c\er before has there been an inspirational book N (mite like this one- 110 cr before a devotional book so alive with color and illustration, yet so wonderfully practical, uplifting, and appealing to young and old. Renowned author and master storyteller C. L. Paddock has illustrated Bible texts with stories, each complete in itself.

By C. L. Paddock

This elegant volume is richly illustrated with over 40 pages of full-color pictures and many additional black- and-white illustrations. Family devotions become a real pleasure when reading this book. Remember—the family that prays together stays together.

IM11

Southern Publishing Association P.O. Box 59 MINUTES ABOUT I Nashville, Tennessee 37202 Life's Values Please supply more information about "God's Minutes." The Way to Happiness Our Words Name Straight Thinking Address I Our Choices Special Days in the Year Zip City State plus many other sections NO OBLIGATION, OF COURSE. J

OIN=0. s00# These Times This time .... SEPTEMBER 1 1968 VOLUME 77 No. 9 HAT'S behind rebellion in today's youth? Ever wonder how Wtoday's parents can prevent their children from becoming de- A RELIGIOUS MAGAZINE dedicated to the linquents? To get some Christian answers, turn the page to B. B. strengthening of the mental, physical, and Beach's "Morality in a Babylonian Society." spiritual life of the individual reader. Bas- Dr. Beach, a Seventh-day Adventist administrator in Northern ing its recommendations on the living truths of the entire Bible, THESE TIMES promotes Europe, received his doctorate at the Sorbonne in Paris. His latest evangelical Christianity, the care of the book is Vatican II—Bridging the Abyss. needy at home and abroad, religious lib- erty, the systematic study of God's Word, Tiny Vietnam has captured the headlines during the past sev- the Bible, the exaltation of Jesus Christ, and the news of His literal soon coming. eral years. Have we forgotten the 520 million Indians and their seemingly endless problems of overpopulation and underproduction

Editor of food? John M. Fowler, an assistant editor at the Oriental Watch- KENNETH J. HOLLAND man Publishing House in Poona, India, brings us up to date in his

Assistant Editor "India: Any Hope?" on page 8. ROBERT W. NIXON

General Manager The executive director of Americans United for Separation of IRVIN H. IHRIG Church and State, Glenn L. Archer, this month presents "The Art Director Gathering Storm," which tells his impressions of the church-state SHIRLEY C. ELDRIDGE controversy now raging in state legislatures and in Washington over Art Editor government financial aid to church-sponsored institutions. CHARLES COOK Warns Archer: "It will be a tragic day when the churches are Circulation Manager caught up in the storm of church-state controversy and their spiri- R. J. CHRISTIAN tual ministries blown away by the winds of expediency. That is Associate Circulation Manager doomsday for the churches." Beginning on page 12, read how the W. L. CROFTON "battle" is going. Director of Subscription Fulfillment LARRY R. BURTNETT Ever get a headache from listening to the banging of "pop" music issuing from your radio? You would get more than a head- Contributing Editors: W. R. Beach, A. A. Esteb, R. E. Finney, Jr., J. DeWitt Fox, Ro- ache if you could understand the words of some of those songs. land Hegstad, Frank Holbrook, Siegfried H. Charles W. Keysor, in a "Reader's Choice" article on page 22, Horn, Gordon Hyde, Mary H. Moore, explores the startling situation and poses a thought-provoking C. A. Oliphant, Robert H. Pierson, Gerald question in "What Is 'Pop' Music Really Saying?" Wheeler.

Address all correspondence to Box 59, Ever get the hopeless feeling your prayers go no higher than Nashville, Tennessee 37202 the ceiling? For a genuine inspiration, don't miss Ellen G. White's "Why God Listens to Your Prayers" on page 24. A

ARTICLES Morality in a Babylonian Society B. B. Beach 4

Printed in the United States of America India: Any Hope? John M. Fowler 8 Copyright, 1968 The Gathering Storm Glenn L. Archer 12 Southern Publishing Association Honestly, Now! Maxine Hancock 16 Established in 1891. Published monthly (except The Final Battle: Armageddon! Siegfried J. Schwantes 17 September and November, when semimonthly) by the Southern Publishing Association of What Is "Pop" Music Really Saying? Charles W. Keysor 22 Seventh-day Adventists, 2119 Twenty-fourth Why God Listens to Your Prayers Ellen G. White 24 Avenue, North, Nashville, Tennessee 37202. Second-class postage paid at Nashville, Tennes- The Seventh-day Adventists of Israel 28 see. Rates: 50 cents a copy; one year, $5.50; two years, $10.75; three years, $15.75, in the United States; slightly higher in Canada. Rates higher for other countries. Quantity prices REGULAR FEATURES upon request. Change of address: Please give This Time 3 Events of These Times 32 both the old and the new addresses. Expira- tion: Unless renewed in advance, magazine Focusing 7 Editorial 34 stops at the expiration date which is shown on the wrapper. Your Questions, Please! 21 "If We Will But Listen" 35

Cover: Painting by Ralph McDonald

SEPTEMBER 1, 1968 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

C c C Morality cc in a c, 6 Babylonian C (_2 t is0 ...I Society \ k..) V V V LJ J J

BY B. B. BEACH J .../s1 v LA sj .1J uJ Our western industrial society has been called a "Babylonian Society"— rich in goods, but poor in good. Personal morality appears to be ebbing low. In the past the Christian churches exercised considerable moral restraint. Our forefathers lived by stricter codes than we. They had much clearer principles and rules to live by. Freedom soon found its limits in the framework of what was permitted. I would not want to so romanticize or idealize the past as to suggest that they were always faithful, virtuous, temperate, kind, and righteous. Not all behavioral glitter is moral gold. However, church leaders did have a well-developed sense of sin. They often fell short of their ideals, but Ci6 they had ideals. That generation was convinced that man could know what was right and what was wrong. The great German poet Goethe lets one of his characters, Iphigenia, say that the voice of truth is heard by "every man, born under every sky, whose spring of life flows pure and unhindered through his bosom." In contrast, modern churchmen are rather vague about their moral standards. Society today gives every

4 A pernicious "anything goes" attitude is placing mankind in a terminal condition. indication of being in a moral flux, more demanding regarding the accu- of impediments that might keep us from which makes agreement on standards racy of our technical measurements and being a full success. Of course, the of conduct very hard to come by. laws of science, the opposite trend is Biblical principles have to be inter- Many young people appear to be- noticeable insofar as ethical and moral preted and applied in the light of the lieve that anything is moral if you en- values are concerned. True, what is concrete situation. "The letter killeth, joy it, if it does not do any visible permitted by law has not changed a but the spirit giveth life." However, the "harm," if almost everybody does it, great deal, but our society is becoming spirit and fundamental principles of and if the concrete situation gives it an increasingly permissive regarding sex. God's law are not to be compromised aura of legitimacy and love. A perni- Puritanism and Victorianism are "out"; or set aside as some "situationists" ap- cious, creeping, "anything goes" atti- indulgence and "playboyism" are very pear quite willing to do. tude of moral laissez-faire is placing much "in." License, at least in tradi- Paul says, "All things are your's." mankind in a terminal condition. In tional European society, was largely 1 Corinthians 3:21. "All things that speaking about this time of the end, confined to the upper classes, and pertain unto life" (2 Peter 1:3) are Jesus foretold "the spread of wicked- breaches of the Christian code were ours: art and science, natural beauties ness." (Matthew 24:12, Phillips.*) condemned (even if widely indulged and travel, research and study, work "Our culture has slipped into un- in) among the lower strata. The sound and leisure, sport and recreation, sound habits of irresponsibility and concept of freedom with responsibility friendship and love. "All are your's" egocentricity," wrote H. A. Overstreet. is being replaced by an unhealthy mood (1 Corinthians 3:22), but not without (The Mature Mind, p. 244.) Lacking favoring freedom without limit. It is a foundation, a framework; not with- guiding principles based on stable moral increasingly obvious that freewheeling out underlying principles; for Paul goes tradition, man is becoming a dimin- permissiveness has saturated the enter- on to remind us that we "are Christ's; ished creature, of the amoral, swinging- tainment and publishing spheres. and Christ is God's" (verse 23). We door mind type. The accent is not on Theologians are seeking for a new do not condemn lying, drinking, dis- moral being but on hedonistic having. morality based on relative, situational honesty, egotism because our moral The baseless emphasis is on having ethics and the absence of absolute, uni- code tells us not to lie, get drunk, cheat, more and more, by being less and less, versal rules. They try to put that which and be self-centered, but because such until you have everything without be- is good in opposition to that which is ways of acting do not rhyme with love ing anything: unthinking, unprincipled, right and talk about "the immorality to God and neighbor and do not har- want and want in a vicious circle, turn- of morality." Morality is to be based monize with the Fatherhood of God ing the treadmill of goods-getting. We on love, not law. But it is a false di- and the brotherhood of man. complain about our materialistic age, chotomy to put Christian love in oppo- One should not, however, fall into as if consumer goods were at fault. The sition to divine law. True, it is a mis- the error of thinking that love is mor- onus is on us: this is a self-indulging take to view the Bible as simply a code ally easier to deal with than law. The age of discontented wanters of things. of morality that has fallen down from opposite is true—love is more demand- The five mind-making powers—radio, heaven. The Bible does not lay down ing. Law is often negative and teaches television, press, cinema, and advertis- rules in minute detail regarding how you essentially what you must not do; ing—constantly remind us of what we we should conduct ourselves in various love is always positive and tells you do not have and almost plead with us and sundry circumstances. The Bible what you should do. Law is an external to indulge ourselves. presents the basic and all-encompassing norm; love is an inner-spring motive of I am not defending stern, puritanical, principle that we are to act in all cir- conduct. Law tells us that one tenth of rigid, self-righteous moralism. But is it cumstances as human beings created in our income belongs to God; love con- not symptomatic of today's moral elas- the image of God, as objects and sub- strains us in our relationship to God to ticism and confused sense of values that jects of love, and as faithful followers reckon with the totality of our posses- the psychiatrist, labor boss, athlete, of Jesus Christ, our Creator. sions, including ourselves. "Were the pop singer, and medical practitioner Our Christian lives are not hemmed whole realm of nature mine, That wield at times greater effective moral in by petty regulations and sectarian were a tribute far too small." Law power than the minister of religion? taboos; but as Christians we are to shows us that one seventh of our time While we have become more and know the truth, and it makes us free Continued

SEPTEMBER 1, 1968 5

Continued The weaker the person, the more Western civilization is being constantly —the weekly seventh-day Sabbath— external bolsters and props he needs. eroded. Faced with phony and artificial belongs to God; love tells us that God Authoritarian religions with rigid, de- double standards, with a growing dis- has a claim on all our time. Indeed, tailed, restrictive codes appeal to weak, crepancy between what they are taught "love so amazing, so divine, demands insecure individuals because of the false and what they see practiced in everyday my life, my soul, my all." feeling of security, from womb to life, wave after wave of young people Christian love does not make law tomb and beyond, they engender. Many are abandoning Christianity, or at least void. Like faith it establishes the law men fear moral responsibility and pre- the ecclesiastical establishments with and gives it greater scope by placing it fer to turn over authority for decision which it is identified. It was Walt Whit- in our hearts. Love does not exclude making to a priest or religious system. man who wrote about a child who moral principles and guidelines. "For some of these, religion with its stepped out into the world each day All men suffer from character weak- creeds, dogmas and ritualistic rubrics and became what he saw. nesses and lack of perfect love. Law pointing toward a tidy Kingdom fulfills The reaction of young people to the

Faced with double standards, wave after wave

of young people are abandoning Christianity.

performs in this condition a useful this idolatrous function."—Ibid. The sham of official morality often takes the moral function. That which is weak code appears to assume moral respon- various forms of juvenile protest or needs to be strengthened and sup- sibility by offering predigested solutions escapism or a combination of both. We ported. Laws, regulations, and rules in times of decision. This can easily had the beatniks; today we have the provide us with necessary support and lead to stultifying superficiality in con- hippies. These subcultures point to the orientation. Paul speaks of the law as duct and cold formalism in behavior. depth of youth's dissent. While protest- our pedagogue, our "schoolmaster." It takes considerable inner strength, ing against a fraudulent, corrupt, ethi- (Galatians 3:24.) It gives us "knowl- sensitive maturity, and moral stamina cally insensitive society, the hippies edge of sin." (Romans 3:20.) As long to adequately meet the responsibility gather for hours to recite Sanskrit as we do not sin, as long as our per- of Christian freedom. No one can prayers and urge their followers to sonal judgment is as right as a trivet, escape this personal responsibility. No withdraw from "the snares and corrup- we do not need the law, but since "all moral code can make decisions for us: tions of a hopelessly complex society have sinned, and come short of the The vote is ours, and so is the moral . . . to found little islands of peace glory of God" and no one's judgment is responsibility. and holiness."—James Hitchcock, "The perfect, we need the guidance and Divine laws and prohibitions are not Christian and the Hippie," The Chris- teaching of the law to point us to ends in themselves. They exist to tian Century, August 16, 1967, p. Christ and, by the grace of God, away prompt man to fulfill himself through 1041. Having become alienated from from moral failure. authentic self-expression in harmony their own families, they try to create a It is the Christian's task to interact with the overarching will and love of new family in the "flower-people com- responsibly with the outside world. "To God. God enjoins His children to keep munes" of "love-children." act so responsibly is, obviously, to in- the seventh day of the week holy, not in Torn apart by notional (what they vite rules, but rules primarily as sup- the interest of the Sabbath, but in the are taught) and existential (what they portive and instructional rather than interest of man; man was not created actually witness) standards and values, as restrictive and judgmental. Life is for the Sabbath, but the Sabbath for many young people relieve the strain more precious than law."—Charles B. man. Man is primary; law is secondary. by various escapist pursuits, the most Ketcham, "The Search for the New We are living in an age of tremen- dramatic and dangerous being the Morality," in The Christian Century, dous growth of general information. "trips" into the never-never world of October 12, 1966, p. 1238. What was once in the realm of private narcotics. The flowing tide of stimu- For the Christian the commandments knowledge, now belongs to the realm lants seems to engulf in drugs more of God are like smooth and well-laid of public knowledge. Young people to- and more of the younger generation— railroad tracks; they give guidance and day receive a mountain of scientific university students appear particularly direction. Like the locomotive, we find facts and detailed masses of informa- prone. The number of "speeders" our freedom and self-expression, not in tion, but are left comparatively igno- ("speed freaks," "Meth heads," etc.) jumping the tracks and getting quickly rant of ethical essentials. Many so- using powerful amphetamines has in- bogged down in mud and mire, but in called Christian parents and teachers creased tremendously. All this under- following the tracks to their appointed pretend to support the Christian ethic lines the thought that the Christian destination. Principles and guidelines and world view, but largely ignore it, code of ethics no longer commands the help us to carry the responsibility of and thus in reality undermine it. In loyalty of even a sizable minority of decision. this way the Christian moral capital of the youth.

