The Arminian Magazine--Fall, 1988

THE CHARGE TO THE CHURCH
--L. W. Ruth, Jr.

"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth, Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28:18-20).

We want to consider the "commission" which Jesus has given to the eleven disciples there in the mountain of Galilee, and through them to the Church.

Before beginning, however, let us look at two things in the text which have a direct effect on our success in this commission.

First of all, notice in verse 18 the declaration of Jesus, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." He has the authority or power or right in heaven to send down the Holy Spirit to his followers empowering them or really authorizing them to act as his representative on earth. Authority or power on earth through those Spirit-filled disciples to convert sinners, sanctifying, protecting, and perfecting his Church, subduing all nations to himself, and finally to judge all mankind.

Secondly, in verse 20 notice the duration of this authority as well, "Even unto the end of the world." Notice this especially: the charge to the Church is to last until the end of the world!

Again, the success of our commission rests upon a correct view of these two points. More will be discussed later on these points.

First the, the commission as it relates to our fellowman. "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." All then are in need of one to deliver them from their sins. "God is not willing that any perish, but that all should come to repentance." Neither did he "send his Son to the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved."

"Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?" "It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe."

In verse 19 of our text, the word "teach" in the original Greek means "to make disciples," or Christians of all nations. It might be asked is this possible? Undoubtedly so, for the Church has been given all the resources it needs to accomplish this for "all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

Timothy was instructed by Paul to "take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them, for doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee."

Before sinful man can become a Christian, he must be taught to know himself, to be awakened to the fact of his sinfulness, to feel his need of deliverance. He must be convinced or convicted by the Holy Spirit of his hopeless and helpless condition until he cries out, "Oh, wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?"

A world about us rushes on toward eternity without God and there is much to be done yet. The Church has a tremendous responsibility as well as a glorious privilege to share the gospel to a lost world. We have not bee called to separate the tares from the wheat, but rather to "go unto all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." How can we go from day to day with an apparent lack of concern that many are yet to be reached with the gospel?

Next let us consider the commission as it relates to the individual Christian. Not all Christians are called to preach the gospel. Even though this is true, none who are disciples of Christ or Christians are exempt from the charge Jesus has made to teach or make disciples of the nations. 1 Peter 3:1-2 indicates that wives who have husbands who obey not the word may without word be won by the chaste conversation (manner of living) of the wife.

In view of this, we would be safe in saying that the salvation of our immediate family rests largely upon our faithfulness to obey the commission of Jesus. To fail would most likely bring a certainty to their damnation. This is a very sobering consideration and should not be passed over lightly. Bear in mind the fact that it is our actions, more than our words, which are involved.

If our lives have an influence on our family so as to bring them to salvation, we can be assured that we will have the same or better influence upon others not related to us.

To fail to keep the charge which Jesus has given will cost us the souls of all those we could have reached and quite probably in the end we will lose our own soul for our sin of omission. Read Matthew 25:31-46 where those being judged were not condemned for the wicked deeds committed, but rather for failing to do the good that they could have done!

We want to consider next our duty to God and to the Church as it relates to the commission given by Jesus. "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them: and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." Out of gratitude to our Creator for extending mercy to us, we should share the gospel with those who are yet in their sins.

"God is love." "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." "Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another." Is there any way we can show God's love other than showing love for fallen man in such a way as to influence him to God?

We may not be able to snatch souls from sin by our outward labors in every instance, but we can wage an effective warfare against the powers of darkness in our closets, with secret prayers and tears.

We are "partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption which is in the world through lust." And therefore as "God is love," so we are make a partaker of divine love. We have within us the capacity for loving God and also the works of God. This extends to the souls of man, which have been redeemed by the blood of Christ, though they may still be in sin, unaware of the mercy God wishes to show them.

We are "constrained by the love of Christ" then to manifest God's love to the unsaved about us as well as to those who have passed from death unto life.

"Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." A true love for God will make itself known by obedience to God, not from an attitude of "do I have to," but an attitude of "here am I, send me."

The charge given by Jesus was to make disciples of all nations. It is not enough that we labor for the conversion of sinner, but also we must see to their growth, laboring to "present every man perfect in Christ Jesus," "striving according to his working," which [will] work in us mightily.

