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5-1-1943 Preacher's Magazine Volume 18 Number 03 J. B. Chapman (Editor) Olivet Nazarene University

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Recommended Citation Chapman, J. B. (Editor), "Preacher's Magazine Volume 18 Number 03" (1943). Preacher's Magazine. 207. https://digitalcommons.olivet.edu/cotn_pm/207

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Magazine

May-June 1943 Managing Editor’s

MESSAGE

VOLUME 18 OES this issue appear smaller NUMBER 3 MAY-JUNE, 1943 D than the others? In the num­ ber of pages and amount of material it is not. Governmental war restric­ tions demand that publishers use ten per cent less paper by weight than CONTENTS they used last year. For the time being we can still issue a sixty-eight The Preacher as Evangelist page magazine by using lighter J. B. Chapman...... 3 weight paper and cover stock. Fu­ Editorial Correspondence ture restrictions may make necessary J. B. Chapman...... 4 a decrease in the number of pages, The Development of the Doctrine but we are all anxious to co-operate H. Orton W iley...... 7 in the winning of this war and will Personalistic Philosophy and the Christian take with good grace any restrictions Ministry necessary to bring this terrible Albert F. Harper...... 10 carnage to a speedy end. The Question of Contradictions * * * J. W. Goodwin...... 13 Sanctification in the New Testament A reader wants to know how Ralph Earle, Jr...... 17 other pastors are conducting me­ The Preacher as Prophet morial services for soldiers who J. Glenn Gould...... 22 have been killed in action. Have The Preacher's Preacher you had such a service? Tell us how E. Wayne Stahl...... 25 you conducted it. Send your write­ Fragile! Handle with Care! up at once so we can insert it in the (The Christian Advocate)...... 28 next issue. (The American Legion The Minister as a Counselor Manual has suggestions for services J. G. Taylorson...... 29 of this kind. Copies may be bor­ The Fatal Finish (a sermon) rowed or obtained from your local T. M. Anderson...... 32 post.) Preaching from Bible Characters * • * A. Milton Smith...... 35 The new Preacher’s Magazine is The Discovery of the Public Library Lauriston J. DuBois...... 38 meeting with universal approval among its readers. The Managing The Pastor in the Communion Service Weaver W. Hess...... 41 Editor has received many, many letters of appreciation for the ma­ terial contained in the magazine. We are grateful for all of these let­ Departments ters. . . . There has been a good re­ sponse to the appeal to send ques­ tions for Dr. Gibson’s Question De­ Problems Peculiar to Preachers...... 44 partment. But he always can use Qu otable Poetry...... 46 more. . . . Numbers of sermon out­ The Preacher’s Scrapbook...... 48 lines have been received. These are Sermon Outlines...... 49 appreciated; but we can present a better selection of outlines as we Illustrations...... GO have a larger assortment to choose Missionary Department...... 62 from, so send in more outlines.

Book Reviews...... 64 * * * • • In this issue there are some sug­

J . B . C h a p m a n , D .D ., Editor gestions of Bible Study Prayer Meet­ D . S h e l b y C o r l e t t . D .T X . Managing Editor ing talks prepared by the M. E. Published bimonthly by the Nazarene Publishing House, 2923 Troost (Managing Editor). Do you want Avenue, Kansas City, M issouri, maintained by and in the interest of more of this type of suggestions? the Church of the Nazarene. Subscription price: $1.00 a year. En­ tered as second class matter at the Postoffice at Kansas City, Mo. Write us if you do. Acceptance for mailing at special rate of postage provided for in Sec­ D. Shelby Corlett. tion 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, authorized December 30, 1925. Address all contributions to The Preacher's Magazine, 2923 Troost Managing Editor. Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri.

The Preacher's Magaiine The Preacher as Evangelist

/ . B. Chapman, Editor

IMOTHY was a pastor, yet Paul said get results in the way of conversions on to him, “Do the work of an evan­ the ground that this is not their work. And Tgelist.” From this we gather that no there are others who have made a fetish of matter what his office, the preacher is to “results” and who speak of services as seek for souls and is to pray and expect “barren” if there is no altar call and if there success in leading men to God. There is are no people at the public altar. These are not the slightest doubt that God calls some extremes, and we mention them only to de­ preachers to devote themselves to the work fine the two sides of the road that we may of evangelism in something of an exclusive suggest keeping “in the middle of the road.” sense, and whenever the Church is vital the A London pastor once complained to “traveling evangelist” is always a useful Spurgeon that he did not have conversions and welcome official in her program, and it in his meetings. In the simple and direct is impossible to overestimate the value of manner that was characteristic of Spur­ such a ministry. Not only does the task of geon, he asked, “Do you actually expect to founding new churches require the services have conversions in your meetings?” The of the extra official evangelist, but the es­ preacher admitted that he had gone along so tablished churches require the frequent long without conversions that he had ceased services of such men. All this is taken for to expect them. Then Spurgeon said, “Per­ granted, and we should close our ears to haps that is the difference. I expect to those critics who are always complaining have conversions in my meetings and make about the professionalism of evangelists and my plans to this end.” who claim that such men are “out for the And on the other hand, some of the best money,” and that their work is not endur­ meetings we ever have do not logically ter­ ing. The record of evangelists will com­ minate in an altar service, and such meet­ pare favorably with any other branch of the ings are often largely spoiled by the notion ministry, and the exceptions should not be that they are “barren” if we do not close allowed to constitute the rule when it comes them with seekers at the altar. to appraising them. But as in between these two extremes; There are men living and dead who are every preacher should plan and pray for especially gifted in their work as evangelists. conversions and for definite fruitage in the Take our lately lamented Bud Robinson. It way of saved souls. Many things enter into may be that Bud Robinson could have made the true revival. In the first place, it takes a successful pastor, but I think no one fa­ people, as well as God, to give the “makings miliar with the facts can doubt that he of a revival.” And while we can be sure served a much larger purpose by reason God will come when His presence is be­ of his incessant devotion to the field of sought, getting people to come often enough evangelism; and there are others like him to give the gospel a chance with them is a among us today. Let us give these good complicated and uncertain task. I have men the full right hand of fellowship, and heard all the sayings about “getting the also give them an opportunity to contribute fire and the people will come,” and I have their part to the promotion of the work of also been around where these proponents of God. If it is generally known that there a simple way hold forth and I have seen a are successful meetings when these men great many empty pews in their meeting are around, then let’s have them around as houses. In a sense, I am glad it is that way, much as possible. Thank God for the regu­ for if it were otherwise it would make the lar and devoted evangelists! human part of the bargain insignificant and But just now we are thinking more of would rob us of the privilege of having any the place of evangelism in the schedule of essential part in the matter of saving souls. the pastor. There are pastors who excuse And while I know we should not make themselves from any strenuous efforts to even a suggestion that would reflect dis­

May-June, 1943 (139) 3 credit on prayer and praying people, I have sometimes thought Christians, preachers in­ Editorial Correspondence cluded, often prefer to meet God to meet­ A L e t t e r f r o m a Y o u n g P r e a c h e r ing and attempting to influence people. It is a little like the man who quit paying D e a r E d i t o r : anything to the support of the church on the plea that he owed so many people that I have tried to digest your recent editorial he must apply all his income on his debts. on The Tenure of the Pastor. It was very Asked if he did not think he owed the interesting and instructive and was very Lord also, he answered, “Yes, I do owe the much appreciated. But as I examined my Lord, but somehow He does not seem to own relationship to the truth it brought a press me like my other creditors.” But degree of discouragement. I guess the rev­ getting people to come to Sunday school and elation was not very pleasant. I must be church is not a worthy objective within it­ one of those misfits. self. We must get them there in order that My first pastorate was a tw o-year term. they may be brought to Christ for definite My second was three years in length, and experience in His grace and saving power. could haye been four, but I felt that I was And this same principle applies all the way bettering my situation by moving, and my around: to the plan of services, the making third pastorate lasted only fifteen months. of sermons, the program of meetings and My present pastorate is my fourth; have every thing that is done—the ultimate ob­ been here three years, and there were a jective is to bring men face to face with number of dissenting votes when the propo­ the demand for choosing Christ, and the sition was put for my continuing for the preacher must not lose sight of this ob­ fourth year. I realize that my work here jective. is finished. I know my District Superin­ Time is an essential element, and the tendent will do the best he can in locating preacher must not give way to either nerv­ me in another church, and I fully respect ousness or discouragement. But he must my district and general leaders, but I am hold fast to the faith that God will hear discouraged about my short pastorates. I and answer prayer and that the gospel is have always co-operated with my district the power of God unto salvation to every and all my leaders in every move for the one that believeth. advancement of the kingdom, and my heart Just now when all the world is giving is fixed to do the will of God and get on way to hate, and when the things men have with His work. What do I lack? Wherein trusted are found to contain no permanent have I failed? This letter is not a com­ content, the time is right for a crusade for plaint, but I just wonder if you can help souls. The time of revivals is here. Men me. Perhaps I should have gained more have so little left in which to trust that from reading your editorial mentioned above, ours is the privilege of pointing them to and I plan to read it again. But if you have Christ. And now while men are being anything more to add, please help me if you pressed to do the various things that an can. Yours and His, K. L. L. earthly war demands, it is befitting that we M y Answer to the Young Preacher should press them harder than before to M y Dear Brother: come to Christ in repentance and faith for salvation. Along with the many things I have received your letter of recent date which make demands upon us, let us not and have read it very carefully. I believe forget to “Do the work of an evangelist,” there is help for you, chiefly because you and to expect the Lord to reward us with seem so ready and willing to be helped. revivals and with souls in the regular and And the fact that you have set yourself to special meetings of the church, in the homes inquire for the trouble that serves to make of the people, and everywhere. your pastorates brief encourages me to be­ lieve you will locate the trouble and that you will have courage to do something to correct it. When a man disciplines himself to do Of course some short pastorates have ex­ hard things, he gains a mastery over him­ planations . which are no reflection on the self and the world. Success depends on be­ preacher, and these should be included in ing able to do things one doesn’t like far making up the summary. But when one more than on being lucky in finding things short pastorate follows another through a one does like. The man who can do only number of instances, it is time to look for what he likes has narrowed his path.— at least part of the trouble in the preacher S e l e c t e d . himself.

4 (140) The Preacher's Magazine In the first place, if the opportunities him for “a good man” the first chance they given are uniformly unpromising, there get. Some preachers can’t stay a long time must be a reason for this. All this talk because they argue politics or economics or about some one not wanting us to succeed— agriculture or even religion with the neigh­ some District Superintendent or other key bors. Some can't stay long because they man—is unreasonable and out of place. No are not friendly, do not take an interest in matter what a man’s position in the church, community affairs, appear to be selfish or it will add to his glory for another minister self-centered, or are just such consummate to succeed, and District Superintendents are bores that the people get tired of them. always on the lookout for men who can These are personal problems for the preach­ take promising churches and make some­ er himself to look into and take care of. thing out of them. If in their casting about, their eyes fail to fall upon you or me it Then there are instances in which the must be because we do not stand up above preacher is so wanting in fundamental edu­ the plane high enough for them to notice cation that he is incapable of preaching in­ us. They want men who can get on. And terestingly to the same people for a very this same thing may be said also of church long period of time. Having a few pet boards, churches themselves and all per­ sermons will not do. A preacher must be sons interested in the mating of pastors and a sound thinker and must have fundamen­ churches. So if within a reasonable time tal education for a foundation if he is to you are not given a place where something preach to the same people for a very long can be done, better look for at least part of period of time. I am not emphasizing for­ the trouble within yourself. mal schooling just here, but I am speaking The principal cause for preachers’ mov­ of that scientific mind which knows when ing is, I think, their inability to get along it knows and is clear-cut in its judgments. with people. Building and equipment may That flighty type of mind that speaks first be involved indirectly, but the fact is that and thinks after it finds out how the peo­ people will sacrifice a lot to “get even” with ple take it cannot stand the strain of meet­ a preacher they do not like. And I think ing its own sayings for a period of many General Superintendent Williams is correct months. That a man has been denied the in his theory that people do not vote against benefits of the schools is no excuse. A the preacher because of his mistakes or sound mind is of more importance than a weaknesses in his official services; they vote brilliant mind or even than a well-polished against him because he has personally of­ and well-filled mind. fended them. Perhaps this is not as it Then the methods of the preacher have should be, but it is as it is, which is what a lot to do with it. Of course we all want we have to go by. It is a dangerous thing results. But one can come into a church to ever attempt to tell a preacher what he with the brilliance of a meteor, and he need should preach, but surely that demand to not be surprised if his light is as short-lived “Touch not the Lord's anointed,” which of­ as that of the wandering heavenly body after fending preachers are always ready to quote, which he takes his type. There are not a does not include the preacher's conduct in all the phases of his life. Just now I have great many things that can be done once a complaint from a layman that the preach­ and for all, anyway. It is the steady plod­ er’s children are troublemakers in the com­ ding that counts, and the preacher who munity and leaders in disturbances in the expects to stay a long time must plan even services of the church. The complaint may his organization of departments on a solid be unfounded, I grant that, but suppose it and dependable basis. One preacher planned is well-founded; well, people will vote four revivals for his first year in a church, against a good preacher because his chil­ and he attempted to remake the Sunday dren are such a liability. There is no ques­ school and all the department organizations tion more often asked, when a new preacher right away. Well, all he wanted to do is being considered, than this one, “What’s needed to be done, but if he had taken his wife like?” And then sometimes the three years instead of three months to make preacher himself is such a poor layman and his changes he might have stayed longer neighbor that people don’t want him for himself. their pastor. I know people are disposed to impose on the preacher, but that in a There is an old book called “The Making large measure “is what he is for.” And if of the Minister,” in which the author holds the preacher is wanting in ordinary courtesy to the thesis that the big job is making and neighborliness his members will trade the preacher, rather than the making of

May-June, 1943 (141) 5 sermons and the inventing of methods. I I feel that I have been missing these and think there is a lot to it; I think I might a lot more of good things all along, and I sum up all I have to say here by saying now plan to carry out your suggestion of that men preach shallow doctrines and writing a sermon every week for the pur­ adopt shallow methods because they are pose of self-development. I believe the shallow themselves. And they preach fun­ plan will make for greater liberty in the damental doctrines and are drawn to dura­ pulpit, and think it will be a means for ble methods when they are themselves of making a better preacher of me. sound religion and of worth-while character. I feel that the enclosed sermon will con­ And all this is a matter of degrees. So I do vince you that I need the suggestion you not say the shallow preacher is always a made, and I hope you will feel free to hypocrite, but there is plenty of room for suggest or criticize for my benefit. I deep­ improvement in us all. And while we are ly appreciate the article mentioned above and should be interested in improving the and am sure I will profit by its timely ad­ content of our preaching and revising our monitions. methods for the better, the full demand Yours sincerely, calls for more sincerity in our own hearts, A. M. more prayer and a closer walk with God, more burden for souls and less profession­ D e a r A — M — : alism, more spirit of self-denial in the in­ terest of the work of the kingdom: in short, Your letter has just arrived. I was glad the call is for better emulation of the ex­ to hear from you and have read your ser­ ample which our creed and calling de­ mon with interest. I am glad you have mand of us. And if with this fuller ex ­ found the suggestion for writing sermons emplification of the basic realities comes practical, and I am sure if you stick to your yet the providences that make for short plan you will see more and more advantage pastorates and frequent removals, then we in it. must take it that in our case this is the I think your written sermon is quite will and plan of God, and no matter what good, and I find in it only just about the others say, and no matter what the con­ usual faults of the first attempts at writing, ventional thesis regarding the matter may and I think there is no particular reason be, there is nothing for you and me except for adding suggestions to the one to “just to preach on and move on and be faithful keep always at it.” Like every worth­ and true amidst it all. while thing, this writing business is mostly just plain, hard work, and there is no royal Ms,—Illinois road to supremacy in it. I have heard that a writer should write a million words as D e a r E d i t o r : I read your editorial in the December is­ carefully as he can before he offers anything to the printer, and you know a million sue regarding the benefits of writing ser­ words is quite a manuscript (the page of mons. I had just selected a text and had the average book has from three to four planned to stop with a somewhat detailed hundred words on it). outline. But after reading your editorial I went on and wrote the sermon in full and I have only one fear, and that is that am sending you a copy. you will find the going so difficult that you When I started to write I found a different will not persevere. If you overcome this and I believe a better approach to the sub­ and just keep after it, in five years you can ject than I had originally planned. Then tell the difference, and in ten years your I found a better transition from one point to hearers will know you have been doing another than I had thought to use. But I something very special to make you a full believe the principal discovery was the bet­ thinker and an accurate speaker. Don’t get ter choice of words that came to me in con­ discouraged. nection with my attempt to write the sermon In His service, in full. T h e E d it o r .

*

■ I n t e n s e l o v e f o r s o u l s , a sense of love to Christ and personal indebtedness to Him for salvation and a reverence for the value of a human being in God’s sight—these are the requisites for power in preaching.—P h i l l i p s B r o o k s .

6 (142) The Preacher's Magailne • The doctrine of original sin as it is understood today is the re­ sult of variou s modifications of earlier teachings. In this third article on the subject, the author discusses some of these modifications

The Development of the Doctrine I n t h e Church

H . Orton Wiley

S indicated in a previous article, the walked in obedience, and thereby, through doctrine of original sin has not only struggle and suffering attained a mature A been one of far-reaching, practical spiritual experience. consequences in the Church, but one also of It should be kept in mind however, that interesting theological and psychological ex­ this inclination to holiness was regarded as planations. The subject cannot be properly a supernatural gift of grace, and not neces­ understood however, unless seen in its his­ sarily inherent in Adam as a created being, torical development, and to attempt to trace a point which Roman Catholicism developed, the various modifications of the doctrine is and the reformers rejected. All holiness the purpose of this article. must be considered as a gift from God, and The doctrine of original sin, as we now so bestowed, even in Adam, as to become understand it, is the result of the various the operation of God upon created nature, modifications of Augustinianism, dominant and in no wise the meritorious product of in the Church from about the fourth cen­ his own will. Arminianism recognizes a tury, somewhat modified in the medieval truth here, but holds that the original gift period by Thomas Aquinas and Duns Scotus was that of the personal Holy Spirit, a and given special direction during the Re­ gift lost through sin and therefore a depriva­ formation by Luther and Calvin. Original tion rather than a depravation, although Augustinianism involved the following fac­ leading immediately to the latter. The tors which are integrally related to the en­ weakness of the Augustinian position, how­ tire system of theology represented by this ever, lay just here—if Adam was not free type. to sin and in addition to this was con­ 1. There was first an exalted conception firmed in holiness, then probation was im­ of the pristine state of Adam. The theory possible. Hence Augustine taught that along is built primarily upon a Pauline foundation, with his will predetermined to holiness, although there appears to be some infiltra­ there was granted also, a special proba­ tion of rabbinical ideas. According to Au­ tionary grace, by which it became possible gustine, the exalted paradisiacal state of for Adam to originate sin, that is, he him­ Adam was the gift of an original righteous­ self creating it de nihilo. It was because ness which exempted him from all physical of this that the opponents of Augustine, ills, endowed him with immortal youth, and facetiously remarked, that God then, gave made possible the benefits of the tree of Adam grace to sin. Just how far Augustine life. This latter would have eventually so distinguished between the natural and su­ refined his physical nature as to transub­ pernatural qualities in Adam has been a stantiate it into pure spirit, thereby enabling matter of dispute. It is known, however, him to transcend all earthly limitations and that he attributed Adam’s holiness, his free­ to enter painlessly and triumphantly into dom from concupiscence, and his immor­ heaven. He was endowed also, with a tality to a super-added grace, a germ moral character equally exalted, and pre­ thought for later development by the determined to holiness. Thus he had what schoolmen. Augustine regarded as the true freedom of 2. The second point is concerned with the the will, a posse non pecare as the schoolmen nature of the first sin, commonly known as termed it, or the faculty of not being able the “infinite malice.” If Adam’s will was to sin. Furthermore, Augustine regarded not only inclined to holiness but confirmed Adam as confirmed in holiness, much after therein, then the first sin as a result of pro­ the order of a saint who for years has bationary grace must have been, according

May-June, 1943 (143) 7 to Augustine, of infinite demerit. It was with Adam. “We were all that one man,” not merely the consequence of human frailty he says, “who lapsed into sin, through the but a deliberate attempt to act contrary to woman who was made from him previous his own nature. In other words, it was “the to his transgression. The particular form in debacle of a saint.” The elements involved which we were to live as individuals was were pride, or the desire to be independent not assigned to us man by man; but the of God; presumption through the rejection seminal nature existed from which we were of the truth of God; and concupiscence, or to be propagated.” Here it is to be noted, the corruption which gives rise to all other that human nature was regarded as dis­ sins. The first sin was, therefore, pure per­ tinguishable from persons. It was human versity of will. nature that apostatized, and the conse­ 3. The third point is concerned with the quences appear in the individuals created nature of the transmitted sin. This Augus­ in that nature. tine divided into two parts: a vitium or 4. The fourth point is concerned with the weakness and the reatus or guilt. It thus manner in which original sin is transmitted became possible to hold either of these po­ to the posterity of Adam. The theory of sitions, apart from or in connection with the Augustine is interesting, even if it is far other. Man suffers at once from a malady fro'.-.i the truth. He held that the instinct inherited from Adam, and he is born sub­ directed toward the preservation, of the ject to the legal liability, or punishment for species, was the most violent of all, and Adam’s sin. It is interesting to note that, least amenable to reason. Hence the term when the first alone is emphasized, we concupiscence, as used by Augustine, and have in modern times the Genetic Theory especially by the later schoolmen, was al­ of Dr. Miley; when the second is empha­ most the equivalent of sexual passion. It sized exclusively, we have the Federal or was this that determined the transmission Representative Theory of Dr. Charles Hodge; to the soul, of the malady of sin. In as when both are emphasized, but with special delicate language as possible, we may say stress upon the identification of the race that for Augustine, the feeling of sex as ex­ with Adam, we have the Realistic Theory of perienced by fallen man was intrinsically Dr. William G. T. Shedd; while with an em­ sinful, and therefore every child begotten phasis upon both, but with stress upon the through this concupiscence was stained with inheritance of sin from Adam rather than original sin. In a literal sense therefore, identification of the race with him and thus every child was born in sin, not as com­ held in connection with the free gift of monly interpreted, with a sinful nature, but Christ atoning for and nullifying the reatus in the concupiscence or sin of the parents. or guilt of original sin, we have what we This stain was held to be communicated at believe to be the true theory, that of Wes­ the moment of conception. For this reason leyan Arminianism. the virgin birth was regarded as necessary By the vitium, Augustine means the mala­ in order for the Saviour to be miraculously dy of the soul inherited from Adam. This free from original sin. When this position consists in a loss of super-added grace, so was challenged by his Pelagian opponents, that man’s whole being was, as in the case Augustine made a sharp distinction between of Father Malachy’s Miracle, “thrown out the actus of concupiscence, and its reatus of kilter.” As a consequence, man became or guilt. Baptism, it was held, cancelled the creature of concupiscence, or the tyran­ the guilt but could not remove the actus. ny of the lower nature over the higher. Hence it became necessary on this theory, Here we come to our first point of psycho­ to hold that even though the parents were logical emphasis, a germ of thought to baptized and free from the guilt of concupis­ which later psychology has given much at­ cence, their offspring inherited both the ac­ tention. Augustine held that this malady tus and the guilt which attached to it. The of the soul was a hypertrophy of the bodily child, therefore, until baptized was regarded instincts: first, those directed to the pres­ as subject to the guilt of original sin. ervation of the self; second, those which mark conformity with the group; and third, T h e M e d ie v a l D o c t r in e those directed to the preservation of the The medieval scholastics modified, and in species. Evolutionary psychologists have some ways, further developed the doctrine called these, the ego, the herd and the sex of Augustine. Thomas Aquinas sharpened instincts. the distinction between human nature con­ As to the reatus or guilt of original sin, sidered in itself, and that with which it was Augustine maintained this on the ground of supernaturally endowed. To the former he “seminal identity” or the unity of the race applied the term pura naturalia. or that

8 (144) The Preacher's Magazine which constituted man, man; and to the of knowing and loving God. It was against latter, the term donum supematurale, or the this severe form of the doctrine that Strigel gift which included all the splendors of the and the Lutheran Synergists rebelled, hold­ paradisiacal state. This was illustrated as ing rather that the power of apprehending follows: a man of low estate might be pre­ God was not annihilated but paralyzed and sented with a fortune, but through misman­ rendered ineffective. This position was con- agement lose it. He would therefore, be demed by the Formula of Concord. Here it no worse off when he lost it than he was is to be noted, especially in the case of before he received it. This led to the be­ Luther, there grew up a position, which per­ lief in depravity as a mere deprivation or sists even to the present and which brings loss. Thomas Aquinas however, differed confusion wherever held. Luther taught from Augustine in this, that he regarded that original sin was not merely a privation the guilt of original sin, not as entailed of the religious powers of mankind, but a through “seminal identity” of the race with substitution in their place, of immoral and Adam, but through a process of sinful mo­ irreligious faculties. It seems peculiar, that tion, which consisted in concupiscence and Luther who so strongly objected to the Ro­ subsequent generation. Once initiated, this man Catholic doctrine of justification by an law proceeded of its own force. One term, infusion of righteousness, should fall into however, which he applied to original sin is the same error in respect to original sin. interesting because of its practical conno­ If justification is a forensic act as Luther tation. He calls it the fomes pecatti, or the rightly taught, a change in relation before “foment of sin.” This “foment” or “fer­ a change in state, then to be consistent he ment” remained after baptism, and while should have regarded original sin as a dep­ not in itself sin, was the means by which rivation or loss of the Spirit, leading to and the raw material of emotion, impulse and having its consequences in depravity. This instinct, was worked up, or fomented into would have been more in harmony with his sin. doctrine of justification by faith than his Duns Scotus was even more liberal in his teaching that original sin was a positive interpretations and may well be regarded infusion of wickedness. as in some sense a precursor of the Reforma­ Luther had a tendency also to hypostatize tion. To him, Adam did not possess the inbred sin. Consequently we read that paradisiacal perfection attributed to him by “original sin is that very thing that is born Augustine, but was in some sense an in­ of a father and a mother” ; and again, “Man, fant—not in a physical sense, but as the as he is born of a father and mother, is starting point for further development. The with his whole nature and essence, not donum supematurale merely had the effect merely a sinner, but sin itself.” Too often, of producing a perfect harmony in the func­ even in our time, inbred sin seems to be tions of the soul. He also denied the idea regarded as an entity of some sort, a foreign of an “infinite malice,” and held that the substance infused into us, with which we temptation and fall was not an unmotivated have trouble, but for which we are not impulse to deny God, but an immoderate de­ responsible. Until he comes to see that this sire for the affection of his wife, and a de­ “old man” is his own very self in its sinful termination not to be separated from her, and depraved state, and that he must be even at the cost of disobedience. The psy­ renewed in the very spirit of his mind, chological point to be gained here, however, man will not seek the purifying Spirit who is the teaching of Duns Scotus concerning alone can, through the blood of Jesus, the passion of the soul, that is, they were cleanse from every stain of sin. Then only held to be not immoral but nonmoral. can he put on the new man, which after T h e R e f o r m a t i o n P e r io d God is created in righteousness and true With the beginning of the Reformation, holiness. Augustinianism, which in some sense had Three points have now been gained: first, suffered a decline and continued to do so in from Augustine, the idea of original sin as the Roman Catholic Church, was by the a hypertrophy of the bodily instincts; sec­ Reformers given a new emphasis. Here we ond, from Duns Scotus, the idea of the pas­ find the doctrine of inbred sin in some of sions of the soul as in themselves non- its sternest features. While there was no moral; and third, from Luther and the essential difference between the teachings of Formula of Concord, the idea of sin as a Luther and Calvin, the former was far more hypostasis. These give us a basis for the severe. The older Lutheranism taught that psychological discussion of original sin, to the fall deprived human nature of some of which we shall direct our attention in fu­ its essential elements, especially the faculty ture articles.

