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5-1-1961 Preacher's Magazine Volume 36 Number 05 Lauriston J. Du Bois (Editor) Olivet Nazarene University

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Recommended Citation Du Bois, Lauriston J. (Editor), "Preacher's Magazine Volume 36 Number 05" (1961). Preacher's Magazine. 359. https://digitalcommons.olivet.edu/cotn_pm/359

This Journal Issue is brought to you for free and open access by the Church of the Nazarene at Digital Commons @ Olivet. It has been accepted for inclusion in Preacher's Magazine by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Olivet. For more information, please contact [email protected]. MAY 1961 Dl, Pr,acLr\ Waaazine

Volume 36 May, 1961 Number 5

CONTENTS

C over—H aldor Lillenas (See page 5.)

How Men and Churches Grow Old, J. Wendell Clark ...... 1 The Scriptures in Worship (XVII), E d ito ria l...... 2 The Preaching of Haldor Lillenas, James McGraic ...... 5 And the Church Was Born! Don Nicholas...... 8 Gleanings from the Greek New Testament, Ralph E arle ...... 11 Spiritual Witch Doctors, O. L. F e r r is ...... 13 Lord Tennyson and the Evangel, Arthur H edley ...... 14 Keeper of the Vineyards, R. L. S ta p le s ...... 16 The Question Before Us, Earl E. Barrett...... 17 The Importance of Humor, H. M. von S t e in ...... 20 Who said, “It’s a Mistake” ? Jom es H. Whitworth ...... 21 The Traditional Nazarene Revival, Jimmy Dobson ...... 26 "Queen of the Parsonage,” Ruth Vaughn ...... 30 The Pastor and His Preaching Ministry, Ross Hayslip ...... 33 Sermon Workshop, Nelson G. Mink ...... 37 Preaching Program ...... 39 Book Briefs ...... 47

LAURISTON J. DU BOIS. Editor

Contributing Editors

Hardy C. Powers Samuel Young Hugh C. Benner

G. B. Williamson D. I. Vanderpcol V. H. Lewis

General Superintendents, Church of the Nazarene

Published monthly by the NAZARENE PUBLISHING HOUSE, 2923 Troost Avenue, Box 527, Kansas City 41, Missouri. Subscription price: $1.50 a year. Second-class postage paid at Kansas City, Missouri. Printed in U.S.A. GUEST EDITO RIAL

How Men and Churches Grow Old

By J. Wendell Clark4

T s t h e c h u r c h s t i l l in her youth, feels that it has done enough. It is looking toward a maturity of more unwilling to tackle adventurous new effective functioning as a body projects, or to increase budgets, or to through whom God can work? Is she make bigger commitments. If our not at the zenith of her powers, ful­ church is losing the sense of mission, filling G od’s purposes as fully as she we are on the way to slow but sure will ever do it? Or has decline al­ death. ready set in, and are we now to watch An old man makes peace with the our church grow old, making the slow status quo. Revolutions are staged by march to death? young men. For an old man it is easier Following the somewhat dangerous to accept what is. Change is costly analogy of an aging man, we may and may be dangerous; so he shuns venture a few observations. it. So the church is in constant danger An aging man often begins to live of institutionalization. When she in the past. He longs for “the good yields, no matter how strong the outer old days.” Whatever was wrong in structure may seem to be, the real the past he forgets, and whatever was church, the organism (not the organi­ right he exaggerates. So an aging zation) which is born of the Spirit, church becomes obsessed with its his­ is dying or dead. tory. It relives in a fading glory. It All men must grow old and die. is good for a church to know its his­ The church does not need to die. tory and properly to honor and regard There is no cyclic law which she must the founding fathers. But if by such obey, moving from youthful vigor to backward looking we fail to go in the full maturity to decrepitude. The direction the continuation of that church need not grow old and die. If vision would take us today, it becomes she is aware of the issues, if she keeps the futile babbling of an old man. in vital relationship with the Lord of An old man, as he should, retires Life, if she pays the price of repent­ from strenuous labor. Retirement ance and discipleship, she can go on brings greater ease. His life’s work from strength to strength, from grace is largely done; he can begin to rest to grace, to greater Christian reality from his labors. An aging church, too, and accomplishment for Christ. We do not need to watch our church grow

•Topeka, Kansas. old and die. XVII. The Scriptures in Worship

TH h e u s e o f t h e Scriptures in the eternal truth which human thought services of the church might well could never give. The Word of God be called the “lost element of wor­ did all of these better than any con­ ship.” While this indeed was basic in temporary historic sayings of men the historical Protestant pattern of could ever do. worship, actually in the modern time And these reasons for using the all too many churches have neglected Bible in worship are as good today the use of the Bible. Even though as they were five hundred years ago. some ministers have retained the The Bible should have a place of Scriptures as a reference book of il­ prominence in our thinking as we set lustrations and many use it as a about to construct a worship service springboard for their sermons, yet and as we lead our people in that with all too many it does not have the worship. Without laboring the rea­ central place in worship that it should sons why this should be so (they have. Even in those churches where should be rather self-evident), let us the authenticity of the Bible is de­ look at some of the practical ways fended with strong faith, there is too that the Scriptures can be used ef­ little use of the Bible as the founda­ fectively. tion of worship. The Bible, being the Word of God, T o O p e n t h e S e r v i c e certainly ought to have a central place Many pastors are using the Scrip­ in worship. From its style we catch tures as a means of opening a worship the majesty of God; from its teachings service. Some are reading a portion we learn of the will of God; from its of the Word as the first words heard mood we sense the presence of God. by the people as they gather together. We are poverty-stricken in worship This is usually a short passage, ful­ unless we have God’s Word in our filling the place of a scriptural “call midst. Only as we make a large place to worship.” This should not be read for the Word can we pretend in any as a formal ritual but as a meaning­ real sense that worship is “divine.” ful presentation of the Word of God. The early movement known as This could very well, in theme, set Protestantism gave the Bible a place the direction that the service and later of prominence. It wanted something the message are to take. Or this could to give a solidarity to worship beyond very well be a longer passage which what the liturgies drafted in Rome would serve as a “background scrip­ could give. It wanted that which ture” for the service. For a period of would tie the contemporary Church time, laymen could be used to present with the Church of the past. It want­ a scripture reading in the opening ed a message that declared the moments of the service. Particularly oracles of God. It wanted an au­ is this method effective during a giv­ thority which reached beyond the en “season” of the church year (such minds of men and an assurance of as Advent or Lent). Pastors will find

2 (194) The Preacher's Magazine that over a period of time such uses be used to value. In addition, every of the Bible will have a significant pastor should find a way of expand­ effect upon the worship services. ing this list of readings, by printing selected portions (perhaps more close­ T h e R e s p o n s i v e R e a d i n g ly related to his message than the It is necessary for us to do some hymnal would provide) in the bulle­ straight thinking with respect to the tin or by having the congregation read use of the responsive reading. Some directly from the Bible. For to a pas­ of the more formal evangelical tor, experience with the way or ways churches have consistently used the that best suit a particular group will scripture thus in more or less of a be rewarding. ritualistic fashion as a substitute for liturgy. Those on the other extreme T h e S c r i p t u r e R e a d i n g of the “free” churches have often Apart from the responsive reading shied completely away from this use as such there is quite frequently in of the Scriptures, feeling that it sa­ the service special reading of the voured too much of the formal and Scriptures by the pastor. This is the liturgical. Many in between these thought of as being more directly re­ extremes have used the responsive lated to his message and serving as a reading cautiously, not knowing ex­ background to his message. And yet actly how it should fit into the in­ it must be more than a springboard formal, free type of worship. for the sermon. This must be thought First of all, it should be said that of as the message of God brought to if we are to preserve the Protestant the congregation by the minister. heritage and the spirit which is back Certainly the minister himself must of it we must look at this use of the think of it as being far more impor­ Scriptures, not as a “liturgy” as such, tant than anything that he might say but as the reading by the congregation of himself later on. In fact it would of the Word of God. There is great surprise most of us the impact for value in uniting the voices of the good that would come if we spent the group in reading the Word. There is entire thirty minutes we would ordi­ a force of united faith and a power narily preach, simply reading the in the united declaration of God’s W ord. Word when great passages of scrip­ Here is one of the very finest oppor­ ture are read by a worshiping group tunities that the pastor will have to which cannot be gained any other educate by indirection the worth of way. If this is read as God’s Word the Bible and the relevance of its rather than as an incantation of litur­ message. The people should be en­ gy, it can have a place even in the couraged to bring their Bibles to least formal type of worship. Such a church and to follow as this passage use of scripture will do for any con­ is being read. To make allowance for gregation today what the early-day this the reference should be read Protestants hoped it would do. Again slowly and should be repeated until we must say, there is no human sub­ all who desire to follow will have stitution for the use of the Scriptures time to find the reference. The rustle in the services of worship. of the pages of the Bibles of the peo­ If viewed properly, then, every ple is a pleasant sound in any church. church can use this type of scripture The pastor should not hurry too reading. M any hymnals have a selec­ rapidly after announcing his scrip­ tion of such readings and these can ture reading. All too many pastors

Mar. 1961 (195) 3 err at this point. There is great value person of his congregation remarks in having the people follow as the that he understood what was read. minister reads. For each one to read T h e S c r i p t u r e T e x t from the Word is far more impressive Much that has been said about the than for the pastor to quote a passage scripture reading would apply also from memory or read it so quickly to the text from which the message the people have little chance to locate is directly taken. Suffice it to say the passage. that this should be the smaller por­ Furthermore, the pastor should tion of the Word of God, which the handle his Bible in the pulpit in such members of the congregation can take a manner as will create respect and with them. The greatest fault with reverence for it. He must not be care­ ministers quoting the text is that they less or leave the impression that he do it too hurriedly, leaving their peo­ does not reverence the Word. ple little or no chance to find it in The scripture lesson should be read their own Bibles, giving them little with meaning. The pastor would do chance to retain it in their minds and well to practice on this, never going leaving the impression, in all, that the into the pulpit without having the text is not too important anyway and passage well in hand. He should not that it must be cleared away as quick­ strive for a full dramatic reading, ly as possible to give the preacher a that which might be appropriate un­ chance to more important things— der other circumstances. Yet he namely, his sermon! should read it with warmth, with Some pastors use the plan of list­ definiteness, with feeling. He should ing in the bulletin or from the pulpit strive to give emphasis to those words verbally a “text for the day.” This in which carry emphasis within the con­ most instances is the text he uses for text of the passage. In the case of the morning message or in some cases passages which are so full of truth the text he uses for the evening mes­ that several emphases are inherent sage, depending upon which he pre­ in it, he should read it to convey that fers to leave with his people. It truth which he is going to lift up in would be a stroke of genius if every his message. It is well to keep in pastor could find a way to so give his mind that when the emphasis of a text or texts that they could stick passage is in doubt it is best to give with his people throughout the week. strength to those words which relate to God, or Christ, or the Holy Spirit Of course the use of scripture with­ or action which relates to Deity. in the message is a study within itself The minister should watch lest he and cannot be explored here. Suffice adopt a “ministerial tone” when he it to say that more and more our men reads scripture. While it is true that are seeing the importance of staying close to the Word of God as they one should read with reverence and in such a way as to convey the majes­ preach. We are learning that men are ty of the Word of God, yet he should not moved to God so much by our keep in mind that in many instances eloquence, by our cleverness, or by the Bible as we know it was given in our ability to use moving stories as the languages of the people. Hence it by the Christian Scriptures. Let each should be read in such a manner that of us find for himself the thrill of the average person gets meaning from being the mouthpiece for God as he effectively uses the Bible. it. A minister should feel himself complimented when the least trained (T o be continued)

4 (196) The Preacher's Magazine The Preaching of Haldor Lillenas

By James McGraw*

T Tis m u s i c a n d s o n g s w ere ‘ s k y - to South Dakota, hoping to send for * born’— that is, ‘H eaven-born,’ them before long. Several months born of God, born from above.” This passed before the sod house near Col­ was the com ment of Editor Stephen S. ton, South Dakota, was ready for its White in the Septem ber 30, 1959, occupants and the family was reunited Herald of Holiness as he wrote his in America. tribute to the memory of a preacher Those early years in America were whose outstanding pastoral ministry years of hard work, privation, and has been overlooked because of his struggle, but they were times of genius as a song writer. Not many thrilling adventure for the small lad people will remember Haldor Lillenas who saw beauty in the prairies and as a preacher. Millions will sing his heard music in the winds. His in­ hymns and gospel songs and remem­ terest in life and his zest for living ber him as one of American Protes­ were heightened when the family tantism’s best-loved song writers. Yet moved to Astoria, Oregon, where firs, he served for about fifteen years as cedars, and hemlocks were felled and pastor of several churches, the latter a home was hewed out by hand. It two of which grew under his leader­ was in this forest home that Haldor ship until within three years they had started to school, and it was here that doubled in size. Haldor Lillenas will he learned the English language. It be remembered for his music; may was here also that he composed some he not be forgotten as a preacher of of his first songs, singing them alone the W ord. in the woods to his heart’s content, Born N ovem ber 18, 1885, on the but never daring to sing any of them Island of Stord, south of Bergen, Nor­ at home for fear his brothers might way, his life was a melody in a minor make fun of him. key, punctuated with hardship, dis­ The Lillenas family moved to appointment, sorrow, and hard work Minnesota when Haldor was fourteen, but balanced with beauty, held firm and he attended high school at Ha- with faith, and set to music with songs wich in a Lutheran day school. It that were “ ‘sky-born,’ born of God, was while the family lived here that bom from above.” Mother Lillenas died, and soon after her death the family began planning Haldor was the third son in the another move, this time to North family of a farmer who eked out a Dakota. But Haldor wanted to re­ hard living on a small fifteen-acre turn to Oregon, where memories were farm, much of which was quite rocky. pleasant and life seemed more hope­ The family moved to a small village ful. At the age of twenty-one he real­ near Bergen, and as soon as he could ized his dream and returned to make arrangements, Father Lillenas Astoria, where he became acquainted left his family in Norway and moved with an enthusiastic group of Chris­

