Scholars Crossing

1986 The Fundamentalist Journal

4-1986

The Fundamentalist Journal, Volume 5 Number 4

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Recommended Citation "The Fundamentalist Journal, Volume 5 Number 4" (1986). 1986. 7. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/fun_86/7

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the The Fundamentalist Journal at Scholars Crossing. It has been accepted for inclusion in 1986 by an authorized administrator of Scholars Crossing. For more information, please contact [email protected]. APRIL.1986 T\ ,'O DOLLARS

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Rev.William McGuffey published his legendary Readers in the 1830s. FREE B00K Freewlth each s ertMclutley and His Readers: Piety, Motatity and Latereditions, from 1857 on, were revised without his approval, and ex- Educati\nin lgthCentuty Anerlca by John H. Woatorhofl ltl purgatedmost references to religion. They were still excellent texts, but no longerChristian texts. or 9 frnishesit, he'sreading better, and understanding more, than most highschoolers. Nowa Christianpublisher, Mott Media, has reprinted the originals. We areoffering them, with pride and admiration, for parents,godparents Echcticfourth Rerder. Quite beyond the average collegian today, yet andgandparenh who care enough to teachat home,or atleasttohelp,withinthe reach of welltrained l0{o-12-year-olds. Dozens of authors thechildren they love. theyshould meet: Johnson, Webster, Milton, Jefferson, Schiller, Bacon, Southey,Bryant, Shakespeare, etc. The Ori$nal McGuffeys:7 superbtexts EclecticProgressive Spelling Book. "Progressive" because it starts with PictodrlEclectic Primer for YoungChildnn. For kindergarten or pre- basicsand builds to anadvanced vocabulary worthy of a graduatestu- kindergarten:the alphabet,simple sentences and stories,charming dent,Not only definitionsbut pronunciationsand usagein good originalengravings. senrcnces, EclecticPrimer. More advanced.For first-gradenand bright MarkSullivan, in his6-volume history, Orr Times,ranks McGuffey up kindergarteners. withWashington and Lincoln in influence.And a wonderfulinfluence it was.Do yourchildren deserve less? Eclerticlint Rerderfor YoungChildrcn. For second-graders or bright first-graders.Lots of spelling,and the words get as hard as "would" and "stalked"and "deranged." Startlingcall from eminent profesor of English EclecticSecond Rerder. 85 lessons,each a wellwritten story with a moral,some from Scripture or Americanhistory. Each lesson is fol- "Let'sbring back McGuffey's Reader - to College"is how Carl Bode, lowedby l) questionsdrawn from it (e.g.,How did Washingon receive Universityof Maryland, titled his article in lhe Ghronicleof Higher Lafayette?What is theFifth Commandment? What is emulation?)and Education.Wrote Bode: "l guaranteethat regular doses of McGuffeywill by 2) spellingwords ("believed," "myrrh," "forsook"). When your brightentheir eyes and bring roses totheir cheeks. .teach them to con- childrenmaster this book, they'll be years ahead of theirpeers. centrateon the printed page...give them some of thememorable poetryand prose of our AngloAmerican inheritance. . . make them bet EclcticThird Rerder. Authors like Addison, Irving, Byron...Bible termen and women, not to mentionbetter-spoken menand women." selections...excursionsintohi$ory like the marvelous "Alexander the Great"- adultscan read this book with pleasure. After your child of 8 Howto get this $79.95slipcased set for 0llLY$9.95! -- - I------I--ffi -----J l- t"w theclub works I! r CONSERyATIVEfl!!vvrlY-rrt-lt !u - cJ -- BOOKyvvtr CltYE Bv !I I ,ur.r4 weeks(13 rimes avear) vou oer a rreecoDv orthe I 1u oAKLAND AVENUE r HARRrsoN, Ny 10s28 | Ii iii'j*l];^'r,ryhiii".l'!:,J)fi"it.,F!,Y;;l'di',,"li;lr',i;bir-6'ei,rrelii',;hfi';rfi;y'.,tndreaiured setectiiri ptus a I I

I ilifilil.n liidri".ti,'iniloaeyour wishes on rne naidy [ 9"t94.:et PLUS r.nYf ree copy ol lilcGuffey ond Hts.Readers.I agree to buy ! i iit-j:.r,'ilffiq*+j#[r;*ffi!;,w*'trt ;is.Effittlfri:isiuin#jiz#3jfl#:filirr$!ft:.ll; prices years. I I iardenctosed wilh your Buttetin anit return il bythe deadtin6 h 4 additional books at regular Club over the next 2 I also I I date.* Themajorily ofClub books will be oltered at20-500/o lU agree to the Club rules spelled out in this coupon. I : discounts,plus a chargel0r shipping and handling. * As lll I i iffllls{ii*ls r" I'j:$iJiigf!!,iiilll!qi,4: U ! | don'rcare io join the crub but 'm encrosins gzee5 ror the McGurrey I I your.membershipmaybe ended atany time, either byyou 0r I setolus the frde bookbook.I mav return the set iii; so30 oavsdavs rorfor rurrfull rerundrefund irif ! ffiltllililEJlde- i ilil'df,,',ldillhl:,'ti!3:il:x#,ffi,Yd;,lfit FJ - 34 i ! ;;ffiii;T'ii"rri'-."rp*iJii,'rrrr"*irr credit.'* cood siriice. tlir n i ffiilIHl T"riilti"ri oflerresutar superbarsains, | | I mostlyal 70-95%discounts plus shippingand handling. I r,.-" ! iSupeibargainsdoN0TcoUnt'loward.iut|i1|ingyourC|u1||Id|||EI obligation,iul do enable.you. to buy booksat giveaway I .line I I I prices.* onlyone membership per household. Address Rxrdamerrtalist

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o c) An in-depth look of the Bookof Forgiven,As Christforgove your Genesisreveols the people ond sins,nothing more importontever circumstoncesGod usedto shope hoppened to you, But con you the future of Hiscreotion, forgiveto forget the sinsogoinst you?

Teensuicide. A cry for helpheord AS Biog_rophy-JomesM. Groy too lote,The modern-doy trogedy E|c l-ellmon lA Forgivefo Forget '- JovE Adoms hits15 fomilies every doy, Christion fomiliesore not immune. 48 Thunderin fhe Pulpit lf tuchoeology:Unroveling The Obligotionof Love 'v lhe lrulh oboul lhe JomesM Groy Pqhiorchs-JobnJ Dovis ?7 Morioge, Divorce& v' Remolrioge-AnOverview FomilyLiving Ihe PromlseGiven lo EdwordDobson 5l 20Abrohom-WolterC Koiser.Jr Well,Exc-u-use Me! 56 ln Review 64 RussellJ Asvitt Ihe Lifeond Timesof the MinistryUpdofe 22Polrlorchs-EugeneH Merrill 59 Prolile /! J_oseph, ed Fovorife 6l -) _Irusfpotlerson YouSoid lf John F,Wolvoord l?'cnoroLJ 7 MichcelFlueni lA Jery FolwellCommenls Teen Suicide '- NewsCommenlory 27A Cry for HelpHeord Too Lote Whotls o GoodChurch? \/'tA7 MikeKing VoluesClorificotion Needs Fundomenlolismlodoy Clorificotion-An n Whorton D'- Shoringq Sensilive, Leornirrgfrom Our Weokrresses 30 EdwordDobson Sensible Heoil-WhenYour News-SupremeCourt Child ls Depressed 69 UpholdsAid to BlindMinistry AndreBuslonobv 1A Pofter'sCloy r- GettingRid of SpirituolFlob Student-MortinMowyer TylerB Flynn ? ? n PreventiveOutreoch NewsBriefs v v lo Teens-JerrvJohnston /Q )1 Glimpsesof Greofness MichelePrince - t Abrohom-Monof Foith HcroLdL Willmingion 7 A After All ? 5, Answeringfhe Cryfor Help ' - The CelebritySyndrome -- RonoldE lowkrns 41 Preoching & Posforing TrumonDollcr

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Everyoneis into church renewal Industry hasthe right idea.Reward could evenrun a contestbetween all the thesedays. I read a book recentlyby initiative with incentives.These are churchesin town for the greatestin- Howard Snyderwhere he mapsout a called "perks." Things like car creasein volumeeach month. At the end roadto churchrenewal through some allowances,televisions, vacation trips, of the year the winning church would pretty roughterritory. He talks about seminarsin the Bahamas,new office be honoredat a speciallytelevised rally sacrifice,suffering, commitment, cost, furniture, and soon. Justthink of what and its pastorgiven a new Cadillac.Now servanthood,and poverty. I have a this could do for church renewal.We that, my friend, would spark renewal! much better idea.It's calledincentives- could givethe preacheran extra bonus All this talk about stripes, im- perks for preachers. for every2,000 miles he puts on his car prisonments,perils, weariness,pain, Why are enrollmentsdown in sem- doingchurch visitation, or a freetrip to fasting,weakness, infirmities. Where do inaries?Why are there more trained Disney World for accumulating500 peopleget the idea that the ministry is ministersselling insurance than pastor- parkingreceipts from the localhospital. supposedto be like that? Take up my ing churches? Why is the pastor's For every10 new converts we couldpre- cross?Not me,man, unless it happens enthusiasmmeasurable in inches in- senthim with a diamondring during the to be on a gold chainl steadof miles? lack of incentive! morning service.For every 100we could Most churches assume that the flv him to the vacationspot of his choice. Shimei preachergets paid to be good.Everyone Everyg1,000 of newgiving he generates elseis goodfor nothing.Nothing could could givehim his choiceof a one-month be further from the truth. Why should tithe exemptionor a donationto his IRA Deeplymoved... the preacherinvite new membersinto of equal value. the church?He's goingto get the same With the right incentivesmore col- I wasdeeply moved to learn about salarywith 100members as with 200. legestudents would be encouragedto go JohnJasper (February), a black preacher Thatmeans twice asmuch work for the into the ministry. Pastors would be who servedthe Lord in slaveryand out samepay. Why bother?So the nameof more diligent,and just think what this of slavery.I had never heard of him the gameis "coast." would do for the averasechurch. You before,but I wept openlyon reading

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April ]986 7 of his life. His sole aim was singing Chrlstlanrock... praisesfor Jesus-never mind the cir' STAFF cumstances,just singingthe praises I was beginningto think that "Chris- of Jesus. tian" rock wasthe acceptablenorm for Publlsher:Jerry Folwell Thankyou for this movingtestimony. youth ministry. So many youth pas- Edltorln Chlef:Edword Dobson tors, pastors,and evangelistshave put Edltor:Deboroh Huff Copy Edltor:Eorlene R Goodwin E. Kendall rock music in its place(hell), but never AssocloteEdltors: Concord,North Carolina speakout against "Christian" rock. W. DqvidBeck . DonielR, Mitchel Sadto say,we are seeingthe message ConsultlngEdltor: Edword Htndson of Christianmusic being sacrificed on SpeclolSectlons Edltor: Glenno R Fields the altar of "the beat." Why can't SpeclolSerles Edltor: Richord D. Potterson ContrlbutlngWrlters: Angelo Elwellf lunt Christianssee that? Thankyou for the MortinMowyer. Col Thomos articles on this subject.And thank you EdltorlolAsslstqnts: Cindy B Gunter,Coord. for the encouragementthey gaveme. JeonneMoson . LornoDobson A goldmlne... ReseorchAsslstont: Morlorie L Futch Creotlve Dhector:Stephen T. Albochten Timothy F. Totten r your Grophlcs:Lony C Bevins,Mgr Jim Potlerson I wish to commendyou on Youth Pastor CreoiiveSevices Stqff magazineand the clear,forthright, and ImmanuelBaptist Church Photogrophy:Les Schofer, Mgr unemotionalstance for biblical Funda- Kenosha,Wisconsin BrionPrince . CothyD Wolson mentalism.I have especiallyappre- ProductlonAsslstont: Connie Ptis "Preaching& Typogrophers: ciated the section on SusonW. Shpwosh . Nolo Coons Pastoring"-a goldmine to learnfrom SubscrlberServlces: other men in the ministry! ConnieSchofer, Coord. Advertlsing:Bill Lockord Mark D. Cain,Pastor I readwith great interestyour ar- MorketlngCoordinotor: Mortho Horper SD€clolAsslstonts: Bwon Dov s . RuthPowell EmmanuelBible Chapel ticles on "Rock Music." Christians EdltorlolBoord: Berwick,Pennsylvania must face reality and the fact that VerleAckermon . RoymondBorber musicis a part of our world. Like it or TrumonDollor . DovidJeremioh not,we must admit that "rock'n'roll" JohnRow ings o ElmerL Towns . legitimateart form and will have JockV'/yrtzen Wendell Z mmermon is a MorketlngAdvisory Boord: a primary influenceon children and DeWttBroud . NoncyWeekly youth.As parentswe havethe responsi JonrceMoson . MorkDeMoss Luxurlous Contemporary bility to teachour childrento evaluate DonnoNixon . Rickluff Custom llornes LoureMcCoulev . Bo55UO*",, ihat rutell for all musicto seeif its messageis good S17.00 Per Sq. Ft. or bad,true or false.Condemning with- out first evaluatingthe music of our societyonly drivesa wedgebetween generations. STATEMENTOF PURPOSE Sure,a lot of the musicis sexually

explicitand blatantly cultic in nature, Thlsmogoz ne s commitied to the h slorc fundomenlols but is that not a reflectionof the state of the Chrsiion foilh. biblico seoorotion.morol obsoluies, the priorllvof the oco church, cnd wor d evonge/izotion. fien &ffiqy, ex@brrt dalwursliD ald of our society?How manyparents who A'l'oJgn ro mogol^e o' ,'ov'd,o, co^ soeoLro'rf e AM*n hgpt uily h# rcsited in a lpAing design overol Fundomenio isl movemeni, t s our des re to crecle 8t condemnrock music are addictedto with sM t&hns mt tNnd in lwres slw o forum lo encouroge Chrislon leoders cnd stofesmen to prie. lwkx ilp cigarettes,alcohol, or soapoperas? defend bib' ico Chr stion lv We wi I exom ne mcllers of In regard to the contemporary contemporory nleresl 1oo I Chrlsions. provid ng on open d scussion of d vergenl op nions on re evonl issues The . Fully Insulated just Fundomeniollst Jourml wi I o so reoff rm our h story ond . Themo Pme Windows Christianmusic, as missionaries heritoge, os wel os po nl the woy lo the tuture. . CathedralCeilings learn the native languagebefore they . Ext€rior Dscks p-b pe can witnessto their people,we must FuMomentollst- Jourml i ,hod To^rf v r)s.e) . Quslity CoBtuclirn yeor by Olo atr Go .po -ou' Po"'oge s pord o' . FHA and VA AcioDted be able to speakthe languageof to- L!flchburg. Virg nio, ond odclilionol mo I ng offices Address . Builtln ComDuttr Conter cl correspondence 10Fundomentollst Jourml, Lwrchburg, perlom |My fun- dav'svouth in orderto relateto them. which sllows tM home to 'n' Virgnio 24514,(8O4) 528 4ll2 ctions fq th€ occuDants. Conodlon Oftlce: Box5O5. Richmond Hi l, Ont L4C 4Y8 . I agre"ethat a throbbing rock roll Int€.ix Oesign Flexibility Subrcrlptlon: 514.95c veor (ll ssues)or 52 @ per ssue beat doesnot lift the nameof Christ, ln U S Outslde U.S odd S5.@ per year postoge prepoid disnct EAGLE'S NEST HOMES is s@king one U S currency. retail sales. but that is not what all contemporary reqesentalive to establish Chonge ol Addre3s: W'e1 o'der ng o loagF of odortrss Unlimitodlncome Potential Christianmusic is. Are we to stay in pleose reiurn ylur o d mo I ng obe olong w ih the new T€rritory Protected dark ages,wear victorian clothes, oddress. Al ow eighi weeks for o chonge FactoryTraining the Advedltlng: Fundomentollsi Journol, L\,nchburg. V rgin a Real Licens€ No Estate and let moderntechnology pass us by? 24514.(BaA) 528 4))2 R€quired Subml$lont: Fundomentollst Jourrlol does noi occepi by Model Home InvestmsntSecured If so,we canbe assuredof neverreach- unsol c ied monuscriols wilhoui orior wrilten consu lction rrir" eeotc{s A -cf,espolde^cer bl oeoccompo',ed IndividrEl slected must have th€ ability to purchase ing today'syouth. As Mike Smith quoted by SASE.We ossume no responsbl ly for lhe relurn of or mortgaqea $21 ,000 modelhome. Home may be Dr. JamesDobson, "Music is oneof the unsolicitedmcnuscripls. Al molerol n lhis issueis subject to lived in or us€d as il office. ' ' windowsof the soul."Surely he doesn't U o' d l'er o'o' ol op)4gl iow> Pe ^ 5)o^ lo lApto Call Mr. Fund duce musl be obtoined by w ting lo Fundonteniollst Journol. colloct (4O4) 255-0724 believethat we must all usethe same O ]986 O d Time Gosoe Hour 6363 RoswellRd., SuiteB window. Ne ther adverlised producls, wrilers'iheolog cc pos I ons, Atlanta,CiA 30328 nor ed toric conienl n Fundomentollst Jourrcl should be considered os endorsed by. nor the off cio position of. ihe mogozne or Od Tme Gospe Hour BrendaF. Terry POSIMASTER:Send oddfess chonges to Fundomentolist Quinton,Virginia Journol, Subscrber Sevices. Lynchbur], Vngin a 24514. 8 FundomentolistJournol YouGAN servethe Lordand boost your income.r r

FI llven if you can't teachor preach,you . Beginbuilding your own businesswith- can be instrumental in ministeringto the out leavingthe securityof your present needsof other Christianswhile earninga occupation. substantialincome at the sametime. o Set your own hours-determine when How? The ZondervanCorporation you want to work and how much. You throughtheir Book of Life division. setthe pace. When you introducethe new Book of Life programto others,you can: rProfit from a generousbenefit package .Aid ih the growth and developmentof includingfree medical and life insurance fellow Christiansand their families. (without examination),and cash bo- nusesin additionto your commissions. r Earn a sizableincome-conscientious participantscan earn $12,000- $20,000 r Qualify without any specifictraining or part time. . . $25,000- $30,000*full background;no financialinvestment, no time...andmore! franchisefee, at the sametime! Wirn the ZondervanBook of Life pro- "This work hashelped me to live my Iife gram, you will be meetingan important morefully. I'm ableto work at my own universalneed. In fact, Christian leaders paceand havetime to enjoy God's world agree:Every home shouldhave this aroundme," -Carl Edelmann program. And potentialefsts to earnmore money "I thank God for the privilegeI haveto with this opportunity than with many full- work with a wonderfulChristian com- time jobs. In fact, for many men and pany like Zondervan.It has enabledme women, this has becometheir primary in- to help familieslearn the Word of God in comesource. a betterway and, at the sametime, pro- videa good living for my family." "In my l2yearswithZondervanBook of -Paul Saxton Life, 8 out of l0 peopleI've shownthe program to havepurchased it for them- To find out how you can take advantage selvesor their families.I feel like I'm of this remarkableopportunity and build meetingagenuine toT#,iltifl. your own Christianbusiness, simply com- ru,., pleteand mail the couponbelow.

'i, I ,l Pleaserush my FREE ZondervanBook of Life informadonpacket. I understandI am underno rl obligation,and no salesmanwill call; (Offerlimired to U.S. Canadianresidents.) I and :l ii,l I Na ' ,,1 ,l ::l Address I :l City,State,Zip ,:::I "'::l :l I :,:l A zoNdERVaN , ::| ,,, I :::::I BOOKOF UFE ,:l :l Dept.J46rP.O.Box6130oGrandRapids,MI49506 I ::::l *Representativescurrently working wirh I ZondervanBook of Lifeearn up to $65,?58annually in :::,I commissionsand bonuses. ,::::::l JERRYFALWELL CCMMENTS WhatIs a GoodChurch?

- - not losesight of peopleand individual t t needs.As it becomeslarge in numbers, P *il1;,lf:"'{:r":i*t:"nl1 it musttry hard to staysmall in spirit. questionI do not say,"What do you Joy is anothertrait of a gmd church. mean by 'good church'?" I think I "They,continuing daily with oneaccord know what he means,and I start nam- in the temple,and breaking bread from ing off churchesthat he might like to Tn, Iocalchurch houseto house,did eat their meatwith attend.But what constitutesa "good place, gladnessand singlenessof heart,prais- church"? is a hiding ing God" (vv.46-47).A lot of churches The greatestlocal congregationin a place of fellowship, havethe atmosphereof a morgue.If churchhistory numberedin the thou- you are not depressedupon entering, sands. Shortly after its birth, this a place to internalize the prelude will depressyou. If the churchwithstood oppression from the the Wordof God, musicdoes not get to you, the pastor, powerful Romangovernment and over- in a cathedralvoice he uses only in the came insurmountableodds. It grew to worship,and to pray, pulpit, will get to you.If that doesnot and thrived throughoutJerusalem and do it, the specialmusic or the anthem eventuallyreached half the town for will. If you are still in good spirits, Christ. Its strengthand commitment Thethird qualityof a goodchurch is wait for the sermon. sprangfrom the basic qualities that spiritual authority. "And fear cameupon A church shouldprovide spiritual make a "good church." every soul: and many wonders and joy, a lift. You ought to leavefeeling In Acts chapter 2, stability is the signswere done by theapostles" (v.a3). betterthan you did whenyou camein, first quality of a goodchurch. "They Whena churchstands upon the Word sayingit was goodto be in the house continuedsteadfastly in the apostles' of God, an invisible, intangible,but of the Lord. doctrine"(v.42). A stablechurch knows very realelement-spiritual authority- Evangelismis the last character- what it believes,why it believesit, and permeateseverything. Many churches istic of a goodchurch givenin this pas- it takesa stand on the truth of God. lack spiritual authority.You havebeen sage,"And the [.ord addedto the church Anotherquality is fellowship."They in them.The preachersimply readsa daily such as should be saved,"or continuedsteadfastly in...fellow- sermon,dead and dry as last year's werebeing saved (v.47). What is a good ship"(v.42). There was a sweetStable bird'snest. Nothing is beingsaid and church?Notice the order. A goodchurch fellowshipthere. They encouraged one nothingis happening.You go through hasstability, fellowship, spiritual au- another.Through hardships and fam- the little menu they give you at the thority, love,joy, and evangelism.If ines, they were breaking bread and door, and wish for the benediction. you leaveout soulwinning,all the other observingother ordinances.They came Hopefully you go to a church where qualitieslose their meaning. togetherto rememberChrist's death the musicis anointedand the preach- Thereare Bible-believing churches and His Resurrectionand to pray. ing is powerful,and where things are that do not give a gospelinvitation In this troubledworld, youneed to beingsaid and donethat changelives. anymore,that do not train peopleto retreatinto the fortress,into the refuge The absenceor presenceof spiritual win souls,that do not tell peoplethe of the church of the living God.You authority makesthe difference. importanceof sharingChrist. I believe needa placeto gatherwith other be- A goodchurch is filled with love. in lifestyleevangelism, but I also be- lieversaround the Word in fellowship When you walk in you feel like you lieve in wordof-mouth,word-by-word, and prayer.That is why the Scriptures belong.You feel that the peoplewant sentence-by-sentence,line-byJine evan- say,forsake not "the assemblingof our- you there,that they love you, believe gelism, where you give the plan of selvestogether, as the manner of some in you,and want to helpyou. The peo- salvationso clearlythat a personcan is." A churchwithout stabilityand fel- ple in the churchin Actshad lovefor understandit. But if you do not have lowship has nothing.No matter how one another."All that believedwere both, you do not haveanything. You activeit is, or how beautifulthe build- together,and had all thingscommon; cannotwin peopleto Christ without ing,or how tall the spire,if thechurch and soldtheir possessionsand goods, telling themthe plan of salvation.Faith doesnot havethese qualities, it will not and partedthem to all men,as every comesby hearing,and hearingby the be worth your while to go there. man had need" (w.44-45).When you Word of God.We must haveboth. Thelocal church is supposedto be get in trouble,the peopleof the church When you are in a stablechurch a hiding place,a placeof fellowship, shouldbe the first to run to your side that hasa strong,prayerful fellowship, a placeto internalizethe Word of God, to help you. Thechurch may be weak where spiritual authority, love, and to observethe ordinances,to worship, in other areas,but a goodchurch will joy are present,evangelism is easy and to pray. Just as your family and be sensitiveto the needsof people. and natural. home are a safehaven from a strife- The larger a churchbecomes, the Is there a goodchurch whereyou filled world, soshould your churchbe. harderit hasto work to be sureit does live?Are you in it? I lO FundomentolistJournol WANT TO BE IN CONTROL OF YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE?

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I fter looking at the strengths - - ing,the movement is generallycharac- II of Fundamentalistsand Evan- terizedby carefulbiblical scholarship. 4 leelicals last month, I want to However,in their desirefor knowledge, give eq-ualtime to the weaknesses. Evangelicalsdevelop a pride of knowl- That'sright, weaknesses.Both groups edge.They love to play the "Where-did- consistof fallible human beingsand you-go-to-school?"game, or the "How- aretherefore subject to weaknessesand many-degrees-do-you-have?"game. flaws. An honestreview will help us Whenpride of knowledgebecomes an recogrizethose shortcomings and hope- Tn, fime hascome obsession,a personcan becomeiso- fully find avenues of improvement. lated from people. for true Fundamentalists Worry over credibillty.The Evan- FundamentallstWeaknesses and Evangelicals gelicals are overly concerned about academicand socialrespectability. Be- Intolerance.Because of the Funda- to reject the edicts causeof their desireto presentChris- mentalist's strong emphasison the of their extremefringes, tianity as an intelligent and credible truth, he easilybecomes intolerant of alternative to secular society, they all who disagreewith him. Oftenquick worry whether people, movements, to judgehe haslittle capacityfor self- schools,and books have any "real criticism. Fundamentalistelements noia about fellowships,associations, credibility." They fear being labeled becomedefensive and ingrown. and evenpersonal relationships. intellectuallyinferior. Absolutism. Frequently, Fundamen- Split to the right. BecauseFunda- Dift to the left. Evangelicalsrarely talists may have a black-and-white mentalismis a righfwing movement split. They are too loving, kind, and mentality toward issues.They leave tolerant get (theologically,politically, and socially), to that angry. However,this little to the gray areas of personal toleranceallows it hasa tendencyto split further to the them to keepdrifting preferenceand quickly make absolute right. Inevitablysomeone gets angry to the left. Todaythere are thoseespous- pronouncementsfor or againstissues. ing and decidesthat he is more of a Funda- everythingfrom neo-orthodoxyto This leavesthem inflexibleand resis- mentalistthan the others.Some Funda- Marxism who still claim to be Evan- tant to change.It oftencauses them to gelical. mentaliststend to split further and As a result, the left wing of elevateminor issuesinto major issues Evangelicalism further to the right until their groups is barely discernable and to paint themselvesinto a tight end up in total isolation. from the right wing of Liberalism, corner from which thev cannotescaDe. Beyondthe weaknessesof both Fun- Pride of accompliihment.Funda- EvangelicalWeaknesses damentalismand Evangelicalismlooms mentalistsare practicalpeople. They the radical fringe of eachmovement. are doersand builders. They are com- Overtolerance.The moderationof The extremistelements have taken the mitted to winning soulsand building the Evangelicalmovement keeps it weaknessesof their movementto excess. churches.However, in their desireto from theextremism and absolutism of All toooften both camps are judged by do thingsfor Godthey havea tendency the Fundamentalists.However, un- their fringetributaries rather thanby to get caughtup in externalsuccess. checkedby Scripture,moderation easily their mainstreamrepresentatives. Theylove to play the "How-many-are- turns to overtolerance."Let's not be Like a rubberband stretched to its you-running?" game or the "How- quick to judge" pervadesthe movement. limit, the extremefringes have pulled much-did-you-grow?"game. When Toleranceof error leadsto contamina- the Conservative movement to the accomplishmentbecomes an obses- tion by error.As a result,Evangelicals breakingpoint. If allowedto continue sion, it leads to a grow-at-any-cost struggleover what to do whensomeone anyfurther, it will only be a matterof mentality. within their ranks deniesthe central time until the historic Conservative Worryover labels. Because Funda- doctrinesof the Christianfaith. concensusis a shatteredmemory of the mentalistsare quick to identify and Relativism.Because of their moder- past.We must resistthis trend andre- label theologicalerror, they often worry ation, Evangelicalshave a dangerous turn to the historic fundamentalsof aboutlabels and associations.Pastors tendencytoward relativism in theology, the faith that were so clearly estab- fear beinglabeled "pseudo-" or "neo-" ethics,philosophy, and evenpersonal lishedat the beginningof this century. anything.They fear being placedon morals."If no onehas a monopolyon someone'slist of "weak-kneedcompro- the truth, how can we be dogmatic?" I Adapted from In Searchol Unity, misers."Ecclesiastical politics becomes Pride of intellect.Because of the O 1985by EdwardDobson. Used by per- a gameof intimidation,causing para- Evangelicalcommitment to Bible teach- missionof ThomasNelson Publishers. 12 FundomentolistJournol ": wrew

