ni f
AND MORE EFFICIENCY
Vol. VII OCTOBER, 1934 No. 10
"PERFECT LOVE CASTETH OUT FEAR"
AN EDITORIAL
EAR is the weakest motive for action is filled with doubts and unbelief concerning that can be employed. It dethrones the goodness of God and His mercy toward us, reason and makes cowards of all there is fear; and as John truly wrote, "Fear whom it controls. Many professed hath torment." Christians spend their days in antici- But when Christ enters into a man's life, pation of evil to come. They are that man's life relation to the world and to afraid of the seven last plagues, afraid earthly things is transformed. His outlook is they will be lost, afraid of the judgments of changed. Once he may have been governed by God. They fear that their salvation will some- fears,—fears unaccountable, possibly inherited, how not be provided by Christ. This is one of —but now they exist for him no longer. He is the saddest things with which a minister has free from that bondage. He has come into pos- to contend. session of a faith that brings his soul into com- Fear is contagious. There is scarcely any munion with God. He recognizes that God is emotion in the whole animal creation that is the Creator of all things, the sole Author of all more transmissible than natural laws. Believing fear. It runs from heart that God is with him, to heart with almost THE HIG HER WAY he no longer fears what lightning rapidity. It is BY R. HARE may befall, but trusts all a strange thing when to the almighty power To stand in the hush of the twilight fear takes hold of an in- With only the stars above, of the divine Presence dividual or of a people. It is easy to hear God's message, within. Easy to think His love ; It excites; it stimulates But then, in the din of battle, Love in the believer's and arouses; it seems to When terrors round us play, heart toward God leads It is easy to shirk and falter, act like a deadly poison, Easy to go astray. him to accept the prom- increasing by contact. ises of God and confess But the din of battle is needed; There is no satisfaction Heart sinew is borrowed there his faith in them. He in fear. Take the whole More than when all is pleasant, waits on God, to see His More than when all is fair ! heathen world for exam- 'Tis the mountain steep, not the valley, will and purpose in all ple. Almost universally That leads to the higher view ; the affairs of life. In And the dusty path of progress they are afraid of the Is part of the life that is true. sickness he trusts God elements; they fear dis- to work out His will as Yes! sweet is the hush of twilight, ease in every form; they And fair the gleaming stars, to Him seems wise; in fear death; they fear Enchanting the meadow vision death he bows to the Where nothing ever mars ; divine will in complete wicked men; they live in But the soul is built for struggle, terror of demons and And toil is God's holy plan, resignation. When mis- spirits; their lives are Rest may be easy and pleasant, fortunes come and life But toiling makes the man ! spent in fear, and end seems hard, he still trusts without hope. God. The Christian min- It was never planned by the Lord that His ister ever sees the bow of promise amid the children, accepted through faith in Christ, the storms and vicissitudes of life. Son of God, should live in fear after they are The beloved disciple understood the law of converted. Sometimes professed Christians love and of fear. He wrote: "There is no fear continue to live in fear, but this is not in ac- in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: be- cordance with the divine plan. When the heart (Continued on page 23)
IA • %44._ Page 2 The MINISTRY October
school. The Rev. Morgan Jones, a scholar un- der Rhys, came to America, settled at Elm- hurst, Long Island, then called Newtown, and began a Bible school in 1682, ninety-eight years before Robert Raikes began his Sunday school. THE Baptist denomination returns to the New Testament practice of drawing lots. Only this time the method is used by the committee A Medium of Communication Between the Members of the Ministerial Association of on nominations so that no group of state dele- Seventh-day Adventists gates may have foreknowledge as to which sub- committee will select the nominees for the EDITED BY various boards. The nominees of the subcommit- IRWIN H. EVANS AND LEROY E. FROOM tees, however, must be approved by the commit- tee as a whole. There is a provision to create SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS the subcommittees by dividing the states alpha- THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OFFICERS betically. (Watchman-Examiner, June 28, 1934.) Single Subscription: $1 a Year GIFTS to the North American Protestant For- eign Missionary Societies from living donors Published and Printed monthly for the Association by the dropped 30 per cent in the period between 1928 Review and Herald Publishing Association, Takoma Park, and 1932, while expenditures dropped