a-¡JUNE T97O

Of The Norionql AssociolionOf Free W¡ll Bopl¡sts

THIRTY-FOT]RTHAI{I{ T]AL COI{VEI{ TION

o{ tL"NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONOF FREE \øILL BAPTISTS!

Fresrr.o, C"li{ornia - - Ioly L3 -16

THEME, "Thy Wo'J Is Trutlr"

REV. HE}IRY IITTERAI

Message: "T.he Provisitin of .Truth'riDR. J. D. O'DOI{I{ELL

Message: "The Power of Truth"ARCHIE MAYHEW, MISSI(INARY

Message: "The Proclamation of Truth"

REV. J. E. 8[ANÏ(!!IMessager "The Pathway of Truth"

viewpo¡nü

Jesus warned that while men slept, Satan sowed his tares.Like Rip Van Winkle, many'Free Will Baptists have beenasleep to what has taken place on the religious scene duringthe past score of years. A new religious ideology has beenspawned which W. A. Ashbrook describes as "a movementborn of compromise, nurtured on pride of intellect, growingon appeasement of evil and doomed by the judgment ofGod's Holy Word."

Identified as "new-evangelicalism," it is not a new doc-trine or a new organization, but rather a new mood. Thoscwho have embraced this way of thinking have adopted anew philosophic approach to make Christianity "more rcle-vant to the political and sociological realities of our time,"according to Dr. Vernon Grounds in Christian Lìfe Mzrga-zire.

This mood continues to spread and insidiously gains su¡r-port of many unsuspecting Bible believers. As the momen-tum of this movement grows, it behooves us to considcrsome basic premises upor-r which this school of thought isbuilt. Proponents of new-evangelicalism openly repr.rdiatcfundamentalism. They castigate fundamentalists for a rigidcode of conduct. Sensual pleasures, such as dancing, movicgoing or card playing is spoken of lightly, if not snearingly.

Doctrine has been minimumized. Especially is this true inregard to the church and eschatology. A reinvestigation anclredefining of Biblical inspiration is advocated. One of thcreasons for this is the attempt to accomn.ìodate the findingsof modern science to scripture. This dangerous positionweakens faith in God's Word which I dealt with in thcN{arch issue of Cotitact.

The failure to practice Biblical separation is one of themost subtle perils of this movement. It is weakness in thisarea that has created so much confusion, conflict and con-troversy especially among Free Will Baptists.

The Bible teaches specifically, "have no fellowship withthe unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."Again in II John 9:11, we are to refuse to associate withthose who deny the doctrine of Christ. If we fail to adhereto this teaching, we are an accomplice to the evil deeds of

sil0ljtD tRrE r4ftr BAPTISTS COOPIRATE r¡ìilTll UBtRAtS?

by theExeculive Secretory

Rufus Coffey

(lhrist-clcnying infidels. Yet through the practice of coopera-tt¡it,e r'vunÍ:e/rsll, many undiscerning Christians are drawnirrttl corlrnon c¿nrsc with apostates unwittingly. This shift inmcthorls of cvangclisnr to cooperate with liberals, false re-Iigionists anrl f'alsc ¡rrophets, stems from the philosophy thatthc cnrl justifics thc means and a strategy of trying to infil-tr¿rtc thc nrotlcrnist dcnonrination rather than obeying thelìihlical adnlonition "colne or¡t from among them and be yescp¿r r¿ltc",

An attitude of rapprochement with liberals has causedscriot¡s rcpcrcussions among Bible believers. Through dia-Ioguc, ncw-cvangelicals engage in the exchange of ideaswith those who blaspheme the name of Christ. Anotherrc¿rson l'or justifying this policy of compromise is the Cal-vinistic cloctrine of eternal security. Because of this theo-logical persuasion, new-evangelicals have no compunctionnbout sending converts back to liberal or Roman Catholicclrrrrchcs to be nurtured under a hireling shepherd.

'l'he paramount question is, "Shall we obey God'sWord?" The basic issue is obedience to the plain commandsol'thc Bible.

Ncw-cvangelicals talk a lot about love, but are quick toof'l'cr stinging criticism at those who are conscientiouslyobcying God's Word or point out the principles and prac-ticcs of disobedience by others. The proof of true love is

ohctlicnce, "if ye love me, keep my commandments'"While seeking to win men to Christ by speaking the truth

in love, \ile must firmly oppose the error which they em-brace.

It should be clearly understood that new'evangelicals are

not liberals or unbelievers. They are Christians who sub-scribe to an orthodox creed, but compromise the truth ofGod through collaboration with the enemies of Christ' Whenthc line of demarcation is b¡oken with liberals, I believe itpaves the w-ay toward becoming ensnared in the ecumenicalwcb which is being spun by the National and World Councilof Churches. It is my conviction that Free Will Baptistsshould not embrace this spirit of compromise and disobe-

dience to the scriptures by cooperating with Liberals.

JUNE 1970/CONTACT I

A TETTER FROMTHE EDITOR

Jim Owen Jones

Controversy surrounding the ambiguousideas of neo-evangelicalism and coopera-tive evangelism, coupled with unfoundedcriticisms about men and movements ofour time have circulated throughout theFree Will Baptist denomination formonths. Some of this is a reoccurence ofinternal feuding that began years agobut which still confounds the spirit ofharmony and progress that ought tocharacterize this denomination.

We direct your attention to the edi-torials in the May and June issuesof Contact and to an article, "Experienceversus the Word of God" in this issue forinformation on the topicsr neo-evangeli-calism and cooperative evangelism. An-other article and an editorial dealing withthese subjects are tentatively scheduledfor the July issue.

Meanwhile-amid much controversy andconfusion about who or what is neo-evangelical and who is guilty of disobe-dience and why if and when he practicescooperative evangelism-we ought to keepin mind these thoughts that I found inJoseph Siess' book, Letters to the SevenChurches:

There is not a thought in the heart thatescapes the watchful eye of Jesus. Atear that gathers silently in the eye orfalls in regret over past follies; bitternessthat swells in the soul or gratefulness toGod for life and happiness; unjust con-demnation of a brother or praise for hisworthy deeds; a repentant heart or theburden of a sin-all these are swept withlightening's flash into the ear and under-

standing of the divine Savior.

To everyon-e His word is, "l know thyworks." There is nothing hid from Jesus

-our trials and hardships, our weak-nesses and struggles, our honesty inthings for which others blame or censule,our

-real motives and endeavors which

(Contínued on Page 13)

This Month in Contact Magazine, VoL XVil, No. I

FEATURES:

Experience Versus the Word of God/on. RoBERT PTcIRILLI

How To Bring Down a Son or Bring Up a Son/sBrecreD . .

PROGRAM: 1.970 Convention of the National Associationof Free Will Baptists . . . .

Signs Pointing to the Second Çeming of Christ/caoRcn LEE

DEPARTMENTS:

Viewpoint/nuFus coFFEY

A Letter from the Editor/¡r*r JoNEs 2

ReligiousWorldNews,/stann .......11DenominationalNews/stAFF.. 13

ChristianDoctrine./rnRoYFoRLrNEs... 1.4

Comment/clEo PURSELL ... ....... 15

GEMS from the Greek New Testament/on. RoBERT PIcIRILLI . . . . . .15

CooperativeReport/stanF.... t6

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: RUFUS COFFEYEDITOR: JIM OWEN JONESCI RCULATION : STARLET GARTMAN

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Published monthly by the Nqtionol Associot¡on of Free W¡ll Boptists, Post Office Box 1088,Noshville, Tenneésee'37202. Address oll correspondence ond subscriptions to lhis oddress.Subscriotion rotes: I yeor, $3.00; church fomily plon, $2,52 p* yeor; church bundle plon, 23cents ber copy, Secónd'closs postoge poid ot Noshville, Tennessee. Copyr¡ght privilegesreserveij. @ t970, Member of the Evongel¡col Press Assoc¡ot¡on.

¡jt

2 CONTACT/JUNE 1970

Oflícial publicatíon oÍ the Natíonal Assocíatíon of Free WìlI Baptísts

VERSTJS

TF] E reRDOF GOD

by Dr. Robert Picirilli

rT /HAT sTANDARD do you use to evaluate men and

W movements: e teeting based on experience? Orthe Bible? Many of the problems we face in today's

Christianity are the result of tension between these two.Sometimes we make the mistake of interpreting Scrip-

ture by our experience; we ought always to interpretour experience by the Bible.