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s-AffD-r,R' The SauderCompanies are national SauderManufacturing Company sponsorsof "SingFor Joy", a radio programof classicalreligious music Dept.167 600 MiddleStreet Archbold,Ohio 43502 producedby St. Olaf Collegein Caff tof f-free 1-800-537-1530(ln Ohio 1-800-472-2722\ Northfield,Minnesota. Check local listingsfor timesand stations. Makers ot Quality Pews, Adaptable Seating Systems and other Church Furniture. GettingRid of SpiritualFlab by Tyler B. Flynn Christianscannot resist the temptation live off the spiritual experiencesof of spiritual food.On Sundaysthey sit other people,keeping truth at arm's Fl prins is here!As we shedour down to a big meal of hymns,music, Iength. \ tuttv winter ciotheswe are sermons,and prayers. During the week Do you suffer from depression? \J suddenly-aaaeaconscious of the rolls it is Christian television,Christian Unappliedtruth can be an emotional of flab quietly during winter's tapes,Christian magazines, and Chris- andspiritual weight that leadsto guilt inactive months. Health clubs, diet tian books.They snackconstantly on and discouragement,Someone has plans,and low-calfood producers are Christianradio-in the car,in the tub, said that impressionwithout expres- blitzingus with ads,promising us that doingthe dishes,waking up, goingto sion leadsto depression. if we do it their way, we will look as sleep.Their downfallis not in expos- Are you spiritually apathetic? sleek as an olympic athlete by ing themselvesto thesethings, but in FlabbyChristians admit to beingbored summertime, failing to applywhat theyare hearing. with spiritual things."I've heardit all Thereis anotherkind of flab, just Thereis no way anyonecould digest before,"they say.Because they rarely as cumbersomeand unattractive- that quantity of truth! The result is experiencethe excitementof seeing spiritual flab. We grow it the sameway flab. God'struth at work, it beginsto sound we growbody flab-by takingin more Areyou spiritually overweight? Get like an old recordplayed 6ver andover thanwe burn off. ManyChristians are on the scalesfor a minute and ask again-dull and monotonous. consumingmore truth than they are yourselfthese telling questions: Do you thtnk you have it all to- applying. Do you haveregular personal Bible gether? Flabby Christians do. They Like the food addict who habitually study that is relevantand convicting? havefallen into the trap of equating reachesfor the refrigerator, many Most flabby Christiansdo not. They knowingwith doing.They are practic- ing classroomChristianity. It is much easierto sufferdelusions of grandeur in a classroomthan in the crucibleof WHERE CAN A real lifel If you fight the battle of the bulge, EAMILY MAN you knowthat flab is no fun. Whether physicalor spiritual, flab bloats the TRAIN FOR beautifulcontours of a life, leavingits victim unattractiveand discouraged. MINISTRY? Here are some ways you can shed thoseunwanted spiritual pounds: AskGod to showyou severalspeci- fic spiritual needsin your life. Make a prayer list of thoseneeds andshare it with a trustedfriend who will keepa checkon your progress. Cut back on your spiritual intake. Do not oversaturateyourself-take a truth at a time and follow it through i;+ri"#r until it is integrated into your life (seeJames l:22). "l chosePractical because it preparedme t'or fuII time ministry in threeconcentrated Ask God to place you in circum- and spiritually-raaardingyears. The costsare affordable,on-campus housing is stancesthat will exerciseyour Chris- aoailable,jobs in the Binghamton, NY areaare plentiful, and Practicalis fuIly (James accredited.Beclcy enjoys taking classes with meand appreciatesthe transporta- tian character l:2-4). t'ree Becomeinvolved in meeting the tion for our kids to their Christianschool For us, thesethings are important." lJ- needsof others, A st<- Thereit is-a five-pointplan to get Steve Little you in shape!Start today.Remember, Lisle, New York lasting weight loss takes time; it re- IF THESE THINGS ARE IMPORTANTTO YOU, WR/TE FOR INFORMAT/ON quires a changein lifestyle.But you will be delightedwhen you look in the PRACTICAL BIBLE TRAINING SCHOOL Drawer A-Fj mirror! Bible School Park. NY 13737 I Tyler B. Flynn is pastor of Covenant Baptist Churchin Columbus,Ohio. 14 FundomentolistJournol -?^4,t/ Lz orgiIty r\,/ to orget by JayE. Adams

othing more important ever be lost again.They wonder how God appearsin such contexts.)He is not happenedto you. The most could forgive after He has already talking about God forgiving or not wonderful eventin your life forgiven. Clearly, God forgiving as Judge, but as Father. was when your greatest need was doesnot forgiveand Fatherly,or parental,forgiveness. met-your needfor forgiveness.Yes, takeback His hasnothing to do with eternal Christian,when Godcanceled the debt salvation,but everythingto chargedagainst you, when He saidyou do with fellowshipwith the were forgiven and free becauseof the heavenly Father. That is a deathof Christ in whom you put your prime reason for learning all trust, Godcounted you a new person, you can about forgiving others. clean,holy, and pure as His own spot- Thereare other reasonsto be lessSon. Forgiveness. Freed from the concernedabout forgiveness. Be- penaltyof sin by the death of Christ causewe are still sinners.we who bore the wrath you deservedfor constantlyneed to be granting yoursin. Forgiveness! What a blessing! and receivingforgiveness from But wonderfulas it is, forgiveness one another. Put two saved is but a beginning.Christ paid an in- sinnersunder the sameroof tolerabledebt you could never have at close range,as husband paid.But, like the greatdivide, on the andwife, and theywill soon other sideof forgivenessthere is a new need to learn forgive- andjoyous obligation of gratitudefor ness.Put two Chris- what Christ hasdone for you.You have forgiveness,nor does He tians on the same becomea newperson-in order to live haveto do the work of forgiving a newlife. As a part of that newnessof all over again,When you trusted life, for which Christhas set you free, Christ as your Saviour your sins He tells you: were forgiven.That forgiveness,for "Be ye kind oneto another,tender- sins past, present,and future, was hearted,forgiving oneanother, even as accomplishedonce and for all, never God for Christ's sake hath forgiven to be revokedor repeated.How, then, you" (Eph. 4:32).As you have been can Christ say what He sayshere in forgiven,forgive others. That is what Matthew6? As a matter of fact, how God requires. can we pray, "Forgive us our debts IndeedJesus said, "For if ye for- aswe forgiveour debtors"(Matt. 6:12)? givemen their trespasses,your heav- The answerto this seeminglyun- enly Fatherwill alsoforgive you: But answerableproblem of forgiveness if ye forgivenot mentheir trespasses, after forgivenessis really quite simple. church boardfor any length neitherwill your Fatherforgive your $ren a sinnertrusts Christ asSaviour, of time, and they too will needto de- trespasses"(Matt. 6:14-15).That is he ii\ iudicially f.orgivenby God. In velopthe practicesof forgiveness.Put how important it is for you to imitate Matthew 6 Christ is speakingabout childrentogether in the sameChristian your heavenlyFather in forgiving your parental forgiveness.Judicial for- day schoolor college,and matters will brothers and sistersin Christ. givenesswas given once and for all. only beginto run smoothlyin the class- Sometimesthose words trouble Here,Christ speaks to thosewho have roomsor dorms when they learn to re- people. They wonder whether one becomea part of the Father'sfamily. ceiveand extendforgiveness. We are can losehis forgivenessin Christ and (Note how often the word "Father" constantlyrubbing one another the April1986 15 wrong way.We periodicallysin against After giving more thought to the us in the future. And that is precisely God and our neighbors.That is why first of thosetwo observations,I recog- what you do when you say, "I forgive we must have a good grasp on the nizedthat, in its essence,forgiveness you" to another.When you utter those biblical principles and practices of is a promise.When God went on record, powerful words, you promise three forgiveness. sayingHe would not rememberour things: "I won't bring up the matter Whatis forgiveness?Most Christians sinsagain, He was makinga promise to you, to anyoneelse, and I won't sit cannotdefine forgiveness and havelittle to us.How thankfulI am that Goddid andbrood on it myself."God will hold or no understandingof its essence. you to your promises,and it is alto- All the years that I have studiedand getherright for your brother to hold thoughtabout forgiveness, no oneever you to thosepromises too. told me exactly what forgivenessis. Learningthat forgivenessis a prom- One day I said to myself,"If I am to ise shouldbe a freeingexperience. If forgive others as God, in Christ, Wnrn youtrusted forgivenesswere only a feeling,you forgaveme, I ought to be able to ex- Christyour sinswere could not be sure that you could gen- amine God's forgivenessand deter- eratethe feelingon demand-especially mine what it is. ThenI can emulateit forgiven-past, present, whensomeone has sinned against you in my own life." andfuture-once seventimes in the sameday (Luke l7:4). Like manv others. I had thousht Yet, Christ requiresthat of you. Feel- only vaguelyibout forgiveness.Noi,v I and for all. ingscannot be evokedon demand,but becameserious and asked, "When God sinceforgiveness is a promise,not a forgives,what does He do? Clearly, feeling,you do not haveto try to change He doesnot merely sit in heavenand your feelings. emote!So. what doesHe do?" As I not merelyfeel something or other,but You can make a promisewhether thought,the passagecame to me, "I that He madea promiseon whichI can you feel like it or not. Supposeyou will forgive their iniquity, and I will take holdl In the dark moments,in becomeconvicted over the fact that remember their sin no more" (Jer. times of temptation,that promiseis you havenot taken your wife out for 31:34).As I meditatedon that versetwo like ananchor to my faith.Forgiveness dinner in five years.You do not want facts becameapparent. In forgiving, is a nromise.Praise God! to go ou| you do not feel like goingout, Godwas going on record,and He was Moreouer,when God promises not but youcanpromise your wife youwill equating forgivenesswith never re- to remember,He is promisingnever to takeher out, regardlessof how you feel. memberingsins again. bringup our sinsor iniquitiesagainst A promisedoes not dependon feeling. So,on the way homefrom churchyou say to her (againstall your feelings), "Honey,I'm goingto takeyou out for dinnerthis Friday." Then you forget all about your Drvrslol{ oF promise. You have had your worst TEII}IESSEE TEHPLE weekin 10years. Friday arrives. You UI{IVERSITY finally reachhome, tired, bedraggled, andhungry. You cannotwait to getin- side, removeyour tie, take off your shoes,and get a goodmeal under your belt. You openthe front door, expect- ing the aromaof a deliciousdinner to greet you, but instead,there stands yourwife, dressed to goout for dinner! Suddenlyyou rememberyour promise. You will keep it-against all your feelinss-or else! Lifewise,the wonderful promise of forgiveness,the promisenot to raisea matter againstanother again, can be madeand kept whetheryou feel like it or not. Now noticesomethins else. I have beentalking about forgivi-ng, not about apologizing.Apologizing is nevermen- tionedin the Bible.It is the world's inadequatesubstitute for forgiveness. Too few Christiansrealize this. Many tend to confuseforgiving and apolo- gizing.When you apologize,you say, "I'm sorry."But that is inadequatefor two reasons.First, you havenot con- fessedyour sin;all youhave done is tell l6 FundomentolistJournol anotherhow you feel(sorry). When you askfor forgiveness,however, you say, "I sinnedagainst God and He hasfor- AREYOU LOOKING FOR YOUR OWN givenme; now will you forgiveme, too, sincemy sin was also agai.nstyou?" That leads to the seconddefect in @&aottrua.? apologizing:you fail to ask the other to makea promiseto closethe matter Godhas raised up an Alternative-toys that glority HIM onceand for all. Whenyou say,"I'm andteach children spiritual truth. Wee Win Toys offers a sorry," either the other persontends completeline ol Christian Toys and Accessories, includ- poseable feel ingstuffed animals, bendable, actionfigures, to awkward,not knowinghow to tapes,books, games and much more. A limitednumber reply or weakly says,"Oh, that's all ofdistributorshios withexclusive territories are now avail- right" (whenit is not, and he usually able.Appointment asa distributor requires an investment doesnot mean it). When you ask for of$9,500 secured by retail inventory. Tofind out how you forgiveness,you toss the-ballto the canbe part of this new and exciting Christian opportunity, other person,asking for a "yes" or callor writetoday. "no." In apologizing,you are Ieft hold- ing the ball; no closure is requested from him. When he agreesto forgive NAME you, he has madea promiseto which youand the churchcan hold him. If he saysno, you must keepasking, even, ADDRESS if necessary,by meansof the disci- plinary processoutlined in Matthew CITY STATE ZIP l8:15ff.Then, one way or another,the matter is brought to a conclusion. HOMEPHONE -OFFICE Lukel7:3-4 tells us if yourbrother says,"I repent"(notice you areto take his word for it), you must forgivehim. That is true; but the converseis true I Cudu'Qtu.a'. aswell. Until he is repentant,until he 15421 Vantage Pkwy. W., Sult€ 116 . Houston, T6xas 77032 r (713) 449-3500 asksfor forgiveness,you may not grant him forgiveness.All sortsof erroneous thingsare being said in Christiancircles aboutforgiving even when there is no resentful.You must not let the sun so to granthim forgiveness(i.e., make the repentance.God does not forgivethat down on your wrath. You must put tf,e promiseto him) as soonas it is possi- way,and neither should you. Remem- matter into God'shands and refuseto ble to do so. ber, if he refusesto be reconciledyou allow the offenseto trigger wrong- Onelast word. Someoneis always mustbring the matterup to him, then doing on your part as well. Thereis readywith the question,"Yes, I know to others, and if necessary,to the I am to forgive,but do I haveto for- church!If you havepromised him that get?" No, you do not have to forget. youwill not do soby saying,"I forgive Forgiving,actively not remembering you," you put yourself in a position the sin againstanother (i.e., not bring- wherevou cannotobev Matthew l8:15ff. ing it up to him, to others,or to your- Thenii later it becomesnecessary for Ga witthotd you selfl,is the wayto forget.If you make youto followthat course,you may not. to your promises,and andkeep the promise,you will forget. That is why Jesussays, "If he repents, If you rememberhow manytimes Jesus forgivehim." it is altogether forgivesyou everyday, forgiving will be "But. what about Mark Il:25?" I right for your brother easier.When you rememberthat He can almost hear someof you asking sufferedand endured the Crossto brins aboutthat verse:"And whenye stand to hold you to those youjudicial forgiveness,once and foi praying,forgive, if ye haveaught against promisestoo, all, it will beeasier still. Is theresome- any: that your Father also which is one you shouldforgive today? in heavenmay forgive you your tres- passes."Notice two things.First, this I JayE. Adams,author and lecturer, is forgivenesstakes place in prayer,not founderof the ChristianCounselins and in conversationwith the offending nothing in the verse about granting EducationalFoundation of Laveiock, party. You do not grant him forgive- forgivenessto the offender.This pas- Pennsylvania,and dean of its Institute ness.Secondly, the forgivenesshas to sagehas to do with your attitude;you of PastoralStudies. He is alsodirector do with your relationshipto your heav- musthonestly tell Godthat youwill be of advanced studies, Westminster enly Father,not to the offender. readyto grant him forgivenessjust as TheologicalSeminary, Escondido, Jesusis simplysaying that you must soonas he repentsand seeksit. In your California.His Ph.D.is from the Uni- not hold somethingagainst another. heart,as you standpraying, you will versity of Missouri. His book More You must not dwell on the wrong he have4lready forgiven himbefore God. than Redemption covers more on hasdone to you andbecome bitter and In otherswords, you will be anxious forsiveness. April1986 17 1447s.c. According to Exodus12:40, suchas Dagan, Sipis (or Shamash)and 430years had elapsed between the Ex- Ashtarte(or Ashtoreth)are represented fuchaeology: odus and Jacob'sdescent into Egypt, in the clay tablets. Some personal indicatins that Jacobcame into the namesfound in the Bible alsoappear land of th-eNile about 1877a.c. By add- in thesetexts. Already names such as Unraveling ing the agesof the patriarchsto the ab-ra-mu (Abram), a-da-mu (Adam), latter date,Abraham's birth datecan dan-ni-Ium(Daniel) have been identi- be calculatedat approximately2167 s.c. fied. However,these may not be the ttreTruttr about What,then, does archaeology have samepersons mentioned in the Bible. to sayregarding this periodof human Frequentlythe large numbers in historywhen God revealed Himself to the Bible havebeen challensed as un- thePatriarchs the patriarchs?Many previouslyob- reasonable,especially thosi dealing scurepatriarchal social customs have with war booty.But in the Eblatablets by lohn J. Davis now beenilluminated by information one king of Mari alone surrendered from the 30,000tablets found at Nuzi, I 1,000pounds of silverand 880 pounds and the myriad of tablets recovered of gold to his captor.Such information Romance,politi from manysites, reflecting the culture accordswell with similar numbers cal intrigue, of the ancientNear East. from the reignsof Israel'skings. war, spiritual In the light of God'sspecial prom- Duringthe 1940sand 1950sthe late victory, and ises(Gen. 12:l-3) the lack of a maleheir NelsonGlueck of Hebrew Union Col- moral defeat created deep anxiety in Abraham's legeconducted extensive surface sur- sound like in- heart. In an attempt to resolvethis veys in lower Trans-Jordanand the gredientsfor a dilemma,he proposedthat Eliezer,a Negev.With the frequent use of the modern best- servantborn in his house,be adopted Bible during a six-yearperiod, he was seller. Indeed asthe heir (Gen. 15:2)-a solution God ableto locate400 new sites in the Neeev they are, but in this reference,they quicklyrejected. Abraham's answer to alone.Glueck discovered that the;il- are iust a few of the thinss that char- this crisis may indicate that he had dernessregions of the Negevwere ex- acterizethe suspense-filledpatriarchal resortedto a well-knowncustom of tensivelyoccupied during the Middle narrativesof Genesis.Prior to modern adoptionreflected in a largecollection BronzeAge I (2100-1800n.c.), which archaeology,many Liberal scholars re- of tabletsdiscovered at ancientNuzi, accountsfor the relative easewith gardedthe storiesof Abraham,Isaac, locatedabout 10 miles southwestof which Abrahamcould move throush and Jacob as creations of Israelite modernKirkuk in Iraq. Sarah'spresen- this area with large flocks of sheEp scribesas they attemptedto enhance tation of Hagarto Abrahamto produce and other animals. In fact, Glueck Hebrewhistory, S,R. Driver contended a male heir (Gen.16:l-2) also reflects arguedthat the early secondmillen- that the patriarchswere personifica- a common custom at Nuzi, as does nium was the only time frame into tions of the tribes,while othersinter- Esau'ssale of his birthright to Jacob which the patriarchalnarratives would nreted them as reflectionsof astral (Gen.25:27-34). logicallyfit. deitiesor figuresof folk poetry.Under Hopefor further light on the patri Themention of donkeysas a means the weightof archaeologicaldata about archal period is now on the horizon of patriarchaltravel through theseand the patriarchs,many have accepted the dueto the recentspectacular discovery other regionshas presentedno prob- existenceof Abraham,while denying of more than 16,000tablets and frag- Iems for scholars,but referenceto that the storiesabout him are histor- mentsat Tell Mardik in NorthernSyria. camels(Gen. 12:16; 24:I0ff;30:43, etc.) ical.If the archaeologists'discoveries Mostof thesetablets date from 2350 hasbeen considered a serious error or have not satisfied all skeptics,they to 2000n.c. Seventypercent are eco- anachronism.Camels were not con- haveestablished the historical credi- nomicand administrativein character, sideredto be domesticateduntil the bility of Genesis12-50. 20percent are literary, and the remain- l3th centuryB.C. However, because of First Kings6:1 states that the Exo- der historical.The collection provides recentdiscoveries of camel bonesin dus from Egypt took place480 years imoortant information of ancientEbla early archaeologicalcontexts, some prior to the fourth year of Solomon's and the regionssurrounding it. Many have suggestedthat domestication reign, which would yield a date of of the well-knownCanaanite deities may havetaken placeas early as the 18 FundomentolistJournol 2 = Bt$c IDUCInOil E (t ,;ig :L c H f-tr P. O. Box610589 t E{ H { ll- D/FWAirport, TX E) E-u, E ;.*g \ Bs 75261-0589 € =l6 rg> b5 N ol 0) qt E e.3 5j \;: c = =t HE E iEE;;EF Il$ o 6 € qI orl t ttE i iF'E a9r€ or aa H€ I c C' = R U' B,3ti -q: ! : "-:- R !3 o sc,Hoor { c t'. ; ggF 3E* i!*i;r3; $Ei!t( d . Kindergarten lr, EI & t''il Q To- o 5 thru N gl -E =i o o TwelfthGrade E = o T' .= z U

Mokeyour decision todoy to receiveo Biblecollege educotion through Liberty HomeBible Institute. Send for the free, Receive no-obligotioninformotion pocket, or coll LibCrtlr 804.847.2000. College Horne Bible Institute Credit Youcon eorn your Generol Bible for Your Coursediplomo ond receive collegecredit! Bible Now,ot lost! You moy receive not only the mostcomprehensMe generol Bible conespon- CourseWork dencecourse ovoiloble inAmerico, but olso, uponcompletion of theLiberty Home Bible I Institutecourse, you moy continue your col- zip I legeeducotionright ot homehrough Liberty I Universitykhool of LifelongLeorning. I 1056 t- FREEINFORIvI.,ATION ON FREE INTONM,AMON cHuncH/scHootsuPPuEs FROMOUR & SERVICES ADVERTISENS Circle the number(s)conespondingwith the advertiser(s)youwould like to receive inlormction lrom, OIO AccelelqtedChristiqn Educotion O33 LindseyTerry R:blications (See O23 Alpho Omego fublicqtions Ol3 Long'sEledronics Advertisemenb Ol8 BqsicEducqtion OV Mision ServiceSupply in the directory, O32 Church EmploymentServices O34 ScuderMcnulocturing poge 66.) O[ DavidsonsMusic O27 ScriphuePres Nome Address City Stqte zip o46 NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IFMAILED BASICEDUCANON IN THE UNITEDSTATES P. O. Box610589 D/FWAirport, TX BUSINESSREPLY MAIL 75261-O589 First Class Permit No.42 Lewisville.TX

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NO POSTAGE NECESSARY rREE lill IF MAILED IN THE INFORIIIATION UNITEDSTATES FNOM OUN BUSINESSREPLY MAIL ADVER/NSENS FIMT CLASS PERM]TNIO. I4O LYNICHBUI?G,VA POSTAGEWLL BEPAID BY ADDRESSEE (SeeAdvertisements Old-Ttme Gospel Hour in the directory, Fundamentalist Journal poge 66.) Attn: Advertising Dept. 2220 Langhorne Road Lynchburg, VA Zl5l5 fourth millenniumn.c. Evidence from professions.Possibly Joseph did not had real power only on their soil. Re- early DynasticEgypt in the form of want the embalmers to be involved call, for example,that Naaman the painting and zoomorphicvessels cer- becauseof the idolatrousrituals that Syrianbelieved that if hewere to wor- tainly allow for the earlydomestic use accompaniedtheir work.According to ship the Godof Israel,he would have of the camel.The presenceof camel Genesis50:3, the embalmingprocess to takeIsraelite soil back to Syriawith bonesin Middle Bronzelayers at Gezer, took 40 daysand the total mourning him (2Kings 5:17). The request of Jacob Megiddoand Taanakprovide compel- period (includingthe embalmingtime) and Joseph to be buried in Canaan ling evidencefor the accuracyof Gene- lasted 70 days. Archaeologicaldis- rather than Egypt exhibitsa suretesti- sis.Furthermore, the camelwas known coveries from the reigns of Queen mony to their faith in the covenant andlisted among domestic animals on a Sumerianlexical text from Ugarit {. -t ,, i' :;' dating back to the Old Babylonian It (c. Period 1830to 1550s.c.). $il;J" Assoil is stratigraphicallyremoved from ancientmounds in Palestine,pot- r\ffiHr tery,bones, tools, walls, houses, seeds, insects,and the remainsof foodemerge to provideeven more light on thedaily life of the patriarchs.Similar surveys in the plains of Moab by American scholarsand the territories of Judah by Israeli specialistshave resulted in the identificationof severalhundred ancientsites not found on maps. I Discoveriesin other countriesare also making important contributions h to our knowledgeof patriarchalprac- ticesand customs. For example,when Abrahamnegotiated for the purchaseof a cavefor Sarah'sburial (Gen.23:l-20), hisdiscussion with theHittites was not ffi,tffi just the traditional oriental haggling i,o*tf overprice. It wasexactly according to Hittite law, as would have been ex- pected,since Abraham was a "stranger and sojourner" in the land and obli- Mummy cortonoge ( section ) with hieroglyphics,Egyption, o1980Smithsonian Institution satedto follow the Hittite law in the furchase.Ephron, the wealthyprince, Hatshepsutand Thutmoses III, bothof promisesof God.Their statementsdo did not want to sellAbraham the cave Egypt'slSth Dynasty,make reference not imply that theyregarded the Lord only, becauseunder Hittite law, he to a 70day embalming/mourningperiod. asa localdeity, but wereonly a means would continueto be responsiblefor Text No. 378 in the British Museum of bearing public testimonyto their the king's ilku or "feudal services." from the PtolmaicPeriod reads, "He uncompromisingfaith in the Lord. Abraham,therefore, had to purchase had a goodlyburial after the seventy Archaeologicaldiscoveries continu- the cave,the field, and its trees. daysof his embalmingwere fulfilled." ouslydemonstrate the historicaltrust- Thediscovery of Hittite cities,laws, Thus,the detailsof the biblical account worthinessof the patriarchal narratives and trade routesnot only shedslight reflect accuratelyEgyptian mummi- of Genesis.No longer can Abraham, on Abraham'stransactions, but also fication practice, and indicate that Isaac,or Jacobbe regardedas fictitious highlightsthe utter folly of someschol- Jacob'sbody was mummified, but with figuresfrom a blurred past.Thanks to ars of 150years ago who confidently the distinctive that the physicians archaeologicalresearch, they have flesh arguedthat the Hittites did not even mummifiedJacob and not the profes- and bones. The believer, therefore, exist! They contendedthat biblical sionalembalmers. oughtnot to apologizefor his faith in writers had fabricatedsuch names in Some have suggestedthat both the completereliability of God'sWord. order to makethe military victoriesof Jacoband Joseph had acceptedEgyp- A centuryof archaeologicaldiscovery Israel'sleaders look more impressive tian religiousideas and were deeply underscoresthe reasonablenessof than they really were. influencedby them.Their requestto be sucha faith. Thedeath of Jacob,his embalming buriedin the landof Canaan,however, in Egypt,and burial in Canaan(Genl wouldargue strongly against this idea. 50:1-13)provide an interestingoppor- No individualcommitted to Egyptian tunity to seethe qualityof his faith,as theologicalideas would everrequest to well as that of Joseph.When Jacob be buried in a foreign land, sincehe I John J. Davis is an author and pro- died,Joseph did not call the Egyptian believedhis godscould only function fessorof Old Testamentat GraceTheo embalmersto work on his father's in his behalfif hewere buried in Egyp- logicalSeminary, Winona [ake, Indiana. body,but the "physicians"(Gen. 50:2). tian soil by traditional ceremonies. He hasparticipated in 9 archaeological In ancientEgypt the embalmersand Peoplesof the ancientNear East expeditionsin Israel and Jordan.Re- physicianswere membersof distinct frequentlyconcluded that their gods sourcesavailable upon request. April1986 19 ThePromise Abraham'sJourney 4,000 yearsago Givento Map shows Biblical, ancient md modem nmes along Abrahm's probable route. Al Hammami Dryt tz Zawt Abraham Ilanath (Hanah) Menpania go'o, Abufu9

