! Him. We are free moral agents, and the way men and women put off fin­ can choose as we will. ancial or physical checkups. And it Time eventually produces our rec­ is no less true in the spiritual realm. ord. Through the years time crystal­ But if we would serve our own lizes a life into a total record which best interests, we must be willing to is the basis of final judgment. So, in face facts and come to a just judg­ a very real sense, every second of ment concerning them. time has something of eternity in it. 1. Personal Relation to God In that sense, there is no such thing as an inconsequential moment. Every Have you served God faithfully moment has its part in the record. during the past year? If the answer is “Yes,” then follows 3. The Value of Time the question as to the quality of that This is variable in relation to the service. Was there a consciousness of individual’s attitude. What was 1952 the presence of God that grew with worth to you? That depends on what the experiences of the year? Was you did with the time. There are there a sense of easy communion with just two possibilities: you spent it, God that gave you the blessedness of or you invested in it. divine fellowship? If you just spent the time, it is of And what of your intensity? So little value. You existed 366 Va days— many today are satisfied with a pas­ 8,790 hours. You ate, slept, worked, sive, apathetic kind of experience. kept alive. You just didn’t die. The The true and worthy level of Chris­ days were periods to be gotten tian living must be characterized by through and to be filled with this and deep devotion and a sacrificial spirit. that. If you “spent the time,” then Also, was it a spiritually sensitive time was your master and 1952 was year? Was your heart open to the a liability. Your gift from God was revelation of God’s will, and did you squandered. Another priceless, ir­ respond to His guidance: to the retrievable unit of probation was promptings and checks of the Holy treated with indifference. Another Spirit? year’s record was written “ in the And what was the measure of your red.” activity? Were you willing to sit by But we need not just spend the and rest while others carried the time; we can invest in time. The burdens of the Kingdom? Was there Word of God emphasizes the idea of some element of faith in your service, “redeeming the time.” This means to impelling you to a broader vision and “buy up” time; to consider its high a greater outreach? Did your heart worth, and to make an investment in reach “ around the world” in concern it, even at the cost of sacrificing ease for the lost? All of these are legitimate and pleasure. This is the only attitude questions from the old year. worthy of an immortal soul. But possibly the answer to the question of service for God is “No.” II. T h e O l d Y e a r “ H o l d s C o u r t ” That means that the year past has Most people dislike involvement in been a year of rejection or spiritual court proceedings. There seems to be carelessness. Through another year a basic antipathy to examination and your heart has been rebellious toward judgment. Too many times we are the will of God and you have refused prone to “guess” our way through. to accept divine mercy as proffered in This is evidenced, for example, in Jesus Christ. Your heart has been

January-February, 1953 7 hardened by twelve more months of will be difficult. The world is filled sin. As the old year holds court, you with turmoil and mystery. Great must answer for this failure. You forces move among men, forces which need to be reminded that only the few understand, and about which it will of God will count in eternity. seems we can do little or nothing. But these are times to believe God, to see 2. Personal Relation to Others His vision, and to understand the suf­ Human relationships are not some­ ficiency of divine resources. Surely, thing apart from spiritual life. The “ God is able,” in 1953. Let this grip fact is that Jesus made clear the truth your soul. Let this stimulate your that both are interrelated. faith. Let this reassure your heart. How did you treat your Christian “ God is able.” brethren? Jesus Christ identified himself with His people. Thus our 2. Personal Progress attitude toward the people of God is The year 1953 can be one of deeper an indication of our true relationship spiritual life. In the coming twelve toward God. We cannot love Christ months we can love God more than and not love His people. You cannot ever in our lives. We can know more be right with God and mistreat God’s or His Word. We can understand His people. Any spirit of bitterness, criti­ will more perfectly. In 1953 our sym­ cism, envy, or legalistic judgment im­ pathies can be broader, our spirit mediately condemns the individual more Christlike, and our attitude guilty of such. What a revival would more encouraging to others. break out if all professing Christians recognized this truth! 3. Attitude Toward Service And what of the world? Have you We can do more for God in 1953. carried any burden for the lost? Have If we draw nearer to Him, we shall you made any effort toward the sal­ sense a new measure of responsibili­ vation of souls? We live in a time of ty and of opportunity. These are days great distress and need, and yet that call for initiative and an aggres­ thousands of professing Christians do sive spirit in Christian service. The nothing about winning souls to Christ. year 1953 should be a year of revivals, It is impossible to be wholly the of opening new churches, of extending Lord’s, and have no vital interest in our work at home and abroad, of His burden and mission. giving to many more thousands the These questions of relationship to glorious news of full salvation. others are proper and should be a “Redeeming the time”! We can do part of our judgment in the light of it. We face a year of wonderful privi­ the old year. lege. Sinners can find mercy and pardon. Christian believers can be III. The New Year Offers Chal­ delivered from inner sin and filled l e n g e with the Holy Spirit. Sanctified One of the most encouraging ele­ hearts can draw nearer to the heart ments of life and time is the possibility of God and can render more effective of improvement. The coming year service. offers such a challenge to us all. As we remove the old calendar and 1. The Adequacy of God replace it with one for 1953, let us In 1953 we can sense, as never be­ pledge to God our best: to profit by fore, the complete, unfailing adequacy the weaknesses of 1952, and to enter of God. The days of the coming year fully into the opportunities of 1953.

The Preacher's Magazine The Significance of Pentecost

Part Th ree

Pentecost Signifies Divine Purification

By Chas. W. Carter

“And there appeared unto them spiritual Kingdom which Christ had tongues parting asunder [parting promised to them. Before the inner among them, or distributing them­ reign of Christ could be fully realized selves], like as of fire: and it sat in their lives there must be an inner upon each one of them" (Acts 2:3, purification, a consuming of the inner A.S.V.). nature of self and sin, a renovation John the Baptist’s prophetic words of every secret chamber of the soul concerning Christ are here fulfilled: that nothing foreign or opposed to the nature of God might remain with­ 7 indeed baptize you in water unto re­ pentance: but he that eometh alter me is in. It was God's purpose that His mightier than I, whose shoes I am not disciples should be so inwardly pure worthy to bear: he shall baptize you in the that they might declare their inde­ Holy Spirit and in fire: ivhose fan is in pendence of the domain of sin and his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing-floor; and he will gather his the devil as did Christ when He said, wheat into the garner, but the chaff he “The prince of the world [Satan] will burn up with unquenchable fire (Matt. cometh: and he hath nothing in me” 3:11-12, A.S.V.). (John 14:30, A.S.V.). There was to There are two things about this be no claim foreign to the claim of Pentecostal phenomenon which ar­ Christ upon nor within the lives of rest the reader’s attention, namely, these disciples of Jesus. its meaning and its administration. For the purpose of this inner puri­ fication God reveals himself to the T h e M e a n i n g o f t h e T o n g u e s o f F i r e waiting disciples under the symbol of The meaning of the phenomenon of “cloven tongues of fire.” Consistently the tongues of fire on the Day of throughout the Scriptures fire is em­ Pentecost is not far to seek. It must ployed as a symbol of divine purifi­ be borne in mind that in the Pente­ cation. Fire has ever been a symbol costal effusion God was manifesting of the holiness and justice of God. or revealing himself primarily to the Thus God revealed himself to His believing disciples of Jesus Christ worthy servants in ancient times who on the Day of Pentecost “were (Deut. 4:24; Ezek. 1:4; Exod. 3:2; all together in one place.” They had 19:18; Isa. 6:4; Dan. 7:10). given up the world and had dedicated Malachi predicted the coming and themselves in faith to the pursuit and the work of Christ under the symbol execution of the will of God in Christ. of fire. At last their hopes of an earthly king­ dom were forever gone. (See Acts The Lord, whom ye seek, will suddenly 1:6, 7.) They were now in earnest come to his tem ple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom ye desire; behold, he and desperate pursuit of the inner cometh, saith Jehovah of hosts. But who *Professor of Philosophy and Missions, Marion College can abide the day of his coming? and who

January-February, 1953 9 shall stand when he appeareth? for he is flames of fire appeared first in one like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: mass over the assembled Church, and and he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, then divided, one flame or tongue sit­ and refine them as gold and silver; and they ting upon the head of each disciple” shall offer unto Jehovah offerings in right­ (A Commentary on the Holy Bible, eousness (Mai. 3:1-3, A.S.V.). J. R. Dummelow, Ed., p. 820). This Likewise in His post-Ascension and fire-symbolized unity of God so di­ Second Coming appearances Jesus is versified and individualized itself as represented under the symbol of fire to meet on an individual and personal (Rev. 1:12-18). Even the Word of basis the heart condition and need of God is likened unto fire. “ Is not my each of the one hundred and twenty word like fire? saith Jehovah” (Jer. disciples at the same time. And so 23:29, A.S.V.). God the Holy Spirit ever deals with His children in saving or sanctifying Finally, God himself is represented efficacy. There may be and frequent­ by the author of the letter to the ly is a general manifestation of God’s Hebrews under the symbol of fire. presence to His people, but at the “Our God is a consuming fire” (Heb. same time the dealings of God and the 12:29). Thus it was God the Holy administration of His grace are al­ Spirit in consuming fire who mani­ ways on an individual and personal fested himself in cloven tongues “like basis. Of this phenomenon G. Camp­ as of fire” to the disciples on the Day bell Morgan has said, “The symbol of of Pentecost, purifying, sanctifying fire—‘tongues . . . of fire,’ a plurality their inner natures. and a unity, the tongues were many; but the fire was one” (The Acts of A dministration o f t h e T o n g u e s o f the Apostles, page 24). F i r e Finally, at the first great general But the administration of the cloven Christian council held at Jerusalem tongues of fire at Pentecost likewise in a .d . 50 Peter, speaking in defense arrests our attention. Although “ there of the gospel for the Gentiles, declared came from heaven the sound as of a that their purification was on the rushing mighty wind” which “filled same basis as that of the disciples all the house where they were sit­ at Pentecost. Said Peter, “And God, ting,” and although there was the who knoweth the heart, bare them general or mass appearance of fire, witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, this fire parted asunder, or parted even as he did unto us; and he made among them, distributed itself among no distinction between us and them, them individually; and thus while cleansing their hearts by faith” (Acts Pentecost was initially a sudden gen­ 15:8, 9, A.S.V.). At this juncture the eral manifestation of God to the com­ testimony of Adam Clarke is signifi­ pany of waiting, believing disciples, cant: “Christ baptizes with the Holy as God began to administer His puri­ Ghost for the destruction of sin, the fying efficacy to those disciples He did illumination of the mind, and the so on an individual and personal basis. consolation of the heart.” “And there appeared unto them In conclusion, the tongues of fire tongues parting asunder, like as of were the manifestation of God’s per­ fire; and it sat upon each one of sonal, purifying presence to the inner, them.” The following is a pertinent impure natures of the disciples, mak- observation on this passage: “ St. Luke means that the tongues or (Continued on page 44)

10 Ths Preacher's Magazine The Core of Positive Preaching

By Edwin Raymond Anderson '

Q a u l ’s exhortative command to his work in the hearts and lives of the young friend and colaborer, Tim­ hearers. It is the Word which points othy, as recorded in the last inspired up the importance, marks the validity writing to come from his pen and of these exercises, both for the benefit heart, comes home to many with re­ of those towards whom they are di­ newed emphasis, for these latter days. rected and for the praise and glory In so many ways and through various of that living Lord who through the channels—some of which may appear Word is concerned about the right and surprising when related to the Scrip­ proper relationship of the heart tures—the Word is emphasized and towards himself. The work of reprov­ struck out anew and afresh as the one ing and rebuking and exhorting is single and absolute core of that which more necessary than hitherto real­ enters into the making of that nature ized, if the ministry be worthy of the of preaching which, in the truest and name and of the Lord in whose name highest sense of the word, may be it is set forth. And it is only as there termed “positive,” both for the prin­ are set forth under the authority of ciples of its setting forth and the evi­ and dependence upon the Word of dences of fruitage and blessing. the Lord, and actualized under the sensitive leadership of the Holy Spirit, There can be no doubt as to the that there is healthy accomplishment. passage in mind. It is the Word so Quite significantly, the decline of the familiar that it is perhaps often passed recognition and admission of this cen­ by, in one sense or another, because tral fact also corresponds to the de­ of the familiarity with the sentence cline of this phase of the work of the and its sounding. “Preach the word; ministry. Apart from the positive be instant in season, out of season; Word, everything becomes negative, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long- and all too clearly and quickly betrays suffering and doctrine” (II Tim. 4: 2). its hollowness, or the mere exercise It is clearly to be noted that all of the of human passions and inclinations. practices and occupations herein men­ For this reason did the inspired tioned in connection with the prosecu­ apostle stress the necessity of “ preach tion of that which is termed “ the the word” and stress it as a command Christian ministry” are centered upon received directly from the Lord, to and derived wholly from the admin­ be given directly in the same manner istration of the single and clear and and measure to the young friend and whole true Word of the living God. co-workers who should carry on. Em­ It is the Word which grants the phasis is given to this fact, when it authority to these necessary adminis­ is realized that this text occurs in the trations. It is the Word which under­ book which has often been termed writes them with the assurance of the “ Swan Song of Paul,” seeing that the strength and conviction of the it is the last inspired writing to come Holy Spirit of God, apart from which from his pen. The last words of this there is nothing which will in any valiant warrior for the Lord direct wise truly accomplish the necessary the attention, challenge the intellect,

^Watei'bury, Connecticut secure the emotions, not to the war­

January-February, 1953 11 rior of the Lord, but far rather to nounced a long while ago, when it the Lord of the warrior! Paul is con­ surrendered the positive primacy of cerned about the precious person of the Word of God to the level of scho­ the Permanent One, surely not about lastic interpretation according to the his own passing, as far as the primary measure of human inclination. Hav­ matters are concerned. In the review ing cut loose from this command of of his work, and in the understanding Paul, there could be naught save that of that which lay before as previously pathetic shipwreck which is so ap­ indicated to him according to the parent on every hand. mind of the Lord, he saw quite clearly In a far better sense, this phrase is and altogether distinctly the primal being pointed up by the evangelistic necessity of the full emphasis being rallies and gospel movements which placed upon the ministration of the are being carried on in the various Word of the Lord, as the Word of the parts of the nation, attracting an at­ Lord, with all respect and intelligence tention from quarters hitherto con­ concerning its unique position and sidered irreligious or sophisticated. unchallenged testimony. Thus the Consider, for example, the news-space word goes along to Timothy, and sure­ and radio and television attention be­ ly along to us, in these closing days of ing given to the Billy Graham cam­ grace—“Preach the word.” Brethren! paigns; and consider how free from the matter of this command surely former bias and sarcasm much of that commands the inclination and scru­ attention is. Even those of otherwise tiny of our ministerial life and service, theological dispositions grant the in­ both as indicative of its worth, and terest and worth of these evangelistic the like indication of wherein we may enterprises. And quite simply, the have failed. We are to be wholly con­ whole success of these movements can cerned with the Word of God, and far be simply traced to the fact and truth more concerned in further ranges and of a clear, whole obedience to this deeper reaches than perhaps hitherto inspired c o m m a n d— “ Preach the realized! word.” The central place is given to This phrase of Paul’s is being point­ the Word of God, that Word which ed up and illuminated from many He has declared in His testimony He quarters, all of which should speak shall be pleased to honor. Men of to our hearts. First, there is the evi­ earth, tired and spent and worn, de­ dent bankruptcy of liberalism, in the sire a word from heaven to meet their face of two ghastly world wars in the state and need. They realize that any first half of this vaunted twentieth word of earth, however finely dressed, century. One has only to survey the is “of the earth, earthy,” and so be­ literature put out by those of this trays its inherent weakness and ob­ theological disposition, listen to their vious limitation. Only the high and preaching, or attend any of their gath­ clear word from heaven, via the Word erings, to observe this bankruptcy in of God, can—and does—meet the pathetic action. Gone is the pride of need in marvelous measure. man with his swathings of science and Brethren, it is our business to stay honor of humanism, to be replaced by long in meditation “to very heart’s a frantic note of “emergency survival” depths” with this Pauline prescrip­ which has reduced man to a pitiful tion, “Preach the word.” The Word nothing to be swept about by ill winds is to be preached in all heralding of of a dying world. But the bankruptcy of liberalism had already been pro­ (Continued on page 66)

12 The Preacher's Magazine The Prayer Life of the Soul Winner And Intercessor

By Arnold R. Carlson, Jr.*

T e x t s : Ruth 2:7—And she said, workers, God has established a com­ I pray you, let me glean and gather munication system between our after the reapers among the sheaves; hearts and His throne. This com­ so she came, and hath continued even munication system is prayer. The from the morning until now, that she marvelous feature of this system is tarried a little in the house. that we have direct contact with the Matt. 9: 38—Pray ye therefore the throne of grace. We do not have to Lord of the harvest, that he will send go through switchboards, or wait on forth labourers into his harvest. operators, or be delayed because someone else is on the line. We have I ntroduction a wire that goes straight through to God in His rich providence and care the heart of God. Because we are His has planned the advancement of His partners, God expects us to keep the kingdom upon the earth through the line busy. In God’s directory, the Holy co-operation and help of His children. Bible, we have full instructions on the The Great Commission that fell from importance, place, and use of prayer the lips of the Saviour just before He in our lives. disappeared from the presence of His In considering the prayer life of disciples was this: “ Go ye into all the the soul winner and intercessor, we world, and preach the gospel to every must face these questions. Are we creature” ; but first, “ Tarry ye in the fully aware of the part that God ex­ city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued pects prayer to play in our lives? Are with power from on high,” and, “Ye we conscious of the promises that shall receive power, after that the Christ has given us in answer to Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye prayer? Does our prayer life measure shall be witnesses unto me both in up to God’s standard? Are we mak­ Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in ing the full use of prayer that God Samaria, and unto the uttermost part expects us to? In order to find an of the earth” (Acts 1:8). God has answer to these questions, we must given the blessed Holy Spirit, the turn to the Word of God. Third Person of the glorious Trini­ ty, the Executive of the Godhead, I. T h e P r a y e r L i f e o f J e s u s unto us, to cleanse our hearts, to fill us with himself, and to empower It would be impossible for us to us for service. We are co-workers find a better example to follow than with God. This is our great privi­ Jesus in our prayer life. Jesus was lege. God, the Creator and Sustain- a Man of prayer. er of the universe, has called on In Luke, we read that when Jesus us to be His partners in telling the was baptized of John in the River good news of a Saviour, God’s only Jordan He was praying as the heavens begotten Son, who has come to save were opened unto Him. Immediately us from all sin and to redeem us for after His baptism, Jesus was led of himself. Because we are His co- the Spirit into the wilderness, where

’•■'Paper presented to the N. Calif. Midyear Convention He fasted and prayed for forty days