♦Professor, Nazarene Theological Seminary. tians from the Peniel Mission, whose

May, 1961 (197) 5 singing and testimonies brought con­ how many happy people have been viction to his heart. Later that year blessed as they have sung: he was saved, and three weeks later “O’er the fields of endless glory his heart was cleansed. This was a I shall wander with delight, turning point in his life. Soon he For with sadness and with pain I was helping in the mission, singing to shall be done; his heart’s content, witnessing with No more sorrow, nor more sickness joy to the “wonderful grace of Jesus,” In that home so pure and bright, and writing songs with increasing In that citri w here they n eed no skill and in greater volume. It was sun” ? 1 while he was engaged in such gospel work that he composed “I Shall See The world will remember that Hal- Him Face to Face” and “He Set Me dor Lillenas published more than Free.” 4,000 songs of which he wrote either the words or music or both. They The next year he moved to Port­ will sing “I Know a Name,” “Jesus land, continued his association with Will Walk with Me,” “Wonderful the Peniel Mission there, and at the Grace of Jesus,” “He Shall Reign,” age of twenty-two was called to “Soldiers of Immanuel,” and “How preach. He had been studying chem­ Can I Be Lonely?” as long as time istry for four years, hoping to make endures. They will remember him a career in this field, but he accepted for his keen spiritual insight, his the call to leadership in the Portland sound scriptural doctrine, his warm, mission at the time of his call to contagious devotion, his eloquent lan­ preach. During the one year he served guage. He honored Christ in his songs there he saw so many souls won to and in his preaching, as expressed Christ he felt more certain than ever in such hymns as “The Blood Covers that he should devote his life to the All,” “A Wonderful Fountain,” and L ord’s work. “Under the Atoning Blood.” His soul He united with the Church of the passion and world-wide vision ex­ Nazarene in 1908, became interested pressed itself in such songs as “Dusky in Deets Bible College (which later Hands Are Calling from Across the became Pasadena College), and as a Sea” and “Tell the Blessed Story of result of his never-failing optimism the Cross.” and strong faith he “wangled” a part- His preaching always was in the time job and enrolled there in 1909. mood of that which would comfort Before the year ended he had been and encourage, that which John H. called as music director of one of Jowett called “the wooing note,” as the nearby churches, was writing expressed in such songs he wrote as more and more songs, preaching, and “My Never-failing Friend,” “He Giv- winning souls. That year he met eth Grace,” and “Jesus Will Walk Bertha Mae Wilson, and the next year with Me.” One cannot fail to receive they were married. As a team they the message of hope and faith in the preached, sang, and composed songs. words: It was along about this time he wrote the words and music to “Where They Jesus will walk with me when I am Need No Sun,” after reading the tem pted, words in Revelation 21:23: “And the Giving me strength as my need city had no need of the sun, neither may demand. of the moon, to shine in it, and the 'Copyright 1911 by Charles Scoville. Standard Lamb is the light thereof.” Who knows Publishing Company, owner. Used by permission. 6 (198) The Preacher's Magazine When in affliction His presence is I have found a deep peace that I near m e; never had known I am upheld by His almighty And a joy this world could not hand.” 2 afford Since I yielded control of my body Clear in his concept of God’s and soul mighty pow er to set the soul free, not To my wonderful, wonderful only by forgiveness for acts of sin, Lord. but also by cleansing from the condi­ tion of inbred sin, he preached and I desire that my life shall be or­ sang the message of heart holiness. dered of Thee, His masterpiece is one of the favor­ That my will be in perfect accord ites among those devoted to full sal­ With Thine own sovereign will, Thy vation: desires to fulfill, There’s a blessed and triumphant My wonderful, wonderful Lord. song: Holiness forevermore. All the talents I have I have laid at It is sung by the mighty, Blood- Thy fee t; washed throng: Thy approval shall be my reward. Holiness forevermore! Be my store great or small, I sur­ render it all We will praise the Lord for victory, To my wonderful, wonderful Holiness forevermore; Lord.4 From the carnal mind we now are To describe the preaching of Haldor free, Lillenas, one should say simply that Holiness forevermore! he preached as he sang and as he wrote. His voice was clear and musi­ From this standard we will not de­ cal, pleasant to hear and expressive part, of the message. His style was elo­ Holiness forevermore; quent and his language was vivid, ’Tis the song of the purified in descriptive, picturesque. His ap­ heart, proach to his listeners was thoughtful, Holiness forevermore !:< sincere, straightforward. He had been He founded the Lillenas Publishing through the hard winters of South Company in 1924, in Indianapolis, and Dakota, the struggles of farming and six years later sold it to the Nazarene homesteading in pioneer areas, the Publishing House and became its uncertainties of beginning anew in manager and music editor. He pro­ a new country where he could not duced the first Nazarene hymnal, a speak the native language—and he book of about seven hundred songs knew how to love people and under­ and hymns, and eighty-one of these stand them in their life adjustments. were of his own composition. But one His preaching was anointed by the of the best loved is the very best of all Spirit. It achieved results. The listen­ of Lillenas’ four thousand songs. The ers were interested listeners, and they music is superb, but even without were moved as they listened. In his music the words touch the soul: last two pastorates—Redlands, Cali­ fornia; and Indianapolis, Indiana—the

2Copyright 1922 by Haldor Lillenas. Lillenas Publishing Co., owner. Used by permission. 8Copyright 1938 by Haldor Lillenas. Used by 4Copyright 1938 by Nazarene Publishing House. permission. Used by permission.

May. 1961 (199) 7 membership grew steadily to more kota, inspired to lofty aspirations as than double the size of these churches he lived youthful years among the when he began preaching there. fir trees of Oregon, toughened in the long, cold winters of Minnesota, test­ In a tribute to Haldor Lillenas on ed in the fierce burdens, sweetened the occasion of his funeral, August 18, under all circumstances, reached a 1959, Dr. G. B. W illiamson expressed climax in the mountains of Colorado, in graphic words what might be the and now is victorious in ‘that city most comprehensive summary of this where they need no sun.’ Peace to man’s life and ministry. He said: his memory . . . and may God give us “Now this life that began in Nor­ all inspiration to live as this man of way, was strengthened in South Da­ God lived.”

And the Church Was Born!

Don Nicholas*

T e x t : Acts 2:1-4 cended to the Father He left behind Let us pause and think for a while a group of weak, easily discouraged about a birthday. For all of us birth­ men, hardly the solid nucleus of a days are inescapable and for many militant Church. persons these occasions go by un­ Christ had left instructions for the noticed. The birthday to which we foundation of the Church, a firm would turn our attention is, however, foundation which would endure not the birthday of some particular through the ages, which would go person, but rather the birthday of the forward so that the very “gates of Church of Jesus Christ. hell” could not stand against it. Re­ member His parting words to the dis­ When was the Church born? Was ciples, . . tarry ye in the city of it when Jesus called the disciples to Jerusalem, until ye be endued with quit their nets and follow Him? No, power from on high.” as important as that event was, that So it is that we find the birth date was not the day, for these few were of the Church contained in one short still disciples “in the rough.” Was the declaration in the Book of the Acts, Church born when Jesus commis­ “. . . when the day of Pentecost was sion the disciples to “go . . . therefore, fully come . . .” This was the begin­ and teach all nations . . .” ? It does ning of the great onslaught of Chris­ not seem likely; for when Jesus as­ tianity against the strongholds of sin and paganism. This was the day of ♦Pastor, Harmattan, Alberta, Canada. days for the disciples; for it made 8 (200) The Preacher's Magazine them an effective, efficient, united, do we find barriers of bitterness, of dedicated, Spirit-filled, soul-winning envy, of criticism, and slander team. errected in our lives? Is there unity We must realize that it is only when of purpose? Is there unity of motive? a church has its Day of Pentecost that Do we come to the place of worship it really begins to take on life and with hearts yearning after God, with move and grow and make its influ­ a desire to be strengthened and ence felt. Our church becom es alive equipped by the Lord, or from force only when the Day of Pentecost has of habit, because the family comes, fully come to each of us who make to influence our children, or to be up her membership. well thought of in the community? It would be well for us to consider Is there unity in our church? Is there? this vital experience which the dis­ A house or a church divided against ciples shared, in order to determine itself cannot stand. The Spirit comes just what was the key which opened to dwell in the heart or church where the door to Pentecost—yes, and made there is unity. Pentecost inevitable. F a i t h Think again of the words in the U n i t y text, “. . . when the day of Pentecost When we note the words in our was fully come, they were all with text, “ they were all with one accord one accord in one place.” These men in one place,” we cannot help but be and women had met Christ and they reminded that prevailing among the were convinced that, if He said they disciples at this crucial time was de­ should wait in an upper room, that cided unity—unity of spirit, unity of is what they should do, for something purpose, unity of motive. Here was great was bound to happen. So they a group of men and women who had came expectantly. Christ had prom­ already accepted Christ as Saviour, ised. They believed. Their faith was but they needed something more. Had rewarded. The Spirit came. Their not Jesus Christ, the risen Lord, com­ lives were transformed. And the manded them to wait in Jerusalem Church was born. for the “power” ? What else was there Christ had said to the disciples, “If but to obey? Here was singleness of ye have faith as a grain of mustard purpose. Only one motive existed in seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, their hearts, and that was to obey Remove hence to yonder place, and Jesus’ words and await the promised it shall remove: and nothing shall be Comforter. There was no quarreling, impossible unto you.” Christ had no bickering over the place of honor started the spark of faith glowing in in Christ’s kingdom, no more desire the hearts of the disciples. Had He to call down fire upon anyone, no not so done, we would have no Pente­ anger or bitterness or envy. There cost, no gospel, and perhaps no was unity and the Church was born. Church. Are we any different? Can we ex­ What about our faith? Have we pect to see the fruit of Pentecost believed Jesus’ words, “Wait for the without paying the price of Pente­ promise of the Father . . . ye shall be cost? Can we expect the Spirit to baptized with the Holy Spirit”? Are come and fill and cleanse and bless we failing because we do not really if harmony and unity are missing believe that God can work mighty factors? Is there unity of spirit or acts through us? Do we believe that

May, 1961 (201) 9 the Holy Spirit can kindle the embers electrifying experience of Pentecost in our hearts, starting a blaze that caused a startling change. They could will never be extinguished until we not but speak of the things they had have won some souls to Christ, and seen and heard and felt. When the finally see Him face to face? Spirit came and filled their hearts, The disciples came expectantly. they went witnessing. Were their ef­ The Holy Spirit came. What a differ­ forts effective? Well, we know that ence it made! The Church was born in that one day alone, the day we in a fertile seedbed of conquering call Pentecost, at least three thousand faith. souls were won to the Lord. The Church grew and the gospel was

F i l l e d spread throughout the Roman Empire until the emperor himself despaired The time was right. The conditions at the amazing growth of the group were met. The price was paid. And which called themselves Christians. the Spirit came down. Oh, what an The Church got its start in the mid­ experience! With the exception of dle of a program of personal evange­ the odd riot and the occasional insur­ lism. We must never say that the rection, Jerusalem had been a rather only way people will be won is quiet town— that is, until the Day of through the church. We are the Pentecost. Then it happened! The church. We are His witnesses. Per­ Holy Spirit filled the lives of the 120 sonal evangelism is not a new idea, followers of Christ. They forgot their but is as old as the gospel message fear. Left behind was all indifference. of redemption. It is the church’s only People began to stop and take notice. means of growth, and its only chance One hundred and twenty hearts could of survival. The only reason that the not contain what had just happened, Church did not die in infancy was and 120 voices began to shout and because the Spirit had filled the testify and praise God. “Just a min­ hearts of a small group of converts ute,” cried some of the more skeptical and they went witnessing. onlookers, “these men have only been drinking new wine.” Without hesi­ What about us? Has God called us tation Peter stood up with a shine on to hold the fort and fight for survival? his face and unashamedly told the There is a saying in the army that crowd of the glow in his heart. “This “the best defense is a good offense.” is what God promised. He said He God has commissioned us to take the would pour out His Spirit, and the gospel to every creature. The land Spirit has come to abide. We are not lies out before us, a land to be pos­ drunk, but we have been filled with sessed. the Holy Spirit.” And their lives The Church was born when there proved that they had. At Pentecost was unity among the brethren, and the Church was born. wheii there was victorious faith. The Have we as a church been visited Church was born on the Day of Pente­ by the Holy Spirit in a mighty out­ cost when the Spirit came into the pouring? lives of the disciples. The initial strategy of the Church in its fight for W i t e s s i n g survival was an unrelenting attack. The first congregation of the The Christians went out witnessing. Church numbered only about one God give us such Christianity and hundred and twenty persons, but the so prosper our church!

10 (202) The Preacher's Magazine Gleanings from the Greek New Testament

By Ralph Earle*

Romans 12:3-8

H i g h - m i n d e d V e r s u s R i g h t - m i n d e d nifies “acting, activity, function.” The The third verse has an interesting last is the translation chosen for it in play on words: hyperphronein . . . this passage by Arndt and Gingrich.0 phronein . . . phronein . . . sophronein It was also adopted by Moffatt, Wey­ —“not to be high-minded, above what mouth, Goodspeed, Williams, and he ought to be minded, but to be other modern translators. Unques­ minded unto the being sober-mind- tionably it is preferable to “office.” ed:” ’ The verb phroneo means “think” P r o p h e c y or “be minded,” “have an opinion of The main evidence of New Testa­ one’s self” or “think of one’s self.” ment prophecy is not on prediction Occurring twenty-nine times in the but on preaching God’s message. Ap­ New Testament, it is translated a parently the prophets spoke with a dozen different ways in the King strong sense of divine inspiration. James Version. The most common, They were to prophesy according to “think,” (five times) fits well here, the proportion (anologia) of faith as does also “regard” (four times). (v. 6 ); that is, “ according to the The first compound, hyperphroneo, strength, clearness, fervour, and other is found only here in the New Testa­ qualities of that faith . . . so that the ment. It means “think too highly of character and mode of their speaking oneself, be haughty.” - It suggests is conformed to the rules and limits, “assuming an air of superiority over which are implied in the proportion of others.” '1 The idea is that of being their individual degree of faith.”7 “overproud, high-minded.” 1

The other compound, sophroneo, M i n i s t r y occurs six times in the New Testa­ The word is diakonia (v. 7). It oc­ ment. Twice it is translated “be in curs three times in Romans and is right mind” and twice “be sober.” translated three different ways (cf. One can see the logic of A. T. Robert­ 11:13, office; 15:31, service). It is used son’s remark: “Self-conceit is here in Luke 10:40 of preparing a meal. treated as a species of insanity. But almost always in the New Testa­ ment it refers to service in the Chris­ O f f i c e o r F u n c t i o n tian Church, whether of a common The last word of verse four is praxis. sort in the local congregation or of the It comes from the verb prasso, which apostolic office and its administration. means “do, accomplish.” Hence it sig- It is not clear just what type of service is intended here. Vincent comments:

♦Professor, Nazarene Theological Seminary. “ As it is distinguished here from 'Vincent, Word Studies, III, 154. *Arndt and Gingrich, Lexicon, p. 850. 3VGT, p. 654. 4Vine, Expository Dictionary, IV, 128. “Op. cit., p. 704. tlWord Pictures, IV, 403. 7Meyer, Romans, p. 473. May, 1961 (203) 11 prophecy, exhortation, and teaching, latter here.13 Godet writes: “Accord­ it may refer to some more practical, ing to the etymological meaning, the and, possibly, minor form of minis­ word signifies: the disposition not to try.” 8 In the same vein Godet writes: turn back on oneself; and it is obvious “In our passage this term ministry, that from this first meaning there placed as it is between prophecy and may follow either that of generosity. the function of teaching, can only when a man gives without letting designate an activity of a practical himself be arrested by any selfish cal­ nature, exerted in action, not in culation, or that of simplicity, when word.”9 Sanday and Headlam think it he gives without his left hand know­ has to do with “the administration ing what his right does . . . This sec­ of alms and attendance to bodily ond meaning seems to us preferable wants.”10 It is rendered “practical here.” 14 service” by Moffatt, Goodspeed, and Moffatt and Goodspeed both prefei Williams, and in the Berkeley Ver­ “ liberality,” as do W eym outh anc sion. That seems to be its meaning Williams, the Berkeley Version anc here, rather than the preaching or the Revised Standard Version. It i: teaching ministry, which are men­ clear that this is somewhat more ac­ tioned separately. ceptable.