Syria by WalterC. Kaiser.Jr, Meditenanean Sea

Bethel Uru Salem (Jerusalem) Tanis Hebron(Al God's promise o to Abraham Goshen Saudi Arabia - must rank as Kuwait No one of the four s -'^--J- greatest mo- Egvpt ments in the Old Testament, alongsidethe promise of a dants might be encouraged.God did plication,but also had becomemore male "seed" to Eve (Gen.3:15), the this so we also might havethe same andmore alienated from the Godwho covenantmade with David(2 Sam. 7), great encouragement. had blessedthem? The answerwas and the new covenant(Jer. 3l:31-34). Genesis l-ll: Prenarations.The to be found in another blessing,as In fact, the Abrahamiccovenant pre- wordblessins most cliarly embraces Godwould chooseone Semitenamed sentsthe whole plan of God and pro- the graciousactivity of Godin the pre- Abrahamand grant him what others vides the focal point of both the Old patriarchalera. In this universalhis- had only dreamedabout. andNew Testaments. This plan of God tory of mankindrecorded in Genesis, For example,the questfor a "name," is designatedthe "promise"in nearly the blessinsof Godextends from His reputation,or prestigerepeatedly drove 50separate passages of theNew Testa- one group of pre-patriarchalsociety ment.Throughout the Bible this prom- after another into the demonicalex- ise is repeatedlyreferred to in the heheir or "seed"that tremesof sin.This mania was the final words,"I will be your God.You shall straw in the sinful generationthat be my people,and I will dwell in the waspromised to Eve, broughton the deluge(Gen. 6:4, they midst of you." whowould crush Satan's were "men of renown").This wasone The New TestamentAssessment of of the motivatingforces in buildingthe the Abrahamic Promise. So central head,is thesame heir Towerof Babel(Gen. l1:4, "let us make was this promiseof God that for the promisedto thepatriarch. us a name").But instead,God freely NewTestament writers therewas only gavea "name"(Gen. l2:2) to Abraham oneeternal promise. Thisseed would just asHe gave the promise of a "seed," Althoughthe promiseis one,it is ultimately asour and "land," and a relationship. composedof manyspecifications, in- come Why is the Abrahamicpromise so cluding:the promiseof themessianic LordJesus Christ. important and so foundational for "seed"(Acts 2:38-39 ; 3:25 -26; 7 :2,17 -18; understandingthe rest of the Bible? 13:23,32-33;Gal. 3:17-18);the gospel BecauseGod gave this promise to '' " '.,:. " .' ' :'.:.::. with its redeemingpower from sin . ""t':" ,11': Abrahamnot only to blessAbraham, _. ,,,..rr...!:.,.iri1-.r".:-\...-,.--.:. ".; ' .1..,,,r... i ,.,.. (Rom.4:2-5, 9-10; James 2:21-23); the : : ;:. : :.ri.i1';,:r i 1...,,:,.,., r.i....1::.:r, .,. . .:il' : but to also bless all the families of promise of a resurrectionfrom the the earth. dead(Acts 26:6-8;2 Tim. 1:1; Heb. 9:15; work in Creationover the creaturesof The AbrahamicPromise. To under- 10:36;2Peter 3:4-9; I John2:24-25\;the theseas and air (Gen.1:28; 5:2), to Noah scorethe importanceand divine em- promiseof the Holy Spirit (Luke24:29; and sons(Gen. 9:l). phasisgiven to this word of promise,it Acts2:33-39; Gal. 3:14); and the promise But the blessingof God went be- standsat the beginningof the narrative of good news for the Gentiles(Gal. yondeven this, to includethe distinc- in Genesisl2:l-3, and it is frequently 3:8,14,29;Eph. I :1 3; 2:12; 3:6-7 ; 4:23,30). tive promisesof salvation,as God's reiterated with some expansionsin Noticealso that theNew Testament graciousgifts were set againstthree Genesis13, 15, 17,22, and 24. writers regardedthis promiseas the great calamities-the Fall, the Flood, Thepromise of Godis His declara- heart and soul of the Old Testament, and the scatteringafter the Tower tion that He would do a number of Theytaught that it waseternally opera- of Babel. thingsfor Abraham,enabling him and tive and irrevocable.The apostlePaul Genesis1-11 had ended with a prob- his seedto be the meansof blessinsto arguedthis way in Galatians3:15-18. lem.What could be done for thenations all the nationswho, like Abrahim, Surprisingly,the promisewas not at large,who had beenso blessedby would put their trust in the promised madejust soAbraham and his descen- Godin their creationand prolific multi Seedto come. 20 FundomentolistJournol "In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed."This is what the GLIMPSESOF GREATNESS apostlePaul would later point out as the same"gospel" which he preached (Gal.3:8). God's good news for all man- kindcould be reducedto this linchpin Abraham-Manof Faith word-D/essing-which would be ac- complishedby the promisedseed of by Harold L. Willmington (founderof nations).Quite a difference! Abraham. His wife wasalso renamed. No longer Thereis more.This climactic word By faith Abraham,when he was would shebe knownjust asAbraham's is theearliest missionary mandate. The calledto go out into a placewhich he wife,Sarai, but now,Sarah, a princess promiseof Godto Abrahamwas specif- shouldafter receive for an inheitance, of the Abrahamiccovenant. The divine ically given in order that he and his obeyed.. . . By faithhesoiournedin the timing was perfect,for in lessthan a seedmight be, through the gracious Iandof promise,as in a strangecountry, year the founder of nations and the provisionof God,the avenueof carry- dwellingin tabernacleswith Isaacand barren princesswould conceiveand ing the samegood news to everyone lacob,the heirswith him of the same bear their first child-Isaac! Wonder of the 70 families on the earth listed promise:For he lookedlor a city which of wonders!God's promise had come in chapter 10. hath foundations,whose builder and true. Thereawaited, however, one final Now, eventhough we havespoken makeris God(Heb. I l:8-10). test for Abraham. It took place on about the promisegiven to Abraham Mount Moriah, right outsideancient in the singular form, it actually em- Jerusalem.Here, obeying the com- bracedthree key elements:an heir- mand of God, Abraham preparesto the seed,an inheritance-theland, and offer up his only son.But the scheduled a heritage-the blessingfor all the Whatevercould executionwas stayedat the last mo- familiesof the earth.First, Godgranted have happened ment. A substitutewas foundl God, this promiseto Abrahamand his seed. to one of Ur's who hadpreviously changed Abraham's We must be careful not to translate leadingcitizens? and Sarah'snames, chose this occa- this word as "descendants,"for this Not only had he sion to give a new namefor Himself, missesthe point. Theword Goddelib- forsaken the Jehovah-jireh,the Lord will provide! eratelyutilized is a collectivesingular worship of the So He did with Abraham.So He will noun.Thus it is like our word sheepor moon goddess with us. deer: we may say one deer or seven for that of an Twenty centuries later, another deer,but not sevendeers. invisiblemonotheistic being, but he Fatherled His only Sonup thosesame Accordingly,we maytranslate it as was actually planning to leave his mountainslopes for the identicalpur- "seed"or "offspring," for both retain famousand fruitful city for a far-off pose.This time, however, there was no the biblical emphasisthat Godwishes country.Had Abrahamtaken leave of to incorporatein onemeaning the idea his senses?More than one eyebrow of One(i.e., the Messiahwho will epit- must havebeen raised as the future omizeand climacticallyrepresent the father of the faithful startedhis oil- group)andof the many(who will also grimagefor Canaan.He was75 yeirs Tn, veryrelationship believe).This is why the apostlePaul old at the time, but marvelousand legitimatelyinsisted in Galatians3:16 mysteriousthings would befall him betweenheaven that "to Abrahamand his seedwere during the next 100years before his and earth changed the promises made." The Scripture death.He. with a smallband of ser- doeinot say,"and to seeds"meining vants, would win a war; he would drastically with the many people,but, "and to your seed" father a child througha barren wife; adventof Abraham. meaningone person,who is Christ. entertain ansels unawares:and be Paul'spoint is that the noun is a col- visitedby Gol Himself. lectiveiingular,and thus it couldand The importanceof Abraham'slife did pointto oneultimate Man of Prom- cannotbe overestimated.In fact, the last-minutereprieve. "For Godso loved ise,even though there were many indi- very relationshipbetween heaven and the world, that he gavehis only begot- viduals in the promisedline. In fact, earth changeddrastically with the ten Son.that whosoeverbelieveth in without sensingany contradiction with adventof Abraham.Prior to this, as him shouldnot perish,but haveever- himself,Paul will affirm 13 verses seenin Genesis1- I I , Godhad dealtin lastinglife" (John3:16). Iaterin Galatians3:29:"lf ye be Christ's, a generalway with nations,peoples, Followingis a suggestedstudy over- thenare ye Abraham'sseed, and heirs andentire civilizations. But beginning view for this man of faith. His conver- accordingto the promise."The same in Genesisl2 He focuseson oneman sion(Acts 7:2); his calling(Gen. 12:l; "Dromise"with the same"seed" em- and his immediatedescendants. Or, Josh.24:3; Acts 7:3); his caution(Gen. biacesnot onlv Christ.but all believers to use an analogy,with Abraham, ll:31-32);his Canaan(12:4-9); his car- of all ages! heaven'sfloodlight gives way to a nality(12:10-20); his courage(14:l-16); But no less prominent is the ele- brilliant spotlight! his communion(14:17 -24); his compro- ment of inheritanceof the land.True, His parentsfirst namedhim at birth mise(1 6: l-l 5);his circumcision (17: l-27); Abraham,and not theother patriarchs in the city of Ur. Godrenamed him at his compassion(18:l-33); his celebra- age 99 in the land of Canaan,from tion (21:1-34);his "Calvary"(22:l-24); continuedon page72 Abram (honoredfather) to Abraham his city (25:7-10;Heb. 1l:8-10). I April]986 21 the easternmountains. The Guti con- tion. Possibly,Terah was among those trolledUr at thetime of Abram'sbirth. who chafedunder the new regimeand TheLife Abram, as his name clearly indi- decidedto move. cates("great father" in Hebrew),was Abramwas born only 14years after of Semiticstock. His ancestorsmust the Guti conquest(2166). Moreover, andTimes havebeen among those who had mi- grated south to Ur in the centuries past.The Sumerianswere not preju- he Godof heaven,who of thePatriarchs dicedtoward those who moved among them,so it is mostlikely that Sumerian hadcreated man to beHis andSemite alike enjoyed the comforts H. Merrill representative by Eugene of life in Ur, on earth, Religiondominated the city'sactiv- waswithout a people. ity. Thechief of Ur's manydeities was the moongod, known to the Sumerians as Nannarand to the Semitesas Sin. Joshuareferred to this god when he Ur, a cosmopoli- said that the fathers of Israel wor- tan metropolis shiped other gods beyond the river of 2200 s.c., Euphrates(24:2-8). But this worship,as Terah himself took the initiative to was celebrated ostentatiousand impressive as its cult depart, a fact that can be explained throughoutthe andritual musthave been, was grossly only by his personaldissatisfaction in civilized world perverted,pandering to the sensual Ur, for there is no indicationthat he as a center of and materialisticside of men.Abram ever came to faith in Abram's God. commerceand and his father, Terah,were caughtup Finally, Terah'sdestination is signif- culture.The city in this system,which servedand pla- icant, for he went to Haran on the was a marvel of architectureand design, catedSin and his pantheon. upper Euphrates,the secondmajor with broad pavedstreets and subter- Ur and its paganworldview was centerof moon-godworship after Ur. raneansewage systems. The middle and typicalof the wholeearth. The God of Howeverit all happened,Abram upperclasses Iived in large,multistoried heaven,who had createdman to be His foundhimself in Haran,a Semiticcity houseswith hot and cold running water, representativeon earth,was without populatedby Amorites.There he be- and all enjoyed the prosperity and a people.Therefore, He enteredthe life came at home in the Ianguageand luxuries madepossible by Ur's inter- of an earnestbut ignorantworshiper lifestyleof his ethnic roots.More im- national commerce.Located on the of a Sumerianmoon god and called portantly,he cameto know moreabout PersianGulf and at the mouth of the him to be anotherAdam, one through Godand became more sensitiveto His mightyTigris-Euphrates river, Ur was whomHe couldmediate His salvation everybidding. populatedprimarily by the Sumerians, to all men and for all time. At last Terah died and the Lord regardedas the pioneersof human Thecircumstances of Abram'scall calledAbram to an unknowndestina- civilization.These innovative people from Ur arenot clear.but sinceTerah, tion. Obediently,the 75-year-oldpro- erected the first great temples and the head of the family, left as well, ceededto makehis way to Canaan.En towers,embarked on the first far-flung externalfactors may have prompted route he almost certainly passedby journeysto sell the fruits of their in- the move.These could be relatedto the Ebla, an Amorite city now known to dustry, and first createda systemof conquestof Ur by the Guti. For 100 havebeen the greatestof its time and writing to recordtheir rich legacyfor years (2180-2080)these barbarians place.Ongoing excavations at the site, posterity. foistedtheir inferior wayson the sen- known today as Tell Mardikh, reveala This sophisticatedurban setting sitivepeople of Ur. No doubtmany of pattern of life more grand and modern attractedpeople of other ethnic and the citizenschose to flee rather than than had been thought possiblefor linguistic heritage. Most prominent endurethe indignitiesof Guti occupa- that ancientday. amongthem was a large populationof At approximatelythe time Abram Semites.These descendantsof the and his entourageleft Haran in 2100s.c. biblical Shem,son of Noah,had moved a tremendouspolitical and socialup- graduallysouthward from UpperMeso heavalshook the Near Easternworld potamia as early as 3000n.c. For a to its very foundations.The Amorites, time rheywere the dominantpower of especiallythose of a seminomadic Central Mesopotamia.Under Sargon character,began to be pressedfor the Great,ruler of Akkad,they estab- dwelling spaceand burst out of the lished the world's first empire.This narrow confinesof UpperMesopotamia. political and military machinedomi- Oneelement moved southeasterly, down natedthe Tigris-Euphratesworld from the Euphratesvalley, and eventually the Taurus Mountains in the north to foundedAmorite states at Isin, Larsa, the PersianGulf in the south.Even Ur and especiallyBabylon. The illustrious and her sister Sumerian citv-states monarch of Babylon, Hammurabi, becameAkkadian vassals foi a time descendedfrom these migrants. A (2360-2180)until the Sargonicempire secondAmorite flood rushed to the fell to invading hordes of Guti from Conoonlteoltor neor Megiddo. southwestthrough Canaan and all the 22 FundomentollstJournol cal historyof the patriarchalperiod is becomingincreasingly understood. Moreimportant than the historical andcultural asDects of the oatriarchal world arethe literary and iheological purposesof theseaccounts. Genesis 12 through50 is not history in the usual sense.Rather it is biographicalhistory or narrative history. The purposeof thesechapters is not to givean account of the history of the world, or evenof '1 Canaanor Egypt,but to presenttheo- "1,' logicalhistory-to describeGod's call of a man (Abram)and of a nation de- scendedfrom him (Israel)and thento show His promisesto them, and His preservinggrace which guaranteed their fulfillment. Thebest starting point for an over- o viewof the meaningof the patriarchal z storiesis Moses,the human author of this portionof Scripture.Genesis was set on the Plainsof Moab in the year 1406s.c., just prior to Moses'death o and the conquestof Canaan.The people of Israelwere poised on the eastbank of the Jordanawaitins the command to crossand occupy thJ land.They had been redeemedtriumnhantlv from Egypt by God'smightf arm and had entered into covenantwith Him at Goldbull's heod from o lyrefound in Ur.Goldleof over o woodencore Sinaito beHis servantpeople. A major elementof that covenant-alongwith way to Egypt,carrying like somegreat tral hill countrywhile the latter were promise of innumerableoffspring- river the flotsamand jetsam of Canaan- driven to the lessdefensible, less de- wasthe promise of Canaanas the land ite civilization.Without doubt Abram sirablevalleys and plains.The Amor- of eternal inheritance.But on what was part of this massivepopulation ites were primarily agricultural,and Iegaland moral groundscould the land displacement.This explainswhy the years passedbefore the Canaanite whichlay beforethem be appropriated land of Canaanlay open before him cities were rebuilt and becamethe as a covenantgrant? and how he was able to move about obstaclesto Israelite conquest de- Mosesprovides the answerto this freely and to settle at will without scribedin the Book of Joshua. troublingquestion in theBook of Gene- seriousopposition. Otherfirm historicalties between sis.In orderto redeemfallen humanity the patriarchal narratives and the to Himself,God called out of the pagan- civilizationsof the ancientNear East ism of Ur oneman, one channel through Y I n orderto redeemfallen are impossibleto establishuntil the whomwould flow His redemptivegraJe. I time of Jacoband Joseph.Following The remainderof patriarchalhistory I humanitvto Himself.God Jacob'sreturn to Canaanfrom Haran attestedto God'scontinued favor. Even J. with his wivesand children,an event the430-year sojourn in Egyptposed no calledout of thepaganism to be datedapproximately 1900 n.c., problem.The promise rested on God's of Ur oneman, one Josephwas sold into Egyptianslavery. integrity.Thus the promiseof Godre- His imprisonment and subsequent vealedthrough Moses provided a his- channelthrough whom elevationto minister of agriculture torical aswell as theologicalrationale wouldflow His took placein the daysof SesostrisIL for the impendingconquest of the land. Subsequently,Jacob and the remain- Seenin this light, the patriarchalperiod redemptivegrace. ing sonswere invitedto leaveCanaan provideda backgroundfor understand- andsettle in Goshenearly in the reign ing God's election,redemption, and : glr ;,i, *';.:, of SesostrisIIL Detailsof the Genesis promiseto His own specialpeople, and ;i;i,-:.,:i;1*;*v1 .1'", 'r narrativesconcerning Jacob and Joseph throughthem to the whole world. ffi ' . y.]:": "'^:/: : ..1,:.. r,;i:","1:..:;i ll . dovetailwith all that is now knownof the 12thDynasty of Egypt.The reliabil- I EugeneH. Merrill is associatepro- The Bible clearly indicates that ity of the Old Testamentrecord is un- fessorof semiticsand Old Testament Canaan remained divided between questionablein setting thesestories studies at Dallas TheologicalSemi Amoritesand Canaanitesthroushout againstthe historical backgroundof nary,Dallas, Texas. He holdsa Ph.D. the patriarchalperiod and even-iater. Genesisand is lavishly documented from ColumbiaUniversity, New York, Theformer retainedcontrol of the cen- from variousEgyptian texts. The bibli- New York. April1986 23 Joseph'sdemonstrated trustwor- thiness and recognizableleadership Joseph, qualitieswere allowed to developinto genuineadministrative skills, as God TrustedFavorite gavehim opportunitiesto exercisehis faith-first as the chief steward in Potiphar'shouse and then in a position by Richard D. Patterson of responsibilityin prison. This portion of Genesisis filled with historicalaccuracy and authentic Egyptian local color, reminding the Scornfully ob- readersthat the Word of Godis a fully serving their trustworthyrecord of the peoplesand youngestbroth- timeswith which it deals. er's approach The dreamsof the cunbearerand across the dis- thebaker mark this period of Joseph's tant fields, the underlyingspiritual sensitivity, mak- life (Gen.40). Through God's grace, sons of Jacob ing him subservientto the divinewill Joseph was able to interpret both mocked Joseph even in the face of death.And from dreams,and God used the interpreting v and nlottedplotted Jacobhe acquired the steadfastnessto of the dreamsboth to reward Joseph against him: "Behold, this dreamer endure hard work and to overcome and to care for His chosenpeople. cometh.. . . t€t us slay him, and cast outrisht reiection.Because of these In the courseof time,Pharaoh also him into somepit." Theyhated Joseph traits-Josephremained in a spiritual hadtwo dreams,and when none of his for capturing the heart of their father posture*here God could uie him. masiciansand wisemencould inter- and being his favorite-and for daring How necessarythat was to be, for prel them,Joseph, still in prison,waS to dream of having power and leader- whenthe envyof his brothersreached suddenlyremembered and summoned. ship over them. anuncontrollable pitch, Joseph found Like Daniel in a later era, who also But evenas they betrayed him and himself not only rejected,but sold servedthe Lord in a foreignland where sold him into Egyptianslavery, God into slaveryand deliveredinto Egypt dreams were especially important, was beginningto mold this young (Gen.37:19-36). Josephhad been given supernatural dreamerand preparehim for the day Thesecond period of Joseph'slife abilitiesregarding their interpretation. when he, as a type of Christ,would stretchesfrom his beins sold into Joseph'sgodly righteousness enabled finally be the salvationof thosewho Egypt until his imprisorimentthere him to serveGod and His peoplewell had despitefullyused him. (Gen.39:l-40:23). Here the man of faith (Ps.105:17-24; Acts 7:9-15). Therefore, Joseph'slife canbe sketchedaround was tested through the seductive Josephinterpreted the dreams and the three setsof dreamsthat parallel advancesof Potiphar'swife. Of course waspromoted to be the secondmost God's working in three distinct pe- Josephremained pure-his life had powerful ruler in Egypt(Gen. 4l:37-57). riods of his life. The first pair of long sincebeen centered in Godand dreamshighlights Joseph's early years His standardsfor living.(Archaeolog- from his boyhooduntil his beingsold ical investigationsof the individual into slaveryin Egypt.Although a story housesand their layoutindicate that of rejection(Gen. 37), Joseph's privi- as Potiphar'ssteward, Joseph would legedposition and purity of character havehad to passdaily throughthe liv- emergein this account.He wasthe son ing quartersto reachthe storerooms of Jacob'sold ageand of his favored at the back of the house.Therefore, wife, Rachel (Gen. 30:22-24;37:3). Josephwas not "off limits," as some Becauseof this, Jacobgave special attentionto Joseph,and madehim the famous"coat of manycolors." Josenh'stwo dreamsreinforced his ho wouldhave thousht father'i favoritism and Joseph's thatthe young man destinedsupremacy over his family. All of thiscaused Joseph's brothers to wouldone day be second hatehim (Gen.37.4,I l). Nevertheless, Pharaohhimselfl God used that hatred to teach him onlvto lessonsof purity andtrustworthiness. j. ,i*r!f - Joseph'scharacter is evidentin the 9.;;i';,_,:ri* earlieststages of his life, for his father trustedhim to accuratelyreport of his brothers'activities (Gen. 37:2, 13-14). ApparentlyJoseph inherited some im- have charged.) Joseph's purity of portant spiritual qualities from the character was tried still further, for greatpatriarchs. From Abraham came lust gonesour led to a lying accusation a basiccommitment to Godand faith- againsthim that eventuallycaused him fulness. From Isaac he learned an to be cast into prison. 24 FundomentolistJournol Joseph'selevation to power pro- a difficult transitional era. His secondonly to Pharaohhimself (Gen. vided the means for bringing the faithfulnessto Godwas to be a means 4l:39-45;45:7-8)?However, there is no Hebrewsinto Egypt(Gen. 42-47), thus o_fblessing for his own peopleand for great secret to such a happening. delivering themfrom the greatfamine the societyin which he lived. He in- Josephhad simply administ-eiedhls and giving them the time.to develop creasinglycame to understandthat God-givenabilities faithfully, whether into a nation whom Godwould redeem in his own home,in Potiphar'shouse, and return to the land of promise (cf. in prison,or in the palace. Ps. 105:42-45).The time of Israel's Numerous parallels have been entry into Egypt is relativelyeasy to came drawn betweenJoseph and the Lord determine. foseph Accordingto I kings-6:l Jesus.Like Joseph,Jesus was a be- andExodus J to understandthat 12:41,soire 910 yeais had lovedson (Matt. 3:17), was rejected by elapsed from their entrance into whateverhappened Hisown (John I :l l; 5:43;7:5,etc.), was Egypt, or 480years after their Exodus, to himGod was in it all, tested(Matt. 4:l-ll; Heb.2:18; 4:15), until the end of the fourth year of wasbetrayed for silver(Matt.26:14-16; Solomon'sreign over Israel. Since that overrulingeverything Acts 1:16-20),and yet was ultimately datecan be affixedas c.967 s.c., Israel triumphant and exaltedto a position would for Hisglory. haveentered Egypt c. 1877s.c., of honor (Acts2:33; 5:31; Col. 2:15). shortly after thebeginning of the reign However,far greaterthan Joseph, the of SesostrisIII of Egypt's12th Dynasty Son of God has been given "a name (1878-1842 B.c.).At this time the land which is aboveevery name: That at the of Goshen,where Josephsettled his name of Jesus every knee should family (Gen.47:l-12),was not greatly bow... and that everytongue should populated. Semitesoften settled theri whateverhappened to him or in what- confessthat JesusChrist is Lord, to the because it wasideal for raisingcattle. everway others intended their actions glory of Godthe Father" (Phil.2:9-l l; All of this fits the biblicalpicture well. towardhim, Godwas in it all, overrul- cf. Rev.ll:15). During the reign of this particular ing everything for His glory. "God Theexperiences of Josephand our Pharaoh the property of the powerful meantit unto good" (Gen.50:20). Lord Jesuscan also be reflectedin the governors wasbrought under the con- Certainly Joseph had prepared life of the Christian.The believer, too, trol of the crown. Although Egyp- himself to be in a spiritual condirion oftenfaces rejection and the hatredof tologistshave not beenable to learn whereGod could use him. Not onlydid others(Matt. 10:22; John I 5:I 8-2l) and the secretof this renewedconcentra- the better qualitiesof his forefathers is often confrontedby testings and tion of power under Pharaoh, the find a balancedcombination in Joseph, trials (John 16:33)so that he may biblical record clearly statesthat it but his own faithfulnessand purity emergevictorious, as did Joseph(Rom. was accomplishedtirrough Joseph renderedhim a productiveservant for 8:35-37;I Cor. l0:13). "Thanks be unto (Gen.47:13-26). God.Who would havethought that the God, which always causeth us to Josephwas indeed a remarkable young man who brought a faithful triumph in Christ" (2 Cor. 2:14).By man.He wasGod's distinct choicefor report (Gen.37:2) would one day be Iearning Joseph's "secret" of sur- renderto God,the believerlearns the secretof successfullivins. As wasthe casewith Joseph,God's iightful lord- shipover our life-all of it-is bestfor us (cf,Gen. 50:19-20 with Ps.73:23-281. A commitmentto God'sWord causes us to hunger for it and allows it to masterus, molding us into a life of con- sistent purity and holiness(cf. Gen. 39:2-6,8-9with Ps.119:9-l l, 65-68,105, lll-ll2; John15:7). The result is a life of faithful work (cf. Gen.45:5-8 with Matt.20:28; I Peter3:16)for Christ, so others may come to know Him as Saviour(2 Cor.4:10-15; 5:14-6:1) and enterinto the full joy of the Master's own promise,"I am come that they might havelife, and that they mighi haveit moreabundantly" (John l0:i0). At life's end,may it be said of us, as of Joseph,that all of our life was "by faith" (Heb.ll:22; cf.2 Tim. 4:7-8).

I RichardD. Pattersonis chairmanof the Departmentof Biblical Studiesat Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia.He holdsa Ph.D.from UCLA. April1986 25

TeenSuicide A CtyforHelp HeqrdToo Late

by Mike King

Teenagesuicide. A final act of deathin youngpeople age 15 to 24.Sui environment.Even a "deep" commit- frustration.A cry for help heard too cideranks third. Manyforensic special- mentto Christ doesnot exempta teen late.A topic not easyto discuss-and ists estimatethat at Ieast25 percent from the possibilityof suicide. onewe would rathernot haveto. The of these accidentsare actually sui- The breakdownof the traditional tragedy of teenagesuicide hits 15 cides.Add those deaths, plus themany family is the biggestsocial factor af- familiesevery day. Christianfamilies suicidesthat are coveredup and not fectingthe climbing suicider.ite today. arenot immune. reported as such by coroners and Divorceand adolescentsuicide have. Whydoes it happenat all? Whatcan other officials, and suicide may be risen proportionatelyin the last two we do to help stop it? the numberone killer of teenagers decades.Considering that nearlyhalf in Americatoday. of all marriagesend in divorce,the "PregnantTeen Kneels At least75 percent of suicidessave absenceof communicationin the home, on Tracks,Is Killedby somekind of indicationof whatlhey the numberof mothersworking, fathers Train." The headline were about to do, but somenever let morecommitted to their careersthan in the BaltimoreEve- anyoneknow the severityof their prob- to their families,and the high mobility ningSunimmediately lemsor feelings.If we becomeaware in our society,the lack of stability caught my eye. Two of someof the reasonsfor suicideand neededfor balancedand proper devel- teenagers,with their the signsof a suicidalperson, we can opmentof children is not surprising. lives ahead of them, Derek Miller, head of Northwestern had decidedto terminatethose lives by University Institute of Psychiatry, throwing themselvesin front of trains. said,"For adolescentsthis is theworst Onewas l4-yearold Melissa,who was In ,n ry ogeqoup timeto be growingup sincethe Middle in her ninth month of pregnancy.She Ageswhen the bubonicplague created had skippedschool with her cousin,who in America,lile chaos," tried to convince Melissa not to kill expectsncyis going up- Teenagersneed someone to confide herself,but Melissarefused to listen. in, to really openup to and talk to. A Shefelt that her life was not worth liv- exceptqmong teens, commondenominator among suicidal ing.As sheknelt on the track facingthe youngpeople is a lack of real commu- oncominginstrument of death,the train nication with their parents."I can't hit her at 100mph. Four davs before talk to my parentsabout anything," is Melissa's death, a l7-yeai-old had a commoncry. Teensneed more than bowed his head Iike a fullback and makea differencein theseescalating a superficialdialogue with Mom and chargedinto a high-speedtrain. statistics. Dad. Sadly, some teenagersfeel the Thestatistics of teenagesuicide are Sociologistsare diligently studying only way they can get their parents' cold and cruel. In everyage group in biological and social factors to find attentionis to kill themselves. America,life expectancyis goingup- clues to the developmentof suicidal Teenagersneed guidelines. When except among teens. Every day an tendencies,including the part heredity parentsfail to set parameters,a tre- averageof l5 youngpeople, over 5,500 plays in personality,depression, and mendousvoid is created.Consistent a year, succeedat taking their own suicide.The severedepression that standards,boundaries, and certain lives. Approximately 400 teenagers causessome people to considersuicide limitationswill providesecurity for a make some kind of suicide attemDt may be totally medicallyrelated, some- teenagergoing through the adolescent everyday, but are not successful.But thing as simple as a chemicalimbal- transitional processof becomingan $hAJir not the wholepicture. Fatal car ance.However, most depressionand adult. i(ents are responsiblefor 37 per- suicidalthoughts are caused by events Expectationscan be carried too far, ths among 15-to 24-year- or perpetualproblems, These social thoughlSome parents place too much ine to the National Centers factorscover everythingfrom family pressureon their teenagers.This es- trol, accidents and structure to the political, economic, peciallyapplies to middle-and upper- leading causesof and moral climate in an individual's classfamilies. Parents who are driven .1986 April 27 with the obsessionof makine their which seem trivial to the outsider, took their own lives.Many teenagers children successfulin life, "oi else," tiresome or amusing,assume enor- seemto believethe line in the popular may find out that the "or else"is too mous importanceto thosein the grip rock song"P311g"-rll'm gonna live costly.Your teenagersneed to know of the monster,while the sanestargu- forever!" Deathis not a real conceDt you lovethem unconditionally, regard- mentsagainst it seemto them simply to the averageteenager who has the less of the circumstances.A strong, absurd."Breaking up with a girlfriend, crazyidea that he is invincible.Death loving, and communicatingfamily is a poor grade,or being cut from the cannotbe reversed.So, in the wordsof the best preventativemeasure in the baseballteam may be enoughto send Bill Blackburn, "Suicide becomesa midstof the adolescentsuicide crisis a teenagerto the brink of suicide. permanentsolution to a temporary in our societytoday. TIME magazineobserved a couple problem." Other socialfactors affect the sui- of yearsago that the averageadoles- Themedia has an influenceon the cide problem,but many of them are cent livesas if his teenageyears were suiciderate. Much of televisioncondi- still directly, or at least indirectly, his last fling in life. Any teenagerin- tions viewersto think there are easy related to a child's home life. Some volvedin drug and alcoholabuse is a solutionsto problems.A programmay adolescentskill themselvesto escaDe prime candidatefor suicide.Seventy presenta problemso complicated that a problemthey feel is insurmountable percentof suicidevictims had alcohol the CIA, FBI, and KGB workins to- becausethey cannot see a solution in their bloodstream,according to getherfor 10years could not solveit, to their dilemma.What might appear U.S.News and WorldReoort.Dr.Marv but a smoothdetective solves it in an to be insignificant to a parent may Griffin in her book A'Cry for Hetp hour. He alwaysgets his man. When be overwhelminglytraumatic for a statedthat nearlyhalf of the teenagers life does not work that easily for a teenager.In the book TheSavage God, who killed themselveswere high on teenager,his problems seem larger AlfredAlvarez states, "As in love,things drugs or alcohol shortly beforethey than life.

How We Ccrr Help o When confronted with a young person who is con- templatingsuicide, allow him to talk. Listencarefully for a plan. The more specificthe plan the more seriousthe situation. o Inventorywith him the re- sources available for dealing with his pain-family, God, church,teachers, friends, and so forth. o Encouragehim to think about the reason for and the results of his potential action. Try to restorerational processes. r Suicide,by and large, oc- curs in the absenceof a senseof futureness.Help the teen envi- sion a future. o Don't preach or blast the youngperson for his feelings. r Give attentionto the crea- tion of a support network that will sustain the individual through the crisis situation.This *? would includefriends, relatives, teachers,or pastors.Move slowly, tq drawing in one or two support personsat a time. r Don't be afraid to refer to an outsidecounselor if you feel the young person is still considering suicide. Sometimesparents are afraid of what otherswill think of them if they know that their child is contemplatingsuicide. Don't let pride keep you from asking for help.

