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Preacher's Magazine Church of the Nazarene

1-1-1944 Preacher's Magazine Volume 19 Number 01 J. B. Chapman (Editor) Olivet Nazarene University

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Recommended Citation Chapman, J. B. (Editor), "Preacher's Magazine Volume 19 Number 01" (1944). Preacher's Magazine. 211. https://digitalcommons.olivet.edu/cotn_pm/211

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P. MESSAGE VOLUME 19 NUMBER 1 JAIMUARY-FEBRUARY, 1944 a c ja z in e 1944 will be as critical a year as this world ever has seen. The de­ CONTENTS mands made upon every sincere minister of Christ will be as great Selecting One’s Own Heritage J. B. Chapman ...... 3 or greater than any demands made Doing the Work of an Evangelist upon ministers in the history of the J. B. Chapman ...... 4 Christian Church. If ever a people Word Pictures from Ephesians needed the message of God, the peo­ Olive M. Winchester ...... 7 ple who make up our congregations The Paschal Supper in Israel in 1944 will need it. H. Orton Wiley ...... 10 The Preacher Who Is Prepared To give the message of God to the A. S. London ...... 13 people of our day will demand of us The Preacher as Shepherd, Part One special spiritual preparation. Breth­ J. Glenn Gould ...... 15 ren, we must meet God in the place Pulpit Power of prayer, we must have deepening J. W. Goodwin ...... 18 Outstanding Things About a Successful Min­ and enlarging experiences of God in istry our own hearts, we must have God E. O. Chalfant ...... 21 say something to us in our trysts Cameos of the Preacher with Him, if we are going to give Herbert Lockyer ...... 22 His message to our people. Revivals W. M. Tidwell ...... 26 Before the year 1944 dawns upon Learning from Our Adversaries us let each of us give ourselves to E. Wayne Stahl ...... 29 prayer, to fasting and prayer, to Hints to Preachers heart searching and sincere and F. Li ncicome ...... 34 humble confession of our need of a Some Tools a Preacher Needs Nelson G. Mink ...... 36 new touch of God upon our souls as Your Altar ministers, until our own hearts are H. M. von Stein ...... 37 refreshed and we have something The Pastor, a Visitor new in our relationship with God H. H. Wise ...... 38 with which to start the year. Such The Minister and His Calling men are needed in the pulpits of the Milo L. Arnold ...... 39 churches of our world today. The Church Bulletin Board Speaks Fred W. Gibson ...... 42 The Pastor and His Prayer Life * * * * Thomas James Crawford ...... 44 • Departments Wanted! Sermon outlines. Good Quotable Poetry ...... 46 outlines—the best you have. There The Preacher’s Scrapbook ...... 48 is a call for more and more usable Problems Peculiar to Preachers ...... 50 sermon outlines to be printed in Sermon Outlines ...... 51 The Preacher's Magazine. Send them Missionary Department ...... 60 in to the Managing Editor at once. Illustrations ...... 62 Book Reviews ...... 65 Also, send good prayermeeting plans, suggestions and outlines for talks. « • J. B. Chapman, D.D., Editor Help make your Preacher’s Maga­ 13. Shelby Corlett, ! >. I >., Managing Editor zine all that it should be by making Published bimonthly by the Nazarene Publishing House, 2923 Troost your contribution, especially to this Avenue, Box 527, Kansas City 10, Missouri, maintained by and in the sermon outline department. interest of the Church of the Nazarene. Subscription price: $1.00 a year. Entered as second class matter at the post office at Kansas City, Mo. Acceptance for mailing at special rate of postage provided D. for in Section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, authorized December Shelby Corlett, 30, 1925. Address all contributions to The Preacher's Magazine, 2923 Troost Avenue, Box 527, Kansas City 10, Missouri. Managing Editor. The Preacher's Magazine Selecting One’s Own Heritage

J. B. Chapman, Editor

HERE have been both good and bad principal physical implement. Just a few factors in every m an’s heritage, and preachers are gifted with voices that are T it is for each one to select the factors ready-made to their purpose. With the he will count as his major. Take parents great majority there is more that must be and home: perhaps there is no argument desired than that is actually possessed. as to the superior advantage of one who Whitefield and Henry Ward Beecher could has been “brought up in the lap of the make their preaching effective just by rea­ gospel” as compared with another who, like son of their magnificent voices. But you Topsy, “just growed up.” But even so, the and I can gain nothing by sighing over our child from the nonchurch homes has the small heritage on this point. But if we advantage of a thrill in the things of re­ ligion which one accustomed to them from make the best we can of what we have on his earliest days does not feel, and there this point we can all do better than we are is a sense of independent action on the part now doing. If we give some attention to the of one who came into touch with the gospel proper method of breath control, seek to after the time of responsibility that is de­ inject flexibility, major on enunciation, and nied to one who “was a Christian from his take care always to preach loud enough and earliest recollection.” yet not too loud, we may yet be accounted There is no doubt that the preacher who as acceptable speakers. And besides this, has had opportunities for formal schooling aware that we cannot depend on delivery, has the edge on the untrained man. But the we may drive ourselves to demand of our­ “self-educated” man, if he has applied him ­ selves that we have something worth de­ self, has the advantage of the necessity of livering, and by force of content we may using what he learns just about as fast as make our ministry last longer than do he learns it. And the man who is wanting those who are such good preachers that in formal education can yet be as well read they do not bother much to preach a good and versatile as he elects to be. And if in ­ gospel. stead of moping about what he has missed, The preacher is a prophet, and as such he utilizes his advantage he may yet be an he cannot ignore the moral conditions of his effective preacher and successful soul w in­ times, and the Lord knows there is plenty ner. A young preacher who was married that is bad in the condiitons with which he and had a family of two or three children is surrounded. But there is also much that once wrote Dr. Bresee for advice about is good. In a sense the times demand bet­ going to school. I saw Dr. Bresee’s answer ter qualities of sainthood than even more to that inquiry. I cannot of course recall heroic times required, and there are some the exact ■words. But in substance he of the best people on the earth right now said, “You have made choice of a wife and that ever lived on this planet of ours. And family instead of a course in college, and it there are intimations of hunger for God is now too late to recall that choice, and it among men quite generally. And there is is not possible to have both the family and a decided sense of world-weariness all the school. Stick to your choice and make about us. The preacher must choose his that choice serve you as a preacher. Buckle heritage in these things. If he turns to one down to home study and make of yourself phase too exclusively he w ill of necessity a ‘well-read man.’ Learn from everybody become a pessimist and may easily become and from everything you meet. Be a stu­ a grouch. But neither the church nor the dent, even though you cannot hope to be a world can endure a preacher who can see no scholar. Preach the very best you can al­ way out. What is the use of preaching if ways. Pray and trust for the unction of the all the ways are blind alleys? Why bother Spirit and you w ill be ‘a good minister of to diagnose if there is no remedy? We are Jesus Christ’.” the apostles of Good News, and we must The voice is to the preacher what the major on the factors which gender hope. right arm is to the blacksmith—it is his Sin must be reproved, of course, and the

lanuary-February, 1944 3 preacher must refuse to be muzzled. But they are hard to take and they seldom ever when the light of the statesman and the cure anyone. Well, they may cure the dis­ soldier goes out, the light of the gospel must ease, but they usually kill the patient, and burn with the steadier flame. There is a that just about destroys their usefulness. hopeful note in prophecy, and this is the Of course optimism can be overdone, but major key upon which the true servant of from long experience and observation I God must persist in playing. God does have come to compute a preacher’s proba­ stand in the shadows behind the misdeeds bilities of success pretty much on the basis of men and nations. God does offer salva­ of the choice he makes for his heritage out tion and strength to the lost and dying. of what the church has to offer. If he ma­ And when the age-long war is over, victory jors on the faults of leaders, the weakness will perch upon the banners of Christ. This of members, and the wickedness of those is the portion of the heritage which we who vote against him I find myself just should choose. instinctively scratching his name off my list The Church, speaking in the wide sense of eligibles for any hard job I may have as including all professors of Christianity, in mind. If I find him glorying in the few has many elements of weakness, some ele­ saints he may have in his group, expres­ ments of worldliness, and a few elements sing hope for the wavering, and reaching of wickedness in its broad panoply. And out with a strong arm to assist the drown­ yet the most of the good people of the earth ing, I find myself wishing he were a dozen are members of some church, and all the men so I could send him to that many places good people make some sort of profession of which I know need just such as he is. I their faith. And from this jumbled lot we know there are both the qualities men­ must select our stock. Shall we make the tioned in the mass, but I know also that the faulty our portion and major on the things preacher makes his own selection as to that are unlovely? Some preachers do what his heritage shall be. There are both this, of that we are sure. But are they wise flowers and carrion along the countryside, in doing this? I trow not. Such preachers but the hummingbirds take the flowers and are wont to complain that they are un­ the crows take the carrion—it is the select­ wanted, and they charge that those whom or that counts. they assail are too wanting in high mo­ Well, I must quit somewhere, so I think I tives to give them a consistent hearing. w ill come to the text: “Finally, brethren, Well, this is just in keeping with what they whatsoever things are true, whatsoever have been preaching as the case. The re­ things are honest, whatsoever things are sults have seemed to justify their methods. just, whatsoever things are pure, whatso­ B ut there are better factors, and if we like ever things are lovely, whatsoever things we may have these for our portion. I do are of good report; if there be any virtue, not know just where the story of Achan and if there be any praise, think on these belongs in its application to the Christian things” (Philippians 4:8). conflict, but I do know that one bad man cannot defeat the faith of a multitude of good men. I know even that “one man and God are a majority,” and that a few prayers + may save the city of Sodom. When the preacher assists in the looming large of the alien elements in the church he is help­ ing to defeat the army of God, for prop­ aganda is acknowledged to be a strong force Doing the Work in any conflict. One can preach the church of An Evangelist down until defeat is assured. When a young preacher wrote his District Superintendent, J. T. Maybury of the Washington-Philadel- B y t h e E d it o r phia District, asking for advice on how to deal with a divided and defeated church; Maybury, of sainted memory, replied, “Ig­ AR casualties among evangelists nore the difficulties, preach the promises, have been many indeed, so that it get the glory of God down upon the peo­ is increasingly necessary for pas­ ple.” And I think this is a panacea of al­ tors to adjust their programs to the changed most universal application. “Hot water conditions and plan for more definite con­ cures,” and “Cold water cures,” and “Cures versions in the regular and special services by burning” are not too bad to give, but under their personal direction. But like 4 The Preacher's Magazine most apparent calamities, this necessity “No, I do not believe you should give up makes promise of improvement among the the pastorate for a round in the evangelistic regular ministers in the matter of soul bur­ work for the purpose of developing your den and soul winning. evangelistic talent. This, as I see it, would Yesterday’s mail brought a letter from an not be a worthy reason for such a change. active pastor from which I quote as follows: The regular way for a pastor to get into “There is a problem in my ministry about the evangelistic field is for him to have such which I wish to write you. I seem to have good success in soul winning in his own difficulty in my Sunday evening services in charge that neighboring pastors call for his making my messages as evangelistic as they help. And when these calls become so should be. I have less difficulty in the numerous that the accepting of them pre­ morning service where the preaching is cludes the possibility of the proper care for more definitely directed toward leading the the pastorate, then the preacher is justi­ people of God in their worship. I am more fied in giving up the pastorate to devote of a studious turn of mind, and it is dif­ ficult for me to preach so as to stir the his time to the new field that has opened people’s emotions and bring them to a de­ to him. But the pastorate is the normal cision for Christ. M y evening messages place for the normal preacher, and only are too much the same type as the morn­ special providences or special impressions ing, even though I try to make them evan­ should take one from it. Making good in gelistic. I even have difficulty in preparing the ministry is, I judge, somewhat like an outline that will lend itself to the evan­ making good in business, and there the ad­ gelistic appeal. I know there is no sub­ vice is, ‘Go right back where you lost your stitute for earnest effort in prayer, but I money and you w ill find it there.’ So I thought you might have some practical think there is nothing for you but to break suggestions to offer. I have thought of leav­ through right in the pastorate and become ing the pastorate for a term in the evan­ an evangelistic pastor. That is what you gelistic field in the hope of developing the want to be, and here is the place to become evangelistic side of my ministry. Would it. this be advisable? I have not held many “It is well that you find yourself more evangelistic meetings, feeling that I should at home with the people of God in the not leave my church for long periods at a morning service, for this is indicative of time. I shall be thankful for any help you your love for the intimate things of God’s can give me. Yours in Christ.” service, and this trend w ill serve you well It occurred to me that the subject of this in the fight against professionalism which letter is of enough general interest to war­ every preacher must wage to the end of his rant printing my answer in T h e P r e a c h e r ’s day. Whenever one is found to be apt in M a g a z in e . I replied to the preacher as the psychology of crowds so that he can follows: seem to get results without exacting ap­ plication he has the more to fight to keep “D e a r B r o t h e r : The subject of your re­ cent letter is one which is or should be always in the realm of the genuine and the real. Men who have to work hard to secure of great interest to all preachers, and es­ results are safeguarded in that they know pecially to pastors at this time when com­ as others do not that their success depends petent evangelistic help is so difficult to upon qualities that can be had only in & life obtain. But it is a subject which I do not feel especially competent to discuss. I of complete devotion to God and prayer think my type is much like yours. And and sincere application. although I have been an evangelist much “But now more directly to the subject: of the time that I have been a preacher, and A minister once told me that he attended a although God has given me a measure of conference for Christian workers in Cin­ success in the exercise of the evangelistic cinnati, in the days when Wilbur Chapman appeal, I often admit to myself and some­ was in the glory of his simultaneous re­ times confess to others that the prayer of vivals. Dr. Chapman’s method was to have my heart is and always has been for im­ meetings going on in many co-operating provement in the gift of exhortation and churches in a given city at the same time. for larger success in bringing people to the He would himself preach in first one crisis in salvation. But, on the other hand, church and then another and pastors and it may be that my fellow feeling with you other preachers would carry on in neigh­ may make for mutual helpfulness as we boring churches at the same time. But dur­ think over this matter together. ing the day there would be a Christian January-February, 1944 5 worker’s conference in which Dr. Chapman “As to content for evangelistic sermons: would give addresses and answer questions. I believe one’s own experience is the richest On a given day a pastor arose to say, ‘I do mine. I know some make quite good use of not have any evangelistic sermons. I have stock stories and time-worn illustrations, always served as a pastor. Could you give but these are dangerous sources. Knowing us some suggestions about how to find m a­ that personal experience is the greatest terial for evangelistic sermons?’ To this Dr. force for a public speaker, I have observed Chapman replied, ‘There is no special dif­ a tendency in preachers to relate as per­ ference in the content of a pastoral and an sonal experiences things which have been evangelistic sermon. The difference is in in ‘preacher help’ books for the last two the purpose and the order. Tonight I plan generations. Of course it is possible that the to preach a sermon which I preached to current preacher has had experiences par­ my church on Sunday morning when I was allel with those recorded in the books, and a pastor. But tonight I plan to conclude it may be he uses the approved form un­ it with an invitation to people to come to consciously. Nevertheless, that is a dan­ Christ for immediate salvation. I hope gerous practice. The preacher’s own testi­ God will bless it to the purpose intended mony is his greatest asset and his best and I believe He will.’ The preacher said source book, aside from the Bible itself. he was present that night to hear the ser­ After this comes the experiences of others— mon and to observe the results. His testi­ famous Christians and Christians ‘whom mony was that the sermon was effective I have known.’ All this material is moulded and that the response was splendid. in the crucible of sound orthodoxy, and “This, I think, puts the emphasis where substantiated by true biblical scholarship. it rightly belongs, on the preacher, rather “There remains really but one thing than on the sermon. The fact is that more, and that is the evangelistic order. building the preacher is much more fun­ The evangelistic order may and does often damental than building the sermon, and pre­ vary from the pastoral order. In the old paring the preacher for a specific effort is books on Homiletics or ‘Sacred Rhetoric’ more important than selecting the content as the subject was sometimes called, the for that specific occasion. This means that ‘oratorical order’ was greatly emphasized. you and I are required to apply ourselves But sometimes the oratorical order is af­ to the task of making our own hearts more fected by the purpose. If the climax and the evangelistic. This is easier said than done. conclusion are intended to be followed by But it can be done. We can bring ourselves an appeal for people to come immediately to a deeper desire to win men to God by to the altar and to Christ, they must neces­ thinking upon the hopeless estate of those sarily be amended to serve this end. So who leave God out, and by meditating upon here again, the purpose is more funda­ the tremendous burden Jesus bore for the mental than the material. If you can bring salvation of those for whom He gave His yourself around to the place where in your life. And we can lay the foundation for very soul you would come and give your faith for that special melting unction which heart to God if you had not already done so, we must have to preach ‘as dying men to then there is not much doubt that you will dying men’ in the spirit essential to the bring others to the same place. winning of them to Christ. I find myself “There are of course many books intended the essential factor. When I am moved, to be of help to the evangelistic preacher, people are moved too. When I am stolid, people are indifferent. Once a writer urged but I think there is no better way than just preachers to ‘heat the iron, but keep the to fill your m ind to overflow with gospel hammer cool.’ But when I found out that truth, pray down grace from on high until his metaphor made the hammer the preach­ your heart is as full of love as your mind is er, I immediately said it would not work. of truth, and then pour out what you have I have tried it, and when I am cool the peo­ upon the people with the emphasis of a ple are cold. I must have heat if I expect to heaven-born passion, and throw yourself generate heat in my hearers. This is no unreservedly into the task of exhortation magic method, but I believe it is the only and personal invitation. These have been true method. If we would win men for the factors in the lives of soul winners in Christ we must be more fully won to Him the past, and there is every reason to be­ ourselves. lieve they w ill work today also.” The Preacher's Magazine • A panorama of spiritual possibilities given in Word Pictures from Ephesians Olive M. Winchester Spiritual Enlightenment

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the divine plan, previously hidden, of pro­ the Father of glory, may give unto you the viding salvation for men by the expiatory spirit of wisdom and revelation in the death of Christ.” Thus in I Cor. 1:30 we knowledge of him: the eyes of your un­ read, “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, derstanding being enlightened; that ye may who was made unto us wisdom from God, know what is the hope of his calling, and and righteousness and sanctification and re­ what the riches of the glory of his inher­ demption”; and again, in Col. 2:3 we have itance in the saints, and what is the exceed­ somewhat of the same thought, “In whom ing greatness of his power to us-ward who are all the treasures of wisdom and knowl­ believe, according to the working of his edge hidden.” Speaking of this wisdom, one mighty power (Ephesians 1:17-19). writer asserts that opposed to it “is the empty conceit of wisdom which men make HE Apostle Paul is praying. The closet a parade of, a knowledge more specious door stands ajar, and we can hear the T than real of lofty and hidden subjects; such prayer. How wonderful it is to be able to as the theosophy of certain Jewish Chris­ listen in! Here we learn of his aspirations tians, Col. 2:23, the philosophy of the for the people of God, the ideal which he Greeks, I Cor. l:21ff. would have them seek for their spiritual life. Let us note the different requests that While this is the meaning of wisdom he makes. here set forth by the Apostle Paul, we feel most certainly that the most acute intel­ W is d o m a n d R e v e l a t io n lectual comprehension is necessary to u n ­ First he beseeches the Father that wis­ derstand its content, which is the glorious dom and revelation be granted unto these plan of redemption. Experientially we may believers. Thus primacy is given to wisdom, know it without the intellectual phase. an intellectual element. Other phases of our For this we are thankful, but the theory of being have their value; the emotional re­ the atonement has called forth some of the sponses are spiritually pleasurable and es­ most profound theological thinking of the sentially consequential because there is not ages. Although we may experience the anything vital in life that does not produce work of the atonement in our hearts and emotional responses. But emotional respon­ lives without the theoretical knowledge, ses should not be sought directly; they yet how much more significant is the mean­ should come as resultant factors. Wisdom ing when both are combined! on the other hand is to be sought directly. Closely related to wisdom in this prayer The question arises, however, what is the of the apostle’s is revelation. This word as import of wisdom in this connection? By well as its companion which we have been wisdom we generally mean intellectual discussing is predominantly Pauline, occur­ acumen. Is that the meaning here? It ring some nineteen times. The sense in would seem not, although intellectual acu­ which he uses it is given by Trench. “It men is not necessarily excluded. Wisdom sets forth,” he says, “nothing less than that is not possible in any phase of life w ith­ progressive and immediate unveiling of out understanding. From the context we Himself to His Church on the part of the would conclude that wisdom has a specific otherwise unknown and unknowable God designation in this passage. which has run through all ages; the body Throughout the New Testament writings to which this revelation is vouchsafed be­ wisdom takes on its meaning from the ing thereby designated or indeed consti­ context and in the Pauline Epistles it re­ tuted as His Church, the object of His more fers more particularly to “a knowledge of immediate care, and the ordained diffuser

January-February, 1944 7 of this knowledge of Him to the rest of the prophets are made manifest in their ful­ mankind. The world may know something ness only in the person and death of Jesus of Him, of His eternal power and Godhead Christ. The depths of divine love are from the things which are seen; which not fully known until God gave His Son to things except for the darkening of men’s die for our sins. hearts through sin would have told of Him Thus wisdom and revelation have as their much more clearly (Rom. 1:20); but there specific purpose the knowledge of God in is no revelation save to the Church.” So the great plan of redemption. Such knowl­ in this passage “what Paul prays for on be­ edge is beyond the ken of human under­ half of these Ephesian converts is that God standing and needs the quickening of divine might continue to bestow upon them the revelation. gift of His Holy Spirit already imparted to them, and that to the effect both of m ak­ T h e E y e s o f t h e U nderstanding

ing them wise to understand the things of E n l ig h t e n e d His grace and of disclosing to them more of the mysteries of His kingdom.” Emphasizing the thought of divine illum­ ination further the Apostle continues in his I n t h e K n o w l e d g e o f G od prayer with the petition that the eyes of their understanding might be enlightened. That the meanings we have deduced for Speaking of this expression Salmond says, wisdom and revelation are the designa­ “The unusual figure of speech ‘the eyes of tions of the terms here is further made your heart’ is peculiarly appropriate here. clear by the fact that the direction of The gift in question is the specific gift of their activities is specified, it is for the fun­ knowledge or insight, hence the figure of damental purpose of the knowledge of God. the eyes. The knowledge is a spiritual It is not for the purpose of added knowl­ knowledge, hence ‘the eyes of the heart’!” edge in the material realm, it has no relativ­ ity to that; neither is it a striving for in ­ In the Hebrew psychology the word tellectual acquisition pure and simple, it is heart varied in its connotation; it might that man may know God. cover the whole range of psychical life, but when it was limited to a specific func­ In the first place in considering the aspect tion it referred to the intellectual. Quite of knowledge under discussion we should different this is from our use of the word note the particular word used. It is a com­ heart in a psychical sense, for we gen­ pound, and appears very frequently in the erally use it with reference to the affections. Pauline epistles of the captivity. Being a No doubt the Apostle trained as he was in compound it is intensive, having greater Hebrew modes of thinking used the word in strength than the simple word for knowl­ that sense, so enlightenment is of the un­ edge. “It is making one better acquainted derstanding and herein would have the with a thing known before, a more exact thought emphasized again which was dom­ viewing of an object seen afar off. Thus one inant in the two preceding phases. writer suggests as a translation of the term, ‘full knowledge’.” In connection with this request for spiritual enlightenment there is given the To the Jews from the beginning God had objectives to be sought. First among these been seeking to make Himself known; is that they may know the hope of their many of His attributes had been revealed, calling. Two lines of interpretation might but the full revelation came only through follow; one would dwell upon the subjec­ Jesus Christ. Thus we read in Hebrews, tive aspect and thereby the thought would “God who at sundry times and in divers be what is the nature of the certitude of manners spake in time past unto the fathers Christian experience. From other writings by the prophets, hath in these last days of the Apostle Paul we know that he states spoken unto us by his Son” (Heb. 1:1, 2a). this with a sense of surety dwelling upon While through Jesus Christ we have a the “full assurance of faith.” The certitude clear understanding of the fatherhood of of Christian experience in the soul is as God, yet more particularly do we come to a real, yea, more real than other experiences knowledge of God in redemption. As Peter of life. The Christian to be sure cannot tell the Apostle said when he wrote, “Concern­ you how it is made real, he cannot give ing which salvation the prophets sought and the metaphysical explanation, but he knows searched diligently who prophesied of the the reality. This has been the testimony of grace that should come unto you.” The Christian believers down through the ages wonders of redemption though seen afar by when their faith has been vital. The Preacher's Magazine On the other hand the phrase might be crisis in church annals, but have been just objective in its significance and indicate the as truly the exemplars of redeeming grace. scope of the plan of redemption which in­ How immeasurable this glory! cludes within its overtures of grace saving Then as the concluding objective Paul the mercy for the life that now is with a true Apostle would have them receive a vision of and satisfying philosophy of life and hope the divine efficiency. Had such thoughts for the life to come. In this present age been too high, too idealistic for realization, there is individual redemption, but in the then they were to consider God’s power. In great finality there will be cosmic and doing this we have an “impressive accu­ racial redemption. mulation of terms”; “and what is the ex­ Passing on in his desire and outreach for ceeding greatness of his power towards the enlightenment of his converts, the us who believe according to the working of Apostle adds as another objective that they the strength of his might.” Three words might know the riches of the inheritance of are used here to describe this power, the Christ in the saints. In these Christological first one denotes it “as efficiency, operative, epistles, of which Ephesians is one, the ex­ energizing power,” the second is power as altation of the Lord Jesus Christ is set “force, mastery, power as shown in action” forth most explicitly. We read that all and the third is “power inherent, power as things are for Him and all things have been possessed, but passive.” Accordingly Sal- made by Him. The worship of angels will mond states, “What the clause sets before be transcendent; the glory of the new earth us, therefore, is that the measure of that in which all of the beauty of nature will surpassing power of God which is the guar­ shine forth without one contrary element anty of our hope, is the operation of the ex­ will be resplendent, but these cannot com­ ertion of the might that dwells in God as pare with the glory of redeemed souls with seen in the historical case instanced in the the guilt of sin removed, the life trans­ following sentence, viz., the resurrection and formed, and the nature made pure and exaltation of Christ.” crystal white through the atoning work of Christ. Who can measure the glory of His The Apostle has concluded his petitions, inheritance in the saints? Bring into array but we feel that he has drawn a panorama all the Christian heroes of ancient times of spiritual possibilities before us which are and follow them on down through even sufficient to inspire us throughout the days to the present time which gives us evidence of our Christian pilgrimage. If our vision that the spirit of the martyrs has not died can grasp them and we can make them the out in men. Take all who walked in hum­ goals of our Christian living, how fruitful ble paths not called to face some great will our lives become!

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A Heart to Heart Talk Faithful Stewardship In Luke 16, Christ underscores the term “steward,” for He uses that word and its cognates seven times in eight verses .... The unjust steward was commended, not because he acted dishonestly, but because he acted wisely for himself. The Lord would have us, as stewards, act wisely and diligently in the use of all that we have...... In I Peter 4:10 we are urged to be good stewards of the manifold grace of God,” and this passage implies that what­ ever gift or endowment we possess must be looked upon as the Lord’s property and used for the promotion of His glory. Faithful stewardship covers every realm. It includes what we are as well as what we have, our person before our possessions. W ithin the range of stewardship you have not only the surender of money and material things, but the willingness to realize that God has a definite claim upon our life and service, for stewardship covers every relationship of life. Our goods and our gold are secondary. There must be right employment of our time and of our talents, and then the surrender of our treasures. First our soul, then our service and then our silver.—Presbyterian.