May-June, 1943 (145) 9 Ability to win some men to Christ may depend upon some acquaintance with the intellectual problems of the day. This author discusses briefly—

Personalistic Philosophy and the Christian Ministry

Albert F. Harper

S a minister of the gospel you will To one who has been intellectually awak­ have no urgent need for the follow­ ened, and who has felt the demands of A ing paragraphs with nine out of ten intellectual honesty, the lack of satisfying of the people whom you serve. You will evidence is serious. A young woman in a be able to meet the spiritual needs of the university community was desperately try­ nine with entire satisfaction to them and ing to hold to her faith in God and still to yourself if you read no farther and give not deny the demands of intelligence. By no thought to the problems here involved. sheer will power she was believing, but her But there may be the tenth one. He may mind knew no rest. She was invited to come to your study today or he may move sit in a group where those who challenged into the house across the street tomorrow. the Christian faith were met in frank dis­ The doctor does not prescribe every day cussion by trained thinkers who were also for all of the diseases he knows. Although Christians. It was a revelation to her that his knowledge of a rare disease is not used those who have faith may also have evi­ in his daily round of work, a human life dence which is convincing to the unpreju­ may depend upon such knowledge in the diced mind. At the close of the conference hour when the patient consults him. Your she remarked, “ This has helped me more ability to win the tenth man to Christ may than a ten-day revival meeting.” depend upon some acquaintance with the Some familiarity with the problems of intellectual problems of today which con­ philosophy will help us with the occasional stitute barriers keeping some college-trained troubled soul whom we may meet, but such men and women away from Christ. knowledge is also an aid in the study of The tenth man is more than likely a boy systematic theology, and competence in the who went down from the Jerusalem of a field of thought can give us a measure of Christian home to the Jericho of a college inward personal serenity. In the presence education and en route fell among intellectu­ of a mystery we are troubled; in the face al thieves who stripped him of his faith and of logical contradiction we are baffled. We left him spiritually more than half dead. are so built mentally that we feel obligated In the university he found his beliefs as­ to submit to the force of reason. When sailed with such apparent reason that he another challenges our faith with reasoning felt compelled to give up his faith in God we shall always feel insecure unless we in order to keep faith with his own intel­ too can give “a reason for the hope” that ligence. It is almost useless to present a lieth within. When we have traveled the gospel of blind trust to such a man or wom­ roads of the thinker and have found them an. Faith that has been lost by reason parallel to the route of faith we journey must to some extent be recovered by a with fresh assurance, and with increased more complete understanding. While one conviction we seek to persuade others to cannot be saved by reason, still, reason may take the pathway of life, for we have found serve the lowly but necessary function of that life is not a conflict of reason and the ass which brought the wounded Samari­ faith, but Christ is the way of truth as well tan to the place where the ministry of the as the way of faith. inn keeper could restore him. If we are to It is true that some thinkers have reached save a soul, held in the grip of an honest conclusions about the world which, if true, doubt, we must help him to the place where would discredit Christian faith. It is also he sees that he can believe honestly without true that other thinkers, of equal mental closing his eyes and stopping his ears to ability, studying the same fact in the same the demands of intelligence. unprejudiced manner, have reached con-

10 (146) The Preacher's Magazine elusions in accord with faith. Outstanding world, Personalism is also in accord with among these are personalistic philosophers. the Christian view. The Personalist views Although Personalism as a system of man as a creation of the Supreme Per­ thought, identified by that name, is a com­ sonality. Finite persons depend upon God paratively recent development in philosophy, for their existence but they are, neverthe­ ideas essentially personalistic are as old as less, free agents with consequent moral re­ the history of thought. The philosophy has sponsibilities. Personalism rejects all forms been systematized within the last century, of mechanistic psychology which would re­ largely due to the efforts of Borden Parker duce man to a physical robot, a creature of Bowne (1847-1910), but personalistic ideas circumstances, without self - determination. are evident in Greek thinking as early as Personalism holds the development of moral 450 B.C. when Anaxagoras suggested that character to be the supreme goal of the mind was the basic explanation of the physi­ efforts of both God and man. Without free­ cal world. The great men in the history dom there could be no moral character so of reflective thought: Socrates, Plato, Aris­ God has somehow endowed finite persons totle, St. Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Des­ with a measure of his own creative power cartes, Leibniz, Berkeley, and Kant, have and has thus given them an opportunity to started converging streams of thought which share in creating a moral universe. Thus have united to form the modem movement Personalism finds itself in accord with scrip­ of Personalism. ture for God said, “Let us make man in our In understanding the work of the philoso­ image.” phers one must seek for their fundamental In the realm of values the personalistic insights. Every serious student of the world thinker makes personality supreme. Apart believes something with all of his heart and from personality, human and divine, there upon this central belief his conclusions about is nothing worth while. Apart from con­ life are founded. The personalistic system sciousness the idea of value has no mean­ is an idealistic philosophy, but it stands as ing. The maxim of Immanuel Kant is basic much opposed to impersonal idealism as to in the ethics of Personalism. The great materialism. The central insight of Per­ German thinker insisted that persons should sonalism is that personality is the key which always be treated as ends in themselves and unlocks a true understanding of our world. never as mere means to other ends. Per­ Personality cannot be explained by any­ sonalism would judge personal conduct and thing else, but everything else becomes in­ all social institutions in the light of this telligible if personality is made central. In­ ideal. Society should be so organized that stead of trying to explain personality as every person has the best possible oppor­ being evolved from an original materialism tunity for self-development, physically, the Personalist asserts that the physical mentally, morally, and spiritually. The poet world itself depends upon a Supreme Per­ Edwin Markham saw this vision when he sonality and is intimately related to finite wrote: persons. Instead of asserting that God is We are blind until we see an impersonal idea the Personalist asserts That in the human plan, him to be a personal thinker. Personality Nothing is worth the making thus holds a place of unique and supreme That does not make the man. importance in the solution of the ultimate Why build these cities glorious problems of philosophy. Is the world one If man unbuilded goes, or many? What is the nature of space, time, In vain we build the world energy, and causation? All of these can be Unless the builder also grows. best explained if we assume a Supreme Per­ The crucial test of all forms of social or­ sonality. If we do not assume such a per­ ganization is, Do they contribute to the sonality these problems become inexplicable building of personality. In the light of mysteries. This is the thesis of the philo­ this ideal, democracy stands approved and sophical personalist. Personalistic philoso­ totalitarianism stands condemned. Democ­ phy is essentially theistic. It stands opposed racy operates on the premise that the state alike to the. atheism of the materialist, the is to serve the individual man; all totalitari­ pantheism of the impersonal idealist, and anisms assume that the man exists for the the deism of all who would separate God state. Democracy makes personality first from His creation. It is clear that Person­ and social systems subordinate. Totalitari­ alism is thus a philosophy in which the anism places government first and persons Christian view of God and the world is quite subordinate. When the Personalist places at home. the value of man second only to the divine In its view of man’s unique place in the personality he finds himself in harmony

May-June, 1943 (147) 11 with the spirit of Christianity. Jesus taught three different forms. Neither of these is that every person—man, woman, or child— acceptable to Christian theology. The in­ is of supreme importance. It was better violability of personality also creates an in­ that one should die than offend a little one. tellectual problem for our conception of the Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for prescrib­ Holy Spirit in person actually entering into ing burdens of religious observance which the human personality. The Personalist were too heavy for common men; he de­ would be inclined to say that since God and clared that the religious institution of the I are both distinct persons, God may be Sabbath was not the supreme value, but with me, but he cannot be in me. that humanity was supreme and the Sabbath had been ordained to minister to the needs The foregoing problems are not problems of men. for the personalistic thinker alone. From any point of view, and in any philosophical Personalism is thus in fundamental agree­ system, the Trinity and the glorious, but in­ ment with many Christian principles, but explicably real presence of the Spirit of there are also points of difference. In his God, are mysteries to the human mind. emphasis upon the basic reality of persons There is a human deference which is right the personalistic thinker refuses to admit that the boundaries of personality can ever and proper when the finite mind reaches the limit of its own powers of explanation. be crossed. Persons are absolutely unique We may nevertheless stand convinced in and ultimate. This strict adherence to the the presence of the revelation of God in absolute impenetrability of personality cre­ His Word and in the revelation of personal ates an intellectual problem in trying to ex­ experience. In spite of these serious points plain the Trinity of the Godhead. On the at issue, then, Personalism is still clearly personalistic premise one cannot admit three the modern philosophical system most in distinct persons and at the same time assert the unity of God’s personality. The ten­ accord with our understanding of divine dency for the personalist would be to solve revelation. Professor Albert C. Knudson, in the problem as the Unitarians do, or to ac­ his book The Philosophy of Personalism, cept the unorthodox view that the three has used an appropriate sub-title when he persons of the Trinity are not three persons, terms Personalism “The Metaphysics of Re­ but one person manifesting himself under ligion.”

It Can Be Done!

For a number of years I have known a family of eleven who have always gone to church regularly even though some might think they were supplied with excuses. These parents and their nine children always have been poor, and—need I add this?—have never owned a car. The father, however, did have a coal truck which he used every day to support his family. Their home was three miles from the church in the country, and they had no trolley or bus line at their dis­ posal when the children were small. But my friends did go to church, every one of them, from the baby up to the father. Every Sunday the coal truck was lined with clean newspapers and filled with clean children! Through cold rains and hot sunshine they taxied to church. Would you like to know how the eleven are faring today? Two of the sons have finished college and seminary and are serving as min­ isters. One daughter is a nurse, the supervisor of wards in a large hospital. Two other girls are secretaries to government officials, and a younger boy has just won a high-school scholarship. Now that most of the members of the family live away from home, do you wonder if they keep their interest in the church? No one who is acquainted with them ever thinks to ask that question, for they know the answer.—T o w n ­ s e n d R i c h a r d s , in The Christian Advocate.

12 (148) The Preacher's Magailne The Question of Contradictions

Third of series in

Introductory Studies in Our Holy Scriptures

J. W. Goodwin, General Superintendent Emeritus

HE critics and infidels have had much to say over the seeming discrepancies With all that may be said in the field of T and alleged contradictions of the Bi­ criticism, the wise and scholarly men who ble. Some have tried to increase the num­ have produced the English and American ber into the hundreds of such instances es­ revised translations agree so fully with the pecially in the Old Testament Scriptures. King James translation, that we can rest assured that we have a truthful Bible, and We shall not try to deny the fact that there thus use the American and English revised are some seeming contradictory statements as commentaries. in various portions of the Word of Truth. Nearly all Bible students have known this and have freely and frankly admitted that of our Lord than any one of their records there are some statements when taken from taken alone. Thus to undertake a theory the context and alone by themselves give that Mark was written first and all the different facts and figures, and also give others drew their information from him and different expressions covering the same his­ then added to the record what they had toric events. But all this does not admit learned from tradition is pure assumption that such seeming discrepancies and contra­ and without any ground whatsoever. It is dictions cannot be solved by careful reading clearly evident that each writer selected and investigation. from the great storehouse of known facts It is pointed out by some that different only what would better suit his purpose in writers vary in recording some particular making so brief a record of that great life sayings, and this is brought forth as an ar­ on earth. We may well conclude that each gument against divine inspiration. The writer mentioned only such facts as were words of Jesus when instituting the sacra­ pressed upon his mind by the Spirit for ment of what is known as the Lord’s Sup­ the very purpose in view. Doubtless our per, and the different expressions regard­ Lord must have stated the same truth in ing the title on the cross are mentioned as different language on various occasions, and examples. Who shall arise and say that it is not unreasonable to suppose that He even these differences were not intended uttered the same truths in different expres­ and directed by the Divine Spirit? Mat­ sions in one discourse. Any method of in­ thew was inspired to write the words, “Take, terpretation which undertakes to destroy eat” (26: 26). Luke in his record omits the harmony and beauty of the records by these words, and writes, “This is my body supposing that different words in the rec­ which is given for you” (22: 19); while ords prove a contradiction cannot well stand Paul omits the w ord “given.” There is the test of serious thinking. nothing strange in all this, for such testi­ T h e O r ig i n o f S o m e o f T h e s e A l l e g e d C o n ­ mony is well-known in modern courts of tradictions law, and when all the facts are placed to­ In the study of our Scriptures it must be gether we may find the clear record. Terry remembered as already indicated that they well says, “If we are not always able to see have been translated from the original lan­ a reason for such verbal differences neither guage in which they were written. There are we competent to say that there was, and are many texts or codex or portion of or could have been, no reason, and no care for a part of the Old and New Testament in them in the divine mind.” existence. Dr. Horne gives a long list in It really takes the four evangelists—Mat­ his great work on Biblical Introduction, and thew, Mark, Luke and John—to give us a the International Standard Encyclopedia more complete record of the life and sayings states that there are four thousand of such

May-June, 1943 (149) 13 texts, or parts of texts of the New Testa­ ments, but two different characters are doing ment in existence. the speaking. In the first, God said that Our English Bible has come to us after man should truly or surely die the very most careful research and painstaking ef­ day he disobeyed; in the second, the devil forts by translators. The English revised declared that man would not really die. version and the American Revised Version The only difference is the correct definition are helpful in the study of the Word. How­ of the penalty placed on transgression. If ever, the so-called King James translation God meant physical death, then the devil abides in the use of the majority of all ad­ told the truth; but if God placed utter sep­ mirers of the Bible. With all that may aration from Himself and a death in tres­ be said in the field of criticism, the wise passes and sins as the result which He had and scholarly men who have produced the in mind, then the devil told a lie. Again, English and American revised translations there may be a difference in expressions agree so fully with the King James trans­ which carry the same meaning. We may lation, that we can rest assured that we change the wording of the Mosaic prohi­ have a truthful Bible, and thus use the bition of murder: “Thou shalt not kill”— American and English revised as commen­ “Do not kill”—“Thou shalt not murder,” taries. Let us then with an open heart seek but all these statements mean the same an explanation of these alleged contradic­ thing, and who would regard any of these tions. declarations as a misstatement of fact? 1. As we read a little more carefully we Then we must take into account some discover that there is a difference in the difference in individualities. Pure light circumstances and dates between two pass­ often differs according to the color of glass ages of scripture which have been slighted through which it shines. There was some by critics, Genesis 1: 31 and Genesis G: 6. difference between Peter and Paul, and The first text records the satisfaction of hence we may see a difference in their God before man had sinned; the last text is course of action. It is not imperative that given after fifteen hundred years of man’s inspiration should follow in the same track sin and rebellion which had grieved the and utter the same routine of words. I see heart of God and compelled Him to make a no reason why a New Testament writer change in world affairs. might not grasp the meaning of an Old Would this not naturally give us a hint Testament saying, the real thought of a for­ regarding the solution of other moral dif­ mer writer, and then mould that thought ficulties which might appear in the record? into such forms as may suit his purpose. Or We find some of the old worthies truly rep­ the writer may have had other translations resented as good men, yet occasionally prac­ giving the same thought in a clearer phrase, ticing polygamy and other sins which are which fitted into his plan to make the truth condemned in other books of the Bible. Are better known. These simple facts may ex­ we not warranted in concluding that con­ plain the apparent difference in the quo­ duct, to some extent at least, must be judged tations from the Old Testament and their according to the light which one may have citation in the New. at the time. And is it not clearly stated that 3. We must not forget that there also God has revealed Himself in many portions may be different points of view, or the and in different manners? Then we may objectives to be obtained in comparing ask, Where is it stated that God ever or­ statements of scripture. A half truth may dered such customs or approved polygamy, amount even to a falsehood. We often say or any other wrongdoing? In dealing with that “Man is mortal,” and that “Man is im­ human weakness, He seems to have been mortal.” Both of these statements are true compelled to use the best He could find and in fact, but true only fiom the two points overlook many things in an effort to bring of view. If we view man in this life, we better results for the benefit of mankind in may well say “Man is mortal,” but if we general. I think it is an admitted fact that view man from the standpoint of his spir­ virtue must be judged in relation to the itual nature and the survival of his spirit in light or knowledge one possesses. a future life, then man is what is commonly 2. It is not an unknown fact that there called immortal, for he does not really cease are different speakers and writers and au­ to be even at death. thors which combined to make our Scrip­ Some people by carelessly reading the tures. We ask, may not this be another statements of James on “faith and works” source of some difficulties? In Genesis 2: 17 have declared there is a contradiction with and Genesis 3: 4 are two contradictory state­ the statements of Paul on “salvation by

14 (ISO) The Preacher's Magazine faith,” but when read with understanding, apostles bore the following many names: there is a glorious harmony between them. Simon, Simeon, Peter, Cephas, Simon Pe­ They only present a different aspect of the ter, Simon Bar-Jona, and Simon son of same great truth. Jonas. Thus we may find Joseph, Barsabas, and Justus meaning the same person. 4. Then we must not forget that different authors may have different plans in ar­ Some discrepancies have appeared in our ranging their materials and also different version, when in fact none really existed in objectives in choosing the material to be thus the original. This has been due to the fact differently arranged. Thus we have Isaiah that the translators used the same English and Micah, two prophets in the Old Testa­ word to represent several original terms. ment, using almost the same words in re­ For example, in Luke 13: 24 and in 2 Timo­ gard to beating swords into plowshares. thy 2: 24, two distinct words in the Greek We should not misapply this comfort given are rendered “strive.” It will help us when to God’s people by placing the fulfillment we remember that the term used in Luke into some distant future beyond the last should have been rendered “agonize.” There days. Also, there are different methods of are a few obsolete words found in the King reckoning time; one may use solar time James version which have been corrected and another lunar. One writer may ar­ in the revised version. Thus we find the range his material with a chronological view, word “prevent” which should be “precede.” another in harmony of ideas. Matthew plans A study of the Greek, and also some of the his Gospel with the King and His kingdom more modern translations will greatly help idea, while John feels called to bring forth us to make clear the thought of the original. the divine personality and Sonship of his Lord and Master. 6. Also, there have crept into the manu­ 5. Neither should we forget the differ­ scripts some errors and interpolations. These ences between the Oriental and Occidental have been discovered in searching the vari­ mind, and the varied methods of speech in ous manuscripts which are in existence and expressing their thoughts. A neglect at this noting the marginal readings in disputed point will often cause one to fall into grave places. But with the seventy-two elders error. The intense imagination of the Ori­ sent from Jerusalem to Alexandria three ental mind and the glowing ardor often ex­ hundred years before Christ to work to­ press the thoughts in hyperbolical and ex­ gether in the production of the Greek ver­ travagant diction, while the more conserva­ sion termed the Septuagint, and the many tive mind tends to a more subdued manner scholars who worked to give us the King of speech. James translation in English, and the ardu­ ous toil of translators of the English and Then we should be aware of this fact, American revised versions, together w'ith that different names are sometimes used all the more modern scholarship working on for the same person and object. The East­ all the old text and various translations; we ern custom is to sometimes apply many may rest assured that we have a gloriously names to the same person, also to the same inspired Bible, when we compare the trans­ thing. It is stated that in the Arabic there lation with so little change of real meaning are one thousand different words or names in various productions. for “sword,” five hundred for the lion, two hundred for serpent, four hundred for mis­ No sincere student should be disturbed fortune, and eighty for honey. It is also over the contention of errors or discrepan­ stated that the Hebrew language has as cies. Men of devout minds have made a many as fifty words denoting a body of life study of Hebrew and its kindred branch­ water of some kind, and that there are es and changes made in the languages, dug eighteen Hebrew words used to express diligently into the Hebrew and Greek roots, different kinds of prickly shrubs or weeds read and pondered over dusty manuscripts, which may be found in the Hebrew Scrip­ searched with untiring labors over the new tures. Genesis is said to give some eight discoveries in papyrus paper of more re­ different Hebrew terms for counsel, twelve cent years for new and advanced light; and for darkness, thirty-two for destruction, ten now they come forth with convictions that for law, and twenty-three for wealth. The the greatest miracle of all is the divine fact that various names are given for indi­ providence which has guarded our Holy viduals is very similar. Thus we find Jacob Scriptures and preserved them to us so and Israel, Edom and Esau, Gideon and full of moral and spiritual values, with Jerubbaal, Hoshea and Oshea, Jehoshua and hardly the smell of destroying flame on Joshua. We well remember that one of the their pages.

May-June, 1943 (151) 15 7. We would modestly suggest that dog­ which prove the Bible declarations as trust­ matic prejudice has entered into much of worthy. these criticisms of this limited number of 5. There is a growing swing back to the seeming discrepancies, which have thus been Bible as authority. We are now in the ris­ magnified beyond all reason. Some of these ing tide of greater interest in the inspired learned writers, desiring to be perfectly Word of God. Lovers of our Holy Scrip­ frank, have provoked unwittingly more tures have nothing to fear from research in doubt than was intended, but no little dam­ the field of archaeology or world literature. age has been done nevertheless. But many The Bible has come forth from the furnace of their writings are fast passing away in of criticism without a burned leaf, and the dawn of late discoveries. shines with a clearer light to criticize the critics. Many men of scholarship have S e e m i n g D iscrepancies G r o u n d f o r C o m f o r t openly confessed their change of front and We may ask, Has there been any good now are coming back to the sane and safe come out of this discussion over the criti­ position of high esteem of our Holy Scrip­ cisms of our Holy Bible? We answer in the tures. affirmative, for we fully believe that much good has come from these criticisms, arid + the Holy Scriptures stand forth today in a much clearer light than ever. 1. We may say that it has awakened a I Am Calling You more thorough study of the Bible in its rev­ elation of truth, in its literature, and use­ I am a necessity to all who prize peace, fulness. More Bibles are being sold than progress and purity. ever, and the Bible has become the most I am hung about with sweetest memories— popular Book in all universal reading. memories of glad boys and happy girls, 2. This discussion has given a more com­ memories of beautiful brides, memories of plete understanding of the authors of our saintly mothers, memories of grandfathers Holy Scriptures and their lives, and also it who slowly groped their way down the has given a better understanding of the long, long trail. processes of nature. It has caused men of I am decked with loving tears, crowned learning to dig into the customs of the an­ by happy hands and aided by heroic hearts. cient world and thus adjust many ques­ I live in the beckoning visions of the tions; also it has brought to light hidden young and in the backward dreams of the facts of towns and cities hitherto unknown, old. proving the truthfulness of the Word of I lift up the fallen, relieve the burdened, God. strengthen the weak, help the distressed. I 3. The discussion has brought forth able show mercy to the man in purple and fine men of scholarship who have thus been in­ linen, and bestow kindness on the man in spired to come to the defense of the Bible homespun and cotton. as the Truth of God. Such men as Dr. Orr I bestow gifts that neither gold can buy, of Scotland, Urquart, Raven, McDill, Green, nor kings remove. These are given to all Ramsey, and a host of others. who seek them in sincerity. 4. This discussion has awakened a deep I restore to defeated hearts the freshness, interest in men of financial strength, who the eagerness and the spirit of conquering have provided funds for archaeological re­ courage. search which has done much to sustain the I am the heaven-sent agent through which truthfulness of the Word of God. There are the divine Christ sends His saving gospel to few if any archaeologists who have joined sinning, suffering, sordid, selfish souls. the ranks of the “higher critics” so-called. I am calling you! And, new discoveries are coming every year I AM THE CHURCH.—The Voice.

jsacnmniimal

■ In o u r p r e a c h i n g we must teach the Word of God, that He always is and will be, the Word that the poor, wicked children of men will always need. We must keep our preaching pure and not mix it with any national motives. Now we can only trust that Christ Himself will support us with His power if we bring the one gospel, pure and un­ changed to the congregation and to the world.—K . K o o p m a n s , Holland.

16 (152) The Preacher's Magazine • The essence of the sanctified life is the Christ-life instead of the self-life, says the author in this third article of a series on .. .

Sanctification in the New Testament

Ralph Earle, Jr.

Earlier Epistles of Paul “Holiness, the result of sanctification, com­ prehends the whole life in and from the 1. F i r s t T hessalonians . Spirit.” The two letters which Paul wrote to Thes- Paul’s desire is that the Thessalonian be­ salonica are not burdened heavily with the­ lievers may appear before Christ at His ology. They are pre-eminently practical. coming unblamable in the sphere of holiness. But it is interesting to note in this connec­ There may be blame attached to them on tion that we find a large number of passages other scores, because of mistakes due to hu­ in these epistles bearing directly on the sub­ man frailties. But in the realm of moral ject of sanctification. Evidently Paul viewed purity they are to be unblamable. the doctrine of sanctification primarily from But this blamelessness is “before our God.” the practical point of view. It is not to be expected that even the most There are two passages in First Thessa­ saintly Christian will be able to escape all lonians which are especially striking. Both criticism from men. But in the sight of are in the form of a prayer, a phenomenon God, at the bar of divine judgment, he can rather common in Paul’s writings. In his stand pure in heart and soul, unblamable letters to his churches he frequently alter­ before God. nates between prayer and praise, or inter­ It appears from verse twelve that the sperses these with rebuke and exhortation means of establishment in this state of holi­ for his readers. We see the frequent inter­ ness is a constant increasing and abounding play of various emotions on the heart of in mutual love. Holiness and love are the great apostle. united in the character of God and cannot And so Paul prays for the Thessalonian be divorced in the life of the Christian. Love Christians: is the best expression of holiness. No one And the Lord make you to increase and can retain holiness long who does not love. abound in love one toward another, and He who increases most in love “toward all toward all men, even as w e do toward you; men” will most surely be established in hol­ to the end he may stablish your hearts un- iness. This seems to be the teaching of this blameable in holiness before God, even our passage. Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Our second passage tells us that God is Christ with all his saints (3: 12, 13) . the author of our holiness. Paul prays God The second passage “is like unto it.’’ At to “sanctify” the Thessalonians “wholly.” the close of the epistle Paul writes: The verb “sanctify” here is in the aorist And the God of peace himself sanctify you tense. We have already noted the aorist wholly; and may your spirit and soul and does not “prove” momentary action. But body be preserved entire, without blame, at we can certainly say, negatively, that the the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faith­ nonuse of another tense is argument against ful is he that calleth you, who will also do a progressive process, unless a definite state­ it (5: 23, 24 R.V.). ment be found for such an idea. It is interesting to note that both of these The word “wholly” in the Greek occurs passages strike the eschatological note which only here in the New Testament. • Robert­ is distinctive of these epistles. Paul is con­ son says of it: cerned that his Thessalonian converts shall Here it means the whole of each of you, be found “without blame” when Christ every part of you, “through and through” comes for His Church. (Luther), qualitatively rather than quanti­ The word translated “holiness” in the first tatively. citation is hagiosune, the state resulting J. V. Bartlet, in his article on “Sanctifica­ from sanctification. Boise, following Thayer, tion,” has a very illuminating discussion of defines it as “moral purity.” Another writes, these two passages. He says:

May-June, 1943 (153) 17 There is a state possible in Christians, cor­ The term “salvation” in this passage evi­ responding to the ideal oj their calling, in dently refers to final salvation, which comes, which they can be described as “unblamable to use Weymouth’s phrase, by “the Spirit’s in holiness,” and into which they may be sanctifying influence.” God has not only brought by the grace of God in this life. chosen us to initial salvation—what we com­ Therein they stand hallowed through and monly term “conversion.” He, from the through, every part of their being abiding beginning, chose us unto eternal salvation, by grace in a condition fit to bear the scru­ and this salvation is ours if we yield our­ tiny of their Lord’s presence without re­ selves to the Spirit’s sanctifying power and buke. Such is the teaching of 1 Thessaloni- believe the truth. A Spirit-filled, Bible-lov­ ans 3:13; 5:23. (Hastings Dictionary of the ing Christian need not feel concerned about Bible, IV, 393.) his eternal salvation. The ethical implication of sanctification is stressed in a third passage in this first III. F i r s t C o r i n t h i a n s . epistle. The fourth chapter begins with an Soon after Paul had left Corinth an elo­ exhortation to walk in a way that will be quent preacher named Apollos had followed well pleasing to God. Paul then goes on to him in the pastorate there. Many of the relate the believer’s conduct to his sanctifi­ Christians had been captivated by his ora­ cation. tory and pleasing personality. Others stood For this is the will of God, even your sanc­ loyal to Paul as the founder and father of tification, that ye abstain from fornication; the church. Still others declared themselves that each of you know how to possess him­ for Peter, the leader of the apostles after self of his own vessel in sanctification and Pentecost. A fourth group evidently prided honor, not in the passion of lust, even as itself on superior spirituality. Its members the Gentiles who know not God; that no were the true followers of Christ. man transgress, and wrong his brother in the matter: because the Lord is the avenger in When Paul heard that these various all these things, as also we forewarned you groups were quarreling in the church at and testified. For God called us not for un­ Corinth he immediately wrote them a warn­ cleanness, but in sanctification. Therefore ing letter. He did not hesitate to assert his he that rejecteth, rejecteth not man, but apostolic authority over a church which he God, who giveth his Holy Spirit unto you had founded. He was ready to come to (4: 38, R.V.). them with a rod, if necessary (4: 21). It is necessary to keep in mind the pagan One of the surprising things about this background of the Thessalonian Christians, epistle is the way in which the apostle greets in order to understand these admonitions. It these Corinthian Christians. He calls them would appear that these believers needed “sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit to saints” (1: 2). This sounds strangely like keep them clean in their lives. The pagan a contradiction of his language in the third life about them was so low and wicked that chapter, where he calls them “ carnal” three they needed a mightier force within them times. Instead of being spiritual, they were to combat the evil all around. fleshly. How are we to reconcile these In order that each one may be kept from passages? How can the people who are de­ all kinds of moral impurity, God wills our scribed in this epistle be called “sanctified” sanctification. A few held that God’s will is and “saints”? “That ye may abstain from fornication,” It is evident that the term “having been making “your sanctification” parenthetic. sanctified” (perfect passive participle) is But almost all scholars are agreed that not equivalent to the expression we studied “your sanctification” is in apposition with in Thessalonians, “sanctify through and “the will of God.” It is God’s will that we through.” Those Corinthian Christians were should be sanctified, in order that we may a long way from perfection either in love or live a holy life. in moral character and conduct! They cer­ tainly were not “sanctified” in the sense in II. S e c o n d T hessalonians . which that term is generally used. There is only one reference to sanctifica­ What did Paul mean, then, by such ex­ tion in Paul’s second letter to the Thessa­ pressions? With regard to his use of the lonians. He tells them that word “saints” we shall have to maintain . God chose you from the beginning unto that in its widest sense the term includes salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and all Christians. Clearly, the word as used belief of the truth (2: 13 R.V.). here is synonymous with “believers.”