E x h o r t a t i o n R u l e r o f L e a d e r ? The verb “exhorteth” (v. 8) is “He that ruleth” (v. 8) might seem parakaleo. It occurs three other times to suggest political or civil office. But in Romans (12:1; 15:30; 16:17). In the context here clearly has to do all three of those places it is rendered with the relations of church members. “beseech.” But that does not seem to So something in this frame of refer­ fit here. It also means “comfort” or ence must be found to render the “encourage.” Thayer writes “It com­ word here. bines the ideas exhorting and com ­ The term p roistamenos literally forting and encouraging in Romans means “the one standing in front”; in XII: 8.”n Interestingly, however, he other words, what we today would defines the noun here, paraklesis, as call the “leader.” Weymouth has: indicating “powerful hortatory dis­ “one who presides should be zealous.” course.” 12 Williams differs from most Williams renders it: “one who leads other translators in his rendering: others.” The Berkeley Version calls “or of one who encourages others, in him simply “the leader.” That ap­ the field of encouragement.” It would pears to be the best translation. appear that “exhortation” is the best translation. H i l a r i t y The Greek word for “cheerfulness” S i m p l i c i t y o r L i b e r a l i t y ? (v. 8) is hilarotes, found only here The w ord is haplotes (v. 8 ). Its in the New Testament. It gives us our basic meaning is “simplicity, sin­ word “hilarity.” It means “cheerful­ cerity, uprightness, frankness,” but ness, gladness, graciousness.” 1 r> That it may also mean “generosity, liber­ is the true kind of Christian hilarity. ality.” Arndt and Gingrich prefer the There are some who would say that hilarity has no place in the life of the !Op. cit., Ill, 157. 9Romans, p. 431. i0Romans, p. 357. 13Op. cit., p. 85. uLexicon, p. 483. uOp. cit., p. 433. 12Ibid. 15Arndt and Gingrich, op. cit., p. 376. 12 (204) The Preacher's Magazine consecrated Christian. But such have Halford Luccock, writing as “Quin­ a very distorted concept of Christ. It tus Quiz” in the Christian Century is true that He was “the man of sor­ (August 27, 1947), made this very rows and acquainted with grief.” But wise observation: “Hilarity goes well He also said that when one fasts he with true and undefiled religion.” But should not “look gloomy” like the frivolity is something else. Here is Pharisees. That Jesus had a keen sense of hum or is shown by His re­ his statement worth pondering: “Fri­ mark about straining out a gnat and volity in the Christian Church is a swallowing a camel and also about a denial of religion; hilarity is its sure camel going through the eye of a evidence. Humor in its true use of needle. it springs out of the peace of God.”

Spiritual Witch Doctors

By O. L. Ferris*

S c r i p t u r e : II Timothy 2 : 1 5 wildering one. I did not understand Timothy had a task to do. God had the “church language” that is com­ called him to preach and he had ac­ mon to me now. When people spoke cepted the call. of such things as “getting blessed” or Paul was writing to Timothy, to “the blood of the Lamb” or the counsel and encourage him in his “Trinity,” I had no idea what they work. Paul advised him to first of all were talking about. seek God’s approval on his ministry. When the preacher preached about He was to do this by “rightly dividing sin I became convinced that I was the word of truth.” a sinner. I feared the judgment and The primary job of the minister is yearned to lead a Christian life. But to preach the Word of God. His job try as I may, I could not reform. is to preach it in such a manner that Although God spoke to my heart sinners will be saved, believers sanc­ through the messages, never once did tified, and the church edified. I hear the way of salvation explained. This can be done only by preaching In despair I stopped going to that clearly and simply the great doctrines church. I felt that, since I could not of the church as found in the Holy live a Christian life by reforming, I Scriptures. was hopelessly lost. I was raised in a non-Chrisitan Years later my father, who had home. When I returned home from lived in deep sin, and my mother World War II, I had never been in were saved in a Church of the Naza­ Sunday school nor had I ever heard a rene in Flint, Michigan. gospel message. Again I was invited to church and My first experience in a church that again God spoke to my heart. But preached the gospel was a rather be­ this time, praise His name, I heard the way of salvation explained. Two *Pastor, Vassar, Michigan. weeks later my wife and I walked

May, 1961 (205) 13 down an aisle to an altar of prayer, know about the drugs, and if he did and there gave our hearts to the he could not administer them to a Master. One year later the Lord patient so as to effect a cure. called me to preach. Our world’s foremost sickness is sin. We have the raw material from Since I’ve been in the ministry I’ve often thought of the words of Paul, which to derive a cure. We have the “rightly dividing the word of truth.” Holy Bible and therein we find the I believe this is one of the great secrets truth that will cure sin. of winning men to Christ. If we as ministers rightly divide this Word of Truth, it will bring a Our modern-day doctors, with their cure for the sins of mankind. But miracle drugs, diagnose one’s illness if we fail to preach the truth simply and then prescribe the proper medi­ and clearly so the common man can cine, and by so doing administer a understand, we will be like the witch cure. doctor who has the raw material but The witch doctor in Africa prob­ does not understand how to prescribe ably has access to many of the raw a cure for his patients’ ills. materials from which our modern May our prayer be, “God, do not let drugs are derived. But he does not me be a spiritual witch doctor.”

Lord Tennyson and the Evangel

By Arthur Hedley*

T ord Tennyson was blessed with a How best to help the slender store; saintly mother, upon whose “sweet How mend the dwellings of the lips . . . perpetually did reign the poor; summer calm of golden charity.” She How gain in life, as life advances, was deeply concerned about the Valor and charity more and spiritual welfare of her gifted son more. and longed to see him making a clear­ But however modern his religious er and bolder confession of the Chris­ views were, we feel as we read his tian faith. As a fervent evangelical life and works that there can be little she prayed that in his poems he would doubt as to his faith in the redemption consistently bear testimony to Christ which is in Christ Jesus. It was after as Redeemer and Lord. The liberal he had written his Idylls of the King, views on religion of some of his minis­ which received the praises of Glad­ terial friends made a strong appeal, stone and Queen Victoria, that his and more so because of their practical mother wrote to him this letter: “It interest in the social and industrial does indeed give me the purest satis­ problems of their day. Of one such faction to notice that a spirit of Chris­ friend, Frederick Maurice, he makes tianity is perceptible through the the request of a visit that together whole volume. Oh, dearest Ally, how they might discuss fervently I have prayed for years that our Merciful Redeemer would inter­

•Pastor, Herne Bay, Kent, England. cede with our Heavenly Father to 14 (206) The Preacher’s Maqazine grant thee His H oly Spirit to urge selection of Sacred Songs. U nfortu­ thee to em ploy the talents He has nately they refused, and hearing of his given thee in His service by taking disappointment a friend composed a every opportunity to impress the pre­ poem in a similar strain, to which a cepts of His holy W ork on the minds tune was set by Sankey. This was of others. My beloved son, words are used of God to the salvation of many. too feeble to express the joy of my One day Tennyson received a letter heart in perceiving that thou art from a complete stranger in which earnestly endeavouring to do so.” she told of the comfort a verse of Many of us can testify to the in­ his poem, “The May Queen,” had spiration, enlightenment, encourage­ given to her niece. Knowing she had ment received as we have read these no hope of recovery from a dread immortal Idylls again and again. There disease, the niece was in sore distress. comes to mind the reply of Gareth to Her aunt read some verses from the his mother when she tried to tempt Bible, and then repeated the familiar him to live a life of ease and self- lines of the “May Queen,” who said indulgence, and to join his fellows in of the kind, silver-haired clergyman the chase. With much spirit Gareth who led her to Christ, in her last replied: hours: Follow the deer? follow the Christ, He taught me all the m ercy, for he the King. sheto’d me all m y sin. Live pure, speak true, right wrong, Now, tho’ my lamp be lighted late, follow the King. th ere’s Chle will let me in: Else, wherefore born? Nor would I now be well, Mother, again if that could be, We think of the guilty but truly re­ For my desire is but to pass to Him pentant Queen Guinevere listening, that died for me. with chastened heart, to her little maid as in the distance she sings: The dying girl stopped her aunt and said: “Read that again.” Then she had Late, late, so late! and dark the night it copied and memorized it. “ From and chill! that time,” wrote the aunt, “all fear Late, late, so late! but we can enter seemed to be taken away.” still. Too late, too late! ye cannot enter Tennyson stayed with two old now. friends, both devout Methodists. When he came in one day he asked: Have we not heard the bridegroom “Any news” The wife replied: “Why, is so sw eet? Mr. Tennyson, there’s only one piece 0 let us in, tho’ late, to kiss his feet! of news that I know, that Christ died No, no, too late! ye cannot enter for all men.” “And,” says the poet, now. “I said to her, ‘That is old news, and But it was not too late to receive the good news, and news.’ ” His reply forgiveness of God and of her hus­ has been the subject of many an evan­ band, against whom she had sinned gelical sermon or tract. so grievously. Her sin “wrought the Once when out in the country with ruin of m y lord K ing.” W hen Ira his niece he said: “God is walking Sankey read these pathetic verses, with us now, on this Down, as we they made such an appeal that he two are walking together, just as straightway wrote to the publishers truly as Christ was with the two dis­ asking permission to use them in his ciples on the way to Emmaus. To feel

May, 1961 (207) 15 He is by my side now as much as you his Maker. Our Liturgy prays against are, that is the very joy of my heart.” sudden death, but I myself could pray Pointing to a little wild flower, he for such a sudden death as Isaac said: “There is not a flower of this Porter’s.” Down that owes so much to the sun When his own call approached, he as I do to Christ.” His biographer had a long talk with his doctor about says of him that “he grew to feel more death. Then the doctor told of a and more his poetic gift wTas given as niety-year-old villager he attended on a great trust to be used to bring men his deathbed. Pining to see his in­ nearer to God. So heavy was this valid wife in another room, the doctor sense of responsibility that it tended had her carried in. Pressing his to outweigh for him any joy he could withered hand on hers, the dying man feel in the exercise of his gift or any said: “Come soon!” With a sob in satisfaction at its popular success.” his voice the poet exclaimed: “True One day when taking a favorite faith!” Gathering himself together walk he found an aged Methodist and looking at his doctor, he said one preacher lying dead on the road, word, “Death?” and after a slight where he had fallen on the way to pause added, “That is well.” Who preach in the chapel. The sermon can doubt that the earnest prayers which he held in his hand was full of a devoted evangelical mother were of joy, and Tennyson wrote after­ answered and that her famous, gifted wards to one of the old man’s rela­ son, England’s poet laureate, lived tives thus: “I cannot but look upon and died in her faith, trusting solely his death as a happy one; sudden, and wholly in the atoning sacrifices painless, and while on the way to his of Christ for his salvation and hope of chapel to render thanks and praise eternal life!

K e e p e r o f t h e V i n e y a r d s

I am the keeper of the vineyards. neglected my own. Have the vines My task is a difficult but rewarding dried up? Have the weeds grown? one. I dress the vines, water them, Is any fruit being produced? prune them when necessary, and In the final analysis, my own vine­ gather the lucious fruit. I like my yard is my first responsibility. For task. I am glad they gave it to me. how can I care for the vineyards of I am the keeper of the vineyards others if my own has been neglected? —I am the pastor of a church. The How can I water theirs if my own is life of each member of my congrega­ dried up? How can I keep theirs tion is a vineyard. My task is to care clean if my own is full of weeds? I for these vineyards, water them, and must face these questions squarely. prune them when necessary. If I take Their implications are tremendous, proper care of the vineyards they will for one great “horticulturist” said, bring forth much fruit. I like my “. . . if any provide not for his own task. I am glad my church gave it . . . he hath denied the faith, and is to me. worse than an infidel.” Only one thing bothers me. While I have been busy caring for my peo­ R . L. S t a p l e s ple’s vineyards, I wonder if I have Bcikersville, California

16 (208) The Preacher's Magazine Is the Sinner's Will Actually in Bondage?

The Question Before Us

Earl E. Barrett*

he question, “Is the sinner’s will good tree bringeth forth good fruit; T actually in bondage?” is more but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil basic than the question, "Is man free fruit” (Matthew 7:17). to do either righteous or evil acts?” Thirdly, by “free will” is meant the For if one is not free to choose, then whole person in the valley of deci­ of course he is not free to act morally. sion, particularly moral decision, the To the former question there is no capacity of the self (saint or sinner) unambiguous answer apart from pre­ to reflect, to choose between alterna­ cise defining and qualifying of terms. tives, holding in abeyance the “strong­ First of all, there is no freedom in est m otive,” which is shown to be so the universe apart from law. Even only by results, and not therefore a the sovereign God is limited by His determining cause, the decisiveness eternal laws, His immutable nature, being in the will, i.e., the person in and His gift of moral freedom to man. self-decision. It is not indeterminism, Strangely, finite man is free in a but self-determination. sense that the Infinite is not, for man Fourthly, there is no contradiction on probation has a nature that can between this partial determinism and be changed for better or worse. Yet partial freedom. For according to his freedom is limited. For even to P. H. Nowell-Smith: the refined question, “Can a righteous I could not be free to choose man do a righteous act, and a sinful what I do unless determinism is man do a sinful act?” no unhesitating correct . . . For the simplest ac­ “Yes” can be given. Both men may be tions could not be performed in an hindered internally (by inability) indeterministic universe. If I de­ cide, say, to eat a piece of fish, I and externally (by circumstances or cannot do so if the fish is liable to restraint). turn into a stone, or to behave in Secondly, by freedom is not meant any other utterly unpredictable absence of cause or motivation. In manner. ... A genuinely uncaused man’s heredity and environment, un­ action could hardly be said to be an action of the agent at all, for questionably, are causes that produce in referring the action to an agent, effects in man’s character and con­ we are referring it to a cause!1 duct and in turn, there are causes So the self acts within the limits in man’s character that produce ef­ set by its own nature, set not only fects upon his will, and thus upon by heredity and environment, but also his conduct. This is well. It means by free will, having some freedom faith and reliability in human re­ from causes past or present, within lations. When we know one, to a or without. We have been speaking degree we can predict his conduct. of freedom in general; now we turn Jesus saw this relation between char­ acter and conduct: “Even so every ’Sprague and Taylor, Knowledge and Value (New York: Harcourt, Brace, & Co., 1959), pp. •Professor, Olivet Nazarene College. 466-67.