scarcely Washington, D. C., U. S. A. Entered as• second-class matter, December 19, 1927, at the post office at Washing- more than 20 per cent. Studies made in the ton, D. C., under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879. field, said the Rev. Leslie B. Moss, secretary of the Foreign Mission Conference of North Amer- ica, would indicate that both the total income JInvisn congregations are reputedly generous for foreign missions and the number of mis- in the support of their rabbis, salaries of from sionaries in the field are probably much lower $10,000 to $20,000 being quite common, even than the 1919 level. (The Literary Digest, small synagogues often paying their rabbis June 30, 1934.) from $5,000 to $7,500 a year. DIFFICULTIES in Presbyterian Mission Board THE General Synod of the Reformed Church circles are indicated by this note in Time in America has voted, 141 to 32, to retain its (June 25) : membership in the Federal Council of Churches. "The Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Thus the stricter theologians lost, but the de- Missions was founded so that Fundamentalists could cision was accompanied by a protest on liber- give money to send out Fundamentalist missionaries. Last month the Presbyterian General Assembly voted alism. to discipline the upstart board (Time, .Tune 11). Last week the board declined to be disciplined. In- THE Y. W. C. A. has adopted a new basis of stead of disbanding as ordered, it elected two new membership. Until now, membership has been members and appointed its third and newest mis- limited to those who belonged to evangelized sionary." churches. "Personal allegiance to Christ" is THE Anglican Church has just banned its now the alternative condition of membership. pulpits to Unitarians. The ministry of a mono- The significance of this liberalizing action is theistic creed is forbidden the privilege of lec- obvious. turing in any Church of England house of wor- ship by decision of York Convocation's Upper WHEN Charles Spurgeon was twenty-three House, says the Literary Digest (June 30) : years old, at one meeting in the great Crystal "The House adopted the resolution put by the Bishop Palace in London, 23,564 people were actually of Durham, that a bishop 'shall not extend an in- reached by his voice. But an audience much vitation to any person who does not hold, or who belongs to a denomination which does not hold, the more vast has been reached through his ser- common Christian faith in Jesus as "Very God of Very mons, which were published weekly for sixty- God, who for us men and our salvation came down two years. We are told that 150,000,000 copies from heaven and was made man." ' " have been circulated. THE Presbyterian (July 5, 1934) quotes the PROF. CHARLES RICHT, president of the French following from Benjamin Franklin in his Penn- Academy of Sciences, gives (Time, April 30, sylvania Gazette (1739) : "On Thursday last, the Rev. Mr. Whitefield left 1934) the world's greatest metropolitan popula- this city and was accompanied to Chester by about tions, with New York first, Tokio second, and 150 horsemen, and preached there to about 7,000 Shanghai not far behind. At the present rate people. On Friday he preached twice at Willing's Town (Wilmington) to about 5,000, and on Saturday of increase, Tokio and Shanghai will soon pass at New Castle to about 2.500, and the same evening the great cities of the West. Such items are at Christiana Bridge to about 3,000 ; on Sunday, at significant in the light of the prophesied clash White Clay Creek, he preached twice, resting about half an hour between the sermons, to about 8,000, of between East and West. whom 3,000, it is computed, came on horseback. It rained most of the time, and yet they stood in the ROBERT RAIKES (so states the Watchman- open air." Examiner, July 5, 1934) began a Sunday school in 1780, but spelling, reading, and arithmetic THE Sunday School Times, in its editorial were taught, and the Bible was not used. Wil- "Notes on Open Letters," defines the Holy liam Fox, a Baptist deacon, in 1783, at Clapton, Spirit thus (July 7) : "The Holy Spirit is a member of the Godhead, or England, opened a week-day school in which the Trinity. Like the Father and the Son. He is the Bible was studied by those who could read. God. Being one of the three persons of the Godhead, But the Rev. Morgan John Rhys began a Bible and therefore being God, He is eternal, without origin or ending. and He was. of course. 'in the be- school at Cilfwnwr, near Swansea, Wales, in ginning' when 'God created the heaven and the earth' 1648, or 132 years before Raikes opened his (Gen. 1:1)." 1934 The MINISTRY Page 3
4w7 MESSAGES FROM OUR LEADERS Heart-to-Heart Talks on Vital Issues
THIS IS THE HOUR OF TESTING
BY F. M. WILCOX