13 (154) The Preacher's Magazine But what of the term “sanctified”? I Or know ye not that your body is a tem­ think that we shall have to grant that it ple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which here means primarily “consecrated to God.” ye have from God? and ye are not your To say that the Corinthian Christians own; for ye were bought with a price: were “holy people” would be to go contrary glorify God therefore in your body (6: 19, to our general conception of Christian holi­ 20 R .V .). ness. They were called “sanctified” here The word translated “temple” in both because they belonged to God. And in a passages is more correctly rendered “sanc­ measure their sanctification had already be­ tuary” in the margin. It is not the whole gun, due to the operations of the Holy Spirit temple enclosure to which reference is made, in their hearts. But clearly they were not but the holy place. Both passages state that sanctified wholly. the Holy Spirit, or Spirit of God, dwells In the thirtieth verse of the first chapter within this temple. It is that which makes we find an interesting combination of ideas. it a sanctuary, a sacred place. Paul writes to the believers at Corinth: In the first of the two scriptures Paul But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who says that God will destroy the one who was made unto us wisdom from God, and destroys His temple. By their schisms some righteousness and sanctification, and re­ of the believers were tending to destroy demption (R .V .). the organism of the church at Corinth. Paul The Revised Version lies much closer to warns them that they should have reverence the Greek in this passage than does the for the sanctuary of God. Authorized. In the latter the four things In the second passage Paul gives his an­ which we receive from God in Christ Jesus swer to any and all antinomians who would are listed together in a balanced construc­ say that it does not make any difference tion. But the Revised follows the Greek what one’s body does, as long as one’s soul in placing wisdom first, in the general state­ is pure. Paul declares that the Christian’s ment. Then righteousness is linked with body is a sanctuary of God, indwelt by the sanctification in the Greek by means of Holy Spirit. Therefore it is to be treated te kai. This is indicated by the punctuation with reverence. As a sacred thing it must in the Revised, and perhaps still better in not be defiled. the margin of the Revised by “both right­ One of the enigmatical passages in First eousness and sanctification and redemption.” Corinthians, of which there are several, con­ That is the literal Greek, although it ap­ tains an interesting use of the words “holy,” pears a trifle awkward in English. and “sanctify.” Paul is discussing the prob­ It appears that the main emphasis of lem of marriage. After advising Christian Paul's statement in this passage is that in husbands or wives to continue living with contrast to the wisdom of men Christ has non-Christian companions, the apostle offers been made wisdom to us from God. And this reason for doing so: this wisdom is particularized as consisting For the unbelieving husband is sanctified of righteousness, sanctification, and redemp­ in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is tion. sanctified in the brother: else were your The last of these, redemption, is evidently children unclean; but now are they holy climactic and inclusive. That is, our right­ (7: 14 R.V.). eousness and sanctification will culminate in What does Paul mean by saying that an a complete redemption, of which they are unbelieving husband is sanctified by a be­ parts or phases. The final purpose of lieving wife? Robertson’s comment seems Christ’s word is to redeem us fully. reasonable and to the point. He says: In two passages in First Corinthians Paul uses the figure of the temple for believers. Clearly he only means that the marriage In the first he declares that the Christians relation is sanctified so that there is no are a temple of God. Evidently he means need of a divorce. If either husband or wife the Corinthian Christians as a group. is a believer and the other agrees to re­ main, the marriage is holy and need not be Know ye not that ye are a temple of God set aside. and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? But whatever may be the meaning of If any man destroyeth the temple of God, Paul’s statement here, one thing seems cer­ him shall God destroy; for the temple of tain. The sanctification which he postu­ God is holy, and such are ye (3: 16, 17 R.V.). lates as resulting from the marriage rela­ The second passage states that the body tionship is formal, rather than ethical. It of the individual believer is a temple of would be absurd, in the face of numberless God. cases in actual life, to claim that an unsaved

May-June, 1943 (155) 19 husband is, by virtue of his union with a It would appear from this verse that sanc­ Christian wife, sanctified in any real and tification is something that requires human moral sense. co-operation. A person cannot be holy in The same thing could be said of the term heart unless he keeps his outward life and “holy” as applied to the children of such his thought life clean. Holy living is not parents. That children are made morally an automatic type of existence. It requires holy by having Christian parents, or parent, constant watching and praying, guarding is denied by the lives of thousands of such ourselves against contamination from the offspring. No one would question the sanc­ sin about us. The holiest saints have always tifying influence of a Christian home. But emphasized this. Adam Clarke says that the environment does not change the heart. “perfecting holiness” means: Only the direct application of the grace of God can do that. Probably Boise is correct Getting the whole mind of Christ brought in interpreting the term “holy” here ( hagia) into the soul. This is the grand object of a as meaning “sacred.” Robertson suggests genuine Christian’s pursuit. The means of that the word for “unclean” might well be accomplishing this are, (1) Resisting and rendered “illegitimate.” avoiding sin, in all its inviting and seducing There is one more passage in First Corin­ forms. (2) Setting the fecur of God before thians in which the term “sanctified” occurs. our eyes, that we may dread His displeasure, After giving a list of gross sinners, Paul and abhor whatever may excite it. says: And such were some of you: but ye were V. G a l a t i a n s . washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus The main theme of the Epistle to the Ga­ Christ, and in the Spirit of our God (6: 11 latians is justification by faith, in opposition R.V.). to justification by works of the law. But The order of the words in this text seems Paul also deals here with the subject which odd. The meaning would seem to be that we are investigating. He propounds and de­ they repented of their sins and forsook fends his doctrine of sanctification through them. They washed (aorist middle) their the Spirit. Just as doing the works of the lives, outwardly and inwardly, of sinful law is utterly unavailing for our justifica­ acts, thoughts, and motives. Having done tion so it is also for our sanctification. this, they were consecrated to God to be The first passage in this epistle that ap­ His property, and then they were justified pears to bear on our subject is the twentieth by God. These would be the steps in con­ verse of the second chapter. It is much version. We have seen people forsake their more definite, as well as accurate, in the sinful habits and associates, when the con­ Revised than in the Authorized. viction of the Holy Spirit seized them. Then they gave themselves to God and experi­ I have been crucified with Christ; and it enced His pardoning grace. Adam Clarke is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in confuses things by making justification fol­ me: and that life which I now live in the low baptism. flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave IV. S e c o n d C o r i n t h i a n s . himself up for me (R.V.). Second Corinthians is singularly free from Paul’s crucifixion was personal. He says, references to sanctification. But in the first “No longer does the ego [Greek word for verse of the seventh chapter there occurs “I” ] live, but Christ has taken the place of a phrase which is pertinent to our subject. the ego.” Having therefore these promises, beloved, This is the essence of the sanctified life. let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement It is the Christ-life instead of the self-life. of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the Sanctification involves the complete accept­ fear of God (R.V.). ance of the will of God for one’s life. “Not The verb “cleanse” is in the (hortatory) my will, but thine be done,” is the prayer aorist subjunctive. That would imply that of the sanctified heart at all times, as it was Paul is calling upon these Christians for im­ the prayer of Him who had just said, “And mediate action. Let us cleanse ourselves at for their sakes I sanctify myself” (John 17: once, in view of these promises. 19). The participle “perfecting” is in the pres­ How may one know that his self has been ent tense, which indicates continuous action. crucified? It seems to me that the main Having cleansed ourselves, let us go on test is a complete and continued attitude of perfecting holiness. submission to the will of God. As long as

20 (156) The Preacher's Magailn* one asserts his own will against the known Verily I say unto you, Except ye turn, will of God, he may well question whether and become as little children, ye shall in no he has experienced the crucifixion of self u-ise enter into the kingdom of heaven. which Paul claims to have had. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself It would appear, that one of the conten­ as this little child, the same is the greatest tions of the Judaizers was that, while the in the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 18: 3, 4 Galatians may have been justified by faith R.V.). in Christ, yet if they wanted to go on to How may one avoid the works of the perfection they must observe carefully all flesh and grow the fruit of the Spirit in his the external requirements of the law. life? Paul has a definite answer to that Paul’s retort is pointed. He makes short question, found in verse sixteen. work of such nonsense. But 1 say, Walk by the Spirit, and ye Are ye so foolish [lit., senseless] ? having shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (R .Y .). begun in the Spirit are ye now perfected in Must the conflict with carnality continue the flesh? (3: 3 R.V.). throughout life? That has been the con­ Sanctification is not a matter of outward tention of a host of preachers and writers. observance of a legal code. It is the word We are told that as long as we are in the of the Holy Spirit in the heart of the body we shall never escape the sharp and Christian, sanctifying his dispositions and at least intermittent struggle between the affections, making him holy in thought and flesh and the Spirit. motive and attitude. Legalism produced the It seems to me that Paul has already fur­ Pharisees, who were the objects of Christ’s nished us with a categorical answer to that most scathing denunciations. It is the Holy question in the sixteenth verse, quoted Spirit who has produced the saintly char­ above. He says that if we walk by the acters of the Christian Church. Spirit, we shall not fulfill the desires of the In the fifth chapter of Galatians, verses flesh. In verse seventeen Paul is describ­ sixteen to twenty-five, Paul draws a sharp ing the condition of the Galatian Christians contrast between “the works of the flesh” in his portrait of the mutual conflict be­ and “the fruit of the Spirit.” In the former tween the flesh and the Spirit. But he tells catalog are listed the basest and most de­ the Galatians how that struggle may be grading things of life. In the latter are ended in victory for them. By following found the finest and most uplifting ideals the Spirit fully they would be saved from of human life. the flesh and its domination. Love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control Findlay has a pertinent comment on this (R.V.). question, which I shall quote in closing our The noblest in Roman philosophy and study of Galatians. Speaking of the flesh culture was summed up in Stoicism. The and Spirit, he writes: Stoics started with self-control as their They can never come to terms with each foundation stone and added faithfulness, other, nor dwell permanently in the same kindness, long-suffering, and perhaps peace. being. Sin must be extirpated, or the Holy But they never experienced in large meas­ Spirit will finally depart. The struggle must ure the wonders of love and joy. come to a definite issue. Human character And there was one virtue upon which tends every day to a more determinate form; none of the ancients placed a very high pre­ and an hour comes in each case when the mium. Meekness was not popular in the victory of flesh or spirit is irrevocably fixed, pagan world of Christ’s day. Certainly when “the filthy” will henceforth "be filthy none of the Roman heroes were examples of still” and “the holy, holy still” (Rev. 22: 11). it. And yet every student of the teachings The secret of victory lies in a conscious of Jesus knows full well that Christ makes and complete surrender of our whole per­ meekness both basic and central in the sonality to the Spirit of God, to be led by Christian reconstruction of life. Him in “the way of holiness.”

In my view of the life, the teachings, the labors and the sufferings of the blessed Jesus, there can be no admiration too profound; no love of which the human heart is capable too warm; no gratitude too deep of which He is justly the object.—W i l l i a m C u l l e n B r y a n t .

May-June. 1943 (157) 21 • Three vital phases of the preacher's task— prophet, priest and shepherd— are discussed in this and two succeeding lectures—

The Preacher as Prophet

J. Glenn Gould

HE manifold aspects of the work of In fact, I am satisfied that the prophetic the Christian minister are set forth in aspect of the preacher’s task transcends in T the Word of God under a number of significance and importance both the priest­ different figures, the chief of them being ly and pastoral aspects of that ministry, im­ those of prophet, priest and shepherd. portant as these other aspects are. It is no The office of prophet is popularly regarded light responsibility that rests upon the man as pertaining only to the Old Testament era of God who stands before the people to and, consequently, as definitely outmoded speak to them as an ambassador of Jesus today. Such a conception is far from the Christ. His voice is as the voice of God out truth. The office of prophet is a timeless of eternity, and a reverence and sanctity one and is fully as characteristic of the attaches to his utterance which does not in­ Christian dispensation as of any earlier day. vest his daily speech. There is an official There is a general misconception, indeed, as character about the preached word that sets to the nature of the prophetic office. We it in a realm apart. Here is the ministry’s think so often of the prophets as men who most awful and mysterious responsibility. predicted future events; whereas, the bulk God grant us a holy reverence for it. of the prophetic ministry was actually de­ But, having said this, it should be ob­ voted to a setting forth of the will of God served that the preaching of the preacher for the present rather than the future. is not to be a thing isolated from his other That is to say, the prophet was a forth- official responsibilities. In fact, there is the teller rather than a foreteller of the mind closest possible relationship existing among of God toward men. Basically, the verb “to these several activities. His priestly minis­ prophesy” means to bubble forth as an ir­ trations should pave the way for his pro­ resistible fountain. Perhaps the best con­ phetic utterance by preparing mind and crete example of the true spirit of prophecy heart for the reception of a message from is found in that remarkable passage in the God. And his pastoral activities should twentieth chapter of Jeremiah. The proph­ strengthen and buttress the truths incul­ et, in a mood of depression, undertakes cated by his faithful preaching of the Word. to silence his own voice and speak no more These three phases of his one holy task are in God’s name; but, he says, “His word was related intimately and organically as are in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in faith, hope and charity. But there is a my bones, and I was weary with forbear­ greatest among them; and that greatest is ing, and I could not stay.” preaching. Now, something akin to this is the spirit But, to come to grips with the practical of the true preacher of the gospel of Christ. and day-by-day problems connected with There is an inner burning, a holy compul­ preaching, one of the first and most persist­ sion, a mighty and all-but-irresistible im­ ent issues of your life as a preacher will pulse to declare the word of the Lord that turn about the question, What shall I is like pent-up fire within the soul. St. preach? The pastor is confronted week John, in the “Revelation,” declares that “the after week with the necessity for preparing testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy”; at least two sermons. There must be texts and as embodied in the impassioned utter­ and themes determined, and creative effort ance of a truly inspired preacher of Christ, must be expended. With many men it seems that statement is supremely true. The to be an effortless grinding out of a grist Christian minister must be, therefore, a to prepare that weekly utterance. With prophet in the truest sense, speaking forth others—and, I fancy, with most of us at the word of the Lord in truth and sober­ times—those two preaching appointments ness. may seem like bloodhounds pursuing one

22 (158) The Preacher's Magazine and certain to overtake one by Sunday next, such an extent that we are seriously in with no hope of escape. danger of falling under the condemnation we pass upon the ancients. In my own A l­ Why does the necessity for coming ma Mater, within recent years, a doctor of through with those two sermons ever seem philosophy dissertation was accepted on the like drudgery? Theoretically it should not subject: “Sex Expression in Cucumbers.” and, as a rule, indeed it does not. Why, No doubt the fledgling Ph.D. was concerned then, should this ever be true? The reason with the love life of a pickle, or something is not difficult to ascertain. Every preacher equally unimportant. Beware the sin of has moments of clear insight, times when trifling in the pulpit. But rather choose the his thought is inspired and creative. And big themes with which the Word of God is every preacher has times of mental sluggish­ replete. ness, when his thought bogs down and his chariot wheels drag heavily. It is a sober For one thing, preach doctrine. There is fact—and every preacher knows it—that a popular fallacy prevailing among preach­ there are times when truth stands out clear ers generally that the preaching of doctrine as crystal and sermon suggestions come is unpalatable to the modern audience and tumbling over each other into the mind. should be carefully avoided. As a result, There are other times when the mental we have a lot of church members across the garden is as dry as Sahara and it seems land—I speak of the church at large—who that no message could be conjured up by have no conception of the grandeur and any possible device. In view of this, there sublimity of Christian truth. They have no is only one sage counsel to give. Husband idea what Christianity really stands for, the output of your inspired moments against and it is no surprise to find them living the day when your mind seems a sandy and like men of the world. Never be afraid of barren waste. The product of those days of doctrine. Never allow yourself to be per­ inspiration may serve to irrigate your suaded that your people have had too much thought in the dry time and prove a savior of it, or even enough of it. Because you of life and spirit when drouth is upon you. minister in a church that is dedicated to the preaching of the “second blessing prop­ Preaching should not be left solely to the erly so-called,” do not believe for a moment inspiration of the day, the hour or the mo­ that all of your people are sufficiently fa­ ment. The preacher who trusts for guid­ miliar with this glorious teaching, and no ance only on the passing inspirations, or longer require line upon line and precept apparent inspirations, which come to him upon precept. I implore you, go out to will find his mind playing tricks on him. preach the doctrine and experience of en­ Before he knows it, he will be limiting his tire sanctification. Root it deeply into the selection of themes to the interests that lie Word of God. False doctrine is sweeping nearest to his heart and will be giving his the land, and is based upon a mistaken or people poorly balanced spiritual rations. partial understanding of the Word of God. The only way I know to avoid this inevitable Inform your people’s minds with truth, and tendency is to plot your course of preaching build them up in righteousness and true over a period of, say, six months, or even a holiness. But entire sanctification is only year. Such a course of projected preach­ one of many glorious doctrines of the Word ing should not lay any man open to the of God. Preach them all, and never believe charge of pulpit formalism. In fact, right­ for a moment that any one of them is a ly employed, such a method permits the mere verbal quibble. widest of latitude for the Spirit’s direct guidance and inspiration. And, of course, In the second place, preach practically. the whole program can be overturned if Even though your head may at times be in and when the will of God indicates that it the clouds, keep your feet on the ground. should be. Relate your preaching to the daily needs When it comes to the selection of pulpit of men’s lives. Sitting before you are men themes, it is a bit difficult to give direct and women whose fondest ambitions have advice. But at least one thing should be been cruelly thwarted; whose most dearly said. Do not ever spend time on trifles cherished hopes have been remorselessly when you get up to preach. We laugh to­ dashed; whose hearts are tempted and tried day at some of the scholastic quibbles of the until heaviness hangs like a pall over their later middle ages; as, for instance, the ques­ souls. Point them to the Saviour and re­ tion of how many angels could stand on the veal to their hearts His constant love. Re­ point of a needle. But in many fields of mind them that the darkness through which learning we today have overspecialized to they pass is as nothing to the inky black­

May-June, 1943 (159) 23 ness through which He groped His way to many times a text treated topically becomes the cross. Some of them may be dead be­ a pretext. It is apt to be wrenched from fore you preach again. Say some word that its contextual setting and wrested in its will be like a beacon light before their souls meaning until in the preacher’s hands it be­ in life’s last hours. comes a strange and wonderful thing. Over in the Chesapeake Bay country there is a In the third place, preach for edification. story quite commonly told of the preacher To edify is to build. Don’t be a building whose fire gave more heat than light, who wrecker, but be a construction engineer. once selected for a text a portion of Luke I have heard so much of discourtesy and 19: 21, which reads, “ Thou art an austere tongue-lashing in the pulpit passing for man.” However, he misread his text: “Thou straight preaching that I feel impelled to art an oyster man,” and proceeded to deal in utter a word of caution. Don’t be a bone- varnished language with the “oyster men,” scraper unless you know beyond all possi­ many of whom sat before him. But we ble peradventure that the operation is neces­ have all heard such perversions of the sary and you are the man to do it. Bone scripture, less ludicrous perhaps but equally surgery is very delicate business. But reprehensible, from men who ought to have preach to edify men and strengthen them learned better. If you would stick closely and make them more Christlike. Have faith to truth, therefore, you would do well to in the truth. It has in it plenty of abrasive avoid topical sermons. element without the introduction of any crude human emery of home manufacture. My own favorite form of treatment might The Word of God can do some first-rate be called the textual-expository method. cutting on its own account. Believe in it, It consists in dealing with a passage of and preach it in the confidence that God scripture which may cover a number of will send it home to the hearts for whom it verses, but which leads up into one lucid, is intended. meaningful phrase, statement or verse. Use that focal spot as your text and then re­ Never turn your pulpit into a coward’s late the entire passage to it. You will end castle by saying to the whole congregation by having given an exposition of a fairly words which are intended for some particu­ complete thought from the Word, and will lar individual. If you do not have the cour­ have avoided the discursiveness that is apt age to deal with the individual privately, to accompany mere running comment. I let him go without being dealt with; which commend that form of sermon building to is another way of saying that no man should your thoughtful and prayerful consideration. ever preach at people. It is a cowardly and (To be continued) inexcusable thing to do. There is one emphasis which must per­ + vade all of one’s ministry, and that is the evangelistic emphasis. This is another way of saying, preach with the purpose of win­ The Book of Romans ning men to God. The sermon is never an end in itself. Its only worth lies in its Chrysostom had it read to him once each instrumental value. It is designed not to week. tickle men’s ears and lead them to exclaim, Melanchthon copied it twice with his own “What great preaching that is!” but to grap­ hand, in order to become better acquainted ple with men’s hearts and win a decision with it. for Jesus Christ. Dr. T. H. Pattison’s great Luther called it the chief book of the New definition of preaching should never be for­ Testament, and the perfect gospel. gotten. “Preaching,” he said, “is the spoken Coleridge regarded it as the profoundest communication of divine truth with a view book in existence. to persuasion.” Note particularly those last Sir William Ramsey referred to it as the five words—“with a view to persuasion.” philosophy of history. That is your job—to persuade men. Our Godet spoke of it as the cathedral of best preaching is ineffective until men have Christian faith. done something about it. Dr. David Bacon said that the faith of Christendom in its best periods has been Once the text and theme have been de­ more indebted to this epistle than to any termined, the preacher must decide upon other portion of the Living Oracles. the character of his presentation. It is my Dr. W. H. Griffith Thomas asserted that a judgment that the preacher should avoid, thorough study of Romans is a theological so far as possible, the topical sermon. Too education in itself.—Free Methodist.

24 (160) The Preacher's Magazine • A n intimate study of the life of that great preacher, John Wesley. whom the author calls . . .

The Preacher’s Preacher

E. Wayne Stahl

OHN WESLEY, having had to wait on a that the wonderful career of Generalissimo man who was late in keeping an appoint­ Chiang Kai-shek, who is being used as the J ment, exclaimed lamentingly, “There are liberator of China, is primarily due to his ten minutes lost forever.” This same John taking a considerable portion of time each Wesley for more than fifty years took an morning to commune with the Captain of hour in the morning and an hour in the the heavenly armies. evening to be alone with God. If great men like these three or four to Such noble avarice of time, such profuse­ whom I have alluded found it imperative, ness in spending it in private devotions, ex­ in the midst of busy-nesses of which we plain, under the dynamics of the Holy can hardly have any conception, to take so Spirit, the amazing, the incredible achieve­ much time in secret prayer, how much ments of this “man sent from God whose more it is necessary for us in our circum­ name was John.” As Luther was the trans­ scribed spheres to learn the mighty lesson cendent figure of the sixteenth century, so of giving a generous part of our time each Wesley was the dominating personality of day to this power-begetting habit! the eighteenth. And Luther once said, “I So profitable did Wesley find his extensive am so terrifically busy today that I must times of devotion that he urged his preach­ take an hour or two more in private prayer.” ers to follow his example, and give an hour To use an expression of Oliver Cromwell, every morning and an hour every evening both these mighty religious commanders to Bible reading and supplication in secret. “kneeling came to glory” and power and He exhorted them to rise very early in the victory. morning for their beginning devotions. Did Here was “the hiding of his power,” by he have in mind, offering this advice, the which this son of the Epworth parsonage action of Christ recorded in Mark 1: 35? tremendously and beneficially changed the Closely connected with the liberal quan­ history of the world; because he prevailed tity of time he allowed for prayer was his with God in the prayer closet, he prevailed thrift of time when he emerged from his with men as a master of assemblies and as period of waiting on the Lord. He once an organizer and administrator. confessed, “Leisure and I have parted com­ I am fully persuaded that, after the bap­ pany; I propose to be busy as long as I tism of the Holy Spirit, this is the supreme live.” Although he labored long before the consideration for the minister of today, line was written, he gloriously lived up to taking an adequate amount of time to wait the words, “Give to each flying moment upon the Lord in the secret place. Every something to keep in store.” Perhaps the minister knows the appalling pull of things author of the inciting song—“Work for the to be done as a faithful pastor and preacher. Night Is Coming,” from which this quota­ Unlike Luther, he sometimes is tempted to tion is taken, received his inspiration for say, “I have so much to attend to today writing it from a survey of Wesley’s cease­ that I must scant my praying.” God give less industry. Truly he could say, “I must us grace that we may know the healing work the works of him that sent me, while of this error! it is day: the night cometh, when no man There is wisdom from above whereby the can work.” It seems to me that once realiz­ preacher can reconcile the antinomy of the ing the urgency of “redeeming the time” hands of Martha and the heart of Mary. It (“buying up the opportunity” is a literal is my belief that the world would hardly translation of this passage), he quoted the have heard of John Wesley if it had not words: been for those two hours he spent daily Ever at m y back I hear in the presence of God. I am also certain Time's hurrying chariot drawing near.

May-June, 1943 (161) 25 Such a holy concern did Wesley have for In a chest of drawers at our house was the improvement of their time by his one compartment into which I had dumped preachers that his very first rule, in his ad­ clippings, papers, old letters, and various vice to them, was, “Be diligent. Never be odds and ends. That drawer became so unemployed. Never be triflingly employed. surfeited that it hardly seemed possible to Never trifle away time; neither spend any get in much more. But one day I sat down more time at any place than is strictly neces­ and rearranged all those contents, having sary.” a place for each one; then, although I had not removed any article permanently, there What noble mandates! How the giver of was abundance of space for everything that them first embodied them in his own life! had before been in the compartment. I had, Somewhere he specifically suggests that an if you will permit me to coin a word, wesley- hour is sufficiently long for a social con­ ized that drawer. That principle applies tact. In this respect Wesley proved to be not only to space, but also to time. that “good divine,” to whom Portia refers, “who follows his own instructions.” Samuel Wesley's beautiful and inspiring parsi­ Johnson said of him, “He enchants you with mony of time was closely related to his in­ his conversation, but all too soon he must dustry as a student. So frugal was he in leave and go and call on some old woman. the economizing of minutes and hours that As for me, I like to fold my legs and have he sealed up one side of the carriage in my talk out.” The delights of society had which he traveled over England and made not such power over him as did the delights a bookshelf and desk out of it. In this of duty. itinerating study he read and wrote inces­ But with all his appreciation of the in­ santly. He had a Bible precedent for this estimable value of time he never would have reading; it was that of the traveling officer accomplished the enormous amount of work of the Ethiopian queen whom Philip, the credited to him, if he had not “budgeted evangelist, heard reading aloud from the his time.” Wesley was system incarnate. Book of Isaiah (Acts 8: 27, 28). One of the members of the Holy Club at What an immense amount of reading a Oxford, he and the others were nicknamed preacher can get in by always carrying a “Methodists” because they did everything book with him when he travels by bus or in their day’s activities according to a plan train. I know a certain preacher who never or method. In a very literal sense, he w-as would think of leaving his home on a trip, a method-ist to the end of his life. Every short or long, without having some worth­ day and each hour of the day had its al­ while volume in his hand or bag, any more lotted task; with a dynamic will he “planned than he would think of departing without his work and worked his plan.” Never was his hat or coat. Years ago, when Russell a man more systematic, and this is the Conwell, who achieved renown by his lec­ principle of achievement along any line. tures, “Acres of Diamonds,” worked in Bos­ I once talked with a man who had taken ton and lived in Somerville, a suburb of the an expensive course of instruction in ef­ Massachusetts metropolis, he mastered four ficiency. He told me that this was the or five languages by using for study the central secret of that instruction, “Keep an time he spent traveling between these places. account of how you spend every minute of Wesley, the student, would have had his your time.” preachers to be students. He offered them this counsel, “Read the most useful books, One of the most prized books in my li­ and that regularly and constantly. Steadily brary is Philip Gilbert Hammerton’s “The spend all the morning in this employment, Intellectual Life.” (It is worth its weight or at least five hours in the four and twenty. in half dollars to any young preacher.) Contract a taste for reading, or return to Among its practical, fascinating pages is a your former employment.” I am sure that letter, “To a Man of Leisure Who Com­ in Wesley’s copy of Shakespeare, he had plained of Want of Time,” but the title of deeply underlined the words of King Henry this article might have been A Man of In­ VI. (If I recall correctly the name of the cessant Activity Who Exulted in Abundance speaker) who asseverated, “Ignorance is of Leisure. It was because Wesley had the curse of God; knowledge the wing lived up to his resolve, already quoted, that wherewith we fly to heaven.” leisure and he should be strangers, that he was able to write later, “No man has more But with all his enthusiasm for education leisure than have I.” The secret was sys­ for his preachers, he would not have them tematization. put this first. He declared, “Gaining knowl­