28 FundomentolistJournol Teensare alsoinfluenced by their favoriteHollywood rock stari, who makea hedonisticlifestyle look glam- orous. Most teenagershave a hard time realizingthat what they are see- ing on the silver screenis fantasy. Whenthey measuretheir real worid againstthe fantasy,they become hope- lesslyfrustrated.- But thereis more thana philosophi cal effect.The media can also direitly affectthe suicide rate, as exemnlified in the movie DeerHunter. Set in the VietnamW-ar era, this movieportrayed a group of soldiersplaying Russian roulette.This dramadepicted them as real men.As a result,over 30 docu- mentedcases of suicidesseem to have beenan actingout of this scene.One involveda l4-year-oldjunior "after hiehbov in KansasCiiy who, waiching DeerHunter on his homevideo machine. got his dad's.38 caliber handgun and gatheredseveral of his buddies to- gether. He described the awesome movie sceneand then, changingthe "rules of the game,"he removed-only comethnot, but for to steal,and to kill, one of the six bulletsin the gun,spun hol abuse,the influenceof the media, and to destroy:I am come that they the cylinder,and blew his brains out and the socialmentality concerning might haveIife, and that they mighi on the first shot. thevalue of life-all coupledwith nor- haveit moreabundantly." After we-eo- A seventhgrader at PeekskillMiddle maladolescent pressurei-the number ingfor thetwo youngpeople who died School in New York, hung himself of teenagerswho enter the suicidal in Baltimore,I wasdoing an assembly afterwatchin g An Officerand. a Gentle- categoryis greatlyincreased, in a public schoolnear KansasCity. man.Themovie portrays a youngnaval TheJudeo-Christian heritage places Followingthe assembly, an attractive officer peEkskill who hangshimseli. infinite valueon the individual.That cheerleaderasked to talk to me. She policebelieve th6 moviemay havein- is whyChristians care about the alarm- beganto probe into why I seemedto fluenced the student'saction. ing statistics-and they are alarming. have it "all together." I shared my Rock star Ozzie Osborne'ssonq Thesestatistics represent individuals testimonywith her,and she immedi "Suicide Solution" and rock grouf for whomChrist di!d. Perhapsbecause atelyasked how shecould also receive Blue OysterCult's song"Don'f Fear Christ.She said she was burned out on the Reaper,"advocating teenage sui- life andhad no reasonto live.She had cide,are the heightof irresponsibility consideredsuicide. I presentedthe in the face of human tragedy. Tn, breqkdown planof salvationwith joy. On the gym- Teenagersin our cultureface exor- nasiumbleachers, she priyed andiked bitant pressures. ol the traditionallamily Dr. MichaelPeck, a Christ to saveher and giveher a pur- leading suicidologistsays, "Many of is the biggest posefor living.Not onlydid sheget vic- these kids have poor coping mecha- tory overher suicidalthoughts, but she nisms sociqlIactor ofrecting for the enormousstresses they usedher popularity to win manyof her face." Thiscan be clearly seen through the climbingsuicide friendsto Christ,and eventuallyher the written feelingsof a l6-year-old rutetodqy, parents.She is in Biblecollege today. who killed himself."Dear world. I JesusChrist is the answerteenasers don'twant to getmy hair cut.I don't are searchingforl want to tend kids. I don't want to see - TodayI got a letterfrom a teenager. Tinaat schoolMonday. I don'twant to After explainingwhy sheis consider- do,mybiology assignment or English ing suicide,she closed the letter with or historyor anythins.I don'twant to this remainsa somewhatsilent issue. a statementthat millionsof teenasers be sador-lonely br defressedanymore. a thoroughexamination of the societal in our homes,churches, and sch6ols I don'twant to eat,drink, talk, breathe, valuesinvolved is too painful. Tradi- are makingin someform or another. sleep, move,feel, or live anymore.Mom tionally,because of the stigmaof sui- "I'M CRYINGFOR HELP,BUT NO and Dad,it's not vour fault. I'm not cide in Westernculture, this subiect ONEHEARS ME!!!" free.I feel ill. I'm sadand I'm lonely." has simply not beendiscussed, but Not every teenageryou see has suicide is another social issue that f Mike King is director of associate seriously contemplatedsuicide, but Fundamentalistsmust addressl ministries and Circle-CRanch, with with morehomes breaking up, the high Theultimate solution is JesusChrist. KansasCity Youthfor Christ,Shawnee mobility of our society,drug andalcb- Jesussaid in John 10:10,"The thief Mission,Kansas. April1986 29 loyalty to both parentswhen they seem to hateeach other so?Depression is a Shoringq Sensitive,psychologicalreaction to an impossi- ble dilemma.Giving up, which appears asa symptomof depression,seems the only alternative. SensibleHeqrt Thoughnothing can be doneabout the divorce,the child canbe helpedby understandingparents. The child who A CounselorTells Whqt to Do knows his parents care about his dilemma,and will respecthis needto \MhenYour Child Is Depresed love and be loyal to them both, has the best chanceof getting over his depression. Sometimesa son or daughterbe- comes depressedwhen a parent, becauseof the loss of a spousein divorceor death,turns to the child for by Andre Bustanoby companionship,conversation, and comfort. Even when the husbandis

Depressionand sui cide amongthe youth of the nation have become a matter of national concern. According to the National Institute of Mental Health. var- ious studiesindicate that at any given time as many as 20 children in 100are sufferingfrom depressionand that this rate is increasing. Christianparents find it difficult to conceiveof their childrenbeing among thesestatistics. But knowineChrist and living in a ChristianhomJ can ac- tually aggravatedepression in a young person. He sometimesthinks, "I shouldn'tbe depressed;I'm a Chris- tian, andI havea wonderfulChristian home!"This teenager'sdespair is ag- gravatedby feeling that he has no reason for depression-something must, therefore,be terribly wrong! Signsof Depression.What can be donefor the youngperson who suffers chronicor acutedepression? First of Why Kids Get Depressed.Some still present,a womanmay oftenturn all, parents should be aware of the kids are deoressedover the lossof a to a sonfor companionship,conversa- symptoms.They may include severe parent through death,separation, or tion, and comfort that the husband impairmentof the child's schoolper- divorce. The statistics are really should be providing. This is partic- formance;severely disturbed social ad- educatedguesses, but somefeel that ularly difficult for the child because justment; eating and sleepingprob- 5 to 10percent of childrenfrom two- he cannotshow that he is overwhelmed lems;feelings of despair,helplessness, parenthomes are depressed,as com- with his mother'sneeds. She is count- andhopelessness; psychomotor retar- paredto 30 to 50 percentof children ing on himl Consequently,some chil- dation(such as slowspeech response), in single-parenthomes. drenare requiredto grow up too fast, andpossibly suicidal ideas or threats. Onereason children of divorceget and they miss out on their childhood, Childrenmay alsoshow a persistently depressedis that theyare caught in an Anothermajor causeof depression sadface, withdrawal, great agitation, unsolvablesituation. The custodial is lack of self-esteem.Teenagers fre- aggressivebehavior, or psychosomatic parentmay be quitehappy to be rid of quently suffer from low self-esteem, illness or complaint of illness when the child's other parent.Divorce ter- though they may attempt to cover it they really are not ill. Thoughthe child minatesthe marriage,but divorcedoes with what appearsto be aloofnessor may showthese symptoms, the parent not terminatethe parent-childrelation- toughness.They lack self-esteem can expect him to deny anything is ship,which the child hopeswill goon. becausethey feel they are not doing wrong. But how doesa child show love and well in a competitivesociety where 30 FundomentolistJournol parentshave high expectations.Some- times they feel they are a disappoint- mentto their parents.This is a critical issuein a homewhere Christian values are held high. Christianp4rents often think they are giving leadershipto their children by pointing out where the children are failing to live up to the expectationsof both the parentsand God.To the child it is further evidence of his failure as a Dersonand as a Christian. Sue is a good casein point. Her parentssought counseling because she did not seemto care about anything. When askedwhy she was apathetic, she could not give an answer. She simply did not know why. Upon closer examination I dis- covered that her family was the "perfect" Christianfamily. Her father helda very responsibleposition in the parentalvalues and his own identity as father's insensitivity to his children's federal governmentand was an out- a separateperson. Some teens out- emotionalneeds. Either he is not as standingChristian leader. Her mother wardly rebel.Others give up the strug- closeto his childrenas the motheris, or was an excellentmother and a leader gle, retreat within themselves,and man- he thinks that payingattention to feel. of womenin the community.Herolder ifest all the signsof depression.Faced ingsis unnecessary.When men like this brotherand sisteralso had leadership with the irresolvabledilemma of grow- becomeChristians they often havethe qualities. ing up as distinct individualswho, at the attitude,"It doesn'tmatter how you feel. Suefinally told me,"I can't keepup sametime, must behaveas little replicas You simplybelieve what the Bible says with them-being a straight-Astudent, of their parents,they give up. and do it." But feelingsare important. beingactive in all theseorganizations, What Is a Parent to Do? When a Here is whereSue's parents missed and being 'Miss Leadership.'I just child shows signs of depressionthe the boat. They were out of touch with don't measureup." parentmust first admit there is a prob- her emotionsand unawarethat they un- Sue did not perceiveherself as a lem.Parents are sometimesreluctant to wittingly made her feel she was not leader,but was not able to establish measuringup. her own identity as a follower,and an To help dispelSue's feeling of isola- artistic,introspective person. To do so tion and lack of acceptance,they learned would disappointher parents.So she L,*s,no Chistian to talk about how shedid feel, instead just droppedout of life and withdrew of telling her how sheshould feel. into herself.Her parentswere ableto home cqn qdually Before seeking professionalhelp, help by valuing and respectingthe qggtrwqtedepreffionin a parents should take a look at this qualitiesshe did have. checklistof don'ts and dos: Another source of depressionis yotng pe$on,He *DON'T attempt to be reassuring poor body imageand a feelingon the sometimesthinks "l when you see signs of depressionin teen'spart that he is terribly different your child. Reassurancesgenerally do from the rest of the kids in his peer shouldn'tbe deprcssed;not help,and often they comeacross as group.Parents who tell their kids that evidencethat the parent doesnot under- what other people think should not I'm o Christian,and I stand. The child feels that if people matter,or-that Christians ought tobe hqve q wondertrJl really understoodhow badly he feels different, do not understand the they would not be so glib with developmentaltask teenagersface. Christiqnhome!" assurances. Theteen is in the processof break- Christianparents sometimes do this ing awayfrom dependencyon parents with Scripture-giving assuranceslike, and establishingan identity of his own. "Don't you know that God cares and If he feelsthat he doesnot fit into his promisesto take care of you? He tells peergroup-because he is ugly, too fat, us in the Bible that. . . . " Scriptureis or too thin, or weird-he will be blocked do this becausethey seeit as a reflec- appropriate, but the choice of Scrip- in making this transition.Often this is tion on their parenting skills. The ture and the timing must both be right. why teensreject parentalvalues. They divorcedparent who hascustody of the In His earthly ministry, Jesusdid not mistakenlythink that becominga sepa- child maybereluctant to admittoa prob- start with a sennon.He ministeredas rate individual requires that they turn lem becausethat may encouragethe the Son of Man to men to meet human their backs on parental values. This non-custodial parent to prove the needs.He wept with the brokenhearted. often results in confrontationbetween custodialparent is unfit. He was angry over injustice,and iden- parent and teen, with the teen being In twoparent homes the problem tified with man in his pain and sorrow. made to feel he must choosebetween sometimesis ignored becauseof the As Son of Man He establisheda place April1986 3l poor self-image.Self-reproach is a com- mon response.The child feels guilty, ashamed,or weakbecause of his inabil- ity to cope.Again, this is especiallyim- portantto Christianfamilies because we aresure that "Christis the answer."But this puts an extra burden on the child. He thinks, "I must be beyond God's reachbecause everything is sohopeless." The parent is in a position to help the child appraisethe situation in a more realistic light-one that is less punishing. For example,the child who feels responsiblefor the deathof a parent,or for divorce, should be asked, "What would you havedone differently?" The child who feelsthat he is a big problem to his Christianparents and that he is ruining an otherwiseperfect Christian homeshould be asked,"How goodmust in the hearts of those to whom He cope.Because of your maturity you are you be before you will havJ a happy ministered.Having touchedus in our ableto helphim exploreoptions he may Christianhome?" The child maybe plac- pain,He authenticatedHis divinity with not havethought of. But do so without ing an unreasonableburden on himself. miraclesand proclaimed Himself, on the forcinga solutionon him. Sayfor exam- The parent must sendthe message,"I authorityof Old TestamentScripture, ple, "Do you think it would help if understandwhy you feelas you do, but the Son of God,our Saviour.We must you . . . ?" Or, be willing to be part of the it seemsthat you're being too hard on touch our children with our caring solution.Don't just tell him that you are yourself."There must be a subtletrans- before we oDenthe Bible. willing to help. Proposespecific solu- action here. If the oarent were to sav *DON'Turge the depressedchild to tions,but leavethem open,so the child this,the child wouldnot feelunderstooi "snap out of it" or "pull yourself is ableto assesstheir workability.Say, and would reject the parent'sperspec- together."This hasno more effectthan for example,"Would it helpif I. . . ?" By tive.But by implyingit the parentgives reassurances.And it can alsomake the approachingproblem solving in this the child an opportunity to considerthat parent appearcallous. The child will manneryou are ableto gainmore infor- maybehis positionis a bit extreme,and concludethat the parent simply would mationabout the problem.You needto yet he does not have to defend his not say these things if he really position. understoodhow hopelessthe situation *DObe patient with your teenager's looks. apparentrejection of your values.Re- *DON'Tprobe, examine, or askques- Cn*,on pqrcntsoften member, he is in the period of tions aboutthe causeof the depression. breakaway. Anything that remotely Thechild eitherwill not respondor will thir)kthey arc giving resemblesthe parentalviewpoint or the giveone-word answers. When someone leadershipto their parents'wayof doingthings mns con- is hurting, an analysisof why he hurts trary to the instinct of breakawayand comesacross as callous. childrenby pointingout becominga separateindividual. *DON'T interpret. For example, whercthe childrcnorc Once your teen successfullygoes "You'redepressed because you can'tget throughbreakaway and becomes an in- your way." Even though there may be Iailing,To the child it is dependentadult in his own right, he will an elementof truth in the statement, furthereuidence ol his be free to reexaminethe values his you will appear heartless,and will parents taught. But at this critical alienatethe child evenfurther. Iailureqs a pe$on qnd periodof his life he needsyour patience *DO show your child that you are qs q and understandingto make the break. awarethat he seemssad, forlorn, hurt, Chistian, Rememberthat the first taskin deal- or dejected.Try to identify the exact ing with a depressedperson is under- feelingand the degreeof it. Describeit standingand caring-to standwith him to him as, "You're feelingterribly sad in his pain and despair.Having dispelled today."Say it with a rising inflection,so his isolationby beingthere and having if he choosesto hearyour statementas find out what is workable and un- madea connectionwith him asa caring a questionand wishesto respondhe will workable,and whv.This alsoshows the person,we thenare in a positionto pray feel free to do so.The closeryou are to child how an aduli'soesabout facins an and read Scripture with him. expressinghow he reallyfeels, the more otherwiseimpossib-le problem. *DO likely you will Ieavethe impressionthat be sensitiveto your child'sfeel- I AndreBustanoby, author and family you are trying to understandhim and ings of low self-worth.Depression therapistin Bowie,Maryland, holds an are not judging or evaluatinghim. usuallyis the resultof lossor the inabil- M.A.in marriageand family therapyand *DO acceptyour child'sdependency ity to solvea problem,which leavesthe a Th.M. from Dallas TheolosicalSem- needs.Your child may feel he cannot depressedperson with self-doubtand a inary,Dallas, Texas. 32 FundomentolistJournol A Preventive Outreqchto Teens JerryJohmston reqches into puJclic schools \^rith hismesqge ogoinst suicide qnd drugs

by MichelePrince

Thevoices of the first "Some guy's going to tell us all "Now, how about the seniors.I studentstrickling into about drugs," the friend laughed. spentthree of thebest years of my life the called assembly Ontothe floor, centerstage, walked in the 12thgrade!" echoed through the a thin, casuallydressed man. His bari Again, applause,whistles, and gymnasium.A group tone voice bellowed into the micro- cheers. of sophomores and phone,"All right, let's hear it for the "Mv nameis Jerrv Johnston."the iuniors detoured to ninth grade." preactierbegan, "and I'm here ioday the courtyard to share The freshmencheered. to talk to you abouta tragedymany of a cigarettein the afternoonsun before "OK sophomores,you can do bet- youhave thought about-the problem the assemblybegan. Inside, the echo ter than 'ihat,can't you?" of teenagesuicide." faded as the murmuring of the crowd More rousingapplause. Thepreacher continued with statis- swelledand ruptured into a rumble of "Whereare you,juniors?" the young tics.In thelast 30 years teenage suicide shuffling feet and noisy conversation. man boomed. hastripled in the UnitedStates; 14 to "Who's speaking?"a l5-year-old This time louderapplause, cheers, 18 teens commit suicide every day; boy askedhis friend. and howls. over400 others attempt suicide daily; and last yearbetween 5,000 and 6,000 teenstook their own lives. The crowd was silent. Johnstonwent on to tell the story of Jay,a teenagesuicide victim who felt therewas nothing more to live for. He told the storyof Christy,who over- dosedon Valium. And then the story of an expelledl4-year-old drug user who "got stoned every Friday and Saturdaynight." "On the way homefrom a party one night he got sick and vomitedblood. He was admittedto a hospitalwhere it was determinedhe had a bleedins ulcer. He bribed a doctor there foi somepharmaceutical downers. He in- tendedto commit suicide.After being dischargedhe went homea 68-pound burnout. "That l4-year-oldburnout was me, Jerry Johnston." The studentslistened as he told how some friends invited him to a summerBible camp.He sat alonein the back row at the camp servicesall week. Finally Cherry Gibsoninvited Johnstonto sit with her. At the endof the servicehe went forward and eot saved. April1986 33 "JesusChrist has turned my life the part of teachers,school adminis- "Chris is a right hand to me," he around," Johnstontestified. trators, and parents."These are not said."She helps with researchfor my Beforethe assemblyended, Johnston blanket statements,but they are ap- sermonpreparation, she assistsour playeda tapeof a suicidevictim's fare- plicable,"he said. CPAwith the books,she's my confidant well messageto his mother. Johnston feels that parents can and encourager." "Well, my wholemind is gone... help by dealingwith thesesituations Now that the children are getting can't think . . . . There'sso many things.. . realistically and by talking frankly olderand Danielle has reached school I can'tface. . . . You mighthear it sooner aboutthese issues with their children. age, Johnstonis tapering down his or later, Mom, but your little boy has speakingschedule to accommodatethe turned into an LSD addict.I'm sorry, needsof his family. Mom.That's bad news. It reallyis . . . . "I've made them a priority. God I don'tknow what's real and what isn't "Yorng peopleqrc doesn'twant me to throw themoff for real . . . .I really don't know what to the sakeof souls." sayactually. . . . I havethought it over lookinglor meoning But "taperingdown" will not be an manytimes and there really is nothing in lile, Mqteiolism, easytask for Johnston'sappointments to live for . . . . SoI'll closewith a state- secretary.The Jerry JohnstonMinis- ment that this is DexterGardner speak- alcohol,drugs, and tries has not experienceda dying of ing. I am signingoff." sexhcffe lelt them revival, but on the contrary, cannot Johnston,a 25-year-oldevangelist keepup with the demand. from KansasCity, has been preaching empty,we are "There'sa hunger out there. The the gospeland traveling the country grcqter responseis greatertoday becauseof with LIFE, the namehe has givenhis expeiencinga thecomplexity of man'sproblems, and schoolassemblies, for eightyears. He evqngelisticharuest aswe revisedown our schedulewe're has spokenat 2,000schools and to goingto plan a greaterand more thor- more than 2 million teenagers.His thanever belore," oughoutreach for Christ in eachcity shockingapproach gets young people's we visit." attentionand lets them know that the Johnstonpreaches a stronggospel answerto life's problemsis not drug message,one he describesas a "double abuseor suicide,which Johnstonsays barrel shotgunpermeating the com- are sometimesinterrelated problems. "A lot of parentsare out of touchwith munity." He emphasizesChristian His approachis graphicand often what is goingon, and even in Christian commitmentand dedicationand be- shockingbecause, "Life is that way," communitiesthere is a lack of vital lievesthat judgment,beginning at the he said. "I deal with peoplewho are communication." houseof God,is imperativefor revival. hurting and in deepsin. I'm dealing ThoughJohnston cannot preach or He haslearned two thingsabout people with reality and my approachrelates extendan invitationfor studentsto ac- in his ministering to them: they will effectively." ceptChrist at thepublic school assem- respondto strongpreaching if it is ad- Johnstonattributes his effective- blies,he doesshare his ownexperience ministeredin the spirit of love, and ness in relating to teenagersto his andconversion to Christianityand in- theyare hurting. "A lot of peoplecam- knowledgeof the drug scene.In talk- vites the studentsto cometo audito- ouflagetheir pain,but theyhave prob- ing to teensone-on-one he repeatedly riums or churcheswhere his crusade lems and are lookingfor someoneto dealswith their commonconcerns of meetsfor severalevenings. whom they can relate." wantingto beloved and understood, of "LIFE is a pre-evangelistictool to The young evangelist has also looking for meaningand purposeto develop rapport in a community," learnedsomething about himself. life, and of how to get off drugs and Johnstonsaid. He plansto eventually "I dependcompletely upon God's alcoholand make senseout of life. extendthe LIFE ministry into a camp graceand development in my life. With- "I alwaysrelate Christ to them,and for teenagedrug usersand alcoholics. out His daily instruction I could not they listen," he said. JerryJohnston Ministries, based in carry out what He hascalled me to do. WhileJohnston feels that the coun- KansasCity, was incorporated in 1979, It is a continuousgrowth process." try will seean escalationof teenage andin the last six yearshas seen more Jerry Johnstonwas 15 years old suicidein the nexttwo to fivevears. he than75,000 receive Christ as Saviour. when he preachedhis first sermon. optimisticallylooks upon that specula- In addition to the LIFE assemblies, Twenty-tworeceived Christ at that ser- tion as the greatest opportunity to Johnstoncarries on a full slate of vice,where he gavethe illustration of reach young people with the LIFE- meetingsin 150churches yearly. He Lazaruscoming from the tomb.Now, giving messageof the gospel. addressesmany civic groupssuch as 10years later, Jerry Johnstonis preach- "Youngpeople are lookingfor mean- Rotary and Kiwanis, and speakson ing with the sameexcitement he had as ing in life. Materialism,alcohol, drugs, armv bases.on seculartelevision and a newconvert, and with moreenthusi- and sexhave left them empty.We are radio programs, at juvenile correc- asm.His sightsare seton winningthe experiencinga greater evangelistic tional institutions,and at Christiancol- world to Christ. harvestthan ever before, and I'm more leges,speaking 25 to 35 timesa week. optimisticnow thanever about reach- Johnston'swife, Chris, and their I MichelePrince is a free-lancewriter ing youngpeople and adults with the threechildren, Danielle, 5; Jeremy,3; in Lynchburg,Virginia. gospel." andJenilee, 6 months,travel the coun- For more information on Jerry He is troubled about "the prevalent try with Johnston.He met Chris at a JohnstonMinistries, write P.O.Box trend towardapathy, ignorance of the crusadein Holland,Michigan, and they 12193,Overland Park, Kansas66212, problem,and hostility toward God" on weremarried in March 1979. ,9t3\ 492-2066. 34 FundomentolistJournol friendsor family members.These ac- tions are usually a cry for intervention and should be carefully noted and Answeringthe Cry monitored-and takenverv seriouslv. o Expressionsof wortfilessness o An I-don't-careattitude for Help o Expressionof loneliness o Lack of energy . Alcoholor drug abuse A Courselor'sPIeq . Antisocialbehavior r Changesin eatingand sleeping forFqmily Ennchment habits o Schoolproblems by RonaldE. Hawkins r Giving away possessions No one likes to hear mothers.Suicide data indicate that the . Prolongeddepression about it, but the facts bonding of the baby with a loving We must realize that our adoles- are undeniable.Sui- mother is the singlemost important key centsare not immune to the tendency cide ratesamong the to feelinggood about one's self and life. to periodicallyconsider suicide as a way adolescentpopulation Other socialphenomenon that con- out. Churchesand schoolsneed to be are increasingat an tribute to the risingsuicide rate include more aggressivelyinvolved in parent alarming rate. Be- the loss of culture and community, educationand family enrichment. tween1950 and 1980 alcohol and other drug abuse,disin- We need to learh how to com- successfulsuicides among adolescents tegrationof the family throughdivorce, municate more effcctively with increasedby more than 200 percent. negativefeelings over schoolmarks, loss adolescents.We need to understand Five times more girls than boys at- of an intimate friend, and incest. them and accepttheir introspection, tempt suicide,while five times more Adolescentsuicide is also a devel- egocentrism,and criticalnessas part boysactually kill themselves.A recent opmentalissue. Adolescence is a time of of a developmentalprocess and not the result of a personalwar they are carry- ing on against society.We need to know what we believeand why we believeit. We needto major on accep- tance,dialogue, and our unalterable commitmentto them-no matter what. Weneed to believethat armedwith the power of God'sspirit we can always start anew on the foundation of forgivenessin Christ.When trust and bondingis not present,we needto con- fessour failure to God and the child and pray and work for its inception. We needto protest the literature andmedia presentations that cheapen life andglorify suicideas a heroicact. In our families we need to contin- uously challenge the values of a culture where suicideis becominga popularway of resolvingthe riddle of establishedsuicide hot line in Chicago great introspection, Adolescentsare life. Whilelovingly holding before our averagesone call every20 seconds. possessedby the ideal of perfection. children the hopefulnessand joy de- Numerous myths about suicide Theyknow how thingsought to be and rived from a lifestyle rooted in the abound in our society.Suicidal per- are energeticin criticizing institutions valuesof the Word of God. we can sonsare believed to be insane.the vic- and personsof their shortcomings.At modeland teach those values with the tims of bad genes,or basicallyinferior. the same time they are critical of certaintythat they are right for every None of thesemyths are foundedon themselves.While they are intellectually generation. reality. in love with perfection, they are Adolescentswho decide to take biologicallya mess.They have "ziIs," fat, their livesare usuallystruggling with and their hair is never "right." I Ronald E. Hawkins is director of a number of issues.Frequently they Adolescentsuicide is also a spiri counselingat Liberty University,Lynch- are vexedby the lack of a feelingof tual issue.Young people raised in our burg, Virginia. He holds a D.Min.from belongingor bonding.This feelingmay societyare often alienatedfrom God Westminster Theological Seminary, have deep roots in their childhood. andman and erasureof self seemsan Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, and is com- Some feel that the common denomi acceptablesolution. pletingfurther doctoralwork at Virginia nator in teenagesuicides is that these Mostteenagers give some warning PolytechnicInstitute and StateUniver- adolescentsfailed to bond with their signs of their intention, either to sity, Blacksburg,Virginia. April1986 35 ]ames M. Gtay, Presidentof MBI 1904-1934

On this eternal foundation - the truth in Christ-the Moody , Bible Institute has been built i' since its earliest days. Now, in its 100thyear, Moody continues to look to ]esus Christ for guidance and support. God has set His seal of approval on Moody abun- dantly. Men and women trained here have taken the Gospel throughout the world. We watch in wonder the daily financial miracle, as God's people sup- port Moody's varied ministries! "Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is JesusChrist." May His name be praised! :2'3ta i,r:lli ir'ili: '.:il"'i o

BIBLErnooDV INSTITUTE DEPARTMENT843 82O NORTHLASALLE DR. cHtcAGo, tL 60610-3281 .: :a.:=;. .::::::. ::

Finolin on eight-portseries Morrioge, Divorce €rRemorrioge An Overview by Edward Dobson