January-February, 1944 9 The Paschal Supper in Israel

H. Orton Wiley

HE Passover was one of the three great annual festivals of the Jews, T the other two being the Feast of It is interesting to note that one of the Pentecost and the Feast of Tabernacles. chief feasts of the Israelitish people was so The Passover takes its name from the He­ immediately connected with the sacredness brew word Pessah, which in its verb form and inviolability of the home. means “to pass by” or “to spare.” The ■i—....•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•..•-•-•..•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-f Greek word is pascha, from which we derive the term paschal. The Passover feast was celebrated in the month of intercalary month. This was always an Nisan, or the month of the Exodus, official act on the part of the Jewish author­ the first of .these celebrations being in ities. Modern critics have sometimes as­ anticipation of the judgments about to serted that the Passover was originally a be visited upon Pharaoh and his people. purely agricultural feast, and that the his­ The details of this rite as it was first cele­ torical idea was added later. This however, brated in Egypt are summarized in what is is pure assumption. The Reformers, prob­ termed the “ordinance of the Passover” ably because of their antipathy to the mass, found in Exodus 12:43ff. Every head of a denied that the lamb was a sacrifice. But family was commanded to choose on the while it was not a sacrifice in the sense or tenth day of the month, a male lamb or the mass, it was nevertheless a sacrifice, goat, and kill it on the fourteenth be­ as is shown by the statement, “It is the sac­ tween the two evenings; no bone was to be rifice of the Lord’s passover” (Exodus 12: broken; the meal was to be eaten in one 27). Due to the fact that there was no house; no alien could participate; the lamb priesthood and no altar, the idea of the sac­ was to be eaten with bitter herbs, and rifice could not fully be brought out in the was partaken in haste, the participants first celebration. But at a later time the having their loins girded, shoes on their blood was sprinkled and perhaps the fatty feet and a staff in the hand (Exodus 12:11). pieces burnt on the altar, as is shown by Exodus 34:25, “Thou shalt not offer the The Passover was not only the historical blood of my sacrifice with leaven; neither anniversary of the deliverance of the Is­ shall the sacrifice of the feast of the pass- raelites from Egyptian bondage, but it was over be left unto the morning.” This much, also an agricultural festival of thanks­ however, may be granted: the Passover was giving. It was a feast of the consecration of a feast of communion and belonged to that the first fruits or the beginning of the class of sacrifices in which the meal was the harvest. This is the viewpoint of Deuter­ principal part. Von Orelli says, “It was a onomy. “Seven weeks shalt thou number home or family offering, where the mem­ unto thee: begin to number the seven bers of the family united and confessed weeks from such time as thou beginnest to themselves to be the Lord’s people. Every put the sickle to the corn.” (Deut. 16:9). family was a little congregation of worship­ “And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks ers by itself. The blood had an expiatory unto the Lord thy God with a tribute of a efficacy, by keeping the divine wrath away freewill offering of thine hand, which thou from the home. The sacrificial nature of shalt give unto the Lord thy God, according the occasion is shown by the regulations as the Lord thy God hath blessed thee” governing the selection of the lamb (or (Deut. 16:10). The second verse of the goat); and the injunction against break­ scripture just quoted refers to the “feast of ing its bones points to its consecrated char­ weeks” or Pentecost. This was dated from acter. The hurried completion of the meal the day after the Passover, which in turn, brings out the importance of the moment of was dated from the beginning of the har­ salvation, when the people were waiting vest. The Jewish people carefully visited anxiously for deliverance. The bitter herbs the fields to watch for the first signs of the referred to the Egyptian oppression, and the harvest, and in backward years added an unleavened bread also had an historical 10 The Preacher's Magazine meaning. ‘Thou shalt eat no leavened into the city to supply the Passover de­ bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat un­ mand. The crowds began to arrive on the leavened bread therewith, even the bread thirteenth or fourteenth day of the month. of affliction; for thou earnest forth out of The lambs must be killed “between the the land of Egypt in haste; that thou mayest two evenings.” This the Samaritans inter­ remember the day when thou earnest forth preted to mean between sunset and dark, out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy but the Pharisees held that it must be con­ life’ (Deut. 16:3).” strued to mean between three o’clock and It is interesting to note that one of the sunset. A ll this necessitated great haste, chief feasts of the Israelitish people was so for the lambs must be killed, roasted and immediately connected with the sacredness eaten after three o’clock in the afternoon. and inviolability of the home. In the New The ram’s horn trumpets announced from Testament, however, the Pasover lamb the temple the beginning of the feast. At is lifted to its true prominence as a type of the sound, everyone took his lamb to the Christ, whose sacrificial death secures de­ temple, the walls of which were gaily decor- liverance from the wrath of God. St. Paul orated with many-colored tapestries in interprets the Passover for us thus, “Purge honor of the occasion. The countless vic­ out therefore the old leaven, that ye may tims must be first examined by the priests, be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For to see that they were without blemish, then even Christ our passover was sacrificed for slaughtered and prepared for roasting. As us: therefore let us keep the feast, not soon as the courts were filled, the doors with the old leaven, neither with the leaven were shut until the lambs of those within of malice and wickedness; but with the un­ had been sacrificed. Long rows of priests leavened bread of sincerity and truth.” with gold and silver vessels stood ready to Here the chief emphasis is upon the neces­ catch the blood and pass it on from one to sity of Christian purity. another until the last poured it upon the As time went on, and the population in­ altar, from which it ran off through the creased, certain changes became necessary pipes beneath. As soon as the lamb had in the administration of the Passover. In been drained of blood, the head of the fam­ the time of our Lord, the paschal lamb, ily to which it belonged took it to the hooks like other sacrifices, might only be slain in fastened on the walls and pillars where it the forecourt of the temple. For this reason was opened and skinned. It was now ready the Passover Feast drew an immense con­ to be carried away and roasted, the skin course of people to Jerusalem. Josephus being given to the host in whose house the tells us that at one time the paschal lambs meal was to be eaten. Utmost care was were counted, and that year 256,500 were of­ exercised in roasting the lamb. While it fered. Reckoning ten men to a lamb, which was supposed to be roasted in the court­ was usually the smallest number in any yard, this became impossible, and conse­ group, and taking into consideration the quently it was permitted the people to roast fact that frequently twenty persons con­ the lamb anywhere within the rabbinical stituted the group, the number of people limits of the city. Thousands of fires in would be almost 3,000,000. It was the vast special ovens were arranged for them. The throngs that gathered in Jerusalem which lamb was trussed with spits of pomegranate occasioned fear on the part of the Roman wood arranged in the form of a cross. None government, and led to the practice of re­ of the flesh was allowed to remain until the leasing a prisoner each year in order to morning. make a favorable impression upon the Jews. T h e S e r v ic e i n t h e H o m e Previous to the Passover, there was al­ Since the Feast of the Passover was also ways a period of preparation in Jerusalem. the first day of unleavened bread which The roads and bridges over which the peo­ alone could be eaten during the week, the ple traveled were repaired, graves near the preparation began by removing all leaven road were either whitewashed or fenced in from the homes. This was generally done so that no one would be unwittingly de­ on the evening of the thirteenth or the be­ filed, and the fields were searched for any ginning of the fourteenth, and was both an unclean weeds which might be growing in actual and a ceremonial cleansing. The them. While in earlier times the lamb was pustomary procedure is described by his­ chosen on the tenth day of the month, this torians as follows: a piece of bread was came to be impossible also, and conse­ placed in some prominent place, for instance quently vast flocks of sheep were driven on a window sill, to mark the starting point.

January-February, 1944 11 Then the search around the walls of the bitter herbs, unleavened bread, and a dish room began. A spoon and a brush, or at made of dates, raisins and other fruits, least three or four feathers were used in mixed with vinegar to the consistency of dusting the walls, shelves and floors. Every lime, in commemoration of the mortar with nook and crevice was examined for some which their fathers worked in Egypt. The form of leaven, mold, mildew or anything head man then took some of the bitter of that nature, liquid or solid. When the herbs, dipped them into the dish, and after piece of bread was reached, it was taken up giving thanks to God for creating the fruits in the spoon and the sill carefully dusted. of the earth, ate a small piece, and gave The spoon and the brush were then tied to­ one to each of the company. A second cup gether and hung over the lamp or some ob­ of wine and water was then poured out, and ject. If in the morning the mice had not the son of the house or the youngest boy bothered it, the task was considered com­ present, asked the meaning of the feast, in plete. Having purified the home, no mem­ ber was allowed to enter another home that words which had been formally and had not been purified. minutely fixed by the rabbis. The ques­ tion thus asked, was answered in an equally But the purification of the house was not formal manner in appointed words, the all. The dishes or other vessels to be used whole story of the deliverance from Egypt must likewise be cleansed. Frequently a being thus repeated at each Passover table, separate set of dishes was reserved for the year after year in identically the same Passover. These were frequently very words. The first part of the great Hallel elaborate. Vessels of any kind however, to (Psalms 113-114) were then chanted: be used at the feast were cleansed with “Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O ye servants regularly prescribed rites and in a uniform of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. manner. Metal dishes after being scrubbed Blessed be the name of the Lord from this must be dipped in boiling water—in a pot time forth and for evermore.” .... “When used for no other purpose—and then into Israel went out of Egypt, the house of cold water. Iron vessels must be made red- Jacob from a people of strange language; hot and then washed in the same way. Iron Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his mortars for crushing grain were filled with dominion. The sea saw it and fled: Jordan red-hot coals, till a thread tied on the out­ was driven back. The mountains skipped side was burned through. Wooden vessels like rams, and the little hills like lambs.” after being dampened were rubbed with This was followed by a prayer beginning, a red-hot stone. No clay dish could be used “Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King at all unless new, and it had first to be of the universe, who hast redeemed us and dipped in running water and consecrated our forefathers from Egypt.” A third cup by a special prayer. Personal purity was was now poured out, and then came the likewise enjoined. Everyone had to take a grace after meals. A fourth and last cup bath, cut his hair, and clean his nails. The followed and then Psalms 115, 116, 117, baking of the unleavened bread was equal­ and 118 which formed the rest of the Hallel ly ceremonial, and after baking, one loaf or Hallelujah, and another prayer closed was laid aside to be taken to the priest at the feast. the temple, and this was done with pre­ scribed prayer. A t midnight the gates of the temple were again opened, and the people who seldom T h e R it u a l slept that night, poured through them in their holiday dress, with thank offerings in After the lamb had been brought from obedience to the command that none should the temple and roasted, the feast proper be­ appear before the Lord empty. Of these gan. The lamps were lighted and the com­ gifts the priests took a share, and gave back pany arranged in due order on the couches the rest to the officers who had it cooked around the walls, each one reclining on his for them in the Court of the Women, and left side. A cup of red wine mixed with sat down to a second feast in the temple water was filled for everyone and drunk cloisters, or in some part of the town, w ith­ after a touching benediction by the head in the limits of which it alone was lawful man of the group. A basin of water and to eat such food. a towel were then brought in, that each might wash his hands, and then another The whole week was full of interest. On blessing was pronounced. A table was then the third day the first fruits of the harvest carried into the open space between the were brought from the valley of Kidron and couches, and on it was the paschal lamb, waved before the Lord in solemn acknowl­

12 The Preacher's Magazine edgment of His bounty. Before this wave take your stations!” The priests then washed offering, none of the new fruits could be their hands and feet and the service began. sold or used, but immediately following, the The lamb having been prepared was cut in streets were soon filled with sellers of bread nine pieces and carried by nine priests to made from new barley, parched ears of the the Great Altar, the other priests and the young crop and the earlier fruits of all people repeating the morning prayer. The kinds which had been kept back until the morning sacrifice was now over, two priests time of the wave offering. sounded their trumpets nine times, and The last day of the week was a Sabbath twelve Levites standing on a raised plat­ and consequently kept with befitting cere­ form in the Court of the Priests, recited the monies. The morning sacrifice could not Psalms of the day to the music of their begin until the first rays of dawn, and hence instruments. Then came the ancient priest­ a watcher was kept on the roof of the ly benediction, “The Lord bless thee, and temple, watching for the first faint signs keep thee: The Lord make His face to shine of the morning. When it was visible, the upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The summons was given, “Priests to your m in­ Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and istry! Levites to your places! Israelites give thee peace.”

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• Some essential qualifications for a successful minister ....

The Preacher Who Is Prepared A. S. London

HE prepared man always has led in disgraced the ministry, and the Word of the work of building the Church of God was denied the people. A man was T God. That preparation has not always needed who could go into the lion’s den and been made in college halls, but the man has preach the gospel, and sound the great been prepared when the time came for a cardinal principles of The Book to the peo­ step forward. Recently I read the statement ple of Europe. A man was needed who that ninety-five men out of every one hun­ could look into the eyes of the pope and dred fail in life. Failures are to be found speak the truth. Martin Luther, a man in every walk of life, and the ministry is prepared for the task, was God’s chosen not an exception. man for that hour.

E x a m p l e s o f P r e p a r e d M e n England at one time was in the throes of a spiritual dearth, just as it is today. A man When God wanted a man to go into Egypt was needed who could cope with the situa­ to deliver the people out of Egyptian bond­ tion, and give to the world a church that age, He laid His hands upon a prepared could shake two continents. God called man, a man who was skilled in all the wis­ upon a man who was prepared, and who dom of the Egyptians. He was prepared in gave to the world the greatest awakening the hard knocks of life, and also in the since the days of Pentecost. John Wesley school of learning in special preparation. still lives on, and w ill as long as time shall When God wanted a man who could sys­ last. tematize the doctrines of Jesus Christ, and write thirteen books of the New Testament, A C h a l l e n g e to t h e C h u r c h He called upon one who was prepared, Saul There probably never has been as great a of Tarsus. He was a graduate of the U ni­ challenge presented to the church world versity of Tarsus, and had taken a post­ as is found today. The call for prepared graduate course at the feet of Gamaliel. men never has been so insistent. Conse­ A t one time Europe, as it is today, was crated ignorance cannot lead in this fight in a period of decay. Shameful practices that the Church faces today. A minister

Tanuary-February, 1944 13 who is not prepared cannont cope with the Day of Pentecost, men and women were situation in which we find ourselves in the “pricked in their hearts.” The preaching church today. Only failure may be expect­ in that day, and all other days where ed by the preacher who does not prepare to something has been done to bring about the best of his ability. conviction and conversion, has come from This is a day when old foundations are preachers who had preparation of heart; being broken up and are being reformed; and this is of far more value to the preach­ age-old institutions have lost their place er in the pulpit than head preparation. and power. Whole empires and thrones have Preparation of the heart cannot be made been shattered and fallen; crowns have been taken off the heads of noted leaders, and in a few minutes before one enters the pul­ old customs have been forsaken. We are in pit. There must be a holy life back in the a state of unrest, and no man knows what a yesterdays before unction can come in the day may bring forth. The call for prepared pulpit. My mother used to tell of a young men is louder and longer than ever before man, just fresh from the seminary, coming in your day and mine. The forces of evil to fill the pulpit where she worshiped. He never have been so rampant. The present- strutted up the aisle and put down his day situation is a challenge to the ministry walking cane as if he were the king on a of Jesus Christ, and there are great possi­ throne. His long coat and high-wing collar bilities for the prepared minister to serve made him very noticeable as a stranger. God and humanity. As General Superin­ He announced his sermon text as follows, tendent Chapman says, “This is Nazarene “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock.” He day in America.” quoted his text three times, and said, “He P r e p a r a t io n O u t s id e o f C o l l e g e does knock, He is knocking,” and finally Every young minister ought to have a had to sit down in the midst of a deathly si­ college education if possible; but some of the lence. This brought much humiliation to most glorious pages of church history have the young college minister who was pre­ been written by men who were deprived pared in head, as he thought, but certainly of a college education in their earlier years. was lacking in preparation of heart. They were, however, prepared men. God Without a tender, sympathetic and under­ always has used consecrated men and standing heart, one is ill-prepared to preach women to build His church regardless of the gospel of Jesus Christ. A n ambassador their standing in scholastic circles. The of God has the supreme work committed to late Bud Robinson was not a college- his hands by our Creator. And God pity trained man, but who is it who would say any preacher who fails to linger long in that he was not a prepared man and used of the presence of the Most High! God to build the Church of the living God? I have known him to get on his knees with his Bible and other books soon after eating his breakfast, and not get off his knees until + time for lunch. At one time he knew almost one-fourth of the Bible from memory. It takes hard work to prepare for the The city of God. Blessed city. City of ministry. There is no easy road in making peace, and love, and song! Fit accompani­ preparation for a good ministry. ment of the new heaven, fit metropolis of the earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness! P r e p a r a t io n o f H e a r t a n A b s o l u t e How eagerly should we look for it! It will E s s e n t ia l be a joy to enter that joyous city. By It takes far more than head knowledge this joy we beseech you now to make sure to prepare for the work of the ministry. of your citizenship. The right of citizen­ Good preaching demands divine assistance. ship is to be had now. He who is its No man, however well he may be trained, is builder and Maker gives it freely. He who able to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ is its Prince, whose blood has bought and without supernatural aid. The presence and opened it, gives it frieely. He waits to power of the Holy Spirit must be felt in the receive applications; nay, He entreats men heart life if preaching is worthy of the to apply. He announces that whosoever will name. only take Him at His Word and trust Him The old preachers back in my formative for entrance into it shall have it. Make sure years used to talk about “unction.” Well, of this continuing city, for here we have they had it! When Peter preached on the none.—B o n a r . 14 The Preacher’s Magazine The Preacher as Shepherd Part One J. Glenn Gould

HE term “pastor” as applied to the T work of the Christian minister is most The pastor is the shepherd of souls, one richly suggestive. The original meaning of ivhose greatest responsibility is the care the word is shepherd, although such a and oversight of those who trust him for meaning rarely attaches to it today. How­ their spiritual guidance. ever, the root meaning of the term still per­ sists in the adjective “pastoral,” the first meaning of which is defined as “pertain­ places of responsibility in the ministry. It ing to shepherds” and, hence, “relating to is not a reassuring trend. Capable and rural life and scenes.” As applied to the splendid men in their fifties and sixties are preacher, the significance is clear. He is the sidetracked to make a place for inexper­ shepherd of souls, one whose greatest re­ ienced, callow youths. In my judgment it sponsibility is the care and oversight of is a vast mistake, and is a mark of weak­ those who trust him for their spiritual guid­ ness rather than strength. The older and ance. more mature and experienced preacher is There are some insistent demands which the man supremely qualified for the office the pastoral ministry makes upon men of pastor. The vital question is not “How which it will be well to consider.- In the old is he?” but rather “How youthful is first place, it demands a settled and ma­ his spirit?” ture personality—qualities which can be A second demand which the pastoral garnered only by the passing of time and ministry makes upon a man is that he be the acquisition of experience. When, as a married to a suitable wife. Most churches young man of twenty-two years, I was be­ make this stipulation when they are cast­ ing considered for a certain pastorate, one ing about for a pastor. There have been objection raised was my youth. The reply— men, it is true, who made a signal success and the only possible reply that could be in the pastorate without having fulfilled made—was that I would get over that in this requirement. But they are the excep­ time. Maturity comes only by a process tions that prove the rule. of finding oneself and becoming aware of one’s powers and limitations. For this rea­ Not every woman is qualified to be a pas­ son, it is rarely wise for a young man just tor’s wife; and a pastor with a wife who through his formal schooling to plunge into does not fill the bill is placed at a serious the work of a large and difficult pastorate. disadvantage. Socrates is quoted as having The best place for a fledgling preacher to said, “Marry by all means. If you get a discover his wings is in a small church and good wife you w ill become very happy; if preferably in a small town or rural com­ you get a bad one you will become a phil­ munity. Five years spent under such con­ osopher—and that is good for every man!” ditions w ill enable one to develop preach­ But in the ministry it requires more than ing ability, organize his habits of study and a man who is a philosopher to overcome work, and—most important of all—ripen the disadvantage of an unfortunate marital into Some degree of maturity. After such choice. an apprenticeship, he will have built up his The ideal pastor’s wife is a woman who nervous poise to the point where he can knows how to run the parsonage rather carry the burdens of a larger parish with than one who tries to run the church. a much greater degree of success. If she is talented and able to be of pos­ A man who is in good health physically, itive assistance in the conduct of church mentally and spiritually, is never too old and parish, it may be well and good; al­ for the pastorate. There has been develop­ though the average church is “fed up” rath­ ing, in recent years in our church, a clam­ er quickly on a pastor’s wife who has not orous insistence upon young men for the learned the limits of her province. A home

January-February, 1944 15 body, who is a good wife and mother, and a a time. Such methods in time, however, will careful housekeeper, enjoying good re­ react unfavorably upon the man himself ligion; this, in my humble judgment, is the and his people’s initial respect for him may ideal of a pastor’s wife. However, I am turn to revulsion. Do not make yourself a well aware how dangerous and futile are nuisance by such ill-considered and ill- remarks such as these. Love is no respecter timed habits of pastoral visitation. of qualifications; and it is better to marry for love than for any other earthly con­ At the other extreme is the man who sideration. But be sure to marry; and, as never calls except under the most extraor­ Socrates says, may you “become very hap­ dinary conditions. This type of preacher py-” considers the prophetic and priestly func­ tions of his office to be of supreme im ­ A third insistent demand on the pastoral portance. Some within the circle of my preacher concerns the children of the acquaintance have employed, as a defense manse. Among the qualifications which St. Paul laid down for those who would hold mech&nism the argument that it is u n ­ the office of bishop, or elder, is the re­ ethical for a gentleman who is a pastor to quirement that he be “one that ruleth well call in homes when he may find only ladies his own house, having his children in sub­ present. I recall a well-merited rebuke jection with all gravity.” And then, in a administered over twenty years ago by Dr. most significant parenthesis, he asks, “For if P. F. Bresee to a man who apologized in a man know not how to rule his own house, such a lame manner for his pastoral inac­ how shall he take care of the church of tivity. Wholly aside from the unfair asper­ God?” As a pastor I was frequently ap­ sion which such an excuse casts upon holy palled by the shocking regularity with men of God, it has in it the elements of a which the sons and daughters of our finest most devastating personal confession. What laymen take the way of the world. But type of person must he be, indeed, who even more shocking is it to see how many dares not trust himself for even a few m in­ of the sons and daughters of the manse utes without a bodyguard in the presence of are not Christians; many of them, indeed, ladies? It has been my privilege to call, bringing shame and sorrow on manse and unprotected, in thousands of homes; and church alike. It is a shame for a minister’s never once have I seen a situation arise son to go to the devil. And some of the that was even remotely compromising. Of tragedies along this line are preventable, I course, there are errands which fall to the am sure. No pastor should become so ab­ pastor’s lot upon which he may well be sorbed in seeking the salvation of other accompanied by his wife. Any man with people’s children that he fails to win his even an incipient sense of propriety ought own. to be able to anticipate such situations and meet them wisely. But as an excuse for It is probable that the average person failure to perform the duties of pastoral who visualizes the work of a pastor does visitation, such an argument, like Mephibo- so in terms of house-to-house visitation. sheth, is “lame of his feet.” There is a certain routine of home contacts that must be maintained if one hopes for These are the extremes; and here, as else­ success in his high calling. The old saying where, wisdom and sense would seem to that “a house-going preacher makes a dictate some mediating position as the most church-going people” is still largely correct, desirable one. But even here one encount­ other things being equal. There are some ers a certain divergence in opinion. There widely divergent ideals in this realm, how­ are pastors who recognize it to be their ever, and it may be well to appraise them. duty to call on the sick and distressed, and There are some men who conceive it to all others who stand in particular need of be their one and only task to contact their comfort, advice and guidance; but who people morning, noon and night. They al­ make no organized effort to call regularly low themselves no more privacy than the in all the homes of their parishes. It is true proverbial bachelor in a small town, vir­ that in large churches at least, even this tually living in the homes of their people. duty becomes a serious burden, so manifold Of course, it goes without saying that such are the demands of this character which are a man must be lacking in those habits of made on the pastor’s time. Others, again, study and mental discipline which make for feel that their pastoral responsibility re­ good, constructive preaching. But what is quires them to make the complete circuit sacrificed in this respect may be partially of their parishioners within a specified per­ made up in enhanced popularity at least for iod of time. I must confess that the lat-

16 The Preacher's Magazine ter policy appeals to me as the more com­ mendable one. And if it be argued that Stewardship Principles there is no time for the busy pastor to hold himself closely to a projected program, it God is the Owner in the stewardship can be replied that most of our busy-ness firm—man is the steward. is due, not to the vast amount of work we are required to perform, but to the fact that Stewardship is a principle to be instilled the average man has made very little effort rather than a method to be copied. to organize his responsibilities in order to employ his time in the most economical manner. A little system in your work, to­ Stewardship is of the heart—the method gether with the discipline of early rising of practicing it is of the head. When the and a fairly rigorous adherence to stated heart is converted, the head is re-sighted to hours for study, conference, pastoral visita­ see the needs of the world. tion and relaxation, will do wonders, not only for your own mental and spiritual The financial creed of the early church acumen, but for the total volume of solid was, “Property is a sacred trust from the accomplishment in the work of the pas­ Lord.” torate. Any man who w ill yield to habits of indolence and laziness in the prosecu­ tion of his ministry w ill be bound to fail, Christianity is concerned with the whole and deserves to. I am always righteously man—his purposes, his values, his goals. resentful at the suggestion that the pastor rises later in the morning than the people The church is on the Jericho road today of his parish; but I recognize that many of where there are defrauded and robbed our brethren have furnished sufficient souls. She must pour in the oil and the ground for such a suggestion. Shame on us wine of social betterment, brotherhood, and for it. service. Another duty which rests upon a faith­ ful pastor is that of dealing individually Happiness is based upon what one can with those who have turned aside out of give rather than upon what one can get the way, or have drifted into error and out of life. sin. It is not an easy thing to do. Indeed, many times such loyalty to the individual There are three members in the steward­ requires a brand of courage all its own. It ship firm: God, the individual and society. is a comparatively safe and easy method God has His rights, man has his possessions, for the pastor to deal with the individual society has its claims. situation in a public manner. I have known men who were so utterly beneath contempt as to hide behind the immunities of pul­ If I would help the other fellow and he pit utterance while berating the individual would help the other fellow, every fel­ offender. It is virtually an unpardonable low would have a neighbor and this would sin for the preacher to preach at people. be a neighborly world. A much better, albeit more heroic, method is to go to the offender directly and deal The faithful steward of time stores up with him as man to man. Such a godly a reserve for an emergency. Moses spent ministry, discharged in the spirit of Christ, his leisure time in gainful occupation and will do more to win the erring than hours was ready when God needed a man for a of that sort of caustic pulpit utterance big job. which in many circles passes for “straight preaching.” If any man think such individ­ The faithful steward gets his reward; ual ministry is easy, let him try it. Dr. faithfulness in God’s sacred trust means Jowett suggests, as the reason for the dif­ sure promotion. The unfaithful do not go ficulties attending such a ministry, the fact unpunished. Jacob bargained with God and that the fear of man is a more subtle thing God kept his side of the bargain. than the fear of men. Men in the aggre­ gate are impersonal. Man in his individ­ Stewardship must have practical expres­ uality is a person, keenly sensitive, and sion. This is done by proportionate giving highly organized. of money and proper use of time and talent. (Continued in next issue) —H. G. M o n t a g u e in The Gospel Trumpet.