What it all boils down to is simply this: do you be-lieve the Bible is God's unerring authoritative message

to us, or not? If you do, then all life's experiences mustbe brought into subjection to and evaluated by HislVord, not vice-versa.

There is much-confusion today among God's people.Men with vastly differing philosophies all claim to be ofGod. Exponents of various sorts of methods-even dia-metrically opposed ones-all claim 16 be servants ofGod. All kinds of views of doctrine and morality cir-culate under the banner of "Christianity." Many move-ments, regardless of how conflicting, claim to be moti-vated by the Spirit of God.

What happens is that we hardly know what to believeor whom to trust. If you try to believe in every personwho appears sincere, you will wind up believing inconfusing, contradictory ideas. If you try to have con-fidence in every movement that claims to be (and evenappears to be) Spirit-motivated, you will wind up

giving the Spirit credit for opposing Himself!The truth is that we must have something solid and

authoritative as a basis of judgment, or flounder in hope-less confusion. The Bible gives us such a standard, as

Iong as we are willing to take its clear teachings at lacevalue and not try to qualify its objectivity by our ownsubjective, experiential opinions.

It would not be practical to attempt to deal withevery possible illustration of the kinds of problems wenow face. But here are a few illustrations.

The Problem of Spiritual Phenomena

We are frequently asked about such dramatic demon-strations of the "Spirit" as speaking in tongues. A fewyears ago, I was preparing for Contact, an articleabout tongues, stressing Second Corinthians 14, the onlypassage in the Bible evaluating tongtes. There is nodoubt that the tenor of this passage is to play down thisgìft. Paul makes it plain the gift neither edifes saintsnor convicts sinners, and was given primarily as a "sign"against the unbelief of Israel.

Now no Biblically-minded person can fail to ac-knowledge that this is the Lord's own inspired attitudetoward tongues, but one of our leaders said to me:"Have you actually talked with some of these who areexperiencing the gift of tongues?" I answered that I had

JTJNE 1970/CONTÄCT 3

not. "Well, I have," he said, "and they've gol something.You ought not write against it without examining itfirsthand."

Needless to say, I went on with the article. You see,

my brother's problem was that he was impressed byw'hat he considered the spirituality of the pentecostalfolk he was acquainted with. And he let that experiencemold his thinking.

"But," you say, "I know some fine pentecostal peoplewho are fine Christians!" Sure, I do too; but their em-phasis on tongues is simply not Biblical. So I'd rathertrust God's Word than experience. Several months afterI'd written the article, I read an interesting news reportin Christianity Today concerning an outbreak of tonguesamong Catholics at Notre Dame!

Needless to say, the article made me even more cer-tain that tongues are not of God, but the only thing thathad kept me straight all along was the definite convictionthat the Bible's estimate is the right one and should notbe tempered by "experience."

The Problem of IVho's a Christian

Mentioning Catholics reminds me that there is muchconfusion in today's church world about whom weshould regard as Christian. Once again, the confusionresults from substituting experience for the simpleauthority of the Bible.

Take Roman Catholics, for example. Not many yearsago, no evangelical protestant regarded Catholics as

Christians, other than admitting there could always besome saved in spite oÍ the teachings of their church.But today you hear a lot of talk about "devout Catho-lics." "I know many Catholics whose lives are so goodthat they must be Christians!"-this is what many say.

We used to rejoice when a Catholic got saved. Andusually he didn't need much urging to leave the Romanchurch. No wonder, for according to the Biblical teach-ing the doctrines of Catholicism are those of a corrupt,false religion. But you see what has happened: we allowtheir apparent "piety" to pull the wool over our eyes-once again substituting a feeling based on experiencefor the authority of Holy Writ.

The same thing applies to a lot of modernists. Notlong ago I heard an interesting paper devoted to the ideathat evangelicals ought to accept the Danish existentialistphilosopher Kierkegaard as a conservative Christian.Every now and then you'll read about the piety anddevotion of an Albert Schweitzer or of such a man as E.Stanley Jones. Mind you, not a one of these three wouldeven want to be called an "evangelical" Christian; butsome folk are impressed by their deeds instead of ex-amining their fundamental beliefs in the clear light ofGod's revelation. A tremendous amount of harm is re-sulting from this confusion in the church.

4 CONTACT/ruNE 1970

The Problem of MethodPerhaps the most confusing problem on the current

church scene is that of method. A popular philosophytoday appears to be that we should judge the method bythe results it yields. Well now, everybody has to bepragmatic to a degree, but when the method adoptedviolates Scripture we should reject it regardless of ourown experiential observation of the results.

Cooperating with such non-Christians as modernistsand Catholics such as in cooperative evangelism is onekind of method we often hear advocated today. "Weknow they're not true Christians, but we'll get to reachmore people and get more souls saved this way"-1¡u1rtthe way the argument goes. But God loves souls morethan we do, and still the Bible forbids our yoking to-gether with unbelievers!

The Scriplural attitude toward false teachers is soconsistent and apparent that no one can be justifiedfor missing it. Sit down with your Bible, if you're reallyinterested in this, and'read through all the epistles notingevery reference to false teachers. Then measure a move-ment by this Scriptural revelation rather than by experi-ential opinion about apparent results!

The Problem of l)octrìneAnother source of trouble is the frequently-expressed

sentiment that doctrine doesn't matter. "The badge of aChristian is love," they say. But John spoke about "lovein truth," and the two cannot be divorced.

ft matters what you believe, and you'd better deter-mine your doctrine by the Bible, rather than subjectiveexperiences. Several years ago, a person very dear tome said something like this: "f know the doctrine ofeternal security is right because I didn't use to believe it,and didn't want to believe it, but the Lord taught it tome on my knees with my Bible."

So now what should 1 do? Should I say to myself:"Now I know this person is a Christian, and loves God(I was sure of that); so this doctrine must be right!"

No, that's not what I should do. I have to judge thedoctrine, not by the person's sincerity, but by what theBible teaches. Else I would be hopelessly lost, shiftingdoctrines with every new acquaintance in whom I cameto have confidence.

Not every person who is fully committed to the Biblewill necessarily wind up with identical doctrines on everyminor (or even major) detail. Interpretations by sincereChristians differ. But every person must determine thathis decisions on doctrine will have to be made on thebasis of the Bible, and not by subjective experientialobservation of the lives'of others regarded as sincere.

The Problem of Right and Wrong

Perhaps the world has never seen the "church" speakwith so many contradictory voices about morals. One

(Continued on page l4)

Howto Bring Down A SonorBring tlp A Son

1. Provide him with plenty of free spending money.

2. Permit him to choose his own companions without re-straint or direction.

3. Give him a housekey and allow him to return home at anyhour of the night.

4. Make no inquiry about where and with whom he spends hisleisure hours.

5. Make him understand that manners make a good substitutefor morals.

6. Let him expect pay for every act of helpfulness.

7. Let him spend his church-time hours on the street insteadof in church.

8. Be careful never to let him hear you pray.

1. Make home the brightest and most attractive place onearth.

2. Make him responsible for the performance of a limitednumber of daily duties.

3. Never punish him in anger.

4. Do not ridicule his conceits, but talk frankly on mattersin which he is interested,

5. Let him invite his friends to your home and table.

6. Be careful to impress upon his mind that making characteris more important than making money.

7. Live uprightly before him at all times; then you will beable to talk to him with power.

8. Be much in prayer for his spiritual growth,

-Selected

Father

fdSon

g,

-l'ã,;'(;

ii:::L--'

A Boy is a joy as life holds no other

A lad to his Dad is a younger kid brother,

A pal he can play with, a chum he can charm,

An object to work for and keep from all harm.

A life you can fashion, a mind you can mold,

A heart that responds beyond treasures of gold.

He's flesh of your flesh, and he's not error-proof,

He makes his mistakes, as you did in youryouth.

You've hoped and you've prayed that he'd make a fíne man

You've done what you could his future to plan.

You'll find in this world that there's no greater joy

Than the thrill that you get when you say "He's My Boy!"