26 (162) The Preacher's Magazine edge is a good thing, but saving souls is declare His law as well as His gospel, both better.” He insisted that being the means to believers and unbelievers.” And he con­ of men and women coming in saving con­ cludes such wonderful counsel with this tact with Jesus Christ was in itself a kind significant word, “Let us strongly and close­ of scholastic discipline for the minister, “By ly insist upon inward and outward holiness this very thing you will gain the most ex­ in all its branches.” cellent knowledge, that of God and eternity.” What was this holiness which he ever held He also strongly expressed himself thus, up as the white banner of the King of “We ought to throw by all the libraries in Glory? I will answer this question by a the world rather than be guilty of the loss quotation from W. H. Fitchett’s “Wesley of one soul.” and His Century,” which is, in my opinion, Despite his love for study, he was not the finest life of this heaven-sent man ever forced to lament, as did a certain minister, written. Fitchett says: “Oh, my books! They keep me from The “The doctrine of perfection, as Wesley Book!” For he called himself homo unius taught it, is only the belief that God’s ideals libri (a man of one book). So indefatigably in redemption for the human soul are capa­ did he search the Scriptures that if he ble of being realized here and now. It is could not recall word for word a verse from the doctrine that the highest possibility of the New Testament in the English, he could religion is not struggle merely, but victory; usually remember it in the original Greek. that what God demands, man, with the help He advised his preachers always to have a of God’s grace, may give. The first and Bible about them. He recommended read­ great commandment, that sums up in its ing “all the Bible in order.” Then he ex­ brief syllables, all human duty, is ‘Thou horted that it be read “carefully, with notes; shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy seriously, with prayer before and after; heart, and with all thy soul, and with all fruitfully, immediately practicing what you thy mind.’ Is that to be forever, and for learn there.” Here “are excellent counsels the souls which Christ has redeemed, and in wisdom and knowledge,” both for laymen in which the Holy Spirit dwells, a law un­ and pastors. I do not doubt that Wesley fulfilled? To say this is to assert that the more than once quoted to his preachers the Christian religion, when translated into the great words of Bengel, “Apply yourselves to terms of human life and experience, is a the Book; apply the Book to yourselves.” failure. This is a doctrine which is but a How regally Wesley “preached the Word”! disguised atheism.” His pulpit was a throne. He could say, to With what “transcendent triumph” did use a portion of a statement by the author Wesley live the teaching that Christ can of the Book of Ecclesiastes, “I the Preacher make us superconquerors through His “all was king” (1: 12). There was an authority victorious love!” As he lived in that tri­ about his message - bringing that wrought umph, so he died in it. Not long before his conviction in the minds and hearts of his departure into the “city of the perfect,” he hearers. His princely bearing before an was heard to murmur, as he lay on his bed, audience, the benignity of his look, the weak in body but strong in faith, “There is brightness of his face, his “poise and pow­ no way into the holiest but by the blood of er,” the supernatural something about his Jesus.” He “died well” because he had tones, gave his auditors the impression that that perfect love which casts out fear. here was a man who was in touch with eternity and could tell the way to prepare He insisted that sanctification was a cre­ for it. dential of the call to preach. He declared Giving his helpers definite advice as to that if a man has this call he “will desire “the best general method of preaching,” nothing but God.” He will be “holy in all Wesley has condensed into fifty words the manner of conversation.” This meant of essence of whole volumes of homiletics; course “the second blessing, so called,” as here are golden sentences, worthy of being he characterized it. framed and hung in the study of every de­ I have entitled this article as I do in para­ clarer of the Evangel: phrase of the term given the tuneful Ed­ He avers that this “method” is: (1) To mund Spenser, who has been called “the convince; (2) to offer Christ; (3) to invite; poet’s poet.” Wesley is emphatically the (4) to build up; and to do this in some preacher’s preacher. He was indeed “the measure in every sermon. Then he adds, gift of God” (the meaning of the name "The most effectual way of preaching Christ John) to a sin-enslaved world. He re­ is to preach Him in all His offices; and to vealed divine forces of liberation for the

May-June, 1943 (163) 27 human spirit; this proved him one of the during which he says things that wound supernaturally commissioned emancipators and sear. In his saner moments he may of the world. regret them with all sincerity, but the dam­ England has had four famous Johns; John age is done. Wycliffe, who made a translation of the Unfortunately, preachers are not super­ Scriptures centuries ago; John Milton, who men. Fortunately, the layman usually stands wrote the greatest poem in the English lan­ ready to make allowances for a certain per­ guage; John Bunyan, who produced the centage of humanity on the part of his greatest allegory; and John Wesley, who, pastor. Otherwise the Church would have spiritually, summed up the works of the perished long ago. But when all allowances other three Johns. For he translated the have been made for human frailties, the Bible into a life of service and of love; that fact still remains that the Christian family life was an epic of holiness; it was a vic­ expects its pastor to be different! torious Pilgrim’s Progress from this una­ So delicate is the pastoral relationship biding city of time to “the city that hath that it must be guarded at every turn. It foundations.” is a thing so precious that almost anything He was pre-eminently the preacher’s can be sacrificed in the way of personal preacher, because his sermons were first pride or vanity rather than that it should directed to himself. God give us grace to be impaired. A simple and frank apology, a follow in his train! generous and inclusive forgiveness, and a new expression of trust may be sufficient to save this sacred relationship. Surely this + is little enough to expend for so magnificent a status. “ No, I don’t agree with my preacher,” said a prominent layman who had squirmed Fragile! a bit under the sermon. “But I can’t get angry with him, and I can’t refuse to listen to him. You see, when I was going through Handl e with Care! the blackest hour of my life, with my wife at the point of death in the hospital, he came and sat up all night with me.” That Among all our human relationships there pastor had opened hearts and minds to his is none more beautiful, or more delicate, message by a simple bit of unfeigned and than that which exists between a pastor honest Christian concern. and his people. Based on mutual trust, nurtured by friendly frankness, mellowing Then there was that brilliant preacher, through the years, and sanctified by a holy convincing in his manner and careful about instinct, it is capable of becoming one of his material, who was never able to un­ life’s richest possessions. . . . derstand why he was forever outside the hearts of his people. He did not seem to The pastor enters the home circle on the understand how he was missing his big op­ most sacred occasions—baptism, death, mar­ portunity by not cultivating the pastoral re­ riage, trouble, joy, fortune and misfortune. lationship. . . . His advice is sought on the most intimate subjects—marriage, love, finance, domestic The pastoral relationship is a beautiful relations, child culture, home religion, duty, blend of tact, sincerity, religious faith, per­ conscience, morals. By the very fact that sonal integrity, good humor and open- he is a minister of the gospel the preacher’s mindedness. Anything which dilutes any counsel carries weight far beyond anything one of these qualities will undermine the that might attach to his personal word. preacher’s relationship with his people. Yet the pastoral relationship can be de­ The pastor . . . who expects to be of the stroyed by trifles. A single slight betrayal largest usefulness, and who hopes to gain of trust will do it. A single deviation from the largest personal satisfaction from his strict probity and honor or a single falsi­ work, must stand guard over the preacher fication on the part of the pastor can be in the pulpit, making sure that his words fatal. from that holy place do not destroy his It often happens that the minister himself opportunity as a pastor. . . . wrecks his usefulness in a congregation by Let the pastor remember that, at all a careless appraisal of his pastoral relation­ times, he is to his people the mediator be­ ship. There is the preacher who allows tween men and God.—Editorial (condensed) himself to be lured into a temper tantrum, in The Christian Advocate, July 9, 1942.

28 (164! The Preacher's Magazine The author here endeavors to discuss the virtue and limitations that appear in the field of counseling—

The Minister as a Counselor

J. G. Taylor son

HERE are those—fortunately few in medical school course leading to the degree number—who feel that the only task of M.D. He will then spend from one to T of the minister is that of preaching. four years in specialized study, working in There is no question as to the importance hospitals, clinics and various institutions for of this field. Whatever else may be said the mentally ill. The psychiatrist is a spe­ with reference to the taxing duties of the cialist in his field and although this is a minister of our day it must be said and new science and relatively few facts are said again that if he fails in the pulpit he known, still they have proved themselves has failed! to be invaluable in the field of medical sci­ The field of pastoral counseling is as an­ ence. cient as record. The practice of helping by A term that is used freely today is that advice, guidance, sympathy and encourage­ of “psychoanalysis.” This term suffers a ment, both formally and informally is im­ great deal because of the company it has memorial. Recently, within the last decade, kept. It is a set of doctrines and methods there has come a wave of new interest in originated by Sigmund Freud. Perhaps its this field. Some of the literature that has most distinctive theories are that dreams colored thinking is good; other, useless and are symbolic fulfillment of suppressed de­ far-fetched. With this renewal of emphasis sires and that many mental or emotional has come a rather wholesale practice of so- disturbances can be cured by a prolonged called “pastoral psychiatry.” In this article series of interviews probing the “subcon­ we shall endeavor to discuss the virtue and scious” and “unconscious” mind. Psycho­ limitations that appear in the field of coun­ analysis is accepted and practiced by a seling. number of psychiatrists, psychologists and Whether the pastor desires it or not, he pastors. Many of the books that have been is a counselor. Each day he is asked to written in the field of “pastor counseling” counsel on matters of grave importance to have gone a long way to sponsor this theory the counselee. There is no one who has the among the clergy. We must remember that variation of matters on which he is asked to these are new scientific theories and do not express opinion as does the pastor. Because have the virtue of experience. It might be of this there is no one who affects life’s well to say that although there are some choices more. psychologists who do practice psychoanaly­ First, perhaps, it would be well to clear up sis, there are many more who do not and, as far as possible the meaning of the term in contrast, stand for a minimum of costly “pastor counselor.” Although the term psy­ analysis. chologist is relative, yet in the true sense a The field of “pastor-psychiatrist” is be­ psychologist is a person who, after complet­ coming a highly specialized one and much ing a college education, goes on to do gradu­ attention is now being given to this in the ate work in psychology leading to the de­ larger denominations. Seminary graduates gree of Ph.D. in this field. The shortest are in many cases spending three to six time in which this degree can be obtained months (a few more) at institutions for the is three years full-time study at some uni­ mentally ill where they work in close har­ versity giving degrees in psychology. In mony with physicians. A statement from this general field one will specialize in per­ one of their official papers gives us the end sonal counseling, vocational guidance, busi­ and objective of such study: “It is not the ness psychology, or industrial psychology. aim of the council to teach medicine, psy­ The training is intense, and in the light of chiatry or social work except in so far as this the pastor is not a psychologist. a rudimentary knowledge of the work of Neither is the pastor a psychiatrist. The these professional groups will enable re­ psychiatrist is one who completes a regular ligious leaders to co-operate with them in

May-June, 1943 (185) 29 working toward the more effective allevia­ more effective than methods used by sci­ tion and prevention of the infirmities of ence in dealing with the major difficulty mankind. Students are taught to recognize of personality, namely sin. and make use of their distinctive role and 7. There is no substitute for God! At the function as clergymen, and to recognize close of a term I put the following ques­ problems they should not attempt to deal tion to the instructor, “Is it a remarkable with as well as those with which they coincidence or general fact that is il­ should.” Otis Radcliff Rice who is employed lustrated by those who have come before in St. Luke’s Hospital, New York City, be­ us suffering various mental disorders, sides being a graduate from the Episcopal that each and all had a marked sense of Theological School in Cambridge, Massa­ guilt which seemed to be basic?” I shall chusetts, studied psychology in Cambridge, never forget his answer: “No, it is not England, in Germany and in Boston. Leslie a coincidence, for my personal experi­ Weatherhead, English pastor and writer in ence verifies your observation to the ex­ this field, spent many years of intensive and tent that I can say it is true in almost one highly specialized study before writing his hundred per cent of the cases. I wish I books. knew where it (sense of guilt) came The above is written to lift out one fact. from and what to do with it.” Whatever the worth of this field may or may not be and whatever may come out of 8. We have a high calling in giving to this it in the future, it is certainly not to be tired, broken world a message full of trafficked in by the untrained. The dog­ eternal hope and no matter how relative­ matism with which some speak and write ly important other fields may be or to is self-revealing in its limitations. Spring­ what extent they may captivate our in­ ing up all over the country are self-styled terest, our first call is the presentation “pastor-psychiatrists” who are nothing short of the gospel expresed in words of John of pseudo-psychoanalysts, wishing off their the Baptist, "Behold the Lamb of God, own maladjustments on the weak minds of which taketh away the sin of the world.” others. Personally, after spending a little Before discussing some imperative factors time studying in this field, including, through in effective counseling, let us look at some the kindness of an outstanding psychiatrist, of the limitations and dangers. Always re­ the benefits of three semesters of classroom member that when the end of counseling and lecture work with senior medical stu­ is to counsel then it ceases to be of active dents and also actual clinic observation, I worth. Neither is it the aim of the pastor can only say that some definite personal to teach medicine, psychiatry or psychology. opinions have been arrived at, which I shall These are highly specialized fields and list as follows: should be left to the specialist. The more 1. Man is a whole person not to be seg­ trained one becomes in the art of counsel­ mented into three sections commonly ing the more readily he will detect problems termed physical, mental and spiritual. he should not attempt to deal with. We These sections are all interlaced and to must ever stay clear of the reputation of fully understand one you must take all being a counselor, for counselor is not a profession in itself. It is to be employed into account. only as part of a more inclusive responsi­ 2. The field of mental health is broad and bility. calls for specialized study. The art of successful counseling is not 3. There has been and is being much ac­ to counsel. It was E. Stanley Jones who complished in this field through science. first told us that the world is suffering from 4. There is much that science cannot do. the paralysis of analysis. How true! We 5. Although a study of personality is in­ have taken apart and looked at the indi­ dispensable to the understanding of the vidual in segments and made our analysis individual, the minister in our church in the egotism of limited knowledge. Well cannot afford to become a specialist in over fifty per cent of the books in this this field at the expense of his higher field that we have read have been more calling. than colored by the Freudian principle of 6. Methods and procedure (if they may be the sex instinct. We may state here that thus termed) used by the church to in­ this paper is far too short to deal with this duce the individual to face his life in the principle in even a limited measure. How­ sight of God and go to the “bottom,” ever we do want to say, and with emphasis, “pray through,” “fully surrender” and that this has been given far too great promi­ “let go and let God” are both sound and nence in the popular works in the field of

30 (166) The Preacher's Magazine counseling. The counselor who is always member when the woman who had been interpreting another's problems from this caught in moral sin was brought to Jesus single instinct, to put it as kindly as we He said, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, can, is speaking only of his own maladjust­ and sin no more.” This must never be ments. Another fallacy given prominence made an absolute. Mark well that it was is the assumption that ignorance is the cause Jesus who said “Sin no more.” When sin of these so-called maladjustments. Certain has been the direct or even the indirect knowledge has a place of grave importance. cause of the maladjustment the individual However simply because an individual may must be made to fully realize that he has possess knowledge in no way assures him of broken the law of the moral universe and a healthy personality. If knowledge were is now suffering the effect. Sin must never the answer, it must follow that physicians be condoned by a too patronizing attitude would be the highest example of personal or made to appear inconsequential by a too purity. Although the writer holds the pro­ cheap forgiveness. Sin is the most dread­ fession in high regard, it must be admitted ful fact in the universe. Life, morally, that with certain exceptions such a claim physically or mentally cannot function cor­ would be fallacious. If the minister fails rectly when sin exists in it. I remember to give to each individual a new sense of one particular case that came to our atten­ divine power that enables him to experi­ tion. It was a case involving serious moral ence a power greater than his own in the breakdown. Only when the fact of sin as hour of His temptation, he has utterly failed. a broken law of a moral universe was point­ There can be no substitute for conversion ed out and the individual realized the type when old things pass away and all the of character he had become and what was habit life is cleansed by the abiding pres­ more serious, content to live with, was any ence of the Holy Spirit. Whatever else we progress made. The counselor must truly may learn about counseling, let us remem­ be as harmless as a dove, but wise as a ber that this is fundamental and here alone serpent. One must never be allowed to is the field for the Christian minister. Give feel that moral wrong is simply the result me the pastor who knows by experience of a psychological maladjustment. This is both subjective and objective, the secret of the glaring weakness in so much of modern God's presence and how to lead others into counseling and the effects are devastating. that experience, for he holds the key to Turn this premise around and you come transformed lives and healthy personalities. much closer to the actual truth—psychologi­ We do not mean to say that to be a Chris­ cal maladjustments and neurotic tendencies tian is synonymous with being healthy are more often than not the direct results minded. There is many a follower of Christ of personal sin. It is only when you have with a neurotic or even psychopathic per­ reached this point and meet it through the sonality. For this individual it will take saving power of Christ that you have ever the most careful and patient understanding. begun to solve the problem.

The counseling minister must learn the “If you want it a secret don’t tell the art of listening. Far easier said than done! preacher”—words heard by a minister friend It will be only after the most careful dis­ just the other day. Tragic; and more so cipline that this end is achieved. All pastors when they were the result of bitter experi­ in counseling talk too much! With genuine ence. Shakespeare advised, “Trust not in sympathy we must train ourselves to listen him that hath once broken faith.” The attentively even to what may seem to be pastor who fails to honor every confidence of minor significance. It is usually in what with absolute secrecy forfeits his right to first appears to be unessential that we dis­ be a counselor. These confidences must cover the true problem. You will realize the full importance of this when, after never be divulged to anyone—not even the listening patiently perhaps for hours to a minister’s wife. She has no moral right to story of heartache and despair, you are re­ share the secret heart throbs of others. warded with a grateful, “You will never Personally, when dealing with matters know how much it has helped me to talk where I feel the need of the woman's angle, tc you.” In reality you have done no more I request permission to share the confidence. than offer a comment or two. You cannot Unless such permission is granted I regard rush if you are to be a successful counselor. myself as bound to secrecy. It might well There are those who are now telling us be said here that the pastor’s wife must be that it is never the place of the counselor impressed with her sacred obligation to to condemn. Perhaps there is enough truth keep trust. Even the courts recognize as in this to say it with direct emphasis. Re­ privileged and sacred confidences, the con­

May-June, 1943 (167) 31 fessions made to the clergyman. Some time obligated to refuse testimony until I had ago we were summoned to give testimony obtained the patient’s permission, which for­ in an “insanity case.” It was definitely to tunately he was willing to give. Betrayal the patient’s advantage that he be placed in of confidence will soon come to light and an institution where proper medical treat­ the usefulness of the minister in relation ment could be administered. The physicians to the people who have been betrayed is stated that they were going to have an ex­ ended once for all. tremely difficult time convincing the jury with what limited facts they possessed on There is an ever-widening field in the the case. However in confidence the patient area of counseling. May God guide and had disclosed to me as a minister, several direct His ministry in this avenue of serv­ dangerous and severe hallucinations (reali­ ice. Let us study with keen application to ties to h im ), in which he claimed himself to show ourselves approved unto God, work­ be deity. When summoned to court, I felt men that need not to be ashamed. + T h e Fatal Finish (A Sermon) Evangelist T. M . Anderson

And sin, when it is finished, bringelh forth death (James 1:15)

HE human race is not in total ignor­ tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted ance of the power and penalty of sin, with evil, neither tempteth he any man” Tfor God has given a full revelation of (v. 13). Evidently the tempter is not God, sin in the Scriptures and through the word but Satan, whose sinister plan is to accom­ preached by His ministers. Sin is the eter­ plish our eternal ruin in the second death. nal enemy of God and the foe of all good; The answer to the second question is: sin is ever moving to one final finish, death. “Blessed is the man that endureth tempta­ The sentence of death was passed upon all tion: for when he is tried, he shall receive men in the fall of Adam, and the second the crown of life, which the Lord hath death is the final penalty for all who reject promised to them that love him” (v. 12). the redemption provided in Jesus. The Lord designs that His people that en­ In the scripture under consideration, dure temptation shall have a proving of James discloses some startling facts about their love, and in that proving they shall the seduction of a soul; he shows how the be counted worthy of the crown of life. He tempter appeals to his intended victim and will not let them be tried “Above that ye what the fatal finish is of all who yield. are able; but will with the temptation also S i n C h o s e n make a way to escape, that ye may be Every man is tempted, when he is drawn able to bear it” (1 Cor. 10: 13). away of his own lust, and enticed (v. 14). We are now to consider the problem of The fact that every man is tempted does the approach of the tempter to seduce a not imply that every man must yield to holy person. James reveals that the appeal the tempter; neither does it imply that the of Satan is made through the desires: the tempted man has sin in his heart when he man is tempted, “when he is drawn away of is tempted. The temptation of a holy man his own lust, and enticed.” By lust is is the matter for consideration in this study. meant, desire; the desire may be perfectly We find the answer to three questions which natural and normal; such as the desire for are often raised: Who is the tempter, what food, or knowledge, or possessions. The is the purpose of God in permitting His word “lust” is taken from a Greek word saints to be tempted, and how is a holy meaning, “to long for,” or “to set the heart person tempted to sin, if there is no sin upon.” It may be a desire for something in the heart? evil and unlawful; and it may be a desire The answer to the first question is: “Let for something pertaining to normal life and no man say when he is tempted, I am love. Jesus used the word saying, “With

32 (188) The Preacher's Magazine desire I have desired to eat this passover is to engage in an act of illicit love; it with you before I suffer” (Luke 22: 15). means to take love from its high and holy purpose and prostitute it in an unholy re­ Every sanctified person is tempted through lationship with the devil. Love for God is the natural desires. The basic desires of to be proved in the trial and not to be per­ humanity are not removed by the grace of verted to an evil alliance with Satan. The God; they are purified and put under the shocking truth is that when one does yield dominion of the will aided by the Holy to Satan, after having been cleansed from Spirit. We find this true in the tempta­ indwelling sin, sin is again implanted in tion of the Saviour; He fasted forty days, the heart, and that sin is the illegitimate and the Word says, “He was afterward child of an unholy liason with the devil. ahungered.” Jesus had the natural hunger for food, and evidently felt keenly this S i n C o m p l e t e d hunger when the tempter drew attention to it. And sin, ivhen it is finished, bringeth forth It is through the desires that the drawing death (v. 15). away is felt. The man is drawn by the The depravity begotten in the soul comes alluring offer of Satan to give him the to its birth, and the evil thing that is brought thing he wants. So long as the man tempted forth is death. This son of Satan is a born does not yield his will he has not sinned; killer, it destroys every good word and for the sin is not committed in the draw­ work of both man and God: “the carnal ing, but in the decision to obtain in an un­ mind . . . is not subject to the law of God, lawful way. In Matthew 5: 28, the looking neither indeed can be.” upon the woman to lust after her, involves both the desire and the decision to com­ Sin completely destroys relationships. mit the act; the act has been committed in One of the first effects of the fall of Adam the heart. The decision to sin, is in itself a was his banishment from the garden, where deed of sin, even if the desire leading up he had walked with God. The result of the to it was never gratified. Satan cannot force cleansing through the blood of Christ is, a decision, but he can present the allure­ “We have fellowship one with another.” ments that effect a drawing force upon the This relationship is the first thing that sin tempted one. We must resist him stead­ breaks in its killing work; the soul is aware fast in the faith; we must not yield to that the presence of God has departed and any offer he makes. “Every good gift and darkness and defeat reign in the heart. A every perfect gift is from above and com- horrible void, a terrifying emptiness, a sense eth down from the Father of lights.” We of frustration torments the fallen soul; rest do not need to go to Satan for anything is only a memory and peace is a thing of needful to our happiness and spiritual wel­ the past. Life under such conditions be­ fare. Our Lord was clothed, fed, and com­ comes dreary existence; the defeated soul forted without Satan’s help; so may we ex­ must sail the uncharted sea of life without pect such supplies from our heavenly Fa­ a Captain and a compass; being carried to ther. the fatal finish in the second death. He walketh in darkness, and knoweth not S i n C o n c e iv e d whither he goeth, because that darkness When lust hath conceived, it bringeth hath blinded the eyes of the mind. A kind jorth sin (v. 15). of creeping paralysis steals over the soul, and all powers of resistance slowly cease, From this statement of James, we see what and the soul is fast drifting to eternal death, has taken place in the soul that chooses to sin is completing its deadly work. sin in order to gratify desires in an unlaw­ ful manner. Through lust, sin is conceived Sin completely destroys the reputation. in the heart. The emphasis is upon the Our moral standing in the church and in word “ conceive” as it relates to sin. It is the community is of great worth. It may the same word used in Luke 1: 24, “His wife take years to build up a good name, and Elisabeth conceived,” speaking of the prom­ a good name is rather to be chosen than ise made to Zacharias. James reveals the great riches. Who can measure the influ­ terrible result of consenting to accept Sa­ ence of godly persons? We can feel the tan’s offers; sin is begotten in the soul. effects of their lives long after they have The scripture before us discloses all the gone to glory. Sin is no respecter of per­ facts of a seduction: The person seduced, sons: it will destroy all persons that in­ having yielded the will to the seducer, has dulge in it. For a few moments of sinful conceived depravity, the child of Satan in pleasure, a man can kill the reputation of the soul. Yielding to the tempter to do evil a lifetime. He will see the work of years

May-June, 1943 <169) 33 fall in ruins about him, wrecked by his in­ dulging a passion for one fleeting moment America, the Arsenal in evil. Those who are enticed by the folly of of Evangelical Christianity sin may not expect to escape the fatal fin­ ish of sin. They can find favor and forgive­ The 1943 slogan of Winona Lake School ness in the mercy of God, but this will not of Theology is: It is not enough that Am eri­ prevent the harvest of their evil sowings. ca should become the “Arsenal of Democ­ “He that soweth to his flesh shall of the racy,” but she must be the Arsenal of Evan­ flesh reap corruption.” This law is inex­ gelical Christianity if our civilization is to orable; no man can evade the punishment be saved. To this end this Summer Semin­ implied in the reaping. Even if the fallen ary at Winona Lake, Indiana has outlined soul is pardoned and purified and fully re­ her courses. stored to God, the evil he did cannot be The dates for the 1943 session are July 1, recalled, neither can it be prevented from to August 5, with two semesters of fifteen days each. The 1942 session enrolled repre­ its work of death. David was recovered sentatives of seventeen states and several from his fall, but his recovery did not bring foreign countries, and more than a score of Uriah back to life. Knowing these things denominations. Summer sessions only. let us watch and pray; let us be sober, and The personnel of the faculty for 1943 is vigilant, because the adversary, “as a roaring announced as follows: lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may Dr. J. A. Huffman, President and Dean. devour.” Dr. Henry S. Gehman, of Princeton Theo­ logical Seminary. + Dr. James Charbonnier, Taylor University. Dr. Mabel McQueen Weir, Texas State College for Women. Life Is the Best Sermon Dr. Joseph N. Rodeheaver, Dean of Rode- heaver School of Sacred Music. Once St. Francis said to a monk of his Dr. Peder Stiansen, Northern Baptist own order, “Brother, let us go down to Seminary of Chicago. the town and preach.” The young man was Professor John A. Huffman, Cambridge, delighted to be the chosen companion of Massachusetts. St. Francis on a preaching expedition. And Courses in Old Testament, English New they passed through all the principal streets Testament, the Gospels, Daniel and the Revelation, Church History, Church Prob­ and down the byways and alleys and out lems, Preaching, Radio Preaching, Beginners through the suburbs, and so again to the Greek, Greek New Testament, Christian gates of the monastery. Not a word had Doctrine, Hymnology, and Conducting are been spoken. The young man said, “You to be given. have forgotten, Father, that we went down Most seminaries are willing to accept all to the town to preach.” credits earned in the Winona Lake School “My son,” said St. Francis, “we have of Theology. Regular theological degrees are offered for those who qualify. Courses preached. We were preaching while we may be pursued for credit in either or both were walking. We have been seen by many. semesters. Our behavior has been closely watched. It The sessions of the school are held at a was thus we preached our morning ser­ time when most pastors and teachers find mon. It is no use, my son, walking any­ it possible to leave their work for a brief where to preach unless you preach as you period, without interrupting the entire year’s walk.” program. The courses are intensive, prac­ The transformed life preaches Christ as tical, inspirational, and thoroughly evan­ gelical. it walks. It expresses Him in character. F o r The twelve page Prospectus for 1943 is this there is no earthly substitute. A shabby ready. Request for Prospectus should be and inconsistent life negates the gospel.— addresed to the President-Dean, Dr. J. A. F C. F e e z o r , in Baptist Record. Huffman, Upland, Indiana.

The complaint most commonly lodged against the modern Protestant pulpit is that it lacks spiritual warmth. Wistful men and women, seeking a reassuring sense of the divine, sit through our services and declare that at no time have they be­ come aware of the presence of God. No spiritual glow has warmed their hearts. —Roy L. S m i t h .

34 (170) The Preacher'* Magazine A preacher has struck a gold mine of sermonic m aterial if he learns the art of .. .

Preaching from Bible Characters

A. Milton Smith

HERE is no more effective way to more real because it is actual experience. present a truth than by letting it be The modern mind listens more sympatheti­ Tseen in the light of an actual experi­ cally to that which works in experience than ence in the life of a definite person. We it does to ideas which are found in theoreti­ often look for an apt illustration from ex­ cal cases. We demand the test of actual ex ­ perience to be the clinching word of our perience. Character preaching presents the sermons. An appropriate incident seems to test case. make the whole message more convincing. Another advantage of character preach­ Speakers often refer to certain things that ing is the opportunity it gives to meet a have happened to others in order that the particular situation without seeming to be hearers may see the importance of what is personal. The situation of the long ago can being said. The mesage is related to actual be pictured that is exactly like the present living through the means of human experi­ one, without mentioning the one at hand. ence. Whether we refer to incidents out of Its ugliness can be lifted up and ridiculed, the past or from the lives of our contem­ and those who are involved may be con­ poraries, it is obvious that we employ the signed to the very pit without anyone feel­ actual happenings in life to make realistic ing a personal thrust. It enables the min­ the truth we preach. Preaching from Bible ister to preach to the point, and not at it, characters is using this very simple yet very which is a big advantage. The entire situa­ important method that is used in a limited tion may be surveyed and the fault brought way in practically every sermon. to light, and the way to correct it be point­ I ed out, all being done in an indirect way, and thereby, not offend anyone. There are several advantages in preach­ Furthermore, it is an interesting way for ing from Bible characters. In the first the preacher to study the Bible and to pre­ place, it is usually interesting. It is not pare sermons. It does him good to observe always easy to get the interest of the peo­ the things in the life of another. He finds ple, but it is necessary if we are to get a help for his own faults and failures by message across to them. Human experi­ seeing them in the characters he studies. He ences have more interest for the average receives inspiration from the lives of the person than do abstract ideas or truths. good and the great. His sermonizing be­ Biography is the most interesting reading, comes a pleasure rather than an exhausting judging from reliable information. People task. It is worthy of being tried as a are interested in what has happened to method of preaching. other people. We listen daily to the broad­ casts to learn what has been the experi­ II ences of people in other countries or other Building a sermon around a character is communities. Likewise people in general similar to building one around a subject of find it easier to lis'.cn to a story of real any kind, the difference being that the sub­ life than to lister, to a profound discussion ject is a person instead of a thought. Being of a highly developed system of any na­ acquainted with the methods of sermon ture. building gives one the general idea how to Character preaching has the advantage begin. Here are a few suggestions to fol­ of being actual experience and not just an low in preparing a sermon from a character. idea. Ideas may work out in experience but 1. The assembling of all available materi­ the experience is what most people prefer. al is the first step, after deciding the char­ Idealism reasons and reaches conclusions acter you will study. Where shall I find through rational processes while empiricism information concerning the character that relies upon experience for its test of reality. I want to preach? The scriptural refer­ One may be more profound than the other ences are of first concern. Learn what the but the other is more simple and in a sense, Bible has to say about the person. Con-

May-June, 1943 (lGl) 35 suit your commentaries and encyclopedia parted from his house. Wrongdoing brings along with all reference books that are wrong results. This is always true as will available. Read sermons that have been be seen in the cases as they are studied. written by others on the character you have We can use the bad things to warn the peo­ in mind. Gather material from all sources ple against wrongdoing, and we can point that bear upon the subject. out the fine things for their inspiration.