January-February, 1944 17 • The all-important part of the Sunday m orning service is the message of God from the pulpit .... Pulpit Power

J. W. Goodwin, General Superintendent Emeritus

UCH has been written on the sub­ asked, what is wrong with the pulpit? and ject of pulpit eloquence. There is again, why do we not have the preaching M nothing which can equal the power of other days? And the world sometimes of the human voice. The human voice, the wonders, where are the fiery preachers and gift of God to man, is one of the distin­ the weeping prophets who used to grace the guishing marks of the image of God, which American pulpits? has the pulpit lost its lifts man above the beast and places him message, or has the world no more need of only a little lower than the angels. There is the gospel of salvation? Some conclude a strange charm in its rise and fall, in its in­ that we no longer need the message or ser­ tonation and inflection. The public speaker, mon part of the morning service, and ask, by all means, should endeavor to train and why not go to church only to worship with develop voice power and control. It is said song and reading of the Word and quiet of that great orator of Greece, Demos­ communion? W hy be bothered with a ser­ thenes, that he overcame a very great im ­ mon even though it be short and stream­ pediment in his speech by constant practice lined? And from the way the morning ser­ in speaking with a pebble in his mouth, vice is filled with from forty to fifty minutes while talking or declaiming at the seashore of song and many other details, it would against the roaring of the waves. However, seem that we are all drifting into a kind of the speeches of this great orator, which it ritualistic form of service and not much is said shook all Greece, had something place for a real message from a prophet more than voice sounds. If the singer can sent of God. afford hours of practice to gain the sweet Why take so much time for so many un­ tones of voice to make the song more ef­ important matters and put so little stress fective, what should be the interest of the upon the all-important part of every Sun­ preacher who hopes to gain attention w ith a day morning service, which is the message spoken message from God? of God from the pulpit? I admired the Pulpit power is something more than courage of one of our General Superin­ voice. We are at times reminded that tendents who was to hold an evangelistic John the Baptist said, “I am the voice of one campaign in one of our larger churches. crying in the wilderness.” Yes indeed; but The opening part of the service— songs, while the preacher must lift up his voice solos and other matters—filled the time to in order to be heard, and thus follow the nearly twelve o’clock—noon hour. When example of the Old Testament prophets introduced with the statement, announcing who tell us to “lift up thy voice like a the solo, “after which the evangelist will trumpet,” we must not forget that John bring the message,” the Doctor arose and came from the wilderness; a place where said something like this: “We have wor­ he could have separate communion with shiped God this morning in song and prayer his God and gain inspiration from heaven and the reading of His Word, with fitting and earth. He came loaded with his mes­ worship in tithes and offerings; we will sage. come this afternoon and worship God with Martin Luther and John Knox were men the sermon; let us rise and be dismissed.” with strong and powerful voices, so it has It is stated that this church had no more been said; and there were some of the lengthy opening or preliminary services, at apostles who were called “sons of thunder,” least while this preacher conducted this but it was the message which gave them the campaign. power which they exercised. There must There can be no great pulpit power un­ be a personality back of the voice or the til there is greater appreciation of the voice w ill become a sounding brass or a sermon on the part of the people, or until tinkling cymbal. The question often is there is an awakening of a deep conviction

18 The Preacher's Magazine that a God-given message is of vital im ­ The opportunities are very much en­ portance. The cry of the times is for a larged for the proclaiming of the gospel; short, streamlined sermon or discourse of better church buildings in every respect; twenty-five or not more than thirty min­ better avenues of approach in gathering the utes. This is not bad unless the preliminary children for Sunday school attendance; bet­ part of the worship is stretched out to cover ter organizations for gaining and holding the forty-five or more minutes of unimportant young people; better salaries for the preach­ matters. If there is to be one hour and fif­ ers, and better methods for advertising the teen minutes for the morning worship, then work of God. Someone says, “Well, the my suggestion would be to give as much spirit of the age is all against us”; and then time for the sermon as for the opening or names the picture show, the dance hall, the preliminaries. skating rink, the Sunday newspaper, the di­ vorce courts, the liquor traffic—all of which It does not seem possible to force a literal are very bad of course. But what about interpretation of the language used by Paul, Paul’s day, when there was no Sabbath at “By the foolishness of preaching to save all, when woman had no place and few them that believe” (I Cor. 1:21). It is evi­ laws to protect her, the amphitheater with dent that Paul used this expression to meet its cruel, human combats, with men fight­ the criticism of the Grecian philosophers ing with lions and wild beasts of the most who were claiming that the gospel, or the ferocious description; paganism with the message of the cross, or the message of worship of the emperors on every side, the salvation through the crucifixion of a man cross and Christianity discounted by Juda­ was only foolishness. Thus Paul was meet­ ism and the educated world of heathenism, ing this charge by making plain the fact and idolatry running wild in all the great that the world by wisdom never had found cities? W ith all the false teachings and the God to its own satisfaction, therefore this many isms and schisms in our land today, so-claimed wisdom of the world had been the Christian preacher has nothing to made nothing but foolishness by the wis­ contend with as had the preachers in the dom of God in providing a salvation with­ early days of the Christian Church. The in the reach of all men. Hence the preach­ demands, the opportunities for preaching ing of this so-called foolishness of the never were so pressing as in our day. cross was wiser than the wisdom of men, from the fact that the wisdom of the world The opportunities for preparation were had miserably failed, and this simple mes­ never better than now. Our schools and sage of salvation through the cross was a colleges offer young men and women glorious success in the salvation of all every opportunity to enter their doors with who would believe. It was not foolish reduced rates of expense and self-help. preaching, or preaching foolishness, for the Then the book stores are filled with inspir­ gospel of salvation was the power of God ational books on preaching of every des­ and the wisdom of God. Preaching needs cription, scholastic and homiletical. Maga­ not the wise philosophies of men or the zines and periodicals almost without num­ wise reasonings of the logician w ith ever ber are being offered, covering every phase so enticing words, but rather it is the proc­ of the work of the ministry, with helps of lamation of good news in the power of the every kind. There is only one thing which Holy Ghost. the minister cannot buy in this our day, namely, spiritual power with its piety and The human heart in its nature and needs passion. This is a personal matter which is just the same today as in the days of must be worked out before the throne of Paul. A ll men out of Christ are lost, there­ God in secret communion. Nothing can fore all men need this great salvation. take its place in pulpit effort. Piety and The conditions to obtain salvation are just passion must rule the soul if there is to be the same, for there has been no change, as power in the pulpit. True piety in the far as any divine revelation is concerned. pulpit can come only from a sacrificial The condition of the world out of God is no consecration to the work of the ministry. worse, and no more antagonistic to Christ, Then soul passion flows from intense love than in the days of Paul. In fact, the world for and devotion to Christ and for a lost as we know it, holds a much more favorable world for whom He died. True pulpit pow­ attitude towards the preaching of the gospel er must flow from sacrificial consecration than ever in the history of the Christian and soul passion to win men to Christ. Church. In reality, I might say that the world is now demanding a more outspoken While the critics of our Lord gave their voice from the pulpit. report to the authorities at Jerusalem, say­

January-February, 1944 19 ing, “Never man spake like this man,” row is the way, but it will lead to life and there surely was something back of His power with men. words which went to make up that strange Second, is the important realization of power which they saw in His ministry. eternal realities. Things of the Spirit must What was this power so clearly manifest in be as real as the things of time and sense—- the ministry of our Lord? Was it not in and I was about to say, more real. The this statement, “I have compassion on the things of time and sense are passing, but multitude.” Would it not be well for us as the things of the Spirit are eternal and ministers to thrash our own hearts until abiding. If spiritual things are hazy, doubt­ they are broken before a lost world? Shall ful, indefinite and obscure, the expression we not watch our Lord in the garden of His of truth will partake of the same uncer­ suffering, with tears and bloody sweat, until tainty and w ill neutralize effective ministry. our own hearts tremble with pity for dying The all-essential demand of the pulpit is a men around us? Let us all place ourselves personal experience of divine grace through before the cross, see our Lord hanging on the needed repentance and the new birth that middle cross, then go before our people unto entire sanctification with the infilling with a burdened and broken heart. This of the Holy Spirit. Together with this there may help us ;ome and add to our pulpit also must be a sure call to the work of the power! ministry. Upon these facts there must be added such communion with God that His I do not emphasize eloquence, although spiritual presence becomes as real as noon­ much to be desired. Eloquence is made up day. As the preacher comes from the pres­ of several external factors, as well as the ence of God after secret communion, loaded needful soul force. It includes generally with a message of truth, the pulpit w ill take well-fitted words and language, descriptive on a heavenly power that will radiate life beauty, exact reasoning, logic on fire, suit­ and light to quicken drooping hearts. John able occasion, with an awakened assembly the Baptist came from the wilderness, and atmosphere. Eloquence may be possible where he had been much alone with God. on almost any subject, in politics as well as Jesus our Lord was often on the mountain in religion. But what I regard as pulpit side whole nights in prayer. Alone with power is something more than mere elo­ God—here is where the soul gains spiritual quence. Of course descriptive beauty al­ force. ways is attractive, and carries with it in ­ The third great requirement of the pul­ tense interest. We do not underestimate its pit is the overpowering passion to w in souls usefulness wherever and whenever pos­ for Christ. We should not substitute anx­ sible. Logic and reasoning are always in ious efforts to gain new church members danger of a cold and frigid atmosphere, un­ and thus increase our church roll for this less wisely used with sufficient warmth passion of soul winning. It is perfectly or fervor. Every external factor may be natural for a pastor to want to make a used for the glory of God and the salvation good report at the annual gathering, and if of men. this inspires soul winning, it is well, but this must not take the place of a soul passion for There are however several factors of pul­ lost men and women. This passion for pit power within the reach of all. First, souls can be increased only as we realize there must be a soul conviction of needful our own responsibility to encompass the sal­ truth; a compromising pulpit never can be­ vation of men, and their eternal loss without come a pulpit of power. There must be a Christ as their Saviour. The eternal value soul conviction of truth filled with courage, of souls! Lord, may a deep sense and yet ladened with humility; a fearless spirit, consciousness of this be ever pressed upon yet manifest with great tenderness; a spirit us all! unmoved by opposition and yet receptive of advice. This soul conviction of truth is As one preacher stated the need, “We what h^s made the pulpit a force in all the are responsible for the men of our genera­ ages, and is the great need today and al­ tion; heaven is expectant of their conver­ ways will be while the world stands. While sion; their blood w ill God require at our the preacher never should lose the desire hands.” In the language of Dr. Kennard to please, and should feel a deep sense of we may say, “If genius may be defined as regret when impossible, yet there must be energy exalted by inspiration, then we may always an undaunted attitude in the midst say that the power by which we are to win of opposition. Straight is the gate and nar­ and constrain the world to prostrate itself 20 The Preacher's Magazine before the cross is the outgrowth of three great objective in the ministry? Here it is things—God, solitude and the love of souls. by one of our noted leaders: Helping God We have God—all there is of God and His to save a lost world. That was the ob­ Word. We may have solitude with God, jective of Jesus Christ, for He came to seek communion with the Infinite resource of all and to save that which was lost. But, a power, “Power belongeth unto God.” Alone little more specifically; every Nazarene with God we also may cultivate sacrificial preacher should make up his mind that, by love of souls. Strengthened with all might, the help of God, he is going to have in­ we may be able to obtain a clearer vision creases in his ministry. To have no con­ of the breadth, the length, the depth, and versions, no additions to the church, and to the height of God’s love for man, and re­ have no increases financially, numerically, ceive a clearer knowledge of the love of or spiritually, is a tragedy to the ministry. Christ in His sufferings for the Church. Have your objectives well-defined, and try Thus possessed of a measure of the heaven­ to accomplish them. ly passion, may our own pulpits be empow­ The ministry must be challenging, and ered by the presence of the Holy Spirit to that means that the preacher must have enable our preachers to pour forth living within him something that will challenge truth to meet the crying demands of these his congregation. A ll this talk about the times! pastor being the key-man is exactly right. The saying, “The pastor is the key-man be­ cause the superintendent is always twisting + him,” may be true, for someone may be constantly challenging the pastor to a great­ er ministry: Outstanding Things 1. To be able to keep ever before the people the worth of an immortal soul. This About a Successful Ministry is the challenging thing and always has been so, and must ever be so in the future. We must be careful in the Church of the E. O. Chalfant Nazarene, that while interested in a thou­ sand details, we w ill not get lost in our S I see it, here are the outstanding “stuff,” and forget that Jesus came to seek A things of a successful ministry: and to save that which was lost. First, a minister must have a reproachless 2. A kindred thought to the above is that reality of morality. He must be honest we must be able, in the sapping age in financially to the last red cent. He must which we live, to keep compassion in our not be covetous about money. He must not own hearts, and challenge the people to be scheming around to get collections when keep compassion in their own hearts, until such would hurt God’s cause and church. we have a burden to save souls. That He must be reproachless when it comes to drives us to devotion, and to the Garden the sex question. The world is sex mad; with Jesus; but unless we have a burden, you cannot turn your eyes in any direction and challenge our people to carry a burden, without seeing that the sex appeal is there. we are swamped. The secret is for the Looseness of divorce, weakness of the min­ preacher to have it himself. istry in allowing sex irregularities to go 3. This is simply on the foundation of one unrebuked, a trend toward inordinate af­ and two; challenge the people to give their fection, is sapping the ministry and many money to God’s work, and to go out and times damns preachers. Preachers must be visit the unchurched people everywhere. reproachless as to personal ambitions in the Let us have the reproachless reality of ministry. Seek to be in the place and the morality. Let us have the challenging min­ sphere of activity where God wants you istry! To go on year after year with no to be, regardless of everything else. God converts, and no increases numerically or will take care of you and give all that you financially is a tragedy. need. Of course, you must be pure and clean, and considerate and courteous. + Second, a minister must have well-de- fined objectives. A ship with no rudder is I would think it a greater happiness to a victim of the waves and the sea. A gain one soul to Christ than mountains of preacher with no objectives is worse than silver and gold to myself.—M a t t h e w H e n ­ a ship without a rudder. What is life’s first r y . January-February, 1944 21 • Here are arrestive words portraying the preacher of the gospel of the grace of God .... Cameos of the Preacher

Dr. Herbert Lockyer

T IS both interesting and profitable to must seek to become expert in the knowl­ go through the New Testament and edge of divine things. It is only thus that he I gather out its various designations of can function as an “authorized guide,” as those who are called to preach the recon­ John Bunyan expresses it, of those who ciling Word. And each term, it would seem, w-ould travel from the City of Destruction to presents a different aspect of those who the Celestial City. are set aside to labor for the Master in the And the preacher who is ever learning harvest field. Considering the descriptions and coming to the knowledge of the truth as a whole, we realize that it takes them all becomes richer in influence and more pow­ to emphasize the privileges and responsi­ erful the older he grows. The folly with bilities of those chosen to witness for the many preachers is that their student days Lord. Here, then, are the arrestive words end as they finish with college and sem­ portraying the preacher of the gospel of the inary. But as a master-scholar once ex­ grace of God. pressed it, “The preacher who does not

1. A D is c ip l e keep on learning will die of dry rot. The deadline in the ministry is reached the day After an all-night prayer meeting, Jesus that a man stops learning.” chose twelve from among His disciples As a preacher, are you a learner? Is it whom Luke names “The Twelve” (Luke your passion to learn something new every 6:12, 13). Mark reminds us that Jesus day about God’s Word, ways, and world? chose the twelve that they might be with Him (Mark 3:14). More about Jesus let me learn The Latin word disciple is equivalent to More of His holy will discern; the Greek word for learner, and was origin­ Spirit of God, my Teacher be, ally used of any or all who followed and Showing the things of Christ to me. obeyed Christ as Teacher. We find the term applied to the first followers of Christ, More about Jesus in His Word, namely Andrew, Peter, James, John, Phil­ Holding communion with my Lord; ip, and Nathanael (John 2:11, 12, 22; 4:8, Hearing His voice in every line, 27, 32). “Disciple” is also applied to a great Making each faithful saying mine. number of followers (John 6:68; Luke 6:13, 17). A ll who confessed Christ as Messiah 2. A L a b o r e r and Saviour were reckoned as “disciples” (Acts 6:7). Sent forth by Christ to preach and heal, Confining ourselves, however, to the Gos­ the twelve disciples were reminded that pels, where we find “the twelve” described the harvest was plenteous, but the laborers as “the twelve disciples,” (Matthew 10:1) few. Jesus also told them to pray that other we come to what our Lord had in mind laborers might enter the harvest. Thus, as when He chose them from among others. they went themselves to labor for the Mas­ They were to be learners, with Christ as ter from the dawn to the setting sun, they their Teacher. Called to preach, they must had to pray for others to be sent. Preachers, first sit at the feet of the world’s great­ praying for all kinds of people and things, est Preacher. “Learn of me” (Matthew 11: must not neglect to pray that other preach­ 29). ers w ill be raised up to help gather a glor­ A preacher, then, is a learner. If he is to ious harvest for the Lord of the harvest. instruct others, in Christ’s precepts and ad­ The Anglo-Saxon word for laborer is monitions, he himself must be taught. With “worker,” and is somewhat suggestive. A the Holy Spirit as his constant Tutor, and preacher is a worker, not a shirker. He the Bible as his daily textbook, the preacher does not loaf around, but labors assiduous­

22 The Preacher's Magazine ly. Of course, all who are won by and for any special errand” (Rom. 16:7; II Cor. Christ should be workers. Some of the Eng­ 8:23). lish churches make use of what are called It is applied: “lay workers.” Christian men, active all 1. To Christ Jesus, who was sent from the week, spend their Sundays preaching in heaven to assume our nature, and work villages, in small churches, or in city mis­ out our salvation, with authority to execute sions. In fact, several denominations have a His prophetical and all His offices, and to very efficient “Lay-Preachers’ Association” send forth His apostles to publish the made up of business and working men who gospel (Heb. 3:1). are licensed to preach. 2. To a minister immediately sent by As workers, the first disciples had the Christ to preach the gospel (Matt. 10:2; example of Jesus to emulate. What an un­ Gal. 1:1). tiring Worker He was! Is it not recorded of Thus, whether we preach at home or Him that He went about continually doing abroad, we are missionaries or sent ones, good? To adopt the Rescue Mission motto, bearing a divine message to the hearts of He was “everlastingly at it.” Often weary saved and unsaved alike. It is in this sense in His work, He was never weary of it. that we believe in apostolic succession. God Alas, many preachers dissipate their en­ has never ceased to have His true mis­ ergy! They are busy over nothing. Here sionaries, eager to go where sent. Isaiah is one who complained to the writer that prayed, “Here am I; send me!” Some there he had so little time for prayer and study— are who have another way of expressing and no wonder! He was a member of three such a decision. “Here am I, send someone or four business clubs and countenanced a else!” round of social activities that robbed him of precious time. It was as a Messenger that Jesus prayed, “I have given them the words thou gavest It is somewhat significant that “laborer” me” (John 17:8). He never gave His dis­ is a word used of the pangs of a woman in ciples His thoughts, theories, speculations travail (Genesis 35:16, 17). As laborers regarding a God-imparted message, but the (Matthew 9:37, 38; I Corinthians 3:9) do message in its totality as received from we know what it is to travail in birth u n ­ God. And our sacred task is to look into til Christ is formed in those we preach to the face of the Eternal, and, seeking a Sunday by Sunday? “Blood, sweat, and divine message, deliver it without fear or tears” are all present in the term “laborer.” favor. How people react to such a message, And it is only such a laborer who is worthy is not our responsibility. We are not to con­ of his hire and reward (Luke 10:7; I Tim­ cern ourselves with whether it pleases or othy 5:18). pains. As messengers, we are under obliga­ 3. A M e s s e n g e r tion of transmitting what we receive. John the Baptist is aptly described by 4. A H e r a l d John as “a man sent from God” (1:6). And this is what all who feel they have been When Paul uses the designation, “preach­ commissioned to preach ought to be. Some er,” of himself, he employs a term common are sent but never go. Others go but are in the Gospels of those who are found not divinely sent. Haggai speaks of him ­ preaching. It is the word “herald,” and was self as “the Lord’s messenger in the Lord’s used of one “vested with public authority, message” (1:13). Is this description true of who carried the official messages of kings, you as a preacher? governors, or military commanders.” The Missionary and messenger are equivalent Baptist was a “herald” (Matthew 3:1). Je­ terms, meaning “one sent.” Paul gives us sus was a “Herald” of the Gospel of the the original significance of missionary or Kingdom (Matthew 9:35). And it is this messenger in II Corinthians 8:23, where word Jesus used when He said, “As ye go, those appointed by the churches to help in preach” (Matthew 10:7). Paul also speaks the collection are called “apostles (mes­ of himself as a herald of Christ (I Timothy sengers) of the churches.” The word 2:7; II Timothy 1:11). “apostle,” while largely confined to “the Preachers, then, are heralds, and as such twelve,” is also used of Jesus Christ, who must be men of grace and gift, seeing there was God’s Apostle or Missionary to earth is no position on earth comparable to acting (Hebrews 3:9). It is from apostolio that we as the spokesman of Jesus Christ our Lord. get the word “missionary.” Alexander W ith the silver trumpet of the gospel to our Cruden in his Concordance remarks, lips, we have the privilege of proclaiming “Apostle signifies a messenger sent upon salvation to all men. Like the Apostle Paul,

January-February, 1944 23 publicly and privately, we must never miss Him in the air. The Bible gives us one or an opportunity of echoing forth the words two interesting glimpses of the labors and of eternal life. Paul was ever Christ’s perils of an ambassador. If faithful in the herald. Whether in synagogue, home, pris­ discharge of his duties, he has an invigor­ on cell, courtroom, or palace, he never for­ ating influence. “A faithful ambassador is got that he was first and foremost a preach­ health” (Proverbs 13:17). Ambassadors er. And what vibrant preaching his hearers must be prepared to meet with bitter dis­ had to listen to! It made Felix tremble, and appointment. (Isaiah 33:7) In the spirit­ caused Agrippa to realize his need of sur­ ual realm, their task is one of reconciliation render to Christ’s claims. (II Cor. 5:20). Paul, even as a shackled Heralds! Why, they are among the prisoner, remained true to his ambassador­ world’s greatest assets. More than ever a ship (Eph. 6:20). At times, ambassadors blood-drenched, tear-soaked earth must have a most unpleasant task to perform (II have preachers who, with a deep exper­ Chron. 35:21). ience of Christ, are able to apply His gospel What about ourselves? Preachers we to the glaring ills of humanity. Some time may be, but are we ambassadors for ago a New York divine declared that we are Christ? Have we authoritative commands hearing too many sermons and that we from our King? Do we realize that, repre­ should have a two-year moratorium of senting Him in a foreign clime of the world, preaching. Well, there is no doubt about it all His resources are at our disposal? Our that we are having too many sermons of a estimation of our calling is greatly en­ kind. If all modernistic preachers could hanced as we recall that as He is, so are we take a two-year vacation, the world would in this world. As a country stands ready to not be one whit the worse. Modernism has defend its ambassadors, so all heaven waits no positive message for a world of sin to uphold and protect its representatives as and sorrow. Those who deny the funda­ they endeavour to communicate to earth mentals are not heralds. They are traitors the wishes of the “King Eternal.” to a scared trust. The only preachers who 6. A T e a c h e r bring the impact of God to bear upon a guilty world are those whose lips trumpet Among the gifts of the Holy Spirit to the forth in “earnest tones and blear,” the Church are “pastors and teachers” (Eph. truths of sin, salvation, holiness, and divine 4:11). It will be observed that both offices judgment. The rest who fail to “preach the are brought together without the division Word” are not heralds, but hirelings. of a comma, suggesting that the pastor should be a teacher. Paul could write of 5. A n A m b a s s a d o r himself as “a teacher of the Gentiles” as As an “ambassador” Paul believed him­ well as a preacher, worker, and apostle. self to be equipped with “Christ’s author­ Hence he exhorts preachers to be “apt to ity to offer men the terms of reconciliation teach.” and peace with God” (II Cor. 5:20). In these Christ, the greatest Teacher of the ages, days of international movements we have rejoiced when recognized as a Teacher come to understand the importance of such (John 3:2; 13:13). The designation “rabbi” governmental officials as “ambassadors.” is from the original word for “teacher” Applied to the preacher, it becomes a most (John 1:38). John the Baptist was called expressive figure of speech, with many par­ a “teacher” (Luke 3:12). Teaching, then, allels to enforce. For instance, an ambas­ is one of the qualities in the prerequisites sador is a true representative of his coun­ for the preacher. He must know how to try, dwells in a foreign land, honors his teach transgressors their ways (Psalm 51: country’s laws, flag, . and language, has no 13). Paul uses “teacher” in a twofold way: trading with the enemy, and is recalled im ­ 1. A public minister who, by wholesome mediately if relationships are strained and doctrine, instructeth the church (Eph. 4:11). war is declared; he represents the might 2. Such as privately instruct others in and prestige of his own nation. When he is the knowledge of spiritual things (Titus insulted, all personal insults are tantamount 2:3). to insults heaped upon his nation. Teaching, then, is an essential aspect of Can we say that we are faithful ambas­ the preacher’s task. He must understand sadors of the King, living and laboring for his message and be able to impart it clear­ Him in a foreign country? Some of these ly and forcibly. A pulpit known for its days our King is to declare war on this teaching ministry never lacks interest and rebellious earth. And when He does, we are influence. Of course, it is recognized that going to be recalled—caught up to meet some pastors are more gifted in teaching

24 The Preacher's Magazine than others. Nevertheless, it should be the ambition of every preacher to teach as The Faith he preaches. Every sermon should “inform and inflame.” Little can be accomplished Which Sanctifies with a striking text, a dozen good illustra­ tions, and necessary padding. If our mes­ UT what is that faith whereby we are sages are to satisfy the hungry, they must B sanctified, saved from sin, and per­ contain plenty of meat, tastefully served.. fected in love? It is a divine evidence And the studious pastor will never lack and conviction. 1. That God hath promised sufficient truth to teach his flock. Living it in the Holy Scriptures. Till we are thor­ within the Word of God—a pastor-teacher’s oughly satisfied of this, there is no moving paradise— he w ill find himself embarrassed one step farther. And one would imagine, by riches. Constant, prayerful study of the there needed not one word more to satisfy Scriptures w ill give him a full basket of a reasonable man of this than the ancient sermon material. Even when he deals with promise, “Then will I circumcise thy heart a popular, topical theme, exposition will and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord not be very far away. Exhorting, he will your God with all your heart, and with all yet endeavour to enlighten. A study of your soul.” How clearly does this express past and present pulpiteers who have excel­ the being perfected in love! how strongly led as expositors, w ill suffice to guide one in imply the being saved from all sin! For the development of the art of teaching. as long as love takes up the whole heart, The difficulty is that too many preachers what room is there for sin therein? 2. It use their feet more than their heads. They is a Divine evidence and conviction, that run around and absorb precious time over what God has promised He is able to per­ details and nonessentials and consequently form. Admitting, therefore, that “with men suffer, to the detriment of the pulpit, from it is impossible” to bring “a clean thing out mental starvation. of an unclean,” to purify the heart from (To be concluded in next issue) all sin and to fill it with all holiness; yet this creates no difficulty in the case, seeing + “with God all things are possible.” 3. It is an evidence and conviction, that He is able The Preacher and Books and willing to do it now. And why not? Is It is distressing to see a preacher with a not a moment to Him the same as a thou­ Model T mind riding around in an up- sand years? He cannot want more time to to-date car. If you can buy a car you can accomplish whatever is His will. We may afford books, and we doubt if you have any therefore boldly say at any point of time, right to buy a car until you have spent half “Now is the day of salvation. Behold, all its price on books. things are now ready; come to the m ar­ The books should be carefully selected. riage.” 4. To this confidence—that God is Some of the new books are worth owning, both able and willing to sanctify us now— and many of the old ones should be read there needs to be added one thing more, and reread. a Divine evidence and conviction that He But the mere possession of books will doeth it. In that hour it is done. God mean little. They must be read. Too busy says to the inmost soul, “According to thy to read? Well, brother, you are just too faith be it unto thee.” Then the soul is busy. Spurgeon read Pilgrim’s Progress one pure from every spot of sin; it is clean from hundred times!—Editorial, Moody Monthly. all unrighteousness.—John Wesley.

Minute Meditations in Isaiah

“Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted” (Isaiah 7:4). Despite the imminent danger that confronted Israel at this time, Isaiah was given this message to the king. The natural thing to do when an enemy is on the way is to spring to action. We need to be quiescent, to maintain a spiritual poise when the devil fights us.— S e lec t e d .

January-February, 1944 25 * Revivals of religion are possible even in these dark days, which many believe are bringing to a close the gospel age REVIVALS

W. M. Tidwell

N Habakkuk we read, “O Lord, revive “And it shall come to pass afterward, that thy work in the midst of the years, in I w ill pour out my Spirit upon all flesh.” I the midst of the years make known; But as we look at these we find that the in wrath remember mercy” (3:2). Mr. Web­ first is literal. The expression “latter rain” ster says, “To revive is to bring to life again, is mentioned about six or seven times, and to reanimate, to resuscitate.” As we under­ each time it seems to refer to the “early and stand, there are three theories or positions latter rain of Palestine.” Before the cap­ relative to revivals as the age. closes. The tivity they had the “early and latter rain,” first two are harmful and unscriptural; the after this they were withheld. But when last is true and helpful. Christ returns, the early and latter rain First is the unscriptural, pessimistic po­ w ill be restored. Then as to Joel’s proph­ sition, which insists that the days of re­ ecy: on the Day of Pentecost Peter said, vivals are over, that the world is a burned- “This is that which was spoken by the over district. People who take this position prophet Joel”; so this was then fulfilled. forget that the majority of earth’s inhabi­ However, we believe that the expression tants never have intelligently heard of Je­ “last days” is quite inclusive and prob­ sus. They insist that the Holy Spirit has left ably includes the entire church or Holy the world. The one scripture they use to Ghost dispensation. Anyway, as we look prove this is, “For the mystery of iniquity into the New Testament, as a whole, we do doth already work: only he who now letteth not find any indication of a general world will let, until he be taken out of the way” revival at the end of the age. W hat God (II Thess 2:7). This they pervert, claiming it proves that the Holy Spirit w ill be taken will do we do not know, and if He saw out of the world, that this already has tak­ fit to thus intervene we would be profound­ en place. On the contrary, it seems quite ly happy; but the picture is dark as the age clear that this refers to the rapture of the closes. It w ill not be easy. Oh, we might saints. Of course when the saints are rap­ “put on” some kind of psychological stunt tured the work of the Holy Spirit will be and get a great stir, but that dishonors God hindered, but even then He will still brood and damns souls. The close of the age is over the world. This theory is fatalistic; its pictured as a time of general apostasy, “And adherents give up, make no efforts. The because iniquity shall abound, the love of Millerites took this position and put on their many shall wax cold.” “As the days of white robes and sat on the hillside waiting Noe were, so shall also the coming of the for the coming of Jesus. This is a baneful Son of man be.” There was not a gen­ position and pleasing to the devil. eral revival on at that time. “When the Second, is the unscriptural, optimistic po­ Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on sition. Those who adhere to this theory the earth?” Yes, there will be faith, but insist that it is easy to have revivals now; not so plentiful. The church of the Laodi- never so easy, that a mighty revival is ceans, which unquestionably describes the sweeping this way. When the glaring facts ecclesiastical condition at the close of this are, that the mighty apostasy of the last age, gives a picture of a lukewarm church days is already here; and a mighty, somber with Christ excluded; and at the close of pall from hell seems to be deepening as this description, He says, to the individual, chaos fills the world. They insist that, as “If any man hear my voice, and open the the age closes, there w ill be a general world door, I w ill come in to him, and will sup revival. The two scriptures generally used with him, and he with me.” This unscrip­ to prove this are those referring to the “lat­ tural, optimistic view is not taught in the ter rain,” and the one by Joel where he said, Bible.