May, 1961 (209) 17 to the moral and spiritual realm, There is the same paradox in where God and Satan may be viewed Christ’s statement that it is impossible as an important part of both heredity for a bad man to bear good fruit. It is and environment, and together with true that a bad man, while he remains man are causal agents in the produc­ bad, cannot do good acts. But it is tion of effects. In answer to the ques­ also true that a bad man through a tion, “What makes man choose as he change can do a good act. Here we does?” we answer that the word are faced with the differences be­ “make” here cannot equal “force,” tween a man and a tree. In men there and that the answer cannot be found are degrees of goodness and badness; in heredity and environment alone, also in the physical realm nature de­ but also in character, which is largely termines fruit. Woodworth, a psychol­ the product of previous choices. An ogist, defined man as the product of important factor here is indeterminate heredity and environment. This is —a free will; consequently man is strict and complete determinism, ac­ partly an unpredictable creature, and cording to which a child with a bad fully a responsible being. For we are heredity and a bad environment is going to endeavor to show that the doomed. For him there is no salva­ world of the moral and spiritual self, tion, even as for the one with good even more so than in the physical heredity and good environment there world, is not a closed world; that the is no possibility of a fall. But man’s future, whatever the past, due to free will, broadly speaking, can coun­ present free choices, is open to a large teract heredity and environment, degree; that human nature can be whether good or bad. One can change changed for better or for worse; and his environment either by leaving it that whatever the other causes, man or by staying and m odifying it. A nd himself is finally responsible for these by choosing either God or Satan as changes or effects in his life, whatever his father, one can, in a sense, change the other so-called causes. his spiritual heredity. That is, what­ ever heavenly or satanic influences Theoretically a man can be moral, may be acting upon him, as seen in and thus do a moral deed, without Adam’s fall and anybody’s restora­ being a Christian. Actually, his best, tion, man has the decisive choice. his righteousness, is as “filthy rags” Even after finding himself by his own in the sight of God (Isaiah 64:6). choice and by the grace of God in the Philosophical virtues must be sup­ new family and new surroundings, plemented by Christian virtues, man’s man is still free at any time to return limited capacity aided by divine grace. to the old life. Adam’s primitively As has been seen, Christ taught that holy nature naturally disposed him nature is behind conduct, that men toward the good; it did not determine are holy before they do holy deeds. him. He also taught that it is impossible for a good man to bear evil fruit This paradox in Christ’s analogy of (Matthew 7:18), but this should not man and a tree, in which contradic­ be viewed apart from the Biblical tory statements can be made when record of Adam’s sinning. As Aris­ viewed in two senses, i.e., when view­ totle might have put it had he known ing man now as a static being (good about the Fall, Adam was actually or bad) and then as a becoming (in holy but potentially unholy, i.e., as a transition from bad to good or vice free moral agent having a “potentiali­ versa), can be resolved by positing a ty” for becoming what he was not, gradual change of attitude that pre­

18 (210) The Preacher’s Magazine cedes and prepares for an instantane­ leaning, desiring, drawing, descend­ ous change of character. Let me il­ ing—all culminating in an act of will lustrate! which changed character. Remember Adam was blessed by both good Lot as well as Lot’s wife: desiring the heredity and good environment (al­ well-watered plain, he “pitched his though the latter included Satan as tent toward Sodom” (Genesis 13:12), well as God). In his passively holy, changing his moral position or dis­ primitive nature there was no “han­ position before he changed his en­ dle” for Satan to grasp for a down­ vironment and character. ward “pull.” Nor is there any evidence Likewise, before every instantane­ of coercion, any direct appeal to the ous change of human nature for the will. Satan approached the will via better, there is a conditioning, a the desires of body, mind, and spirit preparatory process. Have you ever —perfectly natural, God-given desires noticed the apparent discrepancy be­ for knowledge, wisdom, Godlikeness, tween the sinner pictured in the Bible the beautiful, the pleasurable, and and the one you see in actual life? the life-sustaining. Satan did not call The composite scriptural representa­ God a liar at first; he simply put a tion is of one spiritually diseased, de­ question mark where God had placed praved, dead, and in total darkness. a period (Genesis 3:1). That is, there But perhaps no single sinner is as bad was a gradual “softening up,” a change as the devil, or as the devil wants him of disposition (moral position) from to be. All the light flowing in from listening to God to listening to the general and special revelations, all devil, from leaning toward the good the influences converging upon him to leaning toward the evil, a trans­ from a Christian civilization and a formation of desire for legitimate Christian church, all the “pulls” in­ things to desire for things forbid­ clining him to “draw nigh to God” den. By responding to the external in faith in order that God may draw stimuli, doubting God, allowing the near him in converting grace—all degeneration of desire (see middle these forces playing upon man may voice of the Greek word for “drawn be summed up in two words—“com­ away” in James 1:14), Adam him­ mon grace,” the grace common to all self created the “handle” mentioned men; or “prevenient grace,” the grace above. going before salvation and preparing St. James indicates that this is the for it. A nd although w e have split up general pattern in all solicitation to this grace into parts, it is really one, evil. For bypassing external tempter an insight of James Arminius—God’s and bait, James focuses attention upon indivisible, undeserving favor.2 For internal desire: “Every man is temp­ “the grace of God . . . hath appeared ted when he is drawn away of his to all men, teaching us . . (Titus own desire” (James 1:14; epithumia, 2:11). This teaching or enlightening “intense desire”). Only afterward is grace is a continuing grace, begin­ man “enticed” or “entrapped.” James ning at creation (see Romans 1:18-22; uses a bold figure. There is solicita­ 2:14-15), continuing in the manifesta­ tion, desire is excited, two wills co­ tion of God’s grace in Christ, and cul­ operate, conception takes place, and minating in the conversion and final a monster or freak is born (see Greek for “bringeth forth”) . Here again is the satanic “softening up,” indicated 2J. Nichols and W. Bagnall (trans.)» The Writ­ ings of James Arminius (3 vols.; Grand Rapids: by the responses: looking, listening, Baker Book House, 1956), I, 253.

May, 1961 (211) 19 salvation and glorification of sinners. with the many passages clearly show­ It is the continuing light that “light- ing that God has not left man to him­ eth every man” (John 1:9; see Psalms self. This dualism of scripture is seen 19:1-2; John 1:5). Thus, no man is in the interpretation of Arminus and in complete darkness. The scriptural John Wesley.3 picture of the sinner in total moral darkness and inability, left to him­ 37bid., I, 526; II, 288; R. Burtner and R. Chiles (eds.), A Compendium of Wesley’s Theology self, needs to be brought into harmony (New York: Abingdon Press).

The Importance of Humor

By H. M. von Stein*

o s a y a m a n lacks a sense of hu­ an audience of eternity-bound people T mor is a grave indictment border­ by merely resorting to being funny. ing on the question of his sanity. If it Sacrilege—a tiny drop of it, es­ became established for a fact, it is pecially when identured for the sake doubtful that such a man would be of a laugh—will permeate the most considered for an important position of brilliant offering as the flavor of gar­ any kind, even a pastorate. lic, say, would permeate pie, and decorates with the bright meringue What is humor and why is it im­ of hogwash any article or the maga­ portant? zine that prints it. Word derivations being outside the If it is possible for the devil to in­ scope of a discussion of this caliber, vade the pulpit of a true prophet of we can say that humor is what people God, especially the fine, keen young laugh at, the purpose of such an am­ minds of our young preachers, it is biguous definition being to point out probably through the humorous quip. that hum or is not joy. Damage can be done in one phrase The world today, and especially the to the frame of reference evoked in United States, is sold out to laughter. the pastor’s message in the minds of Greater popularity and pecuniary re­ his listeners so that the sword’s point ward are available to the jokester than of the Spirit attains only a superficial to the President. Editors seek avidly depth instead of reaching the heart. for what will make people laugh— It is undoubtedly easier for Satan even to sacrilege. than for the Holy Spirit to speak through a joke. It would be impertinent and futile If Jesus ever told a funny story, to say that telling funny stories or there is no record of it. He knew the saying funny things in an evangelistic people He was talking to, and it would service is wrong. be pretty hard to laugh with those He It is the purpose, here, to point out knew were going to hell. Dead and that there is grave danger in follow­ dying people are not funny. ing the modern world pattern of be­ Someone or something must suffer lieving we can gain the attention of or appear ridiculous for every latagh

♦Medford, Oregon. that is made. 20 (212) The Preacher’s Magazine Who Said, "It's a Mistake"?

James H. Whitworth*

'T' h e m o s t m i s u s e d word in the vo- broad and general terms, the English -*■ cabulary of holiness people is word sin tends to imbibe a specific mistake. You can’t find it in the theological slant. Disciples of Wesley Bible. In fact, it is almost impossible insist that sin is a willful violation of to find anything in Scriptures that known law. Others follow the hint implies exactly what this word in­ from the Hebrew and Greek words dicates. that sin is not necessarily deliberate. For them any missing the mark of A m b i g u i t y A b o u t I n t e n t i o n s perfection is sin. Mistakes. Generally modern Eng­ lish dictionaries imply that the syno­ Errors. The Bible lover who com­ nyms mistake and error are inter­ mandeers enough perseverance to ex­ changeable. However the first of amine the original languages is forced these words more often suggests a to admit that ChaTa and hamartia mishap of judgment which is rela­ are broad enough to include both er­ tively unimportant from an ethical rors that are deliberate violations of viewpoint, while the word error points law and also errors that are the result definitely toward a failure to attain a of human ignorance or infirmity. recognized standard of perfection. Furthermore both the volitional and Clearer understanding, thus, can be the involuntary aspects of error in­ achieved by limiting mistakes to in­ volve divine disfavor, which is hard cidents of misconduct that have no to find in the usual usage of the word moral overtones. Regarding such non- mistake. When the theological idea of moral incidents, the inspired writers willful sin is applied to every occur­ of Scriptures, who were concerned rence of the original words for error, primarily with moral and spiritual the scriptural distinction between values, contributed almost no com­ willful and ignorant errors is ob­ ment. Certainly the one or two refer­ scured. ences to human faults give no grounds Sometimes the inspired writers use for indiscriminate use of the word the general or common words for er­ mistake. To dump every involuntary ror in expositions denouncing willful word or deed of misconduct into the sin. These passages fully support the wastebasket labeled, “Mistakes,” is a Wesleyan doctrine, which proscribes serious blunder that distorts Bible sin. Nevertheless the same inspired truth. writers employ the same common Sins. In most cases sin is the Eng­ words to represent sins of ignorance, lish word used to translate two very or more properly, involuntary errors. common words in the original He­ Incidentally, an aversion to the brew and Greek texts of the Bible. term “sins of ignorance” is proper, While both the original words, ChaTa’ for it implies a contradiction that does in H ebrew and hamartia in Greek, are not occur in the original languages. ♦Pastor, Bloomington, Illinois. No act can be both a willful trans-

May, 1961 (213) 21 gression and an error of ignorance. to limit holiness to good intentions or While the Bible says almost nothing perfect love. This is good but not ade­ about mistakes in the trivial sense quate. To magnify motives irrespec­ of the word, it does say considerable tive of deeds is hazardous, If the about errors of ignorance.1 Holiness Bible is correct, redemption goes be­ folk do violence to the Scriptures yond intentional perfection and love- when they pass off lightly involuntary dominated motives. Christ died to set errors as inconsequential mistakes. aside all errors that fall short of God’s standard of moral perfection. A t t i t u d e o f t h e I n d i v i d u a l Prospect of religion. In the first A d m i s s i o n o f I mperfection place, the Wesleyan position of holi­ Worse than profession. No! Man ness is a repudiation of a “sinning cannot be perfect in this life, but he religion.” There is no reason to quib­ can do something about improving ble over this point. Wesley and his himself. Holiness people have not been followers were supported by more foolish enough to profess freedom than cold logic in affirming freedom from human errors. Nevertheless they through grace from all willful sin. open the door to gross hypocrisy Over and over the Scriptures pro­ whenever they fail to correct involun­ claim deliverance from all iniquity. tary errors. To cover up an offensive Perverseness of rebellion. W hen error by hiding it under the cover of we substitute the word iniquity for a mistake leads to self-deception that sin, we enhance one of the many is bound to involve condemnation if words occurring in Scriptures which unchecked. Of course, an innocent can mean no other than willful per­ misunderstanding of common defini­ version or deliberate transgression. tions for the ideas of mistakes and Old Testament Hebrew contains about sin does not, in itself, constitute trans­ forty words that emphasize the per­ gression; but if persisted in, the use verse or rebellious nature of sin. It of mistakes as an alibi for misconduct would seem that the general words can and does invariably lead to hy­ for error are seldom used to empha­ pocrisy. size in themselves the willfulness of Better than profession. Beginning sin. The reason for extensive use of with the broad definition of sin as these words for error lies in conscious­ error, the Keswicks or Victorious Life ness of God’s intense hatred for every advocates are forced to admit that act that frustrates His perfect purpose they sin every day. However we are rather than in any suggestion that unfair to them if we refuse to concede man’s will is involved in the breach that some Keswicks appear to be more of perfection. Better words are avail­ saintly than some holiness professors. able to emphasize the sinfulness of While they theoretically deny eradica­ sin. tion of sin, those who take seriously the Victorious Life are sometimes Purpose of redemption. Certainly more conscientious about human er­ no defense can be found within the rors than some who claim to be sanc­ Bible for voluntary sin. Hence the tified wholly. W esleyan doctrine is an impregnable fortress. However some have tended Danger in misunderstanding. The enigma of some holiness people is that they are afraid to ask forgiveness for 1Leviticus 4:1; 5:18; Numbers 15:22-29; Psalms 19:12; Romans 8:27, 34; Galatians 6:1; Hebrews involuntary errors which offend other 7:25; 9:7, 24; 12:1; James 5:16, 19-20; I John 1:9; 2 :1- 2. people. To admit guilt for an error 22 (214) The Preacher's Magazine appears to imply sin, which no sanc­ Redress of offenses. While the of­ tified person can admit without for­ fensive error is not a sin in the sense feiting the blessing. It is so convenient of making one guilty immediately, to pass off the error as a mistake and neither is it a nonmoral mistake; how­ do nothing about the offense. As a ever, an error of ignorance can lead result, accumulated misunderstand­ to guilt if correction is not made. One ing's destroy the unity of the body of must plead the blood of Christ for all Christ and make revivals almost im­ human errors and make amends in­ possible. In the individual member of sofar as possible with man. G od’s way the church, the outgrowth is an in­ is a path of confession to God and consistent profession of holiness to (unless of a delicate nature) to the which no one is ever attracted. A pro­ offended person. To excuse serious fession contradicted by harmful con­ errors as mistakes undercuts the very duct is nothing short of hypocrisy. foundation of true holiness.

A t t a i n m e n t o f t h e I d e a l Reinforcement of vigilance. Burst­ Restriction of errors. To claim pure ing forth in the crisis experience of intentions and love-filled motives is heart purity, the sanctified soul ac­ not enough. The way of Jesus de­ celerates his transformation into the mands the elimination of everything spotless image of the perfect son of un-Christlike. Not only are acts of God. Increased concern in Christlike- willful sin prohibited in His holy way, ness thus compels the saint to be much but every kind of error that offends more careful to avoid human errors God or man must be consistently re­ and more quick to make amends for pudiated. Although willful sin ceases the inadvertencies that slip past his in regeneration, human error must be vigilant guard. Nothing with moral conquered by the believer throughout significance should be tolerated as a life. mistake.

P r e j u d i c e

A legend has come out of Germany which is based on the Nazi persecution of the Jews. A pastor, acting on orders from the Gestapo, said to his congregation, “All of you who had Jewish fathers will leave and not return.” A few worshipers rose and left the sanctuary. Again he said, “All of you who had Jewish mothers must go and not return.” As before, a few worshipers left. As the pastor looked on, he saw the remaining members of the congregation turn pale. The figure on the cross above the altar had loosed itself and left the sanctuary. Jesus cannot abide in a heart, a home, a church, or a community, where prejudices exist.— V i r g i n i a E l y in “Devotion,” For Personal and Group Worship (Fleming H. Revell Company).

