Herald of Holiness Volume 50 Number 22 (1961) W
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Olivet Nazarene University Digital Commons @ Olivet Herald of Holiness/Holiness Today Church of the Nazarene 7-26-1961 Herald of Holiness Volume 50 Number 22 (1961) W. T. Purkiser (Editor) Nazarene Publishing House Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.olivet.edu/cotn_hoh Part of the Christian Denominations and Sects Commons, Christianity Commons, History of Christianity Commons, Missions and World Christianity Commons, and the Practical Theology Commons Recommended Citation Purkiser, W. T. (Editor), "Herald of Holiness Volume 50 Number 22 (1961)" (1961). Herald of Holiness/Holiness Today. 797. https://digitalcommons.olivet.edu/cotn_hoh/797 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 Herald of Holiness/Holiness Today by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Olivet. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Official Organ of the Church of the Nazarene NORTHWEST NAZARENE COLLEGE An Adventure in Christian Living By W. T. PURKISER and quite real sense (Philippians 3:15; I Corinthi Christian Perfection ans 2.6). The writer to the Hebrews taught per and the Problem of Infirmity fection (Hebrews 6:1; 10:14), as did James (1:4; 3:2), Peter (I Peter 5:10), and John (I John 4: What strikes many people in the religious world 17-18). today as quite impossible is the suggestion that At least part ol the problem comes because we anything human should be perfect. Some of the often have a wrong notion of what perfection most bitter attacks on the doctrine of entire sanc means. We tend to think of the perfect in Greek tification are directed at the idea of perfection. It and philosophical terms: that which is absolute, seems like either madness or sheer presumption to changeless, unimprovable. For the Greeks, a per speak of anything in the finite and human realm fect statue or painting or poem would be one as “perfect.” which could not be changed in any way without This is in spite of the fact that the Bible does taking away from its perfection. often use the term in relation to man’s place before Quite different is the Biblical idea of perfection. and experience with God. Noah was “perfect in In the Bible, that is perfect which is true to type, his generations” and in his walk with God (Genesis what it is rightfully expected to be, the norm for 6:9). Abraham was commanded to walk before the species or kind. Perfection, for the Biblical God and be perfect (Genesis 17:1). To the people writers, is dynamic, living, and growing. of Israel it was said, ‘‘Thou shalt be perfect with For example, a perfect baby would not be one the Lord thy God” (Deuteronomy 18:13). Job which did not grow, which never changed. Ex was three times declared to be a perfect man actly the opposite would be true. The perfection of (Job 1:1, 8; 2:3). The Psalmist exhorts to “mark a child implies capacity for normal growth. A per the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the fect love would not be love which does not mature, end of that man is peace” (Psalms 37:37). deepen, and become richer and fuller with the In the New Testament, Jesus commanded perfec passing ol the years. Exactly the opposite would be tion (Matthew 5:48), and prayed for it for His dis true. Even in the human sphere, love which does ciples (John 17:17, 23). Paul disclaimed resurrec- not grow and become more deeply rooted in loyal tion perfection (Philippians 3:12), but placed ty is fst on the way to indiflerence, or outright himself among those who are perfect in another aversion. A prime example of the Biblical idea of perfec tion is found in Job, who “was perlcct and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil” (1:1). Job trusted God, but what was even more, God could trust Job—so much that Me was willing to risk a great deal in a test to lind the answer to the question of Satan, “Doth Job fear God for The Cover nought?” (1:9) Job is a clear example of the fact that a person Northwest Nazarene College, Nampa, Idaho, may be perfect in the Biblical sense and yet be is the outgrowth of an impoverished, bereaved, sick, misunderstood, and educational work begun criticized, and even baffled and confused in his in 1913. The college moved to its present campus of approximately fifty acres in 1915. own mind. Por Job never did understand why Nampa is an agricultural-industrial communi his world tumbled