Thisis a truesaying, if a mandesire the office of a bishop,he desiretha good work. A bishop then must be blameless,the husband of one wile. . . one that ruleth well his own hotuse,having his children in subiection The phrase"husband of one wife" savedand become a pastor,but because with all gravity(1 Tim. 3:1-4). excludesthose who havebeen divorced, I'm divorcedGod cannot use me?" The or divorcedand remarried,from assum- Bible is clear that a man must first ast month we studied the ouali- ing the pastorateor becominga deacon provehimself and then rise to the office ficationsofapastor and deicon. in the church.In verse4 Pauladds that of pastor or deacon.We know that tJ Accordingto the abovepassage, the pastormust rule his own housewell through the forgivenessof God a man people who have been divorced,or andhave his childrenin subjection.The can rise to leadership,but it must be divorcedand remarried,are to be ex- word "ruIe" meansto manage.The clearin the mindsof thosewho ordain cludedfrom thoseoffices. This inter- pastor and the deaconmust manage him that all his problemsare past, pretation is based upon the principle their own houseswell. Divorceis the forgotten, forgiven, and reconciled. that God places greater demandson ultimateact of mismanagementin one's However,God has put the nodivorcere- peoplein leadershippositions than upon household.Although there are legitimate quirementon the officesof pastorand anyoneelse. groundsfor divorceand peoplecan be deacon,and we havean obligationto ac- In Leviticus21 God legislatedmaf free to remarry, divorceis alwaysthe cept that as legitimate. tersof holinessin priestlyconduct and result of sin. Therefore,one who Whatthen can divorced people do in duties.A man had to meet certain re- mismanasedthe affairs of his own the church?Can they teacha Sunday quirementsto be a priest.Notice the housedo6s not qualify scripturally for schoolclass? Can they sing in the choir? guidelinesin verse7. "They shall not a leadershipposition in the church. Canthey be evangelists?A divorcedper- take a wife that is a whore,or profane; Can a man who was divorcedand soncan do all of thosethings, providing neither shall they take a woman put remarriedbefore he wassaved hold the Godhas called him to thosenarticular away from her husband:for he is holy officeof pastoror deacon?No. Evenif tasks.This limitation in I Timothy3 is unto his God."The Old Testamentpro- the divorcetook placebefore the man specificallyfor pastorsand deacons. hibitedpriests from marryingwomen was saved,he is still excludedfrom Many peoplewho have been divorced who had beendivorced. Notice the dis- theseoffices of leadership.Furthermore, and remarried, and have sought the qualificationsfor priestly office: "For Godwould not call a man to that office forgivenessof God,have been mightily whatsoeverman he be that hath a knowinga previousdivorce disqualified usedof Godin the church-apart from blemish.. . a blind man,or a lame,or he him. the officesof pastor and deacon. that hath a flat nose, or anything Somebelieve that 2 Corinthians5:17 Haveyou useda ScofieldBible, prob superfluous,or a man that is broken- promisesthat since "all things are ably the mostwidely read Bible in the footed, or brokenhanded,or crook- becomenew," a previouslydivorced twentiethcentury? C.I. Scofieldwas backed,or a dwarf..." (w.18-20). man could becomea pastor.Although divorcedand remarried,but God used ObviouslyGod placesgreater demands certainlyour sinsare forgivenwhen we him in a wonderful way to influencethe on peoplein leadershiproles. are saved,the consequencesof some lives of thousandsof people.Divorced God is teachingthe sameprinciple sins haveongoing results in our lives. peoplecan and ought to serve in the in I Timothy 3, placinggreater demands For example,if someoneis heavilyin- church. and requirements upon those who volvedwith drugsbefore he is saved,his Supposesomeone has been involved assume spiritual leadershipin the burnedout brain is not replacedwhen in premaritalrelationships and later is church-pastorsand deacons. These are he becomesa new creaturein Christ. married. Is that personin violation of not suggestions,but qualificationsto be Someoneonce askedme, "Do you the one-woman-husbandqualification found in the lives of men who feel called mean that a homosexual.a child becausehe hashad a sexualrelationship to leadershipin the church. molester,a rapist,or a murderercan be with someoneother than his wife orior Apill1986 37 to marriage? Does that exclude anyone porate decisionthat is indeedthe will of leadership-becausehe must be who has had premarital sex from of God." blameless.We must then turn around becoming a pastor or deacon? No. I Althoughpremarital sex does not ex- andask, "How canwe leadyou to repen- believe the Scriptures are clear that the cludea personfrom risingto leadership tance?How can we assistyou toward sexual act does not cohstitute a within the church, what about extra- restoration?How can we help?" Ac- marriage. marital sex?What shouldhappen when cordingto the Word of God,we havean We have defined marriase as a cov- a pastoror a deaconhas an adulterous obligation to discipline. Church enant, an agreement of comfanionship. relationshipwith someone?Does that disciplinenecessitates the forfeiture of When Jesusmet the woman at the well, act or that relationship exclude that leadership,but at the same time we He said, "Go call your husband." The personfrom everbecoming a pastoror must love,forgive, and restorethat per- woman replied, "I don't haveone," and a deaconfor the rest of his life? Even sonso that aftera periodof time he can Jesusagreed. "You have said well, you thoughhis marriagemay stay together prove himself and his integrity again. have already had five husbands and the and the sin falls under the forsiveness We shouldhelp him find a different area person you are living with is not your of God,is the adulterousman &cluded wherehe cancontinue servins the t ord. husband." from leadershipin the church? Cana widowerremarry?-Suppose a Jesusacknowledged that marriage is Thereare two extremeapproaches pastor'swife dies and he remarries. more than two people living together to thisquestion. The first approachis, Technicallyhe is not a one-womanhus- and having a sexual relationship. "Well, my pastorcommitted adultery, band, but I believehe is perfectly Whenever I counsel young people but since God has forgiven him, we legitimateas a leaderin the church who have made that terrible moral mis- forgive him. He can stay on as our becausethe underlyingprinciple here is take, I often find that someonehas told pastor." The other extremeis, "Our integrity of lifestyle and character. them, "Becauseyou have had a relation- pastorcommitted adultry, he madea What if a man feels the Lord has ship with that person, in God's eyesyou mistake,he sinnedagainst God. Let's calledhim to be a pastor,but his wife are married to that person."That is not beathim downfor the rest of his life so has beenpreviously divorced? Techni- biblically true. I always tell young peo- he will never do anything for God callyhe meetsthe biblicalrequirements, ple, "It may be the will of God for you again." but his wife does not. I personally to go ahead and get married, but you The latter approach is taken too believethat we are wise to reservethe have made one mistake-don't make often.The biblical approachis some- positionof blamelessleadership for men another by marrying the wrong person. wherebetween these two. Whensome- who havenot beendivorced and whose Seek guidance and the advice of your onein theposition of leadershipviolates wiveshave not beendivorced. There is parents and come together with a cor- moral integrity,he forfeits the position no clear statementin the New Testa-

THEVICTOR BOOKS GROWING LIBRARYOF REFERENCEBOOKS IMM FEATURES I Givesthe precisemeanings and useofover 200selected key words I Illustrates how eachword is usedin the New Testament I Usesnumerous personal and literary illustrations to highlight various aspectsof eachword I Discussestheological backgrounds I Describesthe useof eachword in everydayGreek life during THE BIBLE KNOWLEDGE COMMENTARIES VICTOR HANDBOOK OF the time of Christ by John F. Walvoordand Roy B. Zrck BIBLEKNOWLEDGE Old Testament New Testament byV. Gibert Beus IDEALFOR: An easy-to-understand A careful exposition with A complete Bible I PersonalBible study exposition. Includes verse-by-verseanalysis. handbook, answering I Family devotions questions on 300 Bible Outline, Commentary, Basedon the NIV. I Sundayschool classes Bibliography and more. Includes maps, charts, stories.Over 1,300 Basedon the NIV. $27.95 diagrams. $21.95 colorful illustrations. I Home Bible study groups 2 Volume Set (O.T.and N.T.) $44.95 PopularEdition $19.95 I Sermon and lessonpreparation ment about this situation, but because forgive,slow to judge." But supposethe This problem is increasing in our of the principles of Leviticus 2l,I feel guilty party in a divorce remarries society,and church families are not im- that God wants His leadershio to be another. Are they living in a constant mune to it. Some people suggestthat above reproach or question. state of adultery? becausea woman should be in submis- What should the church do with There is no constant state of sion to her husband she is oblisated to divorced people?First and foremost, the adulterv. To sav that it is constant stay with him no matter what tf,e situa- church should stressreconciliation. We would make divorce the unpardonable tion. That is ludicrous advice. If a ought to preach the ideal of marriage sin, which it is not. Someonewho will- woman is being physically abusedand and give people the basic principles for fully violates Scripture to divorce and the welfare and emotional well-beins of successin their marital and family rela- remarry can seekthe forgivenessof God the children are in jeopardy, she ou"ght tionships.When marriagesbegin to fall and be restored into fellowship in the to separate from her husband. She apart, we ought to be instrumental in church. should find help from family or friends, helping couples achievea reconciliation. Supposea Christian wants to divorce at a home for battered women, or within The church is the olace where we can his wife on illegitimate grounds. First, the church. While this is not the basis pray, teach, and guide people through we must exercisechurch discipline.We for a biblical divorce, a battered woman the difficultiesof marriage. shouldgo to that individualpersonally, has every right to separate from her Next, the church ought to have an at- plurally, and publicly-to do all we can husband for her own protection and for titude of restoration. We are to meet to hinder the divorce. If he oroceeds the nrotection of the-children. people at their deepestpoint of need and with his plan, we must exeicisedis- The church must never drop the ban- restore them. People going through a cipline by putting him out of the church ner o[ marital permanence.We shou]d divorce are experiencingextreme emo- while praying that he will seek God's always preach that God's intention is tional and spiritual problems. A great forgiveness.If he doesrepent, we should one woman,one man, for a lifetime.We senseof guilt, failure, lonelinessand the reconcilehim into the fellowshio of the also must resistjudging and discarding devastation of their self-imase over- church, even if he has remarried. Once those who have gone through marital whelms them. Divorced peopleoften feel he has the forgivenessof God and has problems,divorce, and remarriage.We more at home in a singles'bar than in genuinelyrepented, we ought to restore must love and accent them. We must be a church. We ought to be committed to him, reconcilehim, and eventuallyfind quick to forgive and slow to judge. Our loving, forgiving, accepting, and him a place of service for the Lord. church should be filled to capacitywith rebuilding them. What about wife abuse?Does a per- sinners savedby grace,who can reach B. R. takin usedto tell us how to re- son who has been physically abused out and meet others at their noint of spond to divorced people:"Be quick to have the right to divorce and remarry? need. I

NEWTESTAMENT WORDS 'N TODAY'SLANGUAGE Now you can grasp a deeper understanding of the New Testament without learning Greek with N su Test(tment Words in Todny' s l-anguage. Here, Dr. Wayne A. Detzler, a professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, unlocks the mean- ing of 200 key Greek words in the New Testament. '-*----.- Dr. Detzler analyzes each word in its use through- out the New Testament, and combines it with - --Unlockstheprecise {neanings -- -,, practical, historical and literary illustrations. of over 200 Kevwords for When you look into the key words, difficult studentsof, the Wbrd passages become clearer, and your under- standing will grow. . -W$sN\..NNlniNill\rllt\T[ This latest addition to the Victor Books library of reference books is a must for every serious Forewordby WanenW Wiersbe Bible student. $14.95 VICTOR At bookstoreseverwhere, or write: ff, PO. Box1825, Wheaton, lL 60187 BOOKS A Divisionof ScripturePress Publications, Inc. "AtsixteenI got pregnant. Abortron seemed like compassionand hope thattells howyou can theonly solution-even to myparents. becomepart of thesolution "Butnobody told us that such a quick, You'lllearn ways to help set up everything easyanswerwould have such a lasting, devas- fromcrisis hotlines and counseling centers, to tatingeffect. No one mentioned the guilt and shepherdinghomes and adoption agencies. theoriel-' Plusyou'll have all the biblical and scientific Ateighteen Igot pregnant again. But this factssurounding abortion. Including how the timeIwasdeterminedto findanothersolution. differenttechnioues affect mother and child. That'swhen I metsome people who cared Neverbefore has there been such a enoughabout me to helpsave my baby positiveperspectrve onabortion. or such "Thegodparent home gave me iove with- a comprehensiveplan of hope.Pick up outjudgment.And the encouragement and yourcopy of lf I ShouldDie Before lWake. supportI needed before my baby was born. Andbe part oFthe solution we've all "Todayhe's growing up happyand loved beenlookino for. withhis adoptive parcnts. And l've got a Thomas-NelsonPublishers. beautifulfuture too-knowino that I did what Nashville,TN 37214-1000. wasbest for both of us." _*-rs" " "r \ JerryFalwell'slfIShould Die Before I Wake tr*d of, tr ff _m isrhe resr orJennifer's sroryA rrue account of "d Fe#fl F'#W€-@g I This incrediblewealth I was in direct disobedience to God,who had specifically warnedagainst personally motivatedaccumulation of riches(Deut. 17:14-17t. Solomonset his heart uponwealth, and this is the first reasonfor his downfall. Solomon had an incredibleappetite for Solomonbegin to give women."But king ground to the enemy?He Study Solomonloved many did not lWord becomean idolater f".re".ttion-Prosperity strangewomen...ofthe overnight.His demise I was preachersfail to recognize nationsconcernins which a gradualprocess. I lWhen It was that the New Testament the Lord said untJ the not a blowout.It was I Wos a doesnot promisebelievers lWisdom childrenof Israel,Ye shall slow leak. I wealth,riches, or earthly not go in to them" Somewherealons I i NotEnough the comforrs.Rather, it an- l- (1 Kings 1l:1-2). way, Solomon'squeit for I ticipatesthat Christianswill I by DavidJeremiah Hereis "the wisest wealthbegan to replace I follow their t ord in facing I man who ever lived" try- his questfor the Word I of oppositionand suffering I Whenthe historyof my ing to keep1,000 women God.One day his appetite I generation persecutionfor their faith I hasbeen writ- happy.In doingso, he tor womenreplaced his I (2Tim. 2:ll-12;3:12). The I ten,one of the saddesr violatedhis own instruc- appetitefor God. | New Testamentdoes not I chapterswill concernthe tion and disobeyedhis If you would ask the I view this as an odiouspros- I moral defeatof many of own commands.The fallenwhen it happened, I pect,but as a privilege I our Christianleaders. words of warning,which theywould tell you the I (l Peter4:16; 5:l-9), an im- Hardly a month passes he passedon in his time when it became | portant part of developing without the newsof some proverbs,became the in- known.But if I - the truth godlycharacter qualiries respectedleader's fall inro dictmentof his own soul were revealed, would I vou (l Peter2:19-20). Christians disobedienceand sin (Prov.5:20-23). trace their fall io some | shouldnot despairwhen Eachtime that news At first his sin was momentin the distantpast I sufferingadversity. lnstead, reachesme about another immorality and sensuality, whenthey let their I suard they shouldask God what fallenwarrior, I find but in the end, it became down,foi just a moirent, He has to teachthem, and myself reflectingon grossidolatry. and allowedthe enemv to they shouldrejoice in hav- Solomon.He was,accord- His heart becamethe get his foot in the door. ing the privilegeto follow ing to the testimonyof his problem.When Jehovah Solomonwas the wisest the exampleof their l-ord. contemporaries,the wisest appearedbefore Solomon man who ever lived,but and wealthiestkins who the secondtime at the he was not wise enoughto everlived. And vetl with completionof the temple, evaluatethe power of all his advantagisand suc- He instructedhim to walk smallconcesiions. Defenselessness: cesses,in the endhe failed beforeGod as his father A Windowlo God God and madea fool of Davidhad walked,in I David Jeremiahis himself. i.ntegrity of heart(l Kings seniorpastor of the Scott by Bud McCord Solomonhad an ):4).In his sin, "His heart MemorialBaptist Church incredibleappetite for wasnot perfectwith the in SanDiego, and chair- What a terrible feelins wealth.He had beengiven r.ord his God,as was the manof the board of Chris- it must be to be so much by God,yet his leart of David his father" tian HeritageCollege, also defenselesswhen con- whole life seemsto be I Kings 11:4). in SanDiego. Adapted by fronted by an enemybent characterizedby his lust The shipwreckof :ermissionof Mott Media, on our destruction.How and greedfor more.An iolomon was surely one of Inc.,Publishers, pp.85-93. do we look an enemyin illustrationof that is he most terrible trasedies the eyesknowing we graphicallypresented have in n all the world. Eveiyday run out of ammunition? I Kings 6-7.We cannot ;ensuality Sermon madehim, at Wheredo we hide when a help but observethat he end of his life, nothing ] Isuicidaldriver fueledby Solomontook twice as Culline nore thana castaway.His I promisesof eternallife- long to build his own visdom failedto teach I iollorvingJesus (l Peter upon our death drivesa houseas he did to build I tim self-control.The only I l:21-25) I truckloadof dvnamitein the houseof God.He also egacyhe left was a son I iuffering2:21 | our direction?To what lavishedupon his own norefoolish than he was. I iubmitting2:22-23 I country can we travel housewealth, and beautv, How did it happen? | iaving2:24 I searchingfor a andriches. haven ust wherein his life did I ihepherding2:25 | againsta diseasewhose

April1986 41 passportis our own body? how to encourageand not Wheredo we run when just sympathize.Each con- the earth shakesin all gregationneeds a mature directionsand the coupleto be in chargeof buildingsfall acrossthe the ministry of comfort, to path? work besidethe pastor. At the precisemoment The pastor can minister when a man realizeshe comfort by preaching the hasno defenses,what Word. This appliesnot racesthrough his mind? I only to the funeral mes- haveheard storiesof sage,but also to his week- deathbedconfessions, fox- by-weekministry from the hole religion,promises of pulpit and in the class- reform, and reliving one's room. He must unite the entire life in a split congregationin a fellow- second.Could this be life's scriptionthat he never ship of caring. most frighteningmoment? Comforling takes.We must sharethe The time devotedto Could this fear havea pur- the Bereoved Word that is meaningful ministeringto brokenhearts posein God'swisdom and to us. is not spent;it is invested. plan? We can minister com- Deathis not an accident; Perhapsfear is a win- What is the ministry of fort by praying, the kind it is an appointment(Heb. dow through which we can comfort?The Greekword of prayingthat getsthrough 9:27).The church family seemore clearly than we translated"comforter" to God and opensthe foun- that learnsto grievetogether everhave. Perhans this simply means"one called tains of His grace.You do and encouragetogether windowallows us onelast alongsideto help." Per- not minister true comfort will reapspiritual bless- chanceto reachfor God hapsthe besttranslation by preachinga sermon ings that can comeperhaps when our final defenses would be "encourager." over God'sshoulder, but no other way. havefallen. We often seekto com- by leadingpeople next to As the end of human fort peopleby trying to God'sheart and showing Adaptedf rom Comforting history approaches,the make life easyfor them, them how sufficientHe is the Bereavedby Warren Bible teachesthat the final by pamperingthem. But for everyneed. W. and David W. Wiersbe, defenseswill fall oneby God comforts His children We can minister com- Copyright1985, Moody one until men are face-to- by putting within them the fort by mobilizing the church Bible Institute of Chicaso. face with a world without kind of courageand strength family andinstructing them Usedby permission. security.The last human they needto face life hon- defenseis the heart and it estlvand live it faithfrrllv. too will fail for fear. As The best thing we can do the wars,earthquakes, for sufferingpeople is to Comforfing 7. Do not be afraid to floods,and sicknesses be the kind of encourasers "weep with thosewho back us againstthe walls who help them face thelir Woys weep." of the falling mountains, trials honestly,work 8. Rememberthat griev- to whomwill we run? through their feelings,and l. Go to thosewho are ing is a difficult process Just as a patient seeGod give them His bereavedas soonas possi- that takestime. trembleswhen the divine enablement. ble, evenif it is inconve- Be patient with those anesthetistmakes him We can minister com- nient for you. who mourn and don't ask. defenselessagainst the fort by our physical pres- 2. Be swift to hear,slow "Aren'tyou overit yet?" surgeon'sknife, our world ence.To know that God is to speak,and slow to react 9. Visit regularlyduring and all of its peoplesare with us in the valley is to words and feelingsthat the weeksafter the funeral. tremblingwith fear.God's wonderful,but havingour may appear"un-Christian." 10.Keep confidence. correctivesurgery is ter- flesh-and-bloodbrothers 3. Do not try to explain Don't turn the experience rible to contemplatein its and sistersin Christ stand- everything. into a sermonillustration, efficient removalof man's ing with us is alsowonderful. 4. Sharethe promises unlessthe family givesyou tormentors.The result is We can minister com- of God. permlssron. the absenceof fear and fort by what we say. The 5. Avoidsaying, "I know securityin Him. temptationis to say too just how you feel." No- Adaptedfrom Comlorting How defenselesswe are much, to respondtheologi- body will believeyou, and the Bereavedby Warren W. without Him. The truly cally to people'swords the statementaccomplishes and DavidW. Wiersbe. wise havealready entered and not to their feelings. nothing. MoodyPress, Copyright into His rest. Let us con- We can minlster com- 6. Words often fail, so 1985,Moody Bible Institute tinue to call others to Him fort by sharing the Word expressyourself through a of Chicago.Used by while His sheltercan still of God.But we must not loving hug, a handshake, permission. be found. shareGod's truth the way evena simpletouch. Just a pharmacistmixes a pre- being there is a ministry.

42 FundomentolislJournol Fatherdraws him, and womanis persuaded(often somewill comewith or by her doctor)that her un- without prompting. born child presentsan However,we can be used emotionalor mental threat as effectiveinstruments, to her generalwell-being. inviting "whosoeverwill" Therefore,the most prac- to respondto the drawing tical and painlesssolution of God'sHoly Spirit. (for the motherat least)is The invitation should simply to kill the offend- not be forced,but a ing baby.There are two natural conclusionto the well-knowninstances in message.Deliver it in your historywhere this interest- own style,keeping in mind ing standardof unborn that you are being usedby human life could certainly God to draw peopleto havebeen applied. Him. The first caseinvolved Spurgeonbelieved in that of an older woman, closingevery sermon with wife of a respectedreli- an addressto the ungodly. giousleader, living in a -:*....& He oushedfor an im- largesouthern city. Present- rn.diut.conversion, giving day adviceto her would the unsavedno rest in havebeen: "Do you really their sins.He asked feel it wise to complete church membersto pray this birth? Consideryour especiallyfor decisions age.The psychological and to encouragethose strainupon you will be near them to respond. much greaterthan that of Spurgeonavoided personal a youngerwoman. Then hobbyhorsesand elegant too,as an older parent, However, at least 5,000 speech. don'tvou think vou'll have Effective were converted due to the Aboveall, the preacher real problemsadjusting ro work of the Holy Spirit. must exemplifythe love of this infant?I meanit might AltorColls People responded to the Jesus.Spurgeon stated, evenaffect your relatron- clear messageof Jesus "Greathearts are the main shipwith your husband.No, by Howard Erickson Christ. qualificationsfor great all thingsconsidered, it Charles H. Spurgeon preachers....Spare would be far betterto ter- The scripturalprinciple once said, "The best way neither labour in the minate the potentialprob- paramountin the invita- to preach sinners to Christ study,prayer in the closet, lem right now." tion is that peopleare not is to preachChrist to sin- nor zealin the pulpit." The secondcase had to broughtto Christby our ners. Exhortations,en- We do not preachand do with a teenagegirl, en- coaxingand pleading,but treaties, and beseeching,if then invite peopleto re- gagedto a strugglingyoung by the convictionand not accomDaniedwith spondfor the sakeof tradesman,living in a small prompting of the Holy sound instiuctions, are numbers,but for the sake northern town. Here there Soirit. Iike firing off powder of individual souls. couldbe no doubt.A ouick DuringPeter's first ser- without shot. You may "Knowins thereforethe abortionwould immediately mon on the Day of shout, and weep, and terror of-the Lord, we per- solvethe embarrassment Pentecost,the Spirit plead, but you cannot lead suademen. . . For the love anddownright hostility that clearly brought conviction, men to believe what they of Christconstraineth us" would developif the un- for in the midst of his ser- have not heard, nor to (2Cor.5:11,14). born babywas not destroyed. mon, peoplewho were receive a truth which has Two simple and clear- pricked in their hearts never been set before cut casesfor therapeutic criedout, "What shallwe them." For an invitation abortion! Not quite. Could do?" After this workingof or altar call to be effec- TwoCleqr-cul eventhe most calloused the Holy Spirit Peterpro- tive, it must follow a present-dayabortion mill ceededto tell them how to meaningful message.When Cosesfor operatorbear the thought be saved.His invitation God's Word is presented of Elisabeth(the older resultedin 3,000 forthrightly there will be a Theropeutic woman)and Mary (the responses. response,for His Word Aborlion teenager)with trembling DuringPeter's second will not return to Him handsand heartsawaitins sermonthere was no op- void. by Harold L. Willmington the sharp instrumentof portunity to presentan Some say no invitation someancient abortionist? invitation becausehe was is necessary,as no one A therapeuticabortion arrestedbefore finishins. comes to Christ unless the occurswhen a pregnant

April1986 43 "Stop worrying." We must to contributeto an in- WouldJesus talk, instead,about practi- Church dividual retirementac- UsePulpit cal and realistic ways to News count (IRA)if they have win over depression,giving put as much as $2,000into Counseling?clear illustrations,and a church plan. showingspecifically how to NathanMiller, 1985 by GaryR. Collins apply scriptural principles. Liberty Institute of JosephTon of the Elijah was a committed BiblicalStudies graduate, RomanianMissionary Has pastoralcounseling believer,but he reacheda held the organizational Societywill be the guest becomea fad? low point whenhe collapsed servicefor his new speakerin an evangelistic Articles,workshops, under that juniper tree church, Hot Sprlngs Bap- crusadeat Harvard- and pastors'seminars dis- and askedGod to takeaway tlst Churchin Hot RadcliffeApril 14-18. cussit frequently.Counsel- his life. He was physically Springs,Virginia, on ing is part of thecurriculum exhausted,emotionally January5. Ken Chapman NilsonFanini, pastor of in many Bible collegesand afraid, and spiritually of the institute assisted. the First Baptist Church of seminariesand consumes weary,but God senthelp. Niteroi, Brazll, and presi- hours from the schedules The Lord's angelgently in- YouthQuestConference dent of the Brazilian Bap- of busy pastors.Counselors structedhim to take care '86 will be held at Thomas tist Convention,recently continueto write books of his physicalneeds, listen RoadBaptist ChurchApril returnedfrom crusadesin about it. But is counseling to the Word of God,move 10-13.The theme is "Solv- CommunistAngola and reallyneeded? away from his depressing ing the Problemsof Young Mozambique,Africa. TheBible describes Jesus circumstances,and seek People."For more infor- For the secondtime, as Counselor(Isa. 9:6), and help from anotherbeliever mation,call l-800-628-2000.PastorFanini was permit- His whole ministry demon- who was able to bring ted by thesegovernments stratedHis caring concern fellowship,encourage- to preachthe gospeland for people.He counseled ment, and maybea little WASHTNGTON(RNS)- bring in 10,000Bibles. with Nicodemusat night, counseling. An allianceof 28 religious Over2,500 people ac- with an adulterouswoman Many in our congrega- denominationshas attacked ceptedJesus Christ as near a well, and with two tions can learn from such a proposalin Congressto Lord and Saviourdurins confusedbelievers on the an example,and most can strip church pension the crusades.For morein- road to Emmaus.Every apply it to their own lives. boardsof their tax-exempt formation about this pastorknows that Jesus Remember,however, that status,comparing the move Third-WorldMinistry, call healedthe sick and did somepeople may be too to taxationof religion. 214-907-0808. pastoralcounseling with depressed,distraught, or Theproposal was passed the needy. hardenedto understand by the Houseof Represen- But Jesusalso preached. what you havesaid. Others tativesin December,as In proclaimingthe Word may misinterpretsome part of the Tax Reform of God,He encouragedthe part of the message. Act of 1985.The Senate afflicted,challenged the The possibledisadvan- has taken no action yet. complacent,and brought tagesare far outweighed, Whilecriticizing the hopeto the discouraged. however,by the practical pension-boardproposal, Maybethere were people guidancethat may be churcheshave welcomed in thosecongregations givenweek after week. anotherorovision of the who, like the womanwith Whenwe seekHis help, bill to reinstatefavorable FBBCPresident Gordon Shipp the issueof blood,were the Holy Spirit will direct housingprovisions for (left) ond DBBCPresident afraid to ask for help. Per- as we prepareour helping clergy,which the Internal L, Duone Brown haps there were somewho message.He givesspeakers RevenueService had done The board of trustees did not want to disturb the power to communicate away with. Ordained of DenverBaptist Bible the Lord. Othersmay have and helpshearers to under- ministerswould be allowed Collegeand Theological beentoo ashamedor em- standwithout distortion, to deductmortgage in- Seminaryvoted barrassedto talk about Someof thesehearers terestand real estatetaxes unanimouslyon January their problems.These peo- will return later for one- and,at the sametime, ex- 23, 1986,to mergewith ple were not reachedby to-onecounseling. Their clude housingallowances Faith Baptist Bible College, pastoralcounseling, but presencewill convinceyou trom taxes. Ankenv.Iowa. through the Lord's public that pastoralcounseling is The tax-reformbill The Denvercampus, people-helpingministry. no passingfad. It is here would repealthe federal locatedin Broomfield,Col- Thebest public helpers to stav.but its effective- tax statusof the nonprofit orado,has been sold. The are practical,clear in what nessii greatly enhanced pensiongroups by treating finalcommencement [or they say,and aware of when the counselorcan them as commercialin- DenverBaptist Bible Col- human needs.Hurting peo- also give practicalhelp surancecompanies. Under legeand Seminarywill be ple do not needcondemna- from the pulpit. the measure,-employeesof heldon May2,1986, at tion. Few can changejust denominationalagencres South SheridanBaptist becausea speakersays, would alsolose the right Churchin Denver.

