WATCH THOSE ROBOTS
Robots are artificial, manufactured "persons," mechanically efficient but devoid of sensibility. Today some of these fantastic automatons seem to threaten to blow our world to pieces. They may begin with harmless daydreams, bring wild nightmares, then develop phobias, and even climax in insanity. Not a pleasant thought, to be sure! In the past, less harmful forms of mechanical devices were produced by the fantasies of fairytale writers. But our enlightened age knows better how to entertain the human mind. We now specialize on robots that keep youth's nerves on edge and send him to the psychiatrist at a tender age. Strangely, these robots of overaction, fear, and destruction are moving in the direction of the Christian church. Are our believers sufficiently fortified against their unwholesome effects to be able to offset the harmful antics of modern robots that threaten to destroy the peace of mind of God's children?
Our robots today claim young and old as their guinea pigs. In the fields of education, science, and technology these mechanical devices mark progress. We do not want to be misunderstood or to be classified with cynics or mossbacks. Scientific progress is important, and the church must keep pace with it; but may we venture to suggest that some of our earnest and sincere believers become a little dizzy at times as they try to keep pace with our many inventions. As a denomination we have recognized fields of concentration, raised our standards, and developed our departments that are now headed by specialists. And this has been good. But at this stage of our development we might ask: Is this specialist's robot becoming a monstrosity, weighting the church down with mechanical burdens? And are we developing within our areas and departments a technical perfectionism that must eventually crowd out the complete sanctification of the individual believer? Is it not timely for our leaders to remind themselves of God's counsel: —Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit." "Be still, and know that I am God."
Should we not make sure that our objectives at camp meeting rallies, in our institutions and workshops, emphasize the deeper graces of the Spirit more than the efficiency of our plans? Parents are agonizing for the salvation of their children, and they surely are in need of our ministry. Confused youth will receive more benefit from our love than from our best plans. The sick and frustrated need our understanding, and the aged need our comfort after their many years of faithful service to the cause. And all this requires much of our time. Strange robots are frightening the saints on every hand, and God's ministers must learn to "speak comfortably" to His children. Shall we not as workers in the cause of God make this our foremost concern?
L. C. K.
TEXTUAL INTERPRETATIONS
Ministerial integrity in the use of a scriptural text is greatly strengthened by the preacher's knowledge of its original sense. To know what the text really meant to its writer and what he intended it should mean to its first readers is the secret of correct Biblical exegesis. Biblical understanding calls for the comprehension of the meaning of the text in its original setting. In the preparation of sermons, one's use of a text is not determined by the question, "How can I use this passage of Scripture to help my people?" as important as that question may be, but rather, "What does this passage of Scripture actually teach?" When the preacher has first satisfied himself on this point he can then accurately and effectively discover what use of the text will be of prime importance to the people of his congregation. The preacher must beware lest his own conceptions take precedence over the words of the Scripture. No sincere preacher will question the obvious advantage of his beginning his use of a text with as clear an understanding as possible of its original meaning. This, of course, calls for prayerful and diligent study on the part of the preacher. It calls for great familiarity with the books of the Bible. His understanding is further enhanced by historical and cultural information relative to the times and conditions under which the message was originally given.
We need more preachers who preach the scriptural and historical meaning of the texts. All fanciful allegorizing and departure from the basic meanings of the texts should be shunned. We are of course aware that when we know what a given text said to its generation, we know what its main message is to our generation. It is true that the passage of time and the fulfillment of prophecies have greatly enhanced the understanding of the original messages of prophetic passages of Scripture. Their essential truth, however, is their original meaning.
Many texts of course carry a rich variety of implicit meanings, but one must be careful not to draw out of the text what was never intended by its author. When one begins with as clear as possible an understanding of the original meaning of the text, he has a rudder to guide him in its present use and will not go far astray. It is not departing from the text when a fresh meaning is found in it that conforms with the original meaning, or when modern happenings or new developments throw additional light upon the significance of its meaning in our times. A man who has been ordained to preach the Word of God will ever seek with great integrity to impart God's intended meaning to his congregation.
HAPHAZARD PREACHING
Every pastor should give careful study to a plan by which he can comprehensively cover the great important themes of Christian faith, life, and doctrine in his Sabbath worship services. It is well for him to check over the topics he has presented during the past year and to ascertain how many of these great themes have been covered.
A haphazard selection of topics fails to educate the church members adequately on the great themes of salvation. Thus checking his coverage of his themes in sermons presented, enables a pastor to escape the pitfall of riding hobbies or overemphasizing certain elements of truth that give a distorted picture of the gospel and divine revelations of God's Word.
The same themes should not be handled in the same way year after year. This tends toward monotony and it does not cause the membership to grow in their knowledge of truth. It is utterly inexcusable for the preacher to stalemate and cease to grow in his gleaning of additional knowledge and information for the better understanding and interpretation of truth.
The apostle's admonition is that we are to provide our congregation with strong meat as well as the "milk of the word." An interesting comment on this particular reference is found in John Knox's book The Integrity of Preaching, page 57, where he observes: "There is great wisdom in not giving meat to persons who are ready only for milk; but something is wrong when a congregation is permanently on an all milk diet. Must we not confess that what is often wrong in such cases is that the preacher takes only milk himself?" Preaching to the average congregation must not be either too elementary or too profound. There should, however, be a variety of spiritual diet, including both milk and strong meat. There also should be a continual check by the pastor to determine how much of the great cycle of truth he covers in his pastoral ministry. No one can be excused for haphazard preaching or selection of topics.
J. A. B.