HE message we have to give is ex- the very place where this man of God cried pressed in the fourteenth chapter of out against the formalism and worldliness of Revelation and other scriptures. It the nominal church and preached the message is the message of the everlasting gos- of God's free grace. A little way from the pel, of salvation through Christ, of church I visited Wesley's humble home. Its His righteousness, of His priestly appointments and furnishings are preserved ministry, of the judgment hour, of the same as when he left it. The guide pointed God's holy law as the test of character, of out the little room, about eight by ten feet, warning against antichrist and his delusive which had been Wesley's special place of snares, of the development of a people who prayer for thirteen years. Divining, perhaps, keep the commandments of God and the faith the thought in my mind, the guide passed on, of Jesus, of Christ's soon coming, and of the and I entered that room and knelt in prayer. final and glorious victory of His church. I asked God to give me the spirit of conse- This message constitutes the commission of cration and earnestness which characterized Seventh-day Adventists, and therefore our com- this great Christian leader. mission as its ministers. This is the message As I went my way, I was led to compare the which Adventists have taught through the humble beginnings of Methodism with what years. Indeed, the denomination has no ex- that church is now. I thought: "If John Wes- cuse for existence, except as it shall keep before ley were brought back to life, would he recog- it this objective. The enemy of all righteous- nize in Methodism of today the humble people of ness will ever seek to divert us from this pur- sincere faith and simple worship which he was pose. He will seek to corrupt the faith and instrumental, under God, in rallying around experience of the remnant church, even as he his standard?" I recognize that in this great accomplished it in the history of Israel of old. church there are many sincere Christians. This we should keep constantly in mind. They deplore, even as do I, the loss of power and the spirit of worldliness which characterize Forsaking First Principles so many professed followers of Christ at the Of their experience we read that "the people present time. served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all And then my thoughts turned to the church the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, of which I am a member. I was led to com- who had seen all the great works of the Lord, pare the humble beginnings of our movement that He did for Israel." But after the death with the church of today,—the simple faith, of these pioneers "there arose another genera- the humility, the loyalty, and the consecration tion, . . . which knew not the Lord, nor yet of the pioneers, with that of our present-day the works which He had done for Israel." membership; and I said, "Can it be possible "And they forsook the Lord God of their that our church will go the way of the churches fathers." Judges 2: 7, 10, 12. around us? Shall we lose our simple faith, our This was likewise true of the Christian simplicity, our consecration? Shall we come church in the second century. The apostle to trust in ritualism for righteousness, in num- Paul declared that the mystery of iniquity was bers, in plans, in machinery, instead of in the at work in his day. The changes wrought in power of the Holy Spirit? Will the elements the church by the close of the second century of skepticism and doubt which are permeat- were indeed alarming. As the apostles and ing the churches around us, honeycomb our older disciples retired to their graves, their church?" children, with the new converts to the faith, I have absolute faith in the triumph of this both Jews and Gentiles, came forward and message. I believe that this movement with remodeled the gospel cause, robbing it of many which you and I are connected will triumph of its distinctive features, bringing it down to when Christ comes. He will take through a the common level and to the more ready ac- people true and tried. I am glad that I can ceptance of the worldling. believe that the large majority of our member- Several years ago I visited, in the suburbs ship are maintaining the integrity of their of London, the church in which John Wesley faith, and are exemplifying in their lives the preached. It was interesting to climb up into principles of the gospel of Christ. But on the that high old pulpit, and feel that I stood in other hand, I must recognize that there are far Page 4 The MINISTRY October
