Editorial Postscripts

Hunger!—One very real reason why some of our members seek the association and proffered instruction of persons holding extreme positions is because such pro­fess to offer what meets the longing needs of the soul, frequently clothing their teaching with remarkable insight into Scripture and rare familiarity with the Spirit of prophecy writings. Some of the things they teach are sound and wholesome, and thus their digres­sions are made all the more alluring. There is a lesson for us here, and a cause for real concern. liVe must not content ourselves merely with censuring our people for their waywardness or fickleness in seeking such provender. We have often created our own difficulties by failing to feed the people and by failing to be giants in the Word, thus not meeting their rightful expectation of us. Brethren in the ministry, we cannot meet the soul needs of our congregations by mere cheerio messages, by thrilling reports and stories, by devising ingenious activities, by exerting pressure for funds, or stressing out­ward works—necessary as all these may be in their place. There must be the preaching of an adequate gospel. We must truly teach the Word. We are not noted as the Bible students we ought to be, or used to be. Real Bible teaching from the pulpit is all too rare amongst us. We must feed the people in order to hold them.

Apprehension!—The nervous­ness with which some regard every expression upon minor aspects of interpretation differing from their own, and their apprehensiveness concerning the upsetting of the movement thereby, actually betrays a fearfulness regard­ing the invincibility of this message and its inevitable triumph. This attitude is in itself more serious than the slight divergencies. When workers become unduly worked up over some phrasing or some interpretative detail which differs from their own concepts, there is unwittingly revealed not only an unbecom­ing egotism as to their own inerrancy, but a regrettable and unwarranted fear that unim­portant variations may overthrow great truth. Such, of course, is not the usual explanation given by the apprehensive, but it is neverthe­less the case. They have misconceived the very nature of truth. Truth does not need men forever rushing to its defense. The cen­tralities of this message are true and so.2.nd and unassailable. They will stand, irrespective of the petty differences and disputes of men.

Effeciency!—We have passed from the old era into a new era—and the old is gone, doubtless never to return. Do we really sense this? Do our sermons, our writings, our conversations, indicate it? We have left the favoring days of the past, and must now labor under increasing handicaps. We must operate under emergency conditions. We must coura­geously adjust ourselves to unforeseen crises that will break out in unexpected places—knowing that our redemption draws nigh. Our work will close triumphanfly, but under the most forbidding circumstances.

 Weak!—His cause is palpably weak who, failing or refusing to meet, squarely and fairly, unsound argument with sound ar­gument, and faulty logic with unassailable reasoning, must have recourse to sarcasm, threat, intimidation, or insistence upon sur­render to a really unproved position. Truth has nothing to fear but mistreatment at the hand of unwise friends. Unworthy arguments, extreme positions, and religious intolerance should never appear in the defense of truth. But, alas ! At times they do. And as a re­sult—justifiable or not—they estrange men and have driven some from us who might have been held if only they had been reasonably, justly, and kindly treated. The Spirit of prophecy never countenances such a course. And its writings never deny the evidences of the senses, nor do they controvert the facts of history, science, logic, or the mandates of reason. We should never be party to the un­worthy. Followers of Christ should always exhibit the spirit of Christ, meticulously hon­oring truth.

Translations!—Some are prone to seize upon independent translations of a phrase or a text that supports some pre­conceived concept, or gives a new and unique turn to a thought. But too often such fail to check with standard translations to see whether these individual renderings are warranted by the text of the original. Some of these inde­pendent renderings are strongly interpretative, and go beyond any legitimate warrant of the original tongue. Group translations, such as the Revised Version, are safer and more free from personal leanings—for translations are not free from human limitations. Such criti­cal texts and notations as Alford, Robertson, Vincent, Westcott,  Hort, and the Exposi­tor's Greek Testament series, are invaluable for checking.                                                  

L. E. F.