in upon him in blow after blow ty of approximately 18,000 population, located of misfortune and catastrophe. in southern Idaho twenty miles west of Boise, the capital city. The college is accredited by But we must see something else in regard to the Northwest Association. Dr. John E. Riley Christian perfection. There is a sharp distinction has been the president since 1952. between infirmities, shortcomings, imperfections, and failures which arise from our humanity and the state or acts ol sin. Some, in utter confusion, {Please turn to page 12) THE BELIEVER'S PRAYER General Superintendent Young OUR HEAVENLY FA Pour light on this darkened situation. THER, this is a new day We have tried before to lead this soul to and we seek Thy face at the crisis, but somehow he avoided us an early hour before routine ac when the issues came close. Give us pa tivities overwhelm us. Make it a tience and persistence but help us not to good day of service in which our witness delay our efforts. This task is not ours; shall be bright and clear. it is Thine. We are only an agent of Thy We seek Thy face for divine blessing redeeming message. Save us from the and leadership. Our efforts seem so futile timidity of slavish fear. Make us bold unless we have Thy touch upon us. We to do Thy will, but gentle with the strug do not want to go our own way. Unless gling soul. Thy presence goes before us we shall Search our own heart this morning. If miss Thy way. there is anything within our life that Thou dost know our supreme desire is contradicts our testimony, reveal it to us to be an instrument of Thy grace. We and we will cast it away even now. would lead some soul to Thee today. Our Thou dost know our motives as well as own resources are not enough. This case our deeds. We do not seek to win this before us now is too hard for us to deal soul just to appear victorious. We do it with alone. Sin is too deep and too com for Thee and for this one who is so needy. plicated. Humanity is so frail and prone Keep us constant in our faith and make to evil. But we believe Thy grace is suf that faith present tense. We believe Thee ficient. Thou didst save us when we were now. bound by sin and rebellious. In His worthy name. Amen. The Straight Way I asked a fanner, one who knew Oh, in that moment what a bright The fertile, sun-warm fields, “Oh, how And holy-singing wonder flowed In such a wideness can you plow Within my heart! My pilgrim road The prairie furrows straight and true?” Of days and years can be as straight He answered then, “I keep my eye If only I look trustingly On something that is far and high, To One who died upon a tree Perhaps a tree against the sky.” And purchased pardoning for me! By GRACE V. WATKINS JULY 26. 19G1 • (423) 3 Contents . General Articles 4 How Much Is a Pup Worth? A. W. F. Telegram . 5 "In the Cross of Christ I Glory,” Eric E. Jorden Oxford, N.S., Canada—Rev. Rob C Are Revival Meetings Too Expensive? Allen A. Bennett ert F. Woods was elected superintend 7 The Cure for Legalism, G. Burton Cummings ent at the eighteenth Canada Atlantic 8 God’s Dew Line, Vincent J. Adragna District Assembly. District Superin 9 Common Courtesy, Gerald Fleming tendent Bruce T. Taylor’s final report 10 "By Love Compelled,” /'. W. Lawrence revealed membership stands at 730; total giving was $83,382; all depart Poetry ments’ membership increased; aver 3 The Straight Way, Grace V. Watkins age Sunday school attendance, 1,117. 4 Morning Prayer, Etiola Chamberlin —R. R. Cribbis, Reporter. 9 To One Alone li. Monday 11 That’s Livingl Don M. Lewis Mrs. Bettcher writes that her husband, Departments "Evangelist Roy A. Bettcher, is recu 13 Home Missions perating marvelously after surgery in Foreign Missions Erlanger Hospital at Chattanooga, Ten 14 For Christian Action nessee. He entered the hospital on Sat The N.Y.P.S. urday, June 17, having surgery on June District Activities 23. Many prayers were offered in his 15 The Local Churches behalf and he feels that God has an lfi The Bible Lesson swered in a most wonderful way and 18 News of the Religious World touched him. He wishes to thank all The Answer Corner for their prayers and interest, and asks HERALD OF HOLINESS: W. T. Purkiser, Editor in Chief; Velma I. Knight, Office Editor; Dave Lawlor, Art that they continue to remember him as Director. Contributing Editors: Hardy C. Powers, G. B. his strength returns, that he may be W illiamson, Samuel Young, D. I. Vanderpool, Hugh C.