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Volume 13 Number 14 .~ ~ JU!!".~I.ol!44 1!~"~'it,lJt:~.....';a11 3f. 8rt;bam :Matbtn ~l:JitOt 1936~1937 l:t tift One Year-$2.00 Published Twenty-threeil1!t1iTimes a Year Ten Cents a Copy EDITORIAL COUNCIL 1505 Race Street John P. Clelland John Patton Galbraith Edwin H. Rlan Thomas R. Birch PhiladelphIa 2. Pa. Leslie W. Sloat Ned B. Stonehouse Managing Edl,for Discontent! By the REV. PAUL WOOLLEY Professor of Church History in Westminster Theological Seminary EIGHT years have passed-it seems longer-since The years that have followed since 1937 have seen a those glorious days in 1936 when The Orthodox slow and constant growth.of The Orthodox Presby­ Presbyterian Church was born. It is not difficult to terian Church. Its stability has been tested and proved. recapture in spirit the great enthusiasms of that June Its love of the Word has become manifest. Its steady day in Philadelphia when the church was first consti­ attention to the privilege of preaching the gospel and" tuted. The fervor was high and it rose ever higher be­ ministering to the saints has been demonstrated. cause the church was committing itself to an ideal that But there is, in this year 1944, discontent within the had been tested and proved through centuries-s-the church. Now discontent can be of two kinds-healthy' ideal of a Biblical church, its divinely ordained princi­ or malignant. This discontent is of the second kind .as ples drawn directly from the Bible and its modes of well as of the first. ' operation in' matters not Biblically prescribed based An American writer has recently pointed out that upon the experience of the Reformed churches through sooner or later any organization or entity in human so­ the ages. No fads, no newly evolved novelties, no pet ciety will be seized upon by persons bent upon exploit­ ideas of leading individuals were to characterize this ing it for purposes other than that for which it was church. It was not to emphasize strange notions which originally intended. One of the great sources of dis­ had not stood the test of time in relation to the Bible. content in The Orthodox Presbyterian Church-malig­ Its gates were to be as wide as the gates of the new nant discontent-is the lack of numerical growth. The Jerusalem and its path as narrow as the way that leadeth church does not increase rapidly. This is true. The unto life. Its doctrine and its ethics had no other stand­ church, was not founded for"the purpose of growing ard than the Word of God. rapidly. The Bible givesno.warrant for believing that It was only a year later that a group, which wanted a church in this day and age should grow rapidly. But to narrow the stand of the church and make it more rapid growth is an American enthusiasm; it is a na­ intolerant than our Lord and His Word, left its fellow- tional sport. Other churches--freak churches; specialty , ship. It was a sad occasion, and one which neither prin­ churches, personal churches-grow rapidly. Therefore ciple nor history can justify. Perhaps the children will let us bend all our energies, say these friends, to make be wiser than the fathers. So it is to be hoped. Thus The Orthodox. Presbyterian Church grow rapidly. Not God preserved The Orthodox Presbyterian Church at only should it grow rapidly itself, they~liitshOl~W its very beginning from un-Biblical fanaticism. also grow by joining other organizatioo*t",~Of': ;()I.11t " . '. --. ~... ,l~<.$ .-':.'~"''t .•_.., ......_ h, ;''; 214 THE PRESBYTERIAN GUARDIA'N July 2S should it grow by .joining other or­ ought to be the same way with the The times are serious. The church ganizations, it should also grow by Reformed Faith among the ministers is in a dangerous position. Can we swallowing up other organizations. and ruling elders of The Orthodox concentrate. our discontent on the Now as the writer referred to above Presbyterian Church. The mainte- healthy side, on increasing our en­ has indicated, Gresham's law -applies . nance and propagation of the Re­ thusiasm and comprehensiveness? If in spiritual matters as well as in mone-/ formed Faith should be their chief not, I tremble for the usefulness of tary affairs. It is doubtless a result of love. I think there is reason for a this particular instrument of God's t the sinfulness and depravity of man healthy discontent here. We have not grace. But if so,'God's abundant bless­ j that this is so. Gresham's law says that yet reached this standard, I fear. Let ing is awaiting us. The Apostle said l when debased money is put into cir­ us make the faith the love of our "For I shrank not from .declaring culation along with good money it hearts. unto you the whole counsel of God" \ will soon drive the good