-Author unknown

Vtr:.r?rft

PROGRAM OF THE 34TH AI\INUAL SESSION OF THE

1.|ATIOlìlAI ASSOCIATIO].l OF FREE l|ll|tI BAPTISTSFresno convention center, Fresno, california, July 18.16, Tgzo

THEMEz 'oThy Word, lsTruth,'

CONVENTION HYMN: .,How Firm A Foundation,'ORGANIST: Teddy WilbanksPIANIST: Nadene FollowwillNURSERY: Convention CenterCONVENTION OFFICE: Convention CenterPRESS ROOM: Convention Center

MONDAY / JuIy 13

WNAC Executive Committee BreakfastRiesling Room-D el lV eb b T ow nehouseGeneral Board MeetingChablís Room-Del lVebb Townehouse

Afternoon

Registration: WNAC, National Association, andNational Youth ConferenceC onv entio tt C e nt er A udít oríumBible Bowl and Tic Tac Toe ContestsConvenlíon CenterWNAC Executive Committee, State presidents,

Field WorkersCabarnet Room, Del Webb TotunehouseGeneral BoardC hab lis Ro om-D e I Il e b b T ow ¡teho us eMusic FellowshipPlaza Room-Del llebb Townehouse

Evening

CONVfENTION ASSEMBLYConvention C enter AuditoríumCall to Worship: Wade JerniganTopic: "The Provision of Truth',Scripture: John 77:17

"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy Wordið truth."

Worship through singing: I. L. StanleyAssociation called into official sesiion_Waldo

Young, ClerkIntroduction of Moderator, Dr. Robert E.

PicirilliReport of Committee on CommitteesAppointment of WNAC CommitteesWelcome from California State Association_

Edward JohnsGet Acquainted TimeConvention OfferingSpecial Music-CCC QuartetWorship through the WordMessenger: Rev. Henry LitteralSession Recessed (Exhibit Area Open)

TUESDAY /Iury t48:30 Registration

C o nv e ntion C e nt er A udítorium9:00 Pastor's and Laymen's Seminar

Chqblis RoomWNAC CONVENTIONC onv entíon C enter Auditoríum

12:00 Free Will Baprist Bible College Alumni Lunch_eon (to be announced)

Aftenroon

1:30 Board of Retirement and Insurance InformationMeeting

Cabernet Room-Del Webb Townehouse5:00 WNAC Fellowship Dinner

Burgundy Room-Del Webb Townehouse

Evening

7:30 CONVENTION ASSEMBLYC o nv entíon C e nt er Auditorí umCall to Worship: Bobby FergusonTopic: "The power of Truth"Scripture: John 8:32

"And ye shall know the truth, and the truthshall make you free."

7:35 Worship through singing: Fred Hall7:40 P¡esentation of Awards-National youth Con_

test Winners8:00 Convention Offering

Special Music-Music Fellowship Choir8:10 Worship through the Word

Messenger: Dr. J. D. O'Donnell8:50 Session Recessed (Exhibit Area Open)

7:30

8:00

I :00

7:30

1:30

I it)7:40

8:30

9:00

9:059:209:25

WEDNESDAY / Juty 15

Convention Prayer Time-Rupert pixleyC onv ention C enter AudítorîumCONVENTION ASSEMBLYWorship through singing-Malcolm FryModerator's Message: Dr. Robert E. picirilliSeating of DelegatesProgress Reports of National DepartmentsChurch Training Service-Samuel JohnsonExecutive Church Bonds, Inc.-Francis BoyleExecutive Department-Rufu s CoffeyForeign Missions-Reford Wilson

8:008:10

8;20

9:00

6 CONTACT/JUI\E 1970

Free Will Baptist Bible College-Dr. L. C.JohnsonHome Missions and Church Extension-Homer

E. WillisLaymen's Board-Ray TurnageRetirement and Insurance-Herman HerseySunday School Department-Roger Reeds

12:00 Session Recessed for Lunch (Exhibit .{rea Open)

Afternoon

1:30 CONVENTION ASSEMBLY, Worship through singing: Malcolm Fry

Devotio¡al thought and prayer: Andy Layl:45 General Board Report1:50 Business3:30 Adoption of Budgets4:00 Partial Report of Nominating Committee and

Election of all Board Members4:20 Session Recessed

Evening

7:30 CONVENTION ASSEMBLYCall to Worship: Joe AngeTopic: "The Proclamation of Truth"Scripture: I Timothy 2:4

"Who will have all men to be saved, and tocome unto the knowledge of the truth."

Worship th¡ough singing-Malcolm Fry7:40 Convention Offering

Special Music-Jane Randlett7:50 Introduction of Missionaries8:00 Congregational Song8:05 Worship through the Word

Messenger: Missionary Archie Mayhew8:45 MissionaryOfiering9:00 Session Recessed (Exhibit Area Open)

THURSDAY / Juty 16

7:00 Laymen's BreakfastBurgundy Room-Del Webb Townehouse

9:00 CONVENTION ASSEMBLYWorship through singing-Bob FollowwillDevotional thought and prayer-Lester Horton

9:15 Report of WNAC9;20 Report of Commissions

-Historical-Theological

Liberalism9:35 Report of National Youth Conference9:40 Report of National Association of Evangelicals

-Dr. Billy Melvin9:50 Miscellaneous Business-Report of Committees

10:25, Intermission10:40 CONVENTION ASSEMBLY

Call to Worship:Topic "The Pathway of Truth"Scripture: Psalms 86:11

"Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walkin thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name."

Worship through singing-Bob FollowwillConvention OfieringSpecial Music-Fred Hall

11:00 Worship through the WordMessenger: Rev. J. E. Blanton

1l:40 Placement Committee Report for 1973 Con-vention

ll;45 Nominating Committee Report and Election ofOfficers

12:00 Adjournment

WOMAN'S NATIONAL AT'XIIÄRY CONVENTIONFRF^9NO CONYENTION CENTER, FRF^SNO, CALIF.

Theme: Ministering Unto ChristWatchword: "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one

of the least of these ye have doneit unto me" (Matthew 25:40b)

Theme Song: "All for Jesus"

MONDAY / July 13, 1970

7:30 WNAC Executive Committee BreakfastRíesling Room, Townehouse Hotel

1:00-3:00 State Presidents, Field Workers, ExecutiveCommittee

Cabernet Room, Townehouse Hotel

Aftemoon

l:00 Registration-Mae SheehanLobby, Fresno Convention Center

TUESDAY /trury 14

9:00 Presiding-Georgia HillSingspiration

Song Director-Bob FollowwillPianist-Nadine FollowwillOrganist-Mary Alice Bridgman

9:10 Ministering Unto Christ in Hawaii-HelenSanders

Special Music-From Hawaii9:30 Welcome-Marie Roberts

Business Session9:50 Visual Presentation-"Fifty Million Frenchmen"

Jerry Ballard10:15 Ministering on the Mission Fields

Joanne King10:40 Recess (exhibit area open)10:55 Worship through song

OfiertorySpecial Music-California Christian College"Our Vocation-the Work of the Ministry"Dan Merkh, Missionary to France

12:00 Recessed for lunch

Afternoon

1:30 Worship through songMinistering in Japan-Aileen Calvery

l:45 In Memoriam: Mary Welch

2:00

3:30

5:00

Mary Ruth WisehartBusiness SessionReports of committeesFinal adjournmentWNAC Fellowship DinnerVonette Bright---Speaker

-

Program of the 35th Annual Session of the

Burgundy Room, Tov,nehouse Hotel

-

JU¡IE 1970/CONTACT 7

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This is the second of a two-part article on the SecondComing ol Christ, taken from a messqge presented byRev. George Lee in the pulpit of Donelson Free IliilBaptist Church lanuary 4 and 11.

HE PHARTSEES also with the Sad-duces came, and tempting de-

concerned about the setting of datesfor His return.

What about "clate setting?" A groupknown as the Millerites said Christwould return in 1M4. The Adventiststell us that on that datc Christ left themercy seat and went to the inner sanc-tuary where He is putting the sins ofthe saints on the scapc goat.

A parallel movernent sprang up inEngland, known as thc lrvingites. Thesepeople taught that Christ would returnin 1847, and that the son of Napoleonwas the Antichrist. Whcn the newsreached them of his dcath, the move-ment began to wane. Thc Russelites,after many attempts, lìnally sct 1914as the year of His rctunt. Thcir suc-cessors, known today as Jchovah's Wit-nesses, still cling to th¿¡t tlatc, asscrtingthat the promised millcniunt bcgan thenbut that most people arc tt¡o blind torecognize it.