26 The Preacher's Magazine Third, note the scriptural position. We filled with the Holy Ghost.” This would not can have revivals; the Bible so teaches. be out of order even for Nazarenes. Jesus said, “Go ye into all the world, and We need a revival that will crucify the preach . . . and also, “Lo, I am with you old man. We need to die! We get hurt too alway, even unto the end of the world,” easily. If we have died unto sin we seem to and again, “Ye shall receive power, after that come to life too easily. We need a revival the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye that w ill save us from the love of the world. shall be witnesses.” These glorious promises “Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among and commands never have been reversed, the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned” revised or revoked. We—if we pay the (Hosea 7:8). Ephraim was mixed, half- price—can have revivals down to the very done, raw on one side. Half-baked Chris­ Tribulation; yes, even during this dark per­ tians w ill not suffice now. Lord, give us iod of the reign of hell souls will find God. those who are baked through and through! There are 144,000 who were saved and We need to die to all that is, “Great or sealed and became God’s witnesses. They wise in any but our Saviour’s eyes.” were, until their testimony was finished, But revivals do not come accidentally. miraculously preserved from the onslaughts Rain is not accidental. Rain is condensed of the antichrist. Then there was the vapor of the atmosphere falling to the earth great multitude which no man could num­ in drops; but, unless God intervenes, it does ber who came out of "the Great Tribula­ not rain until there is a certain atmospheric tion.” Then, when no man can live and condition. The atmosphere must condense so preach the gospel, God sends the angels as to form drops before it rains. So it is across the heaven to preach the everlasting with a revival; a certain atmosphere is gospel to them that dwell on the earth. We necessary. A ll sin, ill will, worldliness and know that some deny this is a gospel of many other things hinder. On the Day of salvation, only of judgment, but God says Pentecost, “They were all with one accord otherwise. in one place. God wants to come, and God is merciful and He intends that every He will come when conditions are met. But He w ill not, yea, He cannot come, unless son of Adam ’s race shall have a call to sal­ vation. Those born during the Great Tribu­ the atmosphere is conducive to His com­ ing. Indifference will prevent His coming. lation must have an opportunity. All will “As soon as Zion travailed, she brought be without excuse. Yes, we can and must forth.” have revivals now; but unusual conditions demand unusual efforts. Past efforts are The angel was to pass through the city not sufficient. The preaching, praying, and set a mark upon all who sighed and fasting and personal work of other days is cried for the abominations done. How insufficient now; we must do better. We many would be thus marked today! Paul heard our own Dr. R. T. Williams say, in said, “I could wish myself were accursed a preachers’ meeting, in regard to this, “It from Christ for my brethren.” Does he looks like we are in the shadows of the mean that he was willing to be damned in Great Tribulation.” order that others might be saved? Jesus Then, surely a revival is needed! Hell is said, “I must work .... while it is day: certainly having one. Isaiah said, “Hell the night cometh, when no man can work.” hath enlarged herself”—it must be greatly What is the night spoken of here? Is it old enlarged now. The world is now engaged age or death? We do not think it is either; in one business, that is, Construction for we believe it refers to the night of the Great Destruction. We need to gird ourselves for Tribulation. Whatever we are going to do, the battle. The question might be asked, we believe we had better do it now. The “Who needs reviving?” Personally, we Lord is depending upon us! think it should begin with the ministry. We remember the dream of Doctor Gor­ God’s definition of a minister is “a flame of don, in which he saw Jesus just having fire.” God save us from mechanicalism, come from His tour to earth where He had professionalism and just playing a part. suffered and died. He had returned home Then, a mighty revival among the very best, and was conversing with Gabriel, and Ga­ the sanctified, would not be amiss. There is briel said, “Master, what provisions have one baptism with the Holy Spirit, but many you made for carrying on the work you be­ refillings and anointings. After Pentecost, gan?” And Jesus replied, “I left it in the we read, “And when they had prayed, the hands of my disciples?” But to this Gabriel place was shaken .... and they were all said, “But, Master, suppose they become

January-February, 1944 27 careless and fail?” To this the Lord gravely Hell is awful; Heaven is glorious; precious replied, “I have made no other plans.” He is souls are dying; there is no hope beyond; counting on us. Shall we fail Him? Hell death settles destiny. But, God w ill still is raging, the apostasy, in full swing, is save and sanctify, and if we meet Bible on; but God is still on the throne. The Holy conditions, we still can have old-fashioned Ghost is in the world to do His office work. revivals!

A Christian’s Fourfold Test

ITNESS year in the United Pres­ has ever known, “When you know what a byterian denomination lays a real man does with his money, how he gets it, W responsibility upon its ministry and how he keeps it, how he spends it and what its membership. Witnessing, thought of he thinks about it, you can know some of generally as a matter of testimony with the the most important things about that man.” lips, in reality is testimony of lives lived Robert E. Speer states, “Scarcely anything in accordance with the teaching and ex­ so strongly tests a young m an’s character as ample of the Master of men. It is fitting, money.” Jesus had much to say about therefore, that every Christian, whether money. Contrary to the usual opinion he he stands behind the pulpit or sits in the did not condemn wealth. He condemned pew, take stock of his Christianity. We the improper use of wealth and resources. submit four test questions. A witness-bearing church must be a church I. What does he do with his leisure time? whose members pass this acid test of char­ Dr. W. H. P. Faunce, late president of acter. Brown University, once said to his students, “The best test of a man’s character is his IV. What does he do with his liberty of use of his leisure time.” Christians need to choice? These are days in which Am er­ examine the way they employ their leisure. icans glibly talk about “four freedoms.” Is it utilized for creative purposes or for Christians have been given a freedom of reckless gratification of passing whims? which the world knows little—freedom to Paul lays upon the Christian the necessity choose between God and mammon, between of redeeming the time. “Look therefore, the high road and the low road, between carefully, how ye walk .... redeeming the liberty and license, between Christ and time,” he wrote to the Ephesians. Again, to Christianity as the world thinks of it. They the Colossians, he wrote, “W alk in wisdom well know what the world little knows that toward them that are without, buying up “where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.” the opportunity.” What America needs and what the world II. What does he do with his leisure needs is an intelligent exercise of freedom thoughts? Dr. Holmes, one of the world’s of religion (not freedom from religion), a greatest psychologists, claims that “95 per freedom that recognizes necessary restric­ cent of the people think an aimless, desul­ tions on the use of time, necessary repres­ tory, gossipy flow of ideas and that only sion of improper thoughts and the neces­ five per cent aim direct and definitely at sary stewardship of possessions. “If any conclusions.” Church people are called upon man would come after me,” said Jesus, im­ to think creatively, not coarsely, spiritually plying that his followers (his witnesses) not sparsely; to think upon things of good exercise a freedom of choice, “let him deny report—things that are true, honorable, himself (practice prohibitions), take up his just, pure and lovely. As a man thinketh cross daily and follow me.” Witnesses do in his heart so is he. not achieve victory of a Christian life with­ III. What does he do with his leisure out voluntary denials. Herein is summed money? Wrote Gladstone, one of the up the acid test of Christian character.—R. noblest and greatest statesmen the world L. E. in The United Presbyterian.

28 The Preacher's Magazine • The successful methods of false cults may be used effectively for spreading the true message of salvation ....

Learning from Our Adversaries

E. Wayne Stahl

OHN and Charles Wesley were once legious to use that Holy Name in such con­ walking along a street in London and nection) . J neared two women who were having Sometimes one of these callers is armed a violent quarrel. Savagely those females with a portable phonograph (I believe were vituperating each other, in fine old I used the word “armed” fittingly, when the Billingsgate fashion. John said to his broth­ belligerent attitude of certain “Witnesses” er, in effect, “Study those women, and you is remembered) and insists on coming into will get a lesson in oratory.” I presume he the house and playing a record that gives meant the abandonment of the speakers to some details of their doctrines. And, at the what they were saying, their perfect pan­ busiest corners of cities are seen men and tomime, the response of their tones to their women peddling the official magazine of thought, were among the instructions that the sect. might be gained. Such a “compass (of) sea and land to Orthodox believers can learn much from make one proselyte” might well “stir up cults whose doctrines are abhorred, but very man” orthodox folks to put forth far whose devotees have certain ways of m ani­ greater efforts to save souls from eternal festing their tenets that are stimulating. death. Although we believe in the everlast­ Paul, of course, condemned prize fighting, ing doom of the wicked, these “Rutherford- but he gives us reason to believe that the ites” may well put us to shame, particular­ pugilist might teach us something when, ly when it is recalled that they contend in training for a contest, he exercises con­ rabidly that there is not an endless hell. If trol of his appetites. Weymouth in his peer­ they, with such unbiblical views are so less “New Testament in Modern Speech” zealous to make converts, how much more thus renders First Corinthians 9:26:27: active should we be, professing as we do, “I am a boxer who does not inflict blows that there is no hope for the unsaved in on the air, but I hit hard and straight at the hereafter! my own body and lead it into slavery, lest Digressing slightly, it is a somewhat possibly, after I have been a herald to oth­ ludicrous fact that while “Pastor” Russell ers, I should myself be rejected” (see also and “Judge” Rutherford both taught that preceding verse). “Millions now living will never die,” both Let us consider the exponents of certain of these leaders are now in their graves. of these aforesaid cults, and see what les­ The amazing increase of believers in these sons they may teach us, cults with which two deceivers has been chiefly due, in we vehemently disagree. These faddish re­ my opinion, to the systematic, persistent, ligions are Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Mor­ and enthusiastic scattering of the literature mons, Christian Science, The Oxford Group of their cult, including tracts. Herein is Movement, the Unity School of Christianity vast instruction for those who would see “falsely so-called,” and Roman Catholicism. “the faith of our fathers” have a wider I surmise that practically every person propagation. reading these words has at one time or an­ What the Russell-Rutherford out-givings other answered a ring of the doorbell and are thought to be by their followers, that is, found before him a representative of the that they are the truest true; such the Mor­ “International Bible Students’ Association” mons believe Joseph Smith’s “Book of Mor­ with some literature to sell. It is offered at mon” and the “revelations” in the Temple at an astonishingly low price. If you do not Salt Lake City must be. buy you are given a pamphlet enunciating But these people have a lesson also for some of the weird teaching of these “Je­ the orthodox, for tithing is one of the fun­ hovah’s Witnesses” (it seems almost sacri­ damental teachings of their faith. To be a

January-February, 1944 29 Mormon is to be a tither! This means that But we learn additional lessons from this immense sums of money are paid into their cult, and that is the zeal of its followers to church’s treasuries, which results in ample spread its periodical literature. In many a funds being on hand to send out their “mis­ public place you will find bookracks con­ sionaries” to all parts of the world. In this taining the Christian Science Monitor, large eastern city where I write these Christian Science Sentinel and other papers. words, the Mormons have within recent And usually in a city where there is a years established a center. I presume this Christain Science organization there is a has been done in most of the other cities reading room where these papers and other of this country. This “mission” work is printed matter of the cult are attractively made possible by the zeal of the tithers out displayed for the public’s perusal. The in Utah. number of converts that have been made One of the chief conditions of the com­ in this way is legion. I cannot imagine ing of the “kingdom of our God and the a Christian Scientist destroying one of the power of His Christ” to the nations is that papers of his sect, or allowing it to lie Christians must of their means furnish the around home after it is read. Here is a funds for that advance. Dr. J. B. Chapman, stimulating example for us who have with his massive and masterly common- learned “the more excellent way.” sense, in an article I read from his pen years Some valuable lessons may be learned ago, stated that if the church is to be a from The Oxford Group Movement, which going concern, money is one of the first es­ owes its origin to a man, Frank Buchman. sentials. It has for this reason been also called As the disciples of Joseph Smith hold that “Buchmanism.” Since the beginning of the he was given a revelation supplemental to present World War we have not heard so the Bible, so do the Christian Scientists much about it; but time was when it as­ contend that Mary Baker Eddy was singled sumed formidable proportions in certain out to be the recipient of the final word as quarters. While it had certain attractive to truth, in “Science and Health with Key features, its disregard of the Scriptures as a to the Scriptures.” necessity for spiritual life, its ignoring of the But there is no denying the tremendous Atonement, and its catering to the rich and progress Christian Science has made. socially prominent, brought it into dis­ “There’s a reason,” and that reason is the repute in Fundamentalist circles. concentration of its adherents on “Science But it had one teaching which might be and Health.” They are indeed “men and practiced, at least in spirit, by those who ac­ women of one book.” Their devotion to it cept the Bible as the rule of faith and life. illustrates Ruskin’s sage counsel, “Some A good “Buchmanite” was supposed to sit books are to be chewed and digested.” To in a quiet place at the beginning of the day, be a “Scientist” one must be saturated with with a pad of paper on his lap, and a pen the teachings of Mrs. Eddy’s book. An old or pencil in his hand; there he should wait Latin writer expressed himself thus, “I in silence for God’s orders for him during fear the man of one book.” What has made the hours of the day. As his mind was Christian Science such a menace in various directed to these, they would be written communities to true religion is the fact that down on the paper, and during the subse­ the book written by “that woman . . . . quent portion of the day he would endeavor which calleth herself a prophetess” has be­ to be obedient to the heavenly (as he sup­ come a part of the very being of those who posed) directions. call it heaven’s ultimate word! “Here is wisdom” for those of the ortho­ Would to God that all those who profess a dox ranks, those who believe that mighty, Bible religion were as diligent in studying priceless promise, “A nd the Lord shall guide the Scriptures as Mrs. Eddy’s followers are thee continually.” If our heavenly Father in devouring her book! When I was a stu­ numbers the hairs of our heads, then surely dent in or near Chicago it was not such an He computes our seconds and minutes. exceptional thing to see some one reading What joy, glory, and triumph many Chris­ “Science and Health” as he or she rode on tians miss because they fail, at the beginning the elevated or a street car; but it was ex­ of the day, to seek definitely the Spirit’s ceptional to see anyone reading the Bible leadings for all activities that are to follow, then. God give us a revival of Bible read­ small as well as seemingly more important ing! This would make sure the nation-wide ones. For God’s “providence .... wings revival for which we long. an angel, guides a sparrow.” May the lack 30 The Preacher's Magazine of such a seeking not account for some of generation it should fail to give the atten­ the absence of satisfactory results in secular tion that it does to the religious instruc­ and religious work of those who have tion of its children, it would receive a named the name of Christ? wound severer than the one Luther gave it. More dangerous than “Buchmanism” is One of the woeful weaknesses of Protes­ the Unity School of Christianity. But, we tantism is its failure to ground its boys and may learn valuable lessons from these false girls in the fundamentals of “the things teachers; not from their doctrines by any that are most surely believed among us.” means, but from the stress they lay upon Sunday school instruction has its place, the importance of praying for others. At nevertheless “there remaineth much land their headquarters they have a certain place to be possessed” in the domain of Chris­ set apart where day and night devoted fol­ tian education of the child. I might add lowers of the founder of the sect do noth­ here my personal opinion that there is a ing but offer up petitions on behalf of those lamentable lack today of memorizing scrip­ who by mail or telegraph send notice of ture by the child. Start to repeat a prom­ their needs, from various parts of the world. inent Bible verse in the average Sunday Mistaken as we believe these “U nity” peo­ school, and let the children finish it; it may ple are in their creed, we must admire their be amazing, even appalling, how few can systematic, persistent, and zealous program do this. of intercession. It was on His chosen race that God looked, and “wondered that there God give us grace to manifest zeal to was no intercessor.” God give us a vision make converts, to concentrate on the study of the stupendous possibilities of praying for of the Bible and to circulate religious others! periodicals, to practice and teach tithing, to seek always the guidance of the Holy Spirit, “Unity’s” insistence on the necessity of to wait much on our Father in secret as in ­ daily “going into the silence,” and seeking tercessors, and to do our part that the chil­ to commune with the unseen and eternal, dren shall know from their first years the also holds instruction for us. In the hurly- Holy Scriptures, which are able to make burly of these rushing, busy days there is a them wise unto salvation of the ages! continual temptation to neglect taking an adequate amount of time to be alone with God. In the secret place is the “hiding of our power.” I think it must astonish the + angels to observe how professing Christians do not avail themselves of the privilege of the prayer closet. Free Tithing Bulletin Samples And even when they get to that precious, holy place, is there not a danger of “m on­ The Tithing Bulletin, as prepared by Lay­ opolizing the conversation.” True prayer man Tithing Foundation, offers every is not just monologue, but dialogue. The church the most effective of tithing educa­ psalmist said, “I w ill hear what God the tion plus relief from half the expense and Lord will speak.” One of the glorious op­ worries of the ordinary church bulletin. It portunities of that secret place is to heed combines simplicity, effectiveness and econ­ the mandate, “Be still, and know that I am omy. God.” There is an orthodox “going into the The Bulletin consists of four pages. They silence,” then we shall know here and now are furnished either with pages 2 and 3 blank or 1 and 4 blank. They may be something of the wonder of Tennyson’s printed, multigraphed or mimeographed at rich line, “Where beyond these voices there one impression. The printed pages carry is peace.” any one of thirty-two of the famous Lay­ Last in the list of those opponents who can man tithing messages. This affords a quiet but effective course in stewardship edu­ give us valuable lessons in procedure, I cation which may lead up to pulpit presen­ mention the Roman Catholics. It is the tre­ tation. mendous emphasis that they place on the A complete set of samples and full par­ indoctrination of their children that should ticulars will be sent to any address free of stir us up. The fact that the Catholic child charge, postage paid. has had his Catechism and Bible History, When you write please mention T h e a la Rome, poured into his infantile intel­ P r e a c h e r ’s M a g a z in e , also give your de­ lect from earliest years, is the chief reason nomination.—L a y m a n T i t h in g F o u n d a t io n , why the papal church endures. If for one 8 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago 3, Illinois.

January-February, 1944 The Holy Spirit in the Life and Work of the Minister

E WILL briefly consider what con­ dance of the heart the mouth speaketh” stitutes a minister of the gospel. (Matt. 12:34). Thus the Holy Spirit in the W The office work of the Holy Spirit life is essential to purity and power, in mind, is to enlighten, convince and reprove of sin. heart, affection and our devotion to God Jesus said, when He is come, He will reprove and man. Christ is made unto us “Wisdom, the world of sin and of righteousness, and righteousness, sanctification and redemp­ of judgment (John 16:8), to show us what tion” (I Cor. 1:30). “In whom are hid all we are by nature, giving us a godly sorrow the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” unto repentance, which implies a confession (Col. 2:3). On the eve of Christ’s departure, and forsaking of sin, and a yielding to God (Acts 2:37, 38). He taught the importance of being indwelt by the Holy Spirit, as a revealer, teacher, The Holy Spirit reveals Christ. He alone guide and comforter—to make clear to us can reveal the Saviour to a sin-sick soul. the things of Christ. The work of Christ was This is called the new birth (John 3:5-6). It a complete work, and in Him, God has is not by works of righteousness which we treasured up everything He has, for His have done, but according to His mercy He creatures. Love, wisdom, power, grace and saved us by the washing of regeneration glory, and the Holy Spirit is the revealer of and renewing of the Holy Ghost (Titus 3:5). the whole property of God, for our benefit; “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our who is an actual part of Jesus and an actual spirit; that we are the children of God” part of the believer, sharing His nature and (Rom. 8:16). Having now passed from death combining Himself with our own. Com­ unto life, the Holy Spirit becomes our municates all good things to us, first for our Teacher, Guide and Comforter. He reveals own benefit, and for that of others. While to us our need and privilege of being sancti­ many have no knowledge of the great store­ fied wholly—spirit, soul and body. Jesus house God has for His children, and until said, “Behold, I send the promise of my Fa­ the Holy Spirit reveals to them, they can no ther upon you, but tarry ye in the city of more perceive it than did Hagar the water Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power at her feet in the wilderness or Elisha’s from on high” (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4). They servant see the mountain full of horses and obeyed and received the fulfillment of the chariots of fire. The reason some have promise (Acts 1:8; 2:4). “And God which achieved great attainments in divine knowl­ knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giv­ edge, is not because of their great intellect ing them the Holy Ghost; even as he did but as it is written, “Eye hath not seen, nor unto us, and put no difference between us ear heard, neither have entered into the and them, purifying their hearts by faith” heart of man the things which God hath (Acts 15:8, 9). prepared for them that love Him. But God “The Holy Ghost said, Separate me Bar­ hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit, nabas and Saul for the work whereunto I for the Spirit searcheth all things, “yea,” the have called them” (Acts 13:2). He assures deep things of God. Now we have received, us of our calling, separation, and makes it not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit real. Separated from all other callings. Hav­ which is of God, that we might know the ing a keen sense of His calling, duty and things that are freely given to us of God. responsibility and the greatest trust on earth Which things also we speak, not in the committed to him. May we “walk worthy words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but of the vocation wherewith we are called, which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing with all lowliness and meekness, with long- spiritual things with spiritual (I Cor. 2:9-13). suffering, forbearing one another in love, Let us as ministers cherish the melting, endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit moving and revealing power of the Holy in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:1-3). Spirit. He admits the minister into those deeper, hidden meanings which lie buried T h e H o l y S p ir it i n t h e L if e o f t h e under the surface of the Word. He assists M in is t e r the memory and makes it retentive of holy We read, “For as he thinketh in his heart, things. He reveals to the minister the power so is he” (Prov. 23:7). “Out of the abun- of love, kindness, meekness, compassion, pa­ (Ordered published by the Ministerial Con­ tience, longsuffering, self-forgetfulness and vention, Ontario Conference.) true humility. We need Him in our life to

32 The Preacher's Magazine quicken soul and body, to intercede for us, ly satisfied with the fatness of Thy house” to aid us in the secret place of prayer, to (Psa. 36:8). Oh, to be a true shepherd and live in communion with God. To retain His not a hireling. “The hireling fleeth because presence and power, we must be holy in he is an hireling, and careth not for the character and obedient to the heavenly sheep” (John 10:13). “Epaphras, who is one counsels. “We have this treasure in earthen of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, al­ vessels, that the excellency of the power ways laboring fervently for you in prayers, may be of God and not of us” (II Cor. that ye may stand perfect and complete in 4:7). all the will of God” (Col. 4:12). This will T h e H o l y S p ir it i n t h e W o r k o f t h e enable him to retain a constant, fervent M in is t e r spirit, filling the soul with divine love, for The minister is called to a great work. The all phases of his ministerial work. A ll true Apostle Paul said, “Who is sufficient for prayer in a man is the prayer of the Holy these things?” (II Cor. 2:16). Not that we Ghost, and is offered in the name of Jesus, are sufficient of ourselves, to think anything The Holy Spirit will direct where to as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God. preach (Acts 8:29) also instructs what to “Who also hath made us able ministers of preach (Eph. 3:8; II Tim. 4:2). “For the the new testament, not of the letter, but of prophecy came not in old time by the will the spirit, for the letter killeth, but the of man, but holy men of God spake as they Spirit giveth life” (II Cor. 3:5-6). “We are were moved by the Holy Ghost” (II Peter labourers together with God” (I Cor. 3:9). 1:21). Not a sermon of stories gleaned from “For it is God which worketh in you, both to here and there. “For our gospel came not will and to do of His good pleasure” (Phil. unto you in word only, but also in power, 2:13). “Whereunto I also labour, striving and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assur­ according to his working, which worketh in ance, as ye know what manner of men we me mightily” (Col. 1:29). “My speech and were among you for your sake” (I Thess. my preaching was not with enticing words 1:5). The apostles were clear and definite of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of in preaching the Word, with discretion. In­ the Spirit and of power. That your faith definiteness in preaching has caused unbe­ should not stand in the wisdom of men, but lief, worldliness, and a general decline in in the power of God” (I Cor. 2:5). The ex­ spirituality throughout the world. In our hortation given to the elders, “Take heed pastoral visits the Holy Spirit will aid us therefore unto yourselves and to all the in making personal contact a blessing. Let flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath us beware of placing too much importance made you overseers to feed the church of on our ability, gifts or past achievements, God, which He hath purchased with his knowing that the greatest things are ac­ own blood” (Acts 20:28). complished, “not by might, nor by power, First, take heed to himself, which implies, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts” keeping in perfect fitness for his work, (Zech. 4:6). physically, mentally and spiritually. Second, all the flock, which will require O Spirit of faith and love, His care and attention as an overseer. Come in our midst today, Third, to feed the church of God. The And purify each waiting heart, urge of the Holy Spirit is on the minister, Baptize us with fire we pray. and the prayer of his heart is that he might —W m . B r o w n , in Gospel Banner. feed the flock, and “they shall be abundant­ Clarksburg, Ontario.

+ ~h

A revival of religion is needed all through the country and all through the churches. 1. To restore some long-lost and long-neglected doctrines of grace. 2. To bring back again the age of faith. 3. To restore the Bible to its proper place. 4. To exalt the supernatural. 5. To emphasize the cross and the precious blood. 6. To honor the Holy Ghost.—The Pentecosal Herald.

January-February, 1944 33 Hints to Preachers

F. Lincicome

T IS not often that I say anything to m in­ afraid of throwing away your best efforts on I isters, but when I do, it is always with the plainest and poorest of God’s people. a painful sense of my own limitations. T h ir d When I speak to ministers I realize that I am speaking to the best living men, as a It is a popular notion that the preacher’s whole, on earth. For it is as one has said, most important task is the preparing of his “In purity of motive, they surpass the head—his sermons—but not so. His most lawyer; in breadth of sympathy, they sur­ important task is the preparing of his heart. pass the doctor; in fidelity to principle, they It will be too bad when we get more head surpass the editor; in purity of life, they than heart into our sermons. It is true that surpass the best classes of society; in self- the day in which we live demands a full sacrifice, they surpass the merchant; in head but also it demands a full heart. If loftiness of ideals, they surpass the teach­ you must neglect either your head or your er; and in moral courage, they surpass the heart, let it be your head. No, do not think soldier.” because I said that, that I put a premium What I shall say shall be in the form of on ignorance, for we only have to go to the five helpful hints. Old Testament to find that the greatest man was an educated man; go to the New F ir s t Testament and find that the greatest man However sacred a topic, it should not was an educated man; to church history be treated perpetually. No man has a and find thirty men from the eleventh cen­ right to turn his pulpit into a hippodrome tury until now—all were college men ex­ where he may ride his hobby. A hobby cept one, who was Fox, the founder of rider is one-half shorn of his strength; he Quakerism. Some of these men, so well- goes to his task depleted. Monotony is dis­ trained, were college presidents; Finney, tasteful, whether it be a landscape or a president of Oberlin; Edwards, president of thought. Princeton.

“In purity of motive, they surpass the lawyer; in breadth of sympathy, they surpass the doctor; in fidelity to principle, they surpass the editor; in purity of life, they surpass the best classes of society; in self- sacrifice, they surpass the merchant; in loftiness of ideals, they surpass the teacher; and in moral courage, they surpass the soldier.”

Let a man have a solitary topic which he F o u r t h introduces on every occasion, and he is Do not make yourself invisible all week, speedily voted a nuisance and shunned by and incomprehensible on Sunday. If you thinking people. Men look with disfavor on are to be effective, you must insist on m ak­ a preacher who parrots in singing all hymns ing yourself understood; and to make your­ to the same tune. The Bible is a harp of self understood, you will have to use the a thousand strings, so do not let us play on language of the people. Many a preacher one string too long; it becomes so tiresome. has come from the college so Latinized in S e co n d style that he seems to the common people Always remember you are working for as a foreigner. Your vocabulary can become the immortal souls of men; for them you a serious barrier in your effort to reach the cannot afford to be slipshod. No matter hearts of the people. Unconscious to your­ how plain and humble may be those to self, you acquire a vocabulary, a diction whom you minister, you are under obliga­ wholly different from what you had when tion to do your best by them. Do not be you entered the ministry.

34 The Preacher's Magazine So, you had better give the “go by” to the lengthy and involved sentences and tell Beatitudes for Pastors the people what you want them to know in 1. Blessed is the pastor who is con­ plain, simple, direct Anglo-Saxon. By so tinuously dominated by a sense of divine doing, you w ill be able to compel the at­ mission to preach and teach. tention of your audience and be a blessing 2. Blessed is the pastor whose one aim to them. is to serve “his generation by the w ill of F i f t h God” rather than to be served. A sermon is not much unless it is touched 3. Blessed is the pastor whose congrega­ by emotion, and emotion is something that tion finds help and healing and guidance cannot be manufactured. Man is essentially in his ministry. an emotional being. This is why the 4. Blessed is the pastor whose congre­ preacher’s final appeal must be to a man’s gation is always willing to meet him half heart and not to his head. The first ap­ way in service and sacrifice for the sake peal must be to his head for the intellect of kingdom extension. must first be convinced before the heart 5. Blessed is the pastor who enjoys the can be converted. wholehearted respect of his congregation If we are to get men to move, we must as a “man sent from God.” make them feel, and if we make them feel, 6. Blessed is the pastor whose congre­ we will have to make them think. gation brings to him their personal spirit­ The need of the hour is for more vital ual problems. preaching. Why all this high-brow objec­ 7. Blessed is the pastor whose congre­ tion to a little emotion in religion? We are gation shares their worldly goods to the ex­ living in an age that aims to rob religion tent that he and his family fare as well as of its inflammatory touch; an age that looks the average of the flock with whom he upon signs of emotion and devotion with labors. distress. If you become enthusiastic over 8. Blessed is the pastor whose congre­ sports, they w ill call you a fan; but if you gation love him enough to be frank in become enthusiastic over religion, they disagreeing with him. call you a fanatic. 9. Blessed is the pastor who finds deep­ est satisfaction in serving those who need • his ministry rather than in “promotion” to more lucrative fields or in ecclesiastical “I am a broken-hearted man; not for my­ preferment. self, but on account of others. God has 10. Blessed is the pastor who is able to given me such a sight of the value of souls see as time passes evidences of deeper that I cannot live if they are not saved. Oh, spirituality and higher ideals in his con­ give me souls, or else I die.”-—J o h n S m i t h , gregation.—J. P. W o m a c k , Jonesboro, in one of John Wesley’s local preachers. Arkansas Methodist.