2. Going through the material may be re­ 4. The next step in the process of prepa- peated several times in your studying. It is aration is the organizing of the material. good to list the outstanding things in the It may be in some instances that you will person’s life. Make notations of that which begin with the very beginning of the story impresses you about him. Underscore the and follow it right through to the conclu­ lines that sound good as you read the ma­ sion. But in most cases it will be necessary terial through. Mark it so that it can be to organize the material into related points found for reference later. Saturate your before it is ready to be presented. Here mind with the facts and atmosphere of your is an example of what I mean. When I character. Learn all about him that you was writing "The Twelve Apostles” I found can. Simon Peter to be about the most difficult There are definite facts that you are in­ of them all because of so much material. terested in as you study the case. You How could it all be covered in one brief want to know which side he was on, the message? I have several books in my li­ Lord’s or Satan’s? Was he a success or a brary written on his life, and there are so failure? What were the main contributing many interesting references to him in the causes for his being whatever he was? Bible, until I found it rather difficult to in­ Where could he have been different, if he clude it all in one sermon. I wrote out the had tried? Does his life teach anything message and then felt it was not what I about right living? What are the lessons wanted. I retired after working hard, feel­ we learn from the way he lives? These ing that the message lacked so much that it are some of the things that you will want would not do. Figuratively, I slept with to look for as you make a study of char­ the apostle that night. The next morning acters. I was up early and again working at the task. A listing was made of every New 3. It is necessary that the total situation Testament reference to Simon Peter, and be seen before one has a true picture of the references were classified in their re­ any life. The surroundings are very im­ lation to the various incidents in the life of portant to the understanding of his reac­ the apostle. A satisfactory outline came tions. His teachings and his family life as to my mind before the task was finished. well as the customs of his day must be Jesus had called Simon “a stone” when he considered if his life is to be understood. seemed to be everything else but that. He His personal characteristics should also be later became all that the Master saw in observed. His strength and his weakness him. Hence, the outline, The Stone in the should be noticed. He should be studied in Making, The Flattened Stone, and The Rock the light of his environment. How much of Gibraltar, seemed to cover the entire was he like those about him? How differ­ scope. ent was he from those with whom he asso­ The grouping of the material will depend ciated? Was he in advance of his day or on the treatment that is to be made of the was he just one among the many? Did he character. However, in whatever way it is react well to his advantages or was his a to be developed, the information should be case of making good in spite of adverse grouped in related thoughts. The organiz­ circumstances? What were his advantages ing of the material may itself suggest the or his disadvantages? These and other as­ way for it to be presented. pects of the total situation will throw light upon the character under consideration. 5. Outlining the material into the message for delivery is a very important part of The Bible tells the good and the bad— the preparation also; having the mind filled the bad of the good people is not kept back. with many thoughts is not sufficient. It Whether we speak of the bad things or not, must be arranged in such a way as to pre­ it is well to know the whole story in order sent a message. One point is to follow to speak with a full understanding of the logically after another until when the facts. The bad things serve as an example speaking is ended, the story will have been to warn others. For example, David sinned given in a helpful manner. The treatment with Bathsheba and the sword never de­ of the case will be affected both by the

36 (172) The Preacher's Magazine character that is being studied and by the he failed—if he did—should be lifted into one who is doing the studying. Generally the view of the congregation. His strength speaking however there are two ways for should also be emphasized. If he made developing a character sermon. One way good, show why he did, and assure the is to tell the story briefly in the beginning listeners that they too can make their lives and then point out the high points of the successful. Speak directly to the point with story in the message. The other way is to the character being an example of the truth unfold the story as the message is developed. that you are preaching. Drive the truths The main points of the story are discussed, home to the hearts and consciences of the leading from one thing to another until the hearers. Cause the truth to live as vividly story is told and the message is finished. as possible. Show the danger of what Here are two brief outlines representative caused the failure to fail, and lift up for of the two types: their inspiration those things that helped

L o t —T h e M a n o f S o d o m the one who succeeded. Show the folly of Introduction: Tell the story briefly. sin on the one hand, and the wisdom of I. The steps that led to Sodom righteousness on the other. II. What he gained by going to Sodom It is well to parallel the message of the III. What he lost by going to Sodom. character with people of today; his con­ dition with conditions today; his reactions E s a u , t h e H o p e l e s s to reactions today. Help people to see that Introduction: Speak of his family. Tell of they are similar to the person whom you his opportunity, etc. present in the message. Cause them to I. He was not inclined toward spiritual feel that they may succeed or fail, depend­ things. ing upon what they do, as well as the per­ II. He was a “sensualist”—a “fornicator” son under consideration. Try to apply the (Heb. 12: 16). truth to present-day living in a very prac­ III. He was a profane person (Heb. 12: tical and realistic way. Such preaching is 16). bound to be helpful. Fundamentally, hu­ In the first outline, the story is told at man needs and problems are about the the beginning. In the case of Esau, the story same everywhere and at all times. Lifting is unfolded as these thoughts are discussed up the good traits of others which should and developed. be emulated and pointing out the bad things Ill which should be avoided, is certain to be profitable. Just a brief word about delivering the message is here offered. A character sermon Summing up the high points of the story, is a message as well as any other type of showing their advantage or disadvantage, sermon. It should not be considered just and exhorting that the good be followed a mere fill-in, it should be a real message. • and that the bad be shunned is a good way The sermon should be delivered earnestly to conclude the message. The final word and sincerely. will be to the hearts and consciences of The introduction should introduce the those present, urging them to profit by the character to the congregation. A brief word example of the character considered. as to who he was, when and where he Such preaching based on the life of a lived, and why he is considered worthy of definite person who succeeded or failed, being studied should be given. After an seems to me, is the most effective appeal appropriate and fitting word along this line that could be made. Since preaching is a has been said, the main part of the message serious business, we should employ every is ready to be presented. means to secure the proper results in the The message should have lessons that lives of those to whom we preach. Charac­ will appeal to the hearts and minds of the ter preaching is interesting, simple, definite hearers. The life of the character being and practical. It carries its own proof of discussed should be looked into with the the truth that is being declared. It is con­ thought of learning some lessons on living vincing because it is from actual life, and in a more worth-while way. His faults and it has the best appeal for persuasion be­ weaknesses should be pointed out, and why cause it deals with results and consequences.

God never defaults; but He requires that we prove our faith by our works, and that we never ask for a blessing that we are not ready to labor for, and to make any sacrifice to secure the blessing which our souls desire.—T h e o d o r e L . C u y l e r .

May-June, 1943 (173) 37 The Discovery of the Public Library

Lauriston J. DuBois

NE of the most powerful tools the minister has is the ability to read In practically every community, available O and use books. Those messages to all, without direct coat to any, is the which are peculiarly his are rich and in­ Public Library. In most cases it is a ver­ teresting and helpful in proportion to the itable gold mine of books and reference source material that he has at his disposal works that w ill do much in relieving the and his ability to utilize it. Sensing this poverty-stricken condition of the minister's fact, every minister begins early in his library. Here he can find many of the career to build a library and works hope­ helps he long has thought he must do with­ out. fully down through the years even though it is a slow and discouraging and expensive task. To hurry up the usually slow process one Most libraries use what is known as the Dewey Decimal system of marking and may collect cheap and all but worthless classifying books. By this system books are books and feel content because his shelves are full. Another may buy the books he divided into ten classes, according to their subject matter, with numbers ranging from feels he needs, taking money acutely need­ ed other places in the home. Another may 000 to 999. A certain class of books will get under bondage to a heavy load of pay­ have a certain number. For example, all ments for sets of reference works of one books on science are given numbers be­ kind or another. Some may accept their tween 500 and 599 while all books on re­ ligion are listed with numbers between 200 condition as inevitable and go without the books they really need, content with a medi­ and 299. Thus it is possible for unlimited ocre ministry. In any event, practically ev­ sub-classification under the general head­ ing by the use of the ninety-nine numbers ery minister is in dire need of more books than he has and is crying inwardly for allowed plus the use of decimals. The gen­ some help with his problem of an inade­ eral subject of history comes under num­ bers 900 to 999. All geography, as one quate library. . phase of history, is listed with numbers be­ In all too many instances the preacher tween 910 and 920. The geography of does not use the Public Library as much Europe is 914 and that of the different parts as he could. Either this is true because he of Europe listed with the decimals. Hence, has not realized its worth nor discovered books on the geography of the British Isles its resources or else he does not know how would be 914.2; Germany, 914.3; France, to go about the routine of finding the ma­ 914.4; etc. Listed with these numbers will terial he wants. In either case it would be also be a letter, which is the first letter of worth-while for him to get acquainted with the author’s last name. A large group of the Public Library in his community and books on the same subject will be shelved learn to use its facilities. He could profit­ alphabetically according to authors. Thus ably spend a few days there learning what the book that is wanted can be found, not books are available and learning to know by hunting at random, but by following the well the guides that will lead him to the marking guide. books and materials that he may some day Not only should there be a general un­ need. derstanding of tiie system of marking books but there should also be a working knowl­ There are three of these guides in every edge of the use of the card catalog. Every library which every book lover should learn library has a record of every book it has. to know. Following them he can find his This record will be large or small according way in any library, large or small, known to the size of the library but will be in or unknown. These guides are: the system conspicuous place and will be in a file of of marking books, the card catalog and the three by five cards. This file is really an librarian. index of the books in the library and the

38 (174) The Preacher's Magazine general rules for following an alphabetical its name suggests, the encyclopedia is “a index apply in using it. In this file the comprehensive study of knowledge.” It is books will be listed three different ways. valuable because it gives information on practically every subject. Its value is The first listing is by author. When the doubled for the minister because that in­ name of an author is known the name of formation is condensed and concise and its the book or books he has written that are high points can be secured in a short amount on the shelves of that particular library can of time. The encyclopedia holds a wealth be found. Each book will be listed on a of illustrative material on everyday subjects, separate card and with the title will be given on biography and history. also the number, showing its classification and its location in the library. A particular D i c t i o n a r y — Every minister’s library book may not be classified just as it might should possess a good dictionary. However, be supposed and unless its number is known it is not usually possible or advisable for it might be missed. By looking under the it to have one or two large comprehensive name of an author of books that are known, dictionaries such as every Public Library others that he wrote, perhaps on a different owns. Yet it is necesary very often to re­ subject, are often discovered. fer to these larger, more complete copies. The second listing is by title. If the title Words are the paints of the artist-preacher. of a book is known, its author and its lo­ He should have many of them and know cation in the library, as well as its publisher how to use them. He will find it valuable and its date of publication, can be found to study the varied shadings in the meaning quickly. It should be remembered to dis- of words as well as their etymology or legard such words as “A” and “The” when derivation. Many new suggestions will pre­ either happens to be the first word of a sent themselves through study of the una­ title and to look under the second word. bridged dictionary.

The third listing is by subject. If, for ex ­ P e r i o d i c a l s — It is impossible for the min­ ample, a book on mythology should be need­ ister to subscribe to all the magazines pub­ ed, and authors or specific titles are un­ lished, yet many of them contain articles known, it could be determined by looking now and then that could be read for profit under that subject if such a book was to be or which deal with a specific subject. Most found in the library. Cross reference will libraries subscribe to the standard magazines direct to another subject if a book is to and keep them on file down through the be found under that classification. years. Although random reading would not The third guide to help in discovering the be advisable yet by use of the Reader’s hidden resources of the library and one Guide to Periodical Literature, magazine that should be sought out when the others articles covering particular subjects could fail is the librarian. She is committed to be located. This Guide is an index to the the task of cheerfully helping to find the articles appearing in the various magazines. material that is sought. Many times books It is published by the month and by the will have chapters or sections covering just year so that references on a given subject what is wanted while the titles and the sub­ would cover the designated period of time. jects are of a different nature. The librari­ Use of this guide when research is desired an’s acquaintance with the books in her on a given subject will yield a wealth of care will permit her to uncover this ma­ material. The Reader’s Guide is located terial. Never hesitate to seek the librarian’s conveniently in or near the periodical sec­ help; she is a guide to lead over paths that tion of every library. are familiar to her. F u r t h e r R e f e r e n c e W o r k s — If the books Concrete suggestions as to what books are on the average minister’s shelves were available that ministers can use will of marked with the Dewey Decimal system course depend upon local library facilities most of them would bear a number be­ and the needs of the individuals. Follow­ ing are a few that apply more generally. tween 200 and 299, coming under the classi­ fication of “Religion.” However, there are E ncyclopedias — Every library has at least many books which he would find valuable one set of encyclopedias while larger ones which are outside of this classification. It is will have a variety of sets. Because an encyclopedia’s value increases as it is kept well to be acquainted with books on Science, up-to-date and because of its tremendous History, Geography, etc. Biography cover­ cost the average minister can well afford to ing the lives of great men and women is an make use of these sets in the library rather unfailing source of inspiration and illustra­ than attempting to have one of his own. As tion. Literature serves the same purpose.

May-June, 1943 (175) 39 This writer has found the Public Library which will be the most profitable over a an unfailing friend in providing books with period of time. The Public Library will games for parties and socials. The Philoso­ serve in varying degrees as a proving phy section will help in following the think­ ground. ing of the world during the past and the The religious section of many libraries is present; that on Sociology will assist in giv­ sadly neglected. If this is true it should be ing an understanding of humanity and its a part of the Nazarene minister’s responsi­ actions. Whether it be to plant a seed or bility to see that it is improved. He should write an essay the Public Library will with­ sense his obligation, not only to take from out doubt give the minister valuable assist­ the library all he can get, but also to give ance. back to it the benefit of his knowledge, his R e l i g io u s B o o k s —No doubt that section interests and his aspirations. Although most of the library containing the religious books libraries are not allowed to subscribe for is the first every minister visits. The num­ denominational papers yet librarians wel­ ber of usable books to be found here will, come gift subscriptions to these papers. The of course, depend upon the local situation Herald of Holiness should be in every Pub­ but everyone will probably be able to find lic Library. Very few of the rich books some. Quite often there are one or two published by our Publishing House and sets of standard commentaries, a Bible en­ loved by our people are in the libraries cyclopedia or Bible dictionary which could across the country. Many of them would be used to profit. Perhaps there are expo­ fill a much-needed place in the reading diet sitions on different books of the Bible as of these communities. The minister could well as biographies of Bible characters and take the lead in seeing that some of our famous churchmen. No doubt there are best books were given to the library. He one or more books on the life of Christ should be careful not to donate the books and several books of sermons and other in­ he does not care to own, a Public Library spirational subjects. No doubt there will is not a used book store, but get to it the be some books which deal with depart­ books he prizes above all others. In this mental work of the church, such as the way he can best represent his church and Sunday school and Young People; missions, his Christ. In co-operation with the min­ theology, apologetics, criticism, history will isterial alliance many good books could be unquestionably be present in varying added to the local library. In this event amounts. many libraries will invest regular funds for Some of the books in the Public Library books thus suggested. The minister, if he the individual minister would like to own. will, can do much to raise the standard of Some he would not care to have. Which­ the books his library gets and the books the ever is the case he has a fine opportunity people of his community read. to find out what certain books are like be­ Every minister could well afford to dis­ fore he invests in them. Since he cannot cover the great boon the Public Library buy every good book it is always wise to can be to him and the part it plays in invest only in the best books and those helping him to serve his community well.

Religion at Its Center

Friends! light does pour out from that cross, whatever view men take of it. But the omnipotent beam, the all-illuminating radiance, the transforming light, and the heat that melts are all dependent on our looking at it—I do not only say, as Paul looked at it, nor do I say as Christ looked at it, but as the deep necessities of humanity require that the world should look at it, as the altar whereon is laid the sacrifice for our sins, the very Son of God Him­ self. To me the great truths of the Incarnation and the Atonement of Jesus Christ are not points in a mere speculative theology; they are the pulsating, vital center of religion. And every man needs them in his own experience.— A l e x a n d e r M a c l a r e n .

40 (176) The Preacher's Magazine • Each communion service is a new experience, not a repetition of a formal, traditional Christian observance. Helpful suggestions are offered by this author to assist

The Pastor in the Communion Service

Weaver W. Hess

O varied are the demands on the in­ every three months (Sec. 62, Par. 10). It genuity and resourcefulness of the pas­ would seem to me however, that this is a S tor that it is sometimes difficult to car­ minimum rather than a set limit. There ry on in an acceptable and proper manner. are times when a communion service may Happy is the man who has learned the se­ be used profitably in uniting and melting cret of serving effectively in every phase your people together. Estrangements fre­ of his parish task. The changes that are quently come among folks with good mo­ so vitally influencing our rapidly growing tives who are both honest and sincere. Per­ denomination are exacting more and more haps such hearts will mellow and yield un­ from our pastors in the way of proper pro­ der the warming spirit of a communion at­ cedure and recognized usages. mosphere more easily than in any other The old tabernacle, vacant store building way. Remember the hidden things in the and blacksmith shop, which were once the hearts of the apostles when the Master improvised places of worship for our peo­ himself first passed the bread and the wine, ple, have given way to beautiful church edi­ and later girded Himself with a towel to fices. In the passing of the years, congre­ wash their dusty feet. gations have increased and the scope of our Any pastor can make Good Friday, with its influence has widened. The Nazarene pas­ memories of our Lord’s passion, much more tor today is facing adjustments that must meaningful by a well-planned communion and can be made in keeping with a truly service. Think of the songs with themes spiritual program. centering in the cross. Let them serve as At no place in the wide range of his cere­ a background as you lift from the precious monial activities is the minister at his best, Book those portions of scripture which tell or I may say at his worst, as on the oc­ of the suffering Redeemer. casion of the communion service. “The The watch-night service also may be out­ communion,” someone has said, “must be standing in the memory of your congrega­ simple and beautiful.” I would add, it tion. Bring it to a profitable climax by also must be genuinely sincere. Some few gathering the people around the church al­ pastors dread the communion Sunday, not tar for communion. It is at this time of the realizing its unlimited possibilities for the year that both young and old make new deepening of the spiritual life and glorious pledges, and these vows will take on new manifestations of the divine presence. Also meaning amid the mellow strains of “There I have found a most deplorable attitude on Is a Fountain Filled with Blood,” or “Break the part of our laity in certain places, which Thou the Bread of Life,” while the bells in showed little or no interest in the holy the distance ring out the old and usher into sacrament. Perhaps we as ministers are to their lives the white pages of a new year. blame for this condition. Or, are we to We shall think together first about the blame, when we ourselves feel so keenly matter of preparation for communion Sun­ the lack of knowing how, and in our be­ day. Every church should provide an ade­ wilderment we fail to catch the significance quate and as beautiful a communion set as and true beauty of the communion service. possible. Your church board must be I have found so little written on this topic made to feel that there is nothing too good that I have ventured to discuss—more for for the Christ, and the appointments which the good of our younger men perhaps— have to do with the commemoration and some aspects of this gracious, Christ-or- memorial of His death should be the very dained sacrament. best that the church can afford. The re­ Every Nazarene pastor is required by the sponsibility of providing, preparing and ar­ Manual, to observe the sacrament of the ranging the communion table with its sacra­ Lord’s Supper with his people, at least once mental bread and wine belongs to your

May-June, 1943 (177) 41 board of stewards. Only the sweet grape ever, that the pastor is in charge and they, juice should be used, and the unleavened as well as your people, will expect you to bread is more desirable if it can be pur­ preside with all humility and as much grace chased or made. If at all possible, there and refinement as your personality will per­ should be glasses sufficient so that refilling mit. It is better, in my judgment, for the is not necessary. Detailed preparation adds pastor himself to read the ritual, giving the greatly to the carrying out of the service invitation to the Lord’s table and to make in a dignified and proper manner. the prayer of supplication and consecration, If your church auditorium will allow, the providing he feels that an extemporaneous prayer should be added. The assisting el­ communion table should be placed in the front of the platform back of the altar ders may be called upon for the scripture and opening prayer. rail. If this space is limited, it would be my choice to remove the pulpit stand and Deliberately remove the linen covering, let the communion table with its spotless fold it neatly and lay it to one side. As the linen occupy the very center of the platform choir sings softly make your first call to the itself. The trays containing the glasses part­ clergy, including of course all licensed min­ ly filled with wine and the plates of bread isters and Christian workers, to kneel at carefully arranged on the table should be the church altar. I have with good effect covered with white linen. included in this group or called by them­ No communion service is what it should selves certain church organizations such as be unless the pastor has the fullest co­ the Church board or the Sunday school operation of his song leader and musical cabinet. The pastor may now proceed to organization. If at any time the great old administer first the bread and then the hymns of the church become truly sacred wine to those kneeling, and then to himself, it is at this time, so the songs must be care­ using the words with each of the elements fully chosen and prepared. The order of as given in Section 370 of the Manual. Up­ service properly planned need not be for­ on the conclusion of your dismissal prayer mal or cold. Have the hymn selections or admonition, you may say, “Go in peace, ready to be rendered as you direct, or ac­ and the God of peace go with you.” In the cording to previous arrangements. “Jesus larger churches an elder may assist the pas­ Paid It All,” “When I Survey the Wondrous tor in administering the sacrament to the Cross,” “What Can Wash Away My Sins?” elders, and then they kneel to serve the and “In the Cross of Christ I Glory,” with bread and wine to each other. the two mentioned previously, are some As those who have partaken of the sacra­ of the many appropriate communion songs. ments arise to go, the choir will again begin The sermon must of necessity be brief singing, and you will say, “As these go, may and, therefore, will require more prepara­ others come.” The invitation now is to the tion than other messages. It never should members and friends of your congregation. be elaborate, but it should be simple and Every care should be taken to avoid con­ come from a fervent, loving heart, as the fusion as the communicants come forward minister’s own soul responds to the eternal and retire from the altar. You will find significance and import of this holy sacra­ your ushers of great assistance in this task. ment. Themes such as “Self-examination,” Nothing must mar the serenity of the spirit “Atonement,” “Faithfulness in Service,” and which pervades the atmosphere of the “The Last Days of Our Lord’s Earthly Min­ church during the observance of the Lord’s istry,” are in keeping with this occasion. Supper. At no time do I feel more keenly my min­ The method mentioned in the preceding isterial responsibility than when I serve my paragraphs I believe is most commonly used people the bread and wine on communion and accepted by our people, but due to the Sunday. May I take you a bit farther into increased attendance in some of our larger this personal reference? I try not only to churches, the time required, and the con­ prepare my message and my heart, but also fusion entailed, this plan makes it all but to give special attention to my personal prohibitive. It has therefore become neces­ appearance, taking care to manicure my sary in some places to serve the sacrament nails and polish my shoes. of the Lord’s Supper to the congregation, Upon the opening of the service I would while they remain seated. The procedure invite the elders present to assist me, in­ follows naturally the idea of the other meth­ viting the aged elder and visiting minister od, but greater planning and organization to sit on the platform, thus recognizing becomes necessary. Here the stewards are their ministerial office. Remember, how­ used to pass the sacramental elements to

42 (178) The Preacher's Magazine the different sections of the audience. Hav­ strive to make these services living and ing been previously instructed to take their real, to be in deed and in truth, a new par­ places in the front of the church, the pas­ taking of the body and the blood of the tor calls them to the communion table, Lord Jesus Christ in all its spiritual signifi­ handing each one a plate of bread. They will cance. then proceed to serve the section assigned It was my privilege several years ago on to them, simultaneously, each one finishing a Good Friday morning, to sit with three or if possible, at the same time. If one finds four hundred ministers in the Court of Hon­ he has finished in advance of the others, he or at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, should linger and be ready to return to the California. We were assembled for holy front, in even step with all members of the communion before that greatest of all pic­ group. tures, “The Last Supper,” by Leonardo da The plates are then returned to the com­ Vinci, of Milan, Italy, which had been re­ munion table, and the stewards resume their produced in stained glass by Miss Rosa places on the front seat, where the pastor Caselli Moretti, and brought to this mag­ serves them, and he is in turn served by an nificent setting at the cost of many thousands elder or chairman of the Board of Stewards. of dollars. Great church leaders of the Los The congregation is instructed to wait to Angeles area spoke with deep earnestness partake of the morsel of bread until the pas­ in communion meditations as the mellow tor himself has been served. He will then tones of a majestic organ brought us the use the words as given in the ritual while great old communion hymns of the Christian together they partake of the sacramental Church. Never shall I forget how my soul bread. The passing of the wine will be a was moved to new appreciation of Jesus, repetition of the above procedure. When as the central figure of that picture claimed the congregation all have been served with my attention. His radiant face seemed to both the bread and the wine, it is well to be illuminated with light divine, indicating conclude with a very brief word of exhorta­ the depths of His compassion and tender­ tion to faithfulness to Jesus Christ, assuring ness. My tears flowed freely as I whispered, them of His continued care and sustaining “Yes, Master, I will follow Thee.” No sac­ grace. ramental service had ever touched me so This service will tax the organizing ability deeply, for I had realized anew what my of the pastor to give expression to some Saviour had done for my poor unworthy original ideas for no set rule can apply to heart. every local situation. The choir or congre­ Just as that morning sun of that clear gation may sing softly as the bread and California day brought new light to that wine are being passed. I have found that stained glass window, so had new light and a special solo or a group number is very life come to my soul. Before the dawn of inspirational. Do not be afraid of new that day the window was dark, but with ideas. the coming of the sunlight it glowed and It is my conviction that each communion shone with new brilliance and beauty. So service is a new experience, not a repetition should our communion service be, glowing or the mere carrying out of a formal tra­ and beautiful, illuminated by the presence ditional church observance. I earnestly of Him who is the Light of the World.

In these days of confusion, with old systems breaking up and new emergencies obtruding, there is desperate need that we shall maintain our confidence in the fact of the presence of God. We can endure this awful day if we can go on believing that God is in it. And He is! Every time the white corpuscles of the blood race to heal a wound, it means that God has run an errand of mercy. Every time that strength is supplied for a triumph of faith it means that God has been at hand, pouring out His power. That evil men have used God’s resources, and dedicated them to death and destruction is only new evidence of the terrible nature of sin, and the desperate need of human redemption.— R o y L. S m i t h , in The Christian Advocate.