mOIJey out of There is also room for real progress (Acts 20~27)' ." use. So here. The urge for numbers, in the completeness with which the for growth, will drive the great, im­ faith is preached in our pulpits. portant, spiritual, Biblical principles Obviously, the degree of well-rounded out of mind and out of action. The presentation that is attained varies WESTMINSTER SEMINARY Orthodox Presbyterian Church exists with every pulpit. I have made no to perpetuate, maintain and propagate statistical study of the preaching in' OPENS SUMMER SESSION the principles of the Bible. The Bible Orthodox Presbyterian pulpits. I have HE opening exercises of the sum­ contains no principle which empha­ sent out no questionnaire. But from Tmer session of Westminster Theo­ sizes large numbers, or rapidity of my conversations with them I can say logical Seminary were held on Friday, that there are many people in our growth, as a criterion of a true church June 30th, at 2:30 P.M., in the semi­ or as a major aim for such a church. pews, who have no notion of the faith nary chapel at Laverock, near Chest­ When these factors become major as a system. Has it ever been put to­ ! nut Hill, Philadelphia. The nine stu­ aims of The Orthodox Presbyterian gether for them? Do they realize the dents beginning their seminary.course j Church, the church may be assured glorious truth that.everything that and a few friends were present. Dr. that the really valuable results from happens happens in accordance with Cornelius Van Til, Professor of Apolo­ the church will immediately begin the eternal plan of God? Nothing has getics, presided over the meeting, and proportionately to decrease. been left at loose ends. God is in con­ the Rev. John Murray, Professor of The question is really a very simple trol. That seems to me- to be one of Systematic Theology, delivered a brief one. Does The Orthodox Presbyterian the most needed truths of our day. address.' . Do our people hear, for example, Church want to have a growing re­ In welcoming the incoming stu­ vival of the preaching, teaching and about the mystical union of the be­ liever with Christ, about the internal dents, Professor Murray expressed the application of the Biblical and Re­ sincere hope that they had found it formed Faith in these United States testimony of the Holy Spirit to the Scriptures, about the meaning of the extremely difficult to come to West­ in the year 1944? Or does The Or­ minster at this time, when so many thodox Presbyterian Church want to presence of Christ in the Lord's sup­ per, about the personal return of our of their fellows appear to be facing have many members and much money dangers and work so much greater and read about itself often in the Lord and the events connected there­ .newspapers? It can have either one, with? I would not be surprised if and immediately practical, However, those who avoid military service in but it cannot have both. preaching on these subjects would There is a healthy discontent, as round out the faith for many. order to come to Wesbninster now are well as a malignant one, within The to be congratulated because theyhave Orthodox Presbyterian Church. It is come under a divine compulsion as concerned with two things: lack of TABLE OF CONTENTS good soldiers of Christ. That soldiery, enthusiasm for the Reformed Faith, July 25, 1944 said Professor Murray, is really the and lack of completeness in its presen- highest service of all to the United, Discontent! ..... .. .. .............. .. 213 States, the United Nations, and the tation. , Paul Woolley In the eighteenth century, enthusi­ whole world, and it is by far the most asm meant practically what emotional Doctrinal Complexion of the militant service that we'can possibly Federal Council 215 engage in. There is therefore, said'Pro­ fanaticism means now. But modern Ned B. Stonehouse enthusiasm is a different thing. It is fessor Murray, an exacting obligation essential to the propagation of any The Practical Duties of Islam 217 facing theological students today. The enterprise. Did a man's love evermean Robert S. Marsden course of study is arduous, and may anything to a girl if it was not en­ Orthodox Presbyterian Church News .. 219 sometimes be discouraging and be­ wildering. There are no shortcuts by thusiastic? The question she asks him Editorial 221 (mentally if not aloud) is: Do you air travel to the great peaks of theo­ think I am the most important girl ,Flames Worth Fanning: Part 2 222 logical truth; it is a hard, slow climb. ~eoffrey in the whole world? If he does, he has Williams Yet, since the reward is given by God, , her on his mind constantly, and is Adventure at Four Pines: Part I......
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