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What Tithing Means to God’s Poor

A few years ago the pastor of a church in Indianapolis told me this incident. During a canvass for tithers in his church a poor widow, a wash­ erwoman, signed the tithing pledge. Two ladies who knew her well and knew how hard she had to work to support herself and little children, volun­ teered in a spirit of the utmost kindness to call on her and remonstrate. They had both become tithers, but thought while they could afford it, she, out of her small income, could not. Coming direct from the washtub and wiping her hands on her apron, she admitted them, evidently pleased that they had called. After talking of other matters for a time they, as tactfully and loving­ ly as possible, made known their errand. As its full meaning came to her she broke down and, covering her face with her apron, sobbed through her tears. “Let me alone; you are trying to take away the greatest pleasure of my life. Let me alone, let me alone.” As they left her humble home they carried with them a new vision of what tithing means to God’s poor.—Gospel Banner.

January-February, 1944 35 • A professional workman must insist on having the proper tools with which to accomplish his task......

Some Tools a Preacher Needs Nelson G. Mink

HE task of a preacher is so high a helpful volume which is a great aid in calling that he would have to step searching the Scriptures, and which also Tdown to do anything else. Much is ex­ furnishes some valuable “leads” for starting pected of him. Someone has said that a new sermons or series of Bible studies. preacher should have, “The strength of an Commentaries also are of great value to ox, the tenacity of a bulldog, the daring of the man of God. Since no one man has ever a lion, the industry of a beaver, the versa­ been given the full comprehension of the tility of a chameleon, the vision of an eagle, Bible, it is greatly to our advantage to learn the disposition of an angel, the loyalty of an from the comments of others the light God apostle, the heroism of the martyr, the has been pleased to bestow upon their labors. tenderness of a shepherd, the faithfulness The most prominent commentaries among of a prophet, the fervency of an evangelist, our preachers seem to be: Adam Clarke, and the devotion of a mother.” Matthew Henry, The Expositor’s Bible, Mac- If the minister is to carry out his calling laren’s Expositions and The Biblical Illus­ of God, if he fills his place as he really trator. should, he will of necessity need some tools Two kinds of dictionaries will be found in in his hands with which to do the job. A every up-to-date library; a good Diction­ professional workman must insist on having ary of the Bible, and a good dictionary such the proper tools with which to accomplish as Webster’s or another standard work. The his task. The carpenter w ill not get in a dictionary is one of the greatest friends we humor to work if his saw is dull, the woods­ have when it comes to preaching the beauti­ man must have a keen edge on his ax if he ful doctrine of sanctification. achieves his purpose, and whether a man If a preacher is to get ahead, he w ill need builds a skyscraper or a chicken coop, he books and a great many of them. To keep needs certain implements in his hands. fresh and interesting, one must read and keep The instrument needed by the preacher on reading. Before a preacher says he above all others is the “Sword of the Spirit” cannot afford books, he had better consider which is “The Word of God.” Every active if he can afford not to have them. For his preacher needs at least four Bibles. His ability to get on, and to keep getting on in most valuable book is the large study Bible the work will depend a great deal on his that he keeps on his desk. Others would willingness to study, and to be an “approved consist of a smaller volume to take into the workman.” pulpit; one easy to carry which he is more We spend certain amounts of our salary willing to subject to rough usage; also an for food, clothing, automobiles, etc., and we Oxford Testament and Psalms is needed for certainly should have in our budgets the prayer meeting, hospital and funeral work, much-needed cash for an inflow of books while a thin model, vest-pocket-size New to our libraries. These books need not all be Testament should be carried with him wher­ new ones, for some of the richest volumes ever he goes. A lady helping one pastor we have may have been purchased at a unpack was surprised to see so many dif­ second-hand store for a surprisingly small ferent Bibles, but they were just what that price. A preacher should endeavor to have preacher needed. the classics of all the old holiness writers: The second useful tool to have an essen­ Wesley, Fletcher, Asbury, Corvosso, Peck, tial place on the shelf of the preacher’s MacDonald, Keen, Baker, Carradine, Inskip, workshop is a good concordance (Cruden’s and others. Biographies of leading men and seems to be popular; Strong’s and Young’s women of past generations are a great bless­ are larger and more comprehensive). No ing. New books should be added as often as pastor’s study is complete without such a possible, and one will find annual volumes

36 The Preacher's Magazine of the “Minister’s Annual,” whether new or Happy indeed is the man who in the midst old, greatly beneficial. They furnish valu­ of this high and holy calling is surrounded able material for the special days of the year, by all of those things so necessary for his as well as offer good starting points for new highest success! sermons. ♦Paper presented at Zone Preachers’ Meeting. Time and labor-saving devices are in de­ Washington-Philadelphia District. mand today in the routine of modern busi­ ness affairs. To the preacher his filing sys­ tem is “his friend indeed, in his time of + need.” Such systems are many and varied, and may be purchased from ten cents up. The Wilson Index System has an arrange­ ment that is hard to beat: it sells for about Your Altar $7.50. There are of course many others, and quite a few preachers have thought out H. M. von Stein their own filing systems, having a place for everything, from sentence sermons to WENT to the altar in the first holiness lengthy addresses. One should begin early 1meeting I ever was in. I had heard, in his ministry to save up materials. Whether in an indefinite way, of this practice of go­ or not he is settled on the kind of system ing to an altar, but I had no idea of what he is going to use, he should save up all the it meant nor what it involved. It was an material possible. Much help will be found evangelistic meeting, and I walked down in the Herald of Holiness, The Preacher’s the aisle to a chorus of “Praise God,” which Magazine, The Young People’s Journal, and disconcerted and astonished me. “Surely,” do not throw away a single copy of the I thought, “I’m not the only sinner in this Bible School Teacher’s Journal. Valuable crowd!” and knelt at the varnished altar material is stored away in all of these, and rail. I was burningly conscious of the we dare not waste it. It is a good thing to scrutiny of a congregation of people, and ask members of the congregation for access I wondered, “Well, now what?” to the old religious papers they have stored I felt that, having done all I knew to do, away; a preacher might find himself rich the rest was up to somebody else. After a overnight if he could gather in some of these few moments, during which I prayed the unsuspected gold mines. best I could under the circumstances, while The preacher’s study itself should be as the preacher went on exhorting, I got up carefully planned as the parlor; for if the and went back to my seat—to the com­ preacher is to get out of his books what he plete astonishment of the whole crowd, I should, he will need to be as nearly isolated suppose. Someone said, “Did you get as possible from the home and the outside through?” I wondered if he meant the world. In this study there should be good floor—I felt as though I might have. lights, proper ventilation, a good typewriter, I have yet to be in a holiness meeting— a modern duplicating machine, and some Nazarene or otherwise—where there is any method of keeping record of the texts and intelligible explanation made of what the subjects used at each preaching place. Peo­ altar service is. It is a wonder to me that ple are quite keen in noticing whether a one-half the seekers come who do, for some preacher repeats himself very much, and of them at least never have been inside of it is to his advantage as well as to theirs a holiness church before and cannot know that he should come before them as new about the practices. We are so accustomed and as fresh as possible. to our customs that we take it for granted Oh, yes, there must be room on the rack that everyone else is also. And that just for another very valuable tool—a good book isn’t so! on the correct use of English. Many other­ Take a few moments and explain what wise good and useful men have greatly im­ you mean by an altar call. No one hav­ paired their usefulness by not giving heed to ing any definite conviction is likely to the pronunciation of words, or to a better resist the reasoning of the scripture, “Who­ handling of the king’s English. Even if one soever therefore shall confess me before has at one time learned how to express him ­ men, him w ill I confess also before my self correctly, there w ill be a tendency to Father which is in heaven.” That is a become a little careless at this point. A sound beginning for any Christian exper­ preacher as a leader in spiritual matters ience. would do well to lead in a correct way of Coming to an altar is a confession, before expressing oneself. men, of faith in the Christ. That con­

January-February, 1944 37 fession, if it is genuine, will lead to prayer are born; and people in our section of the for forgiveness, and anything short of that country demand a visit occasionally from is, of course, no confession of faith at their minister. all, but only a doubtful willingness to be­ First, like everything else, the pastor must lieve; a raised hand in the pew will mean make up his mind to visit the people and as much. A man cannot, conceivably, get let nothing interfere with this. It is dif­ to heaven if he is ashamed of Christ, and to ficult work. It takes the life out of one come before a congregation of God’s peo­ to visit all day and have to listen to the ple, kneel there and allow them to add sorrows as well as the joys of the people. their prayers to yours is nothing extraor­ It would be much easier to sit in a rocker dinary in the way of humility and reason. with a book in your hand. You, preacher, know what that altar Second, there must be a plan. Everyone meant to you when you were a sinner. doubtless will have a different plan. Find Make it mean something parallel in the un­ the days when you can visit hospitals, in­ derstanding of the folks before you, and stitutions and go on these days, even though don’t forget—they may never have seen you are permitted to visit at other times. an altar before; lots of people haven’t. In the large city you will be compelled to visit by sections. The afternoons and evenings are the best times to visit the + homes. After a long pastorate, we have learned to pick the rainy and snowy days, for so many more are at home, and it has been our plan for years to average The Pastor, a Visitor ten homes each day all the year. Third, the rule is “brevity.” People are busy. The last man parked his coat and H. H. Wise hat and stayed an hour. It was wash day and this left a distaste in the mouth of OMEONE asked a leading and success­ the busy wife. Hold your hat yourself. ful pastor about visiting, to which he S Tell them when you enter that the visit replied, “Pray enough to keep the anoint­ will be short. This makes them feel at ing of God on your soul; study enough to ease. Have a few words and whatever else keep something new for your people, then you do or leave undone, ALWAYS PRAY; spend the remaining part of your working a home is never the same after that time in visiting.” This pastor preaches to prayer. Don’t have to be asked to pray. approximately twelve hundred people on This visit can be made in from five to Sunday morning, a thousand at night and twenty minutes. from four to five hundred people at the Fourth, get all the names, birthdays, old midweek prayer service. It has paid him to people and just as complete a record as pos­ visit the people. sible. Y ou’ll need this in days to come. A new minister was sent to a charge in Visit—visit—visit! As you tramp to the our city and on the first Sunday morning he doors of the people day and night, when made his “get-acquainted talk” and re­ called and when not, they will feel obli­ marked, “I am no door-bell ringer nor baby gated to tramp to the church door to hear kisser.” Well, he didn’t stay long, and you preach. others soon preached to his people. God After a long pastorate, most of my funer­ told Joshua to go in and possess the land, als have come as a result of visits and most for “Every place that the sole of your foot of my members come out of this visiting. shall tread upon, that have I given unto When I slack up a bit, I can soon see empty you.” That is now the task of the Nazar- seats, and when I keep right on the job, ene minister. The others have about quit the house overflows. visiting, so here is an open door and a ripe May we remind you again that the others field. have ceased to visit. The territory is yours; The pastor who will not visit will not “Go out and compel them (by love) to last long and has a poor message for his come in.” people, because he does not know them and D o n ’ts f o r t h e V is i t in g P a s t o r therefore does not know their needs. It is in the home that we come to know the Don’t be a whiner. people, and especially the children. It is in Don’t be a gossip. the home one learns how people live, Don’t be a gloom bringer. and it is in the homes where many sermons ABOVE ALL, don’t be a beggar!

38 The Preacher's Magazine • The sacred obligation, the honors and rewards of the Christian ministry are ably set forth in this challenging message—

The Minister and His Calling

Milo L. Arnold

TELL you a mystery. The world can­ apostle felt the sublimity of this calling not understand it, I cannot explain it, and the unexplainable trust of the Lord I angels could not comprehend it, and when he wrote, saying to Timothy, “I ren­ with awe I tell you of it. To you I whisper der thanks to Jesus Christ our Lord who the sacred and wonderful secret, “God has has made me able for this; He considered called me into the ministry.” I am not me trustworthy and appointed me to the called to minister to the bodies of men ministry though I had formerly been a blas­ where my success or failure shall sooner or phemer and a persecutor and a wanton ag­ later be hidden from sight in the burial of gressor” (1 Timothy 1: 12, Mofiatt). How the patient; but I am called to minister to can it be that I, who was once a sinner, the spirits of men which shall live forever. should be so honored of God? How can I am called to hold destiny in my hands. it be that I, a man for whom it was neces­ I shall not make my imprint in the sand sary that Jesus die, should be counted trust­ which shall be washed smooth again by the worthy enough to be given such a mission? surf of time, but on the spirits of men Yet, it is so. God has called me into the where my marks of success shall still be ministry! success, and my marks of failure shall still Think of it, I have been trusted of the be failure when ten million times ten mil­ Lord! I who so often have failed; I who lions of years have gone into the eternity have caused Him grief; I have been put in of the past. a most responsible position in His kingdom! I am called to the ministry! I am called God has trusted me! God believes in me! to be the agent of God among men, the God has honored me by investing His faith representative of the Creator among His in me! My very soul cries out in humility, creatures, and the ambassador of the Savior for I feel unworthy, but since He has trusted to this world where men put Him to death. me I have determined that I never shall He asks for my hands that He may use make Him ashamed nor cause Him to regret them in wiping tears from someone’s eyes, that He has so trusted. When I look up into His face and know that He believes for my heart that through it He might in me, I am sure I never shall cease to give love some unloved person on the earth, for Him my best efforts and my noblest en­ my lips that through them He might be deavors, even though these may be such a able to call the name of someone lost in pitifully poor offering to One so worthy. the wilderness of sin and despair. But alas, as I look from the significant It is my place to live so close to God trust of the Lord I am again awed to find that I can hear His whisper, and so close that because God has trusted me the people to me that I can feel their pulses. W ith likewise have trusted me. Yes, wherever I my one hand I must grip the holy hand of look I find the eyes of people looking my God, with my other hand I must grip the way, expecting something of me. People sinful hand of lost mankind that God trust me! There are bewildered eyes look­ through me might lift them from the pit ing to me for guidance; there are sad eyes into which they are fallen. I must grip looking through their tears for me to wipe tightly for if I lose my grip on God, then their tears away. There are the eyes of those I seek to save shall be lost, and if I children looking to me for the answer to lose my grip on men they may sink hope­ their questions, and there are the eyes of lessly into the quagmire of sin never to rise those misunderstood looking to me for un­ again. Oh, sublime and glorious calling! derstanding. The rich and the poor, the Oh, fearful and wonderful calling! God has widow and the fatherless, the wise and the called me into the ministry! Paul the unwise, all are looking my way, so that

January-February, 1944 39 wherever 1 look I see a sea of eyes, not lost in hell through eternity, God will be that they are curious, but they are trusting grieved, and when ten million times ten me, counting on my being able to help million millenniums have passed there still them in the crises of their lives, for they will be tragedy in the wake of my failure. know that God has trusted me and they Not only will God be disappointed if I fail, therefore feel that they too can trust me. but the eyes of all those around me that They expect me to be able to lead them have been turned to me in trust, will be out of the dark, and help them to find the turned away in disappointment. The child path of peace and comfort and salvation. who trusted me will turn away with a Also I find that people not only have shaken faith, the widow and the fatherless, trusted me because they know that God has if I fail, will be robbed of their rightful trusted me, but they have honored me for heritage, and never again will they trust they feel that God has honored me. I am as they have heretofore. honored with the privilege of sharing the intimate hours of their lives. I am invited If I fail this trust my family will suffer. to their times of joy and of sorrow. The My wife w ill have to face the reproachful sacred experiences of their lives which they eyes of the community, she will be marked close to the rest of the world are opened with the stigma of my failure. My child to me, for they honor me. No other man in will have to face an unkind world, handi­ the community is so honored. The rich capped with the fact that people know she and the great, the banker and the lawyer, is the child of one whom they trusted and the politician and the doctor are less hon­ who betrayed their trust. My church will ored by them than am I. They preface my have to apologize hum bly for my conduct name with the title, Reverend, and they when apologies are too late to do any good, show me the kindest considerations in all and the church will be dealt a blow which that they do. My wife, because she is my will leave it prostrate and humiliated. Oh, wife, is given a place of honor in the com­ honored man, oh, trusted man, that I am, munity, and my children, because they are when I see the trusting eyes of God and born to me, are given the highest chances men looking upon me, my soul cries out, of any children in the community for mak­ ‘ So help me God, they shall not be disap­ ing outstanding successes in life. My work pointed!” is in a field of privileges. My associations God has called me to the ministry! He are among the best of the people. No man has called not just my lips to preach, nor of the community hears so little cursing my hands to do good deeds, nor my intel­ and so much singing. No man of the com­ lect to plumb the depth of the Christian munity receives so many words of com­ truth, but He has called my whole self, all mendation and so few words of condemna­ the man that I am, into the ministry. I am tion as I. No man is invited into more not alone a preacher, nor a doer of good homes and places his feet beneath so many deeds, nor a philosopher, but a minister. I tables laden with the best that sacrificing am one sent to help others, to minister to hands can provide. My fellow ministers their souls and minds and bodies. I am a with whom I work are the best men of the servant of servants, a helper of those who world, men with such high ideals, and no­ need help. The bounds of my field are not ble unselfishness. Honored? Yes, God has restricted by race or position or money, but honored me and men have honored me! wherever there is an individual who needs To be unworthy of such honor and untrue someone to serve him and wherever God to such trust would be the tragedy of needs an agent of His grace, there is my tragedies. I pray God to help me lest in parish. I never shall be without work to my hour of weakness I should fail this do, for there are hosts all around me who sublime trust. God has called me to the need the help which God has called me ministry! to give. I am not sent to be ministered unto, I have but one opportunity at the ad­ but to minister and to follow my Lord in ministration of my responsibility in the giving my life for the sake of many. world. I live but one life. If I fail I have I owe it to them to give to God the failed. If I succeed I have succeeded. It very best of my capacities. I owe it to is now or never, yes, it is now I am suc­ H im to give Him a good mind, to train my ceeding or failing. If I succeed in this m in­ intellect to the best of my ability so that I istry there shall be souls glorifying God, may render a better service. I shall con­ and there shall be happiness in heaven, God sider it an absolute obligation that I buy w ill be glorified and the angels shall sing books and read them, that I study all for delight. If I fail there shall be souls sources of learning which I can find that I

40 The Preacher's Magazine may the better understand the needs of men cent and sweet face, that the time never and the supply of God. would come that she would have cause to be ashamed of the fact that her father was I feel it a debt I owe to God to give Him a preacher. My last drop of blood shall be the best personality I can give. Therefore consumed before I shall become such that I shall study my own ways and habits, my she would have to apologize to her friends words and my attitudes, my reactions and for the ministry of her father; and even if responses, my appearance and my amia­ it is mine to espouse an unpopular cause bility, that I may give to God a man whom I shall always strive to do it in a way for He can use, and give to men a man whom which she shall not be ashamed. it w ill be easy for them to love. I shall strive to be pleasant, to be cheerful and The members of my church likewise have smiling. I shall convey to the people the entwined their lives with mine so that my idea that God has made me happy. I shall success or failure is likewise theirs. They strive always to be thoughtful so that men either will be proud of me or ashamed of shall not be wounded and driven from the me. If they are forced to apologize to Lord who seeks to help them. I shall seek their friends for my appearance or for my to be kind so that people will not fear ministry, they have been robbed by me. me, and so that God can trust me with the The reputation I have in the community care of the wounded hearts and the com­ will become their reputation. They cannot forting of the grieved hearts of men. help it. I owe it to them to give myself so completely to God and to them that they I must be a better preacher than I now never shall have reason to be ashamed of am, a better sermonizer, a better friend and me or of my ministry. a better man of prayer. I shall strive to be the kind of man who w ill cause the peo­ If I were called to consecrate only myself ple to raise their estimate of all the min­ I would have reason to be cautious of my isters of the community. investment, but also I hold the most vital and precious things of my wife, my child My life, of necessity, is short, so I shall and my church to invest. O God, help me, give to God all the time I have. I shall not help me! Help me! for I am unworthy of take from life any portion to hold for my­ self, but it shall all be His. If it is neces­ such a trust! sary for me to spend some time in material God has called me to the ministry! God pursuits that I may be able to stay in the will direct me in the ministry! I shall not ministry I shall look on it only as a means choose my own course, nor shall men toward an end, and shall determine that choose it for me, for I shall be led of the my time is the Lord’s and that I shall de­ Lord. It may be that the Lord w ill use vote it as fully as possible to the work of His servants in official capacity as His the Lord in the ministry to which I am agents in directing me, but in the end it called. My calling shall always be the para­ shall be God who shall determine where I mount thing in my life. In the acceptance shall serve and what I shall preach. Nei­ of this call to the ministry I must not only ther dictators nor democracies, neither consecrate my own life, but also I must church nor state shall have authority over somewhat arbitrarily consecrate on the al­ this gospel, but as God who has called me tar of my ministry the lives and interests to preach a full salvation is the Author and of those whose lives are entwined with Guide of my life, I shall preach that full mine. The wife who walks at my side salvation whether men applaud or scorn, must go where I go, and any consecration whether they support me or imprison me, I make inevitably involves her. It is up to whether they love me or hate me. I shall me either to make her life or to ruin it. always strive to preach it in such a manner She has entrusted it to me. So help me, and spirit that they shall love me, but if I God, she shall not have less than my best fail to make them love me I am determined effort to bring honor to her consecration. I shall even then not fail to declare the Gpd forbid that she should ever have whole counsel of God. cause to be ashamed of the investment I God has called me to the ministry! God make of her affectionate trust. has called me to leave the lucrative pur­ My child’s interests are tied up with suits of men, and the paths of commerce mine, and anything I do, any stand I may and industry, and to devote myself to the take in the community and any honor or peculiar task of ministering in holy things. reproach that is mine to bear are essentially As the tribe of Levi of old, I have no in­ hers to bear likewise. Often it has been heritance among the land-owners and the my prayer as I have looked upon her inno­ builders of estates. I shall live by the

lanuary-February. 1944 41 ministry. God has called men to work in membered no more forever, and the reward those other fields and to pay of their tithes shall be abundant. to support me in this task that I may de­ Yes, I am called into the ministry! God vote my time and my life to it. These lay­ himself has called me; I am glad it is so! men are men of God even as I, and God has trusted them with my care. I shall be To serve the present age, my calling to ful­ kind to them, shall think of them and treat fill, them as my brethren in the work of the 0 may it all my powers engage, to do my Lord. Their kindness always shall be ap­ Master’s will. preciated, and their consecration shall not be in vain, for I shall seek earnestly to + give to them and to God service for all that they shall invest in my life. However, if they should fail in their support, and as a result I should be brought to inconven­ The Church ience, and material loss, I still shall not be absolved of my responsibility as one called Bulletin Board Speaks to the ministry. No one else’s failure shall justify me in failure for I am called of Fred W. Gibson God. God will find a way if I will trust AM just the small voice of the church and not be afraid. God shall supply my bulletin board that stands in front of need, and I shall be cared for by the hand Iyour church. In all the years that I have which feeds the sparrows and the fingers which adorn the lilies of the field. stood here, I never have had a new coat of paint. Never a week goes by but what However, my reward shall not be all in a thousand people see me, and often more material things, not in gold and silver nor than that. How I wish that I could bring a in bread and water, but I shall be re­ few of them into the church, but my warded with a more noble and satisfying beauty is gone, my voice is gone, my remuneration. I shall see souls lifted from strength is gone, and I w ill not be able to the gutter and made into saints; I shall see stand much longer. children brought out of darkness into lights; I am not the kind to complain very often, I shall see youth directed into ways of hap­ but when that new family that moved in piness and holiness; I shall see homes en­ across the street, said, “I wonder what riched by the presence of God, and shall church that is; I wish I could read the bul­ see smiles come where tears once were, letin board,” I determined to have a word and I shall be rewarded, for my heart shall with you. feel the eternal riches, and I shall know a satisfaction which cannot be brought by The name “Church of the Nazarene” is the possession of gold and silver nor houses blurred and illegible. Very plainly I say, and lands. “Prayer Meeting, Thursday, 7:30,” when for two years prayer meeting had been held Yes, God will reward me, for He has on Wednesday evening. I was greatly em­ called me, and He who is the owner and barrassed when those new people from out Creator of all things will not let His work­ in the country came by last Thursday; al­ men be poorly paid, but when gold and though the church was dark and cold, I told silver all become worthless, when fine them they were welcome for prayer meet­ apparel is moth-eaten and decayed, when ing. The name of the pastor is on here, the commerce and industry of an economic but why did you fail to change the address world are no more, when the rich have all when you moved two months ago? The become poor, and the great men have be­ District Superintendent stopped the other come small and the twilight of departing afternoon, and I was embarrassed to stand day shall lie upon the hills of time; then there and tell him that I did not even know through the gathering shadows which cur­ tain time from eternity I shall hear the where the pastor lived, but what else could voice of Him who has called me to the 1 do? ministry, ringing clearly and melodiously Something strange happened the other through the smoke of a burning world and day that might interest the pastor. A young saying, “Thou hast been faithful over a few couple who were Nazarenes from a neigh­ things . . . enter thou into the joy of thy boring town stopped and wanted to get lord.” Then if the ministry ever has en­ married. I told them your former address tailed sacrifice, it shall be forgotten; if it but they could not locate you in your new ever has meant hardship, it shall be re­ location, so they left. By the way, I saw the

42 The Preacher's Magazine Methodist minister wearing a pair of new the truth. They were with Jesus when the shoes; and heard him say that he received daughter of Jairus was raised and on the ten dollars out of thin air! Mount of Transfiguration. Now, I don’t want to find fault or com­ After that wonderful meeting in the Up­ plain for lack of attention. In fact, for the per Room Jesus and the eleven disciples go good of the church, I wish that you would to Gethsemane. Eight of them were left at let me retire and in my place put up an at­ the outer gate, while Peter, James and tractive sign that the members w ill be John went a little farther. The three dis­ proud of, and that strangers w ill notice ciples were permitted to go farther than the favorably. I would like to have a word with others, but even they could not go all the you about my successor, and suggest that way with Jesus. They were to watch and these rules are followed for getting people pray while He was at prayer. He must to notice our church: tread the winepress alone. He must go to 1. Keep it young and beautiful; paint it Calvary alone. Man could have no fel­ occasionally. lowship with him in His atonement. We 2. Tell the world that this is the “Church may make sacrifices for our fellowmen, but of the Nazarene.” the propitiatory sacrifice can be made only 3. Tell this town that we have a wide­ by the Son of God. awake pastor, who can be reached quickly to help anyone. A Gethsemane experience may require us 4. Let them know that the Sunday school, to wait or to watch or to suffer. Faithful­ worship services, N.Y.P.S. and W.F.M.S. ness is required. It is true that many Chris­ and the prayer meeting are all interesting tians who are given high privileges fail times of inspiration planned especially to Jesus. Three times Jesus came to the dis­ satisfy their every spiritual need, and above ciples and found them sleeping. They had all— failed their Lord in His hour of great need. 5. Let them know that a welcome awaits The boasting of Peter sounds like a mock­ them. ery. It is easy to find fault, but the words of Jesus are pertinent, “Let him who is w ith­ out sin cast the first stone.” Oftentimes + we fail to prepare ourselves to meet temp­ tation. We do not feed on the Word of God or pray unceasingly. Failure in Crises When the soldiers came to take Jesus the disciples recognized the serious situa­ T SOME time in his life every man tion. Then we hear them saying, “Lord, A fails. When God permits temptation shall we smite with the sword?” without to come to a believer he supplies grace and waiting for a reply impetuous Peter drew strength to meet it. Even with this pos­ his sword and injured Malehus who was sibility we are not always able to meet probably the leader of the band. Jesus the tempter. Every Christian must be on rebukes him and heals the injured man. guard. We are children of the Light. And The impetuous nature of Peter often led ringing through the centuries comes the him into rash speaking and action. His im­ warning of the Master, “Watch and pray.” petuosity came from a passionate love for Peter and James and John received special Jesus. We later hear Jesus saying to him, favors from the Lord. They received this “Lovest thou me more than these?” and because they were better able to receive knowing that Jesus was able to read his

A Cancellation Exercise

Can I find refuge in Jesus?—Question I find refuge in Jesus —Affirmation Find refuge in Jesus —Exhortation Refuge in Jesus ■—Consolation In Jesus —Exaltation Jesus —Satsifaction —From Kitchener-Waterloo Bulletin.