In conclusion let us go back to the two point mentioned in the beginning and examine them in more detail. As was already mentioned, our success in this commission can be determined by what we believe abut these two things.

Notice that Jesus has stated "all power is given unto me." The prophet Daniel foretold of a time when the "Son of man" would receive the kingdom which would not be destroyed, which would be unto the end and "that all people, nations, and languages should serve him."

The Apostle Paul says of Christ that he is "far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come; and hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be head over all things to the church."

Christ has redeemed all nations unto God through his blood, therefore he has authority to claim the subjection of the world to his dominion. As a result of his death on the cross he has been given "a name above every other name," that "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Peter in his Acts 2 message, referring to Psalm 110, undoubtedly understood that Jesus was seated at the right hand of God, reigning on "the throne of David" or reigning over the kingdom of heaven.

The duration of this reign from the right hand of God is found in 1 Corinthians 15:23, "at his coming." "Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule, and all authority and power." "For he mist reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet." "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." "And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all." Since the last enemy to be destroyed (by Christ) is death, and death can only be destroyed by a general resurrection, the duration of our commission must extend until the end of the world, when time shall be no more.

It is evident that not all people, nations, nor languages serve Christ. The nation of Israel has not been "grafted" in, as foretold by Paul in Romans 11. This "grafting" in, or conversion, seems to depend on the "fullness of the Gentiles," or the Gentile nations having been filled with Christianity.

We conclude from this, that there is much to be done, therefore let us examine our priorities, take new courage and begin waging an effective warfare against the powers of darkness. We are assured of victory if we will follow our king, maintaining a pure faith in him, a faith which works by love.

RESTITUTION
--C. Marion Brown

While scanning both book lists and library shelves, I was rather startled at the absence of material on restitution. Many volumes have been written on various subjects and many have been "beaten to death" by writers for whatever purposes; however, there seems to be not standing in line for the opportunity of expounding on this subject. There are many reasons and not least among them is that it is not a popular subject in today's church world. However, I believe that it is a highly ignored subject, but that it stands on a solid moral and scriptural foundation. In the following paragraphs I hope to explore the five foundations on which I believe restitution rests.

Before we begin let us first define the subject at hand. The English dictionary defined restitution as the restoration to the rightful owner of that which has been taken away.

There is a basic moral law written on every man's heart that every man should be able to possess what is rightfully his. We see this principle displayed even in very young children, the right and pride of ownership. Although this principle must be nourished and cared for by the parents of this child, nevertheless the natural law is there.

Men and women who may be very depraved in their various actions do not have to be coddled to readily admit that every man has the basic right to possess what he has rightfully earned. The doctrine of restitution rests on this firm foundation and is without legitimate argument to the contrary. If a man is to be at peace and rightfulness with his neighbor, he therefore is obligated to restore that which he has wrongfully, illegitimately, or secretly taken; be it or moral or monetary value.

Many shoplifters are caught with merchandise which they really did not need and could have easily done without; others have sufficient money on their person to have purchased the merchandise. Neither necessity nor penury promoted these to steal, but a depraved lust of the eye was motivating them to take unlawfully. Deeds of this category can be sensibly judged by this basic moral law to require restitution.

The second foundation on which restitution so firmly rests is that of civil law. To the best of my understanding civil law operates on a different standard than criminal law. One may escape the hand of criminal law and still be assessed a liability in a civil court. One such case was recently tried in our local court system where a man was tried for the murder of a teenager and found not guilty, yet the parents of the murdered teen went to civil court and were awarded a restitution. This ruling was upheld by the high court. this shows that the civil law which allows for the man to possess what is rightfully his is very broadbased and well founded.

The third foundation for restitution is found in the Old Testament where specific prices were connected to the specific wrongdoing. for instance, if a man seduced a virgin in a field, or remote area, and lay with her, his price to pay for that encounter was specific; he was to pay her father and he was to take her to wife and could not divorce her (Exodus 22:16; Deuteronomy 22:29). If a man steals an ox or a sheep and kills it or sells it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep (Exodus 22:1).

The various laws were specific. Read Exodus 22 and other related Scriptures and see that the Law of Moses was specifically designed to keep intact human relations by practicing restitution through pre-determined standards laid down in the law. There is no question but that this foundation rests on solid footing.

