HERALD of HOLINESS “ Become Like a Little Child.”
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“He giveth snow like wool He casteth forth his ice like morsels...” (Psaim 14716 JJERALD CHURCH OF THENAZARENE / FEBRUARY 1,1981 AN EDITORIAL he new church m a n u a l IT'S A GREAT B O O K - is now off the press. Once it has been printed and is available, Tits contents become official THE MANUAL church directives until a new one CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE comes off the press following the next General Assembly. There is even a sense of anticipation as we contemplate the inauguration of policies which were decided upon at the last General Assembly. It is r \ indeed a book authored by many people. There are several consid erations to be observed about the Manual of the Church of the Naz- arene. In the first place, its contents manual have been decided upon by an tW equal number of both laity and S - W clergy within the church. These t decision-makers were not just i ■ j ,::. M m chosen at random, but rather were carefully selected by their fellow churchmen from various I ■ 1 V * s '"• representative groups. In all in I . - - . '! ■* stances they have been “ mem bers" in good standing. Another point of interest con V J cerning the Manual is that it is available to all members of the church. Even as the English edi tion was being printed, many oth the whole church have set forth Now that it is available, all of er language editions have been in guidelines, regulations, orders, our people should allow them the process of preparation. It is and ecclesiastical law assuring selves to become well versed in it. not a book for just a select group the church of another five years Let it be found in each home, reserved for their particular in of a common sense of direction. studied, underlined, dog-eared, terpretation of church law. Accepting the authority of the revered, and respected. It’s a The Manual becomes, then, a Manual is not a blind response great book, written for us, by us. collective expression of represen within the heart to defend and up Enjoy it. You’ll find it to be great tative people who in representing hold it. reading. □ by General Superintendent Jerald D. Johnson HERALD OF HOLINESS “ Become like a little child.” Matthew 18:3, NIV ESUS STOOD a little child among His disciples and said, “ I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never Jenter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3, NIV). The childlikeness of the Christian has been fre quently discussed. The qualities of childlikeness that the Christian is to have, such as simple faith, obedi ence, dependence, and openness, are not unknown to by GERRY WHETSTONE the majority of Christians. We also know that these qualities are to remain with us as we “ grow up” as Christians (1 Peter 2:2). However, it is always good to learn more of Christ and His will should be the long remind ourselves of these vital truths. ing of every believer. Have you ever seen a young There is a childlike quality, however, that we sel child that did not have the desire to learn? He may dom discuss. It is twofold; a great desire to learn and have desired to learn the wrong things, but always to tell everyone what was learned. Recently this was there is the desire to learn. Should we ever see a brought home to me very dramatically. One of the Christian without that desire? God has given us the boys in our church came up to me before a Wednes capacity through the Holy Spirit to learn; therefore, day evening service and proceeded to show me a new we should yearn to do so. book he had just gotten. He then, without a moment Let me return to the second aspect of this quality, to catch his breath, began to tell me what he had just that of wanting to tell what is learned. I am fearful learned from reading a chapter of that book. Whether when I hear Christians say things like, “They don’t I was interested in what he learned or not did not con want to hear; why tell them?” or “ They already know cern him in the least. He learned something and just this and will think I’m dumb if I say it.” That little had to tell someone about it. boy was not afraid that I would be bored or consider My little girl is learning fast, too fast for Daddy to him dumb. He was excited about what he had keep up with, as all parents can understand. She learned and had to tell someone. So it should be with came walking up to me and blurted out, “ Cookie.” I the Christian. We should become so thrilled with instantly realized she knew a word, as well as that she God’s Word and its lessons that we have to tell some wanted a cookie. Another time, while in the bedroom, one—a Christian brother or a non-Christian friend. she pushed open the sliding closet door, grabbed a What