M FundomentolistJournol BIOGRAPHY JamesM. Gray Bearerof theWord

"I cannotbut believethat had I died during that period,moral youth that I was and church member besides,I shouldhave died in my sins. "My conversioncame while reading a book,Laws From Heavenfor Life on Earth, by Rev.William Arnot of Edin- burgh,Scotland. It wasa seriesof brief homiliesupon the Bookof Proverbsad- dressedto youngmen. I did not carefor my Bible,but this bookhad a strongat- traction for me. "On a memorablenight in the quiet of my own room, after an exciting

Eu* in his pastonl ministry, Gray was conuincedthat teaching Bible prophecycould both comfort and challenge,

eveningamong worldly people,my eye fell on this sentence:'Every soul not alreadywon to Christ is alreadylost.' "It wasan arrow of convictionto my soul.Quicker than I canexpress it, an overwhelmingsense of mylostandhope- lesscondition fell uponme. I knewthat by Eric Fellman sionand power who begangreat works, I wasnot won to Jesus,and yet I knew great schools,and great movements. that I oughtto be.There was nothing in Thev were initiators. and others were my life, professedlyChristian and out- n 1851America was on thebrink neededto build on their foundations. wardly cleanas it was,to indicatethat of upheaval.The Civil War lay JamesMartin Gray was such a man. I belongedto Him,or that Hepossessed just ahead, and the influx of Born in New York City in 1851,Gray or controlledme. Hell seemedoDen to Europeanimmigrants was beginning wasraised in whathe calleda"nominal" receiveme, and my soul was hanging to swell the Eastern seaboard. Christianhome. He attendedan Episco- overthe abyss.... Economically,the country was enter- pal churchwhere he was confirmedat "Theprayer of the publicancame to ing the industrialage. And spiritually, age14. Upon entering seminary, his goal me:'God, be mercifulto me a sinner!' modernismand sciencewere begin- wasnot somuch a divinecalling as find- I am not ashamedto say that in agony ning to threatenChristianity. ing a comfortableprofession. In fact, I uttered it with my face on the floor. God raised many men to present the Gray had not yet receivedJesus Christ "And Godheard it. He alwayshears gospel to lost men and women. A.J. as his Saviour.He told of his seminary that prayer.He put the everlastingarm Gordon, A.B. Simpson, D.L. Moody, and conversioninrhe MoodyBible Institute under me that night. He lifted me out R.A. Torrey were but a few men of vi Monthly: of the miry clay, planted me upon a April1986 45 rock,and established my goings.He put First, Gray experienceda deepand field and later invited him to teachand a new songin my mouth,which I have profound work of the Holy Spirit. He supervisesummer classes at thenewly been singingever since!" recallsthat "Romans15:30 did that for formed Bible institute in Chicago. Fired with evangelisticfervor, Gray me. The thought that the Spirit was a AlthoughMoody did not know it at beganto seeformalism creepinginto his personwho lovedme and dwellsin me the time, he had had a profound in- denomination.At the same time, the suddenlyfilled my life. Later study in fluence on Gray nea.ly 20 years leadersof his church were struggling I Corinthiansrevealed that my body is earlier. While a seminarystudent in over the growth of ritualism. Bishop His templeand that by Him I havebeen Boston,Gray volunteered to singin the GeorgeD. Cumminsaddressed the de- baptized into the mystical body of choir for the Moody-Sankeymeetings nominationin 1873regarding the prob- Christ." of 1876.He later recorded: lems,but couldnot preventa separation The Holy Spirit's work in his life "I cannot say I was converted of several churches into the new led to a longingto masterthe Word of under the ministry of Mr. Moody. I ReformedEpiscopal Church. God.He prayedmuch for insightinto knewChrist experientially for a short Gray joined this church and, after time at least before these meetings private study, was ordained to its beganand was indeedpreparing for ministry. ln 1877he becamepastor of the gospelministry, but Mr. Moody's the Church of the Redemption in preachingwas used of Godto quicken Brooklyn, New York. And in 1878he Courrdrd against my life andgive the toneand direction assumedthe pastorateof a church in taking on tlte institute's to my publicwork everafterwards. He Newburgh,New York. wasthe first preacher,and oneof the In 1879his denominationprevailed Grayreplied, very few, who has ever movedme to uponhim to minister in a newly founded tears.... churchin Boston.At first Grayresisted "Nowlhaveachance "Oh that sermonon the blood of the call becausethe small,unestablished to practice wltat I Jesus!This brought the tears.I have work did not evenhave a building.How- neverwanted to read that sermonin ever,he cameto view it as God'scall. pfeach," print lest it should detract from the Duringthe next l0 yearsin Boston, hallowed memory of its delivery.It the Lord changed Gray's ministry wasthe man ashe stood,and acted and forever. He later referred to two Scripture,and the Lord answeredin an spoke,under God,that gavemeaning episodesas the great"epochs" in his life. unexpectedmanner. While dining one and power to the sermon," day in the homeof a church member, Having resignedfrom his Boston Gray met a man of obvious spiritual church in 1889,Gray traveledand depthand asked about the sourceof his taushtin variousschools and meetinss Getyourhandsspiritual power.The man told him that heri and in England.His associatidn it sprang from his habit of reading with Moody grew, and soon he was onaNavhesswholebooks of the Bible. He would read regularlytaking responsibility for the an entire book at onesitting and then re- summersessions during R.A.Torrey's view the samebook severaltimes until absence. bookor Bible he had the senseof oossessinpit. After Moody'sdeath in 1899,Gray Graytried it. He^laterdeviloped a wasasked more frequently to serveas studvlbur systembased on this approachcalled teacher and "dean." Moody Bible "syntheticBible study," which is the Institute,as it hadbeen renamed, was heanwort't basisfor "Bible synthesis"courses at goingthrough a crisis.Future leader- KffiiffiEgL Moody Bible Institute and other col- ship and direction had yet to be letgo. leses.But the immediateresult in his decidedand, like many institutions pirtorate was his changefrom topical founded by strong personalities,it to expositorypreaching. He later wrote, faced the real possibility of failure. "Oh what a change,first in the preacher, God raisedup Chicagobusinessman and then in his preaching,and then in Henry ParsonsCrowell, however, to his people!" become president of the board of During his years in Boston,Gray trustees,and he brought keen business attractedthe attentionof otherchurches ability and intuition to the fledgling and groups.A.J. Gordon was begin- institute. ninghis Bible and missionary college, In 1904 Crowell invited Grav. which later becameGordon College Torrey,and C. I. Scofieldto form a andSeminary. He askedGray to teach three-deanstructure to leadthe school. courseseach semester.Gray so im- Grayaccepted and set out for Chicago. pressedhim that whenasked by D. L. He did not realize that Torrey had Moody to schedulespeakers for the decided to set out on an extended Northfield, Massachusetts,summer evangelisticcampaign and resigned conferencein 1893, Gordon asked from his oositionat MBI. Scofieldalso NFNMHSO Gray.Word got backto Moodyabout declinedthe invitation. P.O. Box 6000, ColoEdo Spriogs, CO 80934 Gray'seffectiveness, and Moodycon- Manvof Grav'sfriends advised him tinuedto ask Gray to speakat North- not to tike on suchan administrative 46 FundomentolistJournol load.They feared the preacherwould faith from Abelthrough his generation. 5. Read a book independentlyof becomebogged down with mundane Apparently,clear teaching had not commentaries. businessdetails. But Gray prayed, beenpresented regarding the fate of 6. Readprayerfully. believingthat the sameSpirit to whom believerswho had died. Gray wanted MBI's students to he had surrenderedhis life would man- Gray's emphasison the Second becomeinfused with the Word.Once, ifest Himself in his newcircumstances. Comingcame when premillennial the- when explainingto studentshis pur- Grayled the institutefor 30years, ology was just developingand being posein Bible study,he said: considerablylonger than any other challenged.He contributed greatly "It's onething to knowa greatdeal presidentin its history. A discussion to establishingthis doctrinein both the about the Bible, and another thing of his accomplishmentscould reason- institute curriculum and in pulpits really to know the Bible itself, the ably focuson the buildings,budgets, acrossAmerica. minute and wonderful coordinationof andprograms that grewunder his and Synthetic Bible study. Gray's its parts,disclosing the divineplan of Crowell'sdirection. method of syntheticBible study has redemptionrunning throughthe whole But a truer picture of how God openedScripture to thousandsof lay of it.... Thebest wish I canexpress used Gray at Moody Bible Institute people,because he called it "How to for studentsis that they may really comesfrom his spiritual legacy: Masterthe EnglishBible" anddid not know Jesus Christ as a personal Combatingerror. This period of rely solelyupon the original Greekand Saviour,the Holy Spirit as their in- Americanhistory was marked by at- Hebrew.He taught the systemto thou- dweller,and the Bible for what it is- tacks on traditional Christianity. sands in churches in America and the revelationof God'smind towarda Modernism,Darwinism, and higher Great Britain and then brought it to lost and guilty world." criticism grew in influenceand opposi- MBI. Its basicpoints are simple: tion. An able spokesman,Gray wrote l. Beginat the beginning,Genesis. countlesspamphlets and articles to 2. Readthe Book itself, not books I Eric Fellman,formerly director of exposethe unbiblical nature of such about it. MoodyMonthly in Chicago,is editor in teachings. 3. Read each book continuously, chief at the Foundationfor Christian Whileearnestly contending for the not by chapterand verse. Living, Pawling,New York. Adapted faith, Gray was alwaysa gentleman, 4. Reada bookrepeatedly, until you from Moody Monthly by permission thus gaininga wide audience.He lived havemastered it. of the author. only a few blocks from Mary Baker Eddywhile in Boston,Thus he became familiar with Christian Scienceand eventuallyilluminated its errors.The New York Times commented,"He is satisfiedto limit his criticismof Chris- ANeWComplete tian Scienceto its biblical claims of divine inspiration. Thesehe annihi l-DayChihren's-rrograml lateslike a scholarand a gentleman." Darwinismalso came under the jab of Gray'sskillful pen.His learnedand scholarlyapproach to "The Errors of Biblefest girtr Meet My Millennial Darwinism" frustrated for Kids Best Friend! Darwinism'sproponents. In replythey Iw$, paid him backhandedtribute, saying, Biblefest for Kids "The attack of Dr, Gray is so com- s# Included in the will have your kit is the book, prehensivethat when he is answered pre-schooland Adventwesin so are nearly all others." elementary CreativeTeaching. Gray becamea framer of the now children telling It's a must for famous Fundamentalsissued in the their friends this course,and *.*qei;iiru 1920s.He usedthe prestigeof Moody about their best you,ll turn to it Bible Institute and faculty to con- Friend, Jesus.Biblefest is a five often in many teaching situations tribute to their publicationand thus lessoncourse that's adaptable for when you need a new idea. was instrumentalin preservingclear any size group, any time of the year. Each kit contains: r doctrinefor future generations. Ideal for VBS, day camp, and other 5 lessonson the life of Christ prophecy.Early in his Teaching Each kit contains everything you t AdvmhnesinCreativeTeaching pastoral ministry, Gray becamecon- need, and can be used again and r Craft Book vinced that teachingBible prophecy again. You only need one kit per r Colorful Visuals could both comfort and challenge department-pre-school (ages3-5) I Reproducible Student Sheetsto believers.He emphasizedthe Second and elementary(ages 6-ll). copy as often as you like Comingof Christ to challengehis peo- ChooseMy B estFriend or the popular F ishermnn to Follower and ple to holy living and evangelism. order your pre-schooland elementary kits today, 919.95each. In oneof the mostcomforting of his At bookstoreseverywhere, or urrite: studies,"The Progress of theBelieving Dead,"he tracedhis understandingof frripture hess Ptrblicatiorc,hc 1825COLLEGE AVENUE. WHEATON. ILLINOIS 60187 the positionof thosewho havedied in April1986 47 THUNDERIN THFPULPIT TheObligation of Love

by lames M. Gray

Seeingye havepuified your souls Therefore,if any hear these words in obeyingthe truth throughthe Spirit todaywho havenot yet purified their untounfeigned love of thebrethren, see soulsin that sense,what an urgeit lays that ye love one anotherwith a pure upon them to inquire of Godabout it heart fervently:Being born again,not without delayl "If ye then,being evil, of corruptibleseed, but of incorruptible, knowhow to givegood gifts unto your by the word of God,which liveth and children:how much more shall your abidethfor ever.. . . Whereforelaying heavenlyFather give the Holy Spirit to aside all malice, and all guile, and themthat ask Him?" (Luke11:13). hypocrisies,and envies,and all evil Whathave we beenenabled by the speakings,as newbom babes, desire the purification of our souls to do? It is sinceremilk of the word, that ye may "unto unfeignedlove of the brethren." grow thereby:If so be ye have tasted Wenever could have done that before, that theLord is gracious(1 Peter 1:22-23; we weie neverin a positionwhere we 2:1-3). couldhave done it, and for the bestof reasons,because we never had such brethrenbefore, we werenever one of have chosenas my theme "The them.These are not our brethrenafter Obligationof Love,"and I would the flesh,neither are they suchbreth- lay the emphasisupon the com- renas men meet when thev enter unon mand, "See that ye love one another the same employmentor the same with a pure heart fervently." craft with them. They are thosewho All thebooks of the NewTestament have been "born again, not of cor- werewritten for Christians.Peter ad- capacity to fulfill this obligation of ruptible seed,but of incorruptible,by dresseshis readersas the "elect" of love. "Seeingye have purified your the word of God, which liveth and God.They were elect, so Peter says, soulsin obeyingthe truth throughthe abidethfor ever."They are not only a "according to the foreknowledgeof Spirit untounfeigned love of thebreth- divine, a supernaturalbrotherhood, God the Father, through sanctifica- ren, [therefore]see that ye love one but for that very reasonan eternal tion of the Spirit, unto dbedienceand anotherwith a pure heart fervently." brotherhood.Having come to Christ, sprinklingof the bloodof JesusChrist." Divine gracehas put us in the place havingpurified our soulsin that sense, In otherwords, the Fatherchose them, wherewe are enabledto do this and we havealso come to them whom we the Sonredeemed them, and the Holy now we are called upon to do it. canlove and who canlove us in return. Spirit separatedor set them apart But how did divine graceput us "Seethat ye loveone another with unto God forevermore. there?How did it bestowthis capacity a pureheart fervently," You havebeen Peterproceeds to point out in his uponus? The answer is, "Ye havepuri- enabledto do it, youare in a position introduction that this election.or fied your souls."Ye havemade them to do it, youhave the spiritual capacity salvation,is equivalentto their New morallyclean. to do it, now seethat you do it! Birth unto a living hope.And this liv- And how was it done?How do we Seethat ye do it, leavesno loophole ing hope,in turn, is describedas an thus purify our souls?"By obedience of escape,does it? But that raisesa "inheritance incorruptible, and un- to thetruth, the truth of thegospel, the burning questionin our minds. How defiled,and that fadethnot away." It truth of God'sWord. Theyhad heard canwe loveanother iust becausehe is is an inheritancereserved for them in that truth and believedit, and acted a Christian,when we do not knowhim heaven.while thev are keot for it "bv upon it. They had receivedthe Lord verywell, if at all? Or how canwe love the powerof Godihrougn fuith." tt it JesusChrist as Saviourand Lord and him when he may lack the qualities an inheritance,or a consummatedsal- werenow on redemptionand resurrec- that awakenlove? How? vation, ready to be revealedto them tion ground. The difficulty arisesfrom a mis- "in the last time." Yet what explainstheir obedience interpretationof the word "love." We Growingout of this hopeand expec- to the truth? Throughwhat process, think of it asin the naturalsphere, but tation on our part, are certainobliga- then,did they comeinto sucha bless- here it is the supernatural.We think tions for everyone of us to carry, and ing? "Through the Spirit," the text of it as the passionor emotion ex- the particular obligationI am now to says.The Holy Spirit had awakened periencedas between parent and child speakabout, is love-"See that ye love faith and wrought obediencein their or husbandand wife. But suchis not one another with a pure heart fer- hearts.As Paul told the Corinthians, the lovecommonly impressed upon us vently." The first point Peterstresses "No man can say that Jesusis Lord, in the Holy Scriptures.It is the love is that we havereceived the spiritual but bv the Holv Ghost"(l Cor. 12:3). of which Paul speaksin the inspired 48 FundomentolistJournol classicof I Corinthians13. It is the It opensits eyesby and by. It recog- extravagantdisplays of affection or spirit in onewhich "suffereth long and nizesits mother.It playswith its hands sentimenttoward him, but that as he is kind," which envies not, "is not andfeet. It smileswhen you pressyour increasesin love for his brethren,he puffed up," which does not behave finger on its chin. It gets up on its will by the expulsivepower of that new itself discourteously,which "seeketh knees,it creepson the floor, it stands affection,lay aside,have no placefor not its own," is not selfish,not pro- by a chair, it walks,it talks, it romps deceptionin his dealingswith him, no voked,"thinketh no evil."That is scrip- and plays! It has gottenbeyond milk placefor masksand disguises, for envy- tural love! and digestsstrong meat now. It puts ing or grudging,no placefor slander, "Wherefore,"Peter goes on to say awaychildish things; it hasbecome a or detraction,or the propagationof in our text, that is, becauseyou are manl That is what the milk does. injurious reports about him. This is born again,because you are brethren What a perfect analogywe have what Jesusmeant when in His high in the one family of God,because by here!The "word" that Peterspeaks of priestlyprayer (John 17:17), He said, believingthe truth you havepurified is the Bible,of course,the revelation "Sanctifythem through thy truth: thy your soulsunto unfeignedlove of the of God and from God. And it is the word is truth." brethren-for this reason,"lay aside Someyears ago, there cameto my all malice, and all guile, and hypoc- handa smallbook entitled, Roger Clap's risies,and envies,and all evil speak- Memoirs.Roger Clap was a Puritan, ings." That is scriptural love! who in 1630came over in theMary and Examinethe words more closely. Ho* canwe love John, as the vesselwas named,and Lay aside all malice. That word is anotherjust becausehe settledin Dorchester,Massachusetts. generic.It standsfor all badnessor all Thebook has been a benedictionto me, depravityin its aspecttoward others, is a Christian,when we and I have read most of it, I think, and its particular expressionsare guile, three times. One quaint record in it the art of deceptionor lying in wait; do not know him very strangelymoved me. hypocrisies,with their many masks well,if at all? Or how "Upon examinationof myself,"he and disguisesof insincerity;envying, writes,"I askedwhether I did lovethe the grudgingand repiningat our neigh- can welove him whenhe saintsupon right grounds.I did anddo bor's good; evil speakings,such as maylack thequalities still hope that my love to the saints railing, slander,detraction, insinuation, was,and is rightly grounded,and for the inventingor propagatingof injur- that awakenlove? How? thesereasons: iousreports. How low and dirty these "1. In formertimes I do remember thingsare! And yet what Christianhas therewas a youngman cameinto the not failed in love to his brethren in sincereWord, the Word unmixed,un- congregationwhere I was,a stranger someor all of thesethinss? And what adulterated,undrugged by the vain to me, and a very hard favoredman; hashe to sayfor himself?-What excuse philosophyand deceitsof men. The I had no love to his person.But not or explanationcan he make?He has man who desiresthat Word hasbeen longafter, I heardthat he fearedGod, none,He is dumb.He confessesthat he born from above through the Holy and upon the very report thereofmy ought to lay aside these things. He Spirit, by faith in JesusChrist. He has heart was knit unto him, althoughI really desiresto do so,and he loathes a chastenedpalate, as one has said. He neverspake with him that I know of. and despiseshimself becausehe does has already"tasted that the Lord is "2.To this very day,if I perceive, not. But he says,"I somehowlack the gracious."He hasalready experienced or do but hearof a manor womanthat power,the strength,In the presenceof the kindnessand love of Godin saving fearedGod, let him be rich or poor, the obligationof love,I seemas help- him. That manwill readthe Bible.He Englishor Indian,Portugal or Negro, lessas a babe!" will not be satisfiedto merelypossess my very heart closethwith him." Now you havesaid it. That is the a printedcopy of it, or to merelylisten In thosewords, my brethren,Roger very descriptionof you which Peter to a sermonout of it oncea week,if Clap spokeand still speaksfor every gives,or rather which the Holy Spirit happilyhe shouldhear anything out of truly regeneratedman who desiresthe gives.He saysyou are a newbornbabe, it then except the text. He will not sinceremilk of the Word, and who and then he graciouslytells you how onlv readthe Bible.but he will medi- feedsupon it. He will lovehis brethren you may get out of that conditionand tate uponit. He will compareScripture in Christbecause he lovesChrist and obtain strengthto do what you ought with Scripture.He will transmuteit becausethey love Christ. For it is writ- to do. "As newbornbabes," he says, into prayer.He will readit not of curi- ten: "If a man say, I love God, and "desire the sinceremilk of the word, osity,nor simplyas fine literature,but hatethhis brother,he is a liar: for he that ye may grow thereby," that ye to feedhis soul upon it, to obeyit, to that loveth not his brother whom he may obtainthe power,the strengthto advancein holiness,to grow thereby. hath seen,how canhe loveGod whom Iay asideand live abovethese things. He will readit that hemay increasein he hath not seen?And this command- What is more helplessthan a new- the knowledgeand hence in the loveof ment havewe from him, That he who born babe!There it liesby its mother's God.And as he increasesin the loveof loveth God love his brother also" side unable to do a thing for itself. God,he will increasein the loveof all (l John 4:20-21). Everythingmust be donefor it. No, I them who, like himself,love God.As "Seethat ye loveone another with am mistaken.There is onething it can the Scripture saith, "Every one that a pure heart fervently." do. Its Creatorhas bestowedupon it lovethhim that begatloveth him also the instinct to imbibe its mother's that is begottenof him" (1 John5:l). I Adaptedby permissionfrom Moody milk. It doesthat, and what happens? That does not mean he shall make Monthly. April1986 49 1986JERRY FALWELL SPEAKERST 2s

April 2l-23,1986 Jerry Fqlwell Adrion Rogers A''16H

John Rowlings Trumcrn Dollar YJHfSJ u"' FEATURES: $[rt:liaucc I Eight hours oI concentrqted teoching by Dr, Jerry Fqlwell I Question qnd qnswer sessionswith Dr, Jerry Fqlwell qnd conference speokers I Dyncmic precching ond music I Cqssettesof evening sessionsprovided to qU registrcrnts I Porticipqtion in a Liberty University chopel service I "Remembering Nqmes qnd Fqces" seminqr with Billy Burden I Finqnciol workshop with Trumon Dollqr FOR THE WIVES: f Ail-dcry shopping trip ond tour of historic Williomsburg, Virginio I Luncheon with Mrs.Jerry Fqlwell ond ponel of pcstors'wives For further inlormcrtion contoct Glenn Reese,Thomqs Rood BqptistChurch, Lynchburg, VA245I4 a 804-528-4112

1986 JERNYFATWEI.L PASTORS' CONFERENCE Enclosed is my conference fee, n Pqstors- S5O ! Wives - $25 (includes trip to Williqmsburg qnd luncheon with Mrs. Folwell) Moke checks poyoble to Thomos Rood BoptistChurch NAME SPOUSENAME- CHURCH CHURCHPHONE- HOME ADDRESS HOME PHONE- CITY ATE ZIP tr Please send hotel listings lor Lynchlcurg Postors' Conlerence, c/o Glenn Reese, Thomos Rood Boptist Church, Lynchburg, Virginio 24514 authority and self- again,courts havesaid discipline. that there is nothing If thoseparents fail sinister in so arranging their daughter'stest and one'saffairs as to keep give in to her demands, taxesas low as possible. they will most certainly Everybodydoes so, rich or lose her to the world, and poor; and all do right, for most likely her brother and nobodyowes any public two sisterswill follow her duty to pay more than the Peerpressure is greater example.If they make it law demands:taxes are en- today than at any time in clear that while living in forced exactions,not human history. Most of this their home her sexual voluntarycontributions." pressurecontradicts the promiscuitymust stop This opportunity to traditional valuesparents (1 Thess.4:3), they havea reducetaxation is implied want to give their children. chanceto salvageher. Then by Scriptureto be a Television,movies, maga- by helpingher get activein responsibilityfor Chris- zines,and the public a vital youth group at tians.When Christ said, schools'teaching of explicit church and spendingmuch "Renderto Caesarthe sex educationwithout time with her during the thingsthat are Caesar's, benefit of moral values next few months,they just and to God the thinss that haveall worked toward the may guide her through this are God's"(Mark 12117;, current wave of sexualper- precariousstage in life. The He was speakingprimarily missiveness.The results are samerule appliesto of the insignificanceof ' What to Do If seenin the I million unwed rebellioussons. Any action Caesar'sclaim overmen's girls who becomepregnant must be bathedin prayer! Iives-relative to God's Your Teen eachyear and in over 20 claim.However, a Chris- Becomes percentof our teenagers tian is not to needlessly who contract someform of Should You give the government Sexually venerealdisease. money,but rather should Our nresentsocietv is Pay faxes? activelyseek legal means Active hardly a fit environment to reducehis taxesand for virtue to flourish. In Scriptureclearly preservefunds for the by Tim and BeverlyLaHaye fact, somehigh schoolers teachesthat Christiansare otherareas of his life. are ridiculed by their peers to obeythe laws of man- Even if the tax laws are A heartbrokenfather for still being virgins. The as longas theydo not drasticallysimplified this called for adviceon what saddeststatement the require violation of God's year, there will alwaysbe to do with his l8-yearold father madewas, "The big- laws. Sincethe law re- planningtechniques to daughter.As an "indepen- gest mistakewe madewas quires that we pay taxes, help reducetax liability. dent" high schoolsenior, taking our children out of and JesusHimself paid Consulta financialplanner shehad iust written a noTe Christianschool last year." tribute (tax),we should or tax advisorfor help. demandingto be treated Keepingyour child morally considertaxpaying to be When it comesto deal- like an adult, so she could pure in today'sculture is part of our Christian ing with the IRS,Chris- comeand go as shepleased. tough enough.While Chris- responsibility. tiansshould be "wise as The reasonfor her de- tian schoolsare not perfect, But is it wrong to pay serpents,and harmlessas mand was that shehad been they do provide an environ- lessthan maximum taxes? doves"(Matt. 10:16). seeinga boy of another ment more conduciveto Certainlynot! While tax religion, and she said, "Like maintainingmoral purity. evasionis immoral, un- I Paul G. Barringer is a all the other kids in our I sharedwith that heart- ethical,and illegal,tax certified financial planner. school,we are sexually broken father the advice avoidanceis moral, He headsFinancial active." Her words crushed my mother gaveme when ethical,and sanctionedby AdvisoryServices in those Christianparents. at 17 I challengedher the government.Judge Lynchburg,Virginia. Suddenlvtheir familv authority in the home.She LearnedHand of the U.S. world and dreamscrumbled said, through her tears, SupremeCourt madethis in disappointment.Their "Young man, as long as very clear in 1947when he youngerchildren were watch- you park your feet under stated:"Over and over ing how they handledthis my table you will abideby situation. my rules." That was the In their call to me they turning point in my life. said,"This is not like her. Today this type of ap- Shehas alwaysbeen such proach is known as "tough an obedientgirl." That is love," but it still stresses usually the casewith Chris- the importanceof parental tian families. communicatingwith your child. What About o Keeptrying. Talking Colon Gancer? with volatile teenagersis extremelydifficult. Control by GreggAlbers, M.D. your hurt feelingsand do not try to defendyourself. We often Iisten Therewill be a time when halfheartedlywhen some- you can do so, but not at onediscusses a health the beginning.Most impor- problem,but when a tantlv.if the conversation diseaseaffects a close ends,try again.Always ver- relative,friend, or public balizeyour commitmentto figure we realize,"It can the child,and let him know happento me." Suchwas that you intend to do only the casewith President ' that which is in his best Reagan'shospitalization . r:Miol interest. for colon cancer,a very . Do not beatyour child prevalentdisease and an 1O Helps to you felt this way. I do care with Bibleverses. Make a extremelypreventable one. about you and what hap- biblical applicationwhen it The AmericanCancer Talking with Densto vou. What have I is relevantand appropriate. Societysuggests that done to make you feel that He will sensewhen you 130,000cases of colonor Your Teen wav?" Or. "We all have are usingScripture to fit rectalcancer will be found times when we don't care, your purpose,and it may this year.Only lungcancer, by Ron Hawkins and and I want you to know leadhim to distrustor re- due in a greatnumber of Deborah Huff that right now I care sentGod's Word. Let the casesto smoking,kills enough for both of us " Holy Spirit be your guide. more peopleper year than Nothing can facilitate r Avoid asking "why?" r Createa stagecondu- colorectalcancers. the developmentof a healthy It always soundsaccusative civeto conversation.Turn Studiesof the diets of parent-teenrelationship and puts the child on the off the televisionand the other societiesshow that better than a good com- defensive.It encouragesan radio. Take the ohoneoff fiber and certain foods munication system.Here excursioninto subjectiv- the hook.Forgefthe house- may be "protective."Diets are a few helpful hints for ism. Try, "Tell me what hold chores.Cleaning can high in specifictypes of starting or keeping the happened."Or, "How did wait. Give-your child 100 fiber apparentlydecrease system open in difficult that happen?" "How could percentor you. an individual'srisk of times. we as a familv. with God's o Lovehim-simply love developingcancers, by . Face your child and help, deal with that?" him no matterwhat he movingthe stoolsmore make direct eye contact. r Never mock or make says.Your unconditional quickly through the in- The old saying that the fun of your child's feelings. love is paramountto any testines.Diets low in fats, eyesare the window to the This will only drive him communicating.Avoid be- and high in fresh fruits soul applies here. You further from you. ing criticalat all costs. and vegetablesprovide want to talk with your o Hold the sharing of This is not the time for more protectionfrom child and you want hon- your solution until you are analysisand prescriptions. cancersthan typical esty. This is critical to any certain you have heard the No oneknows your "junk" or fast-fooddiets. resolution. whole story. Prayerfully child betterthan you do. Colorectalcancer o Remind your child God wait for the unfolding of No one can reachyour preventioninvolves more loves him and ultimately all the facts.Summarize child better than you can. than establishinggood diet has answers for every and repeat back what you But if vou think the orob- habits,however. Regular human situation (1 Cor. have heard to be sure you lemsoi depressionaie get- physicalexaminations, l0:13).Assure your child do understand.Ask if your ting out of hand,do not stool-bloodtests, and that you are committed to child has a solution to the hesitateto contactyour scopeexams of the rectum helping him discover those problem. Perhaps just your pastoror prolessional and colon are necessaryto answers.Do not be shocked objectivelistening has counselorfor helo.Your find earlycancers in their if he answers,"You don't helped him find his own. child'slife is in the bal- curable stage.After age40 care about me. You only Exolore the alternatives ance.When you havegone periodicdigital rectal care about. .. " This is a with the child and avoid through the acceptance, examinations,repeated typical reaction. Here you mandating. Try to generate listening,and affirmation, stool testingfor blood,and must remember to keep insight as well as impart do not be afraid to move occasionalsigmoidoscopy your feelings out of the information. into prescriptionsthat are are recommendedto find picture. Focus on reaching r Keep shouting, accu- biblicallyinformed, psycho- earlypolyps and cancers, the child. To further the sations,and blaming out logicallysound, and rooted and removethem. Please conversationuse such state- of the conversation. They in your visionof what is contactyour family physi- ments as "I didn't know will set up roadblocks to bestfor the child. cian for more information.