May-June. 1943 (179) 43 PROBLEMS PECULIAR TO PREACHERS

Charles A. Gibson

Q u e s t i o n —How long should I stay in my mother was able, and took the baby to pastorate? church but neither while she was sick did A nswer—This is not a question that can the pastor call, nor when she went to church be answered by a sentence stating so many did he make any recognition of her presence years. There are no two pastorates alike. or that of the baby. This party feels that A small town pastorate and a city pastorate mnay of the church are dissatisfied and feel differ and then pastors and people differ. I the pastor ought to visit and make new ac­ doubt if anyone could blindly answer this quaintances. I do not ask you regarding question for any man and answer it right. my preacher brother but what can I do un­ To know the man would be a great help der these circumstances? but then that without knowing the general A n s w e r —Report the matter to your Dis­ conditions would be insufficient. The best trict Superintendent. He likely can get to general answer I can give would be: so this man with an approach to this condition. long as you can keep your heart alive with He may not do it, for he may know the interest in the place and can provide a chal­ preacher well enough to know that it will lenging program for the people and can get do no good; in which event all involved will their co-operation in working the same. have to await the day when, if the preacher Write me specifically and I will state my allows his name to be voted on, the church further reactions. will vote him out. Then he will howl and claim the people are not appreciative. It is Q u e s t i o n — I have been trying to get my hard to think of a preacher so ignorant of people to do personal work and go into the human relations as to think that such neg­ community and search for folks who need lect could be excused. the gospel. To date 1 have met with little success. I have a few folks who are work­ Q. I am pastor of a rural church and am ing at this job but a large per cent have getting on. My District Superintendent done nothing. What can I do? wants me to stay here and the folks want me to stay, but some of m y ministerial A n s w e r —Keep right on at the job with those who are working at it. Do not try brethren advise me to move, as there is not too hard to get these others engaged in this the opportunity here that there is in a city work for you will likely hurt rather than pastorate. What would you advise? advance your cause. It is a mistake to A. Your people and your Superintendent think that all good folks can do personal likely know more about the field and you work. A half dozen well-chosen workers than do your ministerial friends. I advise who understand how to approach folks, you to take the advice of the former. After people who can make themselves at home all, it is not clear that some of these city and make a new acquaintance feel at ease men are doing more than you brethren who in their presence are worth a hundred folks pastor a rural church. If you can reach who have no such talents. Meeting the pub­ men and finance the work of the kingdom, lic is an art and visiting in new homes calls what more can you do in the city? Then, for a special ability not found in many peo­ too, it is so easy to sit on the side lines ple. Remember that the people who cannot and give advice when if these same men do this work are just as good and love the were in the midst of your work they might Lord just as well as those who have this resent suggestions from without that they ability. move because of a larger opportunity. There can be no larger opportunity than that of shepherding the folks, and some of the Q u e s t i o n —I live near another town where we have a church, and a layman has come choicest folks are on the hillsides. to me with a problem in connection with their pastor that I hardly know what to do Q. Have I the right to use portions of about. According to this layman their pas­ what I read in building sermons without tor lives within his house, largely, and visits quoting the author in each case? but little even within the membership. This A. You certainly have, or else every illustration was given. A family had sick­ preacher, big and little, is a criminal. How­ ness. The mother went to the hospital, a ever, if you take the sermon of another man new baby was born and then the mother and recite it, you should give credit to its had to go back to the hospital a few weeks author. I like the way Dr. H. C. Morrison later. In some two and a half months the put this matter in one of his discussions on

44 (180) The Preacher's Magazine the subject. He said, “I think a preacher in matters like this and yet not have a con­ ought to have as much sense as a dairyman. tinual fight. There is another way to deal A dairyman will milk twenty cows, pour the with this matter, and that is to stand by our milk into one tub, and when it is ready, standards in regard to all future actions skim off the cream and make butter out and allow this matter of false doctrine to die of the whole.” There you have it, the milk by default, that is, to ignore it completely. of twenty cows, one batch of butter. May I do suggest a frank talk with your District more preachers get the cream and produce Superintendent on this matter. Whatever the butter. you may then agree upon I suggest you carry out to the full. Q. As a preacher, I am tempted to talk with other preachers about the faults of an­ other preacher. How can I know when I Q. I want to move from my present pas­ am not indulging in “evil speaking”? torate. Should I wait until the assembly to do so? A. It seems that your conscience should A. Moving is somewhat like getting mar­ be a very safe guide at this point. If you ried; it can be done only when opportunity need light on what evil speaking is, 5'ou presents itself. A preacher must always live can get it from a small book by John Wes­ for the future, and if he is not satisfied in ley on the subject, or from a book called his present field or feels that his work is The Serpent’s Fangs by S. L. Flowers. I done, in either event his interest should be think either of these may be secured from in the new field where the Lord can best our own Publishing House. use him. The matter of waiting until the assembly may be the wait that was too Q. I am an evangelist and am entertained long; a number of changes may come, and in the homes of our pastors most of the every field where a certain type of preach­ time. I like this, and there is no finer group er is needed may be filled, and that may in­ than our pastors, but there is a matter that clude you. None of us will fit into every I hardly know what to do about. The mat­ field, and one of the ways to find the will ter is the careless training the children of of God is to find the open door the Lord many of our preachers seem to receive. I presents. If a call comes before the as­ notice many occasions xohere the children sembly, it would seem wise to accept it un­ have such a hold on the situation that they less there are extra good reasons why you can stop any procedure or conversation to should not. Feelings alone, if unrelated to secure their wish. In some instances the facts and information, are not safe as a basis children will make so much racket as to of decision. Many want to look at the field, bring a conversation to a halt, or to inter­ see the parsonage, etc., and get a general rupt a telephone call. Can anything be picture of the field. This is all right. In done? some cases a trial sermon is preached. This A. I doubt that anything can be done. never has seemed to be the ideal way to this First, because the people in the places where writer. A preacher never is at his best in these conditions exist live in that confusion such a time; the people cannot gauge by one until they do not notice it. Second, there sermon what a man can do. Personal ap­ are those who feel that this condition is pearance is only a small part of ministerial all right and normal, and if you should state effort, and thus it is better to take a work your objection they would feel that you without the trial business in so far as this were oversensitive. You have done well can be done. Where it is desired, this prac­ not to mention it. After all, it would be tice is permitted, and in many cases with well if many conversations were brought to good results. In all, I would advise that an end, and a lot of telephone calls are too you do not pay too much attention to months long. and days as to when you close your work, since you feel you should move. Work with Q. I put out some tracts against the “ Un­ your Superintendent, and walk in the open known Tongues Movement,’’ and received door that comes to you. some opposition from some of our folks who There are a few preachers who seem to feel that we may offend these folks. What be disturbed by many calls. It may be can I do? that they are so popular that their services A. Yours is a hard problem, and one that are in demand in many sections; then, too, will demand great care and much prayer. it may be that they leave out feelers for It is certain that you do not want to offend; calls. There are others who never have a and it is just as certain that you do not lot of calls on the waiting list. I happen want to advance, even by silence, a false to be in the latter class, for I never had but doctrine. I think that I would face the one call at a time except in my first three matter in a realistic way and would prayer­ years of holiness ministry, and I always have fully prepare a series of sermons on this felt that I should walk into the open door subject and would thus present our posi­ that came to me. For twenty-five years tion by way of the Book. This of course and more I have sought the advice of my might bring on an open fight, and one on superintendents, and have taken that advice the field would be better prepared to know without a question. I think that generally the advisability of such. We can be firm it will pay to do this all along the line.

May-Iune, 1943 (181) 45 QUOTABLE POETRY

Background God, hallow the holy impress Of the day that used to be, And keep me a pilgrim forever The world around me trumpets doubt To the shrine at my mother’s knee! In no uncertain tone; —Selected. To wandering souls who seek for bread The prophets give a stone. But still I keep the ancient f a i t h , And clamor for no other. No skeptic can erase this fact: MOTHER I had a Christian mother! It is only now I remember The scholars say the future life’s The shadows that crossed your face! A dream of some poor knave; Mother of mine you were lovely They say we’ve reached the journey’s end As the fibers of old lace! When we come to the grave. My childhood knew a happiness But still I have a burning h o p e — That wealth could never buy— I’d trade it for no other— Jewels and gold are as nothing There is a life beyond the tomb; To the memories that lie I had a Christian mother! Within me, Mother darling, Can you hear me when I say The air is fraught with sound of strife, “I honor you, dear Mother, The earth athrob with hate; Upon this Mother’s Day”? The nations arm themselves for war, —M a r g a r e t S c h a f f e r C o n n e l l y . And envy shakes the state: But still I know there is a l o v e That earth and hell can’t smother; I’ve heard it sing and seen it shine: A Song of Three Mothers I had a Christian mother! —L o n R. W o o d r u m in Herald of Holiness. Three mothers fine we’re blessed with: The oldest, Mother Earth, Our Motherland that guards us, At My Mother’s Knee And the Mother who gave us birth.

These three give constant succor, I have worshiped in churches and chapels, For arms of each are strong. I have prayed in the busy street; Their loyalty’s so splendid, I have sought my God and have found Him It well deserves a song— Where the waves of the ocean beat; I have knelt in the silent forest, A song of glad thanksgiving; In the shade of some ancient tree; A song, for each, of love; But the dearest of all my altars A song of prayer for blessing Was raised at my mother’s knee. On all three from above. I have listened to God in His temple I’ve caught His voice in the crowd; Good gifts give all these mothers, I have heard Him speak when the breakers To us, or young or old. Were booming long and loud; But one gives all, and gladly, Where the winds play soft in the treetops, Of love that can’t be told. My Father has talked to me; But I never have heard Him clearer Three mothers we acknowledge, Than I did at my mother’s knee. Three mothers great we praise. But one, oh, one is dearest, The things in my life that are worthy Since numbered are her days! Were born in my mother’s breast; —N o r m a n C. S c h l i c h t e r . And breathed into mine by the magic Of the love her life expressed. The years that have brought me to manhood, He did not come to judge the world, Have taken her far from me; He did not come to blame; But memory keeps me from straying He did not only come to seek— Too far from my mother’s knee. God, make me the man of her vision, It was to save He came: And purge me of selfishness! And when we call Him Savior, God, keep me true to her standards, Then we call Him by His name. And help me to live to bless! —D o r a G r e e n w e l l .

46 (182) The Preacher's Magazine “My Presence Will Go with Thee” When I Grow Old

When I grow old, One way alone leads out of each deep God grant that every child morass: Will feel the youthful texture of my soul, Not backward, nor to the right nor left And will not turn away from me dare we turn As from a thorn or shrunken vine But forward with Christ, and He will bring When I grow old. it to pass: The ultimate victory for which we yearn. When I grow old, Only one way, and only one Leader, Christ, God grant that I may have some task Preacher and layman following as one Which must be done, or someone fare the The great Commandment, given us unpriced, worse; The white advancing Presence of God’s That in some corner of the earth Son. Someone will need my hand When I grow old. As He said to Moses, “My presence will go — S . R . B o y c e , i n Messiah’s Advocate. with thee,” So He speaks to us today in a world dis­ traught. M y Creed Bewildered, dismayed and saddened, Lord, we see Let me be a little kinder, The agony and evil sin has wrought. Let me be a little blinder Help us to cling to Thy unfailing word; To the faults of those around me, Help us to recognize Thy presence, Lord. Let me praise a little more. —G r a c e N o l l C r o w e l l , Let me be, when I am weary, in Arkansas Methodist. Just a little bit more cheery, Let me serve a little better Those whom I am striving for. Whal Is That in Thy Hand? Let me be a little braver, When temptations bid me waver, What in your hand are you holding? Let me strive a little harder Lord, it is only a rod; To be all that I should be. Cast down, it may be a serpent, Let me be a little meeker A crawling, loathsome clod, With the brother who is weaker, But lifted up, an instrument Let me think more of my neighbor, That may be used for God. And a little less of me.

Let me be a little sweeter, What in your hand are you holding? Make my life a bit completer, Lord just a day, or an hour; By doing what I should do Time may be lost, or be wasted Every minute of the day. As a torn and crumpled flower, Let me toil without complaining, Or it may shine with a glory Not a humble task disdaining, That reflects an infinite power. Let me face the summons calmly, When God beckons me away. What in your hand are you holding? —A u t h o r U n k n o w n . One talent, or five, or ten, A fisherman’s line, or a needle, A hammer, a hoe, or a pen, In an Orchard If our small tools be cast down, Lord, Help us to lift them again. Said the robin to the sparrow, “I should really like to know What in your hand are you holding? Why these anxious human beings Lord, it is only a rod Rush about and hurry so.” Used in a most humble calling, Said the sparrow to the robin, Walking where many have trod, “Friend, I think that it must be Cast it not down for the devil, That they have no heavenly Father Lift it up—use it for God. Such as cares for you and me.” —The Watchman-Examiner. —F. M. B a r t o n , in Church Management.

May-June, 1943 (183) 47 THE PREACHER’S SCRAPBOOK

Good Advice to Preachers Do Your Work Gladly

How often life irks us. We are unhappy, Make no apologies. If you have the and the result is that our work is not of Lord’s message, declare it; if not, hold your the highest quality. peace. Have short prefaces and introduc­ How often we speak of our ailments, per­ tions. Say your best things first, and stop haps magnifying them, seeing the dark side before you get prosy. Do not spoil the ap­ of life. petite for dinner by too much thin soup. Yes, we need to be star-finders and not Leave yourself out of the pulpit, and take stain-finders. We need to look up and not Jesus in. Defend the gospel and let the down. We need to recapture the glory of Lord defend you and your character. mere living. Do not get excited too soon. Do not run Ideal conditions exist nowhere. The only away from your remarks. Engine driving job that looks perfectly satisfactory is the wheels whirl fast on an icy track, but when one that someone else has. But if we got loaded go slower. It takes a cold hammer the same job, somehow it would lose its to bend a hot iron. Heat up the people, glamor. but keep the hammer wet and cool. Do not And then, if conditions are not as we bawl and scream. Too much water stops would have them, we can always improve millwheels and too much noise drowns them. That’s what we are in the world sense. Empty vessels ring the loudest. for. Jesus and His followers down through Powder is not shot. Thunder is harmless, history have improved men and conditions. lightning kills. O for the simple gift of living, of seeing each day as a new opportunity for increased If you have lightning, you can afford to service. Serving others in love is the sim­ thunder. Don’t scold the people. Do not ple recipe which adds so much zest to life. abuse the faithful souls who come to meet­ When we feel ourselves slipping, let us ing on rainy days, because others are too use a little sand. When we come to the lazy to attend. Preach the best to the small­ end of our rope, let us tie a knot and hang est assemblies; Jesus preached to one wom­ on. There is no such thing as an impossible an at the well, and she got all Samaria out situation in life.—S e l e c t e d . to hear Him the next time.—A u t h o r U n­ k n o w n . Try Tears

Recognises “Jesus Man” When General Booth received a communi­ cation from one of his captains, that the work was so hard he could make no prog­ After an air fight with fourteen Japanese ress, the General sent a telegram back, “Try planes, Lieut. Clarence Sanford was forced tears.” We are told success came to that down for lack of gas. He stripped off his corps. If the Church of God followed the clothes and swam three miles to shore, same advice more frequently, she might reap where he collapsed. When he came to, he a larger harvest of souls.—W m . O l n e y . found two black aborigines with spears up­ raised standing over him. “Jap?” asked one of the natives. “No,” the American flyer Not by Bread Alone answered. “Jesus?” asked the other na­ tive, pointing to a little cross which San­ God’s dealings with us spiritually are not ford was wearing on his chest. “Sure, Je­ always on the line of ample supply. There sus man,” he replied. With that the natives is a place for spiritual barrenness and pov­ lowered their spears and helped the flyer 25 erty. The answer to prayer is often long miles to the home of an English missionary. delayed; the trial continues until “hope de­ He found he was on Bremer Island, north ferred maketh the heart sick,” and the of Australia, to which country he sailed after world asks, “Where is thy G od?” the missionary had cared for him. That It is all part of His way of wisdom and flyer must now have a new appreciation for love, and designed, when the answer comes, foreign missionary work!—The Pentecostal to make it the more significant and precious Evangel. because of the trial which delayed it. Doubtless the past has brought all of us these lessons, and we can recall the chasten­ Jesus did not argue that God answers ing which was not joyous. But looking prayer—he prayed, sometimes all night, and upon it in the happy afterward, we can in the morning “the power of the Lord was say it has wrought the peaceable fruit of present to heal.”— E. S t a n l e y J o n e s . righteousness.—A. B. S i m p s o n .

48 (184) The Preacher's Magazine SERMON OUTLINES .

A Mother’s Day Sermon to me and bid me play the man. I’ll try.”—C a r l i s l e . IV. T h e r e C a m e t h e T i m e W h e n S h e C o u l d T e x t —And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, No L o n g e r H id e H i m . . . and put the child therein; and she 1. Moses could not always be hidden. She laid it in the flags by the river’s brink made an ark of bulrushes. (Exodus 2: 3). a. She prepared him for the inevitable contact he must make with the I ntroduction world (Heb. 11: 23). 1. This text lifts the curtain on a humble b. By faith, she prepared him for the Israelitish home. Little is known about future. Amram, the father. 2. Time comes when the close tie and 2. There have been outstanding mothers constant care of a mother is broken, in every age. Hannah, Sarah, Eunice, a. First day at school—no mother ever Lois, the Spartan mother, Lincoln’s forgets that first morning. mother. 3. Unfortunate the lad for whom no I. H e r e W e L e a r n o f J o c h e b e d (Mother of Christian mother has prepared an ark. M oses). Paul said, “When I call to remembrance 1. She lived in Egypt as a slave to Pha­ the unfeigned faith that is in thee, raoh. which dwelt first in thy grandmother 2. Moses was born in this land where the Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I sentence of death was decreed by the am persuaded that in thee also.” king for all “men children.” V. H e r F a i t h R e w a r d e d 3. We know of Moses today because of the faith and care of his mother. 1. The king’s daughter found him. The very urgency that designed his de­ II. S h e H id H i m T h r e e M o n t h s struction became the protection and 1. Beautiful picture of a mother’s love; care he needed. those wonderful days when a child is Placed him back in the shelter of virtually hidden in the very life of a love of his mother’s arms; contrary to mother. the decree. 2. Hidden because the “killer” might find 2. His later choice. him. Her love shielded her baby from a. He decided to suffer with the peo­ the death blow of the king’s execu­ ple of God. tioner. b. Served in true loyalty as his mother 3. What a striking suggestion of a true had taught him. mother. Every baby is born with sin 3. Walked in obedience. Obeyed the in its heart. The powers of sin and call and was God’s chosen leader that hell are seeking to destroy. liberated his mother’s people from bondage. II I. T h e H i d i n g P l a c e Her faith became his faith; “By faith 1. Hidden in her prayers. I am sure Moses, when he was come to years, Jochebed prayed. She would not give refused ...” (Heb. 11:24, 25). in but trusted God. “My Name in Mother’s Prayer,” by Billhorn. a. She would not give in. I have worshiped in churches and chapels b. She trusted God. I have prayed in the busy street. 2. Hidden in her teachings. What an in­ I have sought my God and found Him fluence! Guarded against evil through Where the waves of the ocean beat. the teachings of a godly mother. I have knelt in the silent forest a. Timothy—godly teaching of moth­ In the shade of some ancient tree, er and grandmother. But the dearest of all my altars b. “It is but a step to Calvary. Her Was raised at my mother’s knee. gentle hand upon my brow, Is lead­ ing me to Jesus now.” I have listened to God in the temple, 3. Hidden in her love. No love like the I have caught His voice in the crowd. love of a mother. I have heard Him speak where the breakers a. "When the evidence is all in, there Were booming long and loud. is a great area of life that remains When the wind played soft in the treetops yet unknown and unknowable, ex­ My Father has talked to me cept by the guidance of a mother’s But I never heard Him clearer love.” Than I did at my mother’s knee. b. “Yonder from your grave in the —Selected (author unknown).—W e a v e r W . church yard, Mother, you still speak H e s s .

May-June, 1943 (185) 49 Whitsunday or Pentecost 3. Supreme joyousness (Eph. 5: 19). Will enable the believer to be joyous in time of sorrow and trial. A c t s 2 : 1, 4 4. Prayer and thanksgiving (Eph. 5: 20). Introduction: In the ecclesiastical calendar 5. Power in working for Christ (Acts Whitsunday memorializes the outpouring of 1 : 8 ). the Spirit at Pentecost. This was the “prom­ 6. Spirit of yieldedness (Eph. 5: 21). ise of the Father” for which the disciples This will be the end of all strife. Christ is were to wait to qualify them to witness the supreme example.—P. B. F i t z w a t e r , in for Christ of His death and Resurrection Gospel Banner. to the ends of the earth (Luke 24: 49). We are still living in the days of Pente­ cost. To be filled with the Holy Spirit is the supreme need of every Christian, in or­ Lukewarmness der that he may effectually witness to the world of the redemption work wrought by S c r i p t u r e : Revelation 3: 15, 16. Christ through His death and resurrection. Here is a startling statement—God is sick I. How the Believer Is Related to the Holy at His stomach. Spirit. I. W h o Is t h e C a u s e o f H i s S i c k n e s s ? 1. Regenerated by the Spirit (Eph. 2: 1; 1. Not sinners. cf. John 3:5). a. He promised rest for the weary. 2. Indwelt by the Spirit (Gal. 4: 6). In­ b. He forgave the woman taken in dwelling of the Spirit is His advance work adultery. upon regeneration. 2. Not backsliders. 3. Filled (Acts 2: 4). The believers were a. He had pity for Peter. all filled with the Holy Ghost at Pentecost, 3. A church. and were again and again filled with the a. They thought well of themselves. Spirit. b. But God is jealous. II. The Necessity of Being Filled with the (1) Of His name. Holy Spirit. (2) Of His holiness 1. No one has a right to do any work for (3) Of our love. Christ until filled with the Spirit (Luke II. W h y ? 24: 48, 49; Acts 1: 8). If the apostles who 1. Not because of faulty organization. had been so closely associated with Christ 2. Not because of sinful lives. for three or more years needed to be filled, 3. Not because of false doctrine. much more we. 4. Their service came from lukewarm 2. The temporalities of the Church should hearts. be in the hands of Spirit-filled men (Acts III. W h y Is He Opposed to Lukewarmness? 6: 1-3). 1. It is repulsive. 3. This equipment is for all believers. It a. Illustrate—a game in which neither is not confined to the ministry, but essential seeks to win. for the proper discharge of obligations in b. A half-hearted handshake. all walks of life. c. Lukewarm water. III. How to Be Filled with the Spirit. 2. It robs of progress. 1. Must thirst for Him (John 7: 37). If you have all you want, you will not 2. Must come to Christ (John 7: 37). seek more. Christ is the dispenser of this priceless gift. a. Of money. 3. Must drink (John 7: 37). This means b. Of learning. to take by faith one’s birthright (Gal. 3: 2; c. Of spirituality. cf. Acts 2: 38). More hope for a praying publican than 4. Love righteousness and hate iniquity a self-satisfied Pharisee. (Heb. 1: 9). Sin in every form must be 3. It kills power to serve. renounced. a. Keeps others from the kingdom. 5. By obedience (Acts 5: 32). There b. An engine filled with lukewarm wa­ must be absolute surrender to the divine ter cannot even blow the whistle. will. IV. S ig n s 6. Definite prayer (Luke 11: 13). This 1. Prayerlessness. prayer roust be exercised in faith (Mark 2. Passion for souls gone. 11: 24). 3. Criticalness. IV. The Results of Being Filled with the 4. Looseness. Spirit. V. Is T h e r e a C u r e ? 1. Under the power of a new law (Rom. 1. Yes, it is prescribed here. 8: 2). The Holy Spirit acting in conjunc­ a. I stand and knock. tion with the renewed man is able to give b. If you hear and open. victory over the flesh. “I will come in and sup with him 2. Indwelt by Christ (Eph. 3: 17). This and he with me.” will result in new knowledge of Christ (John 2. The cause is, that He is shut out. 15: 26; new love for God and men (Gal. a. Not by sin. 5: 22). b. But by unwelcomeness.

SO (186) The Preacher's Magazine 3. Cure is welcoming constant presence of ence to Him; not just bearing it, but Christ. rejoicing in it, then patience has its a. Not necessarily public altar. perfect work. b. Re-establishment of prayer life and The Christian will be furnished with all Bible reading. that is necessary to win.

c. Love grows and heart becomes fer­ I I I . D u t i e s W e N e ed t o E x e r c is e W h i l e in vent. T r ia l d. Passion for souls revives. 1. Prayer; not for the removal, but for e. Criticism vanishes. graces of joy, faith and patience. Not f. Life becomes holy. wavering or staggering at the promises. —E d w a r d P a u l . 2. Steadfastness. 3. The wavering ones meet failures (vs. 7, 8). Displease God, and bring contempt of Pentecost the world.

C o n c l u s io n I. T h e M e a n i n g o f P e n t e c o s t 1. The Spirit on them. Great blessings received: not the one who 2. The Spirit in them. suffers, but the one who comes through 3. The Spirit through them. victoriously. Approved by God, which II. T h e M e s s a g e o f P e n t e c o s t should be the aim of all. God has prom­ 1. Distinct from conversion. ised this blessedness: condition — Love 2. Intended for service. God! 3. Proved by results. Trials the only way to receive such a III. T h e S e c r e t o f P e n t e c o s t crown; a cross here, but a crown in 1. Singleness of aim, “one accord” (Acts eternity.—S. E l l s w o r t h N o t h s t i n e . 2: 1). 2. Preparedness of spirit, “continuing in Prodigal Son prayer” (Acts 1: 14; 2: 1). 3. Willingness of life, “began to speak” (Acts 2: 4). I llustrative T e x t s —The backslider in heart IV. T h e P r e a c h i n g o f P e n t e c o s t shall be filled with his own ways (Prov. 1. Its matter—a personal Christ. 14: 14). Thine own wickedness shall cor­ 2. Its matter—clearly, completely, con­ rect thee, and thy backslidings shall re­ vincingly. prove thee: know therefore and see that V. T h e C h u r c h o f P e n t e c o s t it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou 1. Its life expressed—in truth, power, hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that love, joy. my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord 2. Its life explained—Christ for them, a God of hosts (Jer. 2: 19). Saviour accepted; Christ in them, a Friend experienced; Christ through Let us present the Prodigal Son under three them, a Master manifested.—W. H. heads: G r i f f i t h T h o m a s , in Gospel Banner. I. G o i n g A w a y f r o m H o m e (Luke 15: 12- 14). • 1. Restless. The Blessed Man 2. Rebellious. 3. Roving.

T e x t —J a m e s 1: 1-12. 4. Riotous. Introduction 5. Reckless. Sketch the life of James and tell of the 6. Ruined. writing of his book. 7. Rejected by associates in riotous living. I. T h e S u f f e r i n g s o f a C h r i s t i a n I I . H o m e s i c k (vs. 15-19). 1. All will suffer; trials, etc., will come. 1. Reflecting. 2. The devil’s use of them. . 2. Recounting—his temporal blessings at Gold put in fire—purified. home. 3. Trials numerous and various. 3. Regretting—the course he had taken. Need the whole armor of God. 4. Resolving. II. G r a c e s W e N e e d t o E x e r c is e W h i l e i n 5. Renouncing—the old life of sin. T r ia l 6. Repenting. 1. Joy; some teach to be calm under 7. Returning. trial, but James says the Christian is to be joyful. In trials we are made I I I . H o m e A g a i n ( v s . 20-32) more Christlike. 1. Recognized—by his father. 2. Faith (vs. 3 and 6). 2. Received—by his father. Belief in power and promises of God. 3. Reconciled—to his father. 3. Patience. 4. Restored—to former position of son- When we bear that which God allows ship. to come upon us, and as long as He 5. Robed—by order of the father. allows it to remain, with humble obedi­ 6. Ringed—by order of the father.