6 THESE TIMES Another factor contributes to the Then will be fulfilled the prophetic inevitable result turn "the heart of the moral confusion and crisis in the world words of ancient Israel's Malachi, who, children to their fathers." (Malachi 4: of the teen-ager. An increasing number referring to this time of the end before 6.) END of parents desire to be relieved of the the advent of Christ, speaks of an "burden" of imparting moral values Elijah-type work of educational reform *From The New Testament in Modern and transmitting ethical standards to English. Copyright, J. B. Phillips, 1958. which will first "turn the heart of the Used by permission of The Macmillan their children. This is no doubt due to fathers to the children" and then as an Company. the fact that while they go through the motions of accepting Christian moral norms, they are no longer really con- BY WALTER vinced themselves of their present rele- RAYMOND vance and validity. This moral opting Focusing BEACH out of the older generation inevitably produces a moral vacuum, and human nature—be it old or young—abhors a vacuum. We are thus faced with the FUNERALS great tragedy, not so much that posi- tively wrong sets of values are being HE INTEREST of people in funeral unhurriedly and a verdict reached, to passed on—though this is certainly also T services is amazing. The reason for make the judgment final. If one is al- the case—but the resignation of many this interest lies chiefly, I presume, in ways returning with question marks to parents from moral leadership has the fact that death is an experience the grave of that which he is supposed brought about such a lack of principles common to all men. The "little black to have buried, he will never know hap- and conviction concerning life, the is- door of death" discriminates against piness or progress. sues of right and wrong, the destiny of none. Christian sympathy and hope no A modern author has told the story man, that very little if any positive ef- doubt heighten this interest—and so it of a funeral which, with variations, fort is made to inculcate high standards should be. Then, what good word will alas too often is true to life as we see of values in the youth of today. be said about this departed one? it. In the story a wife reminds her hus- Faced with the abdication of their There is special interest in the fu- band, a successful physician, that ma- elders, the young have filled the moral neral when the deceased has framed his terialistic ambitions have taken the sad- vacuum thus created with their own own obituary while yet pursuing the dle in his life. She reminds him, too, of laws, rules, and ideals. It is their peer earthly journey. The practice of doing his early ideals—ideals that had soared group that sets the standards. Teen- this was more usual in the past than above any thought of sordid gain or age (including the early twenties) has today. Possibly such desire to "keep self-aggrandizement. The physician, thus become a "special sort of ex- the record straight" with regard to their whose heart once had been so moved istence" ("Values to Live By in En- purpose in life. That was the case for by human suffering, only smiles cyni- glish Education," Herder Correspon- Thomas Jefferson when he composed cally and rejoins, "That was just the dence, July-August, 1967, no author), the words to be engraved on his tomb. immature ideas of naïve years." The a closed-shop society with its own lan- He did not mention the fact that twice sad fact was, of course, that a once- guage, dress, hairstyles, behavior pat- he had been President of the United promising young man had attended the terns, and sexual code. And yet, any- States. He wanted to make sure that funeral of principles which had been one who has worked with young people generations to come would remember the object of his youthful commitment. and has succeeded in bridging the gap him as the author of the Declaration of He had buried them under an ava- and penetrating into this "exclusive Independence and the founder of the lanche of moral defeat. Such a tragedy club," cannot but be impressed by the University of Virginia. was described by someone thus: "Our rich capital of sincerity, idealism, and Be that as it may, what we usually visions pass—and leave us resigned to even heroism which awaits to be in- call the "last rites" are not nearly so our ignoble days." What a funeral! vested in the Christian enterprise. Alas, important, particularly for the one Quite different was the Apostle how much of it either lies unused or is whose earthly days are ended, as are Paul's life. He attended funeral after frittered away in perhaps at times ex- some of the burials human beings are funeral of what once he was; but each citing, but vain and wanton, pursuits called upon to perform long before. funeral was a stepping-stone to greater after sensations of pleasure. These interments are a part of every heights. He called this process putting This youthful idealism, devotion to true autobiography. For instance, there away "the old man." (Ephesians 4: a just cause, needs to be harnessed comes a time when a choice must be 22.) Of this first universal man, this and propelled in the direction of the made as to one's high purpose in life. spiritual giant, it has been said, "The righteousness of God. The desire for Some definite vocation then takes over vocabulary of the deathbed and the straightforward, unequivocal answers to the exclusion of all others. A similar grave was constantly on his lips. Again should be met by providing the youth process is repeated at every important and again he told the Christians of Eu- with clear beliefs and firm convictions turn in the road. Each time one must rope and Asia the story of his own based on the Biblical standard of lov- attend the funeral of what might have death and burial. . . . After holding the ing God with all our being and our been had the decision been different, funeral service over Saul, he went on to neighbor as ourselves. This will help and the burial must be definitive. I can the life of Paul." bridge the growing hiatus between scarcely imagine anything more im- Christianity is a religion of dying adolescent youth and mature adult, and portant in life than when each factor and living, of burials and resurrections lessen the existing generation tension. of a given alternative has been weighed unto life that shall endless be. END

SEPTEMBER 1, 1968 7 India: Any Hope?

BY JOHN M. FOWLER The nothingness of the present Ir_dia is a land of contrast: heat and The Food Problem and the uncertainty of the future cold, flat plains and majestic peaks, poverty and affluence, primitive tribes Take, for example, the food short- are threatening both the pride and and cultured sages. India presents, too, age. There are at least two reasons for the patience of the people. Time a mixture of the old and the new: the this problem. The Indian farmer still is running out. humble oxcart and the Mercedes-Benz tills with a wooden plow, harvests by competing for the dusty highways; hand, depends on the fickle monsoons, hovels and air-conditioned apartments; transports by bullocks on mud roads. AHARISHI MAHESH YOGI iS as squalor and breathtaking beauty. But The average size of a farm is less than popular as chewing gum across perhaps the most staggering sight in four acres. This and widespread super- M campuses from Boston to Berke- India is its dense population: people, stitious beliefs exclude the use of mod- ley. This jet-age guru of the Beatles, people, people, everywhere. Under- ern machinery. As a result, weather Mia Farrow, Shirley MacLaine, and nourished, barefooted, illiterate, but permitting, India's per acre production the Rolling Stones, competes with cow philosophically patient, 520 million of is about an eighth of that of Japan. and famine on the Who's Who of them! A second reason for food shortage is What's India. "My heart is bounding Backed by four thousand years of the country's zeal for speedy industrial- with bliss," the Yogi told a standing- history, India's people are proud. Cush- ization. Tomorrow's steel mills, dams, room audience in New York last spring ioned by the Hindu philosophy of fate, factories, nuclear reactors—"modern and invited all to practice his "tran- they are patient. But the nothingness of temples," Nehru used to call them— scendental" formula for universal hap- the present and the uncertainty of the took priority over today's food. In the piness. His method, consisting of half future are threatening both the pride socialistic scheme of five-year plans, an hour of meditation every morning and the patience. Time is running out. more capital was invested in industry and night, claims to guarantee an inner Unless something is done—and done than in agriculture. Thus while tech- calm, besides dispelling "the clouds of quickly—the politic of India is bound nology is riding the rocket (India can war for a thousand years." to explode like a time bomb, causing explode an atomic bomb in a few But ironically enough, the homeland repercussions beyond its borders. months if it wants to), agriculture is of the Maharishi and a countless num- The picture was not always that bad. confined to the oxcart. As a result, ber of swamis and mystics has been in Thirty years ago India was a grain ex- when the century's worst drought hit the mood of "meditation" for so long porter; today, despite sixty million the country two years ago, vast areas that today it desperately needs a "tran- farmers tilling one of the largest land of farmland cracked, more than one scendental" crane to pull itself out— expanses of any country, it cannot feed hundred million people were famine- not to experience a bliss of a thousand itself. A decade ago, no one could have stricken, and the entire nation queued years but just to have the assurance of doubted the unity of India; but today up before ration stores distributing one single tomorrow without someone the question is how to prevent a American wheat. dying of starvation, someone sleeping breakup. A few years ago communism True, a massive famine was averted, on the pavement, some group staging was never a serious threat to this tem- but still 70 percent of the people are a riot, or some political bomb threaten- ple-conscious land; but now the danger drastically undernourished. Adding to ing to blow up the facade of Indian is very real. this the problem of stray animals and unity. How did India get into this plight? Continued

SEPTEMBER 1, 1968 9 Though Indian scientists could explode an atomic bomb, Indian farmers still work largely with their hands and oxen. For many, superstitions and poverty do not permit use of modern machinery.

Continued adopted family planning as a national language, but the non-Hindi states of pests (rats alone amount to six times policy. By persuasion if possible and the south have gone to the streets to the human population and consume by pecuniary pressure if necessary, the protest against it. "There is not a each year as much food as human be- government is hoping to reduce by town," reported an influential daily, ings), you have one vast continent of 1975 India's annual birthrate from "which has not had the honor of stag- human misery. forty-two per thousand to twenty-five. ing a riot." In one month of riots last spring, the government-owned railways Population Explosion Social Problems alone suffered damage of more than What's more, population is increas- But consider the challenge of im- half a million dollars—this, in a coun- ing so rapidly that the hunger gap is parting new methods of agriculture or try where the average per capita in- bound to become a hunger canyon in family planning in a country where 75 come is less than $54 a year. the immediate future. The baby boom percent of the population are illiterate. is outwitting bread production. It is Living in villages, untouched by mod- A Tired Land simply a case of the stork outrunning ern communications, the poor masses Thus the problems of hunger, ex- the plow. merely exist in an atmosphere of apa- ploding population, linguistic animos- India has only 2.4 percent of the thy and fatalism. Caste is still an ugly ity, and lack of leadership have com- world's land area, but 14 percent of the problem. Superstitions and traditional bined to make India a tired and population. In the past five years the institutions hold sway. (Chemical fer- desperate land. Such a plight is obvi- country's population has risen by sixty tilizers pollute Mother Earth; killing a ously the forerunner of totalitarianism. million. Each year, another Australia! cow is a mortal sin and is equivalent to "Why should the common man bother If the present rate of 5.6 children per killing one's mother.) about the merits of democracy or the couple is not reduced sharply, the turn The problem of illiteracy is further demerits of communism?" asks a politi- of the century could see one billion compounded by the fact that the coun- cal columnist. "He doesn't have any- people in this impoverished land. "We try has fourteen major languages and thing to lose." Already Peking-style have to control our population growth," more than eight hundred dialects. Each Communists control two key states of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi told the language claims superiority over the Kerala in the south and West Bengal nation recently, "before we are sub- other, and the task of finding a link in the northeast. The latter, on the merged by the sheer weight of our language for interregional communica- doorsteps of hostile China, has already numbers." tion is threatening to split the country witnessed the worst type of political "Control" is indeed the watchword along the middle. Hindi, a northern subversion in the form of peasant riots, of the Indian government, which has language, is technically the national leading to killing and plundering the

10 THESE TIMES haves by the have-nots. Political lead- ers are openly calling for revolution. But the $64 question is, Can India be saved? Yes, believes Chester Bowles, the American ambassador to India. He should know. But for the generous aid of the American people, Indian democ- racy would have been written off long ago. For two decades now, and four general elections later, the democratic machine in India has functioned effec- tively, though under unending strain. Freedom of speech, worship, and ballot has come to stay. If only population growth could be checked and food pro- duction boosted, India would turn the corner within the next few years. With the help of foreign friends (the U.S. alone has contributed loans and grants of over eight billion dollars over the past twenty years), and with time, leadership, and a sense of purpose, this massive land can build itself into an enduring symbol of what freedom and democracy can accomplish. The Responsibility, of the Church One more issue must be raised. How is the Christian church facing the crisis in India? Happily the church in India is fully aware of its responsibility in na- tion building. Through a well-organized network of schools, hospitals, and wel- Above: Most Indian farmers still till with wooden plows, harvest fare centers, the church has exerted its by hand. The average farm is less than four acres. influence far and wide. Top leaders of government and business have had their early training in Christian schools. Below: For millions of Indians, home is wherever Although Christians constitute only 3 they sit and build a small fire to cook whatever food is percent of the population, from their available. Average income is less than $54 a year. ranks have gone out nearly 50 percent of nurses in India. When famine struck the country two years ago, the church was among the foremost to organize relief operations, dig wells, and run mobile centers. Last December when a devastating earthquake brought down Koyna, a western India township,. Sev- enth-day Adventists were among the first to be on the scene. Thus through social and spiritual witness, the Chris- tian church is alive to the demands of the critical times the country is passing through. Nobody has all the answers to In- dia's problems. "The next three to five years," says one official, "are going to be the most exciting periods in the his- tory of the country." By then we will know whether India will continue to be a man-made crisis of misplaced en- thusiasm or a land of promise and growth, of freedom and democracy. END

