The greatest need of this age, in the words of Doctor Beven, is a new inoculation of the Bible. He says, "It is the need when our hope 'blood count' is low." This is strikingly true today, for the youth of the world are being inoculated with unbelief in God and His divine word, the Holy Scriptures. Philip E. Wentworth, writing under the caption, "What College Did to My Religion," in the June, 1932, number of the Atlantic Monthly, says:
"To say that college does something to the average student's religion is to state a truth which will be conceded by any one who has given the matter a moment's thought. Nine young men and women out of every ten who will receive their degrees this June would probably admit, if they were called to testify, that education has acted as a poison to their faith. In many instances the virus generated by the reasoning processes induces only a mild distemper of skepticism, but in others it works like an acid, eating its way into the bump of credulity until in the end this estimable organ is completely corroded. Devout parents and clergymen have frequently observed this phenomenon and deplored it."
This tidal wave of atheistic teaching is by no means confined to the colleges of America. It is fostered in the grammar and high schools of this land, and extends beyond our boundaries to the children and youth of every civilized country. It is in reality the greatest menace to civilization in the world today. In promoting this master undermining evil, Soviet Russia is positive and aggressive. Stanley High, contributing editor of the Christian Herald, reporting on a visit to Russia, writes: "The children are being taught two things: first to disbelieve in God themselves; second, to dedicate themselves to the spreading of that disbelief." They are not only taught that there is no God, but they are taught to be missionaries of that destructive philosophy in all the world.
In Europe we find the young men restive, unsatisfied with the teachings of their fathers, and ready to accept leadership that will usher in a new day. Mussolini in Italy and Hitler in Germany are counting on the youth for the carrying out of their plans. Their hope is in the young people, who are unsatisfied and unwilling to accept the teachings of their forefathers, either morally or politically.
It is into such a world as this that we have come, and the question may well be asked, What is the dominating responsibility of the youth of this movement? Are they not called to the kingdom for such a time as this, that they might earnestly contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints? As an aid looking toward more young men getting into the work of the ministry, provision was first made for such employment by combined support of General, union, and local conferences for a period of one year, to give these youth an opportunity to prove their calling. The first year the plan was put in operation eighty-two ministerial internes were accepted, and the plan gave evidence of being a very important means of recruiting promising youth for the ministry.
Then the depression began and many young men, as well as some older workers, were dropped for lack of support. Conferences hesitated in utilizing the ministerial interneship plan, fearing that after a young man served an interneship he could not be continued in the work. But at the recent Autumn Council the ministerial interneship plan was amplified to provide for two years' support, with the hope that after trying them out one year, conferences could on this broader basis, if their work was satisfactory, take them on for the second year while still on a low wage, with the idea of permanent employment the same as other workers. This action was quoted in the Review of November 24, 1932. We believe that on the basis of this plan a good list of internes will be taken on for the coming year.
The number that can be received into conference employ in this way is, of course, limited because of the two-year period, yet this should not deter young people whom God has called from entering the work. The task is so great and the openings so many that all who are trained and consecrated and willing to sacrifice, are needed. The following quotation from Messages to Young People, pages 298, should inspire every consecrated young man and woman to enlist for life service:
"There is room in the work of God for all who are filled with the spirit of self-sacrifice. God is calling for men and women who are willing to deny self for the sake of others, willing to consecrate all they have and are to His work. Men are needed who, when they encounter difficulties, will move steadily on, saying, We will not fail or become discouraged. Men are needed who will strengthen and build up the work that others are trying to do."
Washington, D. C.