too many who are permitting the spirit of for- warmth from the coldness of others, cour- malism, of indifference, of worldliness, to shape age from their cowardice, loyalty from their and mold their experience. And in this the treason. It is upon those who sigh and cry ministry is not exempt. for the evil that they see, that the seal of God We must admit, much as we deplore the fact, will be placed at last. This protest must be in that the same unholy influences which are the life even more than in the words. Those causing the spiritual disintegration of the who set themselves against the sins in the churches around us, are affecting in altogether church will make no self-righteous claims. too great a measure the lives of our members. They will not seek to measure others by their As Jehoshaphat of old joined affinity with own narrow conceptions. They will indulge in Ahab, so many professed Seventh-day Advent- no unkind criticism against those who are ists are joining affinity with the world. going astray. Dangers Threatening the Church Sinners cannot be won by criticism; they must be won by love. We cannot win our chil- As foretold in the word of prophecy, we see dren to Christ by unkind words. We must rec- in the remnant church today some who are ognize the influence of prayer, the value of spiritually asleep, some who are permitting humble, sincere Christian living, the power of the cares of this life to surcharge their hearts the Holy Spirit. We must be living epistles, to the neglect of the service of Christ. There known and read of all men; because if others are those who are saying in their hearts, cannot see the gospel of Christ in our lives, "My Lord delayeth His coming," and are eating they will not be able to see it in our preaching. and drinking with the drunken. Some feel rich and increased in goods, and are looking Washington, D. C. to their own works of righteousness for salva- tion. There are found in the church lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, men and EFFECTIVE ILLUSTRATIONS women having a form of godliness, but denying For Song or Sermon the power thereof in their lives. Nor can we evade the issue by reasoning, as I heard a Seventh-day Adventist preacher do CONVINCING TESTIMONY.—A. bridge builder some time ago, that standards have changed, named Scott a few years ago superintended the erec- tion of a railway bridge in Crawford, Indiana. When and that Heaven does not hold us to so strict that bridge was finished, he knew every joint in it and what it would stand. When the time came to put it account today as ten or fifteen or fifty years into use the engineer asked Mr. Scott, before ventur- ago. This is a fatal delusion and a pernicious ing to drive his train across, "Is the bridge all safe?" By way of reply the bridge builder laid his own body teaching. God is the same, and His divine under the new bridge, and signaled the train to come standard of character is the same in every age, on. When it is evident that a minister is trusting the same bridge into eternity that he recommends to oth- and He will require no less of us than of those ers, it adds great weight to his testimony. New Cen- who lived in the less favored periods of the t/441y Leader. past. DARK SPACES.—A traveler in a European village Thousands of sincere believers deplore the discovered a beautiful custom. At night she saw the people going to church, each carrying a little bronze conditions to which I have referred. They lamp. These lamps they placed in sockets by their recognize the need of revival and reformation. pews. The soft light of the lamps was the only il- lumination for the service. If a member was absent They believe the time has come to cry mightily there was a dark space! We do not carry lamps to to God to arouse His church to a new and church, but we do send forth light. When we are ab- deeper sense of their great need, to save His sent there is darkness in our stead.—Moody Monthly. people in this hour of temptation and to give INCONTESTABLE EVIDENCE.—Mr. Bradlaugh, the not His heritage to reproach. Heaven will great atheist, once challenged Hugh Price Hughes to a debate on Christianity. Mr. Hughes replied with alac- respond to this appeal, and showers of blessing rity : 'Most certainly ; nothing would give me greater will be poured upon the suppliants of His pleasure. But as conventional debates usually lead to nothing, let us have one on new lines. I will under- grace. take to bring a hundred men and women of various We need not be surprised at the conditions sorts to the platform of St. James's Hall, and they shall witness to the saving work of Christ in their we see. We are instructed that, as we near the lives. You can cross-examine them as much as you close of human history, a large worldly class like. But you, on your part, are to bring a hundred men and women who have been redeemed from a sin- will develop in the church, who, in the final ful life by means of your atheistic teaching." Need- controversy, will array themselves against God less to say, that debate was never held.—The Wonder- ful Word. and His truth. On the other hand, we are told that a people true and tried will stand in the HIGHER EDUCATION.