Pointer's

"TRUTH IN THE INWARD PARTS"

GOD is truth and, therefore, the source of all truth. He has revealed His character to man in a variety of ways. In nature, the Scrip­tures, and human history, God has spoken to sin­ful man of His (God's) sinless self. But of Him it is written, "Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts" (Ps. 51:6). "Truth above us, truth beneath us, truth before us and behind"—wonder­ful, but there is no substitute for "truth in the inward parts."

For some men the building of a library is a re­ligion. Their books are lined up "wall to wall." Thousands of dollars are spent in this way for books, infinite in variety, containing knowledge unlimited, until a library and a reputation are built. But a searching question here intrudes, begging for an answer: How much of what is in one's library is in one's head? It has been said the mark of a learned man is in having at hand available sources, not necessarily in what he knows. Perhaps I'm a bit naive, but I would prefer to buy three books and master them than have three thousand and master none. I cast my vote for "truth in the inward parts."

Also, is it not pertinent to ask: To what use is internal knowledge put? May not humanity justi­fiably expect more of the knowledgeable than that he be a swollen encyclopedia? Is the acquisition of knowledge justified except for the express pur­pose of shaping concepts and molding lives? A less noble objective renders one guilty of purpose­less pomposity. To stare sphinxlike at the passing throng from the top of one's bookshelves is less desirable than joining the procession and enriching it.                                                             

E. E. C

Our Church Paper

This is no commercial. I am getting no special consideration for submitting this to THE MINISTRY. It is something that is on my heart which I earnestly wish to share with our workers. Please, at all cost, read our church paper—the Review. This is vital to your ministry and to your service to your people. You need its inspiration and in­formation. You ought not to be without its regular visit. You can better afford to be without some of your professional magazines than you can afford to be without the Review. From your book or reading allowance pay for a subscription to the Review. From your own pocket if you have no book allow­ance, pay for a subscription to the Review. The ex­cellent service that this paper is providing for our people must be shared by you if your ministry is to be as meaningful to your members as you wish it to be. Its reports from the world field, its special features, its outstanding articles, all these and more make it a MUST for every minister who reads English anywhere in the world. It is good for your church. It is good for your home. It is good for your family. It is good for you.                       

N. R. D.

Vain Jangling

THE words of 1 Timothy 1:6 are addressed to a young preacher. An older minister is giving him some advice with reference to preaching. In verse 4 he warns him against resorting to fables and getting involved in the investigation and teaching of "end­less genealogies, which minister questions." It is a common failing among the young and among some of our elders to raise questions that cannot be an­swered in a vain attempt at profundity. If one is to spend his life in a monastery, this procedure, of course, is a safe one. The saints have nothing to lose, as they will not be exposed to his "vain janglings." Perhaps the only casualty will be the man himself, doomed to eventually expire, as­phyxiated by a welter of unrelated matter.

This brief note would be grimly humorous were it not for the tragic fact that few men of the cloth in this generation know what the real issues are and have the courage and wisdom to address them­selves to them. There is entirely too much point­less preaching being done in our world.

In substance, the minister's primary problem is this: (1) What is a sermon supposed to say? (2) What is it supposed to do? To settle the first ques­tion is to become one of the most interesting and informative preachers that can adorn any pulpit. The answer to the second question gives point and purpose to any presentation. Any listener to a man like this does not leave the church pew un­rewarded. It is no mere accident of nature that there is a widespread conviction that preaching is of little significance to our times in that it does not address itself to man's basic needs under con­cern, and religion is being pictured as being "out of touch" with twentieth-century living. We know, of course, that the gospel is not out of touch and that it does address itself to man's most basic needs. It would seem, therefore, an item of proper concern that the minister address himself more fully to the terms of the gospel and concentrate on preaching it in its true light, so that it will be recognized for what it is—namely, Heaven's solution to mankind's problems.                           

E. E. C.