SEPTEMBER 1, 1968 UNE 8, 1966, will live forever in Immigrants of a later period, less Kansas history as the day of the aware of Europe's religious conflicts, J nation's worst cyclone. Topekans were more inclined toward church-state who survived the storm will tell their union, the only relationship they knew. children and grandchildren how a giant Two schools of thought evolved, and bulldozer swept down out of the sky the storm began. and leveled the capital city, killing or Those hostile to church-state separa- injuring thousands of citizens and de- tion have waged a studied and persis- stroying property worth one hundred tent campaign, especially since the turn million dollars. of the century, to distort all legal opin- It is an awesome and frightening ions which upheld church-state separa- tion. They have painted a false picture of the American public school system. They have used great political power to pass, in state and federal legislatures, laws hurtful to church-state separation. They have captured public schools with THE their teaching and teachers. They have maneuvered constitutional conventions to remove church-state separation pro- visions. Blurred Line More recently, a few politicians and GATHERING churchmen, tipsy with the new wine of brotherhood, have involved the church and state in social welfare programs at public expense until the American pub- STORM lic is beginning to wonder which is church and which is state. Those who desire public taxes for BY GLENN L. ARCHER churches have challenged and misap- plied every judicial opinion that was favorable to church-state separation. Strangely, the very clergymen whose church had enjoyed one hundred years of religious peace and prosperity, the spectacle to watch Nature gather her fruits of church-state separation, were forces into a cyclone. the chief distorters. With the accumula- Executive Director of Americans United But more alarming is the appalling tion of numbers and political power the for Separation of Church and State silence that precedes the storm's im- church-state unionists openly attacked pact. One feels as if the world were the laws and their judicial interpreta- coming to an end, wishes he had lived tions. Let us examine the record. more carefully and made better prepa- It will be a tragic day when the rations for death. Record of Misinterpretations Then suddenly the silence yields to In 1899 a Roman Catholic hospital churches are caught up in the storm the mighty roar of an approaching was using public tax funds. A legal pro- black inverted funnel—wind-laden, test was made. The court allowed the of church-state controversy and twisting, hungry for devastation. use of the tax money only because reli- gious exercises were excluded from the their spiritual ministries blown away Two Schools of Thought hospital. Had religion been a part of by the winds of expediency. For twenty years I have observed the services of the institution, the court another storm gathering that may well held that use of public funds would That is doomsday for the churches. destroy our heritage of religious free- have been a violation. dom. The main thrust has been di- In short, the legal opinion was a rected at the religious freedom guaran- clear ban of public taxes to church in- teed by the constitutional principle of stitutions. Yet for nearly seventy years church-state separation. this case, Bradfield v. Roberts, has been Early immigrants, fresh from the re- cited as a precedent for the lawful use ligious antagonisms and wars of the of tax moneys for church-related insti- Old World, were determined to be re- tutions, especially hospitals. ligiously free. Gradually they evolved a In 1903 the federal government was plan. It called for church-state separa- custodian of a trust fund belonging to tion. the American Indians. The money was

12 THESE TIMES not government money but private would approve tax money to buy long Catholic Welfare Conference, called money held by the government for the black stockings for children in paro- the phrase "separation of church and benefit of an Indian tribe. The power chial schools, for obviously long black state" a "shibboleth of doctrinaire of disposal of the fund rested with stockings may sometimes benefit the secularism." The bishops promised a the tribe. child. The "child benefit" theory, a fic- reversal of the Supreme Court's deci- Because some of this money was tion at its best and unsound law at its sion. paid for religious purposes, a test case worst, has been rejected by the New The storm hit. ensued. The case, entitled Quick Bear York Court of Appeals, ignored by James M. O'Neill, a Catholic writer v. Leupp, reached the United States the Supreme Court of New Mexico, of note, called separation of church and Supreme Court in 1903. The legal adopted only by the National Council state "spurious," and said there never question was, "Can private money be of Churches in 1963 as a gesture to had been such a principle. Father used for religion?" The court said brotherhood, and by the Roman Catho- Thomas F. Coakeley, in a pamphlet "Yes" only because public taxes were lic lobby whose brotherly inclination published by the Roman Catholic Truth not involved. Yet the case, for propa- has been no inhibition against prying Society, said, "Church and state have ganda purposes, has been distorted as a tax dollar from the public purse for never been separated in America." The precedent for the use of public money the functions of a church. National Catholic Educational Associa- for religion, when in fact it was private No one seems to recall that even in tion charged the Supreme Court of the money used for religion—"a proper the Cochran case the tax money could United States with "distorting" the use." be used only for "nonsectarian" books. First Amendment. Others said Jeffer- This fact—together with another, that son had not meant what he wrote about Deceptive Addition church-state separation was not pleaded "the wall" to the Baptists at Danbury. In 1924 a legal action arose in Ore- in the case—has been ignored by the Other judicial decisions, some ap- gon to test the constitutionality of a proponents of the Elementary and Sec- pearing to moderate the storm of le- law compelling all children to attend ondary Education Act of 1965 and by gal controversy, have come and gone. public schools. The question quite sim- all others who espouse the "child bene- Those hostile to the American way of ply was, "Does a religious school have fit" theory as justification for support- church-state separation have minimized a right to exist?" The court said, "Yes." ing churches with taxes. their relevance and importance to sepa- The question of public taxes for reli- ration. gion was not present in the case. "Wall" Took on Judicial Dignity The parochial and private school With the court's holding in the Stands Like a Lighthouse people did not seek public taxes for Everson case of 1947, and in the But above the legal controversy and their private schools. They sought only McCollum case of 1948, the "wall" self-serving interests, above the gather- the right to build a church school at about which Jefferson wrote so vividly ing storm, the American principle of private expense. If you were to examine took on judicial dignity. Both decisions the separation of church and state the Roman Catholic press and law barred public money for churches and stands like a lighthouse in a storm— journals, you would find the assertion church-related institutions. Both made tall, bright, and immovable. that the court not only endorsed the clear that a state could not establish a Justice Rutledge aptly said, "Estab- right cf a religious school to exist, but religion, or subsidize a religion, or lishment and free exercise were correla- to exist "with tax support." favor a religion. tive and coextensive ideas, representing "With tax support" is indeed a novel Yet the enemies of church-state sepa- only different facets of a single great addition by a deceptive pen. It was not ration have misinterpreted the Everson and fundamental freedom." Religious included in the court's opinion. decision, to wit: Public taxes are law- liberty and separation have become in In 1928, in Cochran v. Louisiana, ful to transport children to church America two terms which ideally, his- the courts were invited to determine schools. torically, and practically are insepara- the constitutionality of the use of tax Actually the Everson case allowed ble. money to purchase textbooks for paro- only a refund to parents for bus ex- chial school children. Here the legal penses in a very narrow situation. It Public Schools Attacked question was, "Shall public money was not, nor was it intended to be, an There have been lightning bolts of serve a private purpose?" The court all-out legal approval of bus transpor- false propaganda to discredit the Amer- upheld the use of tax money for public tation at public expense of all children ican public schools. The main attack school books for any child. everywhere attending parochial schools. was that public schools are "godless." The case was not argued on the It was not, as some allege, a green light Father Paul L. Blakely, S.J., wrote basis that the Louisiana statute was a to aid religion with taxes. a small book entitled May an Ameri- violation of church-state separation. The McCollum decision was so clear can Oppose the Public School? Father The interpretation, however, has been in its ruling against taxes for churches Blakely made three major points in his widely employed to endorse public that distortion or misinterpretation for widely heralded, frequently quoted, taxes for churches by way of the "child self-serving sectarianism was difficult. generally accepted Roman Catholic po- benefit" theory. Something must be done. Action was sition. The case introduced the "child bene- prescribed. It came promptly. • The first duty of Roman Catholics fit" theory. Although spurious, the the- is to refuse to pay taxes to support ory has served to cloud church-state Storm Hit in 1948 public schools (because they are god- issues more than any other judicial de- In November, 1948, the Roman less). termination in our century. Catholic bishops of the United States, • The first duty of Roman Catholics This theory, if rigidly followed, in a statement issued by the National Continued

SEPTEMBER 1, 1968 13

Continued known their belief that publicly fi- Neither do Baptists, Methodists, or any is to keep their children out of public nanced Roman Catholic schools would other church group. We Catholics have schools (because they are godless). be an agreeable arrangement. no right to complain of a double tax • The first duty of Roman Catholics when we pay tuition to church schools is to put children in Roman Catholic More Subtle Attack and public tax for public schools. It is schools (because public schools are A more subtle attack on the consti- not a double tax imposed by the state. godless). tutional principle of church-state sepa- It is a tax we impose upon ourselves This theme, "godless public schools," ration came when the nation was ap- because we hold church schools have was underscored by Father William J. prised of the millions of dollars the special value for us." McGuchen; by Archbishop John T. parochial schools were saving the The new cloud to enter the church- McNicholas in 1947 before the Na- American taxpayer. state sky was called "bigotry." tional Catholic Educational Associa- If one had lived in Nebraska, he Our Sunday Visitor, a Roman Cath- tion; by Monsignor William E. Mc- would have been told in the secular and olic periodical published in Indiana, Manus, assistant director, department the Roman Catholic press that paro- named Americans United "bigot." Our of education of the National Catholic chial schools had saved Nebraskans Sunday Visitor published a book en- Welfare Conference; and by Bishop two million dollars. In New York titled, Who's Who in the POAU? in John F. Nall, of Fort Wayne, in a pam- it would have been $100,000,000. which all our leaders were called "big- phlet, "Our National Enemy Number One—Education Without Religion." In spite of recent ecumenical breezes this position has never been repudiated. It still persists at the community level and represents the position of the Ro- man Catholic lobby in Washington, D.C. A New Attack The charge of bigotry suddenly was leveled against those The campaign about the godless na- whose only sin was their effort to keep state and church ture of the public school system even- in proper relation. tually gave way to a new attack against church-state separation. Next, accord- ing to the Roman Catholic bishops, the American culture was secular and materialistic. The official pronouncement had 10- merit. The prose was dignified, the reasoning logical, the sentiment con- vincing. It was a wise and profound Throughout the nation it would have ots," and most were referred to as analysis. been two billion dollars. "Communist sympathizers." Even con- Then this high-level statement began Congressmen had armloads of such gressmen opposed to taxes for churches to appear in Roman Catholic publica- information. Public school officials were "bigots." Cardinal Spellman tions from coast to coast with an inter- were deluged with facts and figures. shouted "apostles of bigotry" at Con- esting interpretation. The implication The purpose was clear, "Why not vote gressman Graham Barden of North was that American culture was secular public taxes for the Roman Catholic Carolina and his associates who stood because the kind of education found in Church, whose generosity to the tax- for separation. the Roman Catholic school was not na- payer is unbounded?" Some Protestant periodicals, eager tional; that public funds would provide Churches which welcome the privi- to be fair and not knowing the score, the kind of education that would solve lege to pay their own bills could have attacked their fellow Protestants as the secular problem of the country. gathered and distributed impressive "bigots." The charge of bigotry sud- Was the bishops' statement on the statistics, but they did not. Lutherans, denly was leveled against those whose secular and materialistic nature of our Seventh-day Adventists, many other only sin was their effort to keep state society a genuine effort at correcting a churches, have related schools; but not and church in proper relation. When bad situation, or was it an indirect way one boasted of its generosity to Ameri- Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke out of breaking down church-state separa- can taxpayers. for church-state separation, she became tion by encouraging public support of a "bigot." church schools? A Dissenting Voice Or did the bishops' statement par- Congressman Andrew Jacobs, a Ro- "Captive" Schools take of both natures—a proposed solu- man Catholic from Indiana, observed In this gathering storm against tion to a problem and a pragmatic aid the drive of his own church. He boldly church-state separation there have been to establish a religion through taxes? stated in the Indiana Teachers' Asso- other strange winds. In many local The most charitable interpretation of ciation magazine and on the floor of communities the Roman Catholic in- the bishops' position is that they truly Congress, "Roman Catholics, who for terests have completely taken over the were concerned about secularism but their own purposes build church public schools, installed nuns as teach- that they were not adverse to making schools, have no right to public funds. ers, and siphoned from tax funds