—Though lacking education. yet a man set his mind on learning a verse of the Bible simplicity of the gospel and the power of each day. Mr. James H. McConkey met him at a righteousness to meet Christ at His coming. Bible conference, and was greatly impressed by the amount of Scripture which this man could quote. Said This is the hour of testing. The line of di- Mr. McConkey : "When I first met him, he had been vision is being drawn in the church. While working on it for eight years ; and he had committed • over two thousand verses of Scripture to memory. His we see the careless and the indifferent, thank prayer was a marvel. It was like a brocade of silver God we see also the faithful and loyal, and and gold of the word of God, interwoven with praise, testimony, and petition. It was a marvelous thing to these in God's sight constitute the true Israel. hear that man, a workman in a steel mill, give his We have come to a time when, as stated by testimony for God ; and yet it all came from commit- the messenger of the Lord, we must draw ting a single verse of Scripture a day."—The Ex- positor. • 1,934 The MINISTRY Page 5
veD THE LARGER OUTLOOK Historic, Contemporary, Scientific, and Theological
INFLUENCE A SACRED TRUST
BY S. A. WELLMAN
E thou an example of the believers, in word, influence. Later something in which he is B in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in specifically interested is being shown in the faith, in purity," says the apostle Paul to the finest theater in his town. The picture of itself young minister, his "son" Timothy. If such is harmless, perhaps is educational and helpful. counsel was necessary in the days of the apos- He attends, failing to grasp the fact that his tle, it is much more imperative in these days mere entrance to a theater ablaze with lights when the standards of holy living are breaking and blatantly advertising other less virtuous down or being readjusted in the minds and scenes, will immediately condemn him in the lives of men; when even to the extent of af- eyes of any who may have heard his talks fecting the ideals and living of those who bear against the movies, or before a skeptical world, the censer into the presence of the living God, individuals which have become conversant religious standards are witnessing profound with our teaching concerning attendance at changes. the theater. The only safe attitude for the God has given definite instruction to those worker to assume, and the only position which who represent Him before men. He has clearly he can take without condemnation from his stated the standards to be maintained in their own conscience and the criticism of others, is lives. He has emphasized the results both to to keep away from "even the appearance of themselves and to those over whom they are evil," by going only to such places as are safe given charge, of a dereliction of duty. "0 son and unquestionable. of man," cries the Lord through Ezekiel, "I For many years the writer had looked for- have set thee a watchman unto the house of ward to the time when he hoped to be able to Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at attend a series of lectures which would give My mouth, and warn them from Me. When I educational help and personal pleasure. When say unto the wicked, 0 wicked man, thou shalt the time came that he might have enjoyed surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the them, he discovered that the entire series had wicked from his way, that wicked man shall been transferred to Friday nights, when attend- die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require ance was impossible, though the lines covered at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the could have been in many instances considered wicked of his way to turn from it; . . . thou as fitting for Sabbath study. But the place and hast delivered thy soul." circumstances forbade the exercise even of a Every minister, while charged with responsi- balanced judgment on the virtues of the sub- bility for the flock of God, to reprove, to re- ject concerned. To have stepped aside from buke, to "exhort with all long-suffering and that attitude and to have attended, might have doctrine," is equally admonished to "watch . . . injured the Christian experience of others. in all things," to "endure afflictions," to "do the There was but one course open,—to stay away. work of an evangelist," to "make full proof" of his "ministry." The power of the minister's Reserve in Association With Opposite Sex example, far excelling the most eloquent ser- The Christian worker, to maintain his place mon or the best of personal counsel, is part of as a leader, as an example to the flock of his watchfulness in all things. The enduring Christ, and lest his life be evil spoken of and of afflictions, even the "contradiction of sin- souls brought into jeopardy, must maintain ners" as did his Master (Heb. 12:3), is but set- modesty and reserve in his association with ting before those over whom he has responsi- those of the opposite sex. In a public way bility the perfect way, and making the fuller even his attitude toward his wife and daugh- proof of his ministry. Any servant of God who ters should be different from the ways of the lightly regards the influence of his example is world. Toward those of the opposite sex and seriously endangering both his influence upon not of his own family, it should be ever a rule others and the possibility of his own ultimate to maintain a kindly, friendly, courteous atti- attainment of that perfection in Christian liv- tude, while never allowing himself to become ing which would prepare him for a home in familiar, either by touch or by look, by word Christ's kingdom. or by act. To illustrate: A minister of the gospel, rec- Years ago a middle-aged minister who a few ognizing the danger of the modern movie, days before had performed the marriage serv- warns his congregation against its pernicious ice for a young couple, was unwise enough to Page 6 The MINISTRY October