May, 1961 (215) 23 For the Pastor or the Church Wishing to Remember Such Special Occasions as . . . WEDDINGS . . . GRADUATIONS

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Traditional Nazarene Revival

By Jimmy Dobson*

HAVE TWO POINTS TO MAKE: church, the regular services conduct­ 1. The traditional Nazarene re­ ed by the pastor—only points up the vival must never be abandoned. truth that these other means have 2. The traditional Nazarene re­ been contributory and the revival has been the clincher. vival must be kept in first place in all our evangelistic efforts. The Church of the Nazarene is By way of definition let me say emerging from a sect into a denomina­ that by traditional Nazarene evange­ tion. In making this transition there lism I mean the business of promoting are certain adjustments which must revivals in the local church through necessarily be made. The change­ protracted meetings under the direc­ over holds increased opportunities as tion of those whom we will call pro­ well as inherent dangers. Liston Pope, fessional evangelists. This is the the sociologist, says that religious quadrennium in which we are em­ bodies making this change have a phasizing “Evangelism First.” Dr. tendency to go from a high degree of Hardy Powers stated in his General congregational participation in ser­ Assembly address, and no one would vices to the delegation of responsi­ contest this, that evangelism has been bility to a comparatively small per­ the principal work of the Church of centage of the membership; that they the Nazarene in the past. We could have a tendency to go from fervor in add that it is equally uncontestable, worship to restraint, from positive ac­ as far as the past is concerned, that tion to passive listening, from con­ promoting revivals has been the version to religious education. I am principal work of evangelism. The sure that our general leadership is great mass of our people have been endeavoring to forestall such tenden­ won to God in revival services. The cies as these by instituting our great fact that other agencies have contribu­ effort in the “Evangelism First” cam­ ted to this end— that is, the personal paign. They want to make us see the work, the teaching agencies of the pathetic failure of our people to wit­ ness for Christ—and to make us ♦Evangelist, Church of the Nazarene. aware of the fact that evangelism is

26 (218) The Preacher’s Magazine the business of all and to enlist our than once or many times. Seriously, entire membership in this concern. this saying shows a deep misunder­ The point of emphasis here is that standing of the final purpose of the there is no choice to be made be­ church, and as such we must reject it. tween the filling in of this vast neg­ The whole job of the church is not to lected area and the continuing to get people converted, nor yet to see carry on our lifeline, the Nazarene re­ them sanctified—rather we are to es­ vival. There is no need to bend over cort them all the way to and through backward and push the revival out the gates of pearl. of its historic place of pre-eminence as a Nazarene institution. We must not If the subject falls a thousand times, remove it from first place even by we are to have a thousand revival implication. campaigns if necessary and get him on his way again. It is not unlikely, We must face the fact that there is however, that his instability is due as a wave of pessimism in regard to our much to faulty pastoral teaching as revival methods. This pessimism does to improper revival methods. not stem from disloyalty or compro­ mise necessarily, nor does it indicate “Revivals cost too much in time and bad faith. Sometimes these doubts money.” This statement takes us out are expressed by the laity, sometimes on mighty thin ice. First, we assume by distressed pastors, and sometimes that we can see all the results of a by the evangelists themselves. A little revival campaign and evaluate them thoughtful inquiry will show that the in dollars and cents. But is this pos­ facts still overwhelmingly support the sible? A church that I know put on traditional Nazarene revival. From a revival campaign in 1928 which cost different quarters I have heard the in the neighborhood of $600—a sub­ following and other criticism: stantial sum in that day. When the visible results were tabulated, only “Most revivals only thrash over old one convert was chalked up—and he straw.” was “old straw,” a Sunday school lad “Revivals are too costly in time and and a chronic seeker. In the inter­ money for the results obtained.” vening years, however, this young “The people become discouraged man went on to dedicate twenty-five from putting out so much and receiv­ years of his life to the church, saw ing so little in visible returns.” many people converted and sanctified, “Revivals are pooly attended, espe­ and put, as all of us do, many thou­ cially on week nights. sand dollars in tithes and offerings “Unwise methods of evangelists into the church, and has at the pres­ drive promising people away.” ent time more than a score of young Let us consider some of these ob­ men preaching the gospel who were jections. First, “Most revivals only converted under his ministry. Now let thrash over old straw.” Of course this me ask you, How wrong was the judg­ is only a cliche—but we must never ment of those board members who write off the power of slogans and tried to pass a resolution doing away cliches. The man who said, “Sticks with further revival efforts because and stones can break my bones but of the great “failure” of this cam­ words can never harm me,” could not paign and its resulting financial loss? have been more wrong. “Thrashing Secondly, a revival that fails of old straw” means dealing with people much in the way of visible results, who have been to the altar more they say, is a discouragement to the

May, 1961 (219) 27 church. Let’s face it—the revival is couple who came weeping to the altar a true mirror of the real spiritual con­ to surrender to God, who testified that dition of the church. Sometimes a mir­ they had attended one revival service ror can be a source of discouragement. twelve months earlier and had been This is one very valid reason why we under deep conviction for one solid should never abandon the traditional year? Other testimonies verify the Nazarene revival. There is one thing act that sometimes this delaying in­ worse than having a church fall into terval is much longer—maybe twenty spiritual decline, the Holy Spirit cease years, as Dr. Jarrette Aycock once to convict, the services to become cold related. and lifeless; and that thing is to have Furthermore, this work of intensive this condition prevail while all its preaching of the Word of God to every people are unaware that anything is available audience must go on even if wrong. A revival campaign aimed at the state of the world were to become the true Nazarene goal will spotlight such that absolutely no success could the spiritual apathy in such a clear be obtained. We are too much com­ way that (let’s face it) it is discourag­ mitted to the idea that success of an ing. But do we want to kill the doctor endeavor is proof of its godliness, and just because his diagnosis is unpleas­ the opposite. This position would be ant? We may be saying, “Many won­ very difficult to back up with scrip­ derful works”; but God may say ture. This would rule out the Noahs through the revival, “Behold, I know and the Jeremiahs of another day. you not.” In some situations success is practic­ ally impossible. We must place the The Nazarene revival is geared in emphasis back where God put it— a peculiar way to holiness of heart. on faithfulness! For this reason it becomes a humilia­ Other objectors say that methods tion, a thorn in the side of any local of evangelists sometimes drive prom­ church which has begun to stray off ising people away. This has probably down the lane toward modernism. been true, to a greater or less degree, Let’s keep it that way! with all our evangelists. It is highly As to revivals failing, can we meas­ regrettable and the evangelist should ure the preventive effects of revival be faced with this fact if it occurs. preaching? Can we number the peo­ However, the same thing happens to ple who are restrained from backslid­ pastors and usually with more serious ing because the revival came at the consequences because their tenure of right time? Are we able to determine office is longer. I have seen churches the long-delayed reactions to revival all over America split by unwise pas­ efforts: as, for instance, the young toral manipulations. The late Dr. R. T.

P r a y e r Many a man who would never think of dashing out of a morning without his breakfast, his vitamins and his briefcase, plunges head­ long into a perilous day with an unprepared soul. “A little talk with Jesus” readies the body, the mind and the spirit for whatever comes. After all, everything began with God. How foolish of us to start anything without Him! Whatever this new day may hold for you, make sure of one thing. “In the beginning God . . .”— V a n c e H a v n e r in “Truth for Each Day” (Fleming H. Revell Company).

28 (220) The Preacher's Magazine Williams once said that the pastor is ing in ever-widening circles to this the cause or the occasion of practically day! all church quarrels. But I hear no The way of the Nazarene revival is one advocating the discontinuation of the hard way. It is both our glory and the office of the pastor on this ac­ our cross! The glory and the cross count! that Jesus exhibited that day when Some say the revival is poorly at­ He started preaching to 5,000 and tended, especially on week nights— ended with 12! In that hour there was which is true; but this is not a new no anxiety conference concerning situation. That is, the Church of the statistics and perhaps a change of Nazarene has never made its principal method and message. Rather we hear impact because of great popular ap­ the calm question, “Will ye also go peal in this respect. Our genius has away?” and between the lines, “Here been in the intensity of our gospel. I stand for all eternity and compro­ Dr. P. F. Bresee was convicted for mise is unthinkable.” heart holiness as a result of an ex­ In summing up let me say we must pensive campaign in which there were never, no, never, abandon the Naza­ seven professions! Some modern de­ rene revival. We must keep it in front nominations would scoff in derision at place because it still pays the highest a revival with no more results than of dividends, conscious all the while that! But the contagious passion born that it is not in competition with but in the heart of this man with the is the culmination of all that is best coming of the Holy Spirit is continu­ in our evangelistic efforts!

PASTORS! Remember 1961 Emphasis "Evangelism on Sunday Nights"

“What Jesus Christ has done for us in personal re­ demption, He can do for others. The nature of the gospel itself demands that we should share it. This light cannot be hid in us without going out.”

D r. S a m u e l Y o u n g General Superintendent

SHINING LIGHTS ON SUNDAY NIGHTS IN ’61 Department of Evangelism

E d w a r d L a w l o r , Executive Secretary

May, 1961 (221) 29 J"Q U EEN of t H e PARSONAGE»’

May she who in the parsonage dwells be radiant, poised, serene; And every moment of each day be every inch a queen!

Contributed by Ruth Vaughn*

Portrait of a Queen When she made this discovery, she spent some desperate hours alone 'T' h e v e r s e “All things work together with God. Finally she told God that for good” was the happy creed of she was willing to go with Charles her life. College, finances, each detail Rodda to a Nazarene parsonage but of life was running smoothly and beau­ she didn’t want to go to just endure tifully. It was easy to believe this it. Naomi Rodda wanted to love the verse of her childhood! But suddenly life that was the will of God. Again the sunshine disappeared! The storm God worked a personal, positive clouds came. The sky was darkened miracle for her. She entered the par­ black. And in the midnight of despair sonage, and in spite of the problems and frustration she learned the true that arose, she found it to be a won­ meaning of trust and faith in God. derful, thrilling, happy way of life The automobile accident which took which she would not exchange for the her job, her health, her financial se­ wealth of kings. curity brought to her answered Throughout these years in a Naza­ prayer, personal miracles—and rene parsonage she has proved again Charles Rodda! He is now the pastor and again the truth of Romans 8:28. of the First Church of the Nazarene She has experienced the unparalleled in Huntington, Indiana. She is his joy of “living by faith” and having lovely, devoted wife. And now when God supply all needs “not a moment she quotes Romans 8:28 she knows— too soon nor a moment too late!” with a deep, unshakable knowledge The testimony today of Naomi within—the truth of its promise. She Rodda is that “all the joys and won­ didn’t learn it in the sunshine—she derful things of life have been given found its meaning in the shadows! as a direct result of a complete sur­ Naomi Rodda was born in a par­ render to the will of God.” The moth­ sonage. She understood all of its ex­ er of two wonderful Christian chil­ periences—both bitter and sweet. She dren, she has found the fulfillment of was not resentful of her childhood in her dreams of motherhood; the wife a Nazarene parsonage but she pri­ of “the most wonderful man in the vately made up her mind that the world,” she has enjoyed the enchant­ entire scope of her life would not be ment of a living romance; the spiritual spent in a parsonage. At N.N.C. she leader to a large group of people, she fell in love with a ministerial student! has discovered the enrichment of a ♦Lubbock, Texas. selfless life. Through her relationship

30 (222) The Preacher's Magazine with God, Naomi Rodda has been re­ must take this into account. At times, sponsible for dozens finding Him. however, the load in the lives of some Through the strength of her belief, really mature and highly intelligent she has helped weaker ones to dis­ people, through great sorrow or dis­ cover His reality. Through the beau­ appointment or illness, will be more ty of her consecration, she has shown than any human mind can bear and forth to a sin-benighted world the keep sane. These persons need special loveliness of Jesus Christ. Truly this help and comfort. And again, they do is the portrait of a queen! not need your advice nor your per­ To Mrs. Charles Rodda, I pay sonal opinion about what has hap­ tribute! pened to them. “If you can help a person to reach R o y a l C o o k b o o k his own conclusion, you have helped Parsonage Queen Joy Smith of her more than you ever could by giv­ Augusta, Maine, shares with us this ing advice. When you have helped scrumptious, quick ’n easy recipe for one to find a deep feeling of security molasses squares. Quick on the bake within herself, you have done her a and sooo yummy! lasting good. And remember always, if she does not know God, it is im por­ M ix V2 cup shortening, 2 eggs, tant to lead to God and to the for­ V2 cup molasses, % cup sifted flour, giveness of her sins. The spiritual V2 tsp. each of soda, salt, nutmeg, needs are ever first with Jesus, and cloves, and cinnamon, 1 cup of chopped more frequently than not underlie nuts, and 1 cup seedless raisins. Place other needs.” in a greased pan and bake at 375°.

B o o k s h e l f w i t h L a c e O v e r T e a c u p s Mrs. Dell Aycock continues with Object Sermons, written by Dell Aycock, is meat for wonders with her helpful advice in the much-needed area of “ The Preacher’s W ife as a small children. The object lesson is one of the most effective means of Counselor.” teaching as well as of evangelism. “If it is family entanglements, re­ This book is simple but intriguing and member that, no matter what they should help you to really make those say, there are probably two sides to youngsters sit up and take notice. the issue. Never become involved. Give the scales time to balance before putting too much weight on one side. T h e K i n g ’ s H o u s e Again, the best advice you can give Have you discovered the wonder along these lines in most cases is to of “Tupperware” for keeping things show the stand of the church as found preserved and fresh? You can make in the Manual. Specific advice must a whopping big salad on Monday, be avoided, for you will be held to place it in a sealed “Tupperware” blame if anything goes wrong. bowl, and it will be on hand for “This is startling but certainly true: snacks after school or church, unex­ Most of the people who seek your pected company, and regular meals help will be adolescent in their think­ for the entire week (or as long as it ing no matter what their age. That lasts), and will be as crisp and fresh being so, they are also adolescent in as when you placed it in the icebox. judgment and adolescent in reaching Try it. Y o u ’ll discover it is a w onder­ right conclusions. Our counseling ful timesaver!

May, 1961 (223) 31 H e a r t T a l k tried our best to ‘seek . . . first the kingdom’ and to give to it our best. Mrs. Charles Rodda shares with But we have tried to work together us some of her thoughts and feelings as a fam ily team, snatching what time on the tremendous job which faces we could salvage to be together, lov­ each of us who live in the parsonage. ing every minute of it, praying to­ May we learn one from the other! gether over every problem. And when “It’s hard to say what makes a I mention prayer together, that really good minister’s wife. There are so starts a chain of memories, because many different types and God seems all my happy memories seem to be to use all kinds. I feel that one of the connected with prayer. From our first greatest contributions the wife of a prayer together in the hotel room minister can make to his work is in after the wedding to the present mo­ her relationship to her husband—to ment, how real God has been in our be close to him, understanding, a family circle as we have talked to sweetheart, a person he can confide Him! in, making home a wonderful place “To pray TOGETHER over every to be, a refuge from the storm. It need, every problem, every perplex­ seems to me that at times some women ing situation has been our strength. are so busy being the wife of the I’ll never forget our own private pastor that they forget to be the ‘dedication ceremony’ both times that preacher’s wife. I know that it is an we brought our babies home from asset to have talent and to fit into the hospital after birth. As a family the many places where it is needed. of four, we have had wonderful times I know how many duties we are together and we have prayed about called upon to perform. But I believe everything! that if we let all these pressures crowd “I feel very strongly about this mat­ out the other, we have lost our ter of family life. Maybe because I’ve chance to make our greatest contri­ seen so much of the other side: minis­ bution. I believe that a happy, well- ters and their wives pulling against adjusted preacher with a loving fami­ each other; ministers failing morally ly back of him will best stand up to because their emotional needs were the pressures of the pastorate. not satisfied at home; children who “For these twenty-eight years of were a hindrance to the work their marriage we have tried to make home parents were trying to do. But mostly ‘a little bit of heaven on earth,’ and just because it brings so much happi­ what satisfaction it has brought! I ness and is such a real asset to a don’t mean the selfish sort of thing minister’s life. It is hard to help other that says that the family comes first people with their problems if you and other things can wait. We have have not solved your own.”