14 THESE TIMES salaries for the nuns. These salaries are need have no fear of becoming en- Here we are confronted with a savage turned over by them to the local priest tangled with a welfare program. thrust of political power by the Roman or to special Roman Catholic orders. This argument has its appeal. But Church which leaves the ecumenists In Indiana the nuns taught in the history clearly shows that government amazed and discomfited. public schools for years. They drew has no competence in religious matters, At the direction of Catholic priests public school salaries until the salaries that a government never gives without from their pulpits, 100,000 Catholic accumulated enough money to build a demanding, that a church and a govern- laymen fire off canned telegrams to Roman Catholic parochial school. Then ment meeting at the public treasurer's Governor Raymond Shafer of Pennsyl- the public school that had paid the bill office puts the church in jeopardy, that vania demanding that he support state for the new parochial school was all political churches will dominate the payments to their denominational but closed after the church school was minority spiritual churches, that reli- schools. opened. gion has never survived as a mistress of In Ohio a single pressure has cap- In twenty states there are public government. tured fifteen million dollars for church schools which functionally are Roman In Jacksonville, Florida, the Office schools. Here, too, your public school Catholic parochial schools. of Economic Opportunity is headquar- textbooks teem with Roman Catholic Americans United has won many tered in the parish hall of Immaculate religious ideology which discriminates legal battles in these "captive school" Conception Roman Catholic Church against other creeds. cases. The victories not only have cor- under the shadow of a prominent cross. In New York the Roman Catholic rected violations but also have called In Mississippi the federal government hierarchy, led by the late Cardinal attention to problems in the church- has turned over eight million dollars to Spellman, commanded all priests to state area. a church for antipoverty work. use their pulpits to urge affirmative Here is an intimate association of votes for a proposed state constitution Government, Protestants, Batter "Wall" state and church in the work of charity. from which church-state separation In recent years the government in Recipients of the antipoverty aid will provisions had been removed. The sum Washington has done little to protect wonder to which they are indebted— of two million dollars was poured into separation. It has, in fact, done much government, church, or a combination this effort of constitutional change, and to weaken it. Even a number of Prot- of both. even parish funds were spent for politi- estant denominational leaders, pretend- cal purposes. ing to defend separation, have been Psuedo Ecumenism timid and hesitant when crucial welfare The ecumenical movement professes Reminiscent of Medieval Power Play bills have been before Congress. to offer us the bright promise of a new The Protestant ecumenical magazine Americans United stood firm against day. We are all for that. Rivalries, Christianity and Crisis, which has sup- those features in welfare bills which hostilities, among churches are to cease, ported Catholic subsidy claims for opened the public treasury to churches. and such relations will be amiable. years, could not take this. The paper Because we caught these legislative Who would oppose that? It is good. condemned the hierarchy's drive as loopholes, we were not required to Yet who can miss the devastating reminiscent of medieval power play. apologize later by saying the laws were effects of a pseudo ecumenical move- In Congress, House Speaker John good but administered unwisely. ment on the separation of church and McCormack, who has always done the Bills that provide unlimited discre- state? What happens here is that the bidding of the Catholic lobby, again tionary power to administrators are historic proponents of church-state sep- intervened to kill judicial review. The never administered wisely, nor are they aration are demobilized by a permis- extension of the Elementary and Sec- intended to be. All the opponents of siveness that passes itself off for broth- ondary School Act, Senate version, separation wanted in these welfare mea- erhood. contained a provision for constitutional sures was a legal intent from Congress The Roman Catholic Church has review, as did the original bill. But to provide tax welfare for churches and changed, we are told. There is no dan- when Speaker McCormack and his church schools. Administrators could, ger to religious liberty in that quarter colleagues of the AFL-CIO finished and would, take care of the distribution anymore. Let us have done, therefore, with the legislation, judicial review was in accord with intent. with fear and suspicion that this church out. Now the unconstitutional flow of A few Protestant leaders were too is in any way opposed to those ideals funds to church schools will continue naïve to see the result or to discern of freedom which are dear to all of us. because, thanks to Speaker Mc- the strategy in the elementary school It is true that there have been Cormack, nobody can get into court to bill, in the war on poverty program, changes. It is true that the Roman challenge it. and in the higher education programs. Church has made massive efforts to get Ecumenists are supposed to smile at A few Protestant leaders declared that untracked and to become relevant to this "smoke-filled room" deal and al- the welfare measures were compatible the twentieth century. All of this is to low church-state separation to slip with church-state separation principles. the good. The altering of its stance to- down the drain. The church may be ward other churches is reassuring and changing, but in this crucial church- "A Heavy Blow" commendable. state area the more it changes the more The world now knows their procla- it is the same. mations to have been false. It knows More Clerical Pressure Let us have amicable relations. By that church-state separation was dealt But alas! When it comes to church- all means let us have them. But amica- a heavy blow in 1965. state separation there has been no ble relations must be no excuse for a You say that our government is change whatever—unless it is toward sellout of our heritage. good, kind, and just, and the church more clerical pressure than before. (Continued on page 31)

SEPTEMBER 1, 1968 15 Honestly, Now!

BY MAXINE HANCOCK

E WERE on our way to Anthropology 378 dictions. . . ." I was doing some fast thinking: it when Bud said, very casually, "How about would be like Bud to ask for an example. . . . "And Wcoming to Bible study with me at noon?" the myths like Adam and Eve and Noah and the "To what?" I asked, frankly incredulous. boys." I paused to get my breath and get back in "Bible study," he repeated, dead serious. step with Bud. "I just don't see that it's honest to "Bible study!" I hooted. "Why study that?" go on taking an outmoded book so seriously. He didn't answer, really. "About six of us fel- That's all." lows have been meeting in Cameron, Room 395," Bud still didn't say anything. We were almost he said. Then he added, "If you came once or to class. I thought probably I'd given him some- twice, you might see why we study it." thing to think about. Maybe neither of us would "It's just not my line, Bud," I said. But I go to Bible study at noon today, I thought. We didn't want to offend him, because Bud is a good could have lunch together at caf and go over our guy. So I thought I'd better keep the conversation anthro notes. going for a minute or two longer—to make things When Bud did say something, he said it so sound not quite so rude and abrupt. "You know, casually I thought he was changing the subject. Bud," I said, and I was puffing a bit between "Say, Ron," he said. "Speaking of intellectual phrases because I found it hard to keep up with a honesty . . ." six-footer's strides and talk too, "I don't really I fell for it hard. "Yeah?" I said, really inter- think . . ." (deep breath) "that an intellectually ested. honest person can take the Bible seriously any- "What do you think of a guy doing a critical more." review of a book he hasn't read?" Intellectual honesty is a great old court of ap- Honestly, now! END

peal. Bud didn't say anything, so I gasped on. Reprinted by permission from HIS, student magazine of Inter- "Let's face it, everybody knows about the contra- Varsity Christian Fellowship. © 1968.

16 THESE TIMES While crewmen of the U.S. carrier America look on, a Russian ship (in the distance) zigzags past the U.S. destroyer Richard E Byrd in the Mediterranean. The Soviets now have enlarged their Mediterranean fleet to fifty ships, matching the size of the U.S. Sixth Fleet. ITH dramatic swiftness the Arabs and Israelis flew at vieach other's throats in June, 1967, in a savage battle that made a horrified onlooking world hold its breath for fear of going up in the smoke of a nuclear holocaust. Had THE FINAL BATTLE: Russia joined the Arabs and the United States Israel, there might have been no 1968. Since the ending of the war a wave of renewed Bible study has raced through Christendom. For the moment, at least, many Christians have begun to look beyond next week's paycheck into Armageddon! the intriguing Bible prophecies con- cerning Israel and earth's final battle, the Battle of Armageddon. Do the recent clashes and mounting tensions in the Middle East portend the end of the world in that last conflict? Will the center of this horror be fo- cused on tiny Israel? Many are say- ing, Yes. What does the Bible say? It may surprise you to discover that the word BY SIEGFRIED J. SCHWANTES Continued

SEPTEMBER 1, 1968 17 Three angels have already flown (chapter 14), proclaiming the last three CAN YOU ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS? messages of God's love and mercy. The first announced that the hour of God's judgment had come, calling on What is the Battle of Armageddon? all people to worship, not science, not Who will participate? man, but "him who made heaven and earth." (Verses 6, 7, R.S.V.) Where and when will it be fought? The second angel foretold wide- Until recently the U.S. Sixth Fleet cruised unchallenged in the Mediter- spread defection from the faith result- ranean. Now Soviet nuclear-powered submarines and surface warships ing from a mass refusal to accept the "bristling with rockets" patrol the same waters. Is Russia referred to in first angel's message. We see this now. Ezekiel 38 and 39? To countless millions of self-styled Christians the Christian faith has ceased Is the Biblical Meshech, Moscow? Is Tubal, Tobolsk? to be a living issue. And the jumbled Are the Jews in Israel as a fulfillment of Bible prophecy? picture of Christian leaders increasingly mute on spiritual matters but increas- Will the nations of earth be judged on the basis of their treatment ingly outspoken on political issues is of the Jews? aptly described by this angel as "Baby- When God said to the Jews, "Unto thy seed will I give this land" lon." (Verse 8.) (Genesis 12:7; Deuteronomy 4:20, 21), was He speaking of the modern The third angel warned that those State of Israel? who compromise their allegiance to God with a false religion and false gods What is so profoundly important about Armageddon? "shall drink the wine of God's wrath." (Verses 9-11, R.S.V.) In different ages there have been different forms of com- promise. In the early centuries of the Christian church, one compromise took the form of emperor-worship. Yet, despite widespread defections at that Continued on an unjust and perverse earth: "Nei- time, thousands chose to die rather Armageddon occurs only once in the ther their silver nor their gold shall be than to burn a handful of incense to the entire Scriptures—Revelation 16:16: able to deliver them on the day of the false-god emperor. "And they ["three foul spirits"] assem- wrath of the Lord. In the fire of his In the days just preceding the battle bled them ["the kings of the whole jealous wrath, all the earth shall be which God wages against a wicked and world"] at the place which is called in consumed; for a full, yea, sudden end rebellious world, the test will be differ- Hebrew Armageddon." (Revised Stan- he will make of all the inhabitants of ent only in form. The underlying prin- dard Version.) the earth." Zephaniah 1:18, R.S.V. ciple remains forever the same—loyalty It is very interesting that the passage In history the "day of the Lord" or disloyalty to God. According to which contains this verse does not say comes seldom (it came on Sodom, and verse 12, only those who "keep the that "the kings of the whole world" are before that on the whole earth at the commandments of God and the faith going to battle each other. The fact is time of the Flood); but when it does of Jesus" will answer God's "call for that they are assembled, as verse 14 come, it is a time of reckoning between the endurance of the saints" and be states, "on the great day of God the evil man and his God. And the final saved from destruction. Almighty," a day on which, according "great day of the Lord" will be the final In Revelation 14, following the vi- to chapter 6, verses 15-17, "the kings reckoning—the end of the world as we sion of the three flying angels, is a vi- of the earth and the great men and the know it. sion of the second coming of Christ. generals and the rich and the strong, The context of the term "Armaged- (Verse 14.) Thus the warnings of these and every one, slave and free, hid in don" in Revelation mentions a "sixth three angels are pictured as coming the caves and among the rocks of the angel" pouring the contents of a "bowl" shortly before the appearance of Christ mountains, calling to the mountains on "the great river Euphrates," drying in the clouds of the sky. and rocks, 'Fall on us and hide us from it up "to prepare the way for the kings Chapter 15 links the three angels of the face of him who is seated on the from the east" so that they might also chapter 14 with the seven plagues of throne, and from the wrath of the assemble at Armageddon to do battle chapter 16, informing us that those Lamb; for the great day of their wrath with God. who have "conquered" the allurements has come, and who can stand before This "sixth angel" is one of seven of the hosts of evil will eventually stand it?'" (R.S.V.) who carry the "seven plagues." (Reve- "beside the sea of glass with harps of The great "day of the Lord," as lation 15.) These terrible plagues fall God in their hands." These are God's Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel, on those who persist in trampling upon people. These are "those who keep the Amos, Micah, Zephaniah, Zechariah, God's holy commandments. They con- commandments of God and the faith and Malachi all point out, is not a day stitute the final punishments before the of Jesus." on which nations do battle with each arrival of Jesus, "for with them [the The Bible is a Book about God. other, but rather a day on which a just plagues] the wrath of God is ended." Considering that in its prophecy it em- and angry God executes His vengeance (Verse 1, R.S.V.) braces the whole of the history of man-

18 THESE TIMES kind, it is not a very big Book. This is of sound between 'Rosh' and 'Russia' The Battle of Armageddon is a bat- because it does not concern itself pri- is purely coincidental. There seems to tle of the kings of earth against the marily with ordinary political events— be no evidence that the name was ap- King of kings. It is not a battle between even dismissing such cataclysmic events plied to that country until about the the nations on earth. Furthermore, it as two world wars in such short phrases 10th century A.D." is a spiritual battle, a battle of good as "wars and rumors of wars" which The context of Ezekiel 38 and 39 in against evil, God against the rebellious last up until the time of Christ's second which the words Gog, Magog, and and fallen Satan and all who march coming. Political structures embracing Rosh appear pictures a war to be waged under his banner. hundreds of millions, such as world by hostile nations against Israel, fol- The ultimate issues to be decided communism, may form and be dis- lowing her return from captivity in upon this earth are not military, nor solved without mention in the prophetic Babylon. But this prophecy rested on even political, but religious. As history outline. It concerns itself with the solu- the condition that Israel would remain approaches its thundering climax, it tion to man's basic dilemma—the prob- true to God. She didn't, for Jesus Him- will become increasingly clear that the lem of being right with God and thus self lamented, "Behold, your house is great problem which underlies all war safe to save. forsaken and desolate. For I tell you, is the rebellion of man against his Any attempt to associate Russia or you will not see me again, until you Creator, the problem of sin. By rebel- China with the Battle of Armageddon say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the ling against God we have cut ourselves rests on mere speculation. Nothing is name of the Lord.' " Matthew 23:38, off, alienated ourselves from Him. This said in the Bible to identify any par- 39, R.S.V. The wonderful prophecies is the source of all our sorrows and ticular nation. The attempt to identify of the triumph of Israel have passed to discontents. Rosh of Ezekiel 38:3 (R.V.) with Rus- the Christians, the followers of Jesus It is upon this battleground, there- sia rests on no better foundation. Rosh of Nazareth, whom the Jews rejected. fore, that the final battle will be fought. is the Hebrew word for "head." It is (Romans 11.) Consequently, Revela- To reduce the world to one vast ceme- applied to the preceding word "prince" tion 20:8 connects Gog and Magog tery by a literal Armageddon holocaust —making the Revised Standard Ver- with the hosts of Satan as they make just before Christ appears in the clouds sion's translation "chief prince" more their hopeless attack upon the Holy of heaven (1 Corinthians 15) would accurate than "prince of Rosh." As one City and the people of God, those who be an anticlimax. The second coming fine commentary puts it, "any similarity have accepted Christ. Continued