January-February, 1953 13 and forty nights. We read in Mark the Thy redemption, O believer, is a first chapter, “ And in the morning, redemption wrought out by prayer rising up a great while before day, and intercession: thy Christ is a pray­ he went out, and departed into a soli­ ing Christ: the life He lived for thee, tary place, and there prayed.” When the life He lives in thee, is a praying He was pressed on every side by the life, that delights to wait on God and multitudes who came to hear His receive all from Him.”1 words of eternal life and to have their Since Jesus was a Man of prayer, sick healed, He withdrew himself and His entire life was lived in the into the desert and prayed (Luke atmosphere of prayer, He is therefore 5:16). Before He chose His twelve fully qualified to be our Teacher in disciples, “He went out into a moun­ the school of prayer. We enter into tain to pray, and continued all night this school of prayer with the same in prayer to God” (Luke 6:12). The urgent request that the disciples glory of the Transfiguration was pre­ made: “Lord, teach us to pray.” ceded by His going up into a mountain to pray (Luke 9: 28). I I . T h e T e a c h i n g s o f J e s u s Jesus in His high priestly prayer C o n c e r n i n g P r a y e r prayed for His disciples and for all Since we have seen that Jesus was them that would believe on Him a Man of prayer, that He put into through their word. He prayed for practice in His life the principles of Peter, that he might withstand the prayer, and by experience became sifting of Satan. He prayed in agony, an Authority on prayer, we unhesi­ and perspiration flowed from His brow tatingly bow ourselves in submission as it were great drops of blood in the to Him. “Lord, teach us to pray.” garden of Gethsemane the night be­ Once again we must turn to the Gos­ fore His crucifixion. On the cross, He pels and the* writings of the apostles prayed, “Father, forgive them; for in order to study the teachings of our they know not what they do.” And Master concerning prayer. then, crying out in the darkest mo­ ment of His life, “My God, my God, A. The Secret Chamber of Prayer why hast thou forsaken m e?” We read On one occasion while Jesus and further that even now, this very mo­ His disciples were in the Temple, a ment, Jesus is sitting at the right hand Pharisee came in and stood in a of the Father, ever making interces­ prominent place, and with a loud sion for us. voice, which was heard by all, he The power that was His, the glory prayed, “ God, I thank thee, that I am that was His in the Transfiguration, not as other men are, extortioners, un­ the miracles He performed, and that just, adulterers, or even as this pub­ life which was pure, spotless, and giv­ lican. I fast twice in the week, I give en for others, flowed out of a life tithes of all that I possess.” (Luke bathed in prayer. We cannot behold 18:11, 12). It was scenes like this one Him in His humility, glory, power, that brought about the teaching of majesty, and redemptive work with­ praying in the secret chamber. Jesus out thinking of Him as a Man of had said, “ When ye pray, do not be prayer. Andrew Murray has said: like the Pharisees who pray to be “Christ’s life and work, His suffering heard of men, but rather enter the and death—it was all prayer, all de­ secret closet and there pray in secret, pendence on God, trust in God, re­ and thy Father which seeth in secret

ceiving from God, surrender to God. ’Andrew Murray, "The Ministry of Intercession/' p. 136

14 The Preacher's Magazine will reward thee openly.” Jesus is There is a twofold witness, a twofold therefore teaching us that we, as His leading, a twofold work, and a twofold children, and as soul winners and in­ intercession. We pray in the Spirit, tercessors, must have our secret closet and the Spirit maketh intercession tal­ or private chamber for prayer. The us.” - secret place of prayer is where we go The Holy Spirit has come unto us to get away from people and things, to guide us into all truth and to reveal to be alone with God. It is the place unto us the deep things of God. He where we pray, not to be heard of has not come to glorify himself, but men, but rather have fellowship and rather to glorify the Son. It is His in­ communion with God. The Pharisee dwelling presence that makes it possi­ stood and prayed loudly with himself; ble for us in all things to make Christ we come humbly into the secret place pre-eminent in our lives. And, as the and pray to God, our Father. Holy Spirit has come to reveal unto It is strongly implied in the teach­ us the Son and to glorify Him, so we ings of Jesus that, if we are to have in turn, being the temples of the Holy a satisfying and successful prayer life, Spirit, are to glorify the Son. we must have our secret closet. There­ This greatest of all treasures takes fore, the first thing that the child of up His abode in earthen vessels, God, the soul winner and intercessor, which are weak and subject to limita­ must have is his secret chamber of tions and infirmities. Because this is prayer. true, we often find ourselves at a loss as to how to pray and for what to B. Praying in the Spirit pray. But this need not lead us to (Eph. 6:18; Jude 20) despair, for we are told in Romans: The next lesson that Jesus would “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our have us learn, after we have entered infirmities: for we know not what we into the secret chamber, is that we should pray for as we ought: but the must pray in the Spirit. Paul, in writ­ Spirit itself maketh intercession for ing to the Ephesians, said: “Praying us with groanings which cannot be always with all prayer and supplica­ uttered. And he that searcheth the tion in the Spirit” (Eph. 6:18). Jude, hearts knoweth what is the mind of in writing to those who are sanctified, the Spirit, because he maketh inter­ said, You can only be builded up in cession for the saints according to the your most holy faith “by praying in will of God” (Rom. 8: 26-27). the Holy Ghost” (Jude 20). The Holy Spirit prays with our It is very essential that we learn Spirit, and He who searches our this lesson early in our Christian life. hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, We must pray in the Spirit. Of course, and the Holy Spirit reveals to us the to pray in the Spirit means that we will of God. All true prayer is in­ must be filled with the Spirit. The spired by the Holy Spirit. This fact work of the Spirit is one of co-opera­ chows the necessity of being filled tion. The Holy Spirit needs us and with the Spirit. This, therefore, is the depends on us to work with Him, second lesson that Jesus would have and we in turn need Him. In fact, us learn in the school of prayer. We we cannot get along without Him. must pray in the Spirit. This lesson And, as Chadwick has stated it: must be learned well by all who “There is the same co-operation in all would be soul winners and interces­ the experience of salvation. There is sors. always a human and a divine factor. 2Chadwick, "The Path of Prayer/' p. 52.

January-February, 1953 15 C. Praying to the Father ings of the Word of God on when to One of the greatest revelations that pray and the kinds of prayer. Jesus made to His disciples was that A. When to Pray God is our Father. When the disciples, Paul, in writing to the Ephesians, in seeing Jesus praying, came to Him exhorts them to pray always “with all with the request, “ Lord, teach us to prayer and supplication in the Spirit” pray,” Jesus instructed them to begin, (Eph. 6:18); and in writing to the “Our Father which art in heaven.” Colossians, Paul gives them a word No longer are we aliens without a of encouragement by telling them country; no longer are we mere serv­ that he is praying always for them ants in the household of faith, but (Col. 1:3). And, later in the same through the precious blood of Christ epistle, he exhorts them to “con­ we have become adopted sons and tinue in prayer, and watch in the same daughters of the kingdom of God, with thanksgiving” (Col. 4:2). To the which is an “ inheritance incorrupti­ Thessalonians, he wrote, “Pray with­ ble, undefiled, and that fadeth not out ceasing” (I Thess. 5:17). away.” God bids us to come to Him Just what does Paul mean by the as His sons. We have the same right phrases “praying always,” “continue of access into His presence as a son in prayer,” and “pray without ceas­ has to his earthly father; and if our ing”? Does he mean that we should earthly father welcomes us into his be literally praying all the time? It presence, how much more will our is the firm conviction of the present Heavenly Father admit us into His! writer that Paul means for us to in­ D. Praying in the Name of Jesus terpret these words literally. Our lives When we enter into the presence of are to be bathed with prayer, lived in our Heavenly Father, we are to make the spirit of prayer every moment of our requests and petitions known every day. If we would try to pray unto Him, asking these things of Him always on our own, we would no in the name of Jesus. All the promises doubt find it impossible; but a soul in the Word of God have as one of that is filled with the Holy Spirit, and their conditions that we ask them in is conscious of the needs about him, the name of Jesus. Jesus has said, will naturally resort to prayer. Soul “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my winners and intercessors are not blind name, that will I do, that the Father to the spiritual needs, suffering, and may be glorified in the Son. If ye sorrow that are prevalent in our shall ask any thing in my name, I world. The natural result of seeing will do it” (John 14:13, 14). The an­ these needs is prayer that issues swers to our petitions are promised forth from the depths of the soul, us if we ask them in His name. either silently or audibly. In the night Thus far we have discussed briefly watches, the soul cries out for the Jesus’ teachings about having the lost, that they might be saved. Dur­ secret chamber of prayer, praying in ing the working day, when he finds the Spirit to the Father in the name himself surrounded with fellow work­ of Jesus. In these first lessons, Jesus ers who are lost and unprepared to has taught us the basic truths that meet God, the soul of the intercessor will lead to a successful prayer life. cries out in silence, “Lord, save them ere they perish.” Yes, as God’s chil­ III. Kinds of Prayer dren, His witnesses and co-workers, In the next major division of this we are called upon to pray continual­ paper we want to discuss the teach­ ly, without ceasing.

16 The Preacher's Magazine This does not mean that we need a vital part of our prayer life. Paul no secret closet or family altar. We tells us that this is the will of God in do need them; we cannot get along Christ Jesus concerning us. God waits without them. The danger is that we for our praises and our thanksgiving. enter into the secret closet and have To praise Him helps us to realize more our family altars, and then go through fully what Christ means to us per­ the day without once thinking of the sonally. To praise Him helps us to spiritual needs of others. Our thoughts realize, in greater measure than ever are occupied with our jobs and our­ before, our complete dependence selves. Let’s live in the spirit of upon Him. Our praises are to be prayer continually. Let us live in an spontaneous and are to spring from a atmosphere of prayer. Lord, teach us heart that is grateful and full of love to pray continually; Lord, teach us to God for the great salvation He has to know what it means to pray with­ wrought in us. out ceasing. 2. Praying “one for another” B. Types of Prayer One of the things that binds God’s Turning once again to the Word of people closer together is praying “one God, we see by example and by teach­ for another.” We are commanded to ing that there are different types of pray “one for another.” If one is prayer. Each of these types has its sick, or has fallen into temptation, or place in the prayer life of the soul if one is in need, we are to pray for winner and intercessor. him. Prayer ties the bond of fellow­ 1. The prayer of praise and thanks­ ship and brings the children of God giving closer together. Rather than to talk about another’s faults, we are to pray Paul, in his first letter to the church for him. It would help us individual­ of Thessalonica, wrote: “Rejoice ever­ ly and it would help our churches if more. Pray without ceasing. In every all the Christians would learn this thing give thanks: for this is the will secret, “Pray one for another.” In of God in Christ Jesus concerning this day when the powers of dark­ you” (I Thess. 5:16-18). ness are doing their best to defeat From personal experience, the the very elect, let us pray one for the writer has found it a source of real other. If you see faults in your min­ blessing to begin his prayers by prais­ ister, pray for him rather than tell ing and thanking God for all of His them to your neighbors. Let us be blessings, for His love, mercy, and our neighbor’s keeper, by praying for goodness. When one is discouraged or him. Let us strengthen one another depressed, it is well to follow the ad­ by praying “one for another.” vice of the song writer, who wrote: 3. The prayer of importunity When upon life’s billows you are Another kind of prayer that is given tempest tossed, us in the Bible is the prayer of im­ When you are discouraged, think­ portunity. Jesus gives us the classic ing all is lost, example of this kind of prayer in the Count your many blessings, name man who had an unexpected guest them one by one. come to his home at midnight and he And it will surprise you what the had no bread in the house to set be­ Lord hath done. fore him. But this man knew a rich Praise and thanksgiving unto God are friend who had plenty of bread, so he

January-February, 1953 17 came to his home and knocked on his periences of the Christian life are door at midnight, and then waited for those which require the greatest price his friend to come to the door. He in perseverance, determination, self- waited for a while, but there was no discipline, and intercession. And be­ answer. He knocked again, and wait­ cause their price is greater, they will ed, but still no answer. He knew that be appreciated more. The price that his friend was home, so he continued must be paid in intercessory prayer to knock until a voice responded from is great. It is hard work to intercede the window above, “Trouble me not: on behalf of the salvation of others. the door is now shut, and my children At times it requires hours of agoniz­ are with me in bed; I cannot rise and ing prayer; there are periods of fast­ give thee” (Luke 11: 7). But the man ing, when the concern and agony of would not be denied his request, so lost souls becomes so great that food he continued to knock loudly on the is flavorless and is undesired. God door, until his knuckles were sore requires of us this kind of prayer for and bruised; and finally his friend our own spiritual benefit as well as came to the door because of his im­ for the salvation of others. Interces­ portunity and gave him as many sory prayer requires diligence, de­ loaves as he needed. termination, perseverance, and faith This parable reminds me of us who that will not let go of the promises of God. It is a time when God tests our are ministers, laymen, soul winners, sincerity. He tests our willingness to and intercessors who have friends die, if need be, that others might be who come to us and they are spiritual­ saved. In intercessory prayer our ly hungry. We know that we in and eyes are opened to our own weakness­ of ourselves have not the bread that es and helplessness. We realize that will satisfy their starving souls. But in ourselves we are nothing. we are personally acquainted with a Andrew Murray has written: “In Friend who has the bread of life. We importunity there are various ele­ ire confident that He will give unto ments. Of these the chief are per­ them the bread of life, which will severance, determination, intensity. satisfy their spiritual hunger. Some­ It begins with the refusal to at once times it is necessary for us when we accept a denial. It grows to the de­ come to the throne of grace on behalf termination to persevere, to spare no of the salvation of others to knock time or trouble, till an answer comes. long and loudly until we have the pe­ It rises to the intensity in which the tition that we desire of Him. Jesus whole being is given to God in sup­ has given us the promise: “Ask, and plication, and the boldness comes to it shall be given you; seek, and ye lay hold of God’s strength. At one shall find; knock, and it shall be time it is quiet and restful; at another opened unto you. For every one that passionate and bold. Now it takes time asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh and is patient; then again it claims at findeth; and to him that knocketh it once what it desires. In whatever dif­ shall be opened” (Luke 11:9, 10). ferent shape, it always means and Why is it that we need to tarry so knows—God hears prayer: I must be long to receive the answer? It is not heard.” 3 because God does not want to answer, The one essential condition of all and is unwilling to give us the peti­ true prayer, whether it be the prayer tions that we desire of Him. The of praise, of thanksgiving, praying

greatest blessings and the richest ex­ 8"The Ministry of Intercession/' p. 49.

18 The Preacher's Magazine “one for another,” or the prayer of received from gleaning and gathering importunity and intercession, is faith. in the harvest fields of the Lord. God When we pray, we must believe that is seeking laborers. Every person who God is, and that He is a Rewarder of is saved and sanctified is called to be them that diligently seek Him. All a soul winner and intercessor. As we the promises of God’s Word are ours are commanded to pray that God will if we but stand upon them in faith. send laborers, we receive the call to Jesus said, “A ll things are possible to enter God’s harvest fields. Everyone him that believeth.” Therefore, when is not called to serve in a prominent we pray, let us pray in faith. place in the winning of souls to the In I John 5:14, 15 we read: “And Lord, but all are called to win souls. this is the confidence that we have in God is looking for people like Ruth. him, that, if we ask any thing accord­ She did not ask for a place of promi­ ing to his will, he heareth us: and if nence among the reapers in the grain we know that he hear us, whatsoever fields that belonged to Boaz. She said, we ask, we know that we have the Just “let me glean and gather after petitions that we desired of him.” the reapers among the sheaves.” In other words: “Let me have a place As soul winners and intercessors of service in the harvest fields. I am we know that it is God’s will that all not very big, I don’t amount to much, men should be saved and sanctified. I haven’t much in the way of talents; In II Pet. 3: 9 we read: “The Lord . . . but let me do what I can. I am willing is longsuffering to us-ward, not will­ to be used of the Lord.” ing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” And Let me say in closing, every Naza­ I Thess. 4: 3— “This is the will of God, rene is called to be a soul winner. even your sanctification.” Therefore, For almost four years the Church let us come with boldness unto the of the Nazarene has been emphasizing throne of grace, with troublesome ur­ the Mid-Century Crusade for Souls. gency in prayer, with the determina­ The clarion call has sounded forth tion that we are going to hang on in from our generals and district super­ faith, as did Abraham, Jacob, and intendents to all ministers and lay Moses, until our prayers are answered members of the Church of the Naza­ on behalf of others. Such praying wijl rene to make soul winning their major not go unrewarded. Its rewards are vocation. Let each one of us respond closer communion and fellowship with to that call and let us wait in the pres­ God, new revelations of the hidden ence of God until our souls are set things of Christ, power with God and ablaze by God’s all-consuming love man, and the salvation of precious and we have within a burning passion souls. for a lost world; and then go forth to glean and gather in the fields that are white unto harvest. IV. God Is Seeking Intercessors The fields indeed are white unto Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, but the laborers are few. harvest, that he will send forth la­ Jesus has commanded us, “ Pray ye bourers into his harvest (Matt. 9: 38). therefore the Lord of the harvest, I heard the voice of the Lord, say­ that he will send forth labourers into ing, Whom shall I send, and who will his harvest” (Matt. 9:38). The rich­ go for us? Then said I, Here am I; est experiences and greatest blessings send me. And he said, Go (Isa. 6:8, that one can have in this life are those 9a).

January-February, 1953 19 The Minister, a Voice of Authority

By A, L. Cargill

S ^ ive g l o r y to the Lord your Clod, theless—and a bewildered world, with before he cause darkness, and be­ an impotent church, God forgotten, fore your feet stumble upon the dark and the nations without divine leader­ mountains, and, while ye look for ship. light, he turn it into the shadow of May we not well ask, Has the min­ death, and make it gross darkness. istry failed in its leadership? God But if ye will not hear it, my soul said, “But if they had stood in my shall weep in secret places for your counsel, and had caused my people pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, to hear my words, then they should and run down with tears, because have turned them from their evil way, the Lord’s flock is carried away cap­ and from the evil of their doings” tive” (Jer. 13:16-17). (Jer. 23:22). It is an evident fact that the spirit Have we looked to scholars and of an age affects the religious life of teachers for inspiration, more than that age. At the close of what is unto God? Have we been influenced known as the “Victorian Age” with by the spirit of the age more than we its romanticism and religious emo­ have influenced the spirit of the age? tionalism, there came a growth of in­ Have we striven more for an intellec­ tellectual rationalism, embracing a tual appeal than for a spiritual ap­ spirit of skepticism, refusing to accept peal? anything as truth which could not be Again the spirit of the age is chang­ proved by hard, cold facts. The day ing. This is evidenced very definitely of joyous religious emotionalism in literature. Since World War II the passed and was followed by one in demand has been for the pleasant-' which men’s minds became cold, hard- escape type of fiction, something to boiled, and analytical. divert the mind into pleasant chan­ The machine age, modern means of nels. Just now the trend is changing communication, world-wide news sys­ again. Pulps and cheap Western story tems, hard-top highways, and speed sales are slow, pulp magazines are in travel reflected upon men’s souls, suspending, and the demand is turn­ making them cynical, hard of coun­ ing to something weightier. tenance and heart. Church attendance For many years the molding of fell off, cold reason was exalted, and thought has largely been under the religious emotionalism was smoth­ leadership of secular writers. The ered. ministry has been on the defensive, But men were created emotional but we have again arrived at a point in world change favorable for the beings and must have an outlet for their emotions; so emotional fiction, ministry to seize the initiative, be­ come aggressive, force the blade from even blood-curdling fiction, movies, and sports flourished. the hand of the opponent, and stand triumphant as the defenders of truth Then came three world wars in one —God-inspired truth. generation— the third one still large­ The world is tired of speculation ly a cold war, but a world war never- and fictional emotion. Perhaps it is

^Minister, Divide, Colo. too much to say they want truth.