Again, in the New Testament in the case of Jesus and Zacchaeus, we see the law of repentance as the fourth foundation for restitution. "Lord, the half of my goods I give to feed the poor and if I have taken anything wrongfully I restore fourfold." It is clearly inferred by the Scripture here that Zacchaeus' statement was evidence that he was out of the sin business and clearly intended to lead a new life.

Zacchaeus wanted no skeletons in his closet to haunt him in the future. If he was going to be the host of Jesus, he did not want to dishonor the kind master who had called him from the Sycamore perch. A brief encounter with Christ in the way brought a total surrender to deity. The Apostle Paul on the Damascus road quickly and completely surrendered with the words, "What wilt thou have me do?" Restitution is one area that is strongly opposed by those who have the sorrow of the world. When they find God's requirements they go away sorrowfully. The tendency today is the separation of faith and practice. A general confession and a half hearted commitment is all that is required by modern day evangelicals. This is not the commitment taught by the Scriptures not is it the practice used by Christ and the apostles.

There is a distinction that I would like to note between the story of the rich young ruler and the disciples' actions in Acts 4. In Acts 4, those having possessions sold them and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet. The tone of the Scriptures here was that they considered themselves to be only caretakers of material possessions, while the rich young ruler went away sorrowfully at Jesus' command to sell and to give, indicating that his understanding of Christ was one that was subservient to the riches he possessed.

Christ in his Church will not allow members who have property that is rightfully the possession of others. The ramifications of such a practice is far reaching. We are now seeing some of the fruit from such practices surfacing in America's religious circles. No one can lay rightful claim to New Testament repentance who has not made earnest attempt to correct his moral and monetary wrongs. The charge the Master issued was "owe no man anything." This surely applies to this area.

It is my firm conviction that the Lord of the Sabbath offers ample time for a man to "judge himself," and if a person will seriously heed toe warnings and wooings of the Holy Spirit, God will grant great grace and ample victory in this area. But, if the longsuffering and forbearance of God is exhausted, the Holy Spirit being grieved by continual refusals and rejection on the part of the convicted, the justice of God will demand a full exposure, whether here on this earth or at the day of judgment. Further, it is easy to conclude that it is necessary in order that God's justice be satisfied. Consequently, the doctrine of the New Testament restitution is not the laying out of burdens and unnecessary penitence, but it is the safest and easiest way to escape the judgment of God declared to be poured out on the impenitent. This doctrine is not unreasonable, unbearable, nor intolerable.

The fifth and final foundation of restitution rests in God's demand of a right relationship between men as a condition of continual fellowship. If you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother has ought against you, leave your gift and be reconciled to your brother. Many say somewhat smugly that they have many enemies. Others say that they have nothing against anyone. However, we need not fool ourselves. One has only to listen for a little while to realize that the unity displayed at Antioch and in other first century churches is not prevalent today. Only recently a "good" brother stated, "Did you hear? A certain organization had another split." May the Lord have mercy upon us, someone surely must have remember, but failed to leave their gift and be reconciled. We may all continue to preach, promote, teach our doctrine, but if we do not practice this injunction all our self-righteousness is but as filthy rags. While it is true that we cannot spend all of our time "putting out fires, " we can always obey the scriptural injunction that if we are at the altar and "remember." Self conceit and self righteousness will destroy the very things that we worked so hard for. One of the strange phenomenon at work today is the inability to say, "I was or am wrong," We can be very candid in our criticism of those who proceeded us, yet at the same time express so little ability even to entertain the idea that even we could be wrong. A high shout and a fast run will not remove a grudge. Neither will a high tide and a fast song straighten out a wrong, though in many circles, these are depended on to hold together the structural fabric of an organization. What a tragedy awaits those who attempt to appease a just God in this manner.

What, if any, is the fruit of our failure to follow these instructions or just simply ignore them? I'm sure that we do not fully count the cost when we ignore any of these five foundations. I am sure we do not see all the products of such failure, but let us begin to look at a few. Lawsuits come readily to mind. St. Paul stated, "How dare you. One having a matter against another take it before the unjust."

One Indiana federal magistrate said that any civil case that comes to trial is evidence that at least one part is hard headed and stubborn and that there is sufficient time and due process to work out all differences. What an indictment of religious circles. Paul has a clearly marked route for us to follow, that he who is of the contrary part may have nothing to say.