For the first time since 1948, when Jordanians occupied Je - salem's walled city and closed it to citizens of Israel, Jews flock to their most sacred shrine—the Wailing Wall. Some observers feel the Arab-Israeli conflict signals the first stage of Armageddon. Continued the tree, but it gave none. In mercy mandments of God and the faith of of Christ is the climax of the Battle of Christ pleaded that it be given one Jesus" will find to their consternation Armageddon. more year. Finally, just prior to His that they have been opposing God Revelation is a book about Christ crucifixion, Jesus saw the tree pompous Himself. and His church (the "bridegroom" and with foliage but without fruit. So He Recently Evangelist Billy Graham His "bride"), its trials, persecutions, cursed it, and it withered away. had breakfast with his friend labor survival, and final triumph. Its ranks The promises have passed to the leader Walter Reuther. Reuther spoke are decimated by widespread apostasy Christian church—spiritual Israel. (Ro- with great enthusiasm about the tech- and persecution. The enemy longs to mans 11.) The promises of restoration, nological breakthrough that is taking see the Christian witness extinguished such as in Amos 9:14, 15, were only place. He exclaimed, "We are on the from the earth. Our own time, which partially fulfilled in the return to Jeru- verge of paradise." has been well described as the post- salem from captivity in Babylon. They Graham replied, "Walter, there is Christian age, has become a new "Dark will be completely fulfilled only with only one flaw, and that is human Ages." Antichristian, anti-God brain- spiritual Israel—the Christian church nature." washing is producing a telling effect. —for as Paul says, "If you are Christ's, Reuther replied, "That's the flaw." Millions live as if God did not exist. then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs According to Bible prophecy, the Agnosticism and atheism are increas- according to promise." Galatians 3: sinfulness of human nature is leading ingly fashionable. The flippant "new 29, R.S.V. men rapidly to the final conflict of the morality"—which is as old as Sodom Consequently, in the last book of the ages, the Battle of Armageddon, "the and Gomorrah—stands in diametrical Bible, the Revelation of Jesus Christ, battle of that great day of God Al- opposition to the burning message of the Jews have no assigned role. It is the mighty." Revelation 14, which contrasts those Christian church—and not modern The most important consideration in who deny God with those who "keep Israel—who proclaims God's final mes- regard to Armageddon is that the battle the commandments of God, and the sage of love to the world and who sub- is fought after the close of probation, faith of Jesus." sequently becomes the object of perse- the zero hour, after which man has no But Armageddon is the Waterloo of cution. Whatever role the Jews may yet more chance for salvation. all who oppose God. Armageddon oc- play is only peripheral to the central How do you stand with God—now? curs "on the great day of God the Al- war between good and evil, Christ and A devout young clergyman was asked mighty." The hosts of godless nations Satan. It is in this war that the Battle by one of his parishioners to explain will array themselves against "the Lord of Armageddon is fought. the doctrine of election. His reply was, and his anointed," Christ, so that they Unless the Jews accept Christ, they "You know what an election is, when will be in a position to be destroyed by cannot be "Christ's" nor any longer we elect a president and a governor. In the fire of God. (See 2 Peter 3.) "heirs according to promise," for it is the kingdom of God there is always an The "dragon," "beast," and "false the followers of Christ who will preach election going on. Only three votes are prophet" of Revelation 16:13 represent the "gospel of the kingdom" through- cast. The Lord always votes for you. leading religious groups which have so out the whole earth (Matthew 24:14) The devil votes against you. And you far departed from faith grounded in the and thus prepare the way for the com- have the deciding vote." Bible that they are described as insti- ing of Christ. It is this message which Jesus once said, "He that believeth gating the nations to stand in antago- enrages "the kings of the whole world" on me shall never thirst." At the close nism to Heaven itself. and leads them to array themselves "on of the New Testament, He stated, "Let This seems incredible, but it is no the great day of God the Almighty" to him that is athirst come. And whoso- more incredible than the demands by fight against God. ever will, let him take the water of life the spiritual leaders of ancient Israel But the battle is no contest. God will freely." Revelation 22:17. Are you that Jesus should be crucified. The win, for it is "the great day of God the spiritually thirsty? Come to Christ, and same raw hatred against "the Lord and Almighty." And those who oppose and your thirst will be satisfied forever. But his anointed" still exists today. Hate persecute a minority loyal to "the corn- do it now, for time is running out. END and prejudice always blind men—even Reprints of this article (Number EE-1) and others in this Emphasis Eternity series to plain facts. are available. Prices, postpaid to one address: Single copies, 5 cents; 10 copies, 45 cents; 100 copies, $4.00; entire set (12), 50 cents. Special prices for larger quantities. Address: Will the Jews as a nation play a par- Reprint Editor, Box 59, Nashville, Tennessee 37202. ticular role in the final wrap-up of his- If this article has stimulated your thinking and you wish to begin a systematic study tory? Do the recent victories of Israel of similar Bible topics, we cordially invite you to write today for our free, easy-to-follow over the Arabs signal the first stages of Bible Correspondence Course. Simply send in the coupon below. Armageddon? Once the Jews were God's peculiar people, "entrusted with the oracles of God." (Romans 3:2, Gentlemen: R.S.V.) On this point the Old Testa- Without cost or obligation, please enroll me in your course in systematic study. ment (e.g., Ezekiel 36-39) is especially clear. But their hour of destiny came Name and went when they rejected Christ. Jesus gave them His best, and they Address rejected Him. In His parable of the fig tree (Luke 13:6-9), the tree repre- sented the chosen Jewish nation. For Language (Available in most national tongues) three years God expected fruit from Mail coupon to The Bible Course for Busy People 20 Box 59, Nashville, Tennessee 37202 Your Questions, Please!

Please explain 2 Corinthians 5:6-8. BY FRANK B. HOLBROOK in His church across the centuries The passage reads as follows: "There- through the leadership of men; how- fore we are always confident, knowing ever, occasionally a woman has been that, whilst we are at home in the body, In this column Pastor Frank B. appointed to leadership. Deborah is an we are absent from the Lord: (for we Holbrook answers questions regard- example of a God-fearing woman who walk by faith, not by sight:) we are ing spiritual truth, ethical behavior, functioned as both a judge and a confident, I say, and willing rather to and Biblical understanding. Write to prophet during a critical period in him c/o THESE TIMES, Box 59, Israelite history. (Judges 4:4, 5.) With be absent from the body, and to be Nashville, Tennessee 37202. Names present with the Lord." are confidential. If a personal answer the entrance of sin God saw fit to sub- These verses express Paul's deep is desired, please send an addressed ordinate the wife to the husband. (Gen- longing for eternal life with His Lord envelope...., Only questions of general esis 3:16.) This was not intended to —a desire common to all sincere interest are published. reflect dishonor upon her, but was in- Christians. tended to bring harmony and to con- Some, however, have thought from tribute to the wife's fullest happiness. a casual reading of this passage that nor praise the Lord. (Acts 2:29, 34; The Scriptures consistently recog- Paul teaches that a Christian goes Psalms 115:17; 6:5.) The grave is the nize the husband as the proper head of immediately into the presence of Christ resting-place of the dead. (Job 17:13.) the home. (Ephesians 5:23, 24; 1 Co- at death. But neither the immediate Because death is an unconscious state, rinthians 11:3.) Just as the husband is context nor the teaching of Scripture it is commonly referred to as "sleep." the head and priest of the home, so he in general supports this perspective. (John 11 : 11-14. ) is the natural leader of a group of In verses 1-4 Paul observes that The righteous dead will rise to life homes in a church congregation. And there are three states in which a per- again at the general resurrection at the thus throughout the centuries of sacred son may be. By speaking of "our second coming of Christ. (1 Thessalo- history the religious functions of God's earthly house of this tabernacle" (verse nians 4:16-18; Revelation 20:6.) But people have normally been discharged 1), Paul refers to our present transient observe that the apostle does not want by men. Seventh-day Adventists have mortal life. Then the apostle speaks of to die. He does not desire to be "un- followed a similar pattern. "an house not made with hands, eternal clothed." (Verse 4.) His wish is to be This does not mean that our women in the heavens." (Verse 1.) For this "clothed upon, that mortality might be have no place in the Lord's work, or "house" he longs. "For in this we swallowed up of life." (Verse 4.) In that they are particularly barred from groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed other words, Paul earnestly longs to be public speaking. Young women train upon with our house which is from translated without seeing death. Such in our schools for a variety of positions heaven." Verse 2. By means of this a privilege will be granted to those in the organized structure. Some train figure the apostle refers to the eternal faithful ones who will be living when as Bible instructors, taking the same state where the Christian will have an Jesus returns. (1 Thessalonians 4:17.) basic course as the young men prepar- immortal body like Christ's. (Compare Translation was not permitted to Paul ing for the ministry. In evangelistic 1 Corinthians 15:51-54; Philippians as it was to Elijah. (2 Kings 2:11.) meetings these will visit homes, will 3:20, 21.) But since death is an unconscious conduct Bible classes, cooking schools, In verses 3, 4, however, Paul makes condition—like a dreamless sleep— or train laymen in Christian witnessing. it clear that there is an intermediate when the apostle and all the righteous Others trained in medical or educa- state between these two: "If so be dead are awakened by the voice of Je- tional lines serve the Church at home that being clothed we shall not be sus at the resurrection (John 5:28), it and abroad in various capacities with found naked. For we that are in this will seem that but an instant has varying levels of responsibility. While tabernacle do groan, being burdened: passed since they fell asleep. it is not the general practice for our not for that we would be unclothed, women to preach, some have been but clothed upon, that mortality might Does the Seventh-day Adventist Church successful as evangelists on the public be swallowed up of life." This "un- allow young women to train for elder- platform. clothed" or "naked" state is death. ship, and could a woman be elected to I do not know that the Church has When a person dies, he is neither alive the office of the President of the Gen- ever set a binding rule on this matter, in the mortal state or the immortal eral Conference? but in practice we follow the general state. He is "unclothed," dead. To the latter question I would answer Bible pattern. To my knowledge no Death is the cessation of life. (See that it is not impossible, but not very Seventh-day Adventist woman has ever Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6; Psalm 146:3, 4.) probable. I say this because, Scriptur- been publicly ordained to the gospel The righteous neither go to heaven ally speaking, God has usually worked ministry by the laying on of hands. END SEPTEMBER 1, 1968 21 HE BEATLES--bleSS their shaggy heads—have plunged into the T murky and turbulent waters of theology. Headlines trumpeted John Lennon's belief that the Beatles have become more popular than Jesus Christ. WHAT Some think this is a correct observa- tion. But the real contribution of the Beatles and of other popular singers to IS "POP" theological dialogue is their songs. Lis- ten to the words. Listen and you will learn how lots of people look at life. MUSIC As the father of five children, I have become, perforce, a student of popular music. At latest count, five REALLY radios are to be found from the base- ment to the attic of our parsonage. At almost any time of the day or night, "pop" music (or so they call it) pours SAVING? from one if not all of these radios. For a long time I tried to shut my ears to the caterwauling and the fre- netic beat, beat, beat. But after a while For a long time I tried my middle-aged eardrums capitulated, to shut my ears to the and I began to listen. What I heard caterwauling and the caused me to listen seriously. For the. frenetic beat, beat, beat. "go-go" music that blares from millions But after a while my of radios proclaims a popular philoso- phy of life—and sometimes a theology middle-aged eardrums as well. capitulated, and I began Evangelical Christians need to be to listen. listening, painful as this suggestion may seem, because pop music reveals what many, many people are thinking; what sort of values they admire; what idols BY are worshiped by the pagans in our midst. Pop music gives us an important CHARLES W. clue to where the action really is—or KEYSOR should be—in our apologetics these days. Take the perennial favorite, "I Be- lieve": "I believe for every drop of rain that falls, A flower grows. I believe that somewhere in the dark- est night, A candle glows. I believe for everyone who goes astray, • • • Someone will come to show the • a I • . • way. 4 • . • a • • • • • I believe. I believe." • • • • „ • • Here we have the essence of religion • • • • • • a a • • for many, including, alas, not a few 0, If a „ • . •• church members. What counts is belief —any kind will do. The object of belief • • *• • doesn't matter. You just have mystical • • I • • S. • a faith in (fill in the a , • • • • blank for whatever seems important to • • • • • * * 22 „. s a a „ • • • • you). This popular concept of belief the reality of God. But then we are ad- has articulated the material orientation gropes and stumbles in a swamp of sub- vised that "God language" is no longer of our culture. Satisfaction, it seems, jectivism, where it matters not whether relevant. We learn that man, in his comes from gratification of the senses. one believes in the girl next door, advance toward intellectual freedom, Cigarettes. Cars. Boats. Ranch houses. America, or the "Man Upstairs." has left far behind such antiquated Color television. "They satisfy"—or do ideas as that of man's purpose being to they? Never has any culture known so hat has caused this theological glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. high a level of satisfaction of material Wvacuum? How have so many peo- The plaintive words of one Beatle wants. But where is the fruit of this ple gotten the idea that belief has no favorite go like this: satisfaction? Its fruit is borne in jam- fixed, proper object? This sort of mel- packed divorce courts, in decaying "Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so lifluous heresy could achieve popularity structures of authority in home, class- far away. . . . only in a Christless culture, where the room, and community. I believe in yesterday." world's Saviour has been forgotten or "I cain't get no satisfaction!" relegated to the Sunday School quar- A broken romance is the occasion terly. for the singer's lament. But the nostal- So Watts erupts in an orgy of Listen closely to the radio, evangeli- gia over lost love broadens to a "look- anarchy. cals. Listen and shudder: ing backward" view of life as a whole. So Charles Whitman becomes the Today is nothing; tomorrow contains mad marksman on a Texas tower. "Every time I hear a newborn baby cry, no possible hope or joy. Yesterday and So a couple come to my study want- Or touch a leaf, or see the sky— its memories—this is all that matters. ing to be married—he for the fourth Then 1 know why I believe!" As I was listening for the hundredth time, she for the third. Who says all the pagans live in dark- time to the Beatle exaltation of "Yes- "I cain't get no satisfaction!" est Africa? terday," another set of words came to Naturally. You are looking in the Not long ago, the disc jockeys were my mind. Whether or not Paul, by in- wrong place. You are looking for satis- spinning a little number that contained spiration, foreknew the Beatles, his faction of the wrong sort. Long, long these lines: words do diagnose their basic problem: ago God gave His children some wise ti. . . you were living utterly apart counsel about satisfaction: "The purpose of a man is to love a from Christ; you were enemies of "Stop loving this evil world and all woman; God's children and He had promised that it offers you, for when you love The purpose of a woman is to love a you no help. You were without God, these things you show that you really man." without hope." (Ephesians 2:12, Liv- do not love God. For all these worldly Is that so? Is eros the real reason for ing Letters.) things, these evil desires—the craze for human existence? sex, the ambition to buy everything According to this philosophy of life- The Christian looks to yesterday— that appeals to you and the pride that a-go-go, man's destiny is fulfilled when but with gladness, not mourning. comes from wealth and importance— two lovers meet, kiss tenderly, and live For yesterday God sent His Son. Yes- these are not from God. They are from together happily ever after. Having terday His Son came, spoke everlasting the evil world itself. And this world is each other, they need nothing else. peace, and died on the cross so that my fading away, and these evil, forbidden But eventually the honeymoon ends. sins, even mine, might be cleansed by things will go with it, but whoever And in the daily task of shared ex- His blood. Yesterday I was forgiven. keeps doing the will of God will remain istence the couple face the grim reality So I rejoice in yesterday. I also rejoice forever." (1 John 2:15-17, Living of unpaid bills and nasty tempers. The in today. For this same Christ—now Letters.) challenges and tensions mount as the ascended in glory to the Father's right We dare not chew our fingernails years roll by. Eros wears mighty thin hand—sends His "loving Spirit into and lament about popular music as an by age fifty. And agape never gets in every troubled breast." The presence of affront to the soul and the senses. We the front door. For divine love comes His Spirit illuminates today and prom- have to hear the loneliness, the despair, into a home as God's gift, and who ises a tomorrow of glorious liberation the awful futility and triviality of which needs God in the dreamland existence and freedom. Today I am with Him. popular music is but a symptom. "Pop" of popular music? And tomorrow. And all the tomorrows. music may be God's way of telling us But without Christ, tomorrow is a how desperately millions of people need "The purpose of a man is to love a blurred question mark. Without Christ, Jesus Christ. Who else can fill the ter- woman; I can only weep about yesterday's rible vacuum this music reveals? END The purpose of a woman is to love a memories—along with the Beatles. Copyright 1966 by "Christianity Today." man." For months the radio has been emit- Reprinted by permission. That millions hear and apparently ting the nasal voice of a young man stridently declaring, READER'S CHOICE: This article heed such drivel goes far to explain was suggested to us by Don E. Swan- why divorce courts are busy. Why "I cain't get no satisfaction! son, of Los Angeles, California. Send mental institutions bulge and psychia- I cain't get no girlie action!" us your favorite article. If we print it, trists have waiting lists. In this inane you will receive $15. In case of dupli- cates, the first received will be ac- ditty we can perceive the tragedy of This put it a bit crudely. But the cepted for payment. secular man, living in total oblivion to young man with the twanging guitar SEPTEMBER 1, 1968 23 WHY GOD LISTENS TO YOUR PRAYERS