20 The Preacher's Magazine They are too bewildered to know greatly moved. The minister must what they want, but they want some­ feel that he is the messenger of God thing other than they have received. sent to dying men. While the world falters, the ministers He should speak with the con­ should step in and speak with authori­ sciousness that all heaven is looking ty. upon him. The eyes of Jesus, whose The minister should not speak un­ suffering and death he is sent to pre­ less he has something to say, some­ sent to the lost, turn upon him from thing of importance. He should the heavenly altar of intercession. transcend the human and reach into Angels watch anxiously, hell rumbles the realms of the divine. This means from beneath, and sinners stand in a forgetting of self. To speak merely the valley of decision. to be eloquent, to gain applause, or This consciousness should stir the to secure a reputation as a great emotions to a holy passion. When a preacher, deserves only utter con­ minister loses the vision, when the tempt. The minister must present awful themes of hell, immortality of Christ, not himself, to his audience. the soul, and eternal destiny, cease to stir his heart, then comes the artifi­ The minister must be more than “a very lovely song of one that hath a cial, the empty, and the vague, and pleasant voice, and can play well on he becomes merely an orator rather than a messenger of God. an instrument,” whose words the people hear but do not obey. The If the ministry is to assume the meaning of his message must be un­ place of leadership today, there must mistakable. Christ’s blindest and be a divine anointing, a filling, in­ heaviest-eared critics understood dwelling Presence, a Christlikeness. when He spake of them. Paul said, “ Follow me, as I follow Christ.” The ministry must possess a The preacher’s business is to en­ spiritual unction successful in saving force the gospel truth. Sin must be men. aggressively opposed. Territory long held by the devil must be invaded. Charles G. Finney related the inci­ dent of a branch of the Scotch church The minister must make his hearers feel that he is preaching to them about which became so disgusted with the lack of unction and pow'er in the min­ themselves and not about others. The sinner must be made to feel his guilt isters furnished them by their theo­ and loathe himself in his own sight logical seminary that they passed a resolution that until the seminary re­ for his iniquities and abominations (Ezek. 36:31). formed in this respect they would not employ the ministers educated there. The world will not long follow a If the ministry is to step into the wavering leader. If the minister is to place of aggressive leadership today, step into the place of leadership today, there must be well-trained minds and he must possess an unwavering faith scholarship attainments, but there and purpose. Paul always spoke of must be also true holiness of heart eternal things as one who knew. Even and life. One cannot successfully im­ when speaking to governors and kings press others with the beauty of holi­ he reasoned of righteousness, temper­ ness unless the fruits of the Spirit ance, and judgment to come, with a are evident in his own life. It is only conscious certainty. His power and when the heart is pure that divine conviction were irresistible. Even the governor trembled, and the king was (Continued on page 42)

[anuary-February, 1953 21 Backwoods Preacher of the Southwest

By Mallalieu A. Wilson*

/ A L o r d , give me a backbone as big all off in front, a pistol, and a greasy as a sawlog and ribs like the deck of cards. Equipped thus, he went sleepers under the church floor; put to a frontier camp meeting sponsored iron shoes on me and galvanized by Presbyterian, Methodist, and Bap­ breeches and hang a wagonload of tist churches. Here he was converted determination up in the gable-end of and immediately began to learn to my soul, and help me to sign the con­ read and, within a few weeks, to tract to fight the devil as long as I preach. For twenty years he worked have a fist, and bite him as long as as a lay preacher, circuit rider, and I have a tooth, and then gum him itinerant evangelist in Texas. Then till I die.” he began to preach in other states. Before he retired at the close of sixty This prayer, by Reuben A. (Bud) Robinson, is typical of the speaking years of preaching, he had traveled two million miles, preached more style of a man whose life and pulpit than thirty-eight thousand times, and career might well entitle him to be called the last of the Southern back­ made more than a hundred thousand converts. woods preachers. Robinson was born Yet to the very last Robinson’s in 1860 in a windowless, floorless, one- sermons were strongly marked by room log cabin in the mountains of certain features that characterized the Tennessee. His parents were of public speaking of the Southern back­ Scotch-Irish Presbyterian stock, but woods region where he was born and before Reuben was born his father reared. The most outstanding of these had lost his once considerable wealth features were: (1) simplicity in through whisky-drinking and manu­ thought, sentence structure, and ser­ facture. The home was a place of mon organization; (2) liberal use of sordid destitution where the children imagery, homely but vivid, and often had insufficient food and clothes, with no education, either secular or relig­ exaggerated to the point of grotesque­ ness; (3) frequent use of narratives, ious.1 often personal experiences dramati­ At twenty Robinson was still illiter­ cally told; (4) humor; (5) an extem­ ate, and almost inarticulate because poraneous and communicative style of his severe stuttering. He was a of delivery. cowboy in Texas, owning, as he used S i m p l i c i t y o f T h o u g h t , to tell later, only a slouch hat, a pair S t r u c t u r e , a n d P l a n of run-down boots, a pair of old greasy overalls, an old blue hickory shirt Robinson became a diligent student torn at the elbows with the buttons soon after his conversion, and throughout his entire career read and studied diligently. After he had 'Sources of information about Robinson's life and preach­ ing include the following: Chapman, J . B .; "Bud Robinson: A preached for ten years, he had one Brother Beloved" (Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press, 1943); M iller, Basil, "Bud Robinson: A Miracle of Grace" (Kansas year of college training. Yet his ser­ City: Beacon Hill Press, 1947); Robinson, Bud, "Sunshine and Sm iles" (Chicago: The Christian Witness Co., 1902); mons always contained only simple Robinson, Bud, "M y Life's Story" (Kansas City: Nazarene ideas, well within the comprehension Publishing House, 1928); Robinson, Sally, "Buddie and I" (Kansas City: Nazarene Publishing House, 1913). Robinson of the least educated of his audiences. died in Pasadena in 1942. ^Northwest Nazarene College, Nampa, Idaho He had scorn for preachers who used

22 The Preacher's Magazine their pulpits to display their educa­ futile— so it is with sin. It is not cured tion. He expresses this in one place by being well born, well educated, or by saying, “Why will a preacher go by good resolutions. into the pulpit on Sunday morning 6. Moths must be killed—so must and read an essay on Socrates, Cicero, sin, and in this world; for or the queen of England, when he 7. There will be no moths in heav­ knows it is as dry as a Texas wind en. (“Where moth and rust doth not and as empty as a last year’s bird’s corrupt”)—neither will there be any nest? . . . It won’t even keep his con­ sin. gregation awake.” Robinson’s simplicity was undoubt­ Robinson had no use for philosoph­ edly a factor in his effectiveness. It ical and theological controversies and, is easy to see how this would be true with the exception of liquor reform, in the first twenty years of his min­ ignored economic and social pro­ istry, when his congregations were grams. For the most part the ideas composed of fellow Texans whose edu­ he preached were those beliefs that cational background was similar to concerned personal religion common his own. In the last forty years he to the orthodox among all the Prot­ extended his ministry throughout all estant churches. He once said, “The the states of the Union; but here, too, religion of Jesus Christ is just good his congregations were people who common sense, that’s all.” had been influenced by the frontier The simplicity of Robinson’s sen­ days of earlier generations. As Walter tence structure corresponds to the Blair once pointed out, the frontier simplicity of his ideas. His sentences emphasis on common sense had a are never periodic and usually consist great influence in making “gump­ of short statements connected by tion” almost a national religion over “and” or some other co-ordinate con­ the entire country.2 junction. The prayer quoted earlier is typical of this style. I m a g e r y i n R o b i n s o n ’ s S e r m o n s The organizational plan of Robin­ Extravagant use of vivid imagery is son’s sermons was rarely more com­ the most unusual characteristic of all plicated than a “string-of-beads” Robinson’s sermons. Where another outline. His sermons in his early min­ man in describing his conversion istry seem to have been even less might remark that his sins oppressed formally organized. An illustration of him, Robinson says: the most definite progression of ideas As I was lying there in the straw, my found in any of his sermons is the sim­ whole life of sin came up before me. The lies that I had told seemed to have stingers ple series outline of his sermon based in them like bald-headed hornets, and they on an extension of the Biblical anal­ were stinging a guilty conscience. . . . The ogy of moths and sin. oaths that I had uttered seemed to have teeth in them and were biting pieces out 1. The moth is little— so is sin. of my guilty conscience. All the water­ 2. The moth works from the inside melons I had stolen seemed to be piled out—so does sin. up around me and their striped backs were grinning in my face and they said, “You 3. The moth works its greatest got me,” and I said, “Yes, but I am done.” havoc on garments not in use— so does And every grass-sack of peaches I had sin. stolen seemed to be lying right across my stomach and holding me down to the earth. 4. The moth is no respecter of per­ There is a startling resemblance sons—neither is sin. 2Walter Blair, "Horse Sense in American Humor” (Chicago: 5. Most remedies for moths are University of Chicago Press, 1942), p. 25.

January-February, 1953 23 between the freedom of imagery by This language of the backwoods Robinson and a similar freedom by contrasted with the' subtlety of Yan­ that of the Southern backwoodsmen kee speech, and is certainly the op­ of a generation earlier, typically seen posite of what one critic has called in the autobiography, speeches, and the “deadness of much contemporary almanacs of Davy Crockett, who was English. . . use of life-forsaken words born and reared in the same mountain in that jargon of science and abstrac­ region as Robinson. Crockett, for ex­ tion so characteristic of the present ample, describes his feelings for his age.”4 sweetheart as “ love so hot it nigh to Another has suggested that the burst my bilers,” and when he became speech of these backwoodsmen may angry was as “hot as a tar-kiln,” and owe its freedom and inventiveness to was surprised that smoke was not their ancestors having stepped so pouring out of him.3 suddenly into the wilderness as to In language equally exaggerated, preserve these qualities of sixteenth Robinson ridicules the pompously ora­ and seventeenth centuries, unin­ torical type of preacher by saying that fluenced by the later stability of the such a man would “ put his collar and English language.5 tie on a flying meteor, and prance up Whatever merit this explanation and down the Milky Way with a gold may have, Robinson, like Davy Crock­ cane in his hand, and shave the man ett, was certainly uninhibited and un­ in the moon and turn somersaults in conventional in the use of imagery. the big dipper.” N a r r a t i o n i n R o b i n s o n ’ s S e r m o n s Again in describing the Christian’s The continual use of narratives to entrance into heaven, Robinson said: prove points or make them impressive We’ll go in and run up the streets, prob­ was a common trait of speakers from ably a mile wide and fifteen hundred miles the backwoods. We are all familiar long, and jump into the river and swim with Abraham Lincoln’s use of anec­ across and climb the tree of life, the fruit dotes. Robinson’s sermons were so of which is as big as your double fists, and ripens every month in the year. It’s with­ filled with narratives that sometimes out peeling on it, or seed in it, and so good they almost seem to be solely a collec­ it melts in your mouth. tion of narratives. These narratives This latter quotation is an instance are given in a personal, vivid way. His of Robinson’s fondness for gustatory stories are filled with such expres­ imagery, which investigators are sions as “God said to me,” “The devil agreed is one of the types least often said to me,” and sometimes, as in the used. It is true that Christian preach­ following sample, “ The mule said to ers have from earliest times described me.” To prove his point that even a the satisfaction of religion both in this Christian preacher may need a furth­ world and the hereafter in terms of er work of grace to enable him to live satisfaction of hunger needs; but who victoriously, he tells an incident from before ever talked, as Robinson often his own experience: did, of finding in heaven a “pancake I was plowing in the field and plowed tree”? Nor has any other preacher up till near noon. The mule wanted to go to dinner and I wanted to plow. He said ever dedicated a book of sermons, as he wouldn’t plow any longer, and I said Robinson did his first, A Pitcher of he would. I whipped him with the lines, Cream, to a Jersey cow! 4Logan Piersail Smith, "Words and Idiom s" (Boston: Houghton, M ifflin Co., 1925), p. 275. 3David Crockett,. "L ife of David Crockett: An Autobiography" 5Constance Rourke, "American Humor" (New York: Har- (New York: The Perkins Book Co., 1903), pp. 30, 56. court, Brace and Co., 1931), p. 64.

24 The Preacher's Magazine and got where I could get him by the bridle ing. His description of John the Bap­ bits and jerked him and then kicked him tist is recognizable to one familiar as long as I could raise my feet, and ran back and grabbed the plow handle and tried with the Gospel account, but also to make him go, but he wouldn’t do it. I strangely resembles the frontier cir­ finally grabbed him by the bridle bits and cuit rider. twisted his nose with one hand, and reached up and got hold of his ear and pulled it . . . another Bible character came out of down, and began to bite the end of his the woods with a camel skin across his ear. He threw me to the ground and nearly shoulders and an Old Testament scroll knocked the breath out of me, and ran off under his arm, and his breeches rolled up with the plow and broke the handles off. to his knees, and long shaggy hair down I went up the hill pulling mule hairs out to his shoulders, and a pair of fiery eyes from between my teeth, and I said, “Well, looking through the people. he didn’t plow, but I got satisfaction out Perhaps the most familiar of all of him.” That was on Saturday and I had to preach the next day, and as I walked up Bible figures is that of the shepherd the hill the devil said, “ What are you going and sheep. But where in the Bible to tell the Lord can do for a fellow?” I figure the thought is chiefly the care had to hunt a place to pray and promised of the shepherd for the sheep, Robin­ the Lord if He would pardon again and son extends the figure by adding the restore to me the joys of salvation, and give me victory in my soul again I would idea of the obligation of the sheep to never more grieve Him. I would think I produce for the shepherd. “ If the had the thing settled forever, but only to Lord is your Shepherd, He can shear run a short time and meet with another you any time.” Again, instead of con­ defeat. trasting sheep with goats as in the

H u m o r i n R o b i n s o n ’ s S e r m o n s Bible, he substitutes an animal more familiar to Americans. “When you Robinson’s sermons were so per­ shear a sheep, you’ll get no noise and vaded with humor that it has been a sack of wool. When you shear a impossible to cite examples of other hog, you get noise and no wool.” features of his speech without illus­ trating his humor also. Pattee pointed R o b i n s o n ’ s D e l i v e r y out years ago that American litera­ None of the traits of Robinson’s ture from the first has been rich in speech can be adequately appreciated humor and that, especially on the without understanding something of frontier, the incongruities of cultures the way in which he spoke. Like and peoples in the new world all tend­ practically all other frontier speakers, ed to make the Americans a laughing he spoke extemporaneously. His in­ people.0 Robinson’s humor was large­ tonation patterns, eye contact, and ly produced by incongruity. There posture were all characteristic of the was the incongruity between the sa­ direct, natural, communicative type of credness and sublimity of his ideas delivery. Men who heard him preach and the homeliness of his language. the same sermons and tell the same Naturally, he used Biblical language a stories repeatedly throughout those great deal. The contrast between this forty years agreed that each time Rob­ Biblical language was a further in­ inson seemed to be as enthusiastically congruity producing a humorous enjoying the speaking as if it were effect. the first time he had ever had the Even when he used Biblical image­ opportunity to give his message. He ry, the picture was often strongly constantly smiled and chuckled as tinted with American frontier color- he spoke. This fact, and the fact that he never lost his Southern drawl and 6Fred Lewis Pattee, "A History of American Literature Since 1870" (New York: The Century Co., 1923), p. 25. always lisped, increased the humor­

January-February, 1953 25 ous effect of much that he said. Prob­ Probably even this audience was ably the reputation he acquired as a not basically different in religious and humorist predisposed his audience to cultural background from Robinson’s see humor in all that he said. usual audiences. They were all com­ In one series of meetings he was posed chiefly of native American, Protestant, middle or lower class peo­ preaching turn about with a dignified, elderly, well-educated minister from ple not more than one or two genera­ the North, who was shocked at the tions removed from frontier farms and repeated outbursts of laughter that ranches themselves. greeted Robinson’s statements. He re­ E ffectiveness o f R o b i n s o n ’ s buked the congregation so sternly that S p e a k i n g T r a i t s i n P e r s u a s i o n they were almost afraid to smile. Then Robinson arose and began one Robinson’s colleagues were always of his most popular sermons with the at a loss to account for his success in words, “Lazarus was sick.” His lisp persuasion. It was easy to see how made it, “Latharuth wath thick.” The the traits I have listed would attract audience was swept with a convulsion large crowds to hear him, and easy of laughter in which even the learned to see how they would hold the at­ doctor joined. tention of the audiences when he was speaking. Not so easy was it to see

A u d i e n c e A d a p t a t i o n how in an audience almost hilariously entertained for an hour by a drawling, Robinson’s extemporaneous method lisping speaker giving his picturesque of preaching made it easy for him to stories of personal religious experi­ adapt his sermons to the immediate audience. He was quick at repartee ence and almost a grotesque repre­ sentation of his religious ideas, scores and tactful as well, as in handling hecklers. For the most part, however, of people would find themselves over­ he found little modification necessary whelmed by a sense of their sinful­ ness and eagerly responding to the in preaching his sermons to different audiences. It is said that Billy Sun­ evangelist’s call to repentance and a day, when speaking to the ministerial search for personal holiness. association of a New England city, One of his younger colleagues, him­ delivered a dignified address to them self a successful evangelist, tells of in the mild, dignified manner they his own reactions and audience reac­ were accustomed to using themselves. tions on the first occasion of hearing When Robinson spoke to the theologi­ Robinson preach. At first he had a cal faculty and students of a large letdown feeling and felt sure the Southern university, he spoke in the crowd would be disappointed. Soon same way and used the same material he began to feel his “heart strangely he used in addressing a camp-meeting warmed.” Then for forty minutes he crowd. Some of his friends who was caught in a wave of emotion, thought the university audience along with the rest of the crowd, that would look on Robinson’s religious caused him to forget his surroundings ideas as incredibly old-fashioned and and live with Robinson the experienc­ his narrative of personal experiences es he was so vividly describing. Sud­ too naive for consideration, found to denly with his eyes red from crying, their surprise that the group was so his sides aching from laughing, he interested that they hung about ques­ realized that Robinson’s sermon was tioning Robinson until he had to leave over and an appeal would be made over an hour later. for people to come forward for

26 Th? Preacher's Magazine prayers. He “felt certain no one would speaking characteristics I have dis­ come, for Robinson had said nothing cussed here, must certainly be given about hell, the terrors of the judg­ credit for much of his successful ap­ ment, or the dangers of grieving the peal. His sincerity, benevolence, and Spirit away.” But when Robinson a genuine personal interest in all said, “ Come on,” they came hurried­ people that he met everywhere im­ ly, “ all broken up,” and fifty men and pressed all who knew him. As one women made a definite profession of of his biographers says: “He was just faith that night. as happy over the friendship of a On this occasion there were ob­ colored man or a little child as over viously strong emotions aroused, but that of a state governor or a bank not the emotions usually considered president, and he was just as likely to effective by evangelistic preachers. speak of his joy over meeting with an Since Jonathan Edwards preached illiterate old neighbor as an acquaint­ his classic sermon, “ Sinners in the ance with a college president.” Hands of an Angry God,” appeals to This personal trait was certainly not fear have been the commonly accept­ characteristic of all frontier preach­ ed practice by American preachers ers. Robinson even described certain for this type of persuasion. Throwing of his friends and colleagues of his an audience into convulsions of laugh­ earlier ministry as men in whose ter is not customarily recommended make-up there was “no sugar, honey, when the speaker’s purpose is to pro­ or candy. These men are all back­ duce a feeling of condemnation for bone.” Robinson prized backbone in sinfulness that will lead to immediate a man, but preferred it should be a action. “sweet backbone.”