approach the young lady, and playfully nudge to life and godliness. It is ours to feed the her under the chin. The young husband stand- flock of God, to lead them gently in the way, ing by, seeing this indiscretion, was angered, in kindness and in much patience, lest any though curbing any outward expression of his stray from the path of life eternal. Woe, in- thoughts. The minister, regardless of innocent deed, is the portion of that man whose careless intent, had no business laying his hand upon or ill-advised word or act shall give offense to another than his own. The man of God will "one of God's little ones," and cause him to show no undue familiarity with the ladies. fall from his steadfastness. To assist in need? Yes, with all his strength, Washington, D. C. and out of the kindness of his heart and soul. To minister as the chosen vessel of God in all Oil LI 00 spiritual matters? Undoubtedly; but by hand, or eye, or by spoken word, never will he pass Am I Keeping Mentally Fit? the invisible barrier of propriety and godly example urged by the apostle in the opening BY AT. E. OLSEN text of this article. Sometimes in the spirit of joking, unthink- OW may a man ascertain whether he is ing youth who are but entering upon their H mentally alive and fit for his work, or is work in the cause of truth, will do little in- undergoing a process of intellectual stagna- discreet things in a public way. Such an inci- tion? Let him ask himself a few questions: dent happened in a foreign city years ago when Do I enjoy hard mental work? Do I like to a group, spending an evening together, were match myself with the difficulties of acquiring startled by a friendly dispute between two a language such as Greek or Hebrew? Do I newly weds which ended by the young hus- retain a fresh interest in my sacred profession? band's turning his wife over his knee before Is it my delight 1.o get in touch with men who the group and playfully spanking her. Such a know more about a subject than I do? In other scene might have been excusable in the privacy words, do I welcome the assistance of sympa- of the home; but horseplay of this nature, even thetic and competent associates, or do I feel with one's own and within one's house, lowers competent to study entirely by myself? the tone of Christian living, and in a public Do I take time for study and mental growth? display is absolutely inexcusable. To follow Are my habits studious? Do I, as often as cir- anything resembling such a course with un- cumstances permit, lock my study door after related members of the opposite sex is to court breakfast and spend an hour or two endeavor- the disapproval of every sincere Christian and ing to get the mastery of some subject not the condemnation of the word of God. immediately connected with the needs of the Says the servant of the Lord: day? Asking these questions of oneself, and trying to answer them honestly, will go far "Let not Christ's ambassadors descend to tri- toward revealing one's mental state. fling conversation, to familiarity with women, To the experienced eye, there is one fairly married or single. Let them keep their proper sure sign of mental stagnation. If you find place with becoming dignity; yet at the same time they may be sociable, kind, and courteous yourself saying to a friend: "I want to study to all. They must stand aloof from everything more than anything else, but I just haven't the that savors of commonness and familiarity. time," set it down as a fact that you are prob- This is forbidden ground, upon which it is un- ably deceiving yourself in this matter. If you safe to set the feet. Every word, every act, really had the professional man's hunger for should tend to elevate, to refine, to ennoble. more knowledge, you would find the time, even There is sin in thoughtlessness about such if it meant cutting down your allowance of matters. . . . sleep, or the time given to meals. "Ministers should set the youth a worthy ex- The first essential to acquiring the study ample, one corresponding to their holy calling. habit is to recognize that it is part of the divine They should help the young to be frank, yet modest and dignified in all their associations. plan that a worker develop his faculties to the Day by day they are sowing seed that will fullest extent, and such development comes spring up and bear fruit. They are to put through study and practice. Without hard, con- away all coarseness, all trifling, ever remem- tinuous study the professional man, be he min- bering that they are educators; that, whether ister, lawyer, college professor, or physician, is they will or not, their words and acts are to doomed to failure. He simply must advance those with whom they come in contact a savor mentally, or he will be elbowed aside by men of life or of death."