BY ELLEN G. WHITE

Through nature and revelation, through His providence, and by the influence of His Spirit, God speaks to us. But these are not enough; we need also to pour out our hearts to Him. In order to have spiritual life and energy, we must have actual intercourse with our heavenly Father. Our minds may be drawn out toward Him; we may meditate upon His works, His mercies, His blessings; but this is not, in the fullest sense, communing with Him. In order to commune with God, we must have something to say to Him concerning our actual life. Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that it is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him. When Jesus was upon the earth, He taught His disciolcs how to pray. He directed thera to present their daily needs before God, and to cast all their care upon Him. And the assurance He gave them that their petitions should be heard, is assurance also to us. Jesus Himself, while He dwelt among men, was often in prayer. Our Saviour identified Himself with our needs and weakness, in that He became a suppliant, a petitioner, seeking from His Father fresh supplies

24 The relations between God and each soul are as distinct and full as though there were not another soul upon the earth for whom He gave His beloved Son.

of strength, that He might come forth in the hand of faith to unlock heaven's believe that he is, and that he is a re- braced for duty and trial. He is our storehouse, where are treasured the warder of them that diligently seek example in all things. He is a brother boundless resources of Omnipotence? him." Hebrews 11:6. Jesus said to His in our infirmities, "in all points tempted Without unceasing prayer and diligent disciples, "What things soever ye de- like as we are"; but as the sinless one watching we are in danger of growing sire, when ye pray, believe that ye re- His nature recoiled from evil; He en- careless and of deviating from the right ceive them, and ye shall have them." dured struggles and torture of soul in path. The adversary seeks continually Mark 11:24. Do we take Him at His a world of sin. His humanity made to obstruct the way to the mercy seat, word? prayer a necessity and a privilege. He that we may not by earnest supplication The assurance is broad and un- found comfort and joy in communion and faith obtain grace and power to limited, and He is faithful who has with His Father. And if the Saviour of resist temptation. promised. When we do not receive the men, the Son of God, felt the need of There are certain conditions upon very things we asked for, at the time prayer, how much more should feeble, which we may expect that God will we ask, we are still to believe that the sinful mortals feel the necessity of hear and answer our prayers. One of Lord hears and that He will answer our fervent, constant prayer. the first of these is that we feel our prayers. We are so erring and short- Our heavenly Father waits to bestow need of help from Him. He has prom- sighted that we sometimes ask for upon us the fullness of His blessing. It ised, "I will pour water upon him that things that would not be a blessing to is our privilege to drink largely at the is thirsty, and floods upon the dry us, and our heavenly Father in love fountain of boundless love. What a ground." Isaiah 44:3. Those who hun- answers our prayers by giving us that wonder it is that we pray so little! God ger and thirst after righteousness, who which will be for our highest good— is ready and willing to hear the sincere long after God, may be sure that they that which we ourselves would desire prayer of the humblest of His children, will be filled. The heart must be open if with vision divinely enlightened we and yet there is much manifest re- to the Spirit's influence, or God's bless- could see all things as they really are. luctance on our part to make known ing cannot be received. When our prayers seem not to be an- our wants to God. What can the angels Our great need is itself an argument swered, we are to cling to the promise; of heaven think of poor helpless hu- and pleads most eloquently in our be- for the time of answering will surely man beings, who are subject to tempta- half. But the Lord is to be sought unto come, and we shall receive the blessing tion, when God's heart of infinite love to do these things for us. He says, we need most. but to claim that prayer yearns toward them, ready to give them "Ask, and it shall be given you." And will always be answered in the very more than they can ask or think, and "he that spared not his own Son, but way and for the particular thing that we yet they pray so little and have so little delivered him up for us all, how shall desire, is presumption. God is too wise faith? The angels love to bow before he not with him also freely give us all to err, and too good to withhold any God; they love to be near Him. They things?" (Matthew 7:7; Romans 8:32.) good thing from them that walk up- regard communion with God as their If we regard iniquity in our hearts, rightly. Then do not fear to trust Him, highest joy; and yet the children of if we cling to any known sin, the Lord even though you do not see the immedi- earth, who need so much the help that will not hear us; but the prayer of the ate answer to your prayers. Rely upon God only can give, seem satisfied to penitent, contrite soul is always ac- His sure promise, "Ask, and it shall be walk without the light of His Spirit, the cepted. When all known wrongs are given you." companionship of His presence. righted, we may believe that God will If we take counsel with our doubts The darkness of the evil one en- answer our petitions. Our own merit and fears, or try to solve everything closes those who neglect to pray. The will never commend us to the favor of that we cannot see clearly, before we whispered temptations of the enemy God; it is the worthiness of Jesus that have faith, perplexities will only in- entice them to sin; and it is all because will save us, His blood that will cleanse crease and deepen. But if we come to they do not make use of the privileges us; yet we have a work to do in God, feeling helpless and dependent, that God has given them in the divine complying with the conditions of ac- as we really are, and in humble, trust- appointment of prayer. Why should ceptance. ing faith make known our wants to the sons and daughters of God be re- Another element of prevailing prayer Him whose knowledge is infinite, who luctant to pray, when prayer is the key is faith. "He that cometh to God must Continued

SEPTEMBER 1, 1968 25 Pray in secret, and as you go about your daily work, often uplift your heart to God.

Continued Seek every opportunity to go where to God and plead for divine guidance, sees everything in creation, and who prayer is wont to be made. Those who as did Nehemiah when he made his governs everything by His will and are really seeking for communion with request before King Artaxerxes. A word, He can and will attend to our God will be seen in the prayer meeting, closet of communion may be found cry, and will let light shine into our faithful to do their duty and earnest wherever we are. We should have the hearts. Through sincere prayer we are and anxious to reap all the benefits they door of the heart open continually and brought into connection with the mind can gain. They will improve every op- our invitation going up that Jesus may of the Infinite. We may have no re- portunity of placing themselves where come and abide as a heavenly guest in markable evidence at the time that the they can receive the rays of light from the soul. face of our Redeemer is bending over us heaven. Although there may be a tainted, in compassion and love, but this is even We should pray in the family circle, corrupted atmosphere around us, we so. We may not feel His visible touch, and above all we must not neglect need not breathe its miasma, but may but His hand is upon us in love and secret prayer, for this is the life of the live in the pure air of heaven. We may pitying tenderness. soul. It is impossible for the soul to close every door to impure imaginings When we come to ask mercy and flourish while prayer is neglected. Fam- and unholy thoughts by lifting the soul blessing from God, we should have a ily or public prayer alone is not suffi- into the presence of God through sin- spirit of love and forgiveness in our cient. In solitude let the soul be laid cere prayer. Those whose hearts are own hearts. How can we pray, "For- open to the inspecting eye of God. open to receive the support and bless- give us our debts, as we forgive our Secret prayer is to be heard only by ing of God will walk in a holier at- debtors," and yet indulge an unforgiv- the prayer-hearing God. No curious mosphere than that of earth and will ing spirit? (Matthew 6:12.) If we ex- ear is to receive the burden of such have constant communion with heaven. pect our own prayers to be heard, we petitions. In secret prayer the soul is We need to have more distinct views must forgive others in the same manner free from surrounding influences, free of Jesus and a fuller comprehension of and to the same extent as we hope to from excitement. Calmly, yet fervently, the value of eternal realities. The be forgiven. will it reach out after God. Sweet and beauty of holiness is to fill the hearts of Perseverance in prayer has been abiding will be the influence emanating God's children; and that this may be made a condition of receiving. We from Him who seeth in secret, whose accomplished, we should seek for di- must pray always if we would grow in ear is open to hear the prayer arising vine disclosures of heavenly things. faith and experience. We are to be "in- from the heart. By calm, simple faith Let the soul be drawn out and up- stant in prayer," to "continue in prayer, the soul holds communion with God ward, that God may grant us a breath and watch in the same with thanks- and gathers to itself rays of divine light of the heavenly atmosphere. We may giving." (Romans 12:12; Colossians to strengthen and sustain it in the con- keep so near to God that in every un- 4:2.) Peter exhorts believers to be flict with Satan. God is our tower of expected trial our thoughts will turn to "sober, and watch unto prayer." (1 strength. Him as naturally as the flower turns Peter 4:7.) Paul directs, "In everything Pray in your closet, and as you go to the sun. by prayer and supplication with thanks- about your daily labor let your heart be Keep your wants, your joys, your giving let your requests be made known often uplifted to God. It was thus that sorrows, your cares, and your fears be- unto God." Philippians 4:6. "But ye, Enoch walked with God. These silent fore God. You cannot burden Him; beloved," says Jude, "praying in the prayers rise like precious incense be- you cannot weary Him. He who num- Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the fore the throne of grace. Satan cannot bers the hairs of your head is not in- love of God." Jude 20, 21. Unceasing overcome him whose heart is thus different to the wants of His children. prayer is the unbroken union of the stayed upon God. "The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender soul with God, so that life from God There is no time or place in which mercy." James 5:11. His heart of love flows into our life; and from our life, it is inappropriate to offer up a petition is touched by our sorrows and even by purity and holiness flow back to God. to God. There is nothing that can pre- our utterances of them. Take to Him There is necessity for diligence in vent us from lifting up our hearts in the everything that perplexes the mind. prayer; let nothing hinder you. Make spirit of earnest prayer. In the crowds Nothing is too great for Him to bear, every effort to keep open the commu- of the street, in the midst of a business for He holds up worlds, He rules over nion between Jesus and your own soul. engagement, we may send up a petition all the affairs of the universe. Nothing