There are three suggestions that C o n c l u s i o n may help to explain the effectiveness Reuben A. Robinson in a striking of Robinson. First, it may well be way exemplified in a ministerial that his audiences were made highly career many rhetorical features char­ suggestible by their participation in acteristic of Southern backwoods the common emotional reactions of preachers of the nineteenth century^ laughing and weeping. Part of his popularity may be explain­ Second, the emphasis which modern able by his having spoken chiefly to psychology of persuasion places on people who themselves were not far attention might explain much of his removed from the American frontier success. I have mentioned how highly generation. Since he lived and spoke successful Robinson was in holding for nearly a half century after the the attention of his audiences. His use virtual disappearance of the frontier, of figurative language, personal nar­ his career marks the close of a period ratives, and humor all contributed to in regional American oratory. persuasive effectiveness by not allow­ ing the attention of the audience to turn to objections to the actions he BUY YOUR BOOKS wished them to take. Argumentative logic or a blatant appeal to fear might and all conceivably have put the audience in Church and S.S. Supplies a hostile mood. From Your Own Third, Robinson’s personal charac­ Publishing House ter, as partly revealed through the

January-February, 1953 27 Kingdoms Hewn Out

By J. Kenneth Grider*

h o u s a n d s of Alpine peasants farm what could be done in the hearts of T the mountainsides; they grow other sinful men. And with the Bible olives, principally. This has been pos­ and prayer, and with the preaching sible through extensive terracing. of full salvation, they went to the task, With the rocks, which are in abund­ hewing out kingdoms for our Lord. ance, they build walls; the dirt is then A student in one of our colleges moved against the walls until there was disturbed about whether or not is a near-level space of a few feet. he would find a church upon gradua­ Often the walls must be greater in tion. This was not the attitude of our height than is the width of the founders. They did not find churches; “leveled” space. Sometimes one can they founded them. They were not see only the rock walls as he looks up given pastoral positions; many of from the valley. them had them—good ones, profes­ Most of us would have thought sionally successful ones—but they farming impossible on these moun­ forsook them, as did Phineas Bresee, tainsides. We would have said; “ They and went out to make pastoral posi­ are ruggedly beautiful. They remind tions. of God. They might contain valuable The Church of the Nazarene is not minerals within. But for use in agri­ merely an institution; it is not merely culture, they are valueless.” No engaged in conserving gains. Ours is doubt folk in those parts thought the a movement; we are forever extend­ same for centuries. There came the ing our borders, preferring rather to day, however, when some peasant, seek new transfigurations than to with more imagination than most, and build tabernacles with the thought of with sufficient brawn, went to work “permanentizing” earlier ones. This on his mountainside. With pick and has ever been so, and it must ever be shovel, and with stonemason’s ham­ so. And because it is our essential mers, he literally hewed out a king­ spirit, we must ever hew out new dom. Others, with this lead, hewed kingdoms. Many of the five thousand out kingdoms on their mountainsides, students now in our colleges and until now there are thousands' of such seminary are called to this holiness kingdoms in southern France, as well ministry. Not a great proportion of as in northern Italy and in Switzer­ these can hope to have churches land. awaiting them. We must be ready and willing to go out and make The founders of the Church of the churches. In this way lies romance Nazarene were like these Alpine for pioneering spirits. peasants. They saw about them an We shall have to go into new areas, aggregate of sin which was mountain­ where our work is not known. We ous in its proportions, and they knew shall have to go into difficult areas, that that sin issued from hearts which where the seed of the gospel will at were as stony as is a mountainside; first fall upon stony ground. We shall but because of what had been done have to go into metropolitan areas, in their own hearts, they envisioned where men are busy and where they

^Teacher, Hurlet Nazarene College, Glasgow, Scotland (Continued on page 63)

28 The Preacher's Magazine "We Believe" or "The Bible Teaches"

By Milton Harrington*

T w a s v i s i t i n g a prospective m em ber cation and they may be just as right for the Church of the Nazarene. In as I am. I’m leading this individual to explaining the Manual with its doc­ believe that he is seeing sanctification trine and ethics, I caught myself say­ through the eyes of Nazarenes. He ing, “ We believe this— relative to the may go to his next-door neighbor af­ subject at hand.” It sounded to me as ter I’m gone and say that he does not if I as a Nazarene had a peculiar be­ believe in sanctification the way the lief—apart from the Bible. Perhaps Nazarenes do. But if I have told him it is just a habit we have developed that the Bible teaches all of our doc­ in expressing what we personally be­ trine on sanctification, then I have lieve and what the church believes by left no room for him to say it is just saying, “ We believe it this way.” This Nazarene belief. opens us up for a misunderstanding The church is not above the Bible among those of other faiths. A change in authority. We must come to the in our expression and language would realization that we do not believe as be for the better in witnessing for our we do just because our church be­ church. lieves that way, but because that is In our doctrine there is nothing that the Bible way. The church does not is unscriptural. Every step of the formulate our beliefs—the Bible has statement of doctrine is as the Bible already done that. The duty of the teaches it. We believe a man is a church is to emphasize the Bible. sinner until he is saved— the Bible The world is not so much concerned teaches that. We believe that a man about what you and I and our church must be sanctified entirely—the Bi­ believe; but what does the Bible ble teaches that. Therefore when I teach? This is an age of book reviews present the doctrine of my church to and unsettled convictions in the pul­ someone it is my privilege to state, pit. The far-reaching effect is coming “The Bible teaches thus and so and to us. People are skeptical. They have that is my church’s stand.” Suppose heard from pulpit after pulpit what I am counseling with a new convert the minister believes and some have relative to the experience of holiness been in exact contrast to each other. of heart. This particular individual They have heard the various churches may not be acquainted with our doc­ give out statements of belief. When trine in its full beauty. He has ques­ Jesus asked the disciples who they tions to ask and my answers are that were convinced He was, Peter de­ “we believe this way about sanctifica­ clared, “ I believe thou art the Son of tion. We believe man has a carnal na­ God.” No, that is far from his declara­ ture in his heart. We believe in the tion. He really says, “ Thou art the crucifixion of the old nature in a Christ, the Son of the living God.” dying-out-process.” When I state it And when we start telling people we thus, I leave the door of human un­ believe this and believe that about derstanding open to the reasoning that Christ, it becomes confusing. The Bi­ there are other beliefs about sanctifi- ble teaches about Him and does not

♦Minister, Lovington, New Mexico (Continued on page 37)

January-February, 1953 29 The Revival W e Need

By Dwight Boice*

T^entecostal revivals are the spirit- “If my people, which are called by ual breath of the sanctified. After my name, shall humble themselves, the soul has been saved from sin and and pray, and seek my face, and turn the heart cleansed from all unright­ from their wicked ways; then will I eousness, there comes a longing and hear from heaven, and will forgive desire to help save others. These pent- their sin, and will heal their land” up emotions of the soul can be let (II Chron. 7:14) is the answer to free to flow down the channels of re­ these ever present questions today. vivals. America and the world at We all need a greater passion for large need a Holy Ghost, Pentecostal souls. We need a revival of inter­ revival. “ Revive us again,” is the ceding and prevailing prayer. Let the constant cry of God’s children. skeptic and the modernist sneer and laugh; yet the Old Book, observation, Hell has enlarged itself beyond and experience all agree that God measure and its doors are pressed still lives and answers prayer today. back to the breaking point to greet “ Moreover as for me, God forbid that the mad rush of human souls every I should sin against the Lord in hour. What can stop this terrible ceasing to pray for you” (I Sam. roar of the hell-bound train? What 12: 23). If God would place an intense can stop this increase in crime? What burden upon the Prophet Samuel’s can stop this age of lukewarmness heart, even though Saul backslid and carnal indifference that is sweep­ later, a burden even though the first ing our land today? But why go on? king of Israel fell upon a sharp, up­ The heart grows sick, the head dizzy turned sword and dropped into with the recital of present world con­ eternity without hope, how about God ditions, but all goes to prove that we laying burdens upon our hearts? need a sin-killing, devil-driving, hell- defeating revival right now. Oh, let us arouse ourselves from the dust of indifference and rise and My subject, “The Revival We wrestle with Jehovah, asking Him to Need,” could be directed to the world, make us determined Jacobs and pre­ the denomination, the pastor, the vailing Israels. These days when we evangelist, or the individual lay mem­ talk and breathe war, and read in the ber. Since the starting point in any screaming headlines of our news­ direction of spiritual progress in a papers how many thousand men were denomination is the local church, I killed, let us think in the positive would like to draw your attention to terms of the gospel how many souls four outstanding thoughts of this can we save. There is a place in serious subject. Let us consider now the Church of Jesus Christ, aye, in the a greater passion for the lost, faithful Church of the Nazarene, called the preaching of God’s eternal truth, room of intercession; this place to be deeper altar work, and a persistent used by none, except God’s own dear effort until a genuine revival comes. people. The Holy Spirit will lead you to this room of hallowed retreat; ♦Pastor, Cnillicothe, Ohio Paper read before Central Ohio Preachers' Meeting He teaches you, not how to pray, but

30 The Preacher's Magazine what to pray for. God is looking for vivals do not blow in on every breeze. people who can really pray, and be­ They are the results of certain laws cause He fails to find them He is and conditions, as the production of amazed and wonders. Because there electric lights. Someone prayed for were so few who stood in the gap, you when you were lost in sin; some­ filled up the hedge, He poured out one carried a burden for me. If they his wrath in the Old Testament days. had been too busy to pray, the chanc­ Now it is the same. Because there es are we would never be saved today. are so few who will take this burden The world has too many heartless, at heart, He pours His wrath and passionless preachers. More than a judgment and destroys the wicked dozen times in the New Testament it and lawless and disobedient today. is written of the Master, “He was Oh, the burden of souls that will moved with compassion.” He suffered glue you fast to the altar of prayer with the sinner. when people are seeking God! After John Wesley was noted to die be­ the evangelist has poured out his cause “he became out of breath pur­ heart, every nerve of his physical suing souls.” At eighty-eight years being keyed up to the breaking point, of age and with extreme feebleness, to see some of the faithful church he preached his last sermon and this members (?) leave with hat and coat was his text: “Seek ye the Lord because they have to work eight while he may be found, call ye upon hours in the factory the next day, is him while he is near.” So it can be enough to dampen his enthusiasm and said he died evangelizing. No man spirit. Oh, God give us a burden that has ever amounted to anything in will keep the evangelist on his knees preaching the glorious gospel of in prayer, instead of sight-seeing ex­ Christ who has never felt the thrill cursions till 5:30 p.m., then rush of the words of John Knox, “Give me home, eat a sandwich, dust some of Scotland or I die!” the rust off one of his “big gun ser­ A captain of a Salvation Army unit mons,” race to the platform and in the deep of discouragement wrote preach, and blame the devil as to why to General Booth concerning his all the people fell asleep. Yes, he work. He explained his battles and preached with perspiration all right, defeats, efforts he had put forth to but no anointing and inspiration. No, win men to God but to no avail. Back we do not want a long-faced, eat-out- came the answer by telegram from of-the-churn religion. No, a thousand General Booth. The captain opened miles from that! But we do need a the telegram with a stirred heart, real Pentecostal burden for souls in thinking, no doubt, that here was the our revivals today. A real revival answer to the perplexing problems of is not a Sunday-school picnic, dress his work. But to his amazement and parade, side show, but a battlefield ashonishment it contained only two between right and wrong, heaven and words— “Try tears.” Heeding this hell. advice, he began to put it into prac­ A woman cried out after hours of tice. Tears over the preparation of prayer at the altar, “ I am happy I his messages, tears in his pastoral have a burden now, because all my work, tears in his sermons, tears in family has slipped through my indif­ his altar calls, and results soon came. ferent fingers into hell, because I Let us practice tears in our revivals professed but never possessed.” Re­ today. “Is there no balm in Gilead;

January-February, 1953 31 is there no physician there? why then back along the riverside to haul in is not the health of the daughter of those golden sheaves of wheat. The my people recovered? Oh that my best wheat always grew back along head were waters, and mine eyes a the hot riverside. We threshed wheat, fountain of tears, that I might weep we sacked wheat, we sold wheat, be­ day and night for the slain of the cause we hauled in wheat. We have daughter of my people!” was the con­ the best holiness church in the world; stant cry of the weeping prophet, the best-trained, educated preachers Jeremiah. in the land; better churches than twenty-five years ago; colleges and While the people are forgetting the seminary, and the best consecrated, Lord sanctified, paying church members— And church pews are empty and bare, but we don’t thresh wheat because There comes to every heart these we do not haul in wheat. We never piercing words, thresh over old straw piles on the “If men go to hell—who cares?” farm. We thresh new straw and re­ ceive new wheat. While the world rushes on in its folly and sin In the year 1951 (Herald of Holi­ And thousands go down in despair ness, December 26, 1951) we made a To reign where demons are shrieking net gain of membership of 4.1 per within, cent. One hundred members plus a “If men go to hell—who cares?” pastor, Sunday-school superintendent, N.Y.P.S. president, W.F.M.S. presi­ Who cares? Who cares? O Lord, who dent, made a net gain of only four cares members. What is wrong? Where is While the world rushes on in its sin the trouble? I am afraid we are blow­ and despair? ing our whistle too loud and long to If men go to hell—who cares? look at this figure. It took 8,119 church members of the Central Ohio District Reaching the Unsaved. Why is it to make a net gain in membership of that only 8 per cent of our population 302 members in the last assembly year go to church on Sunday morning and —less than 4 per cent. We must work 2 per cent go to church at night among harder, longer hours, less hours of the 155,800,000 people in the United sleep, to win others to fill our pews. States? Why is it that our Sunday We must haul in wheat. If we keep evening services and revival meet­ our beloved church gaining in mem­ ings are minus the sinners? Why is bership and power, we must bring it today we are threshing over “old in the unsaved. If we filled our pews straw” in every revival campaign? every Sunday night with sinners, how As a young farmer lad, I remember much greater would our results be! clearly the old threshing machine and Let the drunkards, bums, harlots threshing days. The Bib Huber steam come; we must have them. We would engine and large Minneapolis sepa­ rather have them than empty, ghostly, rator were the main summer attrac­ barren pews. Let the middle class tion on those hot threshing days. come, let the rich come; we must fill Early in the morning someone left our pews with sinners. If every Naza­ the cozy farmhouse, went out to the rene member, of the Central Ohio barn, harnessed up a team of horses District would bring one sinner to to the farm wagon, and went away church every Sunday night, what a

32 The Preacher's Magazine revival tide of fire and glory would that gives a satisfactory answer to sweep our district! We must haul in these questions: “Who am I?” wheat. Our church’s greatest need “Where am I?” and “Where am I today is sinners. Men cannot be going?” Preach it until sinners are hauled in like sheaves of wheat, but, converted, backsliders reclaimed, and oh, we surely can win more people believers are sanctified wholly. to God in an assembly year than Preach it until carnality comes to the what we do. God help us! light and “Agag” trembles and grows No revival can be of permanent pale with fear. Let the depth-bombs duration and maintain eternal results of God’s truth bring the devil’s U- unless it is founded upon the un­ boats of carnality to the surface to be changing and unbreakable Word of destroyed. God. There is a tendency to compro­ The frozen soil of sin must be bro­ mise in these days. But it is too late ken up by the plowshare of divine now to let down the bars, trim our truth. You never have to apologize sides, cut the corners; when thou­ when preaching God’s Word. The fear­ sands of Blood-bought, judgment- ful judgments of God must be tearful­ bound, precious souls are perishing ly preached. We do not need circus- every day. Thank God, the Nazarene clown evangelists, just mere singing preacher does not compromise. revivals, or one-track-mind preaching, It is the Word of God that convicts, but a revival of the unchanging words converts, purifies, and blesses men of the Master. The preacher who today. Clear-cut preaching on re­ never strikes “fire” in the pulpit will demption, Calvary, justification, and never kindle a “blaze” in the pew. sanctification is still needed in our Our church has been built under land. Sin is still on a forward march. the banner of holiness. It has equally The old man still lives in the hearts become known as a holiness church of the unsanctified men and women. in whatever city we have gone, and Let us not shrink or draw back on people who enter our doors expect the preaching of the manifestations to have such—then let us not fail or of the carnal nature. It is still in disappoint them. The devil hates holi­ order to preach on carnality. We do ness, but the Nazarenes embrace it not need book reviews in our pulpits, to their hearts and will preach it and but a review of the teachings of the shout it till they die. We as pastors lonely Man of Galilee. It is not what have been given a spiritual church, Abe Lincoln would do if he were alive made so my this great doctrinal truth. today, but what Christ will say when Let us be true to God and our church; He returns, that should be the theme let our preaching be so freighted with of the pulpit. Personal testimonies divine unction and power that world­ are great; blood-chilling, deathbed liness and sin will be given such blows stories will stir; high tests of experi­ they will go reeling from their throne. ences upon the congregation might Thank God for the rugged truth. The alarm; but it is still the words of the glorious remedy for sin thunders in Holy Bible that will bring everlasting the books of Moses, blazes in the results. prophets, sings in the songs of David, The pure Word of God is a devour­ comforts in the Gospels, instructs in ing flame, a crushing hammer, a sharp the Epistles, and triumphs in the last instrument, and a saving power. The books of the Holy Writ. blessed Old Book is the only book Also we need a revival of deeper

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January-February, 1953 35 altar work. Why is it today we are noisy tones pretend a great desire for warming over many of our good souls, and yet who evidences the church members every time a new sham of this pretense by slipping revival strikes our church? The rea­ away as soon as the altar service is son they are “up and down” is not well started, going home to laugh, that they do not want God or wish joke, and car-ride to the midnight to go through with God. There is a hour. Let us all not be in a hurry tendency to think if we persuade to rush home, eat a bite, read the someone by the aid of the Holy Spirit newspaper, listen to our favorite pro­ from the back pew to the altar of gram on the air, while that poor, mercy, our day’s work is ended. No, doubting Thomas struggles on for that is just the first step for him on victory. Many a person has arisen the road of eternal life. We have no from our altars of prayer with that right to throw out our chests in “dull ache” in his heart, gone out of spiritual pride on our huge success the church doors, never to return, to until that soul prays clear through, embrace some strange doctrine or is established in holiness, unites with faith and be lost from the influence the Church of the Nazarene, lives a of our church forever. Why this life of faith, and steps into the glory trouble? Because we failed to pray world. It is not the number at the altar of prayer during the revival him through when he was under the that counts, but those who will come influence of our services. It is easier to midweek prayer service, ten below to sing, shout, and talk than it is to zero, three months later that will be pray until the fixed habits of sin are a blessing and addition to the local broken, pray until pardon and purity church. floods the seeking heart. One seeking soul turning into a happy finder with How easy it is to let men slip a Pentecostal shout will change the through our fingers to a dry profes­ complexion of the entire revival. Let sion of faith even at our Nazarene us go down deep in the agonies of altars; to pat them on the cheek, tickle death, down so deep in suffering with them under the chin, fan them with the lost that our prayer will be like love, scream, “Believe,” when down Moses of old, “ Oh, this people have deep in their hearts lie sin and car­ sinned a great sin, and have made nality that must be confessed and them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou brought to light! Never hurry a seek­ wilt forgive their sin—” Right here er through to an experience in grace. Moses’ heart skips a beat, broken with God can save a soul in a second, sanc­ compassion and mercy. “If not, blot tify a believer as quick as a flash; then me, I pray thee, out of thy book which let us step back and let Him do it. thou hast written” (Exod. 32:32). Nothing but the comforting person­ What a prayer! We must pray the ality of the Holy Spirit can satisfy the same. Come to the place where we human heart. When a soul is com­ would sooner die, blot out our names, pletely sanctified he is satisfied, and rather than see that struggling soul when he is satisfied he is sanctified. leave the altar empty-handed. “O Let people seek. Do not become weary God, let me if necessary be dry in my in their coming, but worry when they soul, but give them some water out do not come to the altar of mercy. of the wells of eternal life. Let me live God have mercy upon the evangelist the life of faith, but give them some whose high fever of expression and kind of manifestation or demonstra­

36 The Preacher's Magazine tion so they will know,” should be the driving, Blood-bought, hell-defeating, prayer of every altar worker. Such a soul-stirring revivals today. The consecrated prayer will bring victory words of David should be our daily to the seeking heart and release show­ prayer, “Wilt thou not revive us ers of Pentecostal fire upon the altar again: that thy people may rejoice in scene. God give us deeper soul- thee?” (Ps. 85:6.) burden, clear-cut experiences around the altars today. “Wc Believe” or Let us not become discouraged with “The Bible Teaches” the results of our revivals. Just be­ (Continued from page 29) cause people do not “ line” the altar the first night of the revival, do not leave us to speculation on the im­ think the city is doomed, and it is portant facts which concern us. time for the evangelist to pack up and Some have declared they believe leave on the early morning train. Stay as they do just because the church by the job. It was the continual bomb­ believes that way. Brethren, this is wrong. We must feel that what our ing of Germany by American flying church believes is what the Bible fortresses and the R.A.F. that brought teaches. Others have said, “ If my ultimate victory. It is that continual church didn’t ask me not to do cer­ bombing of sin and carnality night tain things, I wouldn’t see any harm after night that will bring results. in them.” They are separating the Sometimes the game was lost be­ church from the Bible. The church cause we struck out with men on that sees no wrong in the movies, base. We almost made a touchdown, dancing, lodges, liquor, tobacco, nu­ but failed and fumbled the ball on dity, immorality, worldliness, and the last yard of conflict. Oh, let us looseness in conduct is not a Bible break through if it takes two or six church and therefore is just a social weeks. Stay at the job until the real organization. We did not dig up a be­ break comes. No pastor or evangelist lief against these things— the Bible has the right to say that his field is teaches against them. It seems we burned over and God has taken His have lost an impact we should have departure until every savable soul had by not using the language, “The has been presented with the gospel, Bible teaches this.” Just saying, “The every home in the city visited, every church believes this,” has led people contact with the lost been made, and away from Biblical convictions and all human efforts been used to bring down the road of possible unbelief. the lost to the risen Lord. Don’t pass This has placed us on the level of an by any soul, but bring men in the ordinary church that sets up its own arms of faith, do everything within idiosyncrasies as a belief. Instead of your power to save them for God and dealing with people according to the the church. church, we need to deal with them ac­ The forward march of our church cording to the Bible. When asked has been made on the road of revivals. what stand our church takes on cer­ Onward, forward with revivals. God tain issues, let us answer by the stand bless our good evangelists who carry that the Bible takes. As a Church of this mighty load. May the revival the Nazarene the Bible is a Lamp unto fires burn mightily upon our Naza- our feet and a Light unto our path. rene altars. God give us more No longer let it be said, “We believe,” Heaven-sent, born -again, devil- but, “The Bible teaches.”