Then, is one justifìcd whcn trying toset dates for this inr¡rorllnt cvent?Jesus said, "But of thlt rlly ¿rnd thathour knoweth no nran. No, not theangels which are in hc¿rvcrr, ncithcr thcSon, but the Father. 'l'lkc yc hcccl,watch and pray: for yc ktì()w not whcnthe time is" (Mark l3:32-31).

Then, what shoulcl hc uur ¿rllituclcabout His coming? 'l'hc wisrlomof the ages is to l'intl out whichway God is going and ¡lrovc with l-linl.Therefore, let us obscrvc sollc ol' thcspecific signs to accorììpiuty tlrc lcturnof the Lord for His snints.

Perfect NumeralsIf one reckons that thcr.c ¿ìrc iìp-

proximately 4000 ycars l'rorn (icncsisthrough the Old Tcstlnrcrrt, ¿rntl thatsince the beginning ol' thc Ncw Tcsta-ment there are about 2(XX) ycars untilthe present, and if thcro is to bc athousand-year or millcni¿rl rcign, thenthe total number of ycnrs would be7000. Of course, this is ¡lurcly specula-tion, but it is most irrtcresting that thenumber "seven" is thc numbcr that isused by the Lorcl and is generally re-garded as His nnnlbcr of perfection,Now, we would not for a moment sug-gest the time of His return. However,it is most intriguing that the Lord tooksix days to make the earth and all thingsand on the sevenîh clay He rested.There were seven clean beasts that en-tered into Noah's ark, For seventy

years Israel was in captivity in Baby-lon. There weÍe seventy leaders ofMoses' helpers. There are seventyweeks mentioned by Daniel in his bookof prophecy. The Lord sent out seventydisciples. There were seventy membersof the Jewish Sanhedrin. Jesus speaks tolhe seyen churches of Asia Minor. Inthe book of ,Revelation we read aboutthe seven-sealed book, seven trumpets,and the seven vials. 'fhere are sevendays in a week. There are seven planefsin our solar system: Mars, Saturn,Pluto, Jupiter, Venus, Neptune andEarth. There are seven continents:Antarctica, Asia, Africa, Austrailia,Europe, North and South America.God always works in His own time andway but these facts are food forthought.

The Jewish PeopleGod is not through with the Jewish

nation. Throughout the centuries theyhave served as a barometer for futurêevents. Paul asks, "I say then, hathGod cast away his people?', (RomansI I : I ) He answers his own question bysaying, "God forbid." The eleventitchapter of Romans deals with Israel,sfuturc and in no uncertain terms re-veals that God is going to use Israel forHis glory ancl that as a nation she willacccpt Jcsr-rs as Savior.

Ezckicl 3[ì and 39 tells of the comingrcgrouping of Israel and the consuma-tion ol' the ages with battle. For anunlbcr of years, literally thousands ofJcwish pcople have been returning toPalcstinc, the land of their destiny. Godplaccd this desire within them.

The goose and the golden egg are inthat land. For example, the Dead Sea,48 miles long and 10 miles wide, covers405 square miles. The lowest elevationin the world is in the Dead Sea, whichis 1,286 feet below sea level. It is sixtimes as salty as the ocean. It containssodium chloride, magnesium chloride,potassium chloride, calcium chlorideand magnesium bromide. These miner-als are sources of potash, bromide, tablesalt, gypsum and are worth untold mil-lions of dollars.

The entire area of Palestine covers7,984 square miles wifh 265 milesnorth to soufh and 70 miles east towest. Two million Jews live there.

In May 1948, Israel raised its flag,_+

sired him that he would shew them asign from heaven. He answered andsaid unto them, When it is evening, yesay, It will be fair weather: for thesky is read. And in the morning, Itwill be foul weather today: for the skyis red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, yecan disce¡n the face of the sky; butcan ye not discern the signs of thetimes?" (Matthew 16: 1-3)

The Jewish people possessed the Lawand the Prophets but did not fullyunderstand them. Jesus spoke plainlyto them, but their senses were dulled.Though they knew what the prophetshad written they were blind to theirtruths. They asked for a sign ormiracles. Jesus told them the only signHe would give them would be the signof the prophet Jonah (Matthew 12:39-40). So it is in our day.

John wrote in Revelation 22:20, "Icome quickly." The belief in the immi-nent coming of the Lord Jesus is be-ing proclaimed boldly by many today.We should remember that His secondcoming will be as real as his first com-ing.

At the first corning of Jesus, gifts ofgold, frankincense and myrrh were pre-sented to Him. Gold was a symbol of aking; frankincense represented His in-tercession; and myrrh represented deathand suffering. At His second coming,the myrrh will be missing, for Hewill come with death and sufferingbehind Him. At His second adventJesus will be without the burden of oursins, in contrast to His bearing the sinsof many at His first conring. In humilityhe originally came. Now He shall comewith great glory and majcsty.

Often the return of our Savior isrejected because some have felt thatthe things written about it are too fan-tastic or too fanatical. However, paulcommended the church at Thessalonicaf'or their belief in His return.

The time element surrounding thesecvcnts is most intriguing. For example,thc Pharisees demanded of JeÃus,"When shall the kingdom of Godconre?" (Luke 17:20) Even His dis-ciplcs said: "TelI us, when shall thesethings be?" (Matthew 24:3) They said:"Lord, will thou at this time restoreagain the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts1:6) People have historically been very

JUNE I97OICONTACT 9

a six-pointed Star of David, centeredbetween horizontal blue stripes on a

white field. After 2,50O years withouta central government, they declaredthemselves a nation, and the desert be-

gan to "blossom as a rose."Ezekiel, chapter 36, says, "For I will

take you from among the nations, andgathei you out of all countries, andwitt tring you into your own land. Thenwill I sprinkle clean water upon you'and ye Jhatt be clean . . . . A new heartalso will I give you. And ye shall dwellin the land that I gave to your fathers;and ye shall be mY PeoPle and I willbe your God." In the light of the pro-pheiic Scriptures, the presence of th:iews in Palestine today is of tremend-ous significance, even though they havereturned to the land in unbelief. Ac-cording to Ezekiel 36:2Ç28, it is afterthe return of a remnant that the nationof Israel will be converted to Jesus

Christ, and will begin to live for God'sglory.

It is here that many scholars believethe final overthrow of the armies ofRussia will take place' Chapters 38 and

39 (Ezekiel) give a clear description ofthe crushing defeat they will receive.That this passage deals with Russia

seems clear both from the linguisticconsiderations and from the geograph-ical locations of that country as thegreat power directly to the north ofPalestine. 'When Israel shall be dwellingsecurely in the land with aPparentpeace and safety, then Russia will comedown upon them. KeeP Your eyes onIsrael.

The Peace Sign"For when theY shall saY, Peace and

safety; then sudden destruction comethupon them, as travail uPon a \Moman

with child" (I Thessalonians 5:3). Man-kind has always searched for a constantpeace, but he has been unsuccessful'In fact, since the time of our recordedhistory there has been less than 50years of sustained peace without a warof some ki¡d.

When Paul spoke of Peace he didnot mean there would be Peace, butrather he referred to man's search forit. Jesus said, "Ye shall hear of warsand rumors of wars: see that Ye be

not troubled: for all these things mustcome to Pass but the end is not Yet.For nation shall rise against nation andkingdom against kingdom (Matthew24:6-7). Jesus was stating that manwill, in the last daYs, be discussingpeace. He will bring it before the con-lerence tables of the world. Peace now!Peace now!" This is the cry from everytelevision newsçast'

10 CONTACT/JUNE 1970

I{owever, those of us who knowJesus Christ realøe that there can be

no peace in one's heart nor among thenations of the world until the Prince ofPeace is received into lives of men'

Ptolemy, the Greek astronomer,thought the sun revolved around theearth. He based his calculations onthat theory. But it resulted in confusion.Everything was out of Place' I" th9

14th century Copernicus made his cal-culations with the sun in the center.The answers then fell into Place.

Nothing in this world will ever fallinto its proper place, nor will ordercome out of confusion until the Princeof Peace returns and establishes Hiskingdom among men.