Grudges are probably the most difficult rift in human relationships to correct because each party consistently purposes that the others are motivated by spite. Even conciliatory actions are often mistaken. Hundreds go to their grave and to the judgment with hard feeling which could have been erased by simple restitution and apology. To have the knowledge, ability, and opportunity to right wrongs and then meet them at the judgment is unspeakably tragic.

A third area which blossoms as a result of a failure to correct wrongs is talebearing, gossip, and evil speaking. A person may profess to have a right relationship with his fellow man, but the dispositions of the soul are not so easily hidden. Physical beauty can easily be marred by one's speech and attitudes. The Scripture states, "Can the same fountain bring forth sweet water and bitter water?" Take heed, from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh."

I conclude with a brief testimony of my late father, Charles M. Brown (9/6/16 - 11/13/87). Converted at age 17 in the local Methodist Church, he fell away until early in the Spring of 1950. After months of intense conviction in which he quit all his wicked habits (smoking, etc.) except his swearing, he was converted and received the witness of the Spirit in the annual Spring revival. He then began an earnest walk with God which lasted until his death. He was known to be of deep piety not only of these within the church world and in his home community where he resided at the same house for 44 years. But his family also knew by precept and practice that he was first a Christian.

Two incidents I will note which exemplified his life and practices. Only as late as August 1987, he went to great length to straighten up a wrong action toward a grand-daughter that in an incident had happened years before.

The second was a testimony that he had given to Mother after he had narrowly escaped death in a farming accident. "I thought this was the end and I can truthfully say there is nothing between my soul and the Savior."

The whole purpose of this article is to incite every reader to make his calling and election sure, so that when your call comes you can answer, "There is nothing between my soul and the Savior."

BACK TO THE BIBLE
--C. Marion Brown

I am persuaded that basic unbelief is one of our cardinal sins that lies at the door of the evangelical church in America today. We are struggling with this massive wave of unbelief and trying to cure it with swats at a variety of secondary issues. We consequently congratulate ourselves with our efforts, stands, and non-conformity, while we allow the cardinal sin of unbelief to go unchecked and unchallenged in our ministry and laity. It brings grief to true believers, dishonor to the visible Church, disgrace to ourselves, and disgust to God himself. The problem is so serious that I believe we are in danger of being spewed out by the Lord. I literally marvel at the Lord's longsuffering with us in America. It seems that we flaunt in God's face that we are rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing.

One of the major and basic areas of unbelief in America today is in the authority and inspiration of the holy Scriptures. We must return to the basic moral understanding that the holy Scriptures is not a book to defend our pet ideas or that it is not just a good book to gain ideas to try to better our lives by or that we are not to try to explain away its plain and simple precepts, but that it is the revelation of God to mankind and its instructions are to be heeded and its laws are to be kept even if many others do not keep them. And that we are finally to be judged by its solemn precepts.

I have observed a mentality today which makes me shudder when I attempt to analyze it, and that is just how much like this present world can I be and yet please the Lord? Some do not do this in an outward manner primarily, but you only have to listen to them a little while to discover that their conversation is not in heaven. They can speak at length on many matters that have little or not link to Christian living. I concur with Wesley when he asked the question on August 24, 1744 before Oxford University, "Is there scriptural Christianity found here?" I ask the same to you. Just how scriptural is your Christianity? Do you remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy? Or any other of the commandments; are they like frontlets before your eyes? My brethren, can we dare to continue as we are today with so little soul respect for the holy Scriptures? And what excuse will we offer for out lack of concern and soul burden? Remember on one of the "woes" of the holy Scriptures is to them that are at ease in Zion!

Fasting seems to be a lost art for most of us today. Far more often than not we fare sumptuously every day. We are far more acquainted with McDonalds' menu than we are with the holy Scriptures. When we read "when we fast" we seem to feel that it is a mistranslation that should read "if ye fast." I fear lest our mental calisthenics will allow us to explain away the obvious interpretation of the holy Scriptures.