January-February, 1953 37 Sin Is a Bad Bargain

By Robert G. Nielson*

For what is a man profited, if he “My birthright! But, Jacob, that’s shall gain the whole world, and lose my blessing as the eldest son. That his own soul? or what shall a man entitles me to Father’s wealth and give in exchange for his soul? (Matt. the heritage of our great family.” 16:26.) “I want your birthright, or you get no pottage. Is it a bargain?” Jacob The long evening shadows were insisted. moving swiftly across the sky over Esau thought a moment. He was the Near Eastern plains as a young about to die with hunger. What good man tucked his bow and arrow into would any old birthright do? He his quiver and started for home. It wasn’t interested in heritage or bless­ has been a wonderful day to hunt, ing or anything else right now. What though a rather unprofitable one, he he wanted was food—quickly. thought, as he slung his empty bag “All right, it’s agreed! Take the over his shoulder. He loved to hunt. birthright,” he said. It was great sport and it set the ad­ “ Promise me that you’ll keep the venturesome blood in his veins tin­ bargain,” Jacob persisted. “You get gling. He was justifiably proud of his the pottage; I get the birthright.” reputation as one of the most cunning “ I promise,” said Esau. “ Now let hunters in the land. But today he me eat.” had not lived up to his reputation. And in that one moment Esau for­ Since early morning he had bagged feited all the blessings and benefits nothing. of his position as eldest son in the As he climbed down the jagged path family of Isaac. from his favorite hunting spot, and You say it is just the story of a reached the smoother road on the foolish bargain by a careless young plain, he hurried his pace noticeably. man. But how many people today How hungry he was! He moved rapid­ are exchanging birthrights for pot­ ly over the three miles toward home, tage? How many are thoughtlessly becoming more faint with each step. trading their spiritual potentialities As he came in sight of his home he for temporary enjoyment at sin’s bar­ quickened his pace. Then he could gain counter? smell it. His brother had the meal Tonight, the world is full of Esaus ready. He lifted his bag to tRe ground, —men and women who are making loosened his quiver, and hurried bad bargains. They are exchanging toward the tent. That pottage which priceless spiritual possessions for the Jacob knew how to cook so well cheap trivialities of sin. And that is would surely taste good tonight. bad bargaining. “I’m starved,” he called. “Give me something to eat.” I. Exchange ok Security for Un­ Slowly, his brother turned toward c e r t a i n t y him. “All right, Esau, you can have Life is a wilderness to the man some pottage if you’ll give me your without God. Go about our streets birthright.” and look men in the face and you see

*Mabes Senior Sermon Award, 1952 all manner of hungry desires and un­ 38 The Preacher's Magazine satisfied longings. They wander, wilderness? When God guides there searching, seeking, trying to find a are no errors or detours. He leads way of safety and satisfaction. A straight through and the way He leads young man speeds through his early is best. The wayfaring man, Isaiah years looking for something to satisfy, tells us, shall not err therein. to give him a thrill. In middle age, Your quest for truth must end with settled in his work, he tries through Jesus: “I am the way, the truth, and money and position to find pleasure the life: no man cometh unto the and happiness. As he comes to old Father, but by me.” Your quest for age he still is searching in the twilight things must end with: “Seek ye first hours of life, never having found the the kingdom of God, and his right­ way that is right. And on his death­ eousness; and all these things shall bed as he looks ahead into the dark be added unto you.” Your quest for night, he still is needing something to joy must end with: “Whosoever bring security to his heart and mind. drinketh of the water that I shall give But a man does not have to wander him shall never thirst; but the water unsatisfied through life. that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into ever­ There is a way. Across this wilder­ lasting life.” A wellspring of joy will ness the King has made a highway. overflow in your heart when you take It is a way of salvation on which a Christ’s way. Here is security for you. man or woman may walk with pur­ pose, confidence, and trust. Here in II. Exchange of Peace for Carnal this way that Christ offers is security. C o n f l i c t s For the man bogged down in the swamp of bad habits, Christ says, “ I But sin is bad bargaining, also, be­ am the way.” For the man sucked cause it is the exchange of peace for into the quicksand of evil companions, carnal conflicts. Christ says, “ I am the way.” For the One of God’s most precious gifts man trapped in the crevice of selfish­ is the peace and tranquillity which He ness, Christ says, “ I am the way.” puts in the heart of His children. It For the man parched on the desert of is a deep peace that comes from prayerlessness, Christ says, “ I am the obedience. When we bow our wills way.” Across the swamps and quick­ to His will, when we submit our lives sands and deserts of life God has to His direction, when we yield our flung the highway of salvation, and spirits to His authority, we receive all who will may be lifted onto this an inward peace that is like the calm way and live and walk above the in the depths of the ocean. mire of sin. No need for endless When a man’s will bends, and he searching when once we have found says, “Not my will, but Thine, be the security of this highway of salva­ done,” then that submission to God tion. The world may bring excite­ brings peace. Complete submission to ment, but Christ, and Christ alone, God means that we abdicate the con­ will bring security. trol of our very being and invite Him Why should you wander on life’s to take the reins and rule completely. wilderness? Who would exchange a The only way to be at peace is to good highway to wander in an un­ be free from inner conflicts. Our charted desert? Who would exchange natures can be wholly harmonized the security of God’s highway of with God only when carnality, that salvation for endless searching in the inner sinful nature that fights God’s

January-February, 1953 39 will, is cleansed from our hearts by surrounding peaks. It is always there, the blessed Holy Spirit’s indwelling. always the same, always peaceful. We get quiet when we yield. And no Who would exchange a Mt. Mans­ greater quiet can come to us than the field, with its calm stateliness and perfect inner relaxation which floods unchanging serenity, for a belching our souls after carnal turmoil has volcano and the destruction and dan­ ceased. We will be at rest down to ger and death which lie in its path. the very roots of our beings when we have the consciousness of peace with And who would exchange a soul God. that is at peace for the guilt and rest­ lessness and conflict of a carnal life? Is sin robbing you of this peace? You are living on a volcano’s side if Sin is a bad bargain because when you do not know inner peace from you choose sin you trade this deep- all conflict. down peace for the inner conflicts of carnality. Your life without submis­ You can be delivered from the un­ sion is a life without peace. You may rest of self-will, from the conflict of have excitement but never peace. inner wrangling. Your will is free You may plunge yourself into your when it is submitted to G od’s authori­ work and try to forget that there is a ty. turbulent pounding in your heart, but An unyielded heart is like a trou­ the conflict is there just the same. bled volcano. There is no peace in it. And it will always be there until you But Christ died that you might have bow your will in obedience. Desire peace. The chastisement of our peace pulls one way; reason pulls another. was laid upon Him. He can change There is a schism between what you the turbulent pounding of a guilty do and what you ought to do. Your heart into the inexpressible peace of inner self is full of contradictions if His indwelling presence. you have not let God harmonize your nature with Him. III. Exchange op Heaven for H ell Look into your heart. Does a con­ Sin is a bad bargain. To take the flict take the place of inner peace? Is way of sin means to forfeit security, there a restlessness and a turbulence to forfeit peace, and to exchange because you are seemingly at war heaven for hell. with yourself? Is there frustration be­ cause your self-will wants you to do Men of all ages have accepted the one thing and your conscience tells truth that beyond this life there is an you to do another? eternal life where the hopes of this life are realized and rewards and There is only one way for you to punishments given. There have been be at peace with yourself through various beliefs as to what heaven is and through and that is to make your like, but all have agreed that there is peace with God. Let the Spirit an eternity. There must be a place cleanse out carnality and fill you with where the inequalities of this life are divine love. balanced. Jesus confirmed the fact Mt. Mansfield stands among the of a life hereafter when He came hills of Vermont as a symbol of great forth from the grave, He inaugurated strength and serenity to the people a new type of life, an eternal, resur­ who live in its shadow. As they look rected life in which there is no death. out across the valleys, they see its And every man determines by his calm splendor standing high above choices whether he will go to the one

40 The Preacher's Magazine place or the other. The question is, place to Satan is bad bargaining be­ “Where will you spend eternity?” cause it is the exchange of heaven for The heritage of the Christian is hell. Anything you might gain here heaven. The caterpillar is not made would melt into nothing if you lost to stay in the cocoon. He grows wings your soul to get it. “ For what is a to fly in a bigger world. The chick man profited, if he shall gain the is not made to remain in the egg. He whole world, and lose his own soul? has feet and wings and eyes that equip or what shall a man give in exchange him for a greater sphere. And we are for his soul?” made for eternity. Our souls need heaven to consummate the hopes and C o n c l u s i o n : aspirations of the Christian life. Have you made some foolish ex­ What a glorious climax heaven will changes on sin’s bargain counter? be! When the gates swing wide, we’ll Have you forfeited inner peace for drop our sorrow and take up joy; the pounding of a guilty conscience? we’ll discard our cross and accept our Have you wandered in the wilderness crown; we’ll break off praying and of life, searching for direction and begin to praise; we’ll scorn death and joy? God stands ready to take your welcome life. Living by faith will be life that is marred by sin’s bargain changed to living by sight! and give you peace, security, and a fitness for heaven. The old prophet With a prospect such as this, we was right when he said, “Let the can look death in the face and say wicked forsake his way, and the un­ with Paul, “O death, where is thy righteous man his thoughts: and let sting? O grave, where is thy victory? him return unto the Lord, and he The sting of death is sin; and the will have mercy upon him; and to our strength of sin is the law. But thanks God, for he will abundantly pardon.” be to God, which giveth us the victory God’s great offer of salvation comes through our Lord Jesus Christ.” to you. From the byways of sin you This is but a glimpse of the in­ can be raised to the highway of salva­ heritance of God’s children. tion. But you may forfeit heaven. You can forfeit all of these benefits of T h e A p p e a l : heaven if tonight you choose to leave Young Tom Crocker’s future looked Christ out of your life. To exchange bright when he became a clerk in a God’s way for Satan’s way is to ex­ Detroit court. But his drinking be­ change heaven for hell. Instead of came increasingly heavy. He was the happiness and peace and purity given morphine to quiet his nerves, of heaven, your lot will be the and then morphine got him. To get wretched misery of an eternity apart more morphine he started taking from God and all that is holy. A place court funds, and then the inevitable of bitter remembrance, of separation, happened. With his job gone, he lost and torment, hell will receive those every stabilizing force in his life and whom Satan has deluded with the soon became Skid Row’s worst. He glitter and glamour of sin. “There is slept under the bushes in a park or a way which seemeth right unto a on a dirty mattress in a flophouse. man, but the end thereof are the Getting the next drink was his only ways of death.” Simply to neglect interest. The days and weeks had no your salvation is to give Satan first meaning for him. When delirium place in your life. And to yield first tremens struck him, he dragged him­

January-February, 1953 41 self to the Salvation Army. Maybe Crocker found. You can be satisfied. this prayin’ business will help, he You can be secure. You can be sure thought. He prayed for three days of heaven. while he nearly went crazy for a drink, but it worked. God saved him. The Sick Man in Your Parish He started telling the story of his conversion in Salvation Army street (Continued from page 5) meetings and mission halls. He was 3. Make your visit short. Never soon put in charge of Detroit’s Michi­ over fifteen minutes. gan Avenue mission to try to stem the growing tide of Skid Row derelicts. 4. Don’t joke over hospitalization. Later, in the Harbor Light Corps in (It is much better to be home than it Chicago, he continued his work of is to be in the best hospital in the rescuing men from the living hell he nation.) once knew. He worked in the courts, 5. Make no remarks about the where judges turned over seemingly disease if at all possible. Don’t tell the hopeless drunks to him. Stocky, 200- patient how he looks. In fact, don’t pound Tom Crocker now stands be­ talk too much but be an intelligent fore these men and says: “If you listener. Quietness and ease and con­ really want to lick Skid Row, I have fidence are contagious. the answer. . . . Once I was just like you, but God saved me. And what 6. Don’t apologize for not coming God did for me He can do for you, sooner; maybe he hasn’t missed you. if you’ll help.” His success is evi­ Don’t cross-examine the patient but denced by the fact that he has over create a spirit of optimism and make 1,500 members in his Converts’ Club him feel that it is wonderful to have in Chicago. such a pastor. And last January, Captain Tom 7. Don’t fail to call on the sick. Crocker was selected the “Chicagoan Here is your first ministry in any of the Year” by the Junior Association type of calling. of Commerce.

Tom Crocker found sin a bad bar­ The Minister, a Voice of Authority gain, but God saved him. Now peace and joy take the place of the misery (Continued from page 21) of Skid Row. No matter how far you thoughts, aims, and impulses can have wandered, you too may find surge through. Only when we are peace. Do you have rest and calm filled with the Holy Spirit are we within or the pounding of a guilty brought into true partnership with heart? Do you experience the securi­ God. Only then can we become true ty that comes with trust in God, or leaders in His flock. are you searching endlessly in the wilderness of life? Is yours the prom­ “And ye my flock, the flock of my ise, “In my Father’s house are many pasture, are men, and I am your God, mansions . . . I go to prepare a place saith the Lord.” for you”? Or will your portion be, “But when he saw the multitudes, “Depart from me . . . I never knew he was moved with compassion on you” ? them, because they fainted, and were Sin is a bad bargain. Exchange it scattered abroad, as sheep having no tonight. Come and find what Tom shepherd.”

42 The Preacher's Magazine PRACTICAL +

The Pastor s Workshop

TP h e r e lies on my desk an interest- ship as well as the friends of the ing brochure of a fund of informa­ church. tion in the form of a kit for pastors. Page 1—Buff color. Foreword, ac­ One calls for the “Minister’s Practical knowledgments, and names of the Idea Kit” and may be obtained at a church board. Reverse side—the cost of $2.50 per year. During the Sunday-school report. year over two hundred ideas are pre­ Page 2—Gray color. Missions re­ sented to the subscriber in unique port. Reverse side—N.Y.P.S. report. form. Of course, not all of these ideas Page 3—Yellow color. Boy Scouts would “click,” but even if 25 per and summer camps. Reverse side— cent of them helped, it would be well annual financial report and graph. worth the price. Kits from past years Page 4—Green color. Pastor’s an­ may also be obtained at the same price nual report. Reverse side—continued unless two are ordered; then the price report and bulletin squibs. grades down. There are also “Sunday Page 5—Pink color. Home missions. School Idea Kits,” “For Women Reverse side—building fund financial Only,” “High School Society Kit,” plans. and others. Page 6—Gray color. Both sides— We are sorry that the Publishing church directory. House does not have access to the I also have one of greater preten­ sale of these items, but one can obtain sion, but the above is a mimeograph them from the Church Extension joy and it seems that the newer ma­ Service, P .O . Box 552, Golden, Colo­ chines produce very fine work. Of rado. When purchasing, please men­ course if a church can afford such a tion the Preacher’s M agazine from printing item, it would be desirable; the Nazarene Publishing House and but remember, such a compiled report we will appreciate it. is a wonderful timesaver at the an­ nual meeting.

Recently my friend, Rev. Leo Stein- inger, who has pastored the Waikiki There has come to my hand a little Church of the Nazarene in the Hawai­ pamphlet, brief but dynamic. In fact ian Islands, and is now a professor there are two of them. The first is at the Canadian Nazarene College, entitled A Road Map for Sermons, by sent me his annual report dressed up Dwight Stevenson. It directs the in a very attractive manner. The preacher in a plan of preparation cover is yellow (cardboard), carry­ which would make his work more sys­ ing on the front the pictures of the tematic and forceful. Also there is district superintendent and wife as one on the how of preparing an expo- well as the pastor and wife. Each sitional sermon. Now here is a great page is a different color and repre­ need in the Nazarene ministry, for sents a different department. It makes the laity need expository material a very nice souvenir for the member­ once in a while, to ground them more

January-February, 1953 43 ‘ ^ s s ? ^ ftXKWtl&<«35fv

, _ » / « & » ? ^ so |^f **S **«»>(, r<<' *-«*-«;■ ww««,.v » 5 » thoroughly in their study of the Word in attendance. Some people challenge of God. I would recommend them to the value of Rally Day, but the writer you. You can purchase them from is of the opinion that it is a fine way the Nazarene Publishing House, and to get strangers to come to your each item costs twenty-five cents. church, especially the parents of Sunday-school children, w ho are proud to see their children perform. While I was conducting a revival Also if one soul continues to come recently in the city of Oakland, Cali­ and finds the Lord (generally there fornia, a versatile Sunday-school su­ are many more if a follow-up is con­ perintendent used a plan for a rally ducted) , it would pay. day which would operate just about anywhere. He used a streamer of painter’s sign cloth about twenty feet Send in your ideas to the editor. long and four feet wide. In the center Share your successes with some other was a big red splash of paint, and in pastor. Let us all co-operate. the center of the splash were painted the words, “All Names Rally Day.” The Significance of Pentecost On the bottom of the sign was the question, “Is your name written (Continued from page 10) here?” Then the entire congregation ing them inwardly clean in prepara­ worked on the job of inviting people tion for complete and uncontested to come out to Rally Day, and when possession and dominion by His Spirit. a person promised his last name was In the midst of the general mani­ painted on the sign—not the first festation of God’s presence there was name but only the last, like Smith, an individualization, or personal mani­ Jones, Patterson, etc. Then all would festation, providing for the personal make an effort to see how many of conditions and needs of each disciple. that name could be reached for par­ Thus, while this purification or sanc­ ticipation in this “ All Names Rally tification of the disciples’ inner na­ Day.” By the end of the week the tures was primarily negative, it was names, painted in all colors and at a necessary and adequate provision random angles, filled the entire area, of God for the positive work which and also created wide interest during was to immediately follow, namely, the revival, as it was placed on the the complete possession of their inner wide wall of the main auditorium. We beings by the personal presence of are showing a picture of the sign, so the Holy Spirit, giving them power the idea will be understood. Any local over sin, the world, and the devil, and artist could do the work. Keep it energizing them with a dynamic neat-looking and clean, and hastily spiritual fervor for the proclamation call the roll on Sunday morning, and of the gospel of Christ to all men you will be surprised at the number throughout the world of their day.