Lawlessness Sign"For the mystery of iniquity (law-

lessness) doth already work" (II Thes-salonians 2:7). The world is plaguedby three evils: First, there is com-munism. Today 37/o of the earth's landarea writhes under the trynically ruth-less heel of the godless, Russian RedBear. Over a billion people are slaves

to this philosophy of tife. Communismis anti-God and anti-Christian. Weought to oppose it, for it attacks thevery foundation of our faith' There is

no room for comPromise.In May, 19L9, at Dusseldorf, Ger-

many, The Allied Forces obtained a

copy of some of the "Communist RulesFor Revolution." Nolv, 50 years later,the Reds are still following these rules'

We quote from the Red Rules:

"4. Corupt the young. Get them awayfrom religion. Get them interest-ed in sex. Make them suPerfi-

cial; DestroY their ruggedness'

B. Get Control of all means of Pub-licity, therebY:

1. Get the PeoPle's minds off theirgovemment bY focusing theirattention on athletics, sexybooks and PlaYs and othertrivialities.

2. Divide the PeoPle into hostilegroups bY constantlY harPingon controversial matters ofimPortance.

3. DestroY the PeoPle's faith intheir natural leaders bY hold-ing the latter uP to contempt,ridicule and obloquY.

4. Always Preach true democracY,but seize Power as fast as Pos-sible.

5. By encouraging government ex-travagance, destroY its credit,produce fear of inflation withrising Prices and general dis-content,

6. Ferment utìnecessary strikes invital industries; encouragecivil disorders and fosterlenient and soft attitudes onthe part of government to-ward such disorders.

7. By spacious argument cause thebreakdown of the old moralvirtues, honestY, sobrietY, con-tinence, faith in the Pledgedword, ruggedness'

C. Cause the registration of all fire-arms on some Pretext, with viewof confiscating them and leav-ing the poPulation helPless."

Second, there is juvenile delinquency.This age has been characterized bYparental neglect which has bred juvenileãnarchy. Drugs, pot and man's sinfulnature have teamed uP for a mostpotent blow uPon those that we lovemost, our youth.

And thirdly, we include defiance oflaw. We have observed the erroding ofour precious right of protection fromlawbreakers. In some areas personalsafety is impossible because the break-down is so widespread. There were theriots in the streets in Watts, Detroit,Chicago and other cities in the last fewyears. Literally millions of dollars worthof property was destroyed' And it ap-pears that this is not all over. In fact,it will probably grow worse' continuingto infect our society. The spirit of law-lessness will head up when the antichristcomes to the earth' The peoples of theearth will proclaim the antichrist to beGod, make a coverrant with him and so

sell their souls to eternal Hell. ThePsalmist said, "The Kings of the earthset themselves and the rulers take coun-sel together against the Lord andagainst the annointed . ' ." (Psalm

2:2).

The Moral SignTo see the total Picture during the

"last of the last days" you might lookto II TimothY 3:1-13' There Paulpaints a ¡nost vivid Picture.

There are so many a¡eas that one

could cover in this line of thought thatit would be impossible to describe manyof them in the space alloted here. Wewill confine our remarks primarily tothat which is happening in the church'

As the age draws to a close, we see

many of our historic virtues slippingaway. For examPle, Paul warned thechuich at Corinth and Rome about thesins of sexual perversion. Yet todaythere are churches openly defying whatthe Word of God has to saY about suchthings. For example, in recent months,

(Continued on Page 16)

dencllrrinaüional nGrvtrs¡

Contqcf Wins BestDenominqtionql PeriodicElWashington, D.C.-Contact magaziîe,official publication of the NationalAssociation of Free Will Baptists, wasjudged the best denominational period-ical of the year and won two second-place awards at the 22nd annualconvention of the Evangelical PressAssociation here May 11-13.

Contact was one of nine magazineswhich won the top award as "Period-ical of the Year" in their respectivefield among 74 entries. In addition,the publication placed second in thegeneral article category of the "HigherGoals in Christian Journalism" sectionof tlre three-phased contest. Contactwon another second-place award inthe "Most Improved Format" section.

It was the first time in Contact's16-year history that the magazine hasreceived an award, and is the first FreeWill Baptist publication to ,win threeawards in a single contest. Jim OwenJones is editor.

Also winning a second-place awardwas Heartbeat magazine, edited byJerry Ballard, of the Free V/ill BaptistForeign Missions Department. Its en-try was a two-color cover in the "High-er Goals" contest. Heartbeat has wonan award in eight of the nine years ithas entered the EPA contest.

CBMC Contact, official organ ofthe Christian Businessmen's CommitteeInternational, was judged the overall"Periodical of the Year" among all en-tries.

Other magazines winning a first placeaward in their respective field in the"Periodical of the Year" contest in-cluded Cable of Overseas Crusades,Inc.; Spírìt of the Lutheran Church,Missouri-Synod; Impact of the Conser-vative Baptist Foreign Missions Asso-ciation; Thís Day of the LutheranChurch, Missouri-Synod; CBMC Con-tact; Collegiate Challenge of CampusCrusade for Christ; and Leader Guíde-book of the David C. Cook Publish-ing Co.

First place winners in the "HigherGoals" contest were Collegìate Chal-lenge; Youth ín Action of the FreeMethodist Church; Decisìon of the Bil-ly Graham Evangelistic Association;World Vísíon magazine; Campus Lífeof Youth for Christ International; andThe Navigatoy's Log.

The United Missionary Church'sEmphasìs magazine was selected as the"Most Improved Periodical."

ttThe lollowíng statement ís published

at the request oÍ the Executíve Com-mittee ol the Natíonal Assocìatíon ofFree ltíll Baptísts as ø public an-nouncement for Free l(ill Baptísts. Itconcerns the selection ol a speaker forthe 34th annual convention ín Fresno,Calìfornia, Iuly 13-16.

Explanation by the Executive Com.mittee concerning the Wednesdayevening speaker at the National Con-vention.

In the fall meeting of the ExecutiveCommittee, plans for the National As-sociation session of l97O were made,including the selection of speakers.Traditionally, the committee itselfnames three of the speakers and de-pends on the directors of the twomissions departments to recommend amissionary speaker for the \Mednesdayevening service.

That tradition was followed this year.The speaker recommended to us wasDr, Stan Mooneyham of World Vision.The committee passed a motion "toaccept the recommendation of the mis-sions directors," for the Wednesdaynight service. Since the committeecould have rejected the recommenda-tion and made another selection, theconrmittee consciously bears respon-sibility for inviting the speaker.

The two missions department headshave now submitted a letter to theExecutive Committee asking that theinvitation to Dr. Mooneyham be with-drawn. These brethren have explainedtheir reasons as follows:

"You are no doubt aware thatan element within our associa-tion and allied interests outsideare vigorously attacking the in-tegrity of Dr. W. StanleyMooneyham and the invitationextended by the ExecutiveCommittee for him to addressour national meeting in Fres-no, July 15. These forces havecreated an atmosphere of con-tention and divisiveness thatseriously threatens the unityand stability of our denomina-tion and poses grave threat to

the home and oversees minis-tries which we represent.

"When the Executive C-ommit-tee sought our recommendationfor speaker at our annual mis-sions night, tve recommendedDr. Mooneyham because of hisproven stand for Christ and thecause of world redemption, hislong familiarity with and per-sonal involvement in the mis-sionary ministry of his denomi-nation and his deep understand-ing of the current picture inmissions throughout the world.\Me also remember the unusualoutpouring of the Holy Spiritwhen he last addressed our as-sociation in L962. And weknow that Dr. Mooneyham'sinterest in accepting the invita-tion to speak would be to havea spiritual ministry among usagam.

"Ifowever, we are chargedwith the administration of themissionary ministries of ourdenomination, and this is ourprimary concern. We feel thatthe present situation seriouslythreatens the continued effec-tiveness of our world evangel-istic outreach. The reâl victimsof continued discord within ourranks will be those faithfulservants who labor sacrificiallyto take the gospel to the millionswho still have not heard thename of Jesus or understandthe meaning of His atoningwork at Calvary. In this sense,the eternal destiny of souls isvitally involved in this matter.