May-June, 1943 (187) 51 7. Reshod—by order of the father. 3. Loyalty and faith to God and the 8. Reinstated—to his proper place at the church; increase our faith. table. This brings to us— 9. Rejected—by his elder brother. III. O u r C h a l l e n g e 10. Resurrected—“This thy brother was 1. Seize the opportunity before us. dead.” Work, grow, fight and shout together. 11. Resting—in his father’s home. I appreciate the great privilege of be­ 1 2 . Rejoicing—W . W. L o v e l e s s . ing your pastor, and God’s servant here. Let us work together for victory. 2. Let us get our needs filled. 3. Stand together in every crisis; stand, become strong fighters for God. Seven Types of Humanity “ Behold how they love one another.” (Illustrated by Elijah’s experience with C o n c l u s i o n Ahab and Jezebel, with Obadiah, with the Will we grasp our opportunity? people, and with two schools of false proph­ Will we get our needs filled? ets.) Will we accept the challenge? Think what we could be if all were con­ T e x t —How long halt ye between two opinions (1 Kings 18:21). formed to God’s will (see Eph. 3: 20). The Seven Types Represented by— — S . E l l s w o r t h N o t h s t i n e . 1. Ahab—weakly, wicked. As wicked as Jezebel, but cried like a • baby when he got into trouble. 2. Jezebel—Strongly wicked. Three Marks of a Sanctified Life Shamelessly wicked, and never flinched from her wicked course. T e x t — 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20. 3. The People of Israel—weakly neutral. I. A L i f e B a s e d o n D i v i n e R e d e m p t io n When Elijah called upon them to “Ye are not your own.” choose between God and Baal, they II. A L i f e M a r k e d b y D i v i n e I n d w e l l in g answered him “not a word.” “Your body is the temple of the Holy 4. Obadiah— strongly neutral. Ghost” Proved himself (to his own satisfaction) III. A L if e G iv e n O v e r t o t h e G l o r y o f G od a friend of both Elijah and Jezebel, and “T herefore glorify God.” defended his course. —S e l e c t u d . 5. The Prophets of the Grove—weakly idolatrous. Idolaters; but were unknown when the real testing time came. 6. The Prophets of Baal—strongly idol­ Expository Outlines atrous. Outspokenly for Baal, and stood their ground until finally over­ The Importance of Holiness come. 7. Elijah—out and out for the Lord. From (1 Peter 1: 15, 16; Heb. 12: 14; Eph. 5 : 25-27) beginning to end he proved himself I. H o l i n e s s Is B e a u t i f u l . A t t r a c t i v e , B e n e ­ loyal to God, standing alone, and came f i c i a l a n d P r a c t i c a l out gloriously victorious in the end. 1. Definition of holiness. A Question—To which of these seven a. Relative to God. classes do I, do you, belong? Name applied to the quality of God’s —Gospel Banner. moral nature. Sinlessness, purity, love, benevolence in all these phases. Permeates all of God’s character and work until we can say, God is holy Co-operation Wins in all His being and manifests holi­ ness in all His work. Holiness is the T e x t —Exodus 17. moral life of God. I ntroduction —Story of the scripture. b. Relative to man. Introduce the subject of “Co-operation God’s life and moral character trans­ Wins.” ferred to man’s moral character. I. O u r O p p o r t u n i t y . Used to signify both a state and a 1. Our field; the community surrounding life. Holiness in man is always rela­ the church. tive while in God it is absolute. 2. Need of holiness in life and heart of 2. Treated in general sense. humanity. a. Holiness of heart and life. Brings to us— b. Holiness is inclusive of every II. O u r N e ed grace. 1. A church which will preach the whole II . I m p o r t a n c e o f H o l i n e s s gospel. 1. It is the central theme of the Bible, 2. Consecrated teachers, singers, visiting a. Displayed in creation. committees. (1) Declared each day’s work good 52 (188) The Preacher's Magaiine and made holy or hallowed the 4. The names used to designate the Sabbath. Church reveal the relationship to holi­ (2) Man in the Garden of Eden was ness. holy and enjoyed holy fellow­ a. Ecclesia — called out ones — called ship. from, called to. b. Abraham was called out to be holy; b. The body of Christ — Christ the “walk before me, and be thou per­ Head, the Church drawing her fect” (Gen. 17: 1). strength and directions and plans c. Job—Job 1: 8. from the head. d. Holiness displayed in the law. c. The Bride of the Lamb, chaste, pure, (1) Moses was awed with it at the clean, prepared to go to live with burning bush. the Bridegroom in the place of holi­ (2) All the types, shadows, ordi­ ness that He has prepared. nances, and ceremonies of the 5. History shows that the church pro­ law typified some phase of the gresses spiritually as she emphasizes holiness of God. holiness. (3) The priesthood typified the IV. B e c a u s e H o l i n e s s Is t h e C h i e f G l o r y Priest that should come who o f C hristianity would be holy, harmless, unde­ filed, separate from sinners, and 1. The God of the Hebrews and Christians higher than the heaven. is the only God that professes to b« e. The poets of Israel spoke and sang holy. of holiness. 2. The Gospel of Christ, the cardinal doc­ “Exalt ye the Lord our God and trine of the Church, gives the world the worship at his footstool, for he is only means whereby men can be made holy.” holy. “Worship the Lord in the beauty of 3. Christianity gives us a holy heaven, the holiness.” home of holy spirits, an eternal home “God sitteth upon the throne of his of holiness. holiness.” 4. The saints who have made an impres­ “Holiness becometh thy house, O sion on the world for Christ have been Lord, forever.” holy in their living and many of them f. The prophets caught the vision of have advocated holiness of heart as God’s holiness. well as life. “The work of God does g. Zacharias, father of John the Bap­ not prosper where perfect love is not tist, saw holiness as the main pro­ preached.”—W e s l e y . vision of redemption (Luke 1: 73- V. C o n c l u s io n 75). Since holiness is the central theme of the h. John the Baptist testified of the Bible, and the Christian Church was in­ work of Christ providing holiness stituted and founded on holiness and holi­ (Matt. 3: 11, 12). ness has been and still is the chief glory i. Jesus prayed that the apostles and of Christianity, surely it is worthy of the disciples might be holy. His whole consideration of every thinking person.— teaching shows the standard of holi­ L e w i s T. C o r l e t t . ness. j. Paul wrote of it (1 Thess. 4: 7; Heb. • 12: 14). k. Peter wrote of it (1 Peter 1: 15, 16). The Source of Holiness 1. John wrote of it. (1) Cleansing from all sin. (1 Peter 1: 15, 16; Hebrews 9: 11-15) (2) Pictured in His place of holiness I. H o l i n e s s H a s a B a c k g r o u n d t h a t Is Un­ in Revelation. questionable , a F o u n d a t i o n t h a t Is U n- m. “Holy” placed as the descriptive ad­ s h a k e a b l e , a n d a S o u r c e t h a t Is F a t h ­ jective in the title of the Bible. o m l e s s

II I. H o l i n e s s Is I m p o r t a n t B e c a u s e t h e 1. Surely such a doctrine that is so im­ C h r i s t i a n C h u r c h W a s I n s t i t u t e d i n t h e portant has an interesting and sub­ A t m o s p h e r e o f H o l i n e s s , F o u n d e d o n t h e stantial source. D o c t r i n e o f H o l i n e s s a n d C ommissioned 2. Mistaken source of holiness. t o P r o p a g a t e H o l i n e s s t o t h e E n d o f t h e a. A new doctrine by holiness preach­ A ge ers. 1. Pentecost is usually given as the start­ b. From the creeds of certain churches. ing point of the Christian Church. 3. Considered from two viewpoints. 2. Pentecost and the doctrine of holiness a. The ultimate basis or source. are inseparable. b. The ultimate source made accessi­ 3. The whole setting of Pentecost was the ble to man. fulfillment of God’s plan of holiness. II. T h e U l t i m a t e S o u r c e o f t h e H o l i n e s s a. “This is that.” Is i n t h e C h a r a c t e r o f G o d b. Fulfillment of O. T. types and shad­ 1. It has its origin in the moral character ows (Heb. 11: 40). of God. “I am holy.”

Mcy-June, 1943 (189) 53 2. The seraphim chant, “Holy, holy is the a. Through His life and death, atone­ Lord God of hosts,” was more than ment was offered whereby man praise, it was their involuntary recog­ could draw nigh to God (Heb. 10: nition of the nature of God. 19-22). 3. God is holy in all His nature and re­ b. Christ stated through prayer and lations. discourse that this was the reason a. Jesus applied the word “holy” to for His coming (John 17). the Father (John 17: 11). c. Paul stated it (Eph. 5: 25-27; Heb. b. God ascribes holiness to Himself 13: 12). IV. M a n Is L e f t i n t h e P o s i t i o n o f B eing (Lev. 11: 45; Lev. 21: 8). c. “ Wherever God is there is holiness; A b l e t o C o m e B o l d l y t o t h e T h r o n e o f a H o l y G o d t o B e c o m e a P a r t a k e r o f H is whatever portrays God, that is holy. H o l y N a t u r e a n d E n j o y H o l y F e l l o w s h ip The spot where He manifested Him­ a n d F i n a l l y B e T a k e n t o a H o l y H e av en . self to Moses in the burning bush —L e v / i s T . C o r l e t t . was holy ground hallowed by the approach of the Holy Ghost. The • day dedicated to Him is a holy Sab­ bath, hallowed by the word of the The Necessity of Holiness Holy God. The place where He lives is a holy heaven—for it is the home (Rom. 8: 1-11; Rom. 5: 11-21) of the Holy God; the place where I. H o l i n e s s , W h e n C o n s id e r e d f r o m M a n ’s His temple stands is a holy hill, for C o n d i t i o n , B e c o m e s a n A b s o l u t e N e ce s­ it is the house of the Holy God. The s i t y Spirit sent from God is the Holy From now on the messages will deal with Spirit, the seed conceived by God holiness as related to man, in experience, is the Holy Christ Jesus. The rev­ growth and destiny. elation inspired by God is the Holy II. H o l i n e s s Is a N e c e s s i t y t o S o l v e M a n ’ s Scriptures, the commandments ut­ P r o b l e m tered by God are the holy com­ 1. Man as a race has only one problem. mandments, the heart where God a. Universal problem irrespective of dwells unrivaled must be a holy clime, color, or nationality. heart.” b. The sin problem. 4. God is holy in His nature and essence. 2. In order to understand the sin problem God is holy in all His works. we must first consider man as God’s God holy in His dominion and govern­ creation. ment. In all His relationships with a. Created in the divine image. man. (1) Personality. God will be holy in all decisions of (2) Moral likeness—holiness. judgment. (3) Both of these were relative in relation to God the Absolute, [II. T h e F o u n t a i n S o u r c e M a d e A c c e s s ib l e same in quality but inferior in t o M a n quantity. 1. The holiness of God from the negative b. Man was created with moral sover­ phase holds man at a distance. eignty. a. The holiness of God consists of an (1) Power of choice. absolute approbation of righteous­ (2) Power of creation. ness coexistent with an absolute ab­ (3) Naturally demanded a period of horrence of sin. probation. b. The higher vision one has of the c. Man was placed in a world free from holiness of God, the darker and the physical effects of sin. Every­ more dismal is sin. thing external conducive to holiness. c. Thus man was held back from God 3. Must also consider what man lost in by the holy abhorrence of sin. the Fall. a. Did not lose personality. 2. Man could not raise himself to God’s b. Did not end the probationary period. holiness. c. Lost his standing before God— a. This had been tried through the changed from an obedient child to a law but did not succeed (Rom. 8: 1- rebel—from a citizen to an alien. 3). d. Lost his relationship with God—life b. Personal experience of all ages tes­ severed, lost fellowship. tified of the condemnation of sin and e. Did not lose all the moral likeness the separation entailed. to God still had the faculties neces­ 3. The positive angle of the holiness of sary to be like God morally, but God, that of love and benevolence, they were deprived of the spiritual made Him yearn to help His fallen life of God. creation (John 3: 16). f. Became both sinful and a sinner. 4. God bridged the gap and made holi­ Attitudes, motives, and deeds were ness accessible through the Gift of His against God. Motivating life, self Son. life corrupted.

54 (190) The Preacher's Magazine 4. Holiness is necessary to get man out b. Especially is this true in the great of this sinful condition and state. art of living. a. Man lost holiness and became de­ c. Holiness has a creative power or a praved so the only way he can have stimulating energy that arouses, his moral nature renewed is by re­ awakens, encourages, inspires, en­ ceiving holiness again. lightens, actuates, and motivates the b. In the fall man was deprived of faculties of man. spiritual life and his relation to God I V . N e c e s s a r y t o O b e y t h e C o m m a n d s o f was severed. The only way that G o d (1 Peter 1: 15, 16; 1 Thess. 4: 3 ; Heb. this can be restored is by the life 12: 14; Eph. 5: 25-27) of God being imparted or implanted V . M a n W i l l A l w a y s L iv e B e n e a t h H is in man's nature. The life of God H i g h e s t a n d G r e a t e s t P r iv il e g e s a n d is holiness. A b i l i t i e s W i t h o u t H o l i n e s s .— L e w i s T. c. Preceding outline showed that it C o r l e t t . was the positive side of holiness that caused God to provide the way of redemption and restoration and made the overtures of mercy. Prayer Meeting Suggestions d. Holiness is not a mere doctrine, it is the name applied to the moral Studies in the First Epistle of Peter life of God—thus the answer to Frequently a pastor desires to use a series death caused by the incoming of of prayer meeting messages from one book sin can only be the life that has of the Bible. Here are eight outlines for never felt the touch of sin, that of suggested studies on the First Epistle of the God-man (2 Peter 1: 3, 4). Peter. Much interest may be created among e. Impartation of divine life makes the the members of the church if special an­ person a child of God, restores him nouncement of the series is made and if the to divine favor and renews the fel­ people are encouraged to read the epistle lowship broken by sin. before attending the services. f. The steps in the process will be de­ It is essential that the pastor familiarize veloped in later outlines. himself with the message of this book. He should read it several (from six to ten) III. H o l i n e s s Is a N e c e s s i t y t o S a t i s f y times until the whole message of the book M a n ’ s C a p a c i t y a n d t o C a u s e H i s W h o l e stands out in his mind. Since in such a B e in g t o W o r k i n a H a r m o n i o u s R e l a ­ study only the high points of the book will t i o n s h i p be emphasized, and the study series is not 1. Man was made holy. All his faculties to become so long that the people lose in­ were made with the idea in mind that terest, care must be exercised not to be­ they were to function in holiness. come lost in the details of the message. It a. The normal state of the first man is not necessary to say something about was holy: his motives were holy; every verse or statement in the letter; some his thoughts were holy; his fellow­ of the more detailed points may be reserved ship was holy; his life was clean for separate messages or sermons later. and holy. The general theme of the book seems to b. Man’s faculties, spiritual, mental and be: pnysical, demand an atmosphere and C h r i s t i a n V ic t o r y i n S u f f e r in g life of holiness in order for them to There is no more appropriate message function to the highest degree of for this day of war and trouble than one efficiency and satisfaction. of this nature. As the study proceeds keep 2. All the discord in man’s life is caused in mind the trouble and sorrow brought to by the lack of holiness. your own people by their everyday experi­ a. That is not stating that if a person ences, the war, etc.; and relate the general is sanctified wholly all will be har­ theme of the book to each particular mes­ mony. Holiness will not be com­ sage. pleted in its entirety until glorifica­ The thought of suffering stands out in tion. the book. The word “suffer” in some of b. Sin is the absence of holiness and its forms appears in First Peter at least sin in the life is like grit in the sixteen times; eight of these are related to cylinder oil of a car, causing the Christ and His sufferings, and eight are re­ car to function improperly, or wa­ lated to the sufferings of Christians. ter in the gasoline or a short in the In this first study let us note: wiring. I. T h e B a c k g r o u n d o f t h e B o o k 3. Holiness is an absolute necessity to Study the foreword given in any good enable mankind to reach the highest commentary before comments are given degree of efficiency in any realm. on the message. It will reveal the con­ a. Man may accomplish a degree of dition of the world and of the people to efficiency in a realm but he would whom the message was addressed. do better if he is holy in heart and II. A d d r e s s e d t o “ T h e S t r a n g e r s S c a t t e r e d life. T h r o u g h o u t ...”

May-June, 1943 (191) 55 They were exiles of the dispersion, Chris­ How? “According to his abundant mercy” tian refugees who by persecution were —the new life, a spiritual life, they pos­ living as foreigners in that section of the sessed, was a gift through the mercy of world commonly known as Asia Minor— God. Pontus, Galatia, etc., were provinces of I I . N e w H o p e P o s s e s s e d T h e m western Asia (look them up on some of Their old hopes of a restored Israel as a the maps in the back portion of most Bi­ nation were gone. Through Christ and bles) . His mercy they had been begotten again III. T h e W r it e r , P e t e r , a s A p o s t l e o f J e s u s to a “living hope.” Not only a present C h r i s t or momentary hope, but to “a life of He himself was a refugee, a fellow sufferer hope” (Moffatt) — living continually in with these Christians to whom the letter that hope. How blessed is this living is addressed. He was not in any of the hope. The basis of this life of hope is provinces of western Asia herein men­ “by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from tioned, but he was with the church in the dead.” Babylon (ch. 5: 13). So he knew of the I I I . N e w I n h e r i t a n c e troubles and sufferings of the exiles or Their old inheritance was lost, they had refugees by his own experience. been driven from their homes for their witness to Christ, they were refugees; IV. T h e P u r p o s e S e e m s t o B e S u g g e s t e d i n but they were not without an inheritance. ch. 5: 12 Their new life in Christ, their living hope “I have written briefly, exhorting, and was unto an inheritance. testifying that this is the true grace of 1. This new inheritance is “reserved in God wherein ye stand.” No matter where heaven” (kept safe for you in heaven— they were, in Asia or Babylon, under what Goodspeed). This could not be taken circumstances they lived, or what the from them as their earthly inheritance burden of their sufferings; the “true grace had been. of God” furnished the foundation for their 2. It is incorruptible (unscathed, imper­ standing. ishable) . The method he used is by “exhorting” 3. It is undefiled (unsullied, inviolate). and “testifying.” The “exhorting” was his 4. It fadeth not away (unfading). privilege as an elder; the “testifying” was I V . N e w S e c u r i t y his privilege because of personal experi­ 1. “Kept by the power of God”—guarded ence, he was a fellow sufferer. or garrisoned by God’s power as a king V. T h e I ntroduction (ch. 1:1, 2) would garrison a position by his 1. They were strangers, scattered through strongest armed guard. these particular provinces—so they ap­ 2. Through what were they kept or gar­ peared to be from the human point of risoned? Through faith—not by feel­ view; but they were “elect . . . of ing, by struggling, but by faith. God” from the spiritual point of view. 3. How long were they to be kept? Unto 2. Their election was: the final salvation, of which they were a. According to the foreknowledge of now enjoying an earnest, or an initial God the Father. experience—“Unto salvation ready to b. Brought about “through sanctifica­ be revealed in the last time.” tion of the Spirit.” V . T h e s e F a c t o r s P e t e r C o n s id e r e d W ere c. “Unto obedience to Jesus Christ and C a u s e f o r P r a i s e t o G o d to be sprinkled with his blood” “Blessed be the God and Father of our (Goodspeed). Lord Jesus Christ, which . . . hath. . . .” 3. The salutation. a. “ Grace—the rich favor of God in THIRD STUDY salvation and in His continued blessings—unto you.” Safe in the Test b. “And peace—a state of heart indi­ (Ch. 1: 6-12) vidually, and a condition of life I. As R e f u g e e s , T h e y W e r e E xperiencing among the saints—be multiplied.” M a n i f o l d T e m p t a t i o n s o r T r i a l s 1. Suffering, sorrow, distress were their SECOND STUDY lot. Relate this thought to some pres- ent-day experiences. The Blessing of Salvation 2. These sufferings may bring heaviness (Ch. 1: 3-5) for a season. This heaviness is con­ sistent with full salvation (see Isaiah In the midst of their exile and suffering 50: 10). This heaviness is but “for a Peter would have them consider the bless­ season”—a passing moment. ings of salvation. We too should consider 3. These sufferings, trials or tests were these in this our day of trouble. Let us designed by their enemies as persecu­ note the blessings salvation had brought to tions to defeat and destroy them; but them: in reality God saw them as the prov­ I . N e w L i f e i n C h r i s t ing of their faith (to prove your faith They were “begotten . . . again.” is sterling—Moffatt). This proving of

56 (192) The Preacher's Magazine their faith was a very precious thing—- III. T h i s C o n f id e n c e Is B r o u g h t b y “more precious than of gold that per- 1. Redemption through the blood of Christ isheth, though it be tried with fire.” (vs. 18, 19). Their standing in these tests and suf­ 2. A faith and hope in God and not in the ferings “might be found unto praise corruptible things, etc. and honour and glory at the appear­ IV. T h i s C o n f id e n c e Is F o u n d e d u p o n G od’s ing of Jesus Christ.” W o r d I I . I n T r i a l s T h e y W e r e R e j o i c i n g 1. It liveth and abideth forever (v. 23). 1. They were rejoicing greatly in the 2. Endureth forever (v. 25). blessing of salvation, even in the midst 3. Had been preached to them—it was of their trials and sufferings, “Wherein theirs through their receiving of it (v. ye greatly rejoice” (v. 6). 25). Such confidence in Christ and His 2. They were rejoicing because of their Word assures them of Christian victory relationship with Christ (vs. 8, 9). in the midst of their suffering. a. They had received the end of their faith, the salvation of their souls FIFTH STUDY (v. 9). b. This salvation was through faith in The Spiritual House the unseen but greatly loved Christ (v. 8). (Ch. 2: 1-25) (1) The unseen Christ was real to them. I. C h r i s t (2) They had a sincere love to 1. The chief corner stone (v. 6). Christ. 2. Redeemer (v. 24). (3) They had a deep undertone of 3. Shepherd and Bishop (Guardian) (v. joy in spite of suffering. “Be­ 25). lieving, ye rejoice with joy un­ II. B e l ie v e r s speakable and full of glory.” 1. Living stones (v. 5). To whom Christ is precious (the preciousness). I I I . T h i s S a l v a t i o n W a s o f I n t e r e s t t o 2. Chosen generation (chosen or elect O t h e r s 1. It was the object of the search of the race) (v. 9). prophets (vs. 10, 11). 3. Holy priesthood (v. 5); royal priest­ 2. The interest of the angels (v. 12). hood (v. 9). 3. But they (and we) were its blest re­ 4. Holy nation (v. 9). cipients (v. 12). 5. A peculiar people (a people for God’s Emphasize in closing the place of rejoicing own possession—R. V.) (v. 9). and victory even in the midst of severe 6. The people of God (v. 10). trials and suffering which test our faith. 7. Strangers (sojourners) and pilgrims We by faith in Christ may be safe in the (v. 11). testing times. These facts stress not only the personal relationship of believers in the spiritual house to Christ, the Chief Comer Stone FOURTH STUDY (they having tasted that the Lord is gra­ cious, v. 3); but especially do they empha­ The Confidence of Salvation size the union of believers with Christ and with each other in the spiritual house. Paul (Ch. 1: 13-25) called this spiritual fact, “ the unity of the I. T h e r e I s a C o n f i d e n c e o f t h e F i n a l O u t ­ Spirit” (Eph. 4: 3). The members of this c o m e o f G r a c e spiritual house or brotherhood were pass­ “The grace that is to be brought unto ing through trouble and suffering, but you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” Christ, the Chief Corner Stone, was precious (v. 13). to them in the midst of it all. 1. Because of this confidence they were III. A c t i v it i e s to “gird up the loins of your mind”; 1. Spiritual. brace up your minds— (Moffatt); pre­ a. Growth, by desiring and using the pare your minds for action (Good- sincere milk of the word (v. 2). speed). b. Offering spiritual sacrifices (v. 5); 2. They were to be sober; Keep cool— see also Heb. 13: 15, 16. (Moffatt); with perfect calmness c. Showing forth the praises of Him (Goodspeed). who hath called you out of dark­ 3. They were to hope to the end (fix ness into His marvelous light (v. 9). your hopes upon — Goodspeed); put d. Follow Christ’s example in suffering your hope for good and all in the (vs. 21-23). grace, etc.—Moffatt. 2. Conduct. II. T h i s C o n f i d e n c e I s s u e s a. Laying aside all malice, etc. (v. 1). 1. In obedience (v. 14). b. Chaste living, honest conversation 2. In holiness . . . in all manner of con­ or conduct (vs. 11, 12). versation or living (vs. 15, 16). c. Subjection to God-ordained govern­ 3. In practical results in Christian rela­ ment and respect for officials and tionships (v. 22). masters (vs. 13-18). May-June, 1943 (193) 57 d. Suffering patiently for Christ’s sake 3. We have a reason for our hope (v. 15). (vs. 19-23). 4. We possess a good conscience (v. 16). Note—The ever-present temptation to a 5. There is a consciousness of Christ’s preacher in a lesson of this kind is to be­ fellowship in our suffering or living come lost in details. This temptation may (v. 18). be overcome by a mere mention of these de­ (There is no need to speculate on the in­ tails and by resolutely staying with the main terpretation of verses 19-22 in this series of points. The chief emphasis seems to be that studies. Answers to your questions about if Christ, the Chief Corner Stone suffered, these verses may be found in any good Bi­ the spiritual house (believers in Christ) ble commentary.) will also suffer, but in the suffering He is precious to them and He is their example. SEVENTH STUDY

SIXTH STUDY Partakers of Christ’s Sufferings Christ the Lord of Life (Ch. 4: 1-19) (Ch. 3: 1-22) The central verse of this chapter seems to be verse thirteen, “Rejoice, inasmuch The central emphasis of this chapter seems as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings.” to be verse fifteen, “But sanctify the Lord To relate this study to the theme of the God in your hearts: . . . .” book “ Christian Victory in Sufferings,” The use of the word “sanctify” here does briefly summarize the situation of the peo­ not mean primarily the work of God in the ple to whom the message was addressed as believer’s heart in purity as generally the presented in the first study of this series. word is used. This sanctification is our Let us note some facts that enter into work, something we do for Christ—we the secret of victory in suffering: sanctify Him in our hearts as the Lord of our lives, put Him as the central factor of I. To B e A r m e d w i t h t h e M in d o f C h r is t life, give to Him the supreme reverence of (vs. 1-6) our lives. In the strictest sense, our ability 1. His mind was to do the will of God as to sanctify the Lord God in our hearts as suggested in v. 2. here suggested, is due to the fact that He 2. Their having the mind of Christ had has sanctified our hearts or made us holy. changed their lives (vs. 3-5). This When He is made the Lord of our lives, change had become the cause of their to suffer for Him is a joy, as Peter says, suffering, "speaking evil of you.” “Happy are ye” (v. 14). To sanctify the II. T h e P r o m i s e o f t h e E n d B e in g a t H and Lord God in our hearts is the secret of (vs. 7-14) having victory in the midst of suffering or 1. The promise of the future, the end, be­ other severe experiences of life. ing turned upon the present day of W h e n C h r i s t Is t h e L o r d o f L i f e suffering gave suffering real meaning. I . T h e r e I s a D e s ir e t o P l e a s e H i m ( v s . 1 - If we suffer for nothing worth while, 7) if there is no future benefit from suf­ 1. In home relationships (vs. 1, 2; G, 7). fering, it is hard to bear; but if the 2. In the spirit of our hearts as well as light of the future shows our present in outward adorning (vs. 3-5). (The suffering to be worth while, if it is for primary emphasis here is on the posi­ Christ’s sake, we can rejoice in the tive fact, “let it be the hidden man midst of all. of the heart” (v. 4); the secondary em­ a. This promise demanded something phasis is upon the negative phase, “Let practical of them (vs. 7-11). Since it not be” (v. 3). the end was at hand, they were to: II. B y B e in g a B l e s s i n g t o O t h e r s ( v s . 8, Be sober. 9) Watch unto prayer. 1. Being of one mind (v. 8). Have fervent charity. 2. Avoiding the rendering of evil for evil Use hospitality. (v. 9). Be good stewards of the manifold 3. Blessing others — “Contrariwise bless­ grace of God. ing” (“you must bless people”—Good- 2. The promise declares a glory to be speed). “That ye should inherit a revealed (vs. 12-14). Sufferings were blessing.” The basis of inheriting a not peculiar to them, others were ex­ blessing is by blessing others (v. 9). periencing them also—their sufferings III. B y F o l l o w i n g G o o d n e s s (vs. 13-18) were intense “fiery trials” (v. 12). 1. Following that which is good (v. 13). Since now they were suffering with No matter what are the designs of evil, Christ they had the promise of being or how fierce the persecution may be, “glad with exceeding joy” when “his nothing can hurt or harm us in our glory shall be revealed” (vs. 13, 14; spirits if we follow the good. see also 2 Cor. 4: 17, 18). 2. There is joy or blessedness in following III. T h e C o n f id e n c e o f G o d ’ s K e e p in g P o w ­ goodness even if we must suffer for e r (vs. 15-19) righteousness’ sake (v. 14). Particularly as stressed in verse 19.

58 (194) The Preacher's Magazine EIGHTH STUDY vigilant (be awake) (v. 8). b. Resist steadfast (keep your foot­ Christian Exhortations hold, Moffatt); in the faith (resist him and be strong in the faith— (Ch. 5: 1-11) Goodspeed) (v. 9, see also James The central verse of this chapter seems 4: 7). to be verse 10, “But the God of all grace, c. Others are also his victims, sharing who hath called us unto his eternal glory similar trials and sufferings (v. 9). by Christ Jesus, after that yc have suffered IV. T h e P u r p o s e ( o r E n d ) o f S u f f e r in g a while, make you perfect, stablish, (v. 10). strengthen, settle you.” Note the exhorta­ 1. Sufficient grace for all trials in the tions: God of grace (see 2 Cor. 12: 9). 2. The results or benefits of sufferings; I. T o E l d e r s — t h e S p i r i t u a l L e a d e r s 1. His own testimony (v. 1). through it God: a. “ Whom am also an elder.” a. Makes perfect, that is, whole or b. A witness (one who saw) the suf­ complete in spiritual manhood or ferings of Christ. Peter does not Christian character. use the word "cross” as does Paul; b. Stablishes, strengthens, settles. J. H. Peter's word is always “sufferings” Jowett calls these “architectural for his being an eyewitness of those metaphors . . . ‘established’ every scenes of the cross had indelibly layer firmly and securely based. stamped upon his mind how Jesus ‘Strengthened,’ splendidly seasoned, suffered. with no danger of splitting or warp­ c. A partaker of the glory that shall be ing. ‘Settled,’ the entire structure revealed. At present he was shar­ resting evenly, comfortably, upon ing in Christ’s glory; he had now a the best and surest foundation.” foretaste, an earnest, “of the glory 3. The glorious call—“Called us unto his that shall be revealed.” eternal glory” (who through your union 2. Exhortations to elders. with Christ has called you to eternal a. Feed the flock—be shepherds to glory—Goodspeed).—M a n a g i n g E d i t o r . your flock. • b. Note the contrast in the manner in which oversight of the church is ex ­ Recent Sermon Themes ercised. The one without a shep­ herd heart will be pressed into his “Christ and Human Destiny” (Rev. 5: 9), service bv constraint; the true shep­ by Dr. William T. Lytle. herd will do it willingly. One will "First Things First” (Deut. 12: 13, 14) seek remuneration chiefly, serving and “Fag-end Religion” (Jer. 8: 20), by Dr. for filthy lucre (base profit, Mof­ Scott Withrow. fatt); (base love of gain, Good­ “Strength in Unity” (Acts 2: 46), by Rev. speed) ; the other will serve with Lester C. Taylor. a ready mind. One will be a lord “Education and Labor” (2 Tim. 2: 15), by over God's heritage; the other will Dr. Samuel M. Laing. be an example to the flock. The “The Beginning of Knowledge” (Proverbs true shepherd will “receive a 1:7), by Rev. W. Scott McMunn. crown of glory” when the chief “The Right to Think” (Nahum 1: 9), by Shepherd shall appear (v. 4). Rev. David S. Oyler. I I . T o t h e Y o u n g e r ( v . 5 ) “Divine Illumination” (Psalm 119: 130), Be subject to the elders, their spiritual by Dr. J. M. McCalmont. leaders (see also 1 Thess. 5: 12, 13). “Some Things of Which We Are Per­ II I. A l l o f Y o u ( v . 5 ) suaded” (Hebrews 6: 9), by Dr. James A. 1. Be clothed with humility (vs. 5, 6). Pollock. (Indeed you must all put on the apron “Christianity’s Effect on Society” (Phile­ of humility to serve one another, Mof­ mon 8 and 9), and “Breaking Idols” (2 Sam. fatt) . Is this not an intimation that 5: 21), by Rev. Edwin W. Norton. Peter did not forget the lesson in hu­ “ The Christian at W ork” (Ephesians 6: 6, mility taught them by Jesus (John 7, 8), by Dr. R. W. Gibson. 13: 1-20)? “The Blackout Verse” (Psalm 57: 1), by 2. Casting your care (anxiety) upon Rev. G. Raymond White. Christ, etc. (v. 7). In the midst of “Two Competing Forces” (Acts 7: 59), and their sufferings and trouble they were “Firing Our Enthusiasm,” by Dr. R. W. Gib­ not to be fearful and anxious, they son. were to cast it all upon Christ who “Childhood a Prophecy” (1 Samuel 3: 20), cared for them. by Dr. D. H. Hammond. 3. Dealing with the devil (vs. 8, 9). He “The Investment of Truth” (Luke 19: 23), comes as a roaring lion; also by many by Dr. A. K. Stewart. other means of attack to defeat God’s "We Dare Not Neglect the Children” children. (Deuteronomy 4: 40), by Dr. A. E. Kelly.— a. Be sober (keep cool, Moffatt); beThe United Presbyterian.