44 The Preacher's Magazine Three Sermonic Studies

By M. K. Moulton*

T h e m e : Hearts Set on Maturity 1. Speech is not clear. Mind con­ fused, expression confused. Some­ T e x t : “ Set your hearts on this ma­ turity” (II Cor. 13:11, Phillips trans­ times it is unintelligible jargon. lation) . “Become perfected” (II Cor. a. Lack of ability to express what 13:11). is in the mind in an intelligible man­ ner. Introduction: 1. In the early part b. Speech is unreal. of the First Epistle to the Corinthians (1) Dr. Kunkel says the ideal St. Paul wrote, “I . . . could not speak family for environment is adult fe­ unto you as unto spiritual, but as male, adult male, female child, and unto carnal, even as unto babes in male child. Each individual should Christ.” represent a phase of personal develop­ a. They were babes in Christ. They ment and a sector of family life. He had begun to live as Christians. But needs to think logically and act de­ a carnal condition hindered their cisively like a mature man; to feel growth. There were strife and divi­ and love like a mature woman; to be sions among them. They needed a alive to the mythical and legendary cure for the carnal condition and they qualities of life like a girl; to be ag­ needed to grow in grace. gressive for the right and enjoy group 2. In the great thirteenth chapter activities like a boy. of First Corinthians St. Paul speaks (2) However, to be alive to the of himself, “When I was a child, I mythical and legendary qualities of spake as a child, I understood as a life to a certain extent is all right, child, I thought as a child: but when but it is childish to live in the unreal I became a man, I put away childish realm, your speech being unreal. It things.” is a sign of immaturity to speak from 3. Now at the close of the second imagination or limited knowledge as epistle to the same people, St. Paul facts, things that cannot be supported. says, “Finally, brethren, farewell. Be B. In understanding. perfect,” or, “Be perfected.” In the 1. The intellect is feeble. Phillips translation it is, “Set your 2. Understanding is sensuous— hearts on this maturity.” merely from the senses. Mind earthly 4. The normal desire is to grow up, and material things. to become mature. 3. Understanding from relativeness. a. This is so naturally and it is Child judges things by relationship to true spiritually. self. He does not understand others. b. It is true, however, that we never C. In reasoning. “I thought as a arrive. It is a crime to catch up with child.” your own horizons. 1. Draws conclusions from passing impressions and unfounded conjec­ I. We must, however, begin with tures. Has an insufficiency of data. Im m aturity. 2. Reason from the impulse of de­ A. This is the case in relation to sire. speech. “I spake as a child.” a. The wish is father to the thought.

*Los Angeles, California D. “ But when I became a man.” January-February, 1953 45 1. Should assume growth and prog­ a. Illustration of the mighty oak. ress toward maturity. B. Means a person who has gained a. Bernard Shaw: “The only man by experience. who behaves sensibly is my tailor; 1. He has made a gain by losses. he takes my measure anew every Experiences of life have been refining. time he sees me, while all the rest a. If you will let it, life will knock go on with their old measurements.” the egotism and cockiness out of you. b. Dr. Stidger tells of a curious b. The stronger a man’s character letter he received. “ I had this curious­ becomes, the less attention he pays to ly illustrated in a letter I recently re­ his own ills and the more attention ceived from a dear eighty-year-old he pays to the ills of others. woman, a Mrs. Supple of Pittsburgh, 2. You can live and learn by expe­ Pennsylvania. She wrote me a nice rience. letter which started off, ‘My dear Wil­ 3. Wm. Shakespeare wrote: lie: ’ and I knew at once that she must There is a kind of character in thy life have known me in Moundsville, West That to the observer doth thy history Virginia, when I was a child. And, fully unfold. sure enough, that was a good guess, Personal history tells. for as the letter continued she said: 4. Things that experience adds. ‘I remember you as the little seven- a. Adds, if one wants it, under­ year-old boy, sitting high up in an standing. (Ezekiel said, “ I sat where apple tree, who spit on me when I they sat.”) Adds patience, kindness, passed under that tree.’ skills. “Now it would not be quite fair to C. Means a tested life. judge me today, at the half-century 1. For courage. mark, by what I did when I was seven a. Carnero and Max Baer. As a years of age. I have long since ceased rule, ministers do not draw illustra­ climbing apple trees, or spitting on in­ tions from prize fights; but bishops nocent people who pass under apple must look into a number of matters trees. I hope I have grown a little if they are to advise the clergy what since those days and have changed to avoid. Some years ago two indi­ my ways a lot. I rather liked the way viduals were to fight for the so-called that letter opened; and I have re­ heavyweight championship of the ceived at least a dozen of them start­ world. One was an Italian, named ing off, ‘Dear Willie.’ It gives me a Carnero, better known for bulk than little touch of homesickness, but nev­ brains. The other was Max Baer, ertheless I like it: but I don’t want with a propensity for wisecracking, my Moundsville friends to think that who was at home upon the vaudeville I still throw stones at people, or spit stage. In the midst of that fight, each on them.” swung at the other, each missed, each fell to the canvas, and the crowds II. M a t u r i t y . This is not absolute, but relative. witnessed the sorry spectacle of two fighters lying in the midst of the ring A. Means strength. facing each other. Before Carnero 1. First is life. The internal organi­ could rise, Baer grinned and said, zation and adjustment which means “ The last one up is a sissy.” It may strength. be necessary for us to repeat that a. Born again. The fullness of life. line today, “ The last one up is a 2. Then comes strength by develop­ sissy.” ment. 2. For stability.

46 Th3 Preacher's Magazine a. Paul and Silas sang at midnight. devour which enrich our souls, and 3. For resiliency. many are the hunters of wealth and art who do not roast that which they III. How to Gain M aturity. take in hunting. A. Set heart upon it. 3. Henry Thoreau cynically said 1. Jesus Christ, the ego-ideal. “For when he learned of the laying of the to me to live is Christ.” “ All things Atlantic cable, “Yes, it’s wonderful, work together for good”—“conformity but probably the first news that comes to the image of his Son.” over it will be that Princess Adelaide B. Discipline self for it. has the whooping cough.” Man who man would be Must rule the empire of himself.— T h e m e : The Present Imperative Shelley. T e x t : I I Peter 3:14-18 C. Be a learner with a purpose. Introduction: 1. The Christian faces “Study to shew thyself approved life as it is and has expectations for unto God.” Profit by pains. Say, the future. “What can I get out of this experi­ a. In Peter’s day the coming of the ence?” Lord was expected. D. Use your gains. (1) Scoffers were encountered 1. In the twelfth chapter of the then. Book of Proverbs is this bit of wis­ (2) Explanation was that the delay dom: “The slothful man roasteth not of the coming was salvation. God that which he took in hunting: but the waits in patience. He is “not willing precious substance of men is to the that any should perish, etc.” And a diligent” (A.R.V.). This homely thousand years is as one day to the proverb calls to my mind a hunting Lord and one day as a thousand years. camp. Most men are fond of hunting. b. The time will come when the In fact, there is such a thrill in the day of the Lord shall dawn—then chase that even a lazy man likes to eternity will begin. hunt. But the dressing and roasting 2. At that day there will be a dis­ of the animals caught are not so en­ solution of things. This could be so gaging. Hence the sportsman, having with the explosion of a hydrogen made his kill or catch, leaves the bomb. But things pass away anyway. drudgery to the paid guides. The zest They are of mere instrumental value. of the chase ends with the catching. Things wear out, decay. The Bible That is the truth in the old proverb, speaks even of gold becoming can­ “ The slothful man roasteth not that kered. The hymn writer wrote of the which he took in hunting.” close of the day. He said, “ Change 2. Goring had collected treasures and decay in all around I see. . . . O from all the plundered corners of Thou who changest not, abide with Europe. Specimens of finest art stood me.” Being cognizant of this, what alongside the cheapest chromos. The manner of persons ought we to be? vulgarity of the place and the lack of 3. At that day there will be renova­ discrimination showed that the owner tion and creation—“new heavens and did not appreciate the values of what a new earth, wherein dwelleth right­ he had collected. We may adorn our eousness,” in which nothing but good walls with exquisite pictures and line shall live. our shelves with rare editions. But 4. At the end when things are dis­ it is the books and art we mentally solved and a new heaven and earth

January-February, 1953 47 created, what we have been and are a. Character (p. 95). Character is will determine our destiny. what a person is— not what he is sup­ 5. From the present standpoint we posed to be. It is not shaped by trifles face the present imperative. Includ­ any more than marble is sculptured ed in it is: by puffs of air. Only through hard struggles and stern conflicts with I. The W arning of Danger. (“ Be­ ware lest ye also, being led away with temptation and resolute self-mastery the error of the wicked, fall from does this divine principle manifest your own stedfastness.”) itself. The sharpness of our trials and A. The warning of danger is be­ the hardness of our lot show what cause the Christian is not absolutely we are and how long we will last. secure. He lives under a probation­ Character is a fortune. It pays far ary economy with the possibility of better dividends than bank or rail­ trends in the wrong direction. road stock. In every emergency it is 1. Peter gave the warning in his the man of character who is sought. Pentecostal sermon to save yourselves Character once lost is lost forever. A from this untoward generation. shattered character may be retrieved 2. Here he speaks of being led in part, but can never be restored to away with the error of the wicked. its original strength and perfection. We encounter the subtle influence of The physician may cure the body and environment and atmosphere. This even find a remedy for the diseased is strong, but God is able. mind, but there is no power on earth B. Warned of losing position of that can assuage the pain of the hearts stability. that are consumed by terrible and un­ 1. This is not an ideal steadfastness availing remorse. but a real steadfastness—“Your own The above may have been written stedfastness.” from a nominally Christian, or per­ a. Tests of sanctified character. haps only a moral, standpoint; but is Some of the acid tests of sanctified there not much truth contained in character will always be: the statements, and is it not because (1) Can you labor on cheerfully of this state of affairs that many, hav­ without earthly reward? ing made a misstep in one direction (2) Can you toil on hopefully with­ or another, throw their lives away, out tangible returns? selling themselves (as it were) to sin (3) Can you travel the road of and shame? But, while character frequent criticism without bitterness? once lost can never be restored to its (4) Can you lift and agonize and original strength and no power upon sacrifice and pray and give, away earth can assuage the pain of hearts down out of sight, while others lead consumed by remorse, yet there is the procession and receive the hon­ hope in Jesus, who came from heaven ors? In other words, are you willing and of whom it was said, “ He shall to be soil in which providential events save his people from their sins.” This may grow, while others fill the places hope lifts us even above Adamic per­ of leaves and blossoms on the trees fection, making us new creatures, old of time? things having passed away, and all 2. The real establishing grace of things becoming new, having received holiness. a right spirit within us. The world 3. Established by establi'shed good ignores the sinner; Christ lifts him patterns of devotion and living. up.—A. L. H a l t e m a n .

48 The Preacher's Magazine 4. But warned that we may fall miss His plan for our lives.— Gospel from our own steadfastness. Herald. C. Danger though we have known b. When the bird stopped strug­ these things before. gling (I.C.S. 720). Wordsworth, in 1. Know that we are living in one of his poems, tells about a bird destiny. that was carried from Norway by a 2. Know the things revealed in storm. It fought hard against the gale the Word of God, which determine in its effort to win its way back to destiny. Norway, but all in vain. At last it yielded to the wind, and instead of 3. Though we have known these being carried to destruction it was things, may be led away with the borne to the warm shores of England, error of the wicked. to the green meadows and forests. So a. Separate the Scriptures from when we try to fight against God’s their application to us. will we are making efforts which will b. Change the Scriptures to make come to naught, and are doing so to them countenance evil practices and our own injury and loss. But if we lawless practices. willingly accept God’s will, it will be 4. Should open our hearts to the for our good; we shall be borne on continued impression of the holy to blessedness and joy. Word. We should simply accept it II. The Diligence. (“Be diligent that and let it work the will of God in us. ye may be found of him in peace, a. Missing God’s plan. A gentleman without spot, and blameless.” ) captured two baby eagles and raised A. Means to steadily apply your­ them with great care. They grew to self to be always prepared before God. be fine specimens of this noble bird, 1. Not careless, intermittent Chris­ until one day the door of their cage tian application but a steady, contin­ was left open by accident and the birds escaped. One flew to a nearby ual procedure that produces. B. That when the unveiling time tree, where it roosted on a low branch, for it could not use its wings, never comes we may be without spot and having learned to fly except in the blameless. close confinement of its cage. It was 1. To be found means “in the in­ not long until it met an untimely vestigation by the Lord Jesus Christ.” death by the gun of a hunter. The 2. It is to be found without spot. other eagle fell or was knocked This means defilement by engagement into a swift-flowing river and was in evil. Pure religion is to keep un­ drowned. Both of these eagles missed spotted from the world. God’s plan for their lives by being a. Billy Bray worked in mines with taken captive by man. They were evil men. created to live in high places and to 3. It means to be blameless. soar aloft in the sky, but instead they a. This is a relative matter. were doomed to live on the ground b. Does not mean faultless. and to meet an early death. c. To his own master a servant God created you and me to live on standeth or falleth. a high plane and to carry out the d. Others may blame us, for they great plans He has for our lives. May do not understand us. we have wisdom to yield our lives e. Can be in a condition so that to Him, so that the forces of sin may when Christ investigates us we will not take us captive and cause us to be blameless.

January-February, 1953 49 4. If without spot and blameless, intellectual apprehension, it means ac­ it is through Christ and means we quaintance with the Saviour. are in peace. 1. A great deal more than the first a. Peace found in Him (488). From introduction. It means much living very ancient times the hearts of men with Him and He with you. It is pos­ have longed for peace. Not merely sible to get more and more intimate that there shall be no more war, with Him, nearer to Him, and franker though that too; but more particular­ and more cordial with Him day by ly peace of mind and heart. In the day. early days of Israel we have the bene­ 2. Knowledge of Christ, the anoint­ diction, “The Lord lift up his counte­ ed One. He is the truly authoritative nance upon thee, and give thee One. peace.” The Sanskrit invocations end a. Find out more and more how with, “Peace, peace, peace.” The true and right Christ is. Mohammedan greeting is, as of old, b. Roman Catholics say, “The “Peace be upon thee.” Church produced the Bible; there­ Where can we secure this peace that fore the Church, not the Bible, is the men have longed for through many place of authority.” The reply to this centuries? The answer is given us in is, “Christ produced both the Church the words of the Master: “Peace I and the Bible; therefore He is the leave with you, my peace I give unto place of our authority.” Objective you. . . These things have I spoken reality—history. Subjective reality— unto you, that in me ye might have experience. Christ of history and the peace.” The peace that brings calm Christ of experience. Then there is to the soul, even amid the storms that the collective experience of Chris­ sweep over every life, is to be found tians. The Christ of history becomes in Him. It can be found nowhere else. the Christ of personal experience and III. The developm ent. (“But grow in this is not a hallucination, because it grace, and in the knowledge of our is corroborated by collective Christian Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”) experience. Christ is found more and more to be real and true. Grow in the A. Grace means, first, the unde­ knowledge of Christ. served love and favor which God in Christ bears to us sinful and inferior 3. Grow in the knowledge of Jesu>, creatures. But it also means the con­ the Saviour. sequence of that love and favor in the a. He is Saviour by what He did. manifold spiritual endowments which b. He is Saviour by what He does. in us become “graces,” beauties and (1) Have His saving presence. excellences of Christian character. (2) Have His intercession and ad­ 1. Means a daily transformation, vocacy. with growing completeness and pre­ (3) Need His atoning power. cision of resemblance, into the like­ (4) Grow in the knowledge of His ness of Jesus Christ. Saviourhood. 2. Do not Want to jell into what we 4. Grow in the knowledge of His are now. If you have arrived, you Lordship. are done. a. Discover more and more the B. Grow in knowledge. Knowledge wonders and blessings of His gracious of a person is not the same as knowl­ rule. Let Him reign. edge of a creed or book. More than b. It is a mastership of care.

