VOLUME XXVII MAY, 1954 NUMBER 5 HE LIGHT of truth which God -designs shall come to the people of the world at this time is not that which the world©s men of learning are seeking to impart, for these men in then- research often arrive at erroneous conclusions, and in their study of many authors become enthused with theories that are of satanic origin. Satan, clothed in the garb of an angel of light, presents for the study of the human mind subjects which seem very interesting, and which are full of scientific mystery. In the investigation of these subjects, men are led to accept erroneous conclusions and to unite with seducing spirits in the work of propounding new theories which lead away from the truth. There is danger that the false sentiments expressed in the books that they have been reading will sometimes be interwoven by our ministers, teachers, and editors with their arguments, discourses, and publications, under the belief that they are the same in principle as the teachings of the Spirit of truth. Testimonies, vol. 9, pp. 67, 68. Page 2 THE MINISTRY In This Issue ANIEL WALTHER©S conversation D with Karl Earth, appearing on page 4, has special interest, we believe, for every Official Organ of the reader of THE MINISTRY. MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATION OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS Our editorial this month makes further Editor: mention of the forthcoming presession min ROY ALLAN ANDERSON isterial council. See page 8. Associate Editors: "Oh, for That Flame!" on page 11 is WILLIAM H. BRANSON, Louis K. DIOKSON, another timely article in this issue. The LOUISE C. KLEUSER, GEORGE E. VANDEMAN ROBERT M. WHITSETT following article, "You and Your Congre Office Editor; Advertising and Circulation Manager: gation Last Sabbath," is thought provoking. BEN GLANZER On page 20 Melvin K. Eckenroth con cludes his series on "The Influence of the Spirit of Prophecy on Evangelistic Preach ing." More and more of our pastors are find ing soul-winning possibilities in the plan VOLUME XXVII NUMBER 5 of holding Vacation Bible Schools. "The AT A GLANCE Vacation Bible School," by Archa O. Dart, on page 24 contains both a report and an FEATURES __.___..___.____________ 4 excellent set of plans for conducting such a A Conversation With Karl Earth The Infinite Re sources of the Christian Worker (Part I) school for the children in your community. EDITORIAL _____....______....______ 8 Singing evangelists and other denomina San Francisco Calling tional musicians should take special note NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS ______ 10 of the item on page 29 "Music Instruction PULPIT 11 at the Seminary." Oh, for That Flame! You and Your Congregation Last Sabbath Exegetical Studies in Ephesians (Part IV) Adorning Our Doctrines Laymen©s Soul-win Cover—Beverly Road Church, Atlanta, Georgia ning Responsibilities Recent Catholic Statements EVANGELISM ___._____.___________ 20 CONSTRUCTION of this handsome, The Influence of the Spirit of Prophecy on Evange Georgia gray granite church began listic Preaching (Part II) When Will Religions in 1938 following the "swarming" Come to an End? of the congregation from its parent PASTOR __--__-___ ....___________ 24 First church, which had overflowed The Vacation Bible School "beyond capacity." The new church MUSIC ______.__-_-_--________ 28 The Singing Evangelist©s Pre-effort Preparation (Part was organized July 1, 1939. During II) Music Instruction at the Seminary this year J. L. Shuler held a taber SHEPHERDESS ____..........._...__________ 30 nacle campaign, winning many fine "Helps" the Sixth Gift of the Spirit (Part II) converts who helped enlarge the COUNSEL ........................____........................__ 33 growing church family. Principles of Our Dress Reform Message (Part II) A unique feature of our arrangement is the BIBLE INSTRUCTOR ______.________ 35 separate Sabbath school building for adult, youth, The Work of the Bible Instructor Just Before San Francisco! The Christian Home (Bible Study Out and children©s departments adjacent to the sanc line) tuary. The church, well appointed and warm in QUESTIONS ..................................._.....___. 38 its architectural design and finish, bespeaks wor Unfermented Wine ship, reverence, praise, and fellowship. BOOKS __ ...........__ ......___.. 40 A. C. Griffin, S. M. Schleifer, C. R. Gibbs, A. E. FORUM ......__._.._.._....__.... ..... 43 Licke, and H. B. Taylor have served as pastors, with The Power of Positive Thinking the writer assuming his pastorate in March, 1950. NEWS ____.....__.... __-- .-. 48 Every Sabbath the church, with seating capacity POINTERS ..__....................... ..... 48 of four hundred, is filled. Overflow attendance can rise to six hundred by opening sliding doors into the senior Sabbath school department. This light Printed and published monthly for the Ministerial Association of Seventh-day Adventists by the Review and Herald Publish house in the crossroads of the South was dedicated ing Association, Washington, D.C., U.S.A., $2.50 a year; on July 3, 1943, with C. B. Haynes as speaker. 