an uplift the Christian brother or sister receives pair of shoes, carried them over to me and, looking when you share with them what God just taught you! me in the eye, said, “ Shoes.” She smiled at me as if to What a witness to the non-Christian friend when they say, “ See what I learned?” She had just told me in sense your excitement about the Christian walk! Do action and word that she knew how to open the closet, not be concerned whether they’re interested or not. and knew what shoes were and Do not worry if they think you whose they were. dumb. Tell them! You need to. My mind rushed quickly to They need to hear. certain courses in college— H u Of course, we must be careful man Growth and Development, and self-controlled in our tell and Christian Education of ing. We do not want to be ob Children. I remembered the noxious. This would defeat the great stress placed on the drive purpose of the Kingdom. Never and capacity of children to theless, if this quality is missing learn. Can we Christians neglect in our lives, it could mean that this quality of the child? Should we are not serious about our the Christian have this never- Christianity. Do not neglect the satisfied yearning to learn? By desire to learn and to tell every all means! There must be a one what is learned. “Unless craving for God’s Word. To you turn and become like chil dren, you will never enter the GERRY WHETSTONE pastors kingdom of heaven” (Matthew the Tallmadge, Ohio, church. 18:3, RSV). □ FEBRUARY 1, 1981 HERALD ' ‘ HOLINESS Bible Quotations in this issue: Unidentified quotations are from the KJV. Quotations from the following translations W . E. McCUMBER, Editor in Chief are used by permission: IVAN A. BEALS, Office Editor (RSV) From the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyrighted 1946, 1952, © MABEL ADAMSON, Editorial Assistant 1 9 7 1 ,1 9 7 3 . (NIV) From The Holy Bible, New International Version, copyright © 1978, by New York Pnntrihiitinn I V. H. LEWIS • ORVILLE W . JENKINS International Bible Society. LjOntriuuting CHARLES H STRICKLAND • EUGENE L. STOWE (TLB) From The Living Bible. © 1971 by Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, III. taitors. | W |LUAM M GREATHOUSE • JERALD D. JOHNSON General Superintendents, Church of the Nazarene HERALD OF HOLINESS (USPS 241-440) is published sem i-m onthly by the NAZARENE PUB LISHING HOUSE, 2923 TR00ST AVE., KANSAS CITY, MO 64109. Editorial O ffice at 6401 The Paseo, Kansas City, MO 64131. Address all correspondence concerning subscriptions to Naza Cover Photo: by H. Armstrong Roberts rene Publishing House, P.O. Box 527, Kansas City, MO 64141. Copyright 1981 by Nazarene Publishing House CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Send us your new address, including ZIP code, as well as your old address, and enclose a label from a recent copy. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE: $5.00 per Volume 70, Number 3 February 1,1981 Whole Number 3319 year. Second-class postage paid at Kansas City, Mo Litho in U.S.A. IN THIS ISSUE IT’S A GREAT BOOK—THE MANUAL 2 D O N ’T W O R R Y— P R A Y !..........................................................12 General Superintendent Jerald D. Johnson Dora Roberts A N EG LEC TED Q U A L IT Y .......................................................3 THE WARNING SYMPTOMS OF Gerry Whetstone S P IR ITU A L D E C L IN E .............................................................. 13 Lawrence Walker LETTER S ....................................................................................... 4 A LITTLE BOOK A B O U T P R A Y E R ....................................13 TH E G IFT TH A T SAYS “I C A R E” ..........................................5 Book Brief W. E. McCumber Helen Temple TA N G LE S ....................................................................................14 THOSE CLEAN-CUT YOUNG MEN, Hal von Stein W HO ARE T H E Y ? ........................................................................ 6 H. Lamar Smith THE TAMING OF MY W ILL ................................... .■■■■■• 15 Poem Geraldine Nicholas HEART S H A D O W S ....................................................................8 Jack Conn DO ES AN YO N E CARE FOR M E ? ........................................16 G. Weatherley ON S E L F-E X A M IN A T IO N .......................................................9 Poem Elaine Wright Colvin THE EDITOR’S STANDPOINT ............................................ 18 SH A R IN G HIS B U R D E N S .......................................................9 IN THE NEW S ............................................................................. 20 Poem Byron H. Maybury NEW S OF R E L IG IO N ..............................................................30 RESTITUTION—WHEN IS IT NECESSARY? ..............