50 The Preacher's Magazine (1) Master, the tempest is raging. healing. Begins page 175 of A Man “Carest thou not that we perish?” Called Peter. (2) In God’s good time. “ The late Dr. Jowett said that he was once in T h e m e : Our Father’s Favors a most pitiful perplexity and consult­ T e x t : “ I bow my knees unto the ed Dr. Berry of Wolverhampton. Father of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . ‘What would you do if you were in that he would grant you” (Eph. 3:14- my place?’ he entreated. ‘I don’t 16). know, Jowett; I am not there yet. And you are not there yet. When I ntroduction : have you to act?’ ‘On Friday,’ Dr. 1. Christ spoke in analogy of an Jowett replied. ‘Then,’ answered earthly father giving good gifts unto Berry, ‘you will find your way per­ his children. Such is the nature of a fectly clear on Friday. The Lord will normal earthly father. Christ then not fail you.’ And surely enough, on used the “how much more” argument, Friday all was plain. Give God time, stating that our Heavenly Father will and even when the knife flashes in give the Holy Spirit and give good the air the ram will be seen caught things to them that ask Him. We in the thicket. Give God time, and honor our earthly fathers today. But even when Pharaoh’s host is on Is­ we know that our Heavenly Father rael’s heels, a path through the waters is ready to bestow His favors upon us. will be suddenly open. Give God 2. St. Paul in a most profound time, and when the bed of the brook prayer prayed for great spiritual is dry, Elijah shall hear the guiding favors and benefits from the Heavenly voice.” Father. Here is his prayer: Eph. (3) He puts back the stars. “ Wil­ 3:14-21, “For this cause I bow my liam T. Stidger tells a fine story of a knees unto the Father of our Lord discouraged young colored minister. Jesus Christ, of whom the whole fami­ Everything seemed to have gone ly in heaven and earth is named, that wrong with this man. He had built a he would grant you, according to the church for his people, for he had been riches of his glory, to be strengthened a carpenter; but when it was com­ with might by his Spirit in the inner pleted his wife, who had worked by man; that Christ may dwell in our his side, died. This and other trying hearts by faith: that ye, being rooted experiences left him broken and de­ and grounded in love, may be able to feated. Then he heard, over the radio, comprehend with all saints what is a sermon by a well-known minister. the breadth, and length, and depth, He felt sure that man could help him, and height: and to know the love of and he went to see him. He was Christ, which passeth knowledge, that cordially received and stayed in the ye might be filled with all the fulness minister’s study for a long time, and of God. Now unto him that is able when he came out there was a new to do exceeding abundantly above all light in his eyes. “What a man he is!” that we ask or think, according to the he said. “ When I went into his office power that worketh in us, unto him all the stars had fallen out of my skies be glory in the church by Christ Jesus —but one by one he put them back throughout all ages, world without again.” end. Amen.” (4) Mrs. Peter Marshall and her 3. This epistle rests on a threefold experience with Christ regarding her basis:

January-February, 1953 51 (1) The will of the Father as the gether for an habitation of God origin of the Church; through the Spirit.” It means a (2) The atonement of the Son as strengthening of capacity to have God the ground of our adoption; and and all He grants. (3) Life in the Holy Spirit as the a. There is no need to be a feeble, scope and end of the gospel. weak saint. The Lord and the divine The prayer of St. Paul relates to provision are not to be judged by the the last of these foundation stones. weakness of those who have merely It presupposes repentance, justifica­ tasted the grace of God. It was an tion, regeneration, and entire sancti­ amusing distortion of a good hymn, fication. Those who are the spiritual but there was not a little sound phi­ children of God, in whom sin has been losophy in it when the old negro destroyed, may receive the abundant preacher said, “Judge not the Lord by favors and benefits afforded by the feeble saints.” God has made some glorious riches and full benevolence towering giants. of the Father God. b. He strengthens according to His 4. The Father is ready to grant glorious spiritual riches. One should unto us, but must do so under certain give according to his ability. God conditions. gives according to the measure of His own eternal fullness. In Him is a sea a. The prayer of another to condi­ of glory—we have no line to fathom tion you and grant you. St. Paul for it. In Him is a mountain of gold; and this cause bowed his knees unto the we have no arithmetic to compute its Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. value. His is a domain of infinite b. For you to pray and worship and beauty and we have no adequate be conditioned to receive the grant language to describe it. His is a field gifts of the Father according to His of truth and all our searching is to purposes. We receive and use His discover that it is unsearchable. All grants or we do not have them. that He has may be given unto us c. Children are heirs of God and through the executive power of the joint heirs with Christ. His children Holy Spirit. may share in all that God will give 2. It is strength in the inner man. to Christ—joint heirs. They are named after the Father. This is one a. The inner man includes a true family in heaven and in earth. They conscience; next motives, then are all one and of one. All this family thoughts, those little springs that derives its origin and being from God, swell into oceans, those germs of as children derive their name from everything. We need to be strength­ him who is the father of the family. ened to think reasonably, accurately, Holy persons in heaven and in earth scripturally, thoughtfully. Then come derive their being and their holiness affections, the likes and dislikes, those from God and therefore His name is excellent servants but horridly bad called upon them. They are holy and masters. Then the working of the godly. They have an affinity for the Holy Spirit down in the inmost cham­ things God grants. They are spiritual bers of the soul, secret communion and can receive the spiritual things. with God, intercourse with the in­ visible. I. T h e G r a n t o f S t r e n g t h 3. It is strength within for what is 1. This refers to the last verse of encountered without. the preceding chapter: “Builded to­ a. To withstand the temptation and

52 The Preacher's Magazine trial. To stand steadfastly alone. To the emperor, “What is the meaning do the duty. To perform the task. of your name?” (Theosophorus, 4. Here is an illustration of strength“God-bearer”) He promptly replied, through the Spirit. Henry Ward “He who has Christ in his breast.” Beecher: “When I was a student at Need more Christophers bearing Princeton and Prof. Henry had so Christ about in the street, the car, constructed a huge bar of iron bent the shop, the field, the office, the into the form of a horseshoe, it used store, the home. to hang suspended from another iron 2. This brings rooting and ground­ bar above it. Not only did it hang ing in love. Here is a double meta­ there, but it upheld 4,000 pounds phor. One agricultural, the other weight attached to it! That horseshoe architectural. magnet was not welded or glued to the metal above it; but through the a. Get roots down into the love of iron wire coiled around it there ran a God. Feed on that love. Go deeper subtle current of electricity. Stop the in it. flow of the current for one instant b. Lay the foundation on the solid and the huge horseshoe dropped. So ground of love. Get the debris and does all the lifting power of the Chris­ loose ground out of the way. tian come from the currents of spirit­ c. Redwood trees that have stood ual influence which flow into his for centuries. heart from the living Jesus. The strength of the Almighty One enters d. Empire State Building over 100 into the believer. If this connection stories high. One solid foundation. with Christ is cut off, in an instant “When those three tremendous he becomes as weak as any other words next confronted Rodney Steele, man.” they were worked, not in silk, but in stone! In a lower flat, in the same II . G r a n t t h e I n d w e l l i n g , S t a b i l i z ­ building in Harley Street, there dwelt i n g C h r i s t a bishop’s widow. Rodney got to know 1. Christ takes up His abode in the her, to like her, and, at last, to con­ heart by faith. fide in her. One afternoon they were a. It is a glorious time when the discussing the novel that all London Saviour, the King of Glory, comes in. was reading, The Great Divine. It b. But the rendering here gives the was from his own pen, but he did force of the aorist tense, “ that Christ not tell her so. Mrs. Bellamy—the may take up His lasting abode.” widow— confessed that, in spite of its c. Implies that with some He has brilliance, she did not like it. It be­ not yet taken up His permanent trayed bitterness, a loss of ideals, a abode. disbelief in love; it was not uplifting. “ It is life,” Rodney replied. “ Life (1) Opposed to taking up this tends to make a man lose faith in lasting abode is a transient reception love.” of the Holy Spirit, as in Gal. 3:3, “Having begun in the Spirit, are ye But Mrs. Bellamy would not hear now made perfect by the flesh?” of it. Christians of Galatian type turn to “May I tell you,” she asked, “ the worldly and fleshly things. Bishop’s way of meeting all diffi­ Should answer as did Ignatius culties, sorrows, and perplexities?” when, on his trial, he was asked by “Do tell me,” said Rodney.

January-February, 1953 53 “He met them with three little III. The Grant of the Revelation words, each of one syllable. Yet that of Love in Four Dimensions sentence holds the truth of greatest 1. There is a heart faculty so that import to our poor world; and its right the believer may know the love of understanding readjusts our entire Christ which passeth knowledge. outlook upon life, and should affect all our dealings with our fellow men: a. It is a revelation of God to those GOD IS LOVE. In our first home—a who are prepared for it. There are country parish in Surrey—three pre­ certain corresponding qualities with­ cious children were born to us— in. They are sensitive to the Divine Griselda, Irene, and little Launcelot. Presence as the thermometer is to Scarlet fever and diphtheria broke heat and the barometer is to the pres­ out in the village, a terrible epidemic, sure of the atmosphere, as the tele­ causing grief and anxiety in many vision set is to the currents that come homes. We were almost worn out through the channel. with helping our poor people—nurs­ (1) Henry Ward Beecher: I sat ing, consoling, encouraging. Then, last summer sometimes for hours in just as the epidemic appeared to be the dreamy air of the mountains, and abating, it reached our own home. saw, over against the Twin Mountain Our darlings were stricken suddenly. House, the American aspen, of which Mr. Steele, we lost all three in a fort­ the forests there are full. I saw all night! My little Lancy was the last the coqueteries and blinkings of that to go. When he died in my arms I wonderful little tree—the witch, the felt I could bear no more. fairy-tree, of the forest. As I sat there, “My husband led me out into the when there was not a cloud moving, garden. It was a soft, sweet, summer when there was not a ripple on the night. He took me in his arms and glassy surface of the river, when there stood long in silence, looking up to was not a grain of dust lifted, when the quiet stars, while I sobbed upon there everything was still— dead still his breast. At last he said, ‘My wife, —right over against me that aspen there is one rope to which we must tree; and there was one little leaf cling steadfastly, in order to keep our quivering and dancing on it. It was so heads above water amid these over­ nicely poised on its long, slender stem whelming waves of sorrow. It has that it knew when the air moved. three golden strands. It will not fail Though I did not know it, though the us: GOD IS LOVE.’ dust did not know it, and though the “The nursery was empty. There clouds did not know it, that leaf knew was no more patter of little feet; no it; and it quivered and danced, as children’s merry voices shouted about much as to say: “O Wind! you can’t the house. The three little graves in fool me.” It detected the motion of the churchyard bore the names the air when nothing else could. Now, Griselda, Irene, and Launcelot; and on it only requires sensibility in us to each we put the text, spelt out by the detect physical qualities, if we have initials of our darlings’ names: GOD the corresponding qualities; or social IS LOVE. And in our own heart-life elements, if we have the correspond­ we experienced the great calm and ing elements; or moral attributes, if peace of a faith which had come we have the corresponding attributes. through the deepest depths of sorrow. We detect all qualities by the sensi­ We were sustained by the certainty bility in us of corresponding qualities of the love of God.” which reveal them to us. And he who

54 The Preacher's Magazine has largely the divine element will “ God’s essence is His own act.” God be able to recognize the divine exist­ is eternally love. ence. (1) He loved us with an everlast­ 2. I find myself thus introduced ing love. Back before the foundation into a great hall, a glorious amphi­ of the world. His love never knows theater, a temple of immeasurable any change. It is as George Matheson dimensions, thronged and crowded wrote: with all the saints, all the holy ones, 0 Love that wilt not let me go, angels and men, into whose society I I rest m y weary sold in Thee; am strangely and of grace admitted. 1 give Thee back the life I owe, In company with them, and in full That in Thine ocean depths its flow sympathy with them, I look behind, May richer, fuller be. before, below, and above; and see one God’s love reaches in unfolding beau­ boundless room and home for all the ty through life that shall endless be. saved. I comprehend, or apprehend, It is the eternal length of the love of its length and breadth and depth and God. height. c. God’s love infinitely measures a. Dr. Daniel Steele says: “When in another direction. Its depth reach­ Paul prays that the believers in es to the lowest fallen of the sons of Ephesians may be fully able to appre­ Adam, and the deepest depravity of hend (r.v.) with all saints, he hints the human heart. In love Christ is at the idea of equal spiritual privilege the Hound of Heaven. Francis Thomp­ of all, ascribing to the humblest Chris­ son was hounded down into the abyss, tian the highest and most previous the bank of the Thames, and he wrote: knowledge. Thus men at the top of their transfigured natures stand on Now of the long pursuit the level of the democracy of saint- Comes on at hand the brute ship.” That voice is round me like a bursting sea: 2. Granted the apprehension of its “Lo, all things fly thee, for thou fliest breadth. me. a. Its breadth is a girdle that en­ Alack, thou knowest not compasses the globe. Christ is the How little worthy of any love thou Race Man and in love gave himself art! for the whole world. Whom wilt thou find to love ignoble There’s a wideness in God’s m ercy thee Like the wideness of the sea; Save me, save only me? There’s a kindness in His justice All which I took from thee I did but Which is more than liberty. take, Breadth of love divine, reaching from Not for thy harms, shore to shore and from clime to But just that thou mightest seek it in clime, from mountain to plain, flow­ m y arms.” ing from the great heart of God— it “Ah, fondest, blindest, weakest, girdles the globe. I am he whom thou seekest! b. Think now of the length of di­ Thou drawest love from thee, who vine love. It reaches from the eternal drawest me.” purpose of the mission of Christ to His love and grace reach deeper than the eternity of blessedness, which is the stains have gone. The depth of spent in the ineffable glories. God the love of God. eternally makes himself what He is. (Continued on page 63)

January-February, 1953 55 The Bible and the Church of the Nazarene

By Marvin J. Taylor

T t i s common knowledge that the people as they entered college, young Church of the Nazarene claims to people who had been in the church be a Bible-based denomination. The for at least one year. doctrines of the church are pro­ A few of the questions included and claimed because we believe that they the results will illustrate this lack of clearly represent the teaching of knowledge. They are not difficult Scripture. We believe that the Bible questions. In fact, they were chosen is the Word of God, that it has G od’s precisely because they were simple. authority, something which men can­ The questions seemed to represent not take lightly or loosely. We believe the obvious knowledge about the that God has made known His will, Bible that a regular churchgoer might His truth, and knowledge about him­ have. Some examples follow. One self. The record of this revelation is question asked the student to tell our Bible. Since this is true, it can where he would look to find the story hardly be denied that in the Bible we of Jesus’ life. Fifteen per cent had have the greatest single bulwark for absolutely no idea where to turn in our faith, the authority to which we the Bible (a few thought that it appeal when questions of faith and might be in Genesis!). Twenty-five doctrine are raised. per cent of all the students had no idea who spoke the famous words, “It If the foregoing is true, then it must is more blessed to give than to re­ logically follow that the Bible should ceive.” Only 75 per cent of the stu­ be a primary object of our interest. dents were able to identify the one We say that it contains God’s truth who delivered the Sermon on the and His will. If we would know His Mount. Ten per cent of the group truth and will, we must know the thought it was M oses, placing it in Bible. It is His final revelation to us. the wrong Testament! Only 35 per For some time this writer (a col­ cent were able to name the first lege instructor of English Bible) has Hebrew king, although David, Abra­ been concerned with the apparent ham, Moses, and even Nebuchadnez­ lack of knowledge about the Bible zar were among the many names giv­ that Nazarene young people reveal. en. One question asked the students This has been re-emphasized each to name any one of the sixteen Old year as entering classes have been ex­ Testament books of prophecy. amined. In an effort to measure this Twenty-one per cent of the entire deficiency a brief questionnaire was group could not list a single one, al­ arranged and administered to the in­ though some of them did venture to coming students of the freshman class. list Peter and Paul among the proph­ Before tabulating the results, all ques­ ets of the Old Testament! The famous tionnaires from non-Nazarenes or Messianic words of Isaiah, “ He is de­ Nazarenes of less than one year of spised and rejected of men; a man of membership were eliminated. Thus, sorrows . . .” were also a mystery. the results show the status of Biblical Asked to name the book where these knowledge of a large group of young were found, only 31 per cent could

^Kankakee, III. respond accurately. Many of these

56 The Preacher's Magazine later said that they were able to recog­ nated as the greatest by Jesus, and nize it from Handel’s famous oratorio once again just the thought, not a rather than as a Bible passage. The direct quotation, was asked. Finally, improper names included such books 18 per cent could not even identify as Hebrews, Matthew, John, Revela­ these words: “ Our Father which art tion, Luke, and Corinthians, among in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” others. Biblical geography was also The words were printed in the ques­ a puzzle. The phrase “ from Dan to tionnaire. The students were asked to Beer-sheba” was meaningless to 50 name the person who first uttered per cent, who offered no answer what­ them. soever. Another 20 per cent ventured From these results it should be evi­ an answer which was wrong. Only dent that our young people are not 30 per cent were able to suggest that learning the Bible as they mature in it was a measurement of distance, the church. It is probable that this and they weren’t asked to identify group of students examined does not what was being measured. Only 25 represent the average person in that per cent had any idea where the age group. They were college stu­ famous “love” chapter of the Bible dents and undoubtedly above the could be found; and another 25 per average in ability. These statistics cent were able to locate the “faith” would be even more damaging if the chapter. questionnaire had been given to ALL Certainly the above results are young people of this age. startling. But there were also some If this is the status of Bible knowl­ more important questions which were edge among the “cream of the crop” even more startling. Remember, these of young Nazarenes, I believe that it students were Nazarenes, members of has serious implications for the future a holiness church, and they had been of the church. We believe that we members for at least one year. Yet, have a message which the people of only 57 per cent knew where in the the would need. We have found that Bible to find, the account of Pentecost! message in the pages of God’s Word. Many of those who tried to answer We possess it today because we read placed it in the Old Testament prior and studied the Book. Our evange­ to the coming of Jesus! This would listic fervor as a church has been be much less significant from a church motivated by the Great Commission which knows nothing of the doctrine printed among the pages of that Bible. of sanctification. But for a church Is it not logical to think that we must which believes that this is a cardinal keep our firsthand acquaintance with tenet of Christianity, it is almost be­ the Bible, lest this fervor be dimmed yond imagination. Exactly 50 per cent or even lost from our midst? Is it were able to locate the Ten Com­ not true that we believe and teach mandments in either Exodus or Deu­ the doctrine of holiness precisely be­ teronomy. The other 50 per cent were cause we have found it in the Book? almost unanimous in finding these Thus, it must follow that we need to commands in the New Testament. continue to study the Bible and know Only 65 per cent could state the its contents, or we will be in danger thought of any one of the Beatitudes. of losing the very message which It was not necessary to quote correct­ accounts for our existence. What is ly; a statement of thought alone was the answer? Briefly and simply, the required. Only 44 per cent had any Church of the Nazarene must KNOW idea which commandment was desig­ and STUDY the Bible.

January-February, 1953 57 Now it is obvious that this is easier achieve fully the function of teaching to say or write than it is to do. Know the Scripture from the pulpit. the Bible. How can we accomplish Further, preaching the Bible should this worth-while goal? I believe that not be confused with doctrinal preach­ there are at least three important ing. Although they may be the same, steps which we can take in this di­ this is not necessarily true. It is pos­ rection. sible to be doctrinally sound in ser­ First, we must preach the Bible. mon without mentioning the Bible, These words should not be construed and thus one would teach it only in­ as an indictment of the topical ser­ directly, if at all. When preaching the mon. It certainly has its place in the great doctrines of the faith, teach the preaching ministry. However, the Bible at the same time by the exegeti­ preacher has an obligation to teach cal approach in demonstrating their the Bible from his pulpit. This is origin in God’s Word. done most effectively in the textual A second step in achieving knowl­ or exegetical sermon. There is much edge of the Bible is to teach the Bible. preaching done today in the name of We often refer to our church schools Biblical exegesis that is falsely la­ as the teaching agency of the church. beled. Simply using a text as a pref­ But one does not teach without some­ ace to the sermon is not necessarily thing to teach. The study of educa­ exegetical preaching. This can come tional psychology has placed stress in only after a careful and extensive recent years upon the pupils who are study of the Bible passage to be used. taught and methods used in instruct­ The content of the sermon should ing them. While this is essential, we spring from this study. It will then cannot ignore the subject which is be exegetical. The reverse of this taught. We claim that our subject is procedure is too often the case; that the Bible. Are we really teaching is, the text is chosen after the sermon the Bible in our church schools? The is outlined, because it happens to fit results of the questionnaire listed the subject. above seem to indicate a serious What is the key to exegetical weakness here. The questions were preaching? It is systematic and ex­ among the easiest which could be se­ haustive study of the Bible. This will lected. They were obvious questions involve hours of hard work through a that the Sunday schools should teach lifetime in the ministry. However, it if they are teaching anything about will be rewarding. From such study the Bible. The results speak for them­ will spring a living awareness of the selves. Our young people aren’t learn­ Bible story and its implications. Out ing the Bible in our church school. of this knowledge will proceed count­ What is the remedy? Strengthen the less ideas for the application of this teaching function of the school. insight to men’s lives and problems. We have spent millions of hours of How does one gain this insight? Prob­ time during the past quadrennium ably the best method is to set aside on reaching people for the church. an hour or so each day for the specific Visitation evangelism is almost a study of God’s Word. This is not household word in every local church. mere reading, but actual study with How much time have we spent on commentaries and other Bible aids. improving the classes to which we Such study will enable one to preach have invited these many visitors? the Bible exegetically, and thereby Unfortunately, the answer is very