"Therefore, for the sake ofdenominational unity and thesouls who depend on our mis-sionaries for the Light of thegospel, we respectfully requestthat the Executive Committeewithdraw its invitation to Dr.Mooneyham to address our con-vention and do so with appro-priate explanation for the situa-tion that has made this neces-sary. We sincerely regret thatthe environment created bythose opposing his speakingmilitate against his having aspiritual ministry among us atthis time."

JU¡{E 1970/CONTACT 11

Since our desire was, and still is' torespect these brethrens' recommenda-

tion for the missions servlce; slnce

our original action provided that we

ãccept their recommendation; and

since^ we believe they are acting out

ãI n.nuin. concern for the spirit of

the -Wednesday night service, a serv-

ice *'hich is traditionally a highlight

and climax of the annual session, we

have concurred in their request towithdraw the invitation to Dr' Mooney-

ham.We sincerelY regret the confusion

that will inevitably result from this re-

versal, and we likewise regret the- un-

charaóteristic carelessness and unChris-tian attitudes which have played a part

in this matter. But we agree with the

observation of the missions directors

that a Point has now been reached

where ti " spirit of the missionary

service would be destroyed as a result

of the opposition toward Dr' Mooney-ham's spðaking' We urge our PeoPþeverywhãre to call on the Lord for Hispower to make the service a blessing'

Columbus, Mississippi First ChurchCompletes Building Programof $141,609The First Free Will Baptist Church ofColumbus, Miss. moved into its new

41O-seat sanctuary here in Februaryafter completing a building program of$141,609 that included a new sanctuaryand remodeling of facilities. Dedicationspeaker was Rev. Paul Ketteman' a

former pastor.The ìew and remodeled facilitics

provide 31 teaching areas and three as-

iembly areas. Pastor Randy Cox, in his

sixth year at the church, said, "We arc

asking the Lord to make us good stew-

ards in fully utilizing this physical plantto evangelize our city and the world'"

Oklahoma Stirs YouthWith Ntusic Festival

Tulsa, Oklahsm¿-l\{6¡e than two hun-

dred youths from junior high to coþgeage were drawn to the Lawnwood Free

Will Baptist Church here ,{pril 14. inhappy rèsponse to a call for the firststate-wide music festival.

Youth choirs from churches across

12 CONTACT/JUNE 1970

the state participated, and were ratedon a five-point scale similar to a grad-ing system. A,fter their individual per-foimances, the entire group rehearsed

en masse under the direction of Mr.Don Clark, music instructor and choirdirector at Oklahoma Bible College.The group taped several arrangements.

The music festival grew Ôut of an

idea conceived by officers of the Na-tional Music Fellowship to stimulatestatelevel interest. Consequently, thestate organization, the Oklahoma MusicFellowship, planned the festival pro-gram,

The National Music FellowshiP is a

Free Will Baptist organization of per-sons engaged in religious music activity.Ted Wilbanks, vice-president of NMF,says that "it's main purpose is to givethose who are interestecl in church mu-sic an opportunity to fellowship and

share their common intercst." The or-ganization is encouraging the formationof more state and district nrt¡sic fellow-ships.

Nashville Youths Hold Walk-a'thonfor FWBBC Building Fund

Nashville, fsn¡.-\e¡¡lY a hundredyouths braved the drizzling rain hereApril 25 to walk 15 miles to the FreeWill Baptist Bible College camPus'thereby earning $2,200 for the college'sbuilding progralì1,

Paid-on a pcr nrile basis, the deter-mined yotrths, alI from Nashville-areachurchcs whosc Church Training Serv-ice groups sponsored the event weaved

their cortrsc from the Donelson FreeWilt Baptist Church on the eastern out-sk irts of Nashville, across interstatehighways an<I residential areas' to thecamptls on the west side of town.

Aftcr the six-hour ordeal, the walk-ers wore welcomed on camPus bY a

schoot official and given refreshmentsin appreciation for their labors.

North Carolinâ Súate Association Electsa Layman as ModeratorFayetteville, N.C.-A laYman- w¿s

electeil to the post of moderator for theNorth Carolina State Association herelvlay 4-6. Mr. Jack Forlines' a federalemployee of the Agricultural Stabiliza-tion and Conservation Service of Garn-er, brother of Free Will Baptist BibleCollege instructor, Rev. Leroy Forlines,is also national chairman of FWBBC's"Dollars from the Scholars" fund-rais-ing campaign.-Ottrei officers elected at the state

meeting include Rev. Milton Hollified'assistant moderator; Rev. Gene Out-land, clerk; and Rev. Dean Dobbs,treasurer.

Bqllqrd Resigns PostAt Foreign Missions

Nashville, Tenn.-Jerry Ballard, direc-tor of communications for the foreigndepartment for nearly a decade, willleÑe that post JulY 3l to become di-rector of ðommunications for WorldVision International.

During his nearlY 10 Years with thedepartment, Ballard developed a media-oriented informational program includ-ing the award-winning magaziteHeartbeat. He has Produced two mo-tion pictures and 11 sound/color film-strips in addition to three major workson mission philosophy and policy. Onthe overseas scene, he has stimulatedclevelopment of communication minis-tries especially in Africa and LatinAmerica. He is currently writing thebiography of the late Senior Mission-ary Thomas H. WilleY, Sr.

The text of Ballard's resignationstatement, submitted to the foreignboard in session in MaY, is rePro-duced here in Part:

"It is with the mixed emotions ofsadness and victory that I find it neces-

sary at this time to present my resigna-tion as director of communications forthe board of foreign missions effectiveJuly 31,1970.

'iI thank God for Placing me hereduring the most exciting ten years inthe history of the foreign ministry ofour denomination. And I thank Himfor the caliber of men He has given

me to work with on the board,in the home office and on the fields'The mutual respect and genuine one-ness of the Holy Spirit that has pre-vailed will always characterize mymemories of this period in my minis-try."

Bollord

neligious rrvoFld nGrvns¡

Gallup Poll: Stiff SentencesUrged For Drug 'Pushers'Princeton (EP)-More than 40 per centof Americans believe "pushers" ofheroin or marijuana should receive jailsentences of 10 years or more, accord-ing to a recent poll. ÌIowever, the pub-lic's attitude toward drug users wasmore lenient.

Gallup Poll interviewers, working inmore than 300 selected localities acrossthe nation, asked 1,551 persons whatthey thought should be the appropriatejail term for offenders over 18 yearsof age.

Four categories were cited: For per-sons caught taking heroin or havingit in his possession; for a person whosells or "pushes" heroin; for a personcaught smoking marijuana or having itin his possession, and for a person who"pushes" marijuana.

On the sale of heroin, 43 per centfavored sentences of 10 years or morefor pushers, while 24 per cent calledfor life imprisonment and 10 per centsuggested two to five-year terms. Thedeath penalty was recon.ìmended by 4per cent and medical help suggested by1 per cent. For users of heroin, a totalof 26 per cent recomrnended jail sen-tences of 10 years or more, while 42per cent backed penalties of less than10 years. Medical aid for users wasreconrmended by 12 per cent of the re-spondents.

Budget-Cutting Southern PresbyteriansHope to Maintain 400 Missioners

Nashville (EP)-The world missionboard of the Presbyterian Church, U.S.(Southern) is seeking a "modernmiracle"-of a flnancial nature-tokeep its missionary force from fallingbelow 400.

A special committee was named toseek a way to bridge the gap between a1.971 budgef which will support only353 missionaries and the goal of 400.

Not since 1925, except in wartime,has the board fielded fewer than 400missionaries. The peak was 567 in 1965.

Presbyterians ReportMembership Decline

Atlanta (EP)-For the flrst time in morethan a century, membership in Presby-terian churches and the number of

churches dropped during 1969, spokes-men for the denomination reported.

There were 34 fewer congregationsat the close of last year than there werea year earlier. A net loss of 4,256communicants was reported,

Dr. J. Sherrard Rice, secretary ofChristian witness of the Board of Na-tional Ministries, attributed the declinein churches to mergers made over thepast year.

Iæad Crime Fight,FBI Agent Tells ChurchSeattle (EP)-Churches must providethe leadership to help curtail the na-tion's soaring crime rate, a specialagent of the Federal Bureau of In-vestigation told a Pacific NorthwestRestaurant Convention.

J. Earl Milnes in charge of the localFBI office, said that if nore peoplewould follow the teachings of thechurches the country would be a bet-ter place in which to live and "a lot ofmoney" would be saved in fightingcrime.