T h e R e p o r t o f C o n s c i e n c e

A dead conscience is unconscious of evil. A seared conscience is suceptible to evil. A pricked conscience sees evil. A good conscience is sensitive to evil. A quickened conscience abhors evil.

—H e n r y T . B e y e r , J r .

32 (224) The Preacher's Magazine The Pastor and His Preaching Ministry

By Ross W. Hayslip*

TJ e r h a p s the high point of all my destiny.” If we sought we could find * Christian career was the time that many more so eloquent and adequate I heard the voice of God calling me definitions, but I think that you would to the ministry. To me the call to find in all of them the common factors preach was a definite requirement for of God, human personality and the my salvation. I did not fully realize divine Word of truth. How wonder­ all that was entailed in this “call to ful it is that the God of the universe, preach.” Doubtless if I had seen the who created all things, should choose tasks of visitation, promotion, and ad­ man as the channel through which ministration of the modern pastoral He should proclaim the glad news office, I would have become fearful of his wonderful salvation! He could of the immensity of the task. All that have chosen angels to declare it, or God showed to me was a pulpit with He could have written it across the spiritually hungry folks turning ex­ azure skies in letters of golden fire. pectant faces toward me. To that, The forces of nature might have been God’s call was first and foremost. harnessed and charged to sound out Sometimes when I find myself losing the wonderful message that Christ my way in the maze of things, God died for our sins. It is a grand but draws me back to my purpose with a fearful responsibility that our God has vision of this pulpit with the needy put upon us! folks surrounding it. Yes, if God Our personal attitude toward our called me to any task twenty-four preaching task will have a great deal years ago, it was to preach the Word. to do with the failure or success of Just what is preaching? Phillips this phase of our ministry. If we look Brooks defines it as “communication upon the pulpit as a blessing rather of truth by man to men. It has in it than a burden, a challenge rather than two essential elements, truth and per­ a chore, a high moment rather than sonality. Neither of these can it spare weekly drudge, then our preaching and still be preaching. The truest becomes a vital part of our personali­ truth, the most authoritative state­ ties. For a man’s sermons must be­ ment of God’s will, communicated in come a part of him. There should be any other way than through the per­ an eagerness from Sunday to Sunday sonality of brother man to men is to mount the steps to the pulpit and not preached truth.” proclaim the sermon that God has Our own Dr. G. B. Williamson calls placed upon the soul. The preacher preaching “the mediation of the truth is a chosen vessel of God to bear the of God to men through human per­ great treasure of God’s proclamation sonality.” of salvation. As D. T. Niles has aptly John Donne refers to preaching as said in the 1957 Yale Lectures, “ The being an “ambassador to God and ground of the preacher’s task is that

♦Pastor, Whittier, California. God has acted and man must believe.”

May, 1961 (225) 33 It is at the peril of our own souls in the preparation of the sermon will that we lose that fervent thrill that result in shallow, emotional repetition. comes when we stand in our pulpits All study will bring a cold, intellec­ Sunday after Sunday to preach the tual discourse. The two in proper eternal Word of God. If we feel thus- blend will result in “truth on fire.” ly we shall never fall into the danger When our people come out to church cited by Dr. John Watson when he on Sunday their hearts are hungry to said, “The chief end of preaching is, hear from God. Happy indeed is that after all, inspiration, and the man who minister who can preach with the au­ has been set on fire is the vindication thority of “Thus saith the Lord.” In of the pulpit. The chief disaster of this amazing day of satellites encir­ preaching is detachment and indif­ cling our earth, the reaching of the ference.” moon imminent, with interplanetary St. Francis DeSales said: “The test travel in the near future, men are of a preacher is that his congregation awaiting news from God. I am vitally goes away saying, not What a lovely interested in knowing what men like sermon,’ but, ‘I must do something.’ ” Nels Ferre, Emil Brunner, Karl Barth, Our sermons must be preached to and Paul Tillich are thinking and say­ meet the needs of our people. Paul ing. I am interested in existentialism drives home to the heart of the and modern theology. I like to chal­ preacher’s subject matter when in lenge my own feeble thinking facul­ I Corinthians 1:23 he says, “We ties by reading after the Niebuhr preach Christ crucified.” Halford Luc- brothers. But when I phrase my ser­ cock has said that sermons, like rivers, mons for my people I must remember must have their beginning in the sky. that their chief interest is, What does That is what George Browne Thomas God have to say? A great old Scott­ meant when he wrote in the preface ish preacher rightly said in his advice of his book entitled What Shall I to young ministers: “We have been Preach? “If more than forty years’ assured that the gospel is rightly pro­ experience in preaching has taught claimed, not by historians speaking me anything, it is this: God speaks from a reconstructed first century, to the preacher when he shuts him­ nor by professional theologians speak­ self in with only God and His Word, ing from a system of organized knowl­ searching and praying that God Him­ edge, but by reporters who have been self shall answer the burning ques­ commissioned by Him whose char­ tion ‘What shall I preach?’ ” acter and activity they announce.” Through meditation upon the ex­ Every God-called man must have perience of his pastoral work he may his own system of sermon preparation. already have been guided to the need M en’s methods are as diverse as their of his congregation for preaching on personalities. To give a rule-of-thumb a certain subject. He now seeks God’s method of building sermons is pre­ Word upon the subject. Again the sumptuous. Whether the sermon shall answer may come if the preacher is have two, three, or no divisions will alert to hear the whisper of the Spirit. depend upon the tastes of the man The preacher is the craftsman who who builds it. H ow he shall assemble builds the structure of the sermon, his material and organize it must be but the materials from which he builds his own unique method. It is, how ­ must come from God. These, of ever, my firm opinion that my subject course, are obtained through a bal­ matter will be far more meaningful ance of prayer and study. All prayer to my hearers if it is based upon the

34 (226) The Preacher's Magazine Word of the Lord. Observers of the career. The object of my preaching ministry of the dynamic young Evan­ was definitely and gloriously real­ gelist B illy Graham say that the force ized. How many times has the minis­ of his message lies in the fact that it ter been overjoyed when a member is Bible-centered. “The Bible says” of his congregation has grasped his is a familiar phrase often repeated in hand and looked in his eye, saying, his sermons. The great sermons re­ “Pastor, that sermon was just what I corded in the Book of Acts are almost needed, you will never know what a entirely quotations from the Old Tes­ help it has been to me”! Words like tament Scriptures and allusions to these make a preacher live. the same. I have found that the more There comes to every God-called Bible I pack into my sermons, the preacher that never-failing feeling of easier becomes my delivery. My ex­ inner awe as he stands up to preach. cursions into the well-known homilet- He is, as Richard Baxter said, “ a dy­ ical brush usually occur when I try ing man speaking to dying men.” He sermons that are not too well shot is the spokesman for the eternal God, through with the Word of God. an ambassador for Christ. His mes­ The object of the sermon is far more sage that he is about to deliver is important than the subject. Forever from another world. Orators may before me must be the questions, Why charm with words, but the preacher am I preaching this sermon? Whom has a message to deliver. As he opens do I wish specifically to help? Of his mouth to declare the Word that course, souls are our supreme goal, God has laid upon him, there descends but not all of our sermons demand a upon him that peculiar enablement decision for Christ. The definition of that we term unction. It was unction evangelism that came out of the Am­ that made the physically weak George sterdam Conference of the World Whitefield one of the most powerful Council of Churches was “to so pre­ men of his day. It was unction that sent Christ that men w ould be forced lifted up the humble Welshman to a decision, either yes or no.” Christmas Evans and transformed him Not all of the pastor’s preaching is into a pulpit giant. It will not always evangelistic. There must be a feeding bring about such a transformation in of the flock of God, teaching men the us as average preachers but it will be way to victorious Christian living a powerful dynamic in the great task. through obedience to the Word. It is Before one lies the sermon plan, but a thrilling thing to see men moved by only as God breathes upon it will it a sermon. No greater joy can come take life and become an antimated, to the pastor’s heart than from his forceful message. Men will listen to pulpit to behold tear-stained cheeks, the preacher upon whom this unction uplifted hands, and lighted eyes. Once rests. It is not a mere happen-so. when I was preaching, a dear lady in Prayer, study of the Word, and a the pew becam e so eager to obtain godly life are the prerequisites. the blessing that she did not wait for Whether we see the outward results an altar invitation but opened her in a movement on the part of our heart and accepted the Comforter in hearers or the seeming unconcerned His sanctifying capacity while I was indifference, we must not measure yet preaching. She terminated my ser­ the failure or success of sermons by mon with a genuine outburst of holy such. Did we feel the unction of God joy. This will always live in my memo­ as we spoke? If we did, then we can ry as a high point of my preaching safely leave the results with God. We

May, 1961 (227) 35 can “ring the bell” with a crowd- Jesus. Our folks do not need our pleasing oratorical barrage, but to scholarship, though if we have any it really preach we must feel the ap­ is a good gift that can be used. It is proval of God. not flashy personality, even though personality cannot be wholly elimi­ We are never satisfied with our nated from our ministry. Our mes­ presentation. The preacher who be­ sage must show Jesus. Unless we are comes satisfied in his sermon delivery lifting Him up, unless people leave is a dead duck. This wonderful gos­ our churches on Sunday feeling that pel that we proclaim must never be­ they have seen the living Christ—we come withered by familiarity or are not preaching the gospel. dimmed by repetition but be like the Our duty is to exalt the Christ of sea in that favorite story of ours from whom the great British preacher and the great artist Tintorello, who in essayist Boreham wrote in a private trying to paint the sea finally threw letter: “In Dr. Moffatt’s translation of down his brushes in despair and cried Colossians 3:11, he changes the au­ out, “It keeps growing greater; no­ thorized renderings: Christ is all and body can paint it.” Thus it is in our in all into Christ is Everything and effort to properly preach the gospel Everywhere. Christ is ------? What of Christ. The longer we preach it, is H e? I am the Bread of Life, he the greater it becomes and the more says; I am the True Vine; I am the we feel our own personal inability. Good Shepherd, and so on. But Paul When we feel that we have mastered goes a step further: Christ is every­ our task, it is then our ministry loses thing! so that even if the worst comes its romance. to the worst, and you lose everything, In the earlier years of the nineteenth you will still have everything, for you century the most influential pulpit still have Christ and Christ is Every­ in the world was that of Holy Trinity thing! If the best comes to the best, Church, Cambridge, where for more you will still have everything plus than fifty years the great Charles everything for you will have every­ Simeon held forth Sunday after Sun­ thing plus Christ and Christ is Every­ day. Across the desk in that pulpit thing.” This, my beloved brethren, is there is a small slip of paper upon the message that we bring—this is which are written these words, “Sir, the high mark of the pastor’s preach­ we would see Jesus.” Our age needs ing ministry!

S p a r k l i n g S a y i n g s

The missionary spreads the hope of glory of heaven where the shadow of death prevailed.

Don’t think that your Bible is a dry Book because it has dust on its covers.

The man who watches the clock generally remains one of the hands.

Many people are like steamboats; they toot loudest when in a fog. — E . W a y n e S t a h l

36 (228) The Preacher's Magazine siEiRivEonsr w o r k s h o p

Supplied by Nelson G. Mink*

R e cen t P o l l How t o R a t e W e l l a s a M e m b e r “Why Teen-agers Get Out of Hand” I refer to the church as “my church.” 1. Parents are not strict enough. I keep up to date with my tithe. 2. Parents do not provide home life. I never repeat malicious gossip. 3. Parents have too many outside I attend all Sunday services, and interests. prayer meetings beside. 4. Parents are too indulgent—give I hold some position of service in my children too much money. church. 5. Both parents work, even though I notify my pastor when there is ill­ the mother is needed at home. ness in my home or church. —The Defender I call the church office immediately upon learning of new prospects. I visit for my church regularly. I support my church-elected officers. T he W a y U p I s D o w n I speak of the good qualities of my Dr. F. B. Meyer once said: “I used to church rather than its shortcomings. think God’s gifts were one above the I look for visitors and welcome them other, and that the taller we grew in when they attend. Christian character, the more easily we I pray daily for my church, fellow should reach them. I find now that members, leaders, and the pastor. God’s gifts are on shelves one beneath I do not pity myself when I am not the other, and that it is not a question called on as often as I would like. of growing taller, but of stooping lower, I am willing to carry my share of all and that we have to go down, always church programs and burdens. down, to get His best gifts.” I “call” on my pastor at least three —Contributed by R e v . G l e n n E a g l e times a week: twice on Sunday and once on Wednesday night. —D a v id K l i n e , Houston Central Park

G a th e r e d G e m s Church “You can't crusade from a rocking chair. “Blessed is the person who can bridle W e l l ! his tongue and tie the reins to his wis­ dom tooth. A Japanese youth, born a Buddhist “When a person begins to learn the but converted to Christianity, came to truth about himself, it lessens the desire the United States to study. One day he to reform those around him.” asked friends with whom he was living; —Selected “Why don’t Christians eat in public places in your country?” Surprised, his friends asked what led him to believe they didn’t. D w ig h t B o l t o n , pastor of River Oaks “I have watched very carefully,” the Church in Fort Worth, has this in his Japanese boy said, “and no one stops bulletin: “Hell is for two classes of to give thanks before eating. So I as­ people: those who will do anything, and sumed that they were not Christians.” those who won’t do anything.” —M ic r o n W o r l e y , in Bunola, Pa., ‘ Pastor, Connell, Washington. “ Nazarene” May, 1961 (229) 37 E v a n g e l iz e ! C o l l e c t io n S t o r y The Greek brings out this thought in A man with a bad heart suddenly the first verse of the first chapter of inherited one thousand dollars. His Mark, where we have: “The beginning wife, afraid it might cause him to have of the gospel of Jesus Christ . . The trouble over the excitement, called their word “gospel” is translated “good news” pastor and suggested he break the good and comes from the word Euaggeliou, news as slowly and easily as possible. which is connected with the word Euag- The pastor made an approach something gelos, which means “messenger.” We like this: “Brother Blank, God has been get our word evangelist from this word. good to you. He has done so many This idea from the Greek is first brought fine things for you. You have much to out in Matthew 4:23, where Jesus “went be thankful for. In fact, God has so about preaching the gospel of the king­ highly favored you, that you have just dom,” and ends up in Revelation 14:6, inherited one thousand dollars!” “Good,” where the angel is preaching the “ever­ said the man, “and I’ll give five hundred lasting gospel.” I counted 129 times that dollars of it to the church.” Then the this word evangelist or evangelize was pastor keeled over with a heart attack. used. So at the very heart of the gospel is the idea of getting people to come to grips with it, to believe it and get saved and sanctified.—N. G. M. A p p r o p r ia t e S ig n In England years ago it was popular to have some wording of some kind “T h e W a y o f t h e C r o s s ” printed on the front of sweaters worn by In the city of Praia, in the Cape Verde men. An elderly man, who had re­ Islands, we have a church with a cross cently found Christ, wanted something that is illuminated at night. It is the printed on his own blazer. He and his highest point in the town, and can be wife could neither read nor write. They seen afar. It has proved a beacon to sought for something to place on the sailors out at sea. Many of them have garment. The wife looked out across made it safely to shore by steering to the the street at a sign in a restaurant win­ light of the cross. dow, and told her husband she saw something that looked real good, but didn’t know just what it meant. She