Until we have a return to the basic and final authority of the holy Scriptures in our life and practice we are farther from God than any of us realize. There can be no supernatural visitation of the Holy Spirit without a return to basic scriptural authority! The holy Scriptures are the final authority in every area. If science and Scripture are in conflict, Scripture is the authority! If history and Scripture conflict, some historian has not done his homework and is wrong! The infinite God inspired the holy Scriptures and his knowledge is too wonderful for us to comprehend. If geography or any other science conflicts with Scripture, rest your soul, the Almighty God, Creator of the universe knew well what the Holy Ghost inspired the sacred writers to pen was correct - absolutely correct!

That old serpent, the devil, has done a number on us. He has sown seeds of doubt concerning the holy Scriptures in the hearts of many deluded evangelicals, saying, "We are too intelligent to except the absolute and final authority of the Scriptures." I can only say if we accept this lie of the devil, we will be the sore losers.

We do not really believe the Psalmist's evaluation in Psalms 19:7 that the law of the Lord is perfect, that is, it cannot be improved upon!!!

My call to you today is: let us return to the absolute authority of the holy Scriptures. They are the way to life, hope, and faith. Let us return and apply its principles to our lives even though it may be a painful process. One of the identifying marks of one who has divine love according to 1 Corinthians 13:6b is that he "rejoiceth in the truth." Rejoice although it beheads our idols, digs our creeds apart, smashes our theories, and changes our lives.

My prayer is that we will return to be men of one Book; and that it's sacred pages will so consume us that we can become channels through which the Holy Spirit can move in extraordinary measures.

St. Paul's instructions to his son Timothy was, "Preach the Word." It is our duty brethren, to preach the Word in all of its boldness, narrowness, broadness, and in all of its transforming power. It is sufficient for the needs of all men whatever their stature or station. The preached word will as surely find its mark as David's smooth stone found its mark if it is preached clearly, sincerely, fearfully, and with power. Meditate upon it, my brethren, until your hearts burn within you. Read and study its precepts until the book becomes your crowning desire. It makes wise the simple (Psalm 19:7b).

We have a bounden duty to awaken out of sleep, stir our hearts, and become God's firebrands for this generation. We are on the train of life and it is thundering toward judgment. Have we cleared our souls concerning this tragic malady of our generation? Do we not owe our generation, a generation of "men of one Book"? Dare we proceed any farther without a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit that again will draw men to keep the precepts and laws that are so graphically laid out in the holy Scriptures?

"LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY"
--James B. Caniff

God had been dealing with me about my prayer life and making it quite plain that He wanted me to spend much more time in meaningful prayer. I mentioned this to Marion Brown and he gave me a handful of books on the subject and said, "Write me an article on prayer." After plowing through about half of those books I began to feel that I wasn't qualified to write on the subject. But even though I am far from being an R. A. Torrey or a Praying Hyde, I do feel that there are a few things about prayer that God has been impressing on my heart and mind that I should share with you.

Now in presenting what i have to say on this subject, I am presupposing that you love God, are baptized in the Holy Ghost, and are walking in all the light He has shed on your pathway. If this is not the case and you are wondering why your prayers aren't answered, then I can tell you frankly that sin hinders our prayers, for "if I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." If that is the case with you, then you might be better off reading some of those books I spoke of.

Now I want to ask you, do you believe that God answers prayer? Undoubtedly your answer is "yes." Now I want to ask you another question. Since you believe that God answers prayer, why do you do so little of it? Do we really believe that God answers prayer? I have seen many who felt they were fine men of God and they always seem to be too busy for the Lord; so much so that they have little time for prayer. We have all heard tons of preaching that we need to work for the Lord and indeed there is much to be done. But first and foremost we need to pray. Out of all those books on prayer, the statement that made the greatest impression my went something like this: God is looking for a bride for his son, not a hired hand. A bride wants a groom that wants to be alone with her. And a groom, if he is any kind of man at all, wants some time alone with his bride. If we love God then we should spend time alone with Him and never should we let the devil trick us into thinking that we should be out doing the Lord's work when there is praying to be done. If we would do half the work and twice the praying, rather than twice the work and half the praying, we would accomplish manifold more than ever we dared dream would come form all our prayer starved activities for the Lord.