January-February, 1944 43 thoughts, Peter could honestly reply, “Thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I The Pastor love thee.” W hat should Peter and John have done And His Prayer Life in this trying hour? Try to put yourself in their place. The suddenness and u n ­ expectedness of the event must be consid­ HERE is hope for the most abundant ered. Eight of the disciples ran away; one success for anyone whom God calls betrayed Him. James and John are not Tinto the ministry. He may not be able mentioned as being active in the garden. ever to become a great thinker, or scholar, Peter alone would help the Master. We find or orator, but by prevailing prayer and the fault with Peter, but perhaps the Church help of the Holy Spirit, he may have a and the cause of Christ in the world are success that w ill astonish angels, and change suffering for lack of a faith that has passion three worlds; yet it is possible to fail in in it. the ministry through prayerlessness. A per­ son of much power must be a person of The disciples slept when they should have much prayer. If we are going to advance been praying. Sometimes we get drowsy and find it almost impossible to remain and revolutionize the people of our charges, awake in the church. We should think of it must be done on our knees. We cannot these things before we criticize the disciples preach unless we pray. We can talk; we whose eyes were heavy with sleep. Their can say nice things; we can be popular; but spirits were willing, but their flesh was in the true sense of the term we cannot weak. Jesus seemed to sympathize with preach. There must be a fervency of heart their weariness for He later tells them to and soul that comes alone from living in take their rest while He is on watch. the presence of God. A Chinese woman who has startled many The slogan of Dr. Bresee, our founder, was Americans with her insight into spiritual “Get the glory down.” Without this, our truths has suggested the secret of this in ­ case is lost. We cannot compete with the cident. She tells that as a man starts on older and wealthier churches, in elaborate the narrow road that leads to life there programs and stately forms. This is not our job. Organization, preaching, singing, pro­ is just room enough for two to walk side motional activities never won men to the by side—Christ and the disciple. Contin­ Lord; but prayer has. The glory, and not uing her story she says that as they go their culture, or doctrine, brings backsliders and way the road gets very narrow and there sinners to the services of the church and to is no room for two. Then self must go and the altar. Knee work is required if we are Christ alone remains. In this way she to have divine glory upon our services. We describes the deep secret of Christ dwell­ must hide away in the mountain for fasting ing within. It is not Christ as a Companion, and prayer if the people are to see a shining but Christ as the Life.—H . L . L a n n in g , in face. We can have it, and this w ill arrest Christian Union Herald. the attention of this thoughtless, pleasure- mad, commercial-crazed age. The people + forgot their golden calf when they saw the shining face of Moses. The people of back­ slidden Israel stopped to consider when they It is a marvel to me how men continue took notice that the disciples “had been with at ease in preaching year after year with­ Jesus.” Hours of waiting before God, nights out conversions. Have they no bowels of of vigil, days of fasting and prayer will compassion for others? No sense of respon­ bring the shekinah upon us, and when it sibility upon themselves? Dare they,, by a comes upon us, the thoughtless masses will vain misrepresentation of divine sover­ stop to behold. Many things are done or eignty, cast the blame on their Master? Or not done, just as people pray or neglect to is it their belief that Paul plants and Apollos pray. We need to dwell much in the secret waters, and that God gives no increase? chamber shut in from man, shut up with Vain are their talents, their philosophy, their God. Secret prayer cannot be fruitless; its rhetoric, and even their orthodoxy without results will be manifested openly. Men who the signs following. How are they sent of have given themselves to prayer have made God who bring no men to God? Prophets larger contributions to humanity than those whose words are powerless, sowers whose seed all withers, fishers who take no fish, •Paper submitted at the Alberta District Preacher's Retreat, by Thom as James. Craw­ soldiers who give no wound.— S p u r g e o n . f o r d , pastor, Claresholm, Alberta. 44 The Preacher's Magazine who have given the most princely presents congregation? How can he preach the gos­ of gold and silver. Bud Robinson said, “A pel with a cold, empty heart? How dare he man can lift a larger load on his knees than exhort others to pray? How can he ever he can on his feet, carry it farther, and hope to have a praying and a powerful hold out longer.” Let us pray without ceas­ church if he is a prayerless preacher and ing that we may walk without fainting. leader? How can he be a soul winner with­ Prayer is the most essential link in the out entering into the pangs of intercession chain of causes that lead to a revival. The in the secret closet? How does he ever hope travailing prayer-life is the means by which to keep harmony and peace among his peo­ the living God, through the instrumentality ple if secret, prevailing prayer is neglected? of a living hum an soul, brings a spiritually How can he expect his church to keep him dead soul into spiritual life. The interces­ more than the first year if he is too lazy and sory groanings in the heart of a Christian indifferent to pray? Can the prayerless so affect him that the soul of the sinner for preacher hope to pass muster at the judg­ whom he prays becomes as his own soul. ment bar of God? Prayer! The preacher’s No very great mountain of sin is cast into greatest source of power! Neglect it? He the sea of God’s forgetfulness without in­ cannot afford to! Book learning and psy­ tense feelings, and strong cries to God by chology can never take the place of prayer some interceding person. It cannot be de­ in the life and ministry of the preacher. He nied that prayer has been and ever will be, a great living reality among the working that has not prayed well will not preach forces of Christian leadership. I may as well. The preacher who will pray and read well talk of a wise fool, a wicked saint, a will always have something fresh to pass on sober drunkard, or an honest thief as an to his hearers. The preacher who w ill move effective, prayerless preacher. men by his ministry must first move God and be moved by God. John was alone on Intensified prayer through faith in Jesus an island when he had a vision of heaven, Christ has done more to revivify the Church Bunyan was alone in secret yonder in Bed­ after years of spiritual declension than any other force on earth. In answer to the in­ ford jail, when he caught a vision of a book tensified prayers of Martin Luther, God that has had a sale next to that of the B i­ raised up a standard of truth against the ble, Martin Luther was alone when he had flood of error, and restored to the Church a vision of God that set tyrants to trembling the doctrine of justification by faith which and thrones to tottering. A preacher who had so long been buried beneath the cor­ will pray will have results. I would rather ruption of superstition and priestcraft. have a praying church than a wealthy In answer to the intensified prayers of church. To have it I must pray myself un­ Wesley and his devoted followers, the Lord til others catch the spirit and glow of it. restored to the Church the power and mes­ Do we wonder why we lack soul winning sage of Apostolic Christianity. The doc­ power and at the same time we seldom, if trines of the Reformation, which through ever, stay more than ten minutes alone with loss of spiritual unction had become little God in private devotion? more than mere theory with many, soon Christian brothers in the ministry today, became a glorious reality in the experience in view of the dire need, in view of the of multitudes, the tidings of which rang out dearth of vital Christianity, in view of the to the ends of the earth; and this at a fact that the prayer of faith is mightier than time when, as we have been reminded by dynamite, for it has the almightiness of God the historian, religion was at the very lowest linked to it, let us give ourselves to prayer ebb. The whole temper of English society — intense, heartfelt, fervent, importunate was changed, spiritual life and activity was prayer—that it might be said of us, as it restored to the Church. was of Robert McCheyene, the Scottish I have read the statement somewhere that preacher, at his death, that perhaps the the average preacher spends no more than heaviest blow to his brethren, his people five minutes a day in prayer. Can it be? and his land, was the loss of his interces­ How can a prayerless preacher face his sion.

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G e o r g e W h it e f ie l d freqently spoke from the text “Ye must be bom again.” When someone asked him why he used that text so often, he replied, “Because ye must be born again.”-—S e lec t e d .

lanuary-February, 1944 45 QUOTABLE POETRY

A New Start “I Am Debtor” I will start anew this morning with a high­ When this passing world is done, er, fairer creed; When has sunk yon glaring sun, I will cease to stand complaining of my When we stand with Christ in Glory, ruthless neighbor’s greed; Looking o’er life’s finished story. I will cease to sit repining while my duty’s Then, Lord, shall I fully know— call is clear; Not till then—how much I owe. I will waste no moment whining, and my heart shall know no fear. When I stand before the throne, Dressed in beauty not my own, I will look sometimes about me for the When I see Thee as Thou art, things that merit praise; Love Thee with unsinning heart, I will search for hidden beauties that elude Then, Lord, shall I fully know— the grumbler’s gaze. Not till then—how much I owe. I will try to find contentment in the paths that I must tread; I will cease to have resentment when an­ Oft I walk beneath the cloud, other '.noves ahead. Dark as midnight’s gloomy shroud; But when fear is at its height, I will not be swayed by envy when my Jesus comes, and all is light; rival’s strength is shown; Blessed Jesus/ bid me show I will not deny his merit, but I ’ll strive to Doubting saints how much I owe. prove my own; 1 will try to see the beauty spread before Oft the nights of sorrow reign— me, rain or shine; Weeping, sickness, sighing, pain; I’ll lovingly preach your duty, but be more But a night Thine anger bums— concerned with mine. Morning comes, and joy returns; —A u t h o r U n k n o w n . God of comforts! bid me show To Thy poor, how much I owe! —R o b t . M u r r a y M c C h e y n e . Love’s Demand 0 Lord, thou sayest, lose thyself to Me, • Let not thy heart, divided, run its course. Lose all thy petty charms of time alone— In that Which Is Least “Take up thy cross,” and thus My follower be. When the Master of all the workmen sent me into the field, Can self bear fruit? Can self know aught I went forth elate and happy, the tools of of love? His service to wield, Be crucified—be slain—the Lord hath said; Expectant of high position, as suited my Then, fellowship of Christ becomes indeed lofty taste, Reality, and hope of heaven above. When lo! He set me to weeding and water­ ing down in the waste. Hast thou some idol, unobserved to thee, Which bars the channel of a blessed life? Such pottering down in the hedges! A task It may be only such a little thing, so thankless and small! But thou must lay it down, to walk with Yet I stifled my vain ambition, and worked Me. —Florence Mott. for the Lord of all, • Till, meeker grown, as nightly I sank to my hard-won rest, Stewardship I cared but to hear in my dreaming, “This 1 have a stewardship in God’s domains, one has done his best.” A sacred trust to be employed with care; The world is His and all that it sustains, The years have leveled distinctions. There But He has loaned to me a golden share, is no more great or small; And if with wisdom I use it aright It is only faithful service that counts with And as He will instruct me if I ask, the Lord of all. Then I shall be a faithful steward in His And I know that tilled with patience, the sight veriest waste of clod And find my work has been a gladsome, Shall bring forth the perfect harvest, pleasant task. planned in the heart of God. —E l iz a b e t h M a e C r o s b y i n The Watch- — R u b y W e y b u r n T o b ia s , i n Sunday School man-Examiner. Times.

46 The Preacher’s Magazine Be Still and Know My Faith “Be still and know that I am God”— I want the faith The world is rushing on; That envies not In quietness and confidence The passing of the days; The victory is won. That sees all times and ways “Be still and know”—though billows roll More endless than the stars; And seas are rough and wild; That looks at life, When darkness deepens all around, Not as a little day Thy God w ill keep His child. Of heat and strife, But one eternal revel of delight “Be still and know that I am God”— With God, the friend, adventurer, and light. No foe can harm thy soul, What matter if one chapter nears the end? If thou wilt trust, in Christ thy Lord, What matter if the silver decks the brow? And give Him full control. Chanting I go, Past crimson flaming “Be still and know”—He is thy Rest, From the autumn hills, ’M id strife, thy perfect Peace; Past winter’s snow, From anxious fears He’ll set thee free, To find that glad new chapter And bid all doubtings cease. Where God’s spring —B e s s ie P a t t e n G il m o r e . Shall lift its everlasting voice to sing. • This is the faith I seek; It shall be mine, “He answered prayer: A faith that strides across the peaks of Not in the way I sought, time! Not in the way I thought He ought, But in His own good way, and I can see, —Bishop Ralph Cushman. He answered in the fashion best for me.” —S e le c t e d . • Giving Face to Face God might have used His sunset gold I am longing for that moment So sparingly; When I’ll stand before His throne He might have doled His blossoms out Face to face with Christ my Saviour, Quite grudgingly; There to know as I am known. He might have put but one wee star In all the sky— But when I behold the nail-prints, But since He gave so lavishly, See the scars He bears for me, Why should not 1? —S e lec t e d . Must I bow in shame before Him, c Shall I empty-handed be? A Builder While I’m waiting for His summons, A builder builded a temple, Lo! the harvest fields are white; He wrought it with grace and skill I must labor for the Master Pillars and groins and arches— From the dawn of day till night. All fashioned to work his will, And men said as they saw his beauty, Then I’ll not go empty-handed, “It never shall know decay; When I kneel before my King, Great is thy skill, O Builder! But when harvest time is ended, Thy fame shall endure for aye.” Many sheaves to Him I’ll bring.

A teacher builded a temple As I lay those sheaves before Him, W ith loving and infinite care, Precious souls that I have won, Planning each arch with patience, ’Twill be joy to hear the Master Laying each stone with prayer. Say to me, “My child, well done.” None praised the unceasing efforts, —E m m a B r e c k M o r g e n s e n . None knew of the wondrous plan, For the temple the teacher builded • Was unseen by the eye of man.

Gone is the builder’s temple, “I cared not where or how I lived, or what Crumbled into dust; hardships I went through, so that I could Low lies each stately pillar, but gain souls to Christ. While I was asleep, I Food for consuming rust. dreamed of these things; and when I waked, But the temple the teacher builded the first thing I thought of was this great W ill last while the ages roll; work. A ll my desire was for the conversion For the beautiful unseen temple of the heathen (unsaved at home or abroad), Was a child’s immortal soul. and all my hope was in God.”—W i l l i a m —Author Unknown. B r a m w e l l ,

January-February. 1944 THE PREACHER’S SCRAPBOOK

Getting the Church to Work Vitamins in Religion How can a pastor succeed in getting his Have you checked your vitamins? The congregation to work more? following, if taken regularly, someone has Get members’ hearts into the church. said, w ill positively restore anyone to a Put pressure on the officers of the church. normal and healthy condition: Vitamin F-— Give recognition and encouragement to Faith, “Faith even as a mustard seed”; vita­ young people who show a talent for any min G—Giving, “Give, and it shall be given kind of service. unto you”; vitamin T—Tolerance, “Unto the Place responsibility on the members. least of these”; vitamin W —Work, “Do the Get every member to tithe and put his work of him that sent me”; vitamin P— money in the church work and then he will Prayer, “Pray without ceasing.”—Arkansas be interested in the place where he has put Methodist. his money. Give members work to do, such as visit­ • ing the sick and getting other people to come to church. Have every member take upon himself Thought Starters responsibility for the success of each meet­ Privilege of prayer. The privilege of ing. prayer to me is one of the most cherished Appoint persons to conduct cottage prayer possessions, because faith and experience meetings in their homes and neighborhoods. alike convince me that God Himself sees Give each member a definite work to do and answers, and His answers I never ven­ according to his ability. ture to criticize. It is only my part to ask. Make members feel it is well worth It is entirely His to give or to withhold, as while to put effort into the church.—J o s e p h He knows is best. If it were otherwise, I S t a u f f e r , in The Gospel Minister. would not dare to pray at all. In the quiet of home, in the heat of life and strife, in the • face of death, the privilege of speech with God is inestimable. I value it more be­ cause it calls for nothing that the wayfaring Ansivered Prayer man, though a fool, cannot give—that is, the The firmament of the Bible blazes with simplest expression to his simplest desire. answers to prayer, from the days when When I can neither see, nor hear, nor speak, Elijah unlocked the heavens on to the days still I can pray so that God can hear. When when the petitions in the house of John I finally pass through the valley of the Mark unlocked the dungeon, and brought shadow of death, I expect to pass through liberated Peter into their presence. The it in the conversation with Him.—D r . W i l ­ whole field of providential history is cov­ f r e d T. G r e n f e l l . ered with answered prayers, as thickly as bright-eyed daisies cover our western prairies. Find thy happiness in pleasing God, and sooner or later He w ill surely grant thee the desire of thy heart. Seven Mistakes —T h e o d o r e C u y l e r . The delusion that individual advancement is made by crushing others down. The tendency to worry about things that cannot be changed or converted. Insisting that a thing is impossible because The Worth of Time we ourselves cannot accomplish it. To show us the worth of time, God, Refusing to set aside trivial preference in most liberal in all other things, is exceed­ order that important things may be ac­ ingly frugal in that; for He never gives us complished. two seconds together, nor grants us a sec­ Neglecting development and refreshment ond till He has withdrawn the first, still of the mind by not acquiring the habit of keeping the third in His own hands, so that reading. we are in perfect uncertainty whether Attempting to compel other people to be­ we shall have it or not. The true man­ lieve and live as we do. ner of preparing for the last moment is The failure to establish the habit of sav­ to spend all the others well, and ever to ing money. expect that. We dote upon this world as —But the greatest mistake of Christian if it were never to have an end, and neglect people is the neglect of witnessing, and the next as if it were never to have a be­ honoring the name of our Lord Jesus ginning.—F e n e l o n . Christ.—Exchange. 48 The Preacher's Magazine Illustrations Efficiency Our Aim 1. Don’t string a list of illustrations to­ E—arnest in Purpose gether and call that a sermon. F—aithful in Service 2. Don’t use illustrations that do not fit. F—ervent in Spirit I—nterested in Others 3. Don’t fail to clinch the point your C—onstant in Attendance illustration is supposed to illustrate. I—mportunate in Prayer 4. Don’t use humorous illustrations simp­ E—ager in Knowledge ly because they afford opportunity to tell N—oble in Aims amusing stories you heard. Your task is C—ourageous in Undertakings serious. Keep it so. Jokes usually belong Y—ielding to Guidance elsewhere than in sermons. —“Ink-Links,” in New York District Bul­ 5. Don’t use an illustration to show your letin. knowledge or your wide reading. 6. Don’t use an illustration with a distant 0 and unfamiliar setting, when a homely one, near at hand, w ill serve the same purpose. “To accomplish what needs to be accomp­ An illustration must be understood. lished, evangelism will certainly become 7. Don’t over-illustrate. pastoral rather than professional. The 8. Don’t under-illustrate. trusted pastor is the man to lead. If he cannot help, then may God help him to help. 9. Don’t form the habit of relying alto­ It is his highest privilege to attend to such gether upon books of illustrations. Draw matters. He has no right to call in foreign your illustrations from your own reading, aid to enable him to do his own business observation, and contacts. in the proper way. It is a confession of fail­ 10. Don’t forget that an illustration drawn ure. And as soon as winning of souls be­ from the Scriptures is the best kind. Such comes professional it is degraded.”-—A u s t in illustrations are sound. They teach the K e n n e d y de B l o is (“Evangelism in The New hearers to think in terms of scripture. They Age”) . lay the proper foundations for sound doc­ trine. They are true to life. They are true 9 to God.—S e l e c t e d . e First Things First We may rest fully assured of this—a m an’s Nobody can lead unless he has the gift of influence in the world can be gauged not wisdom and desires to leave things better by his eloquence, or his zeal, or his energy, than he found them. He will strive for or his orthodoxy, but by his prayers. something which may appear unattainable, We may work for Christ from morn till but which he believes can one day be night; we may spend much time in Bible reached, if not by himself, by his suc­ study; we may be earnest and faithful in cessors.—K in g G e o r g e VI of England. our preaching and in our individual deal­ • ing, but none of these can be truly effective unless we are much in prayer. We shall Worldliness only be full of good works, and not “bear­ Worldliness, in the religious use of the ing fruit in every good work” (Col. 1:10). term, is not the being occupied with secular To be little with God in prayer is to be things. It is rather a spirit, a temper, a little for God in service. Much secret way of looking at things and judging things. prayer means much public power. Yet, is if The worldliness is not in the work, but in not a fact, that while our organizing is well- the spirit of the worker, and it may be mani­ nigh perfect, our agonizing in prayer is fested in connection with any kind of work. well-nigh lost?— The Kneeling Christian. Worldliness can penetrate even into prayer and preaching, and the most sacred work can be done in a worldly spirit. In like manner the Christian life does not consist Christ Is the Way in doing formally religious things, though We must impart to little groups and these have their place, but in the filial spirit through them to the world a new and burn­ which should pervade all doing and all days ing vision. And, finally, with God’s help we must turn back to Christ .... to the flaming in all life in all its interests. Whatsoever Master-Realist who actually lived and lives the Christian does, he is to do it heartily, in love with life and with humanity. as to the Lord and not to man. And this Through living with Him and learning living in all things unto the Lord is his of Him alone will come understanding and religion.—B o r d o n P. B o w n e . mastery of life.—F r a n c is B. S a y r e .

January-February, 1944 49 PROBLEMS PECULIAR TO PREACHERS . . .

Charles A. Gibson

Q. How long should a pastor remain in thick of the fight. Again, it is a bit pre­ one city? sumptuous on your part as a licensed A. So long as he can keep an advancing preacher to think you have either the program going. It should be remembered right or ability thus to express criticism. that it takes time to get acquainted in a city I think you should feel this keenly, and and no pastor can do his best work in his doing so, state same to the pastor and first or even his second year. Taking all pledge to him your unqualified support on things into consideration, if the town is not all issues unless morals are involved. I too large, and we have but one church in would think that the habit of regularity the same, the pastor who can stay a long in attendance at the services of your own while will do the best work. If it is a large church, except in cases where you are city and there are more churches of our preaching elsewhere, would be the order denomination in the city, the same can be you should follow. I do not accept the said where the location is sufficiently re­ argument that you should stay home from moved from the others and where there is services to get your studies. This w ill not be a good working spirit among our preachers. necessary if you properly outline your work One thing I do not want to seem to do, and use your time. namely to encourage short pastorates. Time will make greater demands on the preacher Q. I do not like the people of the com­ and bring out his better qualities. munity I serve, and yet I seem to be getting on fairly well. Should I seek a Q. How can I keep the prayer meeting change of pastorate? free from formality and drag? A. You should do one of two things; A. Pray much about it yourself. Keep either seek a change of pastorate or a in your heart the feeling that as the prayer change of attitude. It will not be long be­ meeting goes, so goes the church. With fore the people will sense your feeling and that in mind, plan the whole service. Study they in turn w ill return the same feelings. your scripture lesson so you can read it I remember hearing D. R. T. Williams well; speak very briefly and to the point. say that folks not only hear a preacher, but Make ample space for fervent prayer in they feel him as well. That is, there is a which you participate; but watch lest you peculiar way whereby human beings sense take too much of the time. Encourage the the lack of appreciation on the part of those timid, the young, and the newly-converted who do not have it. On the other hand, it is to take part and lead out in prayer. Re­ possible to weigh your present field in the member that praise is a part of prayer, and light of its need and the people as material without barber-shop tactics of “Who is to mold, and realizing the grace of God, next,” get each one to take part. Plan work with them until you learn to love well, and close on time. them so well that you could not be per­ suaded to leave even if a flattering offer Q. I am a licensed minister and a mem­ came. I advise the latter as your first ber of a local church. I attend most of choice. ----- the time and have appreciated the pastor, Q. I have an acquaintance, a fine preach­ but of late feel that he has not preached as er friend, who would join our church if I he should. A few days ago the opportunity urge him, and I ivish you would advise me came for me to talk with him and I told him whether or not I should. my views. This seems to have hurt. Did A. I would advise you not to urge this I do wrong, and what can I do to correct brother. He should be wise enough to see same? the wisdom of such a choice, and if not, the A. I think you likely did wrong; per­ whole church may likely be better off if haps not intentionally, but your viewpoint he does not come. You should treat him was wrong. To start with, you must re­ with every kindness and he could be ad­ member that before we lead we must learn vised as to our methods and progress, to be led. Again, keep in mind that it is our doctrines and ideals, but to do more always easier to find fault in the grandstand may cause him concern after he comes. He than it is to play ball on the diamond. Also, will find problems to be solved in our con­ a licensed minister is supposed to come nection and if he comes at your insistence, into the rank of the ministry and should he will likely blame you when he is tempt­ have a minister’s viewpoint. With this in ed. If he makes a prayerful decision and mind, you w ill see how easy it is for a casts his lot with us by conviction, he can minister, in the making, to be misunder­ meet every problem on the basis that the stood when he attempts to give his critical very best judgment he had was used, and view of any minister in charge and in the that he was clear in his leading of the Lord. 50 The Preacher's Magazine SERMON OUTLINES .

Tithing, God’s Financial Plan for His willingly and promptly. This is the only plan that treats everyone fairly. The per­ Church son who has only a dollar and puts in his Read Malachi 3:8-12. tithe of ten cents is just as much a tither as the one who earns $100 and hands $10 into Since the birth of the New Testament the church. Church on the Day of Pentecost, several Third: Tithing makes the church inde­ plans have been used to finance the nom­ pendent of the world in finances. inal organizations with more or less degree The church ought to be supported by of success. Four of these plans are listed Christians. Much reproach has been brought as follows: on the church because she has gone begging (1) By the charging of fees for cer­ to the world for her financial support. Tith­ tain services; by the selling of tokens and ing keeps the church from being dependent charms, etc. This has been used by the on the unsaved for her needs. God’s plan Catholic Church. would bring in enough money to meet all (2) Begging. This has been used in the needs of the church. For instance, a various countries by friars and priests church of one hundred and fifty members traveling on foot and begging as they go with forty men tithers, who make on the for gifts and donations to their work. average of $100 a month, would each be (3) A third plan of church support has able to support a yearly budget of $4800. been that of holding fairs, suppers, bazaars, Fourth: Tithing will enrich the person lawn parties, etc., and using the proceeds who practices it. to carry on the work of the church. (1) It will make him humble, for by the act of tithing he acknowledges God’s (4) Direct assesments. The church has a ownership of all he has. budget to meet of a certain amount of (2) Only the tither knows how true money, so they divide the amount of money the Scripture is which states, “It is more they need by the number of members they have and assess each one for his share. This blessed to give than to receive.” It is easier to get tithers to give offerings to any worthy is perhaps the most satisfactory method, cause than nontithers. next to that of tithes and offerings, which (3) Tithing blesses one spiritually and we believe is God’s financial plan for His church. enlarges the vision. (4) God blesses and prospers the tither. First: Tithing is the oldest and most suc­ The eternal, unchangeable God promises a cessful plan of financing religious work. sufficiency in all things (physical, financial Abraham used this plan more than two and spiritual) to the person who gives in thousand years before Christ (Gen. 14: the right way. Not only will this person 20), and some three hundred years later have a sufficiency for himself but he will Jacob became a wealthy man in perform­ abound in every good work, thus enriching ing his Bethel vow of tithing to the Lord and blessing the lives of all with whom he (Gen. 28:22). has contact. May the Lord help us as a For fifteen hundred years the faithful ob­ church to live up to this revelation so that servance of the law of tithing made the His blessings may abound in our services Jewish nation one of the most wealthy of and lives.—J u l ia n H o w a r d in Holiness the entire world. They were able to build Advocate. a magnificent temple of worship with their tithes and offerings and on their nine- • tenths became one of the most remarkable of all peoples. Second: Tithing gives us a plan of reg­ “Alone with God” ular giving. (Gen. 32:24, Heb. 9:7, Matt. 26:39) It answers the following questions in re­ I. J a c o b A l o n e o r t h e S in n e r . gard to Christian giving. (1) How much 1. His Predicament. shall I give? A minimum of one-tenth of 2. His Agony. our earnings. (2) Is God satisfied with 3. His Victory. what I am giving? Yes, this system origin­ II. T h e H i g h P r ie s t A l o n e o r t h e S a in t . ated in the law of God. The same law that 1. He was shut in-—the world shut out. reserves one-seventh of our time to the 2. He was there for himself and Israel. Lord tells us to present one-tenth of our 3. He met God by faith and with blood. earnings to Him. (3) Where shall I give III. J e s u s A l o n e o r t h e S a v io u r . it? In the storehouse or church treasury. 1. He was alone for the world. (4) When shall I give it? Upon the first day 2. He being alone provided victory for of the week. (5) How shall I give it? It is every man.— D . C. K o p p in The A lli­ revealed that we should give it cheerfully, ance Weekly.