52 FundomentolistJournol Family imagined.Anyone who has ExPlainin€ | it can Iost a family memberwill I create"u"'"n',,burconfusion, because Bookshelf understandwhen Ford Dgath tO a I c.unJ-u''Lody'*as put says,"Time, they say, Happiness in the Home heals.Time alsosets child l::H"1.il:trllJti,ra*" addressesmany touchy ambushes." (InterVarsity I may be ableto graspthe questionsfor which the Press,1985, l79pp., $9.95) How do we explain I ideaof the person'ssoul _A.H. healthy Christian family death to a child? By being I leaving the body and going must find answers-What openand honestand not I to be with Christ,but it is is a family? Why do we How to RaiseConfident giving the child more than I not likely youngerchildren hurt the ones we love? Childrenuses God's Word heor shecan digest in- | will. What do teenasers need asa modelblueprint for tellectuallyor emotionally.I Perhapsthe best most? (Harold Hazelip, Christianparents whose We shouldnot give the im- | analogyis the one Paul Baker Book House, 1985, pressionthat we know all I usesin I Corinthians the answers,and we must I l5:35-50,the plantingof bewareof dangerous I the seed.Children are ac- analogies.To say that I quainted with trees and Iittle brother "has gone to I flowers and realize that sleep"could make the I they grow, producefruit child fear goingto sleepat I and flowers,and then night.Or thechild might | "die,"only to reappearin wonderwhy little brother I the spring.This is a law of does not wake up. I nature that has been in- Anotherdangerous ex- | stitutedby God.Our planationis, "God has I bodiesare like seeds.We somework for Mommyto I plant the body in the do in heaven."Is God's I groundin the cemetery Tfffill*il*iliswnit'"'"'*"'#6 work in heavenmore im- | 1"God'sacre"), and one portant than the mother's I day it will be raised in "#fl,ttj,'ff glory work in her homeon I andbeauty, a new fii'$l, earth?Does God need her bodyfitted lor elernity. I more than her children needher? Could shenot I I Adaptedfrom Comfor- Y'4' "work for God"just as I tingtheBereavedby Warren W. and DavidW. Wiersbe, ,",fl,/: q\ - y'-\YY 1...a,"11"1;3iwell on earth?God must I "

FundomentolistJournol Robert Associationof the Year in R. 1984. A feen's Lavelle: While the interest rate Trial by Fire is kept lower than the A People market rate for home by Mel Johnson buyers,savers receive the Helper 5.5percent passbook rate, by RussellPulliam giving DwellingHouse the "Remember-everybody capital to keepmonthly will be goingl" At 70, Robert R. Lavelle mortgagepayments low The seniorslistened to deservesretirement, but enoughfor poor families. their classoresident as he Christ's deathand the Saverscome from 45 describedthe seniorclass needsof Lavelle'slow- statesand four foreign twoday breakaway.The income,predominantly countriesto helpin this majority applaudedwith black communityin Pitts- business/ministry. approval--exceptone beau- burgh keephim going in "Many peoplewrite tiful girl. an unusualline of service and praiseGod that they mother,a semi-invalid, Shestood to her feet for the Lord. can saveat a olacethat is kept witnessingto her son, and said,"No, everybody He is executivevice helpingpeople," Lavelle telling him he was a good is not going.I'm not!" She presidentof the Dwelling says."I want to showthat, person,a good son,a good took her stand againstthe HouseSavings and Loan despitewhat peoplethink, father, and a good majority and won. The Association,but not a Christianlove and sound husband-but not a classpresident with a traditional banker.He Christian. snickerand a tone of helpspoor peopleown Her deathprompted ridiculesaid, "Well, how their homesand prays his conversionto Christin manyagree with her?" To with customerswho fall 1964."I carriedthe suilt his amazementmany behindin their payments. of knowingabout Ch-rist handswent up. It brings Despiterobberies, Dwell- while rejectingHim," he us back to a few yearsago ing Houseis maintainedin recalls."When I finallv in history. a poor communityin Pitts- couldn'tcarry the burden The musicbesan. The burgh, to be availableto any longer,I surrendered king had ordered-it.All thosein need. my life completely." the peoplewere falling "We recognizeour "When a child has forward on their faces-all responsibility,where we believingparents, he or exceptShadrach, Meshach, are, to use our resources shehas everything," he and Abednego.Perhaps to help any poor, black, or now says."It took me a somebodyyelled, "Get otherwisedeprived person lons time to under- down-they'll kill all of to havethe opportunity to stand.. . but the Lord was us." Theydidn't look at help himself.When this patientwith me and per- the rest and they didn't occurs,he is able to help banking can be mittedme to struggle pay any attentionto the someoneelse," he says. reconciled." throughdisbelief. Yet I guardshurrying toward Evenwith all the risks This unusual approach couldn't refute the them.They stood looking and competition,Dwelling to businessalso opens evidenceof mv oarents' straight forward with con- Housestill makesa profit. doors to share Christ with beliefbecaus. th.y *.." viction.Soon they were in In 1982it had the ninth others. "The needsof this examplesof their faith. the furnace,enveloped by bestrecord in the nation community are so great," Our children learn a lot the flames. amongsavings and loan he says."It seemslike I more from what they see Thenthey weresilent. associationsof its size. spend a lot of my time us to be than from what Theywere alive. The ropes "When you help another just talking to people,en- theyhear us say." were goneand the three of personget what he needs couraging them. Someone Until the time that them walked unharmedin 'Why for fulfillment, that person might ask, are you DwellingHouse meets all the fire. has to respondto your doing it?' That's when you the needsof the ooor and Theyhad chosento needs.That is how you get get to tell them about blackand otherwise stand.In the furnace they your profits," Lavelle Christ." depressedcommunities of walkedwith the God of explained. Lavelle learned about the GreaterPittsbursh heaven.They were not His elfortshave in- Christ and a life of service area,"there is a reafneed forgottenby God and they creasedhome ownership to others from his parents, to makethe existenceof shallbe remembered in the Hill Districtfrom but he resisteda commit- the poor known and to forever.because thev 12percent in the earlysix- ment to Christ as long as meet the needsof the peo- choseto stand.So will the ties to 40 percenttoday. he could. His father, an ple.That means you aie couraseoussenior. Black Enterprise magazine itinerant evangelist,died swimmingupstream, and namedDwelling Houseas when Robert was young. the current is rough," its Savings& Loan Through the years, his Lavelleconcludes.

April1986 53 Call or write for our prospectus. TENNESSEE TEMPLE UIVTVERSITY CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE37404 l-800-553-4050 (tn TennesseeCall 615-698-6021 ) The story is told by Cathleen live on it by itself, but you have to Crowell Webb, the woman who came ingestit asneeded for goodhealth. In- forward with the story that causeda deed,the Book of Proverbscovers the media sensationlast year. Author entire range of man's well-being: Marie Chapianhelps Webb tell her physical,mental, spiritual, and even srory. financial. Alden's goal is to recon- SurelyCathleen is telling the truth, stitute these highly concentrated yet how could sheignore the plight of doses,so the readerclearly seestheir Gary Dotsonthrough nearly two years meaningand application,a task he of criminal proceedingsand six years doesvery well. After a brief introduc- of imprisonment?Even more baffling tion (perhapstoo brief),he comments is how shecould contain the storyfor on everysingle verse, a featurelacking approximately four years after she in somecommentaries on the book. becamea Christian. Appeal to the Hebrew text is found The whole tale is crowned with only wherecritical, and thereare con- irony as the lies of an imaginaryrape, stant applicationsto contemporary concoctedto cover a possiblepreg- man, always exegeticallybased. nancy,were quite readilyaccepted in Althoughhaving so many comments FORGIVEME 1977-and the truth was rejectedin beginwith the words "verseso-and-so" by Colhleen Crowell Webb 1985 by the same system that put is a little tiresome, the content is ond Moile Chopion Dotsonbehind bars. alwaysquite accurate,clear, and prac- Cathy'sstory is interspersedwith tical. By his useof applicationsAlden Reviewedby Ann Wharton,free-lance observationsby Chapian,as shetries hasmaintained the goal of the Book of writer andassistant professor of jour- to sort out Webb'stroubled natural Proverbswhen it was compiled: to nalism at Liberty University,Lynch- and foster home background.Marie enableman to live skillfully in every burg, Virginia. and Cathleendig through the back- areaof life. (BakerBook House,1983, groundof neglectand rejection,which 222pp.,$12.95) _N.D.W. The readeris left with a feelingof left the child living with the threat that ambivalenceas he puts down the book shewould be sentback to the stateif ForgiveMe, which details the story of shedid not pleasethose around her. a fabricatedrape and the real victim, To gain favor shecovered the parts an innocentman sentencedto prison that did not pleasewith lies. That THEBIBTE KNOWTEDGE COMMENIARY: for a crime he did not commit. processbecame second nature to her AN EXPOSITIONOF THESCRIPTURES BY and laid the groundworkfor the tale DATTASSEMINARY FACUITY: shewould later weave. OtD TESIAMENT AN EXCERPTFROM On top of the network of lies,Cathy FORGIVEME had a growing ability to put the un- Edited by John F. Walvoord truths out of her head,That way they and Roy B. Zuck I had the desire to do what was did not botherher youngconscience. right; I alsohad fears.It took time to Thisis theonly reasonshe can give for This massive tome is the com- gain strength and couragefrom the her callousedindifference to the real panionvolume to the New Testament Lord, becauseI had no courageof my victim of the crime-Gary Dotson. commentaryby the samename. The own. I waspetrified becauseof my fear Thebook is worth reading.It raises essentialfeatures remain the same:a of losing David and the kids. the consciousnessof the reader and grammatical-historical,premillennial, God's Word ministered to me reveals a turbulent story of two andpretribulational viewpoint; based powerfully. He said,"I will neverleave familieswaiting for a resoluiionto this on theNew International Version;and you, nor forsake you," so that we can legaland moral dilemma.(Fleming H. numerous features not found in all boldly say, "The Lord is my Helper. I Revell,1985, 220pp., $15.95) commentaries.The book's 21 authors will not fear." He began to fill me and four editors have produced, in with the strengthand courageI had 1,589pages no less(!),a clear and askedfor. He wasn'tjust makingme readableexpert commentary. It is con- correct the evil I had done. He was RECENTOtD TESIAMENISTUDIES sistentlyConservative in its interpreta- goingto helpme do it. I knewthe time tion, from the literal 24-hourdays in was now ripe and the Lord would GenesisI to the Solomonicauthorship enableme; with Him I could conquer PROVERBS:A COMMENTARY ON AN of Ecclesiastes.Legitimate use of thi my fears,if I would simplytrust, obey, ANCIENTBOOK OF TIMETESS ADVICE moderncritical methodsis employed. and do the will of the Father. by Roberl[. Alden For example,form criticism is prop- erly appliedin analyzingthe Psalms. . , Theauthor compares the Book of The commentsinclude frequent help- Proverbsto medicine:you couldnot ful referenceto the Hebrew.Problem 56 FundomentolistJournol passagesare also discussed.The 78 outline of what Malachisays. For ex- charts and diagramsare of immense ample,the first threeverses are titled value since they include not only "Our God'sElective [ove" rather than, the usual ("Biblical Weights and say, "God's Election of Israel." The Measures")but the unusual ("The bookis filled with the usualtechnical Plaguesand the Godsand Goddesses explanationsand is rich with illustra- of Egypt"). The 34 maps are equally tionsand applications as well. It ends beneficial.A wealthof helpful informa- with two appendixes:one showing how tion presentedin these aids is not Kaiserconstructed his commentaryin readilyavailable elsewhere. In sum,if accordwith his ownmethod and a sec- you want a one-volumecornmentary on ond that affirms the usefulnessof com- the Old Testament,written from the mentariesfor the Bible student. statedhermeneutical and eschatolog- Thesevolumes should be takenas ical viewpoint,this is the bestl (Victor a helpful stepin the right directionof Books,1985, 1,589pp., $27.95)-N.D.W. preachingbiblical content in a way that will edify,not bore.(Baker Book House,1983,268pp., $11.95 and 1984, l71pp.,$6.95) - N.D.W. TOWARDAN EXEGETICALTHEOLOGY: BIBTICALEXEGESIS FOR PREACHING Everychurch, ANDTEACHING THESERVANT SONGS: regardlessof size,can MAIACHI:GOD'S UNCHANGING LOVE A STUDYIN ISAIAH provideChristian education for by WolferC. Kqiser,Jr. by F.Duone lindsey its families.Let AlphaOmega. show you how - step by step. The subtitleof the first bookin- This volumeis a technicalexposi dicatesimmediately that Kaiser'sin- tion of the "ServantSongs" of Isaiah We Offert terest is far more practical than 42-53.Theauthor argues strongly and CUrfiCUlum CompleteChristian materials theoretical.The content of thesebooks convincinglyfor the messianicinter- for K-12- Outstandingphonics.based, Chris- bearsthis out. He wantsto bridgethe pretationof thesepassages as proph- tianKindergarten program * Bible,Language gap that has unfortunately often eciesof the comingof Christ.The in- Arts, Reading,Math, Science,Social Studies, existedbetween the detailedstudy of troductorychapter surveys the various plus Electir,es,all in a flexibleworKext format, the biblical text and the actualdelivery viewsthat havebeen taken on the iden- promoting high level thinking and strong of the sermonthat is supposedto be tity of the servant. Lindsey then teacher-studentinrrolveme nt. basedon it. To enablethe preacherto studiesthe call (42:l-9),commission Tfainlng Our afford able beginningschool get from his study to his pulpit without (49:1-13),commitment (50:4-11), and trainingprogram will enable you to get off on losing the exegeticalnuggets he has career(52:13-53:12\ of the servant.For the rightfoot. Ongoing annual training is pro. dug,or boring the peopleto whom he readableand reliablescholarship this videdto help your ministrymature. will present them, Kaiser has fash- study is oneof the bestvolumes ever $uppoft DedicatedChristian staff, com. ioned the "syntactical-theological written on the ServantSongs. (Moody mitted to sewing you, is availableto offer method" of exegesis.The goal of Press,1985, 170pp., -E.H. assistance,including toll-freeacademic and $7.95) classroomhelo. exegesisremains "the practiceof and the set of proceduresfor discovering fnDD Sample Ftaterials and Infor. the author'sintended meaning" (p.47, matlon on Starting a Chrlstian - his emphasis).The word syntactical DANIET School Call orWrite Today especiallyemphasizes the contextas by John C. Whlfcomb the key to exposingthe writer's mean- ing; the word theologicaldenotes the JohnWhitcomb's new commentary coremessage of the passagein ques- on Daniel in the Everyman'sBible tion, which canbe discoveredonly by Commentaryseries is superb. This paying proper attention to the volumeis a concisetreatment of the "analogy of (antecedent)Scripture." dispensational(pretribulational and Appropriate prescriptions for both premillennial)view of the prophecies ORGANIZATION aspectsof exegesisare fully setforth, of Daniel.Whitcomb argues clearly for including a chapter on homiletical theunity andhistoricity of thebook as analysis. a sixth-centuryB.c. product of the Kaiser also practices what he deportedHebrew prophet himself. He STATE- ZIP preaches,as evidencedby the second systematicallyunravels Daniel's proph- book which demonstratesthe prin- eciesof the 70weeks and the rise and ciplesespoused in thefirst. Heoutlines fall of the kings of the north and the n Rtso,send Home School Information Malachiin five key sectionsand con- kingsof the south,culminating in the structs his outline to reflect a theo- ultimate confrontationbetween Christ logicaltransition from Malachi'sday andthe Antichrist. (Moody Press, 1985, to our own, rather than simply an 173pp.,$5.95) -E.H. Atpha Omega Publications DePLFJ-S il;|", * 35' + fuffimffiffi Affiwffi ffifuffi%vffitr ffmffipffiKlg ffi&mwffiff$,

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presentation used in the LU Relations university's Visitor Center Office and in th-erecruitment pro- gram.A SpecialMerit Award Receives wasalso given for the overall student recruitment oro- Awards gram. Liberty won over many prestigious colleges The Councilof Advance- and universities in the ment and Support of Educa- Southeast. tion recentlynotified Liberty Theawards program was Universitythat the LU Office establishedto recognizethe of UniversityRelations has creative work of institu' wontwo awardsin the arurual tional advancementprofes- CASE District III Awards sionals throughout the program. district. Thirty awards in TheAward of Excellence four categorieswere given at was given to the depart- the CASE conference in ment's 1985 multimedia Atlanta,February 9-12.

the Dr.Folwell with the Honcockfomily: Gory ond LindqBishop, April centre dean and one Willioms,Art Williomslll, Angelo ond Art Willioms,Dr. ord Mrs.Horcock other Liberty faculty Sidneyond BudOgletree. member. This arrangement re- NCAADivision I level," said flectsLiberty's position as a Hancock Jerry Falwell."It hasalready schoolwhere orthodox theol- Building- helpedus attract severaltop ogy is infusedby a spirit of caliber athletes who pre- intellectual vigor, interna- Quality viously would not havecon- tional concern, and theo- sideredLiberty. Iogical relevance. 0xford Addition to "I trust that this structure Universitywas a focalpoint LU will serve as a constant of scholarlyactivity as early Facilities reminder of God's faithful- asA.D. I I 17and today ranks The newest addition to ness to this universitv," asone of the leadinguniver- the LU campus,the Hancock concluded Falwell in ihe sitiesin the Westernworld. Athletic Center,was officially dedicationceremonies. TerryMiethe, deon of new Oxford Oxford scholars who have dedicatedon February 12. StudyCentre heavilyinfluenced Western The two"story building world history includeJohn housesa lockerroom for I20 Locke, Lewis Carroll, C.S. athletesand 15coaches. Both CATENDAR LU Establishes Lewis, John Wesley,John the training room with Wycliffe, William Tyndale, whirlpools and the weight Oxford Study and GeorgeWhitefield. room for indoor drills have March Centre Terry L. Miethe,professor artificial turf floor covering. 28-LU Spring Breok 9t nhilosoRbv Liberty Plenty of office space and Begins Liberty UniversityPresi University, has"! been ap- meetingrooms provide a cen- April dent A. Pierre Guillermin pointed the adjunct professor tral headquarters for LU 6-Dr. Falwell speaks has announced the forma- at Wycliffe Hall, 0xford, and athletics.Even the mediahas at TempleBaptist tion of the Oxford Study dean of the Oxford Study noted that the facility has Church,Detrait, Centre,a working relation- Centre.He commented,"The "major leaguewritten all over Michigan(11:00 ship with Wycliffe Hall, credit for the foresightto go it." a.m. Service) 0xford, giving Liberty aheadand work out this un- This complex was given 10-13*LUCollege for a precedented studentsthe opportunity tc opportunity for by Arthur L. and Angela H. \ye_k9r1d studyin the oldestuniversity an institution like ours must Wlliams in honor of her 10-13*TRBCYouth in the world. A limited go to President A. Pierre parents Sidney lanier and Conference number of exceptional Guillermin, who saw the Willamae GatesHancock. 18-20-LUSping Arts students will spendfour to potential and gave the go "I believethis newfacility Festival six weeks in residenceat aheadto establishthe Oxford will help us in our quest to 2l-23-lerm Falwell Oxford each summer with Study Centre." become competitive on the Pasiors'Conference April'1986 59 "Church Mothef '-[ Treasured Title ln 1961,Mrs. l-orna Watts becamethe church mother. For 25years she has been the oldest surviving charter member.\,Vhat does the title 'Yr:''-' mean?"I think it meansa lot , to everybody.It meansmore passedsince our churchwas thananything in theworld to first begun,and Dr. Falwell me,"said Mrs. Watts. has weatheredmany storms. In a special publication Now in thesetrying timesmy honoring the church's 25th prayer is that God will anniversarv,Mrs. Watts strengthenhim and let him wrote, "I havebeen a member continueto preachthe gospel of Thomas Road Baptist to the world." Churchsince its first day of Mrs. Watts was ill with existence.I love my church, heartproblems for overthree and I love my pastor, Dr. months,but she was glad Jerry Falwell,just like my when shewas strongeno*ugh own son. I believein what to attendchurch once asain. my pastor has always un- The 87-year-old chJrch ashamedlypreached*the mothercan often be seensit- gospel-thedeath, burial, and ting on the largeporch of her Resurrectionof our Lord home,where she lives quietly JesusChrist. Many years have with her daushter. tmkingBack.,. 1970 -lnl

Thenew sanctuary opened Liberty University was in 1970.The church's budget founded with an initial reached$l million for the enrollmentof 154students. first time and the staff had Houses were purchased grown to 80.Two education aroundthe churchto useas buildingswere completed and dormitories.The church and occupiedby LynchburgChris- schools now needed 200 tian Academy.The church employees.To underwrite purchased four new color financialexpenses of thecol- televisioncameras. lege,the 15,000Club was In l97l average atten- formed. The first TRBC dance for the 15-year-old Living ChristmasTree was churchwas 4,857. As a major nerformed. part of the church'sministry, andmakes complete reserva- OTGH Travel tion and rental arrangements Changes Name at no chargeto customers. With the volumeand con- nections,especially interna- The Old-Time Gospel tional,University Travel can Hour Travel Service.now in usuallv obtain lower rates its fourth year,has changed than ian the individual who its nameto UniversitvTravel. makeshis own arrangements. Formedto meetthe needfor Ministries, individuals, Christianexpertise in the groups,and corporations are automatedfield ol travel takingadvantage of this ser- planning,University Travel vice.For informationon how is not just a tour operator. youor your groupcan benefit Asa full-servicetravel agency, by this service,call 804- it hasaccess to all airlines 528-4112, extension 229 1. 60 FundomentolistJournol PRCFITE JohnF. Walvoord StaunchConservative Retires from DallasSeminary

trf{, hasprouided strongleadership to the seminary and he has alwayshad a keen dependenceon the Lord in anysituation." both the DallasSeminary Video Min- istry and the school'saward-winning quarterly magazine,Kindred Spirit. The seminary'sl3-acre campus in east Dallas now supports nearly 2,000 students in seven graduate degree programs. Walvoordpersonally holds seven graduateand undergraduatedegrees. Although recognized as a gifted scholar and administrator, John F. Walvoordinitially charteda different coursefor his life. The Sheboygannative grew up along Wisconsin's southeast coast, wherehe enjoyeda Christian upbring- ing that includedmemorization of the Shoret Catechismin his hometown Presbyterianchurch. WhenWalvoord was 12,a Baptist minister visited the Presbyterian church'syoung people's group, "I did not hear a word he said," he recalls, "but I wasvery much impressedwith what I saw. He was retired, in hls seventies,and was the picture of con- tentment.He had beenthe pastor of by MichaelFluent And the 75-year-oldWalvoord in- little countrychurches all his life, and tends to keep away from the rocking neverhad cut a big swath.But he was '[f residentialchanges occur at chair. Effective April I he becomes content.So I saidto myself, that is DallasTheological Seminary chancellorof the seminaryand plans what it meansto be a preacher,that's I just a bit more frequently to devotea full-timework scheduleto for me.' " One year later, John Wal- than the return of Halley'sComet. In public relationsand similar functions. voordwent forward at an altar call to fact, for only the secondtime in its "One of the projects underway," commit himself to full-time ministry. 'Vision 62-yearhistory, Dallas Seminary finds saysPresident Walvoord, "is The family moved to Racine in itself in a transition at the top. TwoThousand.'It is a lS-yearprogram 1925.There, a Thursdaynight Bible On April I John F. Walvoordcon- of eventsfor DallasSeminary. The first studyin Galatiansleft a lastingimpres- cludes 33 years as presidentand 50 sion."The speakersaid you cannotbe years as a faculty member at the good enoughto be saved.I thought I seminary. Taking over the helm is wasgood enough. I went to churchall Walvoord'slongtime friend and col- thetime and readthe Bible continually. league,Donald K. Campbell. ttW, But the speaker,William McCarrell, "Dr. Walvoordhas been a joy and donot believe stressedthe graceof God.If I wasnot a delightto work with," saysCampbell, in sloppiness,After all, savedbefore, I was savedthen." currently the school'sexecutive vice JohnWalvoord attended Wheaton president."He's the epitomeof Chris- tlte Lord's work College,where he consciouslyyielded tian leadership." shouldbe done himself to the Lord. "To me, yielding UnderPresident Walvoord's leader- yourself to the Lord meant going ship, DallasSeminary became the fourth witl excellence-not anywhereand doing anything.And I largestseminary in the world and one wastefully,of course- figuredthe hardestjob wasto become of the most respectedacademic institu- a missionary."Throughout college he tions in Evangelicalism.Walvoord is one but with excellence," immersed himself in missions ac- of the world's leading Conservative tivities,and studied to preparehimself Evangelical theologians.A specialist for that field. Chinawas his goal. in biblical eschatology, Walvoord's But the first step to China was extensiveministry includestwo dozen stepis to enlargeour library 200per- more education.One of his early strug- books,hundreds of magazineand jour- cent to about60,000 square feet, It will gleswas deciding between Princeton's nal articles, and innumerableappear- costnearly $7 million, but the impact seminary and Dallas Theological ancesat church gatheringsand Bible is excitingto contemplate." Seminary.On paperthere was no con- conferences. large projectshave been part of the test.Princeton was 100years old with "His stamina is amazing," says Walvoordlegacy at DallasSeminary, a well-establishedfaculty and cur- Andy Wileman,director of public rela- especiallysince the early 1970s.His riculum. And it was Presbyterian. tionsat the seminary."The amountof tenureas president witnessed several Dallas was sevenyears old, had 65 work he does plus all his traveling campusexpansions, a l0-foldincrease students,and claimed,at most, five would kill a 3O-year-oldman!" in students,and the inaugurationof full-time teachers. 62 FundomentolistJournol "Every time I openedthe catalogs, Also earning high marks is Wal- I would decideon Princeton.But when voord's managementstyle. He strives I prayed,I sensedDallas was the right for teamwork and considers each How to Find one. Finally I sought the advice of employeevital to the school'sperfor- J. Oliver Buswell, then pr.esidentof mance.As a result, the seminary'sper- a Job in Wheaton.He said, 'If I were you, I sonnelstructure lacksmany of the usual would goto Dallas.You will geta good layersof cumbersomemanagement. educationthere.'That settled it for me. "Dr. Walvoordhas always developed Senrice No facts.Just his saying'go.'So I did. leadersat the seminary,"says Wileman. Sincethen, I havealways tried to be "He likes to take youngpeople and put you can explore work opportunitiesavailable careful in giving advice.If a student them in positionswhere they grow and light now in Christian comesto me for my advice,he just developtheir talents.You could call it organizations. might follow it! I know I did, and it an informal senseof discipling." Intercristowill per- "The has sonally match your changedmy life." seminaryfamily only the qualificationswith JohnWalvoord nourished the mis- highestrespect for Dr. Walvoord,"says over 35,000current sionsdream through his senioryear ar Rov B. Zuck. academicdean and oro- openingsin ttre U.S. Dallas.Yet somethingwas wrong.He fesiorof Bibleexposition. "He haspro and throughout the world. Make use of prayed about China Inland Mission, videdstrong leadership to the seminary this service today! but receivedno peace.He considered in somany ways, and he has always had To find out how,simply India,but againdid not think it was a keendependence on the [,ord and on contactIntercristo. His will in any situation." Call Toll-free:800'426. 1342 right. He candidatedat a rural church AK, HI or WA: 206.546.7330 in Wyoming,thinking it would be a That high respect follows John Or return the coupon below. missionfield, of sorts.But therewas Walvoordto his chancellor'soosition. r----r----- still no peace. But his leavingthe facultyprompts the Thenhe recalledan earlierinvitation demiseof the traditionof upperclass- from LewisSperry Chafer, founder and mentelling freshmen:"Take everything iWlililil*ili*i'):'ilr;'i presidentof Dallas Seminary.Chafer you can from ProfessorWalvoord." I I'1"',."*,,',1 nr( rrf()rrlirtirln()n ll()w l() firrcla rolrrrr I ( hrislriur:{ rvi((' wanted the 25-yearold Walvoord to I I become the school's registrar. Origi- I MichaelFluent is a free-lancewriter | ,,,',,,,- I nally, Walvoord (he now had a Th.D. in Dallas.Texas. I ,,,,.,* I from the seminary)declined the offer l'', """ ^ i becausehe did not want to pursue a l\rblicirlirrn a divisionol CRISTA I I career in education. But now, after l------J severalclosed doors in missionsand the pastorate,he considered the possibility "ri/t'\ andasked God to haveChafer renew the offer.Ten days later the invitationcame again,and on March 13,1936,John F. Walvoord began his career at Dallas Seminaryas registrarand associatepro n't fessorof systematictheology. l Twoyears earlier he had assumed a Fort Worth pastorate,a positionhe held through 1950.When Chafersuffered a )ve,l stroke,Walvoord became the president's until you give us a call assistant.President Chafer died in August1952. That October, the seminary board electedWalvoord to the presi- 804,847.2000 dency,and he wasofficially installedas or write and let us know where you are going, so we can DallasSeminary's second president in goeswith you. February1953. t ,rrr. that the Fundamentalist Journal The decadespushed both ensuing Attach addresslabel NIAIl-lN(l LALIEI-,,r ()l-l) ADDRESS: president the seminary and its to frc>ma recent issue,or prominence. N;rnrr' {l'ltrrtr l rtltt) national DallasSeminary print name and address gifted faculty earneda reputationfor a exactly as shou'n c>n A.l.lrcss and a superbcurriculum. The school's label. Strtc /'iP watchwordwas "excellence." Oity "That has alwaysbeen our goal," MAIL TO: NE\I ADDRESS; reflectsWalvoord. "Whether it is educa- FUNDAMENTALIST tion,a first-classpublic relations team, JOURNAL N,tttt. tl'lt r'. Prittr) have or a system-sixletter, we expected Subscriber Serviccs A.lJrcss excellence.We do not believein slop- Lynchburg, VA 24514 piness.After all, the [,ord'swork should City Statc lrP be donewith excellence-notwastefully, (Pleuv odtlrcss of course-but with excellence." ullott'eight tt'cek-sfor death. We cannot escapethe conse- quencesof our transgressions. Wailffi"ffixw*w'w#@ Proverbs28:13 says, "He that cov- ereth his sins shall not prosper:but whosoconfesseth and forsaketh them /-:. shall havemercy." Thosewho coveror excusetheir sinssear their consciences (l Tim. 4:2).In time they lose their (ruro,o') capacityto distinguishbetween right 'u:r/r. and wrong. Isaiah spokeout againstthis con- dition whenhe said,"Woe unto them that call evil good,and goodevil; that put darknessfor light, and light for r. darkness;that put bitter for sweet,and sweetfor bitter" (Isa.5:20). The Phariseesin Jesus'day came $ underthis descriptionwhen tlrey said ?> that Jesus cast out demons by Beelzebub,the prince of the demons. lDD/ Jesustold them that they had commit- ) ted the unpardonablesin, the sin of fo- blasphemyagainst the Holy Spirit by Russelll. \ (Matt.l2:31). When someone's conscience ' t TheBible further explainsthat we becomesdead, he can no longer ex- arenot justifiedin blamingeither God periencethe conviction of the Holy ltf li:*,;:.,lx','*## or the Devil for our sins.James l:13-14 Spirit, which is necessaryfor salva- haps becauseit strikes a responsive says, "Let no man say when he is tion, As Proverbs29:1 says, "He, that chord in their hearts.We are always tempted,I am temptedof God:for God being often reproved hardenethhis willing to excuseourselves whenever cannotbe temptedwith evil, neither neck,shall suddenly be destroyed,and we havedone wrong. We turn the criti- temptethhe any man:But everyman that without remedy."Ignoring God's cism backto the complainingperson, is temptedwhen he is drawn awayof warningsof judgment,and His offer of or we may denythe offensealtogether. his own lust, and enticed." forgivenessthrough our Lord Jesus Refusingblame for wrongdoingis Christ, is a dangerousthing. part of our human nature.This trait Those who persist in excusing can be tracedall the way back to our themselvesfor their sinswill oneday first parents.The Lord askedAdam, haveto appearbefore the Great White "Hast thou eatenof the tree,whereof W. bvc to dcncnd Thronejudgment described in Revela- I commandedthee that thou shouldest our dghts,but wc diclikc tion 20. No excuseswill be accepted not eat?" All that was required of there.There will be no court of appeal, Adamwas a "yes"or "no" answer.But toklng rcsponsibiltty no dismissalfor sometechnicality. The what did he reply? for our cctions. onedetermining factor will be whether "The womanwhom thou gavestto the person'sname is written in the be with me, she gaveme of the tree, Book of Life. If not, his destinationis andI did eat"(Gen. 3:11-12). Adam was ffiEWW-W the lake of fire. shiftingthe blamefrom himselfto the But,what is this Bookof Life?How woman, implying that it was the doesone get his namein it? It is the woman's fault. In fact, he even in- This characteristic of blaming record of thosewho are saved.John timatedthat perhapsGod Himself was othersfor our sinshas become an in- identifiesthem. "And this is the record. to blame.Had He not giventhe woman tegralpart of societytoday. We love to that Godhath givento us eternallife, to him? If it were not for God, he demandour rights,but we disliketak- andthis life is in his Son.He that hath would not be guilty at all. ing responsibilityfor our actions. the Sonhath life; andhe that hath not The [,ord then turned to the woman Drunkeness,condemned by God the Sonof God hath not life" (1 John and askedwhat shehad done.She too (Prov.20:l), is no longer considered 5:11-12). shiftedthe blame,saying, "The serpent sinful by manypeople. It is deemedto If you havereceived Jesus Christ as beguiledme, and I did eat" (Gen.3:13). be a disease.Much of societyno longer your Lord and Saviour, having con- Adam and Eve took no responsibility considersadultery and divorceto be fessedto Him that you are a sinnerin for their actions.We cannottake sin taboo.They hide behind "he-makes-me- needof forgiveness,your nameis writ- seriouslywhile we are laughting at happy" and "she-didn't-fulfill-me" ten in the Book of Life. Jesushas it. Proverbsl4:9 says,"Fools make a excusesfor breakingtheir marriage excusedyou. His is the only excuse mock at sin," but it is not profitable. vows.Sinners may say"Exc-u-use me," God will accept. "Be not deceived;God is not mocked: but God has not changedHis stan- for whatsoevera man soweth,that dards. The Ten Commandmentsare I RussellJ. Asvitt is a free-lancewriter shall he also reap" (Gal.6:7). still in effect.The wagesof sin is still in Concord.California. 64 FundomentolistJournol Priority One International and Kansas City Baptist Temple present SCFIOOL ruLDMISSIONS