May-June, 1943 (195) 59 ILLUSTRATIONS

By Basil Miller

The Rich Man's Lament “I am the boy she kissed that night. I never was able to get away from the im­ “Think of the difference!” cried the dying pression made by that touching act, until I rich man who had received news of a pious became a Christian. I am now living in this poor man’s death. city with my family, am a Christian, and “The difference?” asked the minister. am doing a good business.” “Yes, he died rich in faith and is going The results of a tender act of compas­ to his treasure. But I must leave mine.” sion are inestimable. A kind word, spoken in charity, will start echoes rolling that will • strike the hilltops of eternity and reverber­ ate throughout all eternity. The Cost of One Sin “That one sin,” cried the young man on The Tootin’ End the platform of a church in Sacramento, California, “cost me my soul.” “Praise the Lord,” shouted Tom Mason, who with J. L. Logsdon was conducting a A revival was being conducted by Holland revival meeting in Indiana. London, then a youth evangelist, who be­ Things had been tight during the meet­ fore he was twenty-five had spoken in prac­ ing. Crowds small; little attention and less tically every state in the nation. Rev. I. W. effects. Practically no results. Poor loca­ Young was the minister of the church and tion and all that goes to tangle a meeting during the revival when an altar call was in the wires of failure. being made, a gospel worker asked the “I don’t see anything to shout over,” re­ young man to give himself in surrender to turned Logsdon, “for it looks like we are God. coming out at the little end of the horn.” “I have one sin I can’t give up,” said the “Glory to God!” said Tom. “That’s the youth and left the building. tootin’ end.” He fought it out that night with God and When God is in it, it is all right to come lost. out at any end of the gospel horn. The next evening at the close of the serv­ ice, he asked permission to speak. • Confessed he, “Last night God called, and Joshua's Long Day I held up the one sin I could not give up. That one sin cost me my soul. I’m as sure A Yale professor, an accomplished as­ of eternal damnation right now as though tronomer, made the discovery that the earth I were already damned.” was twenty-four hours out of schedule. Professor Totten, a fellow instructor at • Yale, challenged the astronomer to begin at the first chapter of Genesis and read un­ Fanny’s Hands til he found the missing time. The professor read up to the account of “I am the boy,” cried a man who had Joshua's long day, and being skeptical he sprung to his feet in St. Louis just after began checking his figures and found at Ira D. Sankey had finished singing that no­ the time of Joshua there were only twenty- ble song, “Rescue the Perishing.” three hours and twenty minutes that had Said Sankey, “Years ago Fanny Crosby, been lost in the earth’s schedule. the blind song writer, went to the Jerry Here he had found a mistake of forty McAuley Mission in New York City, and minutes and the man went to Professor Tot­ asked if there was a motherless boy in the ten and said, “The Bible is not the Word of audience.” God for I have found an error of forty min­ Back in the rear a little fellow came for­ utes in it.” ward, and the great Fanny laid her tender Said the believing professor, “The Bible hands on his head and then kissed him. does not say twenty-four hours, but about “Then Fanny,” continued Sankey, “went the space of a whole day. Start reading and home and wrote that song, ‘Rescue the see what else you can discover.” Perishing,’ from the inspiration of the meet­ So the unbelieving instructor began his ing.” reading at Joshua’s long day, and read on Sankey finished telling the story in the until he came to the story of Hezekiah’s St. Louis mission and then a man got up sickness in the time of Isaiah. God prom­ and told the story. ised the king fifteen years more of life,

60 (196) The Preacher's Magazine and to confirm this promise God told the He searched long and diligently finally to king to go into the garden and watch the locate a man who he thought might look shadow of the sundial turn back ten de­ like the incarnation of evil that the artist grees. believed Judas to portray. Ten degrees on the sundial, according to “Will you sit for me,” asked the artist the skeptical tutor, equals forty minutes! of the man, “as I paint Judas?” And here he had found the missing The man consented for a price and re­ twenty-four hours. Immediately he laid mained faithful to his task until the work aside the Bible and worshiped its Author, was completed. saying, “Lord, I believe.” “And do you not recognize me, master?” asked the Judas-representing man. “No, I do not recall having ever seen Past Redemption Point you.” “I am Pietro Bandenello!” “I stood there and saw it,” said an evan­ Then it flashed upon Da Vinci—the man gelist. who had sat for the portraiture of Christ “And so did I,” I echoed. was also his Judas! “There it was,” he went on, “in bold let­ Sin had wrought the change. Sin wrecks ters reaching out by the banks of Niagara the human features beyond recognition. Sin River, saying, ‘Past Redemption Point!’ ” warps the human body until it looks less Many were the tales they tell and I have like a man than a demon. Sin takes virtue read (as well as written and rewritten) of and turns it into vice, innocence into im­ those bold men who took their boats down purity. What sin touches it ruins. the Niagara River to that particular spot, thinking that at any moment they might be • able to turn back and row to the bank The Deacon’s Advice and life. Instead the swift currents of that rum­ “When Jesus kin look down into yer bling river that ends in the Niagara Falls heart and see that everything is on His side sucked the helpless skiffs and canoes and then you kin say, I’ve got a pure heart.” rowboats into the wild and tumbling cur­ rent. Men pulled on the oars but the cur­ • rent pulled on the boat, finally to win in God al Gettysburg this tug-o’-war and the boats with their rowers shot over the falls to end in destruc­ The first day of the battle of Gettysburg tion in the rapids below. the Union forces were pounded into a fish­ So on the River of Life there is a point hook. The Confederates enveloped them marked as Past Redemption Point. We sail like a horseshoe. Longstreet and Ewell our barques wildly and ragingly without were to have attacked on either side of the consideration of contents and endings. We Union forces and thus crush the Union go wildly along toward the end of the forces like an egg shell. rapids where we think there is hope of Longstreet’s bombardment began, and he turning to the shores. But we are beyond kept at it for hours. Yet Ewell for some the Past Redemption Point, and the end­ mysterious cause held his fire so long that ing is certain. Longstreet was finally defeated. Said Ewell Beware, my friend, lest you too pass this in his official report, “The wind was so pe­ point on Life’s River and be eternally de­ culiar I could not hear Longstreet’s bom­ stroyed. bardment and didn’t know he was attack­ • ing until it was over.” Historians tell us that had Ewell heard Innocence and Vice the bombardment and started his attack at the same time the Union forces would have “Will you sit as a model for Christ?” been defeated and the Civil War would have Leonardo Da Vinci asked one Pietro Ban- been over. denello, whom he had searched long to find. Instead of there being a united nation Da Vinci was painting his famous master­ the South would have seceded from the piece, “The Last Supper,” and wanted a Union and slaves would still be held. person who portrayed innocence and virtue “Hath the wind a father?” asks the Bi­ to sit as Christ while he painted the pic­ ble. ture. Who caused that peculiar condition to Pietro consented for a price to sit for exist in the atmosphere that the bombard­ Christ as the master artist painted his pic­ ment of cannons of an army could not be ture. heard by another army a short distance When the picture was finished, Leonardo away? lost track of Pietro. Meanwhile he com­ It was God “who doeth wonders.” Writes pleted the rest of the portraits of the apostles Dr. E. E. Helms, “God sent that peculiar until he came to Judas. Again the master wind, that the government of the people, painter began a search for one who would by the people and for the people might not represent this lost son of perdition. perish from the earth.”

May-June, 1943 (197) 61 MISSIONARY DEPARTMENT

“I Only Brought Eleven” lazy, he added again, “But, if the road hadn’t been so bad, I could have brought more.” While still talking, the pastor of the “Well, I do hope the men soon come with church came in also loaded down with the corosal palms, for I am all through dec­ corosnl leaves. His pants too, were caked orating the church for Christmas with the with mud to his knees, his shoes wet and exception of placing the palm leaves muddy, and his shirt bathed in sweat also. around,” mused the missionary, with his I did not question him, for already my hands on his hips, contemplating his handi­ heart was stirring inside. Here were two work in the church. men who did not count it hardship to wade “Let’s see. I can place a palm leaf in be­ through mud up to the knees for three miles tween each one of the studs and, perhaps, loaded down with leaves, in order that God’s all across the front of the church, if they house might have plenty of decorations for bring enough. Of course that will take Christmas, and be not only presentable, but about fifteen and I don’t see how the two pretty. Had I complained about practicing can carry more than five each, since the the kiddies? Had I thought the getting up leaves are so large and heavy. But it’s a of the program a bit monotonous? Had I good thing they are so big because they will become weary in well-doing? The sight reach to the ceiling without any trouble. and thought of those two faithful, self- H-m-m. Wonder how high the ceiling is. I sacrificing, uncomplaining brethren made guess that it is about twelve feet. Well, the me determine that I would not count my palm leaves will reach without any trouble, duties hardship, that I would do them with for they must be from twelve to fifteen feet joy as unto the Lord. long. I suppose— ” I wonder how many times we complain But further musings were cut short by when there are others who “hoe a much the sound of swishing along the road and harder row than we do.” Would I have the sidewalk in front of the chapel. The been willing to have changed places with door swung open, and in struggled one of these brethren? Would I have waded the brethren loaded down with corosales un­ through three miles of mud loaded down til he could hardly be seen. The leaves at with leaves in order that the house of God the base were quite thick and around three might be decorated? O God, help us to feet wide, and some fifteen feet long. The stir from our ease and serve Thee with a brother dropped them on the floor and wiped whole heart, fervently performing our du­ the sweat from his brow. ties as unto Thee! “My, they are pretty,” I said. “How many I left the chapel with those words ring­ did you bring?” ing in an apologetic tone in my ears, “I His feet sort of shuffled and he dropped only brought eleven.” They no longer ring his head a little—I thought he was embar­ in my ears, but they are still echoing in my rassed. heart!—H a r o l d H a m p t o n , missionary in Sa- “I only brought eleven,” he said apolo­ lama, Guatemala. getically, but quickly added, “It was because + the road was so bad that I couldn’t bring more.” (It was then I realized that he was It so happened that one who heard and not embarrassed, but ashamed for thinking i eceived the gospel message was a leper he had not brought enough.) girl, 19 or 20 years old, who lived in the “And how bad was the road?” I asked village, though neither I nor the native him. workers knew anything about her. The “Oh, the mud was up to my knees in people fear that dread disease so that they many places,” he responded. (I had just put anyone who has it out of the village. passed over the road a few days before and Thus the girl lived alone in a little bark it was quite bad then, and in the meantime and bamboo hut about a quarter of a mile it had rained quite a bit, so I knew he wasn’t from the village. Of course the joy of sal­ lying.) vation flooded the poor girl's soul, and she I looked at his legs—his pants were wet was happy indeed; but her body was in and muddy up to his knees. His shoes were wretched condition. One day she got to caked with mud and gaping open, his shirt thinking about God’s love and power, and was bathed with sweat. thought to herself, “I wonder if He couldn’t “How far did you have to carry these?” make my body well.” She asked Him, and was my next question. the Lord heard her and did heal her. “About three miles,” he said. And then, From that day on the disease subsided as though to be sure I did not think he was until one morning she awoke to find that

62 (198) The Preacher's Magazine the last trace of leprosy had disappeared. that had to do with the worship of the Of course, she was thrilled and ran into Buddha was taken away, and over one hun­ the village to tell everybody, but the heath­ dred different books of that teaching, cer­ en ordered her out. Finally, she was able tain charms, etc., were taken to the mis­ to prove to some of the people that she sion to be destroyed. One by one he be­ was really well, and they saw that the gan bringing others to Jesus until more skin had closed over where the sores had than thirty have repented. Now a weekly been. I was not there at the time, nor prayer meeting is held in his home. He is was any native worker, but when I did get especially interested in reaching those of there two weeks later, that entire village his former vegetarian sect whom he hopes had come to believe. They could all sing to persuade to forsake their idols and turn the song we had taught the little group of to the Lord. original believers; they could all pray and Fifty years a Buddhist—now an exem­ testify. I was happy indeed, particularly plary follower of Jesus, the Christ, praise because all this had come about while ye the Lord. there was no outside help at all. That vil­ lage is today one of the strongholds of Recently in this city of Tientsin, I re­ ferred to this brother, C. F. Chang, and Christianity in West Borneo, and the people know that it is God and not a white man one of the seminary students who lives about three miles from him, added his word who has pow er.—The Alliance Weekly. of testimony. “Yes, it is wonderful what + the Lord has done for him, for his testi­ mony in all that section is being greatly blessed to the salvation of others.”—R e v . Fifty Years a Buddhist C e c il W. T r o x e l , D.D., in Call to Prayer. Chang Ching Feng Finds Christ + “My mouth is filled with blessing, my heart is fully satisfied. Peace passing all understanding is mine, since I found my San Jeronimo, Guatemala, is a wicked Savior. I have been deceived for many, place. For many years it has been the many years, now overflowing blessings are home of the San Jeronimo liquor. The mine." This glad testimony came from church has been built out of hard, old sin­ dear old Mr. Chang in the gospel tent the ners converted to God, but until they are morning following his seeking the Lord in entirely sanctified, even though saved, they the service the night before. He ran well can make quite a bit of trouble for the pas­ for a season. The tempter came. Sickness tor, as the church of Corinth made for Saint came to the home, and his son sickened Paul. At least persecutions, and trials and ond died. Then a Niagara of temptations problems have sent Dona Laura to her flooded him as unnumbered friends and knees weeping many a time. If God is for relatives—like Job’s comforters came to “ex­ us who can be against us, said the apostle, plain” the why of the death of his son. so the pastor kept close to the Master’s side. Overcome with sorrow, the easiest way More times than once she was tempted to seemed to be to listen to these, and so he leave, but always the Lord held her fast. absented himself from meetings, and re­ One day when she went down the street, turned to his Buddha! And yet no real one of the prominent Catholic women said peace was found. Then “face” entered into to her, “Do not go away from San Jeroni­ his thinking, as he said to himself, “They mo, we want you to stay.” One reason she will not welcome me at the Christian serv­ had said that was because a few days be­ ices any more, for I have turned away from fore Dona Laura went to visit in a home Jesus.” All the while prayer was being of a prominent Catholic, and there she made for this man. found that the son was tormented with an But one night he was in Hsu Ts'un still evil spirit. The mother had seen the young about three miles from his home. It was man thrown down as if possessed with an dark. He was too tired to try walking evil spirit. She told Dona Laura of this home, being near seventy, and wondered condition, and then she prayed (and I am where he could spend the night. “Go to the a witness that the Lord hears and answers mission,” came to his mind, but the tempter prayer for this young woman), the evil said, “No, not there.” The struggle was on spirit departed and has not molested the and finally he determined he would go re­ young man again. The mother said that the gardless of “face.” The workers received gospel was the truth and was of God. Both him so cordially his heart was deeply of these experiences have taken place within touched. In the evening prayers, God a month. moved upon his heart, for one prayed in Who will b e a prayer partner for this tears for his restoration. He began attend­ young woman pastor in San Jeronimo? Al­ ing services regularly and prayed through though she is young, she is married and has to full restoration. five children. She has proved again and Returning to his home, the change in the again that, “The effectual fervent prayer of life was so noticeable that others were a righteous man availeth much.”—E u g e n i a P. moved upon by the Spirit. Everything C o a t s , missionary in C o b a n , Guatemala.

May-June, 1943 (199) 63 BOOK REVIEWS

N e w T e s t a m e n t E v a n g e l is m f o r T o d a y , tional Evangelistic Meetings. In these are by W. L. Muncy, Jr. Central Baptist Theo­ discussed, not only the practical sides, such logical Seminary, $1.00. as publicity and means, but also plans for Evangelism can be divided into three dis­ conserving and strengthening the results ob­ tinct types. In this book the types of Per­ tained. In this the author gives some worth­ sonal Evangelism, Church Evangelism and while, definite and usable plans for any Mass Evangelism are ably treated. The church to use. author, who is instructor of Evangelism at This book can be recommended to pas­ the Central Baptist Seminary, also has been tor, and to laymen as well, because it in- pastor of a large church where for twelve spiringly points all who read it to the New years these evangelistic means have been Testament methods, materials and work used, and it is a rare occasion when some­ of winning others to Christ.—R o y F. Ray. one fails to find Christ at a Sunday worship service, or tell of being won to Him dur­ + ing the week. The author’s own church thus shows that New Testament Evangelism does work today. In this clearly written P ersonalities o f t h e P a s s i o n , by Leslie D. book, the author ably presents the quali­ Weatherhead, Abingdon-Cokesbury Press, ties and characteristics of evangelism for $1.50. today, showing that in reality it is the New This book, as the title suggests, is a series Testament method of winning souls to Jesus of sketches of characters that play a role Christ. The book abounds in quotations with Christ in the drama of the days sur­ from Scripture and presents good, scrip­ rounding the Crucifixion. The author is tural ideas of evangelism. minister of that famous London church, the Many books have been written and many City Temple, and is one of the best-known sermons preached on one’s duties and privi­ figures in England today. In his usual in­ leges as personal evangelists. In the section teresting style he brings the cast of the on Personal Evangelism, which covers over Passion Week out in review and upon each half the book. Rev. Muncy tells one how to in turn directs the searchlight of scrutiny. be a personal worker most effectively. He Those included in this review are: Peter, treats such subjects as the qualifications Judas, Caiaphas, Herod, Pilate, Barabbas, and attitudes of the personal worker, the Simon of Cyrene, Mary the mother of Je­ use of the Bible in his work and the leader­ sus, Longinus the Roman centurion, Dis- ship of the Holy Spirit. Then he tells how mas the crucified revolutionary, Joseph of to give personal help to the unconcerned, Arimathea and Cleopas of Emmaus. In his the drifting Christian, the uninformed, the analysis Dr. Weatherhead defends Peter and misinformed, the child, and the sick and Judas and places the real blame for the dying. Throughout the book many good il­ crimes of those hours upon Caiaphas and lustrations are given, and the work done by his henchmen. Herod is to him a weak, personal evangelists of the New Testament wicked man who missed the opportunity of is analyzed, showing the need and adapta­ a lifetime when dealing with Christ. Pilate bility of its use today. At the beginning of is caught between the wheels of dangerous each chapter, the author has an analytical political conditions and an intense personal outline which can be of great value to the hatred for the Jews. Barabbas and Dismas leader who desires to really make evangel­ are pictured as political revolutionists who ism part of his life. belong to the Zealot party but whose meth­ In the section of the book covering Church ods fail to correspond with the kingdom of Evangelism, the early church is reviewed Christ. Simon of Cyrene, Mary, Longinus, and used as a pattern of what the evangel­ Joseph and Cleopas are characters whose ism of a church should be today. The experiences at this time serve as vivid il­ early church won men day by day. The lustrations for particular problems today. author also treats the subjects of Leader­ Some of the author’s observations depart ship in Church Evangelism, the Place of measurably from customary thinking, some Worship and Preaching, the Promotional travel with it. However, all are backed Plans of Church Evangelism Social Service, with expert reasoning and faithful pursu­ and the World Outreach of a Church’s Evan­ ance of the Scriptures. The entire book is gelistic Work. This should inspire any charged with such a vital interest in these church to greater efforts in evangelism. people that they live before the reader. Under the section of Mass Evangelism is Their lives; their motives, their sins, their treated such subjects as Revival Meetings, virtues, their relationships to Christ; stand Co-operative Denominational Evangelistic out vividly under the treatment of this Meetings, and Co-operative Interdenomina­ capable and earnest writer.

64 (200) The Preacher's Magazine In Dr. Weatherhead’s own words, “I am ter and “placed the Scriptures in a dis­ writing for men and women with boys torted relation to Christ, the Personal Word” away at war; for some with boys who will (p. 36). In this manner, “Intellectual ad­ never come back from war; for people with herence to certain received doctrines was girls serving at home or abroad; for people accepted as the standard of orthodoxy” and with children evacuated and homes silent; there was a lack of recognition of the spir­ for men with businesses they’ve worked all itual fellowship of the Church and of the their lives to build up dropping to pieces, spirit which the letter killeth. Neverthe­ though they’re working as they never less, the Bible is the fons primarius and the worked before; for women with household “only authoritative source” of Christian the­ caree and problems that nearly drive them ology. It is to be viewed as “occupying crazy. I’m writing for some with bombed an intermediate position between the pri­ homes and bombed businesses and bombed mary revelation of God in nature and the churches and bombed hearts, and perhaps a perfect revelation of God in Christ—the bombed faith.” With these as the motives Personal Word” (p. 138). behind the book it makes it one that can In answer to the objection that theology fill a vital need today. cannot be a science because it is concerned Furthermore, this book is of speci&l value with matters of faith, it is maintained that right at this time. Any minister planning this falsely assumes that faith and knowl­ to preach from any subject relative to the edge are antithetical. On the contrary, “sci­ Passion of Christ will find “Personalities of ence itself must be based upon faith” (p. the Passion” of real value. It is a book 61). Physical science must make its as­ valuable to own, one that can be read and sumptions of “an orderly world,” scientific re-read with profit from time to time. Its categories and “trustworthiness of the mind inspiring lines are filled with quotable pass­ in its investigation,” that is, it requires faith ages, its intriguing statements and attitudes just as does theological science. are provocative of thought, its rich style is challenging to the heart of the reader — The Second Part treats of the “Doctrine of the Father” which comprises the rest of L a u r i s t o n J. D u B o i s . the first volume and three chapters of the second. It is maintained that theology can­ + not be expected to give a proof of God’s existence. The theistic arguments are to C h r i s t i a n T h e o l o g y , by H. Orton Wiley. be viewed as confirmatory rather than de­ Nazarene Publishing House, Kansas City, monstrative. They confirm the “First Truth” Mo., 1940, 1941. Vol. I, 488 pages; Vol. II, which “must logically precede and condition 517 pages. all observation and reasoning” (p. 217). This work (a third volume of which is to While God is “Perfect Personality” with the follow) attempts no new contribution to traditional absolute, relative and moral at­ modern theological science. Rather is its tributes, He is also a trinality of persons. purpose “ to review the field of theology in By circumcession the Trinity of persons as simple a manner as possible for the use comprise an unitary Absolute Personality. of those who, entering the ministry, desire It is insisted that ‘essence’ and ‘substance’ to be informed concerning the great doc­ are more abstract and that the term ‘per­ trines of the church” (p. 3). More spe­ son’ should also be applied to the whole cifically, it is a survey of Christian theology being of God. To be sure the term is not defined as “the systematic presentation of to be construed as the same when one the doctrines of the Christian Faith” (p. 16). speaks of the personality of God as when The position from which the subject is ap­ one refers to the personality of a member proached may be described as an Arminian- of the Trinity. The meaning of the dis­ ism modified and supplemented by historical tinction—apart from that of substance, es­ and philosophical orientation. sence, nature and subsistence, hypostasis, person—is not so clear. The First Part is an introduction to “The Province of Theology.” It contains a care­ Parts III and IV, in the second volume, ful treatment of the idea, division, relations are discussions of “The Doctrine of the Son” and sources of theology. The discussion and “The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit,” re­ has the distinct advantage of a wide cog­ spectively, in which the traditional doctrines nizance of the historical as well as the re­ of the nature of Jesus and of the spirit are cent theological positions. In fact, the sec­ historically expounded and defended. The tion comprises, besides a theological propae­ atonement is viewed as involving propitia­ deutic, a comparatively brief but excellent tion, reconciliation, redemption through the sketch of historical theology. Incarnate Word or Logos. Special attention The position is taken that tradition fur­ is given to an exposition and justification of nishes the material principle and Scriptures the Wesleyan doctrine of “Christian Per­ the formal principle. While the Roman fection” as expressing the “fullness of sal­ communion has given undue emphasis to the vation from sin, or the completeness of the former and thus established the Church as Christian life” (II, p. 440). the supreme authority, the Evangelical com­ In these volumes, President Wiley has munion has given overemphasis to the lat­ presented a careful survey of the main

May-June, 1943 (201) 65 Christian doctrines which is admirable in minister in that particular capacity. No one its organization and historical perspective. can deny that he at least touches, and usu­ Hardly any problem is treated without a ally covers, all phases of the ministry. consideration of its historic answers, by From our standpoint, the book is sub­ philosophers as w ell as theologians, although ject to this limitation: it is not written with the freedom of reference and quotation a strongly evangelistic program in mind, sometimes leaves one in doubt as to the au­ such as ours, and therefore requires con­ thor’s opinion. W hile it is written from a stant interpretation to recast its methods to definitely conservative Arm inian viewpoint, fit our program. Indeed, some of it is it is not narrowly dogmatic, but exhibits a unusable (do not take too seriously the general openmindedness, fairness of histori­ author’s conception of the midweek prayer cal appreciation, and awareness of philo­ meeting). Nevertheless, it is a stimulating sophic developments, which is com mendable. work, worthy of careful reading, not only —A l b e r t W e s l e y F e n s k e . (Reprint from by the rural clergy but also by the city Philosophical Abstracts of Harvard Uni­ pastor for, in the words of the Christian v e r s i t y . ) Leader, ninety-five per cent of it is just as applicable to New York or Chicago as to + Plainfield, Vermont.—R . L . L u n s f o r d .

H i g h l a n d S h e p h e r d s , by Arthur Went­ + worth Hewitt, Willett Clark and Company, $2.00. Within recent years church leaders have, P r e a c h i n g f r o m t h e P r o p h e t s , by Kyle M. with increasing interest, been turning their Yates, Harper and Brothers, $2.00. attention again to the rural church. This Dr. Yates offers in this 225-page book some after an era in which they were so over­ rich suggestive material for twentieth cen­ absorbed in following the population to the tury preachers drawn from a study of the urban centers that they almost completely eighteen Hebrew prophets. All through the forgot that “the groves were God's first temples.” So unconcerned with the rural book one is impressed with the correspond­ ing situations and issues confronting these church were they that they dutifully dele­ gated to its pulpits only beginners and mis­ ancient prophets of God with those that fits, and it was regarded as a distinct pro­ face the present-day evangels of the truth. motion for a rural pastor to be called to a The messages of the Old Testament proph­ city pulpit, regardless of other considera­ ets stand out in this presentation as being tions involved. both timely and timeless. However, a few men, like the author of The general method of analysis followed the book, wisely refused to be stampeded is outlined in the preface: “ The aim is to by popular thinking, and chose to “bury” provide the background, the picture of the themselves in the country, realizing that, man, the contents of his book, and the mes­ after all, three-fourths of the church-going sages of permanent value that may be used population is found there, and that con­ today.” To me the most helpful aspect of siderably more than eighty per cent of the the book is its ready grasp and summary urban church’s leadership — together with presentation of the historical background in seventy per cent of its membership—comes each case. The author has a unique ability from the country. in gathering together and arranging the sig­ Dr. Hewitt began his championship of the nificant facts attending the day of each rural cause in 1926 with a little volume prophet. Dr. Yates draws on his rich ex­ called “Steeples Among the Hills,” which perience in the classroom as a professor of gained him a certain amount of popularity. Old Testament study for twenty years, but This second book, the first work in English his work here is not a technical study in over three hundred years written espe­ yielding only to the efforts of the persistent cially for the rural pastor has been ac­ scholar. It is rather a very readable book claimed the most significant book on pas­ designed by intention “so that a busy min­ toral theology in the last decade. Shortly ister or teacher or student may find in one after its appearance it was placed in the place the help that will make it possible Methodist Course of Study for Ministers. for him to preach or teach the truths so Its continuing popularity has been con­ sorely needed in our day.” If one is look­ firmed by a steady sale over the last three ing for ready-made sermons this is not the years. book to buy, but here is some cloth of ex­ Out of a lifelong experience as a rural cellent weave with some available designs pastor, Dr. Hewitt attempts to cover the and patterns at hand awaiting your own whole field of pastoral theology from the skill and workmanship. To be sure there standpoint of the rural minister. He dis­ are some classic texts suggested and some cusses the rural minister under four heads: outlines marked out but my guess is that The Person, the Priest, the Preacher, and the book will make you reach for the Bi­ the Pastor. Under each head, in a very ble to discover for yourself that the message readable style, shot through with Yankee and issues depicted are really there after wit, he discusses the several functions of the all.— S a m u e l Y o u n g .

66 (202) The Preacher's Magazine PASTOR'S INDIVIDUAL COMMUNION SET

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COKESBURY MARRIAGE MANUAL

Reproduced are the historic Protestant marriage rituals, several more recently developed serv­ ices in general use. A section is devoted to the pronouncements of the churches on marriage; remarriage; another to a bibliography on the manysided aspect of matrimony; still another to a digest of the marriage laws of the states. Timely hints on The Minister and Marriage conclude the book. Bound in black limp m oroccotol. 1.00

Handbook of Dedications

This is an invaluable book that every minister needs. It has suggestions for dedication services for infants, an organ, hymn books, parsonage, church flags. Also a mortgage burning service, an anniversary service, an installation of teachers and officers, etc. 150 pages; paper covers. .90

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A convenient card for the pastor to leave when members are not at home. Hofmann's picture in colors of "Christ Knocking at the Door" is printed on the card together with a helpful message. Size 21/2x41/e inches.

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