ECUMENISM AND INDIVIDUALISM
In early Protestantism, there was a noticeable individualism. The early nonconformist was often a rugged fighter for his views, and men hammered out their theological opinions on the anvil of discussion, study, debate, and, to do them justice, in the prayer chamber. This rugged individualism is not so evident in these days of authoritarianism.
The well-known Protestant theologian, Dr. Paul J. Tillich, of Harvard Divinity School, has noted a marked trend away from "Reformation individualism." and he says it poses a threat to Protestantism. He thinks this trend is seen in recent Protestant mergers, the ecumenical movement, and the Roman Catholic encouragement of unity.
Speaking before a United Presbyterian group at Occidental College in Los Angeles, Dr. Tillich continued: "The Protestant theology is essentially nonconformist, but rugged individualism has disappeared and has been replaced by the 'Organization Man,' the development of the collective spirit."
There was a ray of hope, however, as the speaker added: "You can't kill the prophetic spirit, although it may go underground" if the Protestant era should be ended by authoritarianism.
Adventists know the dangers of individual independence that leads to action contrary to the interests of the church. Liberty is not license to do as one pleases. They also know that liberty to think and to speak is a God-given privilege that comes with the Word of God (Great Controversy, pp. 276, 277) and they dread the stifling uniformity that a universal power, religious or political, connotes. There is only one legitimate authoritarianism, and that comes from our common, freely given allegiance to our one Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. In authoritarianism from below, men are curbed, throttled, silenced. In that from above, we can live, and move, and enjoy our being. Acts 17:28.
H. W. L.
WHERE IS THE PROMISE?
It is not uncommon to see a talent-laden young man, bright with promise, beginning his ministry like a flaming meteor, but just as suddenly dropping from view like fading gray before rapidly approaching day.
"We expected so much of him," said one. "He was so talented," volunteered another. "He was a born leader," lamented someone else.
All of these statements were probably true, but contain nothing of the ingredient necessary for the making of a minister. Ministers are not born. They are called. The talent-heavy have no reserved seat at the ringside of success. That our candidate is the seventh son of the seventh son is a poor guarantee of his call to preach. The junk heaps of the world are full of would-have-beens who trusted in their innate abilities or important connections to see them through.
Utter dependence upon our Maker is the stuff of which God-called men are made. It is thus that the talentless become spiritual giants, and the unsung perform the feats of the mighty. Little men become world shakers in the hands of a big God. While the self-confident flounder in an agony of frustration, the humble, God-ordained man is content to do little things well and to serve in little places, for such are always the heirs of bigger things. Thus men of little promise are enabled to do by God's grace what all could do were our heads smaller and our hearts larger.
E. E. C.
TWENTY NEW NATIONS
Unprecedented events are happening before our eyes today. This year there will appear seven new nations in Africa. Already we have seen independence come to Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Sudan, Egypt, and, more recently, Ghana and Guinea and Cameroun. In the next few years ten more are due to appear, some of them, such as Togo, Congo, Somalia, and Nigeria, as early as 1960. Present negotiations may result in new nationhood for Senegal and Sudan in French West Africa as Federated Mali, and for Madagascar as the Malagasy Republic.
What effect the independence of some twenty areas may have on the continent of Africa, no one knows. What interests us at the moment is whether Christianity or Mohammedanism or Communism will guide the destiny of this huge continent. Islam-ism predates Christianity by several centuries in Africa, which raises the melancholy question: What might have been the situation today if the North African Christian communities of the early years of the Christian Era had preserved their first love and had missionized the great land to the south? They settled down, lost their driving missionary zeal, and faded out.
Today Islam is making perhaps three heathen African converts to every one made by the Christian church. About 60 per cent of Africa's 200 million population are Moslems. Christianity suffers the disadvantage of being regarded as the white man's religion. Moreover, its moral code is severe in lands where polygamy is regarded as an economic necessity rather than a moral weakness.
Another sobering thought is that independence has come or is coming to some areas before they have trained leadership, technical skills, social institutions. Clearly unforeseeable events await that large part of the world which is bound to become increasingly important in the political and economic world.
Add to all this the epochal changes consequent on World War II and we wonder if any previous generation has witnessed such tremendous upheavals as we have seen in our day.
How does all this fit into our picture of world evangelism? Are we doing all that might be done now? How long will doors remain open to Christian work? Are Christians working along wholly right lines to influence the rising tide of self-determination? Here is a large field for thought, prayer, and action.
H. W. L.