"We have always had criminals andwe will always have them," he said, "butthe disturbing thing to nre is we havedeveloped the attitude of forgettingand forgiving, hoping it will go away.We have to restore the deterrent effectsso that marginal people start obeyingthe law we have let too manypeople lead us around by the nose."

He said the right to protest shouldbe exercised within the framework ofthe law.

Predicfs Computer ServiceFor Churches

Wayne, N.Y. (EP)-Information andspeciflc data on biblical questions willsoon be available to churches for in-stantaneous ¡eference.

So predicted Dr. Walter R. Martin,director of the Christian Research In-stitute here.

Speaking to an assembly of preach-ers at the State Conservative BaptistAssociation, Dr. Martin said that by theend of 1971 some 40,000 documents,articles and books relating to specificareas of discussion about the Bible willhave been programmed into an infor-matlon retriever.

Colleges and theological seminariesrviil share the service with churches fora nominal cost, Dr. Martin explained.

U.S. Supreme Court to HearAppeal on D.C. Abortion Law

Washington, D.C. (EP)-The U.S. Su-preme Court, by agreeing to considerthe constitutionality of the District ofColumbia's abortion law, has declareditself a party to the increasing nationalconcern over abortion.

Three state legislatures - Hawaii,New York, Maryland-recently enact-ed new statutes substantially relaxingprohibitions against abortions. Mary-land's new law, one of the most liberalever considered, has yet to be approvedby the state's governor.

The District of Columbia law, whichprohibits abortions except where themother's life or health is endangered,was declared unconstitutional last yearby the U.S. District Judge.

Warning: Chain Letters Äre Illegal

It has been brought to our attentionthat chain letters are circulating in themails, more heavily concentrated il theNorth Carolina area.

According to the United States At-torney General, a pyramidal chain let-ter (which involves several personssending an amount of money to theperson whose name appears first ona list which is subsequently sent to a

number of other persons) is a form ofinterstate lottery, and therefore illegal.Persons participating in chain lettermailing are violating a federal law andcan be prosecuted.

(Continued from page 2)others do not understand. All these areknown to the loving Savior who can betouched with the feeling of our infiimityand gives us suffic¡ent grace for allthings.

Jesus Christ speaks consolingly to theMarys that weep over their sins, notesthe secret devotions of the Nathanielsunder the fig tree, commends the faithof the crippled ones who struggle amidthe jostling crowd that they may buttouch the hem of His garment.

The God of Abraham, David and Paulthe Apostle has made it evident in a

thousand blessings upon Free Will Bap-

tists' ministries that His commendationswill one day be ours. But His honest lovemay yet find it necessary to say to us as

He said to the church at Ephesus: "Never-theless, I have somewhat against thee."

JT]NE I9TOiCONTACT 13

chnistiandocËnine

by Leroy Forlines

Thìs ís the second of a continuîng series of installmentsdealing with terms ín Chrístian doctríne. Readers are re-minded that this column, íl one should choose to keep anotebook or fiIe, could be developed into a handy relerencesupplement for Bible study. (See May Cottact, page 14.)

Before one enters a study of theology or Christian doc-trine, some basic observations must be made. In theologybooks this division is calld "Prolegomena." In a less techni-cal study it would be called "Introduction." Listed below are

some deûnitions of terms pertinent to introductory ob-servations.I. Introduction

A. Theology'The word "theology" is made up of two Greek

words, theos, wlnic]n means God, and logos, whichmeans Word, discourse, teaching, etc. Thus, theologymeans the study of God.

In the broad sense theology means the study ofGod and His relationship to the created order andits inhabitants, especially man. In the narrow sense

it means the doctrine of God, and refers to that divi-sion of theology in which a study is made of thenature of God.

B. Bible DoctrineBible Doctrine refers to a topical arrangement and

study of the basic Christian truths which make upthe content of our faith and the foundation for ourworship and practical living. It seeks to answer thequestion: What does the Bible teach concerning thesetopics or doctrines?

C. Systematic TheologySystematic Theology covers the same areas as

Bible Doctrine, but goes further. It seeks to answerthe questions "Why?" and "How?" For example,Bible Doctrine seeks to answer the question: Whateffect did Adam's sin have on the race? SystematicTheology goes further and seeks to answer the ques-tion: Why did it have this effect on the race?

The aim of Systematic Theology is not only tostudy the various doctrines, but to see how thesedoctrines fit together to make us a systematic bodyof truth. The whole is more than the sum total ofthe parts. For example, it is only when the partsof an automobile are put together that they make acar. A knowledge of doctrines separately consideredis not enough. We must see them fitted together intoa systematic whole. Systemization of knowledge isthe crowning act of one's studies.

D. Biblical TheologyBiblical Theology refers to a branch of theology,

not merely to the fact that it is based on the Bible.It traces the development of a doctrine in the Bible.It may be of the Old Testament, New Testament,during a particular period of history, or in a partic-ular author's writings. An example would be totrace the revelation of the Messiah in the Old Testa'

14 CONTACT/ruNE 19?O

(Contínued lrom Page 4)

"bishop" says this and another says that. Even withinevangelical circles men are generally agreed that careless

behavior is creeping into the church.

The reason? Simply that, once again, we are going by

subjective judgment based on feeling and experience

rather than the unchanging morality of the Bible. We

seem to think that our "sincerity" will get us by, or that

we can judge better about our times than God could.

So we constantly reinterpret our standards of dress, forexample, and let the Bible's "modesty" go by unheeded.

"Well," we say, "so and so practices this and I'msure he's a good Christian!" But what does tlre Biblesay? That's what we ought to go by. And until we

recognize that the Bible presents God's absolute' un-

changing principles of morality, we well be lost in un-

certainty and confusion.

ConclusionI would be the last one to say I have all the answers.

Not even the Bible covers every kind of situation we

face, although it does give principtes that we ought to be

able to apply to most situations. Naturally, on a de-

batable subject about which the Bible gives no fum word

we will have to go on experience.But when the Bible speaks clearly, we sin in substi-

tuting our own judgments. There are going to be more

and more confusing problems facing us in the years to

come. What about this man or that man? Shall we adppt

this program or that one? Should we identify with this

movement or that? Will this method or that be useful?

Unless we commit ourselves unreservedly to the

Bible's teaching, we will be adrift on a sea of confusion

without a certain compass. May God help us Free WillBaptists-even if it causes us to have to go it entirely

¿ls¡s-f6 make such a commitment.And a final word. The biggest problem of all is that

far too many of us are not qualified to evaluate things inthe light of Biblical teaching simply because we are notthoroughly-enough acquainted with the Book! Far too

often we see only a text here and there and never see

the whole. It behooves us, who believe that the Bible

is a book to be lived under, to learn it well enough tolive under it. []

ment. One would organize these in the order inwhich they occured, and then notice how the picturehad more details added as time went on'

E. Bible ExegesisThe word "exegesis" comes from a Greek word

meaning explanation. Bible Exegesis ¡efers to BiblicalInterprelatiõn. It is sometimes used synonymouslywith-¡lbte Exposition. However, Bible Exegesis usual-ly refers to ã more detailed study. Exposition isusually more involved than exegesis in comparisonwith õther passages, and in making practical appli-cation of the moral and spiritual truths of the passage.

----*---------

eEItTrrnentsby Cleo Pursell

gc!rTrsfrom the Greek

New Testament

by Roberf Picirilli

Although it is strictly American in origin and only60 years old, the Father's Day rite of sending agreeting to Dad is now practiced on six contineñts,a study shows.

The overseas observance of Father's Day, accord-ing to Robert Broderick of Hallmark's internationaldivision, has come about only in recent years withthe vast growth in global communications. Here ishow the day originated:

The story begins back in the late '1890,s. Onenight a grief-stricken father set with bowed head inthe front room of his farmhouse in the rolling hillsof the Big Bend River near Spokane, Washiñgton.His six small children were with him. They under-stood little about death and kept looking toward thedoor, expecting their mother's return any moment,but she had just been laid to rest. That night asthe father put his children to bed, he becamð bothmother and father to his five sons and one daughter.