26 THESE TIMES We are the constant recipients of God's mercies, yet how little gratitude we express.

that in any way concerns our peace is pray in regard to the wants of humanity all our thoughts, to talk of His good- too small for Him to notice. There is or the upbuilding of Christ's kingdom, ness and tell of His power. The rich no chapter in our experience too dark pleading for strength wherewith to gifts He has bestowed upon us were for Him to read; there is no perplexity work. not intended to absorb our thoughts too difficult for Him to unravel. No We sustain a loss when we neglect and love so much that we should have calamity can befall the least of His the privilege of associating together to nothing to give to God; they are con- children, no anxiety harass the soul, no strengthen and encourage one another stantly to remind us of Him and to joy cheer, no sincere prayer escape the in the service of God. The truths of His bind us in bonds of love and gratitude lips, of which our heavenly Father is Word lose their vividness and impor- to our heavenly Benefactor. We dwell unobservant, or in which He takes no tance in our minds. Our hearts cease too near the lowlands of earth. Let us immediate interest. "He healeth the to be enlightened and aroused by their raise our eyes to the open door of the broken in heart, and bindeth up their sanctifying influence, and we decline sanctuary above, where the light of the wounds." Psalm 147:3. The relations in spirituality. In our association as glory of God shines in the face of between God and each soul are as Christians we lose much by lack of Christ, who "is able also to save them distinct and full as though there were sympathy with one another. He who to the uttermost that come unto God by not another soul upon the earth to shuts himself up to himself is not filling him." (Hebrews 7:25.) share His watchcare, not another soul the position that God designed he We need to praise God more "for his for whom He gave His beloved Son. should. The proper cultivation of the goodness, and for his wonderful works Jesus said, "Ye shall ask in my social elements in our nature brings us to the children of men." (Psalm 107: name: and I say not unto you, that I into sympathy with others and is a 8.) Our devotional exercises should not will pray the Father for you: for the means of development and strength to consist wholly in asking and receiving. Father himself loveth you." "I have us in the service of God. Let us not be always thinking of our chosen you: . . . that whatsoever ye If Christians would associate to- wants and never of the benefits we re- shall ask of the Father in my name, he gether, speaking to each other of the ceive. We do not pray any too much, may give it you." John 16:26, 27; 15: love of God and of the precious truths but we are too sparing of giving thanks. 16. But to pray in the name of Jesus of redemption, their own hearts would We are the constant recipients of God's is something more than a mere mention be refreshed and they would refresh mercies, and yet how little gratitude we of that name at the beginning and the one another. We may be daily learning express, how little we praise Him for ending of a prayer. It is to pray in the more of our heavenly Father, gaining a what He has done for us. mind and spirit of Jesus, while we be- fresh experience of His grace; then we Anciently the Lord bade Israel, when lieve His promises, rely upon His grace, shall desire to speak of His love; and they met together for His service, "Ye and work His works. as we do this, our own hearts will be shall eat before the Lord your God, God does not mean that any of us warmed and encouraged. If we thought and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put should become hermits or monks and and talked more of Jesus, and less of your hand unto, ye and your house- retire from the world in order to devote self, we should have far more of His holds, wherein the Lord thy God hath ourselves to acts of worship. The life presence. blessed thee." Deuteronomy 12:7. That must be like Christ's life—between the If we would but think of God as which is done for the glory of God mountain and the multitude. He who often as we have evidence of His care should be done with cheerfulness, with does nothing but pray will soon cease for us, we should keep Him ever in our songs of praise and thanksgiving. to pray, or his prayers will become a thoughts and should delight to talk of Our God is a tender, merciful Fa- formal routine. When men take them- Him and to praise Him. We talk of ther. His service should not be looked selves out of social life, away from the temporal things because we have an upon as a heart-saddening, distressing sphere of Christian duty and cross interest in them. We talk of our friends exercise. It should be a pleasure to bearing; when they cease to work because we love them; our joys and our worship the Lord and to take part in earnestly for the Master, who worked sorrows are bound up with them. Yet His work. God would not have His earnestly for them, they lose the sub- we have infinitely greater reason to children, for whom so great salvation ject matter of prayer and have no in- love God than to love our earthly has been provided, act as if He were a centive to devotion. Their prayers be- friends; it should be the most natural hard, exacting taskmaster. He is their come personal and selfish. They cannot thing in the world to make Him first in best friend. END

SEPTEMBER 1, 1968 27 HILE the Arab-Israeli war left its be absorbed by the western Jerusalem scars on the Middle East, it also church headed by Pastor David Rie- W reunited many people who had mens, sixty-eight, who, with his wife, been separated by the division of the has worked for the church for thirty- city of Jerusalem. The two congrega- eight years. His congregation in Jeru- THE tions of the Seventh-day Adventists, salem numbers twenty-five members, one in eastern Jerusalem and the other and he travels throughout Israel visit- in the western section, now hold Sab- ing the some sixty other Adventists SEVENTH-DAY bath services together, and members of scattered throughout the country and the two congregations are getting to holding services in their churches. know one another and share their com- Many languages are spoken in Israel, ADVENTISTS mon faith in the land where much of and Pastor Riemens speaks in English, Biblical history took place. French, Spanish, and German. Through Only six members of the congrega- an interpreter, his services are trans- OF ISRAEL tion in eastern Jerusalem remained lated into Hebrew, Hungarian, Bul- there after the war. Their pastor is garian, and Romanian. W. J. Clemons, thirty-two, who came Pastor Riemens, who was born in A "THESE TIMES" PICTURE STORY to Jerusalem two years ago after serv- Amsterdam, stayed in Israel during the ing in Libya and Jordan. He will soon war. He wanted to help the victims of be transferred back to Amman, Jordan, the war, but Israel allows only its own where there are 170 Adventists. There government social workers to do this; are three Adventist missionary schools, so Pastor Riemens offered his services six chapels, and about twenty workers, and now works through the social de- teachers, and pastors throughout Jor- partment as a volunteer helping Is- dan. Pastor Clemons, along with his raelis. Although there is religious free- wife and two young children, now aids dom in Israel, missionary work in the Pictures by Three Lions in welfare work for the many Arab country is prohibited. Because of this, war refugees. Pastor Riemens must remain anony- Pastor Clemons's congregation will mous to the people he helps. END

28 THESE TIMES ATIII141114116.. sta11114411141111111MIMUS411 111141111111111111111M111111141/4161 -14114141141411111114111111 matgamilrer-Rors Net 1111118111411111:111.0 111111444111114 Olt 41 M14411111111111.14 1411 1r' 4141‘. app airmaair: ramosimes wompumposi • :•• Anir

Left: Seventh-day Adventists from east and west Jerusalem meet each Saturday for Sabbath services. Seated at the right is Miss Julia Hoel, Adventist missionary for thirty-five years in the Congo, who returned to Africa after her furlough.

Above: Pastor and Mrs. W. J. Clemons and family (at right) pose with several church members outside their place of worship in eastern Jerusalem.

Adventists from eastern and western Jerusalem get to know each other after Israeli unification of the city.

SEPTEMBER 1, 1968 iuii

Continued

Adventist Pastor David Riemens (second from left) and an Israeli social worker discuss welfare needs with a needy family.

Pastor David Riemens of the western Jerusalem Adventist church has composed music for piano and chorales. His compositions have been broadcast on "Kol Israel" and other radio stations.

Pastor and Mrs. W. J. Clemons call on a blind Arab mother and her children to give her a pair of shoes.

30 THE GATHERING STORM the church would be annihilated, only persons of no formal religious faith— (Continued from page 15) controlled. Right here is where the all who believe firmly in this time- great danger lies. For the church may proved concept which has made our A church, once it is caught in the be visible to the eye—still be a center country great. We must be prepared to eye of the church-state storm, may be of activity—but without life. Like an defend it against all who seek to sub- destroyed forever. The church's walls animated cartoon, action may give it vert it. END may not collapse. Its program of activi- the appearance of life—but there is no (Copies of this article may be obtained ties may not cease or even be dimin- breath, no spirit, no ministry of recon- from Americans United, 1633 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. ished; but it will be destroyed as a ciliation and redemption. church, that unique institution ordained Single copy 50, 12 for 500, 30 for $1.00, 100 It was a tragic day in 1966 when for $3.00, 500 for $9.00.) of God to do a divine work no other Topeka was ravaged by one of the institution can do. For, make no mis- century's most devastating storms. A STATEMENT OF CORRECTION take, when organized government be- much more tragic day will be that day gins to pay the bills of organized reli- The editors inadvertently produced gion, the state begins to tell the church some errors in Part II of "How Sunday what it may and may not do. • • Displaced the Sabbath" by Kenneth A. The Supreme Court of the United Strand (May, 1968, pages 26-29). The States has ruled that "it is hardly lack PRAYER CIRCLE following will serve to make correction. of due process for the government to Ignatius' letter To the Magnesians, regulate that which it subsidizes." At "Pray for one another," chapter 9, is often considered as an this point the Lordship of Christ in the wrote the Apostle James, "that early proof of Christian Sunday-keeping church begins to give way to the lord- you may be healed." (James because it refers to "no longer sabbatiz- ship of Uncle Sam, and the mission of 5:16, R.S.V.) The privilege of ing, but living according to the Lord's." the church as a spiritual and prophetic prayer is one of God's best Usually the last term ("Lord's") is voice of God's law gives way to the gifts, not that He isn't already translated "Lord's day," but it may role of the church as a timid propaga- willing to give us much more also be translated "Lord's life" (in the tor of the government's demands. than we deserve, but He is Greek original, the word day does not Even Cardinal Cushing, Roman waiting and longing for us to actually appear, but the word life Catholic Archbishop of Boston, has just ask Him. does). The important thing to notice, sounded this warning. The Boston We need your prayers, and however, is that the reference is to the Globe on January 26, 1964 (page A- you need ours. Pray for us, Old Testament prophets, as the context 7), quoted him as saying: and we will pray for you. makes clear. The Old Testament proph- "I don't know of anywhere in the Send your prayer requests to ets are the ones spoken of as no longer history of Christianity where the Catho- THESE TIMES Prayer Circle, "sabbatizing," but living according to lic Church, the Protestant Church, or Box 59, Nashville, Tennessee the "Lord's [day]" or "Lord's [life]." any other church has made greater 37202. These prophets obviously did not keep progress than in the United States of Sunday; they kept the seventh day of America; and in my opinion the chief • — • the week. Hence, this passage from reason is that there is no union of Ignatius cannot be considered as a church and state. . . . when the churches are caught up in the Sunday reference. "Once a state or government starts storm of church-state controversy and The contrast which Ignatius makes financing church-related schools or a their spiritual ministries blown away between "sabbatizing" and the "Lord's church-related system of education, the by the winds of expediency. That is [day]" or "Lord's [life]" is really not next step is a controlled system." doomsday for the churches. a contrast between two days at all. Mark well his term, "controlled What must we do? We must join to- Rather, it is a contrast between two system." He did not say the system or gether—Protestants, Catholics, Jews, ways of life—between legalism and the