January-February. 1944 51 Holiness and Evangelism III. T h e C h u r c h f r o m W h i c h T h e y W ere C a l l e d S c r ip t u r e —Acts 13:1-3. A. Antioch, the farthest recorded point to T e x t — So they, being sent forth by the Holy which disciples were scattered upon Ghost, departed .... (Acts 13:4). persecution arising about Stephen; I ntroduction largely a Gentile church. B. It was a revival church. 1. Text gives account of first Spirit-called “The hand of the Lord was with and church-recognized missionaries. them, and a great number believed.” 2. Church was taking organic form. 1. Barnabas encouraged them to a. Deacons consecrated. “cleave unto the Lord.” b. Churches organized. 2. Paul joined him and taught there c. Evangelists began itineraries. for one year. d. Definite plans made by church for C. It was a church blessed with proph­ fulfillment of the Great Commis­ ets; Agabus, who prophesied dearth. sion. Compare text with Acts 2:4, D. It was a benevolent church; sent re­ “They were all filled with the Holy lief unto the brethren who dwelt in Ghost, and began...... Disciples Judea. began to speak, multitude began to E. It was a spiritual church; they min­ tremble, world began to scoff, signs istered (worshiped), fasted and and wonders began to appear, etc. prayed.—E. E. G r o s s e . e. Jesus went up—the Holy Ghost came down—the Church went out. f. The Church received executive di­ • rection from the Holy Ghost. In the text, we see Him exercising this right. Seeing the Unseen

N ot e—Three facts to be noted in the de­ T e x t— Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that velopment of the sermon: he may see (II Kings 6:17). I ntroduction I. T h e C a l ib e r o f t h e M e n C a l l e d A. Spirit-filled men (Acts 9:17; 11:24). Elijah meets and denounces Ahab in That of Barnabas is one of the most taking Naboth’s life for his vineyard. His elaborate appraisals of human virtue calling down fire from heaven; his meeting in the Bible. with Elisha; Elisha leaving his work to be­ come the follower of the great man, Elijah. B. Fullness of the Spirit generates world- Their separation and Elisha’s request, its vision and world passion. Glorious being given (double portion of Elijah’s record of missionary achievement is an spirit). ample commentary upon their qualifi­ Elisha walks with God; Jordan parted, cations. son restored to life, one hundred men fed II. T h e M a n n e r i n W h i c h T h e y W ere with twenty loaves of bread, Naaman cured C a l l e d of leprosy. A. The work of the Holy Spirit was I. K in g o f S y r i a S e e k s t o T a k e E l i s h a ’s prominent in this church. Attitude L if e toward the Holy Spirit is test of a A. Why? (for revealing his war plans). progressive or decadent church—note B. Elisha surrounded at Dothan. Jewish church of first century and the Unknown to him (apply to the stealth twentieth century church in contrast of Satan). with the Antioch church. C. Discovery made by his servant. B. The Holy Ghost produces a holy rest­ Hushes to tell Elisha. lessness and a wholesome excitement: II. E l i s h a ’s R e a c t io n Holiness and Missions inseparable. A. Did not tremble, fear, despair nor 1. The promise, “Lo, I am with you” is weaken. Said, “Fear not. . . .” (II predicated upon our attitude toward Kings 6:16). His “G o ' ye.” B. Elisha saw more than the servant. 2. No claim upon the one without Servant’s eyes were good (too good), obedience to the other. but he saw only the world (the enemy 3. The tarrying is always followed by close at hand). a departing. C. Too often we see only the enemy close 4. Fire always occasions motion, com­ at hand—our eyesight limited (always motion and excitement. true of the unconverted). Illustration: Fire engines move, I l l u s t r a t e : Father says to son, “Man sirens scream, dogs bark, people cannot know that he is saved.” Son agrees; run. In a prairie foxes, coyotes, later is saved, then finds out for himself that rabbits, mice, rats, weasels, snakes, his own and his father’s eyes could not see all move. the things pertaining to God. Note—The Holy Ghost is the III. E l i s h a ’s P r a y e r Church’s greatest means of defense. A. Queer to the servant.

52 The Preacher's Magazine 1. Servant was younger (stronger in C. They followed the leadership of Saul, eyesight of the two). God’s anointed. They were touched 2. Yet Elisha prayed that it might be by the influence of God’s truly or­ the young m an’s eye| opened that dained. he might see. 1. Others went back home (v. 25). B. Prayer answered. 2. Still others, “children of Belial,” Young man sees with the old prophet despised and derided him (v. 27). the hosts of the Lord. The Unseen today is 3. These men were different. Jesus! Today God still loves and protects D. Touched by the great need and vision His own and is near to fight their battles of faith in the possibility of achieve­ against the enemy. May we elevate our ment. eyesight and look up to Jesus! 1. David was touched and moved to C l o s i n g build the temple; calling the proph­ What we are has much to do with what et Nathan, he said, “See now, I we see. dwell in a house of cedar, but the Elisha saw because of his godly walk. ark of God dwelleth within cur­ May our appetites be for eternal and tains.” higher things.— G l e n n M. B u t l e r . 2. Gideon saw the bondage of Israel. God touched him and with his three hundred faithful men of vision, he routed the enemies of God. God-touched Lives 3. Moses observed the slavery of his own people. His heart responded to T e x t : And there went with him a band of the divine touch and a call that men, whose hearts God had touched (I made him the great deliverer and Samuel 10:26). lawgiver. Introduction 4. Jesus said, “Lift up your eyes, and Samuel had just anointed Saul, the son look on the fields; for they are of Kish, to be the first king of God’s people. white already to harvest.” Study the changes which took place in the life of this humble, retiring son of Israel. E. Direct touch of the supernatural mani­ 1. As he turned his back to go from Sam­ festation of God’s Spirit on the in­ uel “God gave him another heart.” dividual life of God’s people. God’s call is contingent upon heart 1. Isaiah saw the Lord “high and lifted preparation (v. 9). up” (Isa. 6:1). 2. The “Spirit of God came upon him ” (v. 2. Day of Pentecost; single-minded group in the Upper Room. Sudden­ 1 0 ). God not only provides heart prepar­ ly there came the Baptism with the ation, but gives his spirit of power to Holy Ghost and they were all filled. His anointed and chosen. Of Samson it 3. Saul on the highway; light and was said, “The Spirit of the Lord came voice. mightily upon him.” The old king 4. The discouraged disciples on the testified of Daniel, “in whom is the road to Emmaus. spirit of the holy gods.” II. Results of God’s Touch 3. Saul found his place among the proph­ A. Tenderness—I will take away the heart ets and prophesied as one of them (v. of stone. 10). B. Courage—Peter became the fearless a. God not only calls, He sends. speaker at Pentecost; John the Bap­ b. He not only prepares the heart, He tist had courage to speak the truth, endues with power to perform. although it cost him his life. c. Saul—broke forth in the unre­ strained spirit of God-inspired C. Vision and faith. The old prophet prophecy. prayed for his servant, “Lord, I pray 4. The people of the Lord acknowledged thee, open his eyes, that he may see” the change. (II Kings 6:17). '‘A ll that knew him .... saw that D. Quickening power, “You hath he .... he (was) .... among the quickened.” Ezekiel saw the quick­ prophets.” ening power of God upon the valley of I. A B a n d o f G o d -t o u c h e d M e n —A s s o c i ­ dry bones; they became a mighty a t e d w i t h G o d ’s A n o i n t e d L e a d e r army, filled with power. A. Inspiration to a leader; not only join­ E. Unity of purpose, and co-operative ers, not merely admirers, not spongers, effort, “A nd the multitude .... were not doubters; but men with a divine of one heart and of one soul.” Nothing touch. is so unifying as God’s Spirit coming in B. Vital and deep; men whose hearts had power into the lives of His people. been moved. Vision, courage and loy­ “And there went with him a band. alty from their hearts, “truehearted, . . . .” Why? Because God had touched wholehearted.” their hearts.

January-February, 1944 53 Conclusion the little chicken has no power of itself Appalling, the utter futility of human ef­ to protect against the wiles of the fowler, forts today. The need of a new touch of so the Christian cannot rely on his own God upon the Church is so obvious. If only strength to defeat the enemy of his soul. the pastor’s heart will be made new, and The enemy is stronger than we and his the band around him might be fired as with wiles beyond our ability to discern. All hearts which God hath touched, then vic­ around the Christian in this world are tory would be assured.— Weaver W . Hess. dangers seen and unseen. The one who de­ • ceived Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden is just as wily now as then, and if we God’s Financial Plan lean unto our own understanding, as they I . W h o ? did, we w ill fall a victim to his snares. We A. Malachi 3:10—“Ye.” must rely on one who is wiser than we B. I Corinthians 16:2—“Every one of are. you”—from the youngest to the oldest. II. The Deceiver —The enemy of souls is II. W h a t ? a deceiver. The fowler is pictured as setting A. Malachi 3:8, 10—“Tithes and offer­ a snare. A snare never accomplishes its ings.” purpose if it looks like a snare. No bird or B. I Corinthians 16:2—“As God hath animal will walk into what they know is a prospered you.” trap. We may therefore beware of those This will determine the amount of your things in which we see no harm. It is a tithes and offerings. common excuse on the part of the young, III. W h e n ? and sometimes older person, when a wise A. Malachi 3:8-10—When the storehouse Christian cautions them against a certain is open to receive the tithes and offer­ course in which there is hidden danger, to ings. respond that they “see no harm in it.” Be­ R. I Corinthians 16:2—“Upon the first ware of such a line of reasoning. Where the day of the week.” wise, Bible-instructed Christian sounds a IV. How? warning based on Bible truth, the younger A. Malachi 3:10—“Bring.” and inexperienced Christian better receive B. I Corinthians 16:2—“Lay by.” the caution and abstain from the seductive V. W h e r e ? path that has in it a hidden snare. The B i­ A. Malachi 3:10—“Into the storehouse” ble tells of dangers where the eyes of man —God’s house. sees none. The Spirit warns of dangers B. I Corinthians 16:2—“In store.” when reason sees nothing dangerous. VI. W h y ? A. Malachi 3:10. III. The Deliverer— The hen protecting 1. “That there may be meat in my the little chicken is only a figure of God house”—sufficient means. taking care of the weak Christian. The hen 2. That we may receive God’s bles­ oftentimes is destroyed protecting her sings. young, but never forsakes them. God never B. I Corinthians 16:2. forsakes, and He is strong enough to protect “That there be no gatherings”—no against every enemy. The believer may special pulling for money to hinder the well sing: preaching services, but all collections “The soul that on Jesus doth lean for re­ in.—S e le c t e d . pose, • I w ill not, I will not, desert to his foes; That soul, though all hell should endeavor The Great Deliverance to shake, T e x t — Surely he shall deliver thee from I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.” the snare of the fowler (Psalm 91:3). Introduction —The ninety-first Psalm is IV. Personal Responsibility —It is a one of the most familiar Psalms in the mistake to think because God is so careful Bible. The safety of those who put their of His children that there is no responsibil­ trust in God is represented in a variety of ity on our part. Men by nature are not re­ ways. In verses 3 and 4 the figure is that lated to God as Father in the Scriptural of a helpless chicken under the wings of sense. If we would have that relationship the mother hen. We see the same symbol­ pictured by the mother hen and chicken, we ism where Jesus said of Jerusalem: “How must be partakers of the Divine nature by often would I have gathered thy children the new birth. The evidence of this new together, even as a hen gathereth her chick­ birth is that we love the things that God ens under her wings.” The picture is of loves. A chicken has a nature that causes it the fowler setting a snare for the helpless to follow the mother hen everywhere she little chickens, but the chicken is hiding in goes. The chicken understands every note the feathers of the mother hen, and safe u n ­ the mother hen gives—whether it be calling der her wings. to a special morsel, clucking to follow her as I. The Danger —The picture is one of she walks, warning of danger, or other­ danger. The fowler is laying a snare for wise. In like manner Jesus says “M y sheep the chicken, typical of the Christian. As know my voice.” Just as the chicken re- 54 The Preacher's Magazine sponds to every call of the hen, so the new­ tribute to the best there is in life, both for born Christian has a nature in him that re­ time and for eternity. In all our use of sponds to the call of God. these things we are as strangers and pil­ C o n c l u s i o n —Furthermore, the knowl­ grims here below. Our citizenship here is edge of having once been under the hen’s temporary; it is abiding in the heavenly wings does not make the chicken safe ever country. The life here and life hereafter after. There must be, as stated in the first were not distinct and separate to these verse of this Psalm, “dwelling” and “abid­ saints, but one and the same. The God who ing.” Any disposition to think that, because was preparing a place for them there was we were once dwelling and abiding, we are preparing them for that place here. They therefore still abiding and safe in spite of would have God with them here; they anything we do is a grave error. The chick­ would soon be with Him there. Among the en is under its mother’s wing or it is not. promises they saw afar off were the prom­ So every Christian is abiding in the Lord ises of Christ’s coming in humiliation, to or is not abiding.—W m . M. S m i t h in The make possible this heavenly life and this Gospel. heavenly country for fallen mankind, and that of His coming again in glory to reign o in Person as King over all the earth. We are now living in the fulfillment of the Christ, the Door promise of His coming in humiliation; and I am the door.—John 10:9. with these of old, we look forward to the An elementary and foundational text, re­ fulfillment of the promise of His com­ ing in glory. vealing the simplicity of the gospel. Every home has at least one door! I. Abel, grasping the promises, and seeing Notice the four words of the text, mono­ something of their significance by faith, syllabic, and each progressing with one offered a more acceptable sacrifice to God letter, two letters, etc. than Cain, “by which he obtained witness Stress the main points in some such that he was righteous.” Cain, setting his af­ manner as this: fections on things of the earth, presump­ 1. “I am the Door.” tuously offered the work of his hands for Who makes this claim? the sins of his soul. In anger he slew his W hat is His right to speak thus? brother whose works were righteous, while 2. “I am the Door.” his own were evil. Abel, being dead, yet It is a fact. speaketh. Millions can testify to the certainty of this truth. II. Enoch, enraptured with the things of 3. “I am the Door.” the glory world, walked with God for three The God-appointed one. hundred years, and was not, for God took him. He was environed by the godless men The unique and sufficient means of of his day. He cried out against their wick­ entrance into the Christian life. 4. “I am the Door.” edness, and prophesied of the doom they were determining for themselves, declar­ The gateway to all the worth-while ing to them the coming of the Christ. And blessings in this life and the life to come. Enoch, “before his translation .... had this testimony, that he pleased God.” The door is now open for all to enter who will.—Gospel Banner. III. By faith, Noah, convinced of the cer­ tainties of eternal verities, being warned • of God of things not seen, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; “by the which he Heavenly Seekers condemned the world, and became heir of From Earthly Environments the righteousness which is by faith.” A But now they desire a better country, mighty work of co-operation with God in that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not the accomplishment of a great purpose in His ashamed to be called their God: for he hath dealings with mankind. These men had a prepared for them a city (Heb. 11:16). faith that moved them to action. Read the entire chapter. IV. By faith, Abraham, convinced of the Many of us are wont to think of life certainties of the purpose of God’s call of in terms of our present experiences of it him, “went out, not knowing whither he here below. Through God and the use of went.” God and His will were more to the eye of faith, the men and women of Abraham than the things of time and sense; this chapter have caught glimpses of a bet­ and this he manifested by his obedience of ter, a heavenly country, and of the life that faith. Much that God promised to accomp­ is possible there. They see life in its m ani­ lish through Abraham has been accomp­ festations here in the light of life as a lished during the four thousand years that whole; they see it in time in the light of have passed since his call; and all will be eternity. The things of time and sense have fulfilled in God’s foreknown time. By faith, their places and their uses. They are to Abraham made a glorious investment of his be so controlled that their use will con­ life. By faith he lived a life of co-oper­

January-February, 1944 55 ation with God in the accomplishment of grace to make them victors in all sit­ His purposes. He was called “the friend uations of life. of God.” C. Holiness, as a state, is a living rela­ V. “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of tionship of His children with God, Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suf­ brought about by the necessary steps fer affliction with the people of God, than in the crises of salvation. to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; D. Holiness, being the life of God, im­ esteeming the reproach of Christ greater plies that there is no life situation that riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he is superior in strength or strategy to had respect unto the recompense of the reward.” Whatever Egypt had to offer was His life. temporary and fleeting; its rewards would II. The biblical references to holiness of be but a passing show, and would perish life indicate a life of victory. with the using at the best. The things of God were enduring and eternal. Having A. Spiritual establishment. declined earthly honors and emoluments, 1. Holiness as standing grace (Romans God honored Moses by using him as the in ­ 5:1, 2). strument in His hands for the founding of 2. Inner strength (Col. 1:9-23). the Theocracy at Sinai. As a nation, Egypt was mighty compared with other nations of 3. Establishment in holiness (I Thess. the earth; but God was Almighty, the Cre­ 3:13). ator and Upholder of all things. God put B. Intensity of love perfected assures the to shame the powers of Egypt in the signs believer of victory. wrought in the deliverance of the Children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage. 1. Removes carnal fears and gives This chapter begins with a definition of stamina of character (I John 4:16- faith in its far-sighted aspects, its activities 18). and achievements. The eye of faith saw 2. Brings a devotion which makes one the substances that were back of the prom­ ises of God, and acted rationally and under­ more than an overcomer (Rom. 8: standing^. Many of the promises might be 33-39). long in their fulfillment, but they were 3. The believer is rooted and grounded certain in that, and in all respects. These in love (Eph. 3:16, 17). men acted sanely in the light of the cer­ C. Paul calls it the whole armor (Eph. 6). tainties recognized by faith. In this record, 1. Preparation to enable one to stand. God is showing us some of the possibilities 2. Also to withstand—wage an offen­ of faith, and challenging us to follow in the footsteps of these effective believers. Here sive war as well as a defensive one. we see faith in action, achieving in the ac­ III. Holiness is a partnership of life. complishment of the divine purposes; and, A. Life of holiness is derived from Christ under God, history-making in its activities. (Gal. 2:20). These men of faith were the mountain-peak B. A life that is co-operative in all its men of the ages. The world was enriched phases. through them, and would have been im­ 1. A vision of the possibiliites in part­ poverished without them. Here we have nership (Eph. 1:17-19). evidence of the place of human instrumen­ tality in the divine activities. God is seek­ 2. According to the power that work­ ing for such men today!— H. O. Fanning. eth in us (Eph. 3:20). C. The Spirit is the guide and counselor. • a “Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he w ill guide you into all Expository Messages on Holiness truth; for he shall not speak of him­ self, but whatsoever he shall hear, that Holiness and Victorious Living shall he speak; and he w ill shew you (Acts 1:8) things to come” (John 16:13). D. The Spirit will help in the hour of I. Holiness is the fundamental basis and crisis and emergency (Matt. 10:19, 20). source of victorious living. E. These promises verified in Acts. A. God is not interested in saving or sanc­ 1. Comforted in time of persecution tifying people simply to say there and testing. were so many at the altar, or to take 2. Given the words to speak (Peter). them to heaven. 3. Given boldness to speak and B. God is interested in bringing as many strength for their duties (Acts 4). as possible of His creation into a vital 4. They received hope in the hour of living relationship with Himself so that seeming defeat and discouragement, in Him they may find the strength and a) Stephen.

56 The Preacher's Magazine b) Paul and Silas. III. The place Christ is coming from and c) Paul in a storm at sea. going to take His children to is a place of F. Prayer is a co-operative life (Romans holiness. 8:26, 27). A. It is the place where God dwells. He, being the source of holiness, has a holy G. Full partnership is based on consecra­ place to live in. tion and death to self. B. The past time of the inhabitants is 1. God becomes the Sovereign. proclaiming His holiness (Isa. 6:3). 2. He is the director. C. The description given of heaven pic­ 3. It is a life of fellowship, communion tures it as a holy place (Rev. 22:2-5). and service. D. Prepared for the enjoyment of those God uses His children. who have special delight in that kind His children use Him. of atmosphere and character of place. 4. Holy people can have victory all IV. Christ is coming for a certain class the time. A life of faith and living of people. union. A. Taught in the Parable of Ten Virgins “Not my feeling but my faith. (Matt. 25:1-10). Not my weakness but His strength. B. Also Parable of Wedding Feast. Wed­ Not my ignorance but His wisdom. ding garment used to place guests on Not my efforts but His enduement. a plane of equality (Matt. 22:10-14). Not my poverty but His enrichment. C. Paul writes specifically to the Thes- Not my personality but His Presence. salonians of holiness as a preparation for the Second Coming (I Thessalon- —L e w i s T . C o r l e t t . ians). 1. Regeneration has set their heart and eyes to look for His coming. 2. Paul’s rejoicing will be their fitness Holiness and the Second Coming at the coming of the Lord (2:19). (I Thess. 4) [. Holiness is the only remedy for earth’s ailments and the only passport to the glory land. A. The Second Coming of Jesus Christ is a reality. 1. The certainty of it is assured. 2. Prophecy has given us many things that shall characterize His coming. 3. The time of the coming is uncertain. B. The theme of the morning is not the Second Coming but holiness in its re­ lation to the Second Coming. 1. During the series we have made a progressive study of holiness. 2. Its source is in God and its purpose is to so fix man that he can spend eternity with God. 3. We are not concerned with the dif­ ferent phases of the coming as many CHURCH BULLETIN COVERS would divide it. A new series of four-page Bulletin Covers, II. The Purpose of the Second Coming. printed in black and white on the two outside A. To complete redemption (Hebrews 9: pages. The inside pages are blank and may 28). be used for mimeograph work or for printing. 1. Salvation has been provided. The designs and the printed material em­ 2. Christ’s victory over sin is poten­ phasize special days such as Labor Day, tially complete (Romans 8:22, 23). Christian Education, Rally Day, Loyalty. 3. It will take the final consummation Thanksgiving, Missions, etc. of affairs to complete redemption in The price is 35c a hundred bulletins, pre­ all its phases. paid. The same number of bulletins must be B. To fulfill prophecy and to show that ordered for each Sunday in a quarter. For Christ is the conquering Servant as example, if a church orders fifty bulletins for well as the suffering Servant. each of the thirteen Sundays in one quarter, 1. First time He came in humiliation. this total of 650 bulletins at 35c a hundred 2. Second time He is coming in exalta­ would cost $2.28, delivered. tion (Rev. 1:7; Matt. 25:31). Sample package containing one each of 3. Angels said that He is coming back thirteen different covers will be sent, no charge, (Acts 1:11). on request. C. To claim His own (John 14:1-3). N A Z A R E N E PUBLISHING H O U S E D. To reward His children and punish Box 527 the wicked (Matt. 25:36-46). 2923 Troost Ave., Kansas City 10, Mo.

January-February, 1944 57 3. His prayer, admonition and warning “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with are to the effect that they should all thy heart, and with all thy soul, take advantage of the will of God, and with all thy mind” (Matt. 22:37). sanctification, for God hath not III. Heart Holiness called them unto uncleanness but unto holiness. 1. An inward work. 4. His exhortation was for them to a. Regeneration separates the indi­ walk so that God could sanctify vidual from actual sinning and the them and preserve them blameless condemnation of actual transgres­ unto the coming of our Lord Jesus sions. Christ (5:23). b. Heart Holiness removes the sin na­ D. Only those who have their affections ture from the inner life. and interests severed from the things c. Regeneration removes the love of of this world w ill be ready when He the world; sanctification removes comes for them. the fear of the world. 2. Heart Holiness is the perfecting of E. Peter admonishes the Christian to be holy (II Peter 3:10-14). man’s moral nature in the divine na­ ture. V. Holiness and the Second Coming are closely related for Christ is coming in a. Perfection is a relative term. (1) We say anything is perfect His holiness to take a holy people to a when it fulfills the purpose for holy place.—L e w i s T. C o r l e t t . which it was made. (2) We also say a person is perfect when he or she conforms to a set of standards or ideals for Heart Holiness or Holiness Com­ a person at a particular age, pleted perfect baby, perfect foot, etc. (Matt. 5:48; 1 John 4:16-21) b. Perfection in any realm does not exclude imperfection in another I . E v e r y m a n ’s p r iv il e g e i s t o h a v e h i s e n ­ realm. t ir e MORAL NATURE SO FILLED WITH GOD (1) Perfect physical body does not THAT HIS ENTIRE LIFE WILL BE HARMONIZED imply perfect mentality. AND MOTIVATED BY G o d ’ s THINKING AND (2) A car may have a perfect car­ STANDARDS buretor and yet perform im­ 1. God’s ideal is for every one of His perfectly. children to be pure in heart. c. Heart Holiness deals with the per­ 2. Term, “Heart Holiness.” fecting of the motive life, the moral a. Holiness has been considered in the nature. general sense of the term in ref­ (1) To enable man to do what he is ence: supposed to do. Show forth the Cl) To the moral life of God. glory of God—Isaiah 43:21. (2) To the transmission of that (2) The complete possession of the moral nature to man in steps moral nature of man by God. of salvation. (3) He may be imperfect in the b. Holiness begins in regeneration and other realms of his nature but is completed in man’s moral nature holiness controls and perme­ in sanctification. ates the whole moral nature. II. Need of Heart Holiness d. Heart Holiness is: 1. Nature of the sin problem. (1) Inward rest of soul—harmony a. Man is both sinful and a sinner. of soul. b. Regeneration changes man from a (2) Constant peace. sinner to a child of God but merely (3) Stability of joy. brings the sinful nature into sub­ (4) Sense of inward cleanness. jection. (5) Perfected in love. c. A ll churches agree on this. (6) New freedom in service. d. A further work is needed. (7) More vital relation with God. e. Definition of carnality—not an en­ tity, but a corruption of the moral IV. Heart Holiness w rought in man. life; the depravity of the self life. 1. Man’s part. 2. To fully satisfy man. a. Recognition of need. a. Man was created holy so all of his b. Cultivation of desire. capacities and abilities were made c. Consecration. to function in a life of holiness. Giving of assets—dying out to b. When sin entered, holiness was lost self—losing oneself in God. and inner friction set in. d. Trust. c. Man’s inner nature must be holy for his organisms and faculties to O that in me the sacred fire function properly. Might now begin to glow; 3. God requires it—Matt. 5:48; Hebrews B u m up the dross of base desire, 12:14. And make the mountains flow. 58 The Preacher's Magazine O that it now from heaven might fall “God’s Commands to the World Church” And all my sins consume: (Rev. 2:5— Remember, Repent, Hold Fast, Come, Holy Ghost, for thee I call; Hear). Spirit of burning, come. “God’s Knowledge of the World Church” (Rev. 2:2). Refining fire, go through my heart, “God’s Teachings to the World Church” Illuminate my soul; Scatter thy life through every part, (Rev. 3:20 and Rev. 1:1-4—Humility, Faith, Love, Obedience). And sanctify the whole. “God’s Promises to the World Church” My steadfast soul, from falling free, (Rev. 2:7). Shall then no longer move; “God’s Love of the World Church” (Rev. While Christ is all the world to me, 1:5 and John 3:16). And all my heart is love. “God’s Surprise to the World Church” — C . W e s l e y . (Rev. 1:5 and Rev. 1:18). 2. God’s part. “God’s Leadership and Care of the World a. Accepts the assets. Church” (Rev. 1:13, 20). b. Cleanses the heart—Matt. 3:10, 11; “God’s Gifts to the World Church” (Rev. 1 John 1:7; Acts 15:8, 9. 21:7 and John 3:16). c. Fills the whole nature—love per­ fected simultaneous with the cleans­ “God’s Miracles in the World Church” ing. (Rev. 18:21 and 13:7-10). d. Witnesses to the work—Hebrews “God’s Task Assigned to the World 10:14. Church” (Rev. 22:17 and Matthew 28:19, V. This is a life relationship 20).— The United Presbyterian. 1. God’s life permeating and controlling. 2. Man’s life yielding and obeying. 3. This is the method of keeping holy.— L e w i s T. C o r l e t t . Communion Sermon Themes • “Why Jesus Died” (II Cor. 5:15) and Closes Sermon Series “Glorying in the Cross” (Gal. 6:14), by Dr. On Book of Revelation Thomas H. Newcomb. “The Art of Communion,” by Rev. Floyd Bloom ville, N. Y.—The Book of Revela­ Withrow. tion provided Rev. B. F. Myers, pastor of “The Unanswered Prayer” (Mark 14:36), the Gilchrist Memorial church, with themes by Rev. J. E. Caughey. for a series of sermons which came to a close at Easter time. Themes and refer­ “Are We Able?” (Matt. 26:26-28) by Rev. ences were as follows: Paul F. Sharpe. “The Deciding Factor in A ll Things” “Communion of the Saints,” by Rev. Walter (Rev. 1:8 and James 4:13-17). J. Teeuwissen. “The Successess of the W orld Church” “Enoch—No Death, No Tomb,” by Rev. A. (Rev. 2:2, 3). H. Griffiths. “The Failures of the World Church” “He Took a Towel,” by Rev. J. C. Nevin. (Rev. 2:4). “A Vision of Christ and His Cross” (I Cor. “God’s Warnings to the World Church” 1:23, 24), by Rev. G. W. Hutton.—The United (Rev. 2:16). Presbyterian.

DORAN'S MINISTER'S MANUAL FOR 1944 An inexhaustible source book of homiletical material— Sermon Outlines, Prayers Poems, Hymns, Texts and Subjects, Illustrations, Sermons for Children, Prayer Meeting Topics, Lenten Suggestions, Special Services, Bulletin Board Slogans and other helps for the busy pastor. Carefully planned, comprehensive, practical, suggestive. Worth many times its price. 2.00 NAZARENE PUBLISHING HOUSE 2923 Troost Ave., Box 527, Kansas City 10, Mo.