Years later, that little girl, grown to womanhood,became Mrs. John Bruce Dodd. ln 1910, after herfather's death, Mrs. Dodd attended a Mother,s Dayservice one Sunday and heard a minister praisingthe mothers of the world. lnstinctively she thought ofher father, the only mother she remembered. Sheasked herself: "Why only Mother's Day? Why notFather's Dayz." And so she set aside the third Sundayin Jr.rne in memory of her father. Thus ,,Father,sDay" was born.

This father, whose life inspired the observance of"Father's Day," was a simple man of Cod, who livedby the Colden Rule. His daughter said: ,,He enter-tained the minister/ never borrowed, taught us notto borrow, and objected if my petticoats evershowed or if the floors and walks were not as cleanas a whistle."

News of "Father's Day" spread. Mrs. Dodd re-ceived letters from all over the world. The spirit ofthe day touched hearts in faraway lands.

Father's Day sentiments tend to be more seriousin other countries, according to Mr. Broderick. pos-sibly because fathers are "less permissive.,, Ameri-can cards are lighthearted and sometimes even mild-ly derisive. A typical sentiment reads:

"Dad, how you've worked and slaved for me allthese years! When I think of the money you,vespent on education, music lessons, paper clips-lget all choked up and can only say . . .

'May it go on forever!"'

lhg other day a student asked me a questionI couldn't answer (which isn't the first time that,shappened). I think I can, now, and once again thekey came from an analysis of the Greek.

The question concerned the meaning of John20:17, when Jesus forbade Mary in the gárden withthe words: "Touch me not; for lam not yet as-cended to my Father." Many people have ponderedthese words that seem to say Mary could not touchJesus. Later, of course, Jesus invited Thomas totouch Him. Was there, then, some secret ascensionof Christ on the resurrection day which came be-tween His talks with Mary and Thomas, and whichpreceded the public ascension from Olivet?

ln checking the original, I found that the com-mand, "touch me not" was a prohibition of con-tinuous action. The Greek tense of the verb ,,touch,,(haptomai) in the verse is the present (imperative)which refers to linear (continuing) action. On manyoccasions, in the New Testament, such a prohibitionof continuous action means to stop doing some-thing already being done. For example, in Luke B:49,the messenger from home tells Jairus: ,,your daugh-ter is dead now; stop troubling the Master.,

The likelihood, then, is that )ohn 20:17 means:"Stop touching me," with the idea that Mary wasalready clinging to Jesus and He was asking to bereleased. We have no trouble picturing the emo-tionally overwhelmed Mary as'eagerly"embracingand clinging to the Lord. Jesus asks her, gently oÍcourse/ to let go. But why? His reason is, "l have notyet ascended to my Father." We usually fail to note,however, that the reason continues: "and go tellmy brethren that I am going to ascend io theFather." The reason, then, was not so much thatHis unascended body should not be touched, butthat He had something urgent for her to do.

ln other words, what Jesus was saying to Marymight be paraphrased thus: "Marf t let me go/ now;l_have to go to my Father, soon, and there aie thingsthat must be accomplished first. We cannot tariyhere. I have something for you to do; go tell thedisciples that.l must soon go back to the Father. Getthis word to them right away to meet me in Calilee,,(the angel had already told her to give this messageto the disciples-Mathew 2ï:7-and she was delay-ing).

Seen from this point of view, which I believe tobe correct, we no longer need the doctrine of twoascensions; Jesus was simply referring to the onepublic ascension that would occur from the Mountof Olives a short time later.

JUNE 1970/CONTÀCT 15

(Continued fron page 10)regional and national church groups,especially those connected with theUnited Church of Christ, have begunto call for more dialogue concern.inghomosexual relations between consent-ing adults.

On the west coast there is a churchknown as the Metropolitan CommunityChurch that is openly identifying itselfas a church for both male and femalehomosexuals. Its founding about twoyears ago reflects both the growing will-ingness of American homosexuals to as-

sert themselves as a distinct minoritygroup and the emergence of a moreliberal attitude toward homosexualsamong religious groups. The church hasover four hundred members.

The Apostasy SignPerhaps what has hapPened to our

morals is not as bad as that which hashappened to our theology. We wouldhate to decide which is worse. Perhapsone bred the other.

Peter wrote, "Knowing this flrst, thatthere shall come in the last days scof-fers, walking after their own lusts" (IIPeter 3:3). They used to be on the out-side of the churches looking in. Todaythey sit on the front pew, stand behindthe pulpit, writing literature and direct-ing the denominational machinery ofmany millons of "duped" souls.

Several years ago, the GalloP Pollreleased this survey about ministerialstudents they had surveyed. The articlewas carried in Red Book and receiveclwidespread circulation. Of the youngmen (in training for the ministry) theysurveyed, only 26 per cent of them be-lieved the Bible is the Word of God.Only 25 per cent believed in the VirginBirth. Only 5 per cent believed theGenesis account of creation while 24per cent believed in the miracles of theBible; 1l per cent believed in Hell orIleaven. Now, while v/e are reasonablysure that no fundamental Bible col-lege or seminary was included in thatpoll, it does help you understand whlthas happened in the world of Christian-ity il recent years. Our basic founda-tion has been chiseled away.

A few years ago a book entitled,"A Church l4¡ithout God," by ErnestHarrison, an Anglican Priest, openlystated that there is no God, speculatedon Jesus' sex life and whether Jesusbecame intoxicated, rejected the notionof life after death, and said the storyof the Resurrection is a myth. And yetthe author believes that the church hasa mission and that Christians can shedtheir traditional beliefs to build a new,constructive, and forward-Iooktng the-

16 CONTACT/JUNE 1970

ologl' of rnan.In Texas, Madelyn Murray O'Hair

has started a religion for atheists. Shewill be her church's bishop, her hus-band witl be the official prophet andMark Twain will be its first saint.

We need to be faithful in spite ofwhat comes. Our mission is to "do thework of an evangelist." Jesus said, "Letnot your heart be troubled," and webelieve this is applicable here. Weshould keep in mincl that this world isnot our home.

There are many aspects about thefuture that we cannot understand. Wecannot all agree as to what shall be.But we are agreed that He is coming,and that is the most important thing.

"He came unto his own and his ownreceived him not. But as many as re-ceived him, to them gave he power tobecome the sons of God, even to themthat believe on his name" (John 1:11-t2).

Those who trust Christ may livein the daily expectation of the Lord'sreturn. Every Christian can have thehope that he will be among that com-pany of believers who will never need

to go through the experience of dying."We shall not all sleep," wrote Paul."Then we who are alive and remainshall be c;ught up together with them. ." (l Thessalonians 4:17). !

The AuthorRev. George C. Lee is postor of DonelsonFree Will Boptist Church. Noshville, Ten-nessee. He is o member of the NotìonolSundoy School Boord.

&h"rÄ !o" fon llorn Ç;ft'b tÄ'e . . .

COOPERATIVE PLAN OF SUPPORTAPRIL 1970

RECEIPTSState

AlabamaArizonaArkansasCa I iforni aFlori daGeorgi a

I daholllinoisKansasKentuckyMarylandMichiganMi nn esotaMissouriNorth Carolina0hio0klahomaTen nesseeTexasVirsiniaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsin

Total s

DISBURSEMTNTSExecutive DepartmentForeign MissionsBible CollegeHome MissionsChurch Training ServiceRetirement and lnsuranceLaymen's BoardCommision on

Theological Liberalism

Total s

April 1970

$ 1,054.99

507.70579.t2

399.4242.16

705.52135.00288.0145.00

225.0018.14

2,240.80249.08285.26

t,84r.71451.58276.0r

32.12

$ 9,376.62

$ 3,166.562,02t.981,822.671,213.99

606.01303.03181.77

60.61

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April 1969$ 768.07

567.26242.40602.34151.27

442.0088.80

365.42

252.00

1,748.27162.08301.11

1,733,04245.48

89.2734.00

Yr. to Date Designated

$ 2,26t.26 $1,004.632,633.012,166.83 150.06

472.291,629.08

144.813,262.40

517.00868.78

45.00933.64

41.848,589.s1

424.27990.46

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$35,446.78 $150.06

$13,150.59 $7,392.33 68.356,422.59 40.864.375.37 40.852,231.291,0i0.45

603.09

20r.07

$5,446:78 $150"06

$ 7,802.81

$ 3,041.471,483.711,402.18

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41.94

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