—"Gospel Workers," pp. 115, 116, who do. To have the open mind, to be hospi- table to new ideas, to feel the impact of the Even in the church of God in the last days rushing, surging tide of the modern world, there were to be seen those who "having a form is especially necessary to the Adventist minis- of godliness," denied "the power thereof." It ter, because he professes to be able to explain is ours, as ministers of the grace of Christ to present-day movements in the light of proph- uphold the form of sound doctrine, to curb the ecy. In other words, while his message is trend toward carelessness, by faith, by purity, essentially a spiritual one, it is intended also by meekness, by diligence, in all that pertains (Continued on page 22) 1934 The MINISTRY Page 7
wD THE BETTER WORKMAN 4v Improvement in Method and Technique
SUCCESSFUL APPROACH TO CATHOLICS
BY L. V. FINSTSR
HE true basis for successful work among all ciate in regard to the "God that made the Tclasses of people, whether Jew, Christian, world and all things therein." He reminds Catholic, or Gentile, is found in Paul's con- them that it was this God who "giveth to all clusions after a life spent in labor in different life, and breath, and all things," and he assures lands. He writes as follows of these expe- them that if they "should seek the Lord," and riences: feel after Him, they would find Him. Here "Though I be free from all men, yet have I Paul became like "them that are without law," made myself servant unto all, that I might that he "might gain them that are without gain the more. And unto the Jews I became law." His whole burden was, not to reveal as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them their inconsistencies, but that he "might by that are under the law, as under the law, that all means save some." I might gain them that are under the law; to them that are without law, as without law, . . . These well-known principles should guide us that I might gain them that are without law. in our work in Catholic lands, or wherever we To the weak became I as weak, that I might are working for Catholics. Some, unfortu- gain the weak: I am made all things to all nately, approach a Catholic congregation in men, that I might by all means save some." the same manner as they do a Protestant audi- 1 Cor. 9:19-22. ence. This is a serious mistake, for their view- To be able properly to help any man who is points differ markedly. To a true Protestant in error, we must first place ourselves in his the Bible and the Bible only is his guide, and position, see things as he sees them, and under- he has been taught to respect its teachings; stand the causes that have led him to believe but to a Catholic the Bible, although held to be as he does. To work successfully for a Jew, of divine origin, is not considered clear or safe, we must endeavor to place ourselves in the and as such is of no authority. In many lands position of a Jew, with all the background that Catholics are taught to hate the Bible, and to has made him what he is. We must take the be on their guard against it. Just a few years things that are authority to him and that ago in the Philippine Islands, Bibles were pub- speak to his innermost conscience, and from licly burned by the priest in front of all the these accepted facts lead him to right conclu- students who were preparing for the priest- sions. It would be unwise to quote from the hood. New Testament in an endeavor to show him To a true Catholic, so-called "divine tradi- that he was wrong. That would have no weight tion" and the "authority of the church" are the with him, for he has been taught to hate the things that speak to his conscience with con- name of Christ and the New Testament. We viction. They believe that "like two sacred should lead him to accept both Christ and the rivers flowing from Paradise, the Bible and New Testament, but this is the object or end, divine tradition contain the word of God, the and not the means that will lead him step by precious gems of revealed truths. Though step to form the right conclusions from facts these two divine streams are in themselves, on previously proved. account of their origin, of equal sacredness, Paul's principle of becoming a Jew that he and are both full of revealed truth, still, of the might win the Jew is clearly demonstrated in two, tradition is to us more clear and safe."