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FCRFREE INFCAVAIICN F?CN/ CUR ADVFATISFRS USLTHE CONVINiI\I PCSTAGEPAID RTPLY CARD CPPCSIIE PAGE IB NEWSCCMMENT,AJ?Y ValuesClarification Needs Clarification

o ensurethat non-Christians The neutrality to be achieved tion with valueseducation. Christina would not be exposed to through the new programsof values Hoff Sommers,a professorof philos- Christian dogma, American clarification somehow fell apart. ophy,addressed the subjectof values public education in the sixties Designedto help students think teachingin an article in the Summer substituted"values clarification" pro- througha moral dilemmaand reach a 1984issue of TheAmerican Scholar. gramsfor Bible readingand prayer in conclusion,the programsoften reject "As a collegeteacher coping with theclassroom. Concomitantly, and not traditionalvalues taught at homeand the motley ideologiesof high school coincidently,building moral character in the church. graduates,I find this [presentationof in studentsbegan to fade from the The dream of neutrality was and moral choicessimilar to choicesin a educationalscene. is illusive.According to William J. cafeterialinel alarming.Young people As Conservativescast searchins Bennett,U.S. secretaryof education today,many of whomare in a complete looksat thesevalues clarification prol and former director of the National moral stupor,need to be shownthat grams,textbook adoption, and other HumanitiesCenter in Research,Triangle there is an important distinction be- questionableeducational practices, the Park,North Carolina,who addressed tweenmoral and nonmoral decisions." new authoritiescried, "Censorship." the point in an article in the Summer Illustratingher point, shewrote: Neutrality,they declared, was the key. l98l issueof theAmerican Educator: "Valuesclarification blurs the distinc- And that neutrality is to be achieved "Values educationprograms are tion [betweenmoral andnonmoral deci- today, according to the National not all neutral, in subjectmatter or sionsl.Children are queriedabout their EducationAssociation, by educators techniques....They are, in fact, viewson homemadeChristmas gifts, themselves,unaided by outside biasedin favorof particularideologies. peoplewho wear wigs, and whether or influences. Interestingly,none of thebiases I have not theyapprove of abortionor would On page173 of the 1984-85edition observedare biased toward conser- turn in a hit-and-rundriver as if no of the NEA LegislativeProgram, the at- vative values or toward the mixed significantdifferences existed among titude toward outsideinvolvement in Iiberalrealism of the foundinsfathers." theseissues." the determinationof curriculumis set This sort of teachinghas roused the forth, It states that teachers and ire of Conservativesand causedmany librarians "must have the right to educatorsto takea secondlook at the selectinstructional/library materials teachingof ethicsin thepublic schools. without censorship or legislative TheAmerican Federation of Teachers, interference." Edurrtors may with a membershipof 580,000,has in- TheNEA alsoobjects to the Hatch volved itself in the evaluation.An Amendment,which protects pupils not initiate affiliate of the AFL-CIOand labor against unwitting and unapproved "trendy" philosophies organizationfor teacherssince 1916, psychologicaltesting, increasingly the group'sEducational Issues Depart- insertedinto public schoolprograms into the classroom mentis addressingthe problem. acrossall gradelevels and curriculum whenthey have According to Marilyn Rauth, ex- materials. ecutive director of the department, Accordingto theNEA newsletter of promisedto be "Kids comeout with no valuesat all. April 16, 1984,the NEA opposesthe neutral. Kids comeout wishy-washy.And the HatchAmendment. "Enforced as cur- public has rightfully complained." rently written, the Reaganadministra- Anothergroup, the NationalCouncil tion's child privacy regulations[the for Better Education,has attracted Hatch Amendmentlwould mandate more than 30,000members since its in- that all instructional material- In addition,according to Bennett, ceptionin 1983.One-third of those including teacher's manuals, films, the valueseducation programs not only members are teachers or former andtapes-must be madeavailable for view traditional moral educationas teachers. parentalinspection." useless,they also provide "an im- Foundedby former public school And why not, respondedPhyllis poverishedview of morality" by the teacherSally D. Reed,NCBE's primary Schlaflyin a 1985newsletter. "Who do useof little gameswith unrealisticob- goalis to return the control of public the NEA officials think they are that jectives and lacking a full range of educationto the Americanpeople and theycan deny parents the opportunity moral options. to the communitiesit serves,Linda to inspectthe materialsbeing used on Ethicsteachers in collegesreap the Clark,NCBE director of communica- their own children?" harvestof nublic schoolexperimenta- tions,stated. April1986 67 Becauseof the pressure,schools Marjorie Kinnan Rawling'sThe Year- counterto what shefeels is in the best are makingchanges. Some base their ling,as well as others. interest of American educationand new programsfor "consensusvalues" Theunit on honestyis similar,utiliz- what canbe classifiedonly asactivities on suchdocuments as the UnitedStates ing theseas well asother accounts: the not relatedto education. Constitutionand the Bill of Rights, storiesof Pinocchioand Georse Wash- Shealso has a specialplan to turn which provide core values.Classical ingtonand the cherry tree,sJlections the educationalprocess back to the and contemporaryliterature are also from LesMiserables by Victor Hugo, localcommunities through Educational sourcesfor the teachingof values. and Tolstoy'sWar and Peace. EnterpriseZones by the severingof Somelook for sourcesthat stress On anotherfront NCBE and Reed federaland statemonies and controls. civic (community)or basicvalues. One have made a highly visible attack Preliminaryplans are under way, thing is clear:the valuesare of a non- againstthe NEA throughher bookNEA: with a number of school districts controversial,nontheological, nondoc- PropagandaFront ol theRadical Left. alreadyinterested in settingup local trinal nature. autonomyfor their educationalprocess. TheAmerican Federation of Teachers Schoolboards interested in estab- hasprepared units on four major con- lishingtheir district asan educational sensusvalues: responsibility, honesty, enterprisezone must first applyto the courage,and compassion. Materials in "lVl*yydnrgryopleare state for releasefrom financial and eachof the units havebeen taken from other obligationsto the state. classicaland contemporaryliterature, in a completemoral NCBE is not concernedabout the folk talesand fables,newspapers, couft stuponThey ned to be lossof federaland statefunds because cases,music, art, and film. the major sourceof incomefor local For example,the themeof responsi shownthat tltereis an districtsis the localtax structure.The bility is developedaround a statement importantdistinction federalfunds constituteabout 7 percent from AbrahamLincoln, a court case, of the income;and while statefunds quotationsfrom the biblical accountof betweenmoral and vary from onelocation to another,fhe Cain and Abel (Am I mv brother's nonnoral amountsupplied to the schoolis a great keeper?),the poem"He Ain't Heary. . . decisions," deal less than that generatedfrom He's My Brother," selectionsfrom within the communityitself. Steinbeck'sOf Mice and Men, and To help with the organizationof the So potent is the manuscriptthat the system,four parent/teachercommittees NEA has answeredher chareesin its would be formed. Each would work own J,l Flavorsof Extremism.-Asecond with oneof the followingareas: teacher publicationby Reedprovides a rebut- activities,student activities, curriculum Enjoy the drama tal to the NEA responses. selection,and textbookselection. ot good tood. "It's just the beginningof a cam- "We think it will work," Clarksaid. paignto draw nationwideattention to Thepurpose of the trial zonesis to put the devastatingdiscrepancy between the plan to the test.NCBE is initially what the nation'seducators sav thev interestedin schoolsystems that have need and what the union hieiarchy more than one high school,one junior saysit wants,"Reed contends. high, and one elementary school, so That discrepancyis highlighted parents in the district have a choice. through the resultsof a poll of 1,007 Parentswill sign up to enroll their educatorsconducted bv NCBEand re- children in the program. leasedlast June.Fifty-sn. percentof If the suggestionsdo not satisfy the teacherswho respondedwere NEA everyone,it must be acknowledgedas members.Issues covered in thepoll in- an improvement when students are cludedabortion, voluntary prayer in taught there is a difference between schools,forced busing to achieveracial right and wrong and that somethings balance,gay rights, and the useof union are right and others are wrong; when duesto lobbyfor aid to the Contrasin they are taught that they do have a Nicaragua. responsibilityto othersand to society; Resultsshowed the closestcategory andwhen they are taught suchvalues wasgay rights in which educatorssplit as courage,honesty, integrity, and their opinions47 to 45percent against compassion. suchrights. Theyfavored the restitution The originalvoices of thosein the of voluntary prayer in schools53 to 43 wildernessare beingjoined by others .1\ NormanB. Rohrer,Director { cHRrsTtAN percent;disapproved federal funding of who seethe needfor a meetingon com- T lYa'JS''"1,'*iilil'lf,l,"'" wRrTERsculLD I I abortionby 59to 37percent; objected mon ground, for the building of a **, I to the useof duesto lobbyfor aid to the strong and principled educational I Send me your FREE Starler Kit. Show me how to developmy writing talent and how to sell. I Contrasby 80 to 20 percent;and op- system to undergird and further I t posedbusing to achieveracial balance developthese United States of America. I -t by 68 to 26 percent. I _l Reedcampaigns to enlighteneduca- T T tors and the generalpublic concerning L- the actions of the NEA, which run I Ann Wharton 68 FundomentolistJournol NEWS SupremeCourt Upholds Aid to BlindMinistry Student

n a unanimousdecision, the U.S. moneyfor religiouseducation did not constitutioncould possibly be used to Supreme Court has ruled that "conferany message of stateendorse- denythe studentthe rehabilitationaid. state aid can be distributedto mentof religion." He also said Witters could be denied studentswho use the funds for reli- Becausethe money is given to aid if thestate could prove that Witters giouseducation. Witters,who is makingan independent mustbe supervisedby the stateduring TheHigh Courtruled that the state choiceof education,the court said it collegeinstruction. of Washingtonwill not violatethe Con- is clear that "any aid providedunder Furthermore,Justice Marshall in- stitution if it grantsvocational rehabili Washington'sprogram that ultimately dicatedthat stateaid could be uncon- tation aid to a blind studentstudying flows to religiousinstitutions does so stitutionalif morethan a "minuscule" only as a result of the genuinelyinde- amountof thebudget went to religious pendent and private choicesof aid education.Five Supreme Court justices recipients,. . . Thedecision to support have expresseddissatisfaction with religious education is made by the JusticeMarshall's narrow ruling. individual,not by the state."However, Thecase will nowgo back to Wash- the SupremeCourt ruling does not ington'sSupreme Court to determine assureWitters he will receivestate aid. whetherthe state'sconstitution per- JusticeMarshall suggested that the mits suchaid. x "far stricterdictates" of Washinston's I Martin Mawver E p i * F t JusticeThurgood Morsholl D(PI,ORINGGODS}rcRD to becomea minister.Justice Thurgood Marshall,writing themajority opinion, psalms stated,"The establishmentclause is lhosewho enloy the not violated previ- willwelcome this new series of everytime money commentariesbyrespected author, ouslyin the possessionof a stateis con- NWffiffi JohnPhillips. Aswith his previous veyedto a religiousinstitution." "Exploring"volumes it has leatures In 1979Larry Witters,who suffers thatwill make it a favoriteof Bible from a degenerativeeye condition, ap- studentseverywhere. Foreach olied for stateaid from the Commission ffifns psalmthere is detailedoutline, WIINI0 ONEI Ysatmst*qt for the Blind to attendthe Inland Em- straightforwardinterpretation, and pire Schoolof the Bible in Spokane. practicalapplication. But the Commissionrejected the young 'l Toreceive your copy of volume man'sapplication saying Ihe state's con- /\ | one:Psalms 1-41. olus advance stitutionforbade such aid. Washington noticeon the release oftne State'sconstitution reads: "No money remaininglour volumes inthe or property shall be appropriatedfor series,send $14.95 plus $1.50 or applied to any religious worship, postageand handling tothe address exerciseor instruction,or the support below. of any religiousestablishment." A statetrial murt upheldthe Commis- 0rderby June 15th sion'sdecision. But the stateSupreme andwe will include a Court ignoredthe state'sconstitution lreecopy of EXPL0RINGTHE andsaid such aid violatesthe U.S.Con- SONGOF SOLOMON. stitution's"establishment clause" be- a $5.95value! causethe aid would have"the primary IOIZEAUX p.o.Box 277 effect of advancing religion." The BR(}nlEnS Neptune,N.J. 07754 SupremeCourt rejectedthat argument, sayingthe use of neutrally available April1986 69 NEWSBRIEFS

PRDSENTS EXPOSUREDAY Defeatedlast year when several courtsstruck down his executiveorder that would have forced city-funded agenciesto hire homosexuals,Mayor Kochbegan the New Year by introduc- ing a "homosexual-rights"bill in the city council. Sayingthat manyhomosexuals have "encounteredprejudice," "hostility," "physicalviolence," and "distrust," the bill declares"that discriminationon the basisof sexualorientation exists, that it unjustly threatens the well-being of thousandsof New Yorkers,and that it Don C, Alexonder leods Sove Our Schools. should be prohibited in regard to employment,housing, land, commercial New Group Formed to Fight NEA space,and public accommodations." Thoughthe bill hasstrong support The 150,000-memberSave Our in the city council,the new majority Under the dlrectlon of Schools lobbying organization has leader, Peter Vallone of Queens,is Coach Ron Blshop, formed a foundation to exposethe opposedto the bill. "I opposeit in con- EXPOSURD DAY ls conducted ln Liberal activities of the National science,"Vallone told the New York order to provlde an opportunl(y EducationAssociation-the nation's Times. for Chdstlcn besketball plqyers largestteachers' union. The city council has voted on a (grades 9- I 2 ) to exhlblt basket- Called the SOS Researchand homosexualrights bill for the last l5 ball talent. An evaluatlon ofeach plqyer wlll be made and sent to EducationFoundation, the organiza- vears.Onlv once was it oassedout of Chrlstlan college coaches. Recom- tion will also researchthe problems lommitteelandthen it wis defeatedby mendatlons and asslstance ln facingpublic education. the full 35-membercouncil. sedng athletlc scholarshlps for First on the agendaof thenew SOS Thisyear, however, the bill already worth;r athletes wlll be provlded. Foundationis to publish 100,000 has 14sponsors, and it needsonly 18 copiesof thebook, Who's Ruining Our votesto becomelaw. IIIDWEST EX"POSURD DAY Schools?The CaseAgainst the NEA Currently,51 cities in the United Baptlst Chdstlan Acadenv TeacherUnion. Stateshave homosexual rrishts laws. lndlanapolls, Indlana DanC. Alexander, president of the Ilost: Iluane Schnelle SOSFoundation, said the book will ilqy rO, r9E6 ,'iexposethe NEA asa radicalpolitical SOUTHEAST EXPOSURN, DAY union that does not represent the viewsof parents,students, or eventhe Lawsuit Asks Court to Overturn Baptlst Unlversl$ of Arnerlca majority of Americanteachers." Ban on Braille Playboy Atlanta, GA Host: Ilen Lasslter He added,"Our newSOS Research Mqy r7, 1986 and EducationFoundation will serve It coststaxpayers $103,000 ayear, as a watchdogof the NEA and will and it is readby only 1,000blind peo- publish subsequentfindings on its ple, but almost a half dozengroups activities." havefiled suit in federalcourt to over- Coach turn a congressionalban on publishing Ron Blshop Playboymagazine in Braille. Presldcnt of scoFE,rrvr. Playboy has been oublished in Mayor Koch Introduces Braille bj the Library'of Congress Gay RightsLaw since 1970. But that practice was halted last when ldrlte for more lnfomtlm rnd rppllutlon to: July the House of SCORE, INTERNAT'ONAL Mayor Koch of New York City is Representativespassed an amendment P.O. Box53E6 still undeterredin his efforts to se- forbiddingthe Library of Congressto Ft.Odettorpc,GA 30742 curespecial civil rightsprotection for continuefurther publicationof Braille f402la6r-9434 homosexuals. editionsof Plavbov. FundomentolistJournol RepresentativeChalmers Wylie of Thereis a senseof revivaland turning Ohio,who sponsoredthe amendment, backto our Judeo-Christianroots and said in floor debatelast summerthat the faith of our FoundingFathers." Playboyarticles contain "talk about Fellowshipof Christian Athletes, THETREASURE IN wantonidleness, of wantonand illicit begunin 1954,added742 campus stu- EARTHENVESSELS sex,and so forth." He addedthat most dent groupsbetween 1984 and 1985. is beingused by the blind peoplein his district feel there ExecutiveVice PresidentJack Roberts Lordto leadCatho- is a better way to spendthe money. says,"I think the reasonfor our more licsto Christ. Currently,the Library of Congress than doublingthe number of huddle spends $33.8 million annually to groups in the last four years has TESTIMONIAL: publish 36 magazinesin Braille. nothingto do with what we havedone Listento whatthis dear Catholiclady said: "l Thelawsuit claimsthat the ban on on a national level.The reasonis we wouldlike to begin by saying, 'Thank you.' Braille editionsof Playboyis a viola- arein our secondgeneration of FCA- My slster in oineof hbr'moreearnest tion of free speech attemptsat savingmy soul,sent me a and amounts to those who were involvedwith us in copyot yourbook... I enjoyedit . . . I "blatant, paternalistic censorship." high schoolyears ago are now adults wasgreatly touched by the way you ques- Thelawsuit asksthe court to order the andwant their childrento be involved tionedyour Catholicupbringing. These questionshave crossed my mindmore Library of Congressto continue in FCA.These people are willing to give thanonce ... Uoonreadino vour last publication of Playboy in Braille their time and talent,and they become chapter,to be surb,I receiveEChrist as editions. the arms and legsthat allow us to ex- my Savior." Thelawsuit is filed by the American pandso rapidly." DR LEE ROBERSONof rennes- Council of the Blind, the Blinded seeTemple University says, "Thls story VeteransAssociation, the American should be glven to Catholics every- whgre, lt will surelyopen the eyesot Library Association,Representative manypeople." Vic Fazioof California,certain blind Chrlstlan Muslclans Produce readersof Braille magazines,and, of Thisoaoerback book bv NormSharbauoh Pro-Life Album is avhilableat $3.95pfus $1.00 postade course,Playboy Enterprises. andhandllng. Make your check payable Supporters of the law say the to NormSharbauoh Ministries and send it Houseof Representativeshas a con- Sayingthey want to "rescuethe un- to: Norm Sharbiugh Mlnlstrles,P.O. Q-o1-215, Dept. 2-, Brownsbuig,lN stitutionalright to decidehow money born," over 100 Christian recording 46112. is spentand that separationof powers artists, musicians,technicians, and preventsthe courts from telling Con- their familieshave donated their time gresshow to allocatethat money. and talentsto producean album they hopewill benefitthe Christian pro-life movement. The album, "Fight the Fight," is intendedto be a fund-raisingtool for Rellglous Student Groups the Christianpro-life movement, said Growlng Consistently Buddy Owens,executive director of CalledTo Live OakRecords, which releasedthe A recent newspaperstory by the recordingin late January. New York ftzes News Servicepro- Written by AnneHerring of the con- TheMini.stry claimed, "FundamentalistStudent temporarysinging group 2nd Chapter Groups Multiply on Nation's Cam- of Acts,"Fight the Fight" is "a call to StudyOff,Campus and puses." The article noted growth Christians for prayer and action among several religious student againstabortion in the UnitedStates," EarnA Degree! groups,including Fellowship of Chris- promoterssay. . Bethany allows you to remain in your tian Athletesand Campus Crusade for "NeitherLive Oak Records. nor anv presentministry while earningyour Christ, and interviewedprofessors of theartists, musicians, publishers, or degree. who gave varying reasons for the retail outletswill receivebenefit from . Bethany offers quality education, is renewedinterest in religion.Reasons 'Fightthe Fight.'Allproceeds from tlle fundamental and Baptist in doctrine. cited included the country's Conser- sales of this recording and related o One may earn either the ASSOCIAIE, vativetrend andthe mentalconfusion productswill be givento Christianpro- BACHELOR, MASTER OTDOCIORATE degree through the Off-Campus brought aboutby a questioninguniver- Iife organizations,"said Owens. Program. sity environment. "In addition,we areinviting Chris- e Resident classesare available at the Studentgroups are growing.Cam- tian proJife groupson both national Dothan Campus-tuitionat a minimum. pus Crusadehad organizationson 40 andlocal levels to orderbulk copiesof 'Fight o Credit is given for previous college campusesin 1960;today there are the Fight'at costfor usein their work and life experience. 85,575 campus organizations.Don own fund-raisingefforts." Writeor Callfor FreeInformation Beehler of the group's national ad- Artists include: Scott Wesley ministration says,"There are a lot of Brown, Debby Boone,Dallas Holm, BETHANYTHEOLOGICAL reasonsfor growth. Oneis this coun- Pam Mark Hall, SandiPatti, and Pat SEMINARYAND BIBLECOLLEGE try's growing interest in spiritual Boone. PO. Box 1944 Dothan,Alabama 3630.2 things. Studentsare eager to share For more informationwrite: Fisht (20s)793-3189 their life-changingexperience with the Fight,P. O,Box 1210,Lindale, Teias Jesus Christ with other students. 7577r-1210. Abraham continued from page21 of earth (Africa, Asia, and Europe) will fear Him." The missionarytask cametogether, God placed His mark, hasnever been optional or a secondary (Isaacand Jacob),received only the His seed,His land, and His message add-onto the programof God.It has promise and not the reality of the for all the nations of the earth, if they always been central, even in the Old promise(i.e., living in the land itself). would but hear. Testament. Nevertheless,the othersbelieved God Furthermore,this covenantis a Finally, the Abrahamic covenant when he solemnizedHis offer of the one-partyobligation. There are no con- signals the bonding of the state of landin His covenant(Gen. 17:8;48:4). ditionsstated, implied, or addedlater. Israel to the future as well as to the Again,the text has become20 repeti- The promise to Abraham will always past.No matter how many hardships tions of this offer of the land. be God'sgift, and it will be His work or eventhreats of extinction,Israel may So there it is in all its splendor- to maintain its provisionsin perpetuity. face,God has promised His handwill the covenantGod made with Abraham, Signlficance of the Abrahamlc be upon her, and in the end He will with its threefoldelements of an heir, Promise.Few promisesof Scripture restoreboth the land and the blessing and inheritance,and the heritageof the function in such a strategic and foun- to the fullest. gospel.Note that oneelement is not in- dational way as the Abrahamic cove- This act of restorationwill simul- telligiblewithout the other, and each nant. Without it, we would havebeen taneouslysignal the nationsthat God hasimplications for the other as they deprivedof one of the earliest and is still Lord of all historyand all people. presenta cumulativeeffect. The heir most seminalstatements of the gos- Sadly,most will miss this point, and or "seed" that was promisedto Eve, pel (Gal.3:8). Here in embryoform is will instead attempt to solve "The who would crush Satan'shead, is the anticipatedthe comingof Messiah,the Jewish Question" in such ruthless sameheir promisedto the patriarch. work of God'sgrace, and the closecon- ways that God Himself will finally This seedwould ultimately come as nectionbetween God's gift to Israel intervene,to the greatdismay of all the our Lord JesusChrist. and the resultantblessing of all, Jew nationsgathered in Israel, to deal a Jesusis Lord of all-including his- and Gentile,who would believe.The final devastatingblow. Thus the best tory and geography.To demonstrate apostlereduced all this to one word, evidencefor the existenceand power His lordship, and the all-embracing the "gospel." of God is the Jewishnation. nature of His Word, He deededthe Embeddedin this uniquepromise God will concludehistory by re- land of ancient Canaanto Israel in arethe seedsfor a worldwidemission- membering His promises. Unlike a perpetuity.This grant had nothingto ary vision.From the start God'sreason cashedcheck which no longerhas any do with natural rights, merits, or prior for blessingAbraham and his seedwas value, each fulfilled promise from claims; it was all of grace.It would so that all the families of the known Abraham'sday to ours hasonly given show that what God had spoken,He world shouldreceive the sameblessing. us further confirmationof God'sde- was able to completeand to fulfill in This missionaryuse of the Abrahamic pendability,and expandedthe hopeof humanexperience. covenantis madeeven more explicit in all the world in the beautyand blessed- Moreover,Israel would standas the Psalm 67:l-2 and 7, which could be nessof the magnificentplan He gave. great watermarkof history in signal- readin the Hebrew,"May Godbe gra- ing that all the landsand wealth of the cious to us and blessand make His I Walter C. Kalser,Jr., is academic nationsbelonged to Godjust asmuch faceshine on us (see.Num. 6:24-26)in deanand vice presidentof education as did the heart, soul, and interior order that. . . your salvationmay be at Trinity EvangelicalDivinity School. aspectsof mankind.Thus exactlywhere known among all nations. God will His Ph.D.is from BrandeisUniversity, eastmet west,where three continents blessus (Israel)so all endsof theearth Waltham,Massachusetts.

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72 FundomentollstJournol "I encourage you to call today our Liberty Line 18M 847-2000. Request the free,noobligation LHBI Information Packet or send this coupon lor complete inlormation. TheCelebrity Syndrome

by TrumanDollar

few weeks ago I entertained -r - All the signatureshave "Dr." in somefriends at a Hyatt coffee front of them and look strangelylike shop in Dearborn,Michigan, they were obtainedat a medicalcon- accompaniedby -y lS-year-oldson, vention.In the Scripture,people are Devin,a committedbaseball fanatic. simply known as Phoebe,Priscilla, Immediately upon entering the An thesignatures have Aquila, Andronicus,Barnabas, John, Hyatt, Devin noticed the California Paul,or Jesus.But in the flyleaf they Angels arriving in preparation for "nr," in front of them are alwaystagged, "Dr." a game the next afternoonat Tiger andlook strangelylike I am sometimestempted to sign Stadium.He locatedpen and paper, some unknown or less-knownname and set about til obtain some auto- they wereobtained at a like Tertiusor Quartus-slaveswhose graphsfor his growing collection. medicalconvention. namesPaul included in Romans16. Uponhis return to the restaurant, Aren't they important enough to be he proudly displayedthe autographsof there?Are only thosewith the speak- Rod Carewand BobbyGritch. His en- ing gifts askedto sign?Why not askthe thusiasmwas tempered,however, be- Bible-signingcan be very humbling. janitor who staysbehind to lock up to causeone of the playershad not only On occasion,when I havespoken at the givehis autograph?Pretty important refused,but had treatedDevin rudely samechurch severaltimes, I havehad to man, I think. when he askedfor the signature. tell a child that my nameis alreadyin The truth is, the whole practice That a*rlete did not makeany friends his Bible.This is a painfulreminder to of putting autographsin the flyleaf that night. Spoiled baseballplayers us both that he doesnot really know me. of God'sWord doesnot make sense. with multimillion-dollarcontracts do I am not evensure what thesesig- It violateswhat Paul said about the not help their imageswhen they seem naturesmean. I don't think they are relativeimportance of all the body in to carelittle what payingfans think of endorsements.I recently saw Peter 1 Corinthians12:12-28.It also embar- their behavior.But I lost no sleepover Ruckman'sautograph on the flyleafof rassesme. this arrogance.These things tend to a New InternationalVersion. I always sign Bibles when asked right themselvesin time-fans are not Interestingly,some signatures are becauseI don'twant to look like some stupid.I suspectthat by the time this scrawledon the samepage by menwho reluctant,pompous athlete, but I feel playeris 50he will be in the annualold- will not speakon the sameprogram, stupid,and I alwayswant to preacha timers game,eagerly offering to sign or who write critical articlesabout one sermonto thosewho ask.I reallycan't autographsfor fanswho cannotquite anotherin religiousjournals. The auto- seePaul autographing a parchmentof rememberwho this agingathlete is. graphseekers probably confuse these Isaiah! What doesbother me, however,is luminariesbecause they do not under- the tendencyto seethis samecelebrity standthe finer pointsof ecclesiastical imageapplied to the ministry. Thereis separation.I wonderif Godconsiders I Truman Dollar, pastor of Temple hardly a time when I finish speaking this ecumenicalBible-signing a com- Baptist Church,Detroit, Michigan,is a as a guestat a church or conference promise.Perhaps the conceptof sec- publishedauthor noted for his thought- that I am not approachedwith requests ondaryseparation does not extendthis provokingand unpredictableinsights to autographBibles. The whole concept farl Beingon a pagetogether must not on currentevents. He shareshis views is troubling and at times amusing. be like beingon a platform together. in this column eachmonth. 74 FundqmentolistJournol

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