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A SEPTEMBER 1, 1968 31 life of the resurrection faith in Christ Jesus. It is not a contrast between Sab- bath and Sunday, for the Old Testa- ment prophets could not have been in- volved in such a contrast. But neither irooflfth Events is it a contrast "between two different fr OF THESE TIMES ways of keeping the one day the proph- 4r ets kept," as we inadvertently editorial- ized Strand to say. Of course, a correct keeping of the seventh-day Sabbath could be considered as a part of the "life of the resurrection faith in Christ AMERICA NEEDS SPIRITUAL REVIVAL Lee Harvey Oswald, at least for a Jesus." "Let us, for God's sake, learn to live while, let his responsibility to his home- Strand also pointed out in his article land be superseded by a distorted pre- under law!" With those words the Presi- that the weekly Christian Sunday un- occupation with Castro's Cuba. doubtedly developed in post-New-Tes- dent of the United States responded to the assassination of Senator Robert What I'm saying is that a presidential tament times from an earlier annual commission designated to determine Sunday-Easter observed by many Chris- Kennedy. But President Johnson was talking about all manner and all de- what causes violence is going to seek a tians. Among evidences for the antiq- rational explanation for the behavior uity of this Sunday-Easter is its wide- grees of violence—on campuses, in public buildings, on main streets—and of irrational persons, and there is none. spread geographical distribution at the I recall that during the height of the time of the Easter Controversy of circa dark side streets. The statement and the events which national controversy over Senator Joe A.D. 190. At that time all the Christian inspired it should have a sobering effect McCarthy my own life was threatened. world, except the Christians from the Scheduled to speak in a certain South- Roman province of Asia (in western on all rational men. Now we have seen so graphically the inevitably ugly re- western town, I arrived to discover an Asia Minor), observed Easter on a extraordinary escort of police at the Sunday. These Asian Christians, how- sults of disrespect for law—surely ra- tional men will sober up and cease and airport and FBI agents guarding my ever, observed Nisan 14, regardless of hotel corridor. These precautions, re- the day of the week this might be. desist from the small crimes which lead to big ones. sulting from receipt of an unsigned Therefore they have been called Quar- postcard, I found embarrassing. todecimans or "fourteenthers." It is not But what of the irrational persons I telephoned FBI Director J. Edgar likely that Sunday-Easter was simply a inevitably included in our conglomerate Hoover. "Anybody intending to shoot late Roman innovation (as is some- sardine society? me is not going to send me a warning," times suggested), for how could a late Sirhan Bishara Sirhan entered our I protested. Roman innovation of Sunday-Easter "melting pot" but didn't melt. He re- have so widely displaced a Quartodeci- tained a fanatical allegiance to his Director Hoover's response was firm: mother country, Jordan. "You can't rationalize what an irra- man practice by A.D. 190? Rather, there is evidence that both observances trace back through apostolic times to Jewish "HEAD OF CHRIST" ARTIST DIES precedent: the Sunday-Easter going back to the Essene-Boethusian mode of reckoning the day for celebrating .the firstfruits wave sheaf (Leviticus 23:10, 11) always as a Sunday, and the Quartodeciman practice going back to the Pharisaic emphasis on Nisan 14 as the day for killing the paschal lamb. It should be noted that whereas the Pharisaic reckoning made Nisan 16 the day for celebrating the firstfruits, it is not certain that the Christian Quarto- decimans paralleled the Pharisaic chro- nology in detail. Our evidence is too scant to determine whether Nisan 14 was the only day of the Christian cele- bration (in this case, presumably com- memorating both the death and resur- rection of Christ) or whether Nisan 14 was but the beginning day of a longer celebration. In any event, these Chris- tians were called Quartodecimans be- cause of Nisan 14, not because of Ni- Warner Sallman (right), whose painting of the "Head of Christ" has had a worldwide dr- san 16, as we appeared to make Strand culation of more than 100 million copies, died in Chicago at the age of seventy-six. He say. END completed the painting in 1926. 32 THESE TIMES tional person is likely to do!" He went on to explain that if the protection were to be withdrawn—then anything should happen—the bureau would be in trou- ble for ignoring the warning. The guards remained. I relate the experience only to under- score the problem facing the President's new commission as it undertakes to explain or anticipate what an Oswald or a Sirhan is likely to do. When the investigators have done their best, have piled more laws on laws, vainly trying We Quote... to provide salvation by legislation, Americans may then recognize that the James Freeman Clarke: "All the strength and force of man only way out is up; that the change comes from his faith in things unseen. He who believes is strong; he must be made in the hearts of men. who doubts is weak. Strong convictions precede great actions. The Our beloved republic, born in pain man strongly possessed of an idea is the master of all who are out of a spiritual God-man wedding, uncertain or wavering. Clear, deep, living convictions rule the has backslid so far that it now must be world." born again, one individual at a time. We don't need more laws. All we need is renewed respect for the Basic Ten. If to a sophisticated generation it Bishop Fulton Sheen: "God does not love us because we are sounds "corny" to propose spiritual valuable; we are valuable because He loves us." regeneration, so be it. This generation will accept the nar- row gate to heaven—or live in hell Benjamin Franklin: "When a religion is good, I conceive it will right here.—Paul Harvey. support itself; and when it does not support itself, and God does not take care to support it, so that its professors are obliged to call for "OLD RUGGED CROSS" IS help of the civil power, 'tis a sign, I apprehend, of its being a MOST POPULAR HYMN bad one." "The Old Rugged Cross" is the most popular hymn in the United States and Canada, according to a coast-to-coast Ellen G. White, "Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students," Favorite Hymn Poll conducted by the p. 66: "If men could see for a moment beyond the range of finite Seventh-day Adventist Church. vision, if they could catch a glimpse of the Eternal, every mouth Of the 103,718 adults, teen-agers, would be stopped in its boasting. Men living in this little atom of a and children interviewed, 82,013 listed world are finite; God has unnumbered worlds that are obedient to a favorite hymn, with 16,212 claiming His laws and are conducted with reference to His glory. When men "The Old Rugged Cross" as their have gone as far in scientific research as their limited powers will favorite. permit, there is still an infinity beyond what they can apprehend." The other nine in the top ten were "How Great Thou Art," "Rock of Ages," "In the Garden," "What a Nina Willis Walter, "Science of Mind," May, 1968: "You cannot Friend We Have in Jesus," "Beyond waste time, for time is always here, neither more nor less, and al- the Sunset," "Abide With Me," "it Is ways moving at a steady pace. When you do not use time to the No Secret," "A Mighty Fortress," and best possible advantage to yourself, to society, to God, you are "Faith of Our Fathers." wasting yourself." "The Old Rugged Cross" may al- ways be the favorite English-language hymn because it focuses on the key to Malcolm Muggeridge, British author, broadcaster, and wit: "Un- salvation, the sacrifice of Christ. As speaking clergymen twanging electric guitars denounce him [Christi; the hymn says, "On a hill far away (Episcopal) Bishop Pike of California casts him into outer darkness; stood an old rugged cross, The emblem from Woolwich, from Southwark and other famous sees come of suff'ring and shame, And I love that thunderous voices proclaiming that to be carnally minded is life, old cross where the dearest and best that it is the flesh that quickeneth. . For a world of lost sinners was slain." "Let me tell you, in all honesty, that, in my opinion, if there are On Sunday, October 6, the nation- church leaders and clergy who have made such concessions to pre- wide radio and television programs vailing permissiveness and materialism, I personally shall be very Voice of Prophecy and Faith for To- surprised if, in a decade or so, anything at all remains of institu- day will feature the favorite hymns on tional Christianity unless there is a quick and dramatic reversal of special programs. END their present attitudes."

SEPTEMBER 1, 1968 33 So it isn't impossible for persecutions—even of Chris- tians—to take place, even in the United States. What is the person who searches for truth to do when such an unthinkable possibility confronts him? Give up his faith in God? Couldn't he easily reason that since world conditions are worsening and Christianity Editorial * seems to be losing its influence, he might as well jump on the bandwagon? Christians, of course, will jump on no such band- ASSASSINATIONS AND TOMORROW wagon. This is where God separates His true followers from those who claim only the name of His Son. The ENATOR ROBERT F. KENNEDY, 1968. Civil rights true Christian knows that it takes more than the sign S leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 1968. Presi- of the cross to save men. Men must truly worship God. dent John F. Kennedy, 1963. Senator Huey P. Long, They must try to their utmost ability and knowledge 1935. Mayor Anton J. Cermak, of Chicago, 1933. to live the good life as outlined by God's Word. President William McKinley, 1901. Governor William These are the people who keep the commandments Goebel, of Kentucky, 1900. Mayor Carter H. Harri- of God. How recently have we read through the Ten son, Sr., of Chicago, 1893. President James A. Gar- Commandments? They're listed in the second book of field, 1881. the Bible, Exodus 20. To cap off the short reading All these well-known men were assassinated in the project, we could all benefit from reading Christ's United States during the past ninety years. But who Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 5, 6, and 7. Those remembers the names of the hundreds, the thousands, three chapters in Matthew plus the Ten Command- the hundreds of thousands of other, more common, ments are enough to set every one of us straight, if we American men, women, and children who were killed but wish to do right. But we must search the Scriptures during the same time by lynch mobs, drunken or negli- to find what is right. gent drivers, and criminals of other kinds? Few Ameri- When we've finished reading the Ten Command- cans argue today that the temper of our nation is what ments and the three chapters in Matthew, we would do it should be. well to think about our personal reaction to what we And a recent scientific opinion poll indicated that have read. If we aren't doing what they suggest, isn't more and more Americans think religion is losing its in- this a perfect time for a spiritual reformation in our fluence on American life. The poll pointed out that in lives? Most of us could easily afford to switch off our 1957, 69 percent of Americans thought religion was television sets for an hour—or two or three—without increasing its influence on American life. The percent- noticing any difference in our lives. Maybe we should age has steadily dropped until in April, 1968, only put more of that largely wasted time to better use—to 19 percent of Americans thought the same. On the improving ourselves spiritually, mentally, and physically. opposite side of the question, in 1957 only 14 percent And if we are not perfect, what about our children? of the Americans interviewed said religion was losing When was the last time we took time—yes, took the its influence. Today the percentage is 67. time—to read them a Bible story or to pray with them? If this poll is valid, Americans face more assassi- We don't really believe that an hour or two each week nations, more riots, more looting, more lawlessness of in Sunday or Sabbath School will do the job, do we? every sort. For if America's religious forces are losing They spend up to twenty times that much time each the battle for the influence of men's minds, non- week in front of the family television screen. When a Christian philosophies must be winning. boy is trying to decide whether or not to steal a candy What will our country be like when the eternal bar at the corner drugstore, will Superman burst through words, "Thou shalt not kill" and "Thou shalt not steal," the ceiling and save him from the temptation? are replaced by "Thou shalt kill—when it suits thy Of course Superman will be busy at the newspaper purpose" and "Thou shalt steal—when it suits thy office. And not many persons today hold that television purpose"? Will life really be happier? is a great educator in the finer things of life. America No, if religion is really losing its influence, this will not be saved by Superman, or a clever spy, or a country has double the trouble ahead. If the Christian straight-shooting cowboy, or a talking animal, or a ethic is lost and men develop a code to suit their tastes, comedian with slightly off-color jokes. Christ still is intolerance of all sorts likely will take control. This type the answer. of code could easily lead the United States from its And if more Americans—Americans who are moth- democratic form of government, where the rights of ers and fathers—would take even just ten minutes a minorities are protected, to a totalitarian form, where day to sit down with their families, their children, to minorities could just as well be imprisoned—or cre- study the Word of God and to pray for divine guidance mated—for no other reason than their mere existence. in their lives and in their beloved country, there just Hitler did it in Germany. might be a dramatic drop in the number of assassina- What would life be like if the leader of our nation tions, riots, and other crimes. As long as sinful men had the power to arbitrarily decide to imprison those inhabit this earth, it never will be an ideal place in with blue eyes, or those who drive Chevrolets, or those which to live. But if more American families took the who observe the Sabbath? Impossible for it to happen? little time and made the simple effort to daily reinforce Christ Himself said in Matthew 10:22 that His follow- their Christian heritage, it would doubtless be a better ers would "be hated of all men" for His name's sake. place in which to live until Christ returns. R. W. N.

34 THESE TIMES "If we will but listen, God's created works will teach us precious lessons of obedience and trust."—Ellen G. White.

"GO TO THE ANT"

BY OPAL ROGERS LYNN 1,

NT MILE after ant mile the two-way the ants probably holding first place. a thick layer over the floor. They actu- highway stretched on—diagonally Sir John Lubbock, an authority on the ally plant mushroom spores in this A across the lawn, through a tube Hymenoptera, made this daring decla- hotbed, using only the specific kind tunnel under the sidewalk, across a ration: "When we consider the habits they accept as food. Daily they tend convenient wood-chip bridge over a of the ants, their social organization, their garden, weeding out every other low spot, finally disappearing altogether their large communities, their elaborate kind of mushroom and plant. under the foundation of a building. habitations, their roadways, their pos- In the tropical forests of South and Beaten almost as smooth and hard as session of domestic animals and even, Central America approximately one our paved superhighways by millions in some cases, of slaves, it must be ad- hundred different species grow their of tiny feet, six to each owner, the road mitted that they have a fair claim to food in this way, each insisting on its was generally quite hidden from view rank next to man in the scale of in- own particular variety. Most spectacu- by arched dead grass cleverly woven telligence." lar of these are the parasol ants, so into the green grass on either side. Though more than two thousand named because of their striking man- Powerful little jaws, always slicing kinds of ants have been cataloged, all ner of running toward the nest carrying sideways like the swath of a scythe, are noted for their industry. Neverthe- a large section of leaf waving above had cut every grass-blade from the less, they also take rest periods, some- their heads as if trying to shade them- roadbed, leaving the roots to die. Ev- times relaxing or napping for hours selves from the hot sun. These ants ery depression had been filled level deep in the privacy of their homes. swarm up certain trees, often denuding with dirt laboriously carried in pellet This reminds us that God, who never them of leaves. Holding a piece of leaf by pellet, and all pebbles and obstruc- countenances indolence, solicitously in- in her jaws, the edge resting in a tions removed. When the road perforce vites, "Come . . . apart, . . . and rest a groove on top of her head, each ant crossed a bare spot, it was cut a half while," for He knows that quiet times carries her "parasol" underground, inch or more deep, with dead grass or are imperative for both physical and where it is chewed to pulpy bits for the trash dragged over it for camouflage. spiritual recharging. fungus garden. Some of these garden When ants must travel over an open No other creature, aside from man, rooms are enormous, as much as three spot, they accelerate their speed. can equal the ants as farmers. The har- feet long and a foot wide. Over this marvel of engineering skill vester ants gather grain or grass seeds "Go to the ant, thou sluggard; con- and dogged hard work bumper-to- and carry them to their underground sider her ways, and be wise" (Proverbs bumper two-way traffic moved smoothly storerooms. There another specialized 6:6), admonished the great naturalist —the incoming little VW's heavily group of workers wait, the chewers— Solomon. When we go, we return laden, the outgoing ones empty. we might call them the millers. These vitalized to set about our own tasks Suppose we relax our muscles right grind the grain by chewing it thor- with energy and dispatch. If we would here on Mother Earth's bosom for a oughly, mixing their saliva with it. The as diligently as the ant improve the sunny hour or two, but with our mental resulting sweet, sticky mass is a pleas- faculties given us, how much our use- cogs set in high gear. An anthill is ing ant food. fulness might be increased! an excellent "listening" post, a busy In Texas another kind of ant is an But the most arresting thought schoolroom where the Master Teacher expert gardener. In a large under- brought back from the anthill is this: quietly and unforgettably demonstrates ground chamber the little gardeners Am I preparing for the future immortal His "precious lessons." meticulously prepare the seedbed by life with as much perseverance as the Bees, wasps, and ants are considered bringing in mesquite leaves, cutting little ant displays in preparing for her the most intelligent of the insects, with them fine, and spreading this mulch in winter needs? END

SEPTEMBER 1, 1968 35 II

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