THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CHRISTIANS AND NON-CHRISTIANS
It is time for Christians in general to do some serious thinking when a newsman can summarize a report presented at the 171st General Assembly of the United Presbyterian Church at Indianapolis, May 26, in these words: "Judging by the way they act, it's hard to tell the difference between a Christian and a nonChristian."—Washington, D.C. Evening Star, May 26, 1959.
The report contained some incontrovertible conclusions. "There is not sufficient discernible difference between the goals, purposes, morals and aspirations of the average church member and those of his non-Christian friends."
The following was stated concerning ministers: "Some in their private lives in too many instances have interpreted their vocation in secular terms—being too much concerned with salary, prestige and fringe benefits."
Of the preacher in action this was said: "In their pulpits they have all too often been an echo of their culture rather than a voice from Christ in the midst of their culture."
Of the church as a whole it was said that it has developed a tendency to appraise strength in worldly terms—statistics, buildings, budgets, and swelling memberships.
These are conclusions of a church that had the courage to sit in judgment on itself. Other churches, ministers and laymen, whose desires are toward the Lord will not fail to lay these judgments to heart.
H. W. L.
SABBATH SCHOOL EVANGELISM
Every department of the church can and must be evangelistic. But of all the departments, the Sabbath school holds perhaps the greatest potential for effective soul winning. The question is, however, Are our Sabbath schools always evangelistic? Are we making as much use of this branch of our work as we should? Among many other questions thrown into one of our recent union sessions was this, and it came from one who evidently had a real burden on his heart. Here is how it read:
"Over and over, new members of the church and those who are not yet members ask why we cannot have more time for the lesson study and less falderal, as they express it. What is the answer and the solution? They say that they make so much effort to come to Sabbath school and then feel cheated when so little time is given to the real study of the Word."
As a denomination we say that the Sabbath school is the church at study, but what kind of study? Is it the study of goals, promotion, and human attainments? Is it the study of a program loaded with special items, such as solos and other musical numbers? One who does not enjoy music is perhaps unnatural, but when three special musical items are crowded into the brief hour or so allotted to the Sabbath school, as was the case at one church we were visiting, that surely reflects a lack of understanding of the real purpose of the Sabbath school. Things were so crowded that particular Sabbath morning that the actual time for the lesson study was not more than ten minutes! That is an extreme case, of course, but in more than one place we have noted a tendency to cut down the time for study of God's Word.
Those newly coming into the faith need the study of the Bible, as this questioner suggests, but our older members also, in fact every member, need the inspiration and spiritual education that results from the right kind of study and teaching that the Sabbath school should provide. And our teaching should be evangelistic in its nature. That is, the Word should be taught in such a way that the student will not only find a response in his own heart and the urge to live a life wholly consecrated to God but he will become a living witness of the saving gospel.
Teaching teachers to teach is an excellent aim, but teaching them how to teach evangelistically is even better. This represents a real challenge to our pastors. We have no better spiritual potential in the Advent Movement than the thousands of Sabbath school teachers around the world. But the majority of these teachers need to be instructed in the art of true evangelistic teaching; in the techniques that will inspire every student to be a soul-winning witness.
We rejoice in the wonderful offerings provided by our Sabbath schools for our great mission program around the world. Nineteen thousand dollars a day! That sounds tremendous, and it is. But that is what our Sabbath schools are raising around the world. However, more important than the financial potential of our Sabbath school members is the soul-winning potential of these enthusiastic, missionary-minded Sabbath school classes. If every Sabbath school class could bring at least one soul to Christ each year, what a blessing that would be. And that is not impossible. In fact, it is imperative if we believe what we say we believe.
R. A. A.
"IN THE QUIET OF THIS HOUR..."
PROF. MORTON S. ENSLIN once recorded in the Pulpit Digest his experience of being pressed into assisting in a church service in a southern Massachusetts city where he was visiting. He uttered the first six words of his public prayer: "In the quiet of this hour" when the most ear-splitting siren, seemingly in the choir loft, went into action for three minutes. After failing to outfox it by praying between the blasts, he settled back to enjoy the service when noises inside the church took over—the latecomers, the coughers, the bustling, whispering ushers, the gurgles, yells, cries and tantrums of children, the worshipers who insist on talking and visiting, et cetera. The disturbed professor then thought of some words of Scripture used of storm-tossed travelers entering a welcome calm: "Then are they glad because they be quiet."
All this has a familiar ring for too many of us, but it may be that the professor's explanation of noisy churches will be thought-provoking as well as a little disconcerting: "The older I grow, the more convinced I am that the teal explanation lies in the simple words: Like pulpit, like pew."—Pulpit Digest, January, 1957.
H. W. L.
ANTIQUATED PLANS
Some months ago the editor of The Christian Century made an interesting observation regarding the "passing out" of a prominent musical magazine—the Etude. Few with musical interest have escaped the influence of this once versatile trainer of music instructors. The editor therefore claims the journal's usefulness for several generations and comments on its good features and also on the points that were weaker because of time-bound traditions. Generously he pays tribute to its having provided a peephole into a world of new methods, new materials, new pedagogy, then climaxes his remarks by saying, "The Etude is now outgrown!"
You and I live in a world of changes. From day to day we are forced to listen to various confusing and conflicting advertisements and eulogies. Often amused by the commentator's forthrightness and public-opinion slant on the past, we may indulgently declare that we still know a few things! Despite our progressive message, some things eventually do become outdated. But our ministry can afford to take an indulgent look into the past while reveling in the glory of some newer inventions. And so, while enjoying the music of our well-greased machinery, let us wisely reflect on "the day of small things," As the editor of The Christian Century in the article referred to said, "Hailing a glad new day hardly requires ingratitude for the old." To this we would add that the promised Spirit's power in our work will never be outmoded, and with every new plan we develop, His dynamo will outstrip materialism and human skills.
L. C. K.