E v a n g e l iz e affixed the words, however, and the happy man at the next open-air meeting “Evangelism meets the need of every opened his coat and displayed these generation. words across his chest: “Under new “This business of holiness evangelism management!” is not departmentalized. It belongs to us —R e v . J a m e s J o n e s all. “Evangelism can’t be put on from the outside—it is built in. “With moral dislocation, theological M o t h e r s a n d H u m o r uncertainty, nuclear giants, and ethical infants, the situation may seem des­ One mother, having finally tucked a perate, but the saints or not. small boy into bed after an unusually “The program of the Church is global trying day, said: “Well, I’ve worked to­ in its strategy, and authoritative in its day from ‘son-up’ to ‘son-down!’ ” message. The Kingdom is built, not by Another mother said: “If you two boys promotion, but by attraction; for Jesus can’t agree and be quiet, I shall take said: “And I, if I be lifted up from the your pie away.” The younger replied: earth will draw all men unto me" (John “But, Mother, we do agree. Bill wants 12:32). the biggest piece, and so do I.” —D r . H a r d y C. P o w e r s — Selected

38 (230) The Preacher’s Magazine jPREACHINGPROGRAM III. P h a s e T h r e e—M o s e s , W it h G o d , A g a in s t t h e W o r l d . A. A transformed man changed things around Egypt. The Good Samaritan B. But God could not work with Scripture: L u ke 10:32 Moses until Moses had let God I. H e W a s C o u r a g e o u s . change him. A. He stayed in the danger zone. C o n c l u s i o n : What was it you wanted B. He could have suffered personal to change? Perhaps God wants to loss by association. change you first! II. H e W a s P r a c t ic a l . —R. F. M e t c a l f A. He went to work with a mini­ mum of philosphizing. The Mail Who Was Shamed B. An ounce of heart interest is by a Donkey worth a ton of superior knowl­ T e x t s : Balaam also . . . they slew with edge, and a crust of bread tastes the sword (Numbers 31:8). better than a sermon when you . . . the way of Balaam . . . who are starving. loved the wages of unrighteous­ III. H e W a s S a c r i f i c i a l . ness (II Peter 2:15). A. Lost part of a businessman’s I ntroduction : This story of Balaam is workday! more than a fable of a talking B. Loaned his donkey (our pre­ donkey. cious cars)! I. T h e r e I s a D if f e r e n c e B e t w e e n C. Gave of his goods. G r e a t G if t s a n d G r e a t G r a c e . D. Gave all he had and pledged A. It is wonderful to have talent— more! gifts. —R . F. M e t c a l f B. It is best to have a Christlike Atwater, Ohio spirit. C. Any true pastor would rather have members who love God and each other than have talent­ Moses, Man of Changing Times ed but selfish people. S c r ip t u r e : Hebrews 11:24-27 D. Balaam was a gifted prophet . . . Introduction : Youth is a time when we had the reputation. see life as a challenge. How did II. T h e r e C a n B e a D if f e r e n c e B e ­ Moses face the challenge of his day? t w e e n a S t r a ig h t O u t w a r d L if e I. P h a s e O n e —M o s e s A g a in s t t h e a n d C l o s e F e l l o w s h ip a n d C o m ­ t h e W o r ld m u n i o n w i t h G o d . A. Coming face to face with in­ A. Balaam never actually went justice, he struck out himself. against God’s direct commands. B. Failing to handle his world’s B. He just looked for loopholes. problems by himself, he was C. There is danger of Phariseeism even driven away by his failure. —correct in outward don’ts but II. P hase Two— M o s e s ( a n d G o d ) lacking love and correct heart A g a in s t M o s e s H im s e l f attitudes. A. A period of humility and soli­ III. G o d ’ s W i l l D o e s N o t W a v e r , tude. T h o u g h W e M a y P r a y U n t il W e B. Nights under the stars as a T h i n k s o . shepherd made Moses “small.” A. Balaam’s first mistake was en­ C. We all need to see our inade­ tertaining the enemy. quacy before God can get to us. B. We cannot willfully expose our­ D. The burning bush experience. selves to temptation without 1. God’s call—personal. severe penalty. 2. God’s challenge—obedience C. Balaam “teased” God because plus faith. he desired sin’s wages.

May, 1961 (231) 39 D. Here is where the donkey spoke 4. The reputation of the preach­ . . . but Balaam persisted. er and his education perhaps IV. F i n a l l y , A l l - im p o r t a n t w i t h G od are more important than his Is t h e M a t t e r o f S o u l R e l a t i o n ­ message.

s h i p . II. C h a n n e l s T h a t W i l l O p e n “ D ead A. Balaam’s reputation and talent S e a ” H e a r t s did not defer his execution. A. The channel of praise B. He died with the out-and-out 1. The “attitude of gratitude”— heathen. habitual appreciation of God's C. Peter preached his funeral ser­ goodness. mon years later as a warning 2. “The praise committee”— to us. praising God right out loud! C o n c l u s i o n : Balaam failed because he a. Not always because we was shallow, divided, and persisted feel like it, but because against warning. we ought to say, “Amen!” — R . F . M e t c a l f b. After all, we will lose our freedom unless we use it! B. The channel of service 1. Money talks—and tight peo­ Open-Channel Christians ple never hear it say what

S c r ip t u r e : Luke 8:4-18 they want to hear! T e x t : Matthew 10:8 a. Learn to tithe out of a I ntroduction : The Dead Sea is an ex­ heart of love. ample of the need for an outlet of b. Give offerings because the good things God sends into our you want to—you can’t lives. outgive the Lord! I. D e a d E n d s o f S e l f is h l y R e c e iv in g 2. There are always more jobs o f t h e G o s p e l than there are dedicated A. Adapting or censor-type hear­ workers. ers 3. Develop the attitude of look­ 1. They hear only what they ing for a place to help. like about the gospel. C. The channel of witnessing 2. They like freedom from guilt. 1. A determination to witness 3. They ignore responsibility, comes first. restitution. 2. Then we pray for God’s help. B. Emotional or thrill-seeking 3. And third—we just plunge hearers in and start! 1. They like sensation for sen­ I llustration : Dr. Lewis (in his book) sation sake. tells of a little lady who won her 2. Revival tides bring these first soul the very night she deter­ folk out, but they never get mined to try to win a soul. their feet mixed up with C o n c l u s i o n : To stay fresh and clear in their religion. an experience, keep prayed up. 3. They like the cults and fads Keep the channels open. and all-night sings. — R . F . M e t c a l f 4. They don’t care too much for rugged doctrine. C. Sermon tasters or encyclopedia

Christians O n e M a n t o A n o t h e r 1. They like knowledge for the sake of knowledge. “What shall I preach about?” the 2. They are excellent judges of younger man asked the older preacher. sermons. “Preach about Christ, and about twenty 3. They are never very much minutes,” was the answer. stirred in heart. —N. G. M.

40 (232) The Preacher’s Magazine Christian Stewardship The Unique Christ S c r ip t u r e : Isaiah 9:6 S c r ip t u r e : Mark 9:14-29 I ntroduction : There is one Character in Te x t : Mark 9:29 the Bible that is preached about Introduction : more than any other; that One is I. S t e w a r d s h ip o f P r a y e r Christ. He is chosen most often be­ A. Prayers of confession. cause: B. Prayers of intercession. I. H e Is t h e I ncomparable C h r is t . C. Prayers of adoration. A. Incomparable in His love. II. S t e w a r d s h ip o f T im e B. Incomparable in His nature. A. We are responsible for our time. C. Incomparable in His work. B. Our time is limited (preachers II. H e Is th e U nconquerable C h r is t . too). A. He said, “I have overcome the C. There is a time for working and world.” a time for judgment. B. The angel said, “He is not here: III. S t e w a r d s h ip o f S er v ic e for he is risen.” A. Service to God. C. He said, “And upon this rock I B. Service to our fellow man. will build my church; and the C. Service to the church. gates of hell shall not prevail C o n c l u s i o n : against it.” —W i l l i a m C. S u m m e r s D. No wonder the inspired writer Washington, D.C. exclaimed, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” III. H e I s t h e I ndispensable C h r is t . Babies A. “Neither is there salvation in S c r ip t u r e : Hebrews 5; T e x t : Verses any other: for there is none 12-14 other name under heaven . . .” Introduction : The writer of Hebrews B. “He that believeth on him is was pulling no punches. Notice: not condemned . . I. T h e s e P e o p l e H a d B e e n D w a r f e d C. Paul proclaimed that by the S p i r i t u a l l y . works of the law no one could A. When they should have been be justified. Christ is an ab­ teaching, they were in need of solute necessity. being taught. —W il l i a m C . S u m m e r s B. They were crawling when they should have been marching. The Call of God C. Their development had been ar­ S c r ip t u r e : Matthew 11: 28-30 rested. I ntroduction : Humanity is constantly II. S o m e L ik e n e s s e s B e t w e e n P h y s i ­ subjected to calls of one kind or c a l a n d S p i r it u a l B a b ie s another. A. Babies like to be amused. 1. There are the calls of the com­ B. Babies are easily hurt. munity to civic service. C. Babies are very talkative. 2. There are calls of a humanitari­ III. R easons f o r T h e ir R e m a i n i n g an nature. B a b i e s . 3. There is the call to war. A. Refusing to eat. 4. Over and above all these come B. Refusing to exercise. the calls of God to the hearts C. Isolating themselves. of men. C o n c l u s i o n : The inner man does not I. W h y I s G od C a l l i n g ? necessarily grow when the outer A. Man has fallen from righteous one does. If we are to grow strong state. spiritual characters we will have to B. God created man a free moral nourish the inner man. being and desires voluntary —W i l l i a m C . S u m m e r s service.

May, 1961 (233) 41 C. God is not willing that any a result of hungering and thirst­ should perish but that all should ing for righteousness. come to repentance. C. We must be yielded and obedi­ II. To W h o m Is God C a l l i n g ? ent to God. A. The call is universal (John D. There must be a complete con­ 3:16). secration of our all to God. B. The call is also particular (Mat­ E. Then we must exercise faith to thew 11:28-30). accept what God has for us. H I. To W h a t I s G o d C a l l i n g ? C o n c l u s i o n : Repentance, regeneration, A. To repentance and faith unto and reception of the Holy Spirit salvation. fit us for service for God.

B. To life eternal—salvation from —W i l l i a m C . S u m m e r s all sin. C. To complete consecration and cleansing. C o n c l u s i o n : All who hear the call The Nature and Purpose should hasten to heed the call. God’s of the Church

Spirit “shall not always strive with S c r ip t u r e : I Corinthians 12; John 17:17; man.” Acts 1:8 —W i l l i a m C . S u m m e r s I ntroduction : There are many religions but there is only one Church. I. T h e N a t u r e o f t h e C h u r c h . A. Universal Three R’s of Our Faith B. United—Jesus prayed “ that they may be one.” S c r ip t u r e : Acts 2:37-47 C. Perfect—“that they may be per­

I ntroduction : By the three R’s I do not fect in one.” mean “Readin’, ritin’, and ’rithme- D. Glorious (Ephesians 5:27). tic.” The first of these is: E. Innumerable (Revelation 7:9). I. R e p e n t a n c e . This is the need of the II. T h e P u r p o s e o f t h e C h u r c h . masses. A. To witness for Christ (Acts A. Not many sermons deal with 1:8). this subject. B. We are saved to save others B. Define repentance. ( “Follow me, and I will make 1. Not confession alone. you fishers of men”). 2. Not sorrow alone. C. To glorify Christ ( “That the 3. Not promising to do better. world may know that thou hast C. Someone has said that repent­ sent me” ). ance is real “when it goes be­ III. T h e P u r p o s e o f t h e C h u r c h C a n yond sorrow to surrender, when B e R e a l iz e d O n l y b y t h e “ O n e it passes beyond grief to God, C h u r c h .” and reaches through failure to A. The person that is not made faith.” perfect in love cannot hope to II. R e m i s s i o n o f S i n s . be a soul winner. A. When man repents, God will B. The charlatan may profess but forgive. he cannot produce. B. We are justified freely by God’s C. All the trouble in our churches grace. comes from and through pro­ C. Simultaneously we are regener­ fessing Christians. ated and adopted into the family D. The greatest need of any age is of God. to have the prayer of Christ III. R e c e p t io n o f t h e H o l y S p i r i t . answered in our own lives, A. God knew what He was doing “Sanctify them through thy when He put it in this order. truth.” B. The Holy Spirit is received as —W i l l i a m C . S u m m e r s

42 (234) The Preacher's Magazine Thoughts of the Character of Jesus III. T h e C a l l t o B e a u t y A. “Worship the Lord in the beau­ Scriptu re : Luke 2:25-40 ty of holiness” (I Chronicles Text: Luke 2:40 16:29). Introduction : Christ Jesus came into the iDorld to save sinners. Let us B. Holiness needed for beauty, so notice that Jesus was: call is really to holiness. IV. T he C a l l t o C l e a n n e s s I. “ S t r o n g in S p i r i t .” Characteristics of a strong spirit­ A. “Cleanse your hands, ye sin­ ual person: ners; and purify your hearts, ye A. His vision of God towers over double minded” (James 4:8). and above all other interests. B. “A double minded man is un­ B. He can see God in everything stable in all his ways” (James that touches his life. 1:8). C. He is in constant touch with C. “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of God. water by the Word” (Ephesians II. “F il l e d w i t h W i s d o m .” 5:26). A. A spiritual person needs to be wise ( “He that winneth souls is D. “Having therefore these prom­ ises, dearly beloved, let us wise” ). cleanse ourselves from all filthi­ B. Wisdom is related to common ness of the flesh and spirit, per­ sense, or “horse sense.” fecting holiness in the fear of C. The rich farmer is an example God. (II Corinthians 7:1). of foolishness. —W i l l i a m C . S u m m e r s III. “T h e G r a c e o f G od W a s u p o n H rM .” A. Grace is unmerited favor. B. The Early Church was blessed with the grace of God (“Great A Lukewarm Church grace was upon them all”). C. God said to Paul, “My grace is S c r ip t u r e : Revelation 3:14-22 sufficient for thee.” T e x t : Because thou art lukewarm, and C o n c l u s i o n : Jesus was and is our Ex­ neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out ample. We should be like Him, of my ?nouth (Revelation 3:16).

“strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, I ntroduction : and the grace of God was upon A. We come to study the last church him.” of these well-known scriptural churches —W i l l i a m C. S u m m e r s of Revelation. All have heard the state­ ment made, “They are saving the best until last.” Not so in the case of these churches. God’s Call to Zion B. The worst of all the churches is S c r ip t u r e : Isaiah 52:1-15 saved until last it seems. This is one of Introduction : the saddest letters. Christ has nothing I. T h e C a l l t o A w a k e good at all to say about it. A. Be roused from sleep. C. Again He says, “I know thy B. “And that, knowing the time, works.” This occurs throughout these that now it is high time to awake letters. out of sleep” (Romans 13:11). D. Note some things concerning the C. “Awake to righteousness, and “lukewarm” church. sin not: for some have not the I. T h e C o n d it i o n o f T h is C h u r c h knowledge of God” (I Corinthi­ A. Here it is: “Thou are lukewarm, ans 15:34). and neither cold nor hot” (v. 16). II. T h e C a l l t o S t r e n g t h 1. The word “cold” refers to peo­ “They that wait upon the Lord shall ple who are unsaved, people who have renew their strength” (Isaiah 40: never felt the warm and fiery presence 31). of God in their hearts.

May, 1961 (235) 43 2. The word “hot” refers to peo­ knock: if any man hear my voice, and ple who have found the Lord, people open the door, I will come in to him, and who have “passed from death unto life” will sup with him, and he with me.” in Christ Jesus. C o n c l u s i o n : Just as the Saviour wanted 3. But this crowd was neither hot to enter this church that it might be a nor cold and they nauseated God. Many blessing, just so He will enter any heart in the church claimed that they were that will open to Him. not so bad nad not so good. Just in between—lukewarm. —D o n a l d K. B a l l a r d Lannett, Oklahoma B. Christ said, “I would that thou wert cold or hot.” 1. When one is lukewarm and professing up-to-date experience with Christ, that one is hurting the work of A Pattern Church God. S c r ip t u r e : Revelation 3: 7-13 2. Thank God, we may have a T e x t : Thou hast . . . kept my word, and “boiling experience” with God, with hast not denied my name (Revelation Christ in our hearts. We do not have to go in for wildfire, nor be moved about 3:8). by every wind of doctrine. We can have I ntroduction : “fixed hearts” and be settled in His All ministers I am sure are “dream­ grace. The condition of this church was ers.” We dream of the day we will terrible. pastor the “pattern church.” The church at Philadelphia was not II. T h e C o m p l a in t s C h r is t H a d A g a in s t built on dreams however, but it came t h e C h u r c h about as the result of hard work by its A. “Because thou sayest, I am rich, membership. They were willing to fol­ and increased with goods, and have need low sanctified leadership and progress of nothing.” Beautiful and commodious was evident. church property; treasury full, with What are some of the characteristics budgets overpaid; everything needed to of this pattern church? make work go forward—but no God! 1. But Christ said, “Thou art I. F ir s t a P a t t e r n C h u r c h is a S o u l - poor.” w i n n i n g C h u r c h . 2. We may have all the comforts A. It is wonderful to be saved and of life, but unless we are directly in know it, but it is more wonderful to be touch with Christ, we are poor in His saved and show it! This church showed sight. it had a burden for a lost and dying, B. Christ said, “Thou art blind.” No hell-bound world. No complacency here! vision. Shortsighted and many perish­ They were busy “pulling them out of the ing because of it. fire.” C. “Thou art naked.” Their self- B. This crowd realized what it righteousness was as rags in God’s sight. means for a soul to be lost in hell. I l l u s .: While on duty during the last III. T h e C o u n s e l o f C h r is t war on a U.S. Navy mine-sweeping ves­ A. “Buy of me gold tried in the sel in the South Pacific, I was among the fire” (v. 18). In other words, “You have personnel that rescued two young Amer­ had a flimsy, up-and-down profession ican aviators from days of drifting on a for a long time. It is time to get a real, rubber life raft. The enemy had shot sincere, and genuine experience with them down. How happy I was to par­ Christ. A know-so salvation!” ticipate in the “physical” rescue! Later B. “Buy of me . . . eye salve” (for when I was sanctified and called to blindness). preach, a greater happiness has come as C. “Buy of me . . . white raiment.” I have seen the lost pass “from death D. “Behold, I stand at the door, and unto life” through Jesus Christ.

44 (236) The Preacher's Magazine II. A P a t t e r n C h u r c h Is a S p i r it u a l Holding Up the Arms of the Church C h u r c h . S c r ip t u r e : Exodus 17:10-12 A. Christ said this church had not denied His name. A people who will not I ntroduction : Here, in the story of deny, disgrace, or bring reproach upon Aaron and Hur holding up the arms the name of the Lord will be a spiritual of Moses, is a classical illustration people. of how the members of a church must hold up the arms of the B. This church kept the “glory church that it may be victorious down” upon the services. Shouts of vic­ over the Amalekites of our day. tory came from the saints as testimonies This may be done in various ways were given. The spontaneity of the and we cite your attention to the Holy Spirit was evident. Nothing was following: “worked up.” Rather, blessings were I. W e C a n H o l d U p t h e A r m s o f t h e “brought down.” C h u r c h b y M a i n t a i n i n g a G o o d P e r s o n a l E x p e r ie n c e . III. A P a t t e r n C h u r c h I s a S o l id A. By regular Bible reading and C h u r c h . prayer. A. It is united. No church can be B. By attending all of the means strong if it is divided. Jesus pointed of grace (services of the this out. church).

B. If any church is to present a II. W e C a n H o ld U p t h e A r m s o f solid front to a lost and dying world, t h e C h u r c h b y P r a c t ic in g F a it h f u l the membership must stand together. It S t e w a r d s h ip . takes pastor, people, and God to do the A. Paying the tithe and giving of­ job. ferings. B. By giving of time, talents, etc. C. The solid church is built on love. God’s feelings concerning love will be III. W e C a n H o l d Up t h e A r m s o f t h e seen as we prayerfully read I Corin­ C h u r c h b y M a i n t a i n i n g a P o s it iv e thians 13. If we had visited this church A t t it u d e T o w a r d t h e C h u r c h ’s I am sure we would have said, “My, how P r o g r a m . they love one another!” Not so in many A. All can do this. churches today. “My, how they hate one B. This includes the entire pro­ another!” This ought not to be. gram—Sunday school, worship services, evangelism, revivals, IV. A P a t t e r n C h u r c h Is a S a n c t if ie d youth, and missions. C h u r c h . I V . W e C a n H o ld U p t h e A r m s o f t h e A. They believed that without holi­ C h u r c h b y S u p p o r t in g t h e C h u r c h ness no man would see the Lord. w i t h a G o o d “ F a m i l y S p i r i t .” A. Being behind the pastor and the B. They looked for the return of people of the church. Christ. Paul prayed, “And the very B. By not airing problems. God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and V. W e C a n H o l d U p t h e A r m s o f t h e body be preserved blameless unto the C h u r c h b y L iv in g b y O u r P e r s o n a l coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” C o n v ic t io n s F a i t h f u l l y . A. This does not necessarily mean C o n c l u s i o n : impressing them on others. More than nineteen hundred years B. We can live the world under ago Jesus Christ said, “Occupy till I conviction, and the Church can come.” Will you fill your place and be victorious in this day if we help your church become the pattern as church members will hold up church? the arms of the Church. —D o n a l d K. B a l l a r d —D o n a l d K. B a l l a r d

May, 1961 (237) 45 Heart Trouble problem today isn’t harden­ ing of arteries but hardening S c r ip t u r e : Ezekiel 36:24-29 our hearts.

T e x t : A new heart also will I give you, B. A new heart. and a new spirit will I put within you 1. Only solution: trade in stony (v. 26). heart for new heart. 2. Some say culture, education, I ntroduction : training, grooming; but Je­ A. According to the 1960 almanac, sus said, “No man also sew- heart trouble is the number- eth a piece of new cloth on one killer in our nation. an old garment” (Mark 2: 1. Causes 875,000 deaths each 21). year; or 54 per cent of deaths II. A N e w S p i r it in the U.S. are caused by A. Notice the order of scripture. heart trouble. 1. Take them out of the nations 2. Rather shocking that this and bring them into their little organ can give us so own land (v. 24). much trouble. 2. Sprinkle clean water and B. According to the scripture, the make them clean from all Israelites had another kind of uncleanness and idols (v. heart trouble that’s even more 25). alarming. 3. Take out old, stony, rebel­ 1. Such incidents are recorded lious heart and give new in Judges 17—21. heart (v. 26). 2. Jeremiah said, “The heart is 4. Then He will put His Spirit deceitful above all things, within them and they will and desperately wicked: walk in His statutes (v. 27). who can know it?” (Jere­ 5. Then they will dwell in the miah 17:9) land which God gave to their 3. “And God saw that the fathers and they will be wickedness of man was great God’s people and the true in the earth, and that every God will be their God (v. imagination of the thoughts 28). of his heart was only evil B. Question: How can we keep continually” (Genesis 6:5). our converts from desiring to C. Have you wondered how peo­ go back to their old way of ple think up so much wicked­ worldly living? ness or ways and means to sin? C. Answer: The joy of the Holy Our big problem is heart trou­ Spirit in your heart must sur­ ble, and God’s cure is: pass all those old, sinful pleas­

I. A N e w H e a r t ures. A. A stony heart. —B o b E. H a r m o n 1. Lot had warned his sons-in- Helena, Montana law that God was going to destroy the wicked city of Sodom, but these men’s T h e V ic t o r y o f P r a i s e hearts were so hardened that “I will bless the Lord at all times; his they laughed in his face. praise shall continually be in my mouth” 2. God dealt with and tried to (Psalms 34:1). talk to Pharaoh about a doz­ Song is the language of victory. en times, but his heart was The soul that sings triumphs. so hard He couldn’t. If earthly wadding were taken from 3. Jesus looked at the Phari­ our ears we might enjoy the music of sees in anger and was grieved the skies. It may be the morning stars at their hardness of heart. still shout their hallelujahs. 4. Spiritually speaking, our —J. W. M a h o o d

46 (238) The Preacher's Magazine " b o o k : b r i e f s ^

You will notice that the book briefs this month are all our own publica­ tions. We are proud to take this opportunity to acquaint you with some of the splendid books which make up the 1961 book program of the Nazarene Publishing House.

PROBLEMS OF THE SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE William S. Deal (Beacon Hill Press, 160 pages, cloth, $2.00) The title of this book is provocative and at the same time realistic. First, it suggests that there are problems in the Spirit-filled life. Second, it implies that Spirit-filled people should face up to these problems. Third, it extends the strong hope that there are solutions to all those problems that come to Spirit-filled people. The author has a strong conviction that holiness people can make their testimony more winsome. They can be more appealing if they will work hard at letting God smooth out the wrinkles of their personalities. They can become more Christlike, better examples of the grace of God to which they testify in the experience of entire sanctification. There are four sections: “Doctrine of the Holy Spirit,” “Differences of the Spirit-filled Life,” “Diffi­ culties of the Spirit-filled Life,” and “Dangers of the Spirit-filled Life.” The author is a man who has already earned a wide reading public. He is the president of Western Pilgrim College, El Monte, California, and a mem­ ber of the Wesleyan Methodist church.

THE SECRET IS OUT, A Study of Secret Orders Charles D. Mosher (Beacon Hill Press, 80 pages, cloth, $1.50) The position of the Church of the Nazarene throughout these more than fifty years has been a solid one with reference to secret orders. The position is this: We request our people to refrain from membership in secret orders, and before they unite with the church, we request that they withdraw from such. The experience of the years has proved this position to be wholesome and accurate. But all the time there has been felt a need for a more clear-cut elabora­ tion which would support our position. No books have come from the pens of our own writers, giving the full vindication, until now. The Secret Is Out is that answer. The author did the research for this book while preparing a bachelor of divinity thesis for the Nazarene Theological Seminary. The format is a careful study of Freemasonry, which the author contends is the pattern for all other secret orders. The author summarizes our position with adequate support, under three general headings: (1) “The lodge does become a man’s religious faith; (2) It cannot in any clear sense be classified as Chris­ tian; (3) The lodge thus becomes a competitor with the Christian Church. This book will stand for many years as a standard reference for the Church of the Nazarene or any other denomination which takes a similar position regarding secret orders.

May, 1961 (230) 47 FAR ABOVE RUBIES, Meditations for the Minister’s Wife Audrey J. Williamson (Beacon Hill Press, 128 pages, cloth, $2.00) Here is a specific need well met. Mrs. Williamson, wife of General Superintendent G. B. Williamson, is known throughout the Church of the Nazarene as a delightful speaker and an interesting writer. In Far Above Rubies she gives to all ministers’ wives the boiled-down, warmhearted shar­ ing of long experience. This is not a casual “how-to-do-it book” nor is it written from the high pinnacle of one who seems to say, “Look how I have done it.” Rather, here will be found the tearful and prayerful counsel of the mature leader who says, “Let me share with you the triumphs and the battles of the thrilling conflict.” Mrs. Williamson uses as her vehicle the thirty-first chapter of Proverbs, from which she borrows the title of the book. It becomes the frame around which she weaves the warp and woof of her experience. She speaks of the responsibility to her home, to her church, beyond her church, to her hus­ band, and to herself. While the book is dedicated to the ministers’ wives of the Church of the Nazarene, it has a warm outreach and will be appreciated by ministers’ wives in any evangelical communion.

WITH CHAPMAN AT CAMP MEETING J. B. Chapman (Beacon Hill Press, 24 pages, paper, $ .25) Almost every one of our great preachers is remembered by some par­ ticular sermon that somehow thoroughly classified his platform presentation. In With Chapman at Camp Meeting we have two of his best-known camp meeting sermons. “How to Be Sanctified Holy” was known to many thousands as “The Sears-Roebuck Sermon.” Many have asked about it. It has not been available in print for many years. It is delightfully and characteristically Chapman. The illustration is homey but apt and becomes the vehicle for carrying the truth directly to the heart of the hearer. The sermon on divine healing for the body is proof-positive the Church of the Nazarene has always taken a friendly but sane attitude toward divine healing. Here is a little book that deserves reading by us all.

THIS UNCOMMITTED GENERATION C. William Fisher (Beacon Hill Press, 64 pages, paper, $ .75) Evangelist C. William Fisher has built a reputation for being a blunt, forthright, hard-hitting author. This Uncommitted Generation is no ex­ ception. Get ready for an arresting experience. You will be stabbed awake mentally and spiritually. There is not a “lullaby line” in the entire book. The author addresses himself to such groups of people as: (1) men and women hopelessly mired down in the mere mechanics of living; (2) young people busily engaged in picking up bits of segmental knowledge; (3) busi­ nessmen, scheming, ambitious, clever, with no ultimate goal; (4) preachers on the statistical treadmill, tired, terribly tired; (5) laymen, decent, dis­ creet, but dry-eyed. You may not agree with everything the author says, but you cannot be indifferent to what he says. This is not for timid souls who are afraid to face reality. It is strong medicine for those who would like to have thorough healing.

^8 (240) The Preacher's Maqazine Th is beautiful flag set can grace your sanctuary too Now includes NEW “50 Star” Flag! No place of worship is completely furnished until it displays its national and Christian flags. Show your colors throughout the church—in the sanctuary, your young people’s room, the Sunday school auditorium—invest in this de luxe set with all these outstanding features . . .

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