58 The Preacher's Magazine little time. We have assumed too Finally, the most obvious but least often that our sole responsibility was understood method of knowing the to bring in the stranger. We have Bible is to read the Bible. A young given too little attention to what hap­ college student told me several weeks pens in the classroom after he gets ago that he seldom read the Bible. there. This is demonstrated by the The distressing thing about the state­ questionnaire above. We must ment is the fact that a ministerial strengthen the teaching function of student made it. He wouldn’t think the church school. of missing a church preaching service, This will obviously require better- prayer meeting, or Sunday school. trained teachers. Few teachers in the Yet, he doesn’t find it necessary to Church of the Nazarene will have read the Bible. This young man was opportunity to study the Bible in col­ raised in the Church of the Nazarene, leges or Bible schools. However, an organization founded upon the every teacher can have the oppor­ Bible and its teaching. Somehow that tunity to study it in the local church. experience of twenty years has failed The Christian Service Training pro­ to impress upon him the necessity of gram is always ready to assist. But the Scripture for the balanced Chris­ the initiative must come from the tian life. No minister or Sunday- local church, and this means the pas­ school teacher has opened its pages tor usually. He is the key man in and brought its message to life for the training of his teachers. By us­ him. It is obvious that this young ing this program regularly teachers man is the exception. And yet, the can learn the Bible together, and then questionnaire proves that there is a be competent to teach it to their deficiency here. Young people are classes. not learning the Bible through the church schools or their private study. Strengthening the teaching func­ tion will also involve a change of One pastor recently reported how strategy in selecting teachers. Too he encourages the private reading of often the consideration is simply, Scripture among his members. He “ Whom can we get to teach this selects a Bible “book of the month.” class?” The question should be more A poster in the church entrance an­ properly phrased, “Who is best quali­ nounces the selection. He names it fied to tcach this class?” Thus, a and emphasizes its importance from primary qualification in teacher se­ the pulpit in advance, asking the con­ lection must be preparation for the gregation to read with him during office, and this in terms of knowledge the month. For further inspiration to of the Bible. No public school would read privately, all of his sermons and allow a teacher who had never read prayer meeting talks are taken from history to instruct its pupils in history. texts found in this book. He is care­ For the same reason the person who ful to make these sermons exegetical has read little or no part of the Bible at least half of the time. Thus, church is poorly qualified to serve as a teach­ members are urged to read in their er. The first reaction to this will be homes the passages of the Bible which to claim that there are no such people will be used homiletically week by available. It is precisely here that week. The method has proved so the Christian Service Training pro­ successful that a Bible study club gram centers. If they aren’t avail­ composed of laymen in the church able, we must train them. (Continued on page 62)

January-February, 1953 Your Pastor's Wife

Directions for the Care and Use of

By Margaret Honston Hess

(Reprinted by permission from minister has a wife, and practically “Presbyterian Life,” Witherspoon every church has a minister. Building, Philadelphia 1, Pennsylvan­ But a minister’s wife usually isn’t ia.) so fortunate as to come to your church tagged with a booklet of instructions A l m o s t any everyday product that as to how she works best and what you buy has some instructions on there is no use expecting her to be the package as to how it will work able to do. Instead, usually she comes most effectively. along with the minister as a kind of You can pick up a can of soup and surprise package, many times without it says, “Add an equal quantity of even any tag labeling her as to what water; allow to simmer a few minutes variety of human being she is. to develop the full flavor.” Therefore When a church is in need of a min­ you don’t try to spoon it out of the ister, it may hunt for months to find can directly into your mouth in large, exactly the right minister for a par­ heavy doses. ticular situation. Most people are at A box of soap powder says, “Excel­ least dimly aware that no minister lent for all fine things.” You don’t possesses 100 per cent of all gifts. waste your time and your nervous Committee members seeking a min­ energy trying to make it wash walls. ister usually are aware of whether If you manage to attain to an auto­ they want primarily a man who excels matic clothes drier, you soon learn, in the pulpit, or a man who will de­ either by the book of instructions or vote himself primarily to parish visit­ the hard way, that it can’t be used for ing, or a man who is an organizer, or drying woolens, wonderful as it is for a man who can build a new church everything else. They shrivel up to for them. They can be pretty sure nothing. they won’t get everything, and if they If an automatic electric washing are sensible they thank God if they machine is delivered to your house, manage to fall in love with a man who the first thing you do is get hold embodies the qualities their situation of the book of instructions and sit needs most. down with it for an hour or two to However, in this courtship period figure out what the machine will do, between church and minister, the and what there is no use trying to committee worries little about the make it do. You can’t make it hurry, minister’s wife. They can’t. It’s hard for example. If you insist on standing enough to fit a minister to a church. over it, waiting until it gets through, Unless she is specifically invited, she you’ll never like an electric washer. doesn’t appear on the scene at all— If you can learn to go away and let ahead of time. She prefers not to it alone to do its job in its own way, complicate the situation. And if she you’ll love it. does appear, it is usually considered Now a minister’s wife is an every­ that she is satisfactory if she can day commodity. Practically every smile graciously.

60 The Preacher's M agazine But once her husband has accepted a sense of inadequacy and just a bit the call, and the family has moved in, of the fine, fresh buoyancy of spirit it is automatically taken for granted that endears her to children and that she will fit into a preconceived young people will be forever gone.” pattern. “This one has vast energy and ef­ If the former minister’s wife was fectiveness in particularly difficult head of the Primary Department, or cleaning tasks. She can break up conducted the junior choir, or held completely an old, decaying organiza­ open house twenty-four hours a day tion that has existed beyond its use­ seven days a week, or taught the fulness, and in its place she can create women’s Bible class, or called inde- something strong and effective. Be fatigably on the sick and the lonely, careful not to use for washing fine these facts are pointed out to her things gently.” without delay. The same openings “This one is wonderful at calling on are offered to her regardless of her the sick. She gives herself indefati- gifts or lack of them, number of chil­ gably to anyone in trouble. Don’t crit­ dren, state of health, or amount of icize her lack of style in clothes, or energy needed as a shock absorber the way she keeps her house. She for her particular kind of husband. can’t get that suffering friend off her At this point she feels wretched as mind long enough to look after her­ she realizes she can’t be what the self.” former minister’s wife was, and the “ This one is charming as a hostess. former minister’s wife probably al­ She loves to entertain. She loves to ready feels wretched in her new place, use endless artistry in fixing clever feeling she can’t fit into the pattern little things in decorations and re­ woven by her predecessor. freshments that give people a glow of Unfortunately there aren’t any warmth and welcome when they come written instructions that come along to her home. Avoid asking her to with a minister’s wife: teach a Bible class or play the piano. “ This one is excellent at Bible She can’t.” teaching. She thrives readily on long In the first letter that Paul wrote hours of study and meditation and to the people of the church at Corinth, will come up at regular intervals with he says, “ Now about spiritual gifts, things people want to hear. She will brethren, I would not have you igno­ quickly fold up sick in bed if subject­ rant.” (And he always says, “I would ed to a twenty-four-hour-a-day open not have you ignorant,” when he house.” wants to emphasize a point particu­ larly.) “This one is fine for children’s and young people’s work. She is misera­ “Now there are various kinds of ble if they don’t throng into her house gifts, but there is the same Spirit; and discuss their problems at all various kinds of official service, and hours of the day or night. Do not ask yet the same Lord; various kinds of her to give a program at the women’s effects, and yet the same God who society on the conflicts of the church produces all the effects in each person. in Latin America. She will weep and But to each a manifestation of the wring her hands and ask her husband Spirit has been granted for the com­ to give it to her in so many words. mon good. To one the word of wisdom Afterwards she will be shattered with has been granted through the Spirit;

Iccnuary-February, 1953 61 to another—” And Paul goes on to half-full cup trying desperately to enumerate the different gifts. splash over and not quite succeeding. Now certainly a minister’s wife Just that one look at fifty ministers’ is called upon to have her heart in wives all together convinced me that her husband’s work. Unless a wife I would thenceforward forget about is fully consecrated to the Lord, the pattern the various members of and fully convinced of the worth­ the congregation had for me. I de­ whileness of the work her husband is termined to seek the pattern that doing, he cannot possibly be as effec­ God had for me. I would be myself tive a servant of the Lord as he might and seek to do a real job for the Lord, be. instead of forever exhausting myself just moving around trying to fill a But she is answerable to God alone position. as to just how she expresses that con­ secration. Like anyone else, she is God has honored that decision; I responsible only for the strength and have peace of mind as to the course talents God has given her, and is not I have taken. I felt that my place answerable for strength and talents was women’s work and particularly He has given to someone else. Bible teaching; I have specialized in that with benefit to myself and, I When I had been a minister’s wife think, others. When the whispers of only two years I attended a tea for criticism of what I am not and what ministers’ wives. I was intrigued to I do not do get to me, I “ take them to see what ministers’ wives, all in a the Lord and leave them there.” bunch, looked like. There they were, fifty or so of them. About five of them A pattern laid out for us by the looked free in spirit, relaxed, at liber­ Divine Hand always fits perfectly, ty to be themselves. The rest looked whether we are ministers’ wives or drained out, strained, tense, as if they not. In one laid out for us by human were trying for all they were worth hands we’ll feel cramped, confined, to drive themselves into a pattern and like miserable failures. laid out for them by human hands, a pattern into which they could not The Bible and the possibly fit. Church of the Nazarene I realized then that that was what (Continued from page 59) I had been doing. I was straining to “grace the position.” I was driving has been formed. They meet one eve­ myself to attend all the things I was ning weekly to study and discuss the supposed to attend, to take an interest selected book for that month. The in all the things I was supposed to club is growing and it is expected that take an interest in, to serve on all it will have to be divided because of the committees I was supposed to its unwieldy size. serve on, entertain all the groups I Here is a church which is reading was supposed to entertain. the Bible. Why? The answer is ob­ I felt like an automaton, my own vious. The minister uses the Bible in soul empty and vacant. I couldn’t his preaching in such a manner that move that fast and still feel nourished the congregation has been inspired to in my own mind and spirit. Though read it. His technique is not a new I taught a class, I felt unable to be one, but it is very successful. Never still long enough to be a full cup run­ before have the people of this church ning over, but felt rather like just a (Continuedon page 66)

62 The Preacher's Magazine Let There Be Light

By Esther Miller Payler

R ecently I ovei'heard a man giving by the lights on it. They have men­ directions on how to get to a cer­ tioned it, so we know it to be a fact. tain street: “Turn at the corner A man who had gone on a cross­ where the church stands that’s al­ country auto trip was the first to ways got a light on it.” I knew he suggest lighting our church. He said meant our church, which for the past he was impressed when he rode into year has three lights shining on it strange towns at night to find the from dark until midnight, which light churches dark, and the saloons, up the front and sides. The bulletin shows, and stores brightly lighted. board with its announcements and a Why should the house of the “Light thought-provoking quotation are also of the W orld” be dark, when the in the bright light, so that “ he who houses of the prince of darkness are runs may read.” flooded with light? Newcomers in the neighborhood Why not make arrangements so have come to our church because it your church building will “brighten has been brought to their attention the corner” where it is?

Kingdoms Hewn Out Three Sermcnic Studies (Continued from, page 28) (Continued from page 55) are bent upon sin. We shall have to d. Consider also that love’s height go into small towns, where the people reaches to the infinite dignities of the are fixed in their manner of living throne of Christ. From the foul and do not want new and deeper re­ abysses of evil there is sublimation to ligious experience. We shall even love’s height. As the mighty magnet have to go into rural areas, where we in its attractive power lifts to its own cannot contact so many people but height everything of affinity, so does where we shall implant the fullness the love of Christ. It elevates to high­ of the gospel into every phase of per­ est character here. I Corinthians 13. sonal, family, and community life. Heights to which we are exalted Fellow elders, we must preach hereafter. To His throne. With Him scriptural holiness, whereby Christ’s where He is. “Behold what manner reign in the hearts of men will come of love, etc.” to be complete, and we must ever IV. The Father’s Favor of His establish this gospel in new areas so F u l l n e s s that Christ’s complete reign will be increasingly extended to all men. 1. Grant different capacities. Vari­ And as we go into those mountains, ous size vessels dipped under the steep and rocky though they be, there surface of the ocean all are full ac­ to hew out kingdoms for our Lord, cording to capacity. we can know that He will go before 2. The one with the smaller capaci­ us to lead us, walk beside us to com­ ty says to the one with the larger ca­ panion us, and dwell within us to pacity, “Truly, I could hold but a fire us and empower us. (Conthiued on page 66)

Januctry-February, 1953 63 Musings of a Minister's Wife

By Mrs. W. M. Franklin

T J e r h a p s there may be some other which could help to build God’s king­ ministers’ wives whose husbands dom if those personalities were sanc­ have the job of being the church tified; some have tendencies toward janitor. Generally it’s a thankless job mischief and trouble that need to be without pay, but it’s a job that some­ corrected. Yes, those children needed one has to do. Now and then my my prayers. husband has had to be away at the Some of those teachers are women time when the church was to have whose husbands refuse to help them been cleaned, so it was my job to in their work for the Lord. Some have wield the broom and duster. problems and burdens in their homes One hot Saturday, not so long ago, that are so heavy to bear that they I was taking care of that job and could not go on if it were not for the thought it was a wonderful time to grace God gives to them each day. pray. I knelt at that altar where bat­ Some of the men teachers have known tles have been fought and victories the burden of sickness in their homes have been won and had a precious for weeks, have worked hard at jobs season of prayer. Then while I swept during the day or on some midnight the main auditorium I prayed for a shift, then have gone home to work mighty, old-time, Holy Ghost revival hard there and try to study Sunday- to come to our people. I prayed for school lessons in between other things, the Lord to sweep away the differ­ so they will be ready to teach on ences that hurt, the ill feelings that Sunday morning. Yes, those teachers creep in at times, and the indifference need my prayers. of some. I prayed that the sweeping The Sunday-school superintendent (cleaning) power of the Spirit would has the extra burden of the Interme­ come to sanctify the hearts of the diate boys to teach, so he needs my believers. As I dusted I asked the prayers. The treasurer has the bur­ Lord to dust the gatherings of den of seeing that all the supplies are worldly thoughts and ambitions, paid for as they are ordered, and in habits and carelessness away from our church to make a payment of the hearts of those who could be such $38.00 every month on the parsonage. a blessing to others if they were up- He needs my prayers. The secretary, to-date in their experiences. usher, librarian, and pastor (my hus­ In the basement I swept each class­ band) need my prayers. And as the room. I thought of those live-wire minister’s wife I feel it my privilege Junior boys while in their room and to pray for these who need help. And prayed for them and their teacher; again as I muse, I’m glad I’m a min­ also for the Primary boys, the Junior ister’s wife. It’s my way of helping and Primary girls, the Intermediate to build the kingdom of God, even girls and boys, the Primary and Be­ while I sweep and dust the church. ginner classes, and the young people’s :fj class, and their teachers. Some of I wonder if I’ll make hot chocolate those children have parents who for the P.T.A. this year. At the open never say a prayer for their children; house the P.T.A. had last year I was some have marvelous personalities asked to make the hot chocolate be­

64 The Preacher's Magazine cause someone found out that I like that no single remark be misunder­ that job. It was a big job that I tack­ stood for something wrong! We, who led that night. I started out with six make up ministers’ families, are not gallons but saw that would not be perfect; but we should remember that enough, so found another huge school inconsistencies in ministers’ families cafeteria kettle and made over five are hard to “live down.” gallons more, and then the men and Since becoming the mother of par­ women who were working in the sonage children, though, I have often kitchen had to hurry to get their wondered how to keep the children chocolate before it was all gone. I’m from being hurt or harmed by the in­ still remembered as the lady who consistencies of the people. We do not made the chocolate, but the contacts discuss before them the things we see made were good for me. Oh, yes, or hear; many times we have had they know that I’m a minister’s wife; special prayer together about diffi­ they know the name and location of culties when the children were away our church, and a few of those people because we would not bring them in have slipped in for our revival serv­ to the family attention. We do not ices and special meetings we have had. need to discuss these things, for the Some have remembered with cards children see and hear as well as I and flowers the boy who lives at this did when in childhood. Am I wrong parsonage who has rheumatic fever. if I ask people to be quiet when the I am not sorry I made chocolate for children are with us in making calls? the P.T.A. last year. If I’m asked If I give people a sign or a whisper to again I’ll be glad for the job, for I please change the conversation when like to make outside contacts for our some other person is the subject of church. It’s just another way to be their grievance, am I hurting the call? a good minister’s wife and I pray that some of these may meet the Christ I Perhaps you will say, “Do not take love and serve because I have been the children when you make calls.” willing to take a job others did not That will work in some localities, yet care about. in some places people would say plenty about the preacher letting his * * * * children run the streets. Someone may say, “Let the pastor I did not know when I was growing make the calls alone.” But plenty of up that a parsonage would be my ministers and their wives would say, home. I was not brought up in a “No,” to that proposition, for they parsonage; I did not hear the preach­ know many times such a procedure is er’s family, life, or sermons discussed not desirable. at the Sunday dinner table. I did Some may suggest that we choose hear my parents’ prayers many times a calling time when the children are for their pastors. Inconsistencies were in school. However, this plan does not “hashed over” before the children not always work, either, for people of our home; they did not need to be, living in country communities do not for we saw them anyway. Oh, how feel the pastor has called unless he careful the minister and his family comes for a meal. Calling on a school should be! How certain they should day would necessitate a lunch at be that the incurring of debts is con­ school for the children of the parson­ sidered a great fault! How careful age, and be sure that some of the they should be in their conversations, members’ children are there too.

January-February, 1953 65 Don’t think that the inconsistencies that His loving heart longs for every­ of other folk have escaped their at­ one to be as near like Him as the tention. So the parsonage children Holy Ghost can make him; and we’ll may hear plenty during the noon hour keep loving them and showing Christ at school. so carefully in our own lives that How do we keep these things from they will not “miss the mark” for affecting our boys and girls? We can­ themselves. not keep them in a glass cage; they And while we are wetting the pil­ must face the battles of life one of low with our ears for our children, these days; they must make their de­ Sister Smith and Brother Brown may cisions; they must plan their lives as be weeping their hearts out in prayer God helps them to know His will. as they fast for a boy or girl of their But how tragic, the children who own who has missed the way because have seen inconsistencies and been in­ of inconsistencies in some minister’s fluenced in the wrong way! How wet family. the pillow of many a parent who hears Oh, how important it is for each his child say, “ I can’t have much faith one to live the holy life we want in God when people like that are others to think we live according to church leaders”! What can we do? our profession! Just keep on praying that God will Just musing about how different overrule; that He will show our boys some lives would be if all would live and girls that only God is perfect and entirely for Jesus!

Three Sermonic Studies The Bible and the (Continued from page 63) Church of the Nazarene small measure of your fullness, but I (Continued from page 62) have this to satisfy me, that when I been reading the Bible so much. They am full I have all I want; and you are finding the great truths, the in­ yourself when full can hold no more.” spiration, and God’s will in its pages 3. Capacity may be infinitely en­ as millions have found for centuries. larged. Fullness of joy and fullness Once again, W hy? It is because their of glory may ever be ours. pastor used the preaching function

C o n c l u s i o n : of the ministry as an instrument to inspire such reading. 1. When we reach the point in this prayer, “that ye might be filled with The Bible holds the key to the fu­ all the fulness of God,” we must add ture success of the Church of the the conclusion, “Now unto him that Nazarene within its pages. The doc­ is able to do exceeding abundantly, trine of holiness is there proclaimed etc.” in clarity and simplicity. If we lose the Bible as a result of neglect, we The Core of Positive Preaching lose our mission as a denomination. As ministers let’s read and study the (Continued from page 12) Bible ourselves, let’s train our teach­ conviction and all trumping of tri­ ers to teach the Bible and only the umph. For the Word is really all Bible, and through our preaching let’s that we can rightfully claim and pro­ inspire our congregations to read its claim in the work of the Christian pages daily for the strength it pro­ ministry! vides in the Christian life.

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