— all the recorded sermons that we have from "Catholic Belief," p. 45. And as to the author- that winner of men. Take, for example, his ity of the Catholic Church, it is believed that: discourse at Antioch of Pisidia, recorded in "We have no right to ask reasons of the church, Acts 13. Here he relates the well-known facts any more than of Almighty God, as a prelimi- of Jewish history, of how God chose their fa- nary to our submission. We are to take with thers, of His dealings with Israel, and of His unquestioning docility whatever instruction the promise to raise up a Saviour unto them. He church gives us."—Catholic World, August, then shows how Jesus fulfilled all these known 1871, p. 589. facts. Our task is to lead the Catholic from these But notice how differently he approaches his misconceptions of truth to believe in the Bible audience at Athens, that philosophical heathen and to accept it as a divine revelation from city. Here he alludes, not to God's dealings God in all matters of faith; but this is the with Israel, but to facts that they could appre- objective, or conclusion, and is not the first Page 8 The MINISTRY October argument that will lead him to accept it. We to use us in uttering "railing accusations." My should start from those things that he acknowl- plan has been to say frankly that I believe in edges as of authority, and logically lead him the teachings of the early Roman church, and to right conclusions. to state that the people of that church were Many of us, as Protestant preachers, do not true and faithful. In proving this I read Paul's use as much wisdom when working in Catholic statement in his letter to the Roman church: lands as do the priests when they attempt to "To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called conduct their missions in Protestant lands. to be saints." and he thanked God that their You will never see a priest take as the basis faith was "spoken of throughout the whole of his talks before a Protestant congregation a world." It makes an effective point to state to statement of "divine" church tradition. On the a Catholic audience that our desire is to get all contrary, he will get over on the Protestant men to return to the teachings of the early platform, and read a text from the Bible in an church. endeavor to lead his hearers to believe in the But the same apostle, when speaking to the teachings of the church. Why? Because the elders of Ephesus, warns of a future departure Bible is of authority to the Protestant. Should from this faith. "I know this, that after my we not follow the same plan, and use the same departing shall grievous wolves enter in among wisdom when we start our efforts among Cath- you. . . . Also of your own selves shall men olic people? In some way we must get behind arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away that wall of prejudice against the Bible, if we disciples after them." Acts 20:29, 30. are going to help them. So, if this prophecy has been fulfilled, we Again, I do not believe we gain anything by shall find in a later period of the church's ex- ridicule or by pointing out the past mistakes perience things that are not true; and it should of the church. Teaching the truth in a posi- be the duty of every earnest follower of Christ tive way is the best method of meeting all er- to reject all such man-made "perverse things," rors and gaining the confidence of men. We and return to the teachings of the early church. have a message from God to give to the world, We need to contend earnestly for the faith and we should not permit the enemy of souls (Continued on page 22)
CONCERNING CHURCH CALENDARS HE calendar of the Temple Church, New lieve will be helpful to the pastors of other TYork City, is an ideal form for an economical churches. four-page arrangement, with ample space. The The printed calendar appearing on the oppo- first and fourth pages are printed in quantities site page is a facsimile of one used in the on light-blue laid (water-marked) mimeograph Takoma Park (D. C.) church, chosen at random, paper. The inside pages are mimeographed as exemplifying the extensive and complicated weekly, giving the order of the Sabbath and announcements of a large congregation. This Sunday evening services on one page, and the is an excellent arrangement where reasonable announcements for the week on the other. On printing facilities are accessible. It consists of the first printed page appears a cut of the church only one sheet, with the notes and notices on building, with the standard time of the various the one side, together with the order of service services. A list of the church officers is given on the Sabbath. On the other is given a com- on the fourth page, at the close of which ap- plete listing of all the officers of the church and pears the accompanying notice, which we be- its component organizations.
For the Pastor's aid and information, please check below and sign name and address of those needing help, temporal or spiritual, tear off, and place this slip on offering plate.