25 cents a copy. Add 35 cents for yearly subscriptions to Tens of thousands daily pass this beautiful countries requiring extra postage. Entered as second-class mat memorial, providentially and prominently situated ter December 19, 1927, at the post office at Washington, D.C., under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879. on Beverly Road at Peachtree, NE. It is dedicated to proclaiming the glorious, saving message of truth in this climactic hour. FENTON EDWIN FROOM, Pastor. MAY, 1954 Page 3 A Conversation With Karl Barth DANIEL WALTHER Professor of Church History, S.D.A. Theological Seminary of the leading and lined professor, you will be disappointed. most influential Prot Nothing is apparently less important to o estant theologians today him than his appearance: unruly hair, is admittedly Karl Barth. clothes that are exclusively for comfort, When the first edition of his but a strong face that expresses his per Epistle to the Romans ap sonality: he has a very mobile mouth and peared in 1917, it caused a sen vivid eyes, which sometimes peer at you sation in the Protestant world, in an amused and frolicsome way, and at because Barth took a position against the times look quite pensive or piercing if crassest forms of liberalism and argued that he is worked up on some topic. As I entered only a new (neo-orthodox) approach to the room he was banging on a tinny, anti Scripture could save Protestantism from quated typewriter, hitting the keys with collapsing. Throughout his later works and one hand and holding in the other a dis lectures he has somewhat modified and reputable pipe. He immediately stood up changed his views; possibly he belongs to and asked me in a surprisingly high-pitched the right wing of modernism. His theology voice, "What is the purpose of your visit is not Bible teaching as we Adventists un here?" derstand it. But what is of interest to us "In our Theological Seminary in Wash particularly is that Barth has placed a ington," I replied, "we study some of your very strong accent on eschatology, espe writings in our class dealing with modern cially the second coming and the end of all trends; and we are, of course, acquainted things earthly. Some of his facts have been with your books: "Word of God and Word reported several times in our publications. of Man; The Holy Ghost in the Christian A Swiss theologian, Karl Barth, after hav Life; and your Courses in Dogmatics." I ing lectured for many years in the leading also spoke to him about the work of his German universities, is now professor at brother, Peter Barth, who has published Basel, Switzerland. an important section of Calvin©s works in A few months ago, when I spent a couple German. of days in Basel, I endeavored to reach As Barth still looked at me to know what Barth for an interview. Karl Barth is not I was interested in, I said: "We notice that the only theologian in that old and famous often in your lectures and public state university. One of his colleagues is Oscar ments there is great insistence on eschatol Cullmann, who is an authority on the early ogy. We notice that your teaching has a church. He too stresses in his writings and definite accent in dealing with the ©last lectures the eschatological message of the days.© Why do you refer so often to the Bible, and he has written a number of second coming?" works on the second coming.1 "Because," replied Barth, "from begin But I was particularly desirous of meet ning to end the Bible is replete with this ing Karl Barth; however, he told me over topic. Every chapter contains a direct or the telephone that he was unavailable that implied thought dealing with the last days.© day; he had to get ready for a seminar Eschatology is the essence of the kingdom discussion where they were reading Me- of God, the basis of Paul©s teachings, and lanchthon©s Loci Communes, and in the the kernel of Christ©s message and life. It evening he was to address a few hundred is the hope, the only hope, of the church." Protestant preachers. But when I told him "Do you really believe that we are liv that I was on my way back to Washington ing in the last days?" and that my questions would be brief, he "Yes, we are now in the time of the end." invited me to his home "for a few minutes," "How do you know this, Professor? Have which proved to be an hour and a half! not all leading Christians, from the early If, in meeting Barth, you expect to be centuries on, believed that they lived in introduced to a well-groomed, stream- the time of the end? The Fathers, Joachim Page 4 THE MINISTRY of Flora, the mystics of the Middle Ages, scientists have a catastrophic and cosmo- the Waldenses, the Reformers, the Pietists graphic concept of the end of the world.