January-February, 1944 59 MISSIONARY DEPARTMENT

The Story of a Hymn Scott had proved beyond doubt the mighty power of Christ to deliver and protect all “Alas! and Did My Saviour Bleed?” who put their trust in Him! The mission­ DWARD RAYSON SCOTT was a mis­ ary setlted down among the Naga, and E sionary who labored in India some had the joy of leading many of them to years ago. A t one time he became con­ Christ before his death, for he spent the rest vinced that the Lord wanted him to preach of his life among them.—Bright Words in the good tidings to a hill tribe known as the Missionary Women’s Herald. the Naga. He had never visited them, but managed to master their language in some + small measure before setting out on his great venture. They were a fierce tribe, One Thing I Know and hostile toward strangers, and his friends did their utmost to dissuade him from HEY called him “The Bhagat” (saint); going among them, but relying on the T but he had not always been a Bhagat. promise, “Go ye therefore, and, lo, I am Far from it! In his vigorous youth, he had with you alway,” he set out, refusing the been “Atra the Highwayman.” With his military escort which he had been offered, six feet three and brawny arms and ruth­ fearing lest his mission of peace might be less ways he was a terror far and near. He misunderstood. supported in easy comfort a wife and three children who occupied the one human He set out by himself, taking with him his spot in his heart—to them he was very violin, for he was a great lover of music. devoted. Besides the wide popularity given After three or four days’ journey he found him by his physical prowess, he was a good himself at the foot of the hills which led to singer and knew all the folk songs and the Naga country. The tribesmen had heathen worship songs of his parts. Also he heard of his approach and had planned was quite a good magician, read incan­ an ambush. Suddenly, as he ascended a tations over the sick, pretending to make hillside, Scott found himself surrounded by them well by his black arts, and this added savage men, armed with spears which were still more to his income. leveled at his heart. Any moment might be his last, but the mighty power of Christ G o d ’s W a y s o f S e e d -S o w i n g was his strong-hold in that hour of his Somehow one of his nephews had be­ need. Had He not sent him saying, “Lo, I come a Christian—and one brave and am with you?” conscientious enough to reprove his uncle At the prompting of the Holy Spirit he for his wild ways and exhort to better unslung his violin from his shoulder, tucked things. So far as could be seen the seed it under his chin, and began to play a thus sown was wasted. However, God has hymn, singing to it some words he had more than one way of sowing. One winter translated into their language: in an epidemic, his three dear children all died within a few days of one another. This was followed shortly by the death of “Alas and did my Saviour bleed? his wife and both grandchildren. To add And did my Sov’reign die? to these troubles, and partly as a result Would He devote that sacred head of them, he lost his eyesight also, and with For such a worm as I?” that, of course, his income. He sat and brooded much, and said in his fear, “This The men stood spellbound as he contin­ is what God is doing to me.” His nephew, ued: who now had become an evangelist, felt “Was it for crimes that I have done very sorry for him and urged him to accept He groaned upon the Tree? the hospitality of his home. Others of the Amazing pity! Grace unknown! Christians of his neighborhood offered him And love beyond degree. help. He refused all. Poor houses and orphan asylums have “But drops of grief can ne’er repay never been a feature of oriental countries. The debt of love I owe: Perhaps one should say, “Praise God for Here, Lord, I give myself away— that.” The history of those institutions in ’Tis all that I can do.” western Christian countries has never been loo good, and even yet leaves much to When he had finished singing he looked be desired. The family system in India up, and saw, to his amazement, that tears takes care of most of the poor. This is were flowing down the cheeks of some supplemented by rest rooms attached to of those wild tribesmen, and all trace of all mosques and temples, where those per­ hostility had disappeared. In that extremity sons who have no one to look to can have 60 The Preacher's Magazine free food and lodging with no stigma at­ mothers brought to him their little children, tached. That seemed to him the more natur­ just to have him lay his hands upon them al place, so to the “Gurdwara” went Atra and bless them—and then, they began call­ where his social gifts soon made him rath­ ing him, as they ever did afterward, “Bha- er a favorite. gat,” the saint. Religious controversy is one of the chief The Seed Springs Up indoor sports of India. Among Moslems However, he brooded more and more and the “Blind Hafiz” (one who has committed his songs took on those sweet minor tones the whole of the Quran to heart) is the so noticeable in the songs of the suffering. one who can argue longest and the most Also they became more infrequent. Some­ acrimoniously. Controversialists used to thing was really happening to Atra though come from far and near to argue with the he talked to no one about it, until sud­ Bhagat. He would never argue, only say, denly he appeared one day before the In ­ “I’m not literate, I’m not brilliant; but dian Padre asking for baptism. “ T h e king­ one thing I know.” Then he would pour dom of God is as if a man should cast out such a volume of rich, loving testimony a seed upon the earth and should sleep and to the power of Jesus in his own life as rise night and day, and the seed should could not be gainsaid. spring up and grow, he knoweth not how.” To one zealous bigot who harassed him Some seed unheeded in the past now found continually he one day said, “I cannot its bit of good ground. argue. I make this statement, however, A Blind M an’s Testimony Jesus is stronger than Mohammed.” This so angered his opposer that he poured After his baptism Atra became a dif­ upon him a stream of vile abuse and ferent man. He left off singing the non- struck him a heavy blow in the face. All Christian songs, left off his magic and in ­ the mixed crowd of by-standers, men of cantations and took up the singing of Chris­ many faiths, cried shame on one who would tian hymns, those charming lyric hymns strike a blind man. telling all the life of Christ—these are An angry tumult might have arisen but quite common to the East—learning to ac­ Bhagat, without the least show of heat, company himself on the “seven strings,” t h e rose to his full stature, and stretching out Indian guitar. He took up Bible story his long arms toward heaven, said. “Yisu telling—all the sweet stories of Jesus, Masih ki jai! (Victory to Jesus Christ!) Friend of the poor and sinners. His fav­ One thing I know, Jesus, you are stronger. orite was from John 9, the story of that You kept your servant from anger. Mo­ other blind man and his testimony to t h e hammed did not. Yisu Mashi ki jai!” This power of Jesus. cry being echoed by some in the crowd, One day at the Gurdwara one of his com­ the opposer slunk away.— M r s . W. T. A n ­ panions said to him, “When you eat your d e r s o n in The United Presbyterian. food why do you say, ‘Praise to the Name of Jesus’? You should say, ‘Praise to Guru + Nanak’ instead. It is through Guru Nanak you are getting everything free.” “Oh, is that so? Well, that’s what you Equipment think. Jesus is my Creator, my Sustainer, Hudson Taylor thus sums up the mis­ and my Saviour. It is Jesus I love, and sionary equipment. Every minister of the Jesus I follow. It is He I am thanking. So, Gospel needs such: things being thus, I ’ll say good-by.” A life yielded to God and controlled by “Oh, come, come. Do not take it so ser­ His Spirit; iously. Stay on. We do not mind. We like A restful trust in God for the supply of your songs and your company. Stay on.” all needs; “Jesus, my Guru, is amply able to supply A sympathetic spirit, and a willingnes to all my needs,” and with that he left, seem­ take a lowly place; ing to feel he was compromising Christ Tact in dealing with men and adapta­ by living on the charity of a rival Guru, bility to circumstances; He went back to his own empty house. Zeal in service, and steadfastness in dis­ They who had received blessings through couragement; him, however, continued to visit him with Love for communion with God, and for their gifts, and he never seemed to want. the study of His Word; They came to him with their sorrows and A healthy body and a vigorous mind. troubles as well as with their sick. Many —Selected.

“ A l l are not gifted preachers or evangelists, but all saved ones can tell someone else of the Lord Jesus and the way of life.”—S e le c t e d .

Jonuary-February. 1944 6) ILLUSTRATIONS

Basil W. Miller

The Tragedy of Sin he said. “My ancestors did so much to “He was a great preacher,” said Mrs. Ber­ establish this belief that this is the small­ tha Schwab, my assistant pastor at Central est thing I can do in return.” Church, Pasadena. “He had written many He was a junior in college when his time books, edited a religious paper for years came to go, and he turned from his college and a monthly magazine. He had sent sev­ work to spend two and a half years without eral missionaries to the foreign field and pay in the interest of Mormonism. his churches throughout Indiana had been “Who supports you?” I inquired. old-fashioned, prosperous ones in the Holy “My family,” he answered, “and they are Spirit—” glad to render this service to our cause. I And then came the tragedy. travel from house to house among the Mexi­ Says U. E. Harding, “That man spent cans of the Southwest, telling them about thirty days in court. He beat the denomina­ Mormonism and giving them Spanish tracts tion out of its property, stole a million and that they might be led into our belief.” a half dollars from it. Then his wife died. Then he told me of how the nation is He married his secretary w ith whom he had divided into divisions with superintendents had illicit relations.” over each division, something like districts When Harding was a blind boy in the and district superintendents, and under each blind institute of Indianapolis, with a group leader are hundreds of missionaries. In of other blind boys, U. E. walked down the fact around the world there are more than street one day and heard a preacher on the two thousand self-supported missionaries comer delivering a street message. scattering the doctrine of Joseph Smith and “There were fifteen hundred people on Brigham Young. that corner who had stopped to hear him, “America is missionary territory,” he said so eloquent and dynamic was he,” said the as he parted. blind boy many years later. “But sin got I thought, “Wouldn’t it be wonderful for hold of his life and wrecked him com­ the cause of Christ if the Church could per­ pletely.” suade her young men to go forth house-to- Last year the story came to its end. Said house as missionaries to carry the gospel Mrs. Schwab, “Brother Miller, I received story to the lost and dying?” word from a friend in Indiana that this Can it be laid at the door of the Christian backslidden preacher had been run over by Church that Mormon youth love their doc­ an automobile in Florida and had been trines more than Christian youth love their killed.” Bibles? The right way is the best way. One may These missionaries are not Mormon elders be accidentally killed when walking the or preachers, they are lay workers in most right way, but he goes out with the blood cases, going forth on a mission—to tell of covering his sins, rather than with blood on Joe Smith’s visions and the Book of Mor­ his conscience. mon. • Let us arise, youth of the Church, and Cobwebs on the Box go forth with Christ’s message and banner Sez the janitor, “There wuz an old to conquer the nation for Him. stewardship box fur missionary offerings • that hung in our vestibule until it finally got cobwebs strung over hit and then I tuck Crackers and Cheese Christians it down. Too little used!” “D id you ever meet any cracker-and- • cheese Christians?” asked W ill H. Hough­ “I Volunteered” ton of a Pasadena audience. “Were you drafted?” I asked the young Years ago, this Moody Institute presi­ man as the Californian sped on toward El dent explained, before his conversion he Paso, Texas. was an actor, and met a fellow showman “No, I volunteered,” he answered. who had just returned from England. Be­ We had been in conversation for some ing in poor circumstances, the actor had time and he told me that he was a Mormon bought a ticket on the boat and was as­ missionary to Texas. He had been in school signed a berth in the third class section. and when time came for him to spend time For three days he did not appear at the as a missionary, rather than being drafted he table until finally a steward accosted him. gladly volunteered. “And why haven’t you been eating?” asked “I count it the greatest privilege that can the steward. come to me to carry Mormonism to others,” “But I have,” returned the actor.

62 The Preacher's Magazine “I haven’t seen you at the table,” said the This religion of Father Divine and sim­ steward. ilar items show the gullibility of the Amer­ “Well, you see it was like this. I didn’t ican nation. And as long as there are sub­ have enough money to pay for the meals stitutes for real religion which are pawned so I bought a box of crackers and five off on the nation from pulpit and press, and pounds of cheese to eat on my way over.” as long as Christians are religious on Sun­ “But man, didn’t you know the meals day when in the house of God and not on went with the ticket?” Monday in the business world, you will find Houghton said, “M y actor friend fainted gullible Gabriels mowing the lawn in col­ from the shock of thinking that for three ored gods’ heavens. days it had been crackers and cheese when Make religion real. Put power in sal­ all the time he had paid for his meals at vation. Live the righteous way. Blood­ the dining room. And many Christians are stain your daily path with the close-pres- just cracker-and-cheese Christians, trying ence of Christ. This is the only hope for to prepare their own religious fare when it eradicating false religions from the world. is included in the ticket to heaven.” • Then pull up your chairs to Father’s table and eat a full meal of this heavenly manna. Turned God Down It is included in the blood price of redemp­ “Seven years ago, I turned God down,” tion. Eat and be satisfied with Christ in ­ said a woman who had sold herself on the stead of being spiritually hungry all the altar of passion to the highest bidder. while. o Holland London was holding a revival in Chicago First Church during the ministry Gabriel Moivs the Lawn of the sainted Rev. W. G. Schurman. Word “So you’re Gabriel?” asked Dr. U. E. came to the parsonage that a woman was Harding of a large colored man who was dying in a nearby house of ill fame, and the mowing the lawn at one of the supposed preacher was needed. Schurman and Lon­ heavens of Father Divine. don, along with Mrs. Schurman, rushed to “Yes, sir, I’se Gabriel shore nuff,” mop­ the place and found a once-beautiful girl ping his brow with a red bandanna, and dying of an unnamable disease. At once shifting his weight from his right to his the preachers urged upon her the claims of left foot, where the airholes for his corns Christ. were bigger and more abundant. Said Mrs. Schurman, “Call upon God. “That’s not the way I heard it,” said the witty Harding. “This is the first time I “I can’t, for I’ve turned God down. It ever heard of Gabriel mowing the lawn. I was seven years ago in a Baptist meeting always thought he was the horn-tooter.” that I said no to God and since that time” And left the black man standing in a be­ she hesitated. fuddled attitude. “Yes?”

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Jcxnuary-February, 1944 63 “Since that time I’ve been living in hell.” viduals we will save the social order and Schurman tried to pray. Then London bring lasting peace. took his turn at it. But the heavens were Said Dr. Houghton speaking at the Lake closed to any prayer from that room. Avenue Congregational Church in Pasa­ W ith her last strokes of breath, the dy­ dena, “Thus only through right living and ing girl said, “In a blue book over there are not right talk about peace will peace come four $100 bills. Bring ’em—” to this world that has been marred by sin When the money was secured the girl and defaced by iniquity.” fingered the bills for a moment and gasped, • “They’re what I ’ve saved for this last mo­ ment. They’ll buy a grave in a cheap Perspective Measured hy Altitude cemetery, but they will not buy me a place in the kingdom of God. It’s dark here—” “When I was pastor of the Baptist church and was gone. in New York City, I thought the traffic was Turning down God is an unsafe business terrific,” said Dr. Will H. Houghton in a whatever the conditions of one’s life. Little recent address. did this then-respectable girl dream what Down there as I have seen it are thou­ the ending would be when she turned down sands of automobiles racing at each other. God and walked away from that Baptist Pedestrians jam the sidewalks. The “eli’ is meeting. thronged at working hours and to ride the subways is a sure way of being pushed into a gelatinous mass especially when the • working people are going to and from their daily tasks. Fire sirens whirl and the traffic The I-Ain’t-Movement flows on in an uninterrupted stream. This and more makes the pedestrian feel “Take this I-Am-Movement that’s the that here is a place where life is endan­ rage out here in California,” said a national gered. speaker recently. “Right now thirteen of “But recently when I went back to New them are on trial for a fraudulent use of the York City,” said the speaker, “and went mails.” to the top of the Empire State building and Then he paused and finally added, “Now looked down from that 101-story height, it’s the I-Ain’t-Movement.” how insignificant traffic seemed. So in life. And many of these popular religious fads When we are living low the things of the that the unanchored folks run after should world seem significant and worth striving be classed in a similar category. For in ­ for. But when we are living high above the stance the Anglo-Israel substitute for true world in the altitudes of God’s gracious­ biblical prophecy; Christian Science; the ness, then worldly activities and earthly Watch Tower movement, more popularly possessions lose their grandeur and great­ called Jehovah’s Witnesses, formerly known ness. They merely become jumboism with­ as Russelism, or No-Hellism; Father Divine’s out significance.” heavens and the like are in reality members The Christian should fly high and not of the spiritually I-ain’t-movement of re­ walk in the lowlands if he would view life ligions. in its right perspective.

• • The Bricks versus Jesus Righteousness Conference “They have the bricks.” said the pastor’s “We talk about coming peace conferences, wife in Windsor, Ontario, when the Cath­ planning for the postwar world, laying olics had just finished a massive edifice of schemes of an economic and politic nature bricks. “But we have Jesus.” that will uplift the world,” said Will H. The building may be humble, the edifice Houghton, President of the Moody Bible In­ on a side street, the church in a basement stitute. “What the world needs is a right­ or, as was the case in London, Ontario, eousness conference. For there will be no on the third floor of a building; still if Jesus peace without righteousnes.” is there in His glory and the grandeur of This is our only hope of changing the His presence, that is the all-important item. world. Peace conferences such as the Too many cathedrals .... massive and Hague saw before the first World War were modem .... that tower to the heavens in the ascendancy but they only paved the without Jesus in the world already. What way for evil men and evil nations to lay the world needs is Jesus in the church, plans for world aggression as the kaiser did Jesus in the mission, Jesus in the pulpit, before the first World War. And now Jesus bursting with beauty through the peace talk flies, and peace conferences were windows, Jesus breaking through the held, but Hitler planned world aggression strains of the melody that grandma lisps and and conquest all the same. the tiny Sunday school tot shouts. Let us make our bid for a conference on Let the world have its bricks .... but righteousness, and by saving enough indi­ give us Jesus! 64 The Preacher's Magazine BOOK REVIEWS

Footprints of God, by A rthur I . Brown. The purpose of the book is found in the Fundamental Truth Publishers, $1.50. opening paragraph of his last chapter, “See­ ing God.” We quote, “The preceding chap­ Being no novice in the realm of scien­ ters have been written with but one end tific investigation, Doctor Brown has added in view—that the reader may come in his another fine volume to the seven others he thinking to a sure conviction in regard to has written, substantiating the Scriptures as the existence of a personal and loving Cre­ being scientific and not hypothetical. The ator. That conception which makes of title is rather suggestive. His claims that God a hazy, indefinite, blindly-operating, Divinity has left His impress on nature, is omnipotent Force is supported neither supported by authentic information in the by the Bible nor by the innumerable facts realm of astronomy, paleontology, geology available to us in every realm of nature.” and even in the realm of philosophy. His We most heartily commend this book for biological considerations are more than or­ inspirational study supporting our Christian iginal, they are unique, as he relates them ideal.—L. A. R e e d . as evidences. Furthermore, his volume is so prolific w ith references that it con­ stitutes a valuable bibliography for the + student and preacher. The Church, and Psychotherapy, by Chapter two on “The Folly of Atheism” Karl Ruf Stolz. Abingdon-Cokesbury Press, is worth the price of the book. He sup­ $2.50. ports his thesis that “behind the Law must The author Dr. Karl Ruf Stolz, minister, be a Lawgiver” by the statements of out­ college professor, educational administrator, standing scientists, such as Dr. Robert A. counselor in personality problems and writ­ Milikan; Professor Sheparson, a noted en­ er was born in Michigan in the year of 1884. gineer; Sir James Jeans, British astron­ At the time of his death in March, 1943 he omer, and many others, which constitute had given sixteen years of leadership as such a formidable array of testimony that dean of Hartford School of Religious Educa­ one hardly dares to disagree. He seeks tion. He is well known in the field of re­ the footprints of God in many realms, such ligious writings, having written such works as the ninety-two elements of matter, the as, “The Psychology of Prayer,” “Pastoral processes of life, the genes and their place Psychology,” “The Psychology of Religious in heredity; from a study of ichthyology Living,” and the present work, “The Church up to the primates showing the need for and Psychotherapy.” such structures which the evolutionist claims are relics of his theory; and finally The book is a rather exhaustive study climaxes with one of the most interesting of the subject expressed in the title. The considerations of abounding evidence of author contends that much of the ministry the presence of plan and foresight in the of Jesus was directed to the ministry of structure and operations of the human healing. He asserts that the Church must mechanism. Dr. Brown’s technique is that not only have compassion on the afflicted of a chemical analyst. He thoroughly ex­ in body or mind but exercise a practical amines into the very nature of the case, healing function through all the various and the content of the material. His logic means it can summon. is indisputable and hence his conclusions It is not overstating to say that here Dr. are acceptable. Stolz presents a work of a much higher caliber than the average in the field of re­ This is the type of a book which any ligious psychology. This statement should upper classman in high school or under­ not be interpreted by any means as an classman in college should digest, especially endorsement, for there is much in the book if he desires a Christian’s defense of this that is unorthodox in word and spirit. great modern problem of evolution. The While it does provide a rather practical pastor can safely place this book in the manual to guide pastors in the dealing with hands of his student members, giving them psychological problems it must be read with a bird’s eye view of the various avenues careful discrimination. of approach, supporting the fact of God in nature. The most commendable item about By his implications regarding the healing this volume is that the author uses the ministry and miracles of Jesus the author Scriptures profusely in clarifying his con­ denies readily the inspiration of the Bible cepts. This will please every Christian, repeatedly. Christ is presented too many and also give the youthful reader a new times as what would appear to be a master appreciation of the value of the Word of modern “pastor psychiatrist.” God as a sourcebook and as a book of The contents are: “Fellowship and Free­ truth. dom in the Church.” “The Healing Ministry

January-February, 1944 65 of Jesus,” “The Ministry of Jesus to Oth­ lawyer spent a period of deep searching ers,” “How Jesus Helped and Healed,” and heart longing for God’s best, after “How the Church Anticipated Psychiatry,” which “the Holy Ghost descended on him “Medical Psychology and Pastoral Psychol­ like a wave of electricity”—“like waves ogy,” “Representative Therapies of the of liquide love.” “In the years that followed Church,” “The Church and Emotional Ma­ he was continuously affirming that his turity,” “The Therapeutic Function of enablement to preach did not come "from Preaching,” “Christian Education and Per­ man, but from God himself. And fur­ sonality Development,” “Vocational Neur­ thermore, he discovered this enablement oses of the Minister,” and “The Higher was given to mind and heart, immediately, Ecumenicity and Personality.”—J. G. T a y - when he was baptized with the Holy Ghost.” l o r s o n . Three distinct periods in Finney’s life are dealt with, representing three great contri­ + butions to the cause of revivals. There were the nine great years of active evan­ Man of Like Passions, by Richard Ells­ gelism beginning in 1822; then roughly worth Day. Zondervan, $1.50. three years of ill health and at times deep depression, during which he was led to For more than twenty years a Baptist deliver his revival lectures in New York; pastor the author has since 1940 devoted and finally the remaining years of his life his time to Bible conferences, evangelistic spent at Oberlin College teaching and train­ meetings and the like. Among his other ing others in the great art of revivals. He written works are “The Borrowed Glow” is not pictured as standing alone in this (Filled with the Spirit), “Bush Aglow,” great work, but as a leading contributor to and a biography of Spurgeon, “The Shadow the awakening in the churches of America of the Broad Brim.” The present volume during the nineteenth century. is a popularly written biography of Charles G. Finney. He “takes the very modern The sketchiness of this biography may be form used by the writers of fiction to give disappointing to some, and its “very modern it readability,” says an advertisement. The form” may hinder its companionship with author states at the start that “this book the great biographies, but it is certainly is a steel engraving rather than a full readable, and should fill a need for a fresh length portrait.” Before writing these two emphasis on revivals in our own day. It is hundred pages Mr. Day followed the “F in­ rather startling to find Finney lacking in ney Trail” “from Warren to Oberlin” for sympathy for those who would advocate a whole year, besides which research his “praying down” a revival. While he would chief sources were Finney’s Autobiography say that prayer is the “very atmosphere and his “Revival Lectures.” of revivals” he would also say that revivals must be worked up. God is always ready The title of the book springs from one of when Christians are. Dead people cannot Ffcmey’s favorite texts, “Elias was a man be revived; but when God’s people are subject to like passions as we are”; also revived, then God’s Spirit can work to from the unfolding of a single thesis in resurrect those who are “dead in tres­ his life: “A conventional man, using con­ passes and in sins.” A revival is produced ventional means is God’s conventional “by Christians obeying the will of God, and method for bringing a fresh impulse to­ rightly using God’s laws.” ward heaven.” However, the main thesis of the book is, as was that of Finney’s life, Well, whether we agree or not, Finney revivals. “The Mount Whitney of his life seems to have had something there, for he was revivals. Everything else clustered did know how to have revivals. Three of about, and stood related as lesser summits.” his lectures are summarized in the book: The revival started in his own heart on The Power of Revivals, The Nature of that day when he said, “I will accept it Revivals, and The Price of Revivals. They (salvation) today or die in the attempt.” will stir you and make you want to read the And the author seems in full sympathy as complete “Revival Lecture.”-—H a r v e y J. S. he relates how a few days later the young B l a n e y .

66 The Preacher's Magazine February Is Stewardship Month

Here are four inexpensive booklets, our own publications, that emphasize this important theme. The usual discount is given to pastors who wish to order in quantities for resale or distribution. A B C'S of Stewardship By D. SHELBY CORLETT. Questions and answers on Christian Stewardship. Every conceivable phase of Stewardship is covered in this book. It is vest- pocket size, 3 x 5 inches. Single copy .05 ;12 copies, .50; 100 or more at .03 each. Christ at the Controls of Life By N. B. HERRELL. A presentation of the stewardship of life in its entirety— our love, our devotion, our service, our testimony, our loyalty, our possessions, our desires, our tithes. This booklet should be widely used for personal read­ ing and study, also for discussion groups in local churches and institutes. .10 God's Financial Plan for His Church By H. H. HOOKER. In this thirty-two page booklet are truths that need to be proclaimed constantly and forcibly both from the pulpit and through the printed page. .10 Tithing the Touchstone of Stewardship By J. W. GOODWIN, D.D. A forceful message on Storehouse tithing. Every church member should read this convincing presentation of the claims of the law of the tithe. .10 The following are books of other publishers that we recommend. These are not subject to discounts unless ordered in quantities.

OTHER BOOKS ON STEWARDSHIP

Christian Ownership. Charles E. Maddry ...... 65 Faithful Also in Much. John E. Simpson ...... 1.00 Grace of Giving, The. P. E. Burroughs ...... 60 I Have a Stewardship. Ralph S. Cushman ...... 1.25 Into My Storehouse. John E. Simpson ...... 1.00 More Than Money. John D. Freeman ...... 63 Our Lord and Ours. P. E. Burroughs ...... 60 Save Money. John M. Versteeg ...... 1.00 This World's Goods. John E. Simpson ...... 1.00 W ill a M an Rob God? Ralph S. Cushman ...... 35

NAZARENE PUBLISHING HOUSE 2923 Troost Ave., Box 527, Kansas City 10, Mo. Sunday School Lesson Commentaries for 1944

• Points for Emphasis A popular vest-pocket commentary on the International ‘p a n to ^ Sunday School Lessons. The material in this commentary is prepared espe­ cially for Sunday school teachers. We recommend it m «»*e 1 1 4* unreservedly. Some Special Features: Lesson Setting and Survey, Lesson Text and Outline, Notes Analytical and Exposi­ tory, The Lesson of the Lesson, Gold in the Golden Text, Bible Lights on the Lesson, Titles and Topics, Calendar and Maps, Lesson Outlines for 1944. Price .35

• Arnold's Practical Commentary A practical and comprehensive commentary on the International Sunday School Lessons for 1944. Contains Lesson Introductions, Teaching Out­ lines, Practical Applications, Sidelights from Science, Blackboard Exer­ cises, Questions and Maps, One-Minute Mission Talks; also special sug­ gestions for different or age-groups of the Sunday school. 236 pages. 1.00

• Higley's S. S. Lesson Commentary It presents the lesson in plain, concise, easily understood language that is both interesting and instructive and goes direct to the point without the use of unnecessary words. It is designed particularly for teachers who wish to be faithful to the Word of God and to present the lesson in the "demonstration of the Spirit and of power" rather than "with enticing words of man's wisdom." 1.00

• Peloubet's Select Notes A well-known commentary on the International Sunday School Lessons. Its suggestions to teachers, its maps and pictures, are comprehensive and thorough. All this matter is presented in a form which can be easily and profitably utilized. It is helpfully illustrated by over 150 pictures, several maps and colored full page illustrations. 2.00

We can also supply other Commentaries as follows: Tarbell's Teacher's Guide at 2.25; Sncw- dem's S. S. Lessons at 1.50; The Gist of the Lesson, .40; The Teacher's Guide at 1.50.

In advertising these Commentaries we do not unqualifiedly recommend them or endorse every­ thing that may be found in them. We have selected these four volumes because we believe thal they represent the best material available outside of our own lesson helps. For emphasis of the doctrim* of holiness and for authority on any disputed point of Bible or doctrinal exegesis w e ex­ pect our people to use our Bible School Journal or The Children's Worker. The Commentaries listed here are merely recommended for use as collateral or additional material.

NAZARENE PUBLISHING HOUSE 2923 Troost Ave., Box 527, Kansas City 10, Mo.