Why pray? Well, first and foremost it cultivates personal holiness. The privilege of studying the Bible is a great blessing and a great aid to piety. Corporate worship is also a blessed privilege and if it is true worship it will leave us feeling renewed and refreshed; to put it in the vernacular, we feel like we have been to church. United prayer is a great aid to spirituality and is in itself the most powerful prayer, if it is truly united prayer and is united in the Holy Ghost, for Jesus said, "If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven." However, none of these is as important to personal holiness and growth in grace as the secret prayer closet. James tells us that the "effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." I used to look at that and think that the key was to be righteous and while righteousness is so necessary, unless I habituate myself in effectual fervent prayer, I would not be a righteous man.

Before we proceed to the next reason for prayer, perhaps a word about prevailing, importunate prayer would be in order. A number of years ago I was notified that an uncle of mine was gravely ill and near death. Being at home alone I immediately fell to my knees and began praying for him. I had been praying what seemed like only seconds when I received the definite assurance that he would pull through. I got up from my knees and concerned myself no more about it. He did recover and lived in reasonably good health for a few years after that. On the other hand there have been times when I began to pray for something I thought I greatly desired and immediately felt checked by the Holy Spirit for praying in that manner. The temptation is such instance sis to drop the matter and go on to something that seems to us to be more productive. But Jesus taught that "Men ought always to pray, and not to faint." I am persuaded that God works through our prayers. We can only guess and wonder at how many things that God was going to do, but it never came to pass because somebody stopped praying.

Another good reason why we must pray is to get things done. If the thing desired comes to pass without prayer, that is, without prevailing, effectual, fervent prayer, then we usually either assume that we accomplished it ourselves (even though we may admit that the Lord helped us), or we think it just naturally happened and it wasn't really an act of God. If, however, it comes to pass after much importunity on our part, then we will know that it was Him that brought it to pass. I am persuaded that there are many things that God wants to do, many an individual that He wants to save from sin, but it never happens simply because nobody prevailed in prayer. Slocum has said, "Prayer is the Christian's greatest resource and the one least used. It is his greatest obligation and the one most neglected. It is the most common form of devotion, yet the one least understood. Prayer is the gateway to God's presence, but few enter. Prayer is the channel of God's grace, but in most lives it is clogged. It is commonly supposed that anyone can pray, but only those who are accepted in Christ have full access to God. Many regard prayer as optional, but God requires prayer as the condition of His working and where there is not prayer, there is no power."

I just wonder what is the reason I have been so willing to spend long hours working for God while hardly spending long minutes praying to him? Is it because i had more faith in my ability to perform than in God's ability to perform? Oh, "Lord, teach us to pray."

FIGHTING YESTERDAY'S BATTLES
--Vic Reasoner

Occasionally war veterans gather to re-enact an old battle. Their uniforms are authentic and their weapons are replicas, but when the smoke clears, nothing has been changed. It is all done for entertainment. I fear that sometimes people in the conservative holiness movement are fighting yesterday's battles. They ride their hobby horses and tear down straw men, but they accomplish nothing.

There is a real battle going on. It is a battle between the Church and the world. Though the battle was won at Calvary, there remains much land to be possessed. Each generation fights the same enemy, but on different battlegrounds. The first commandment prohibits idolatry and is applicable to all periods of time. At one point in time, idolatry was associated with groves of trees. Under those trees the heathen worship continued. For this reason, Deuteronomy 16:21 forbids the planting of groves of trees. It became such an issue that in Judges 6, God directed Gideon to cut down the community grove. Today, the Church does not oppose idolatry by cutting down trees, but she still opposes idolatry in other forms.

According to the New Testament, one of the issues facing the early Church was the eating of meat offered to idols. Paul told the Church that since an idol is inanimate, it can exercise no control and that they could not become demon possessed by eating such meat. However, he warned the strong not to become stumbling blocks for the weak. This is not longer an issue today, but the fact that Paul devoted an entire chapter, 1 Corinthians 8, to the problem indicates that it was an issue in his day.

Much later in church history, there developed the Iconoclastic Controversy. Religious art had been created to help the uneducated visualize Bible scenes. In time, superstition caused the people to pray directly to those works of art. During the Protestant Reformation, many works of art were seized and destroyed because they had become idols. Today Protestants accept religious art as an expression of spiritual truth (provided it is not worshipped), but the battle against idolatry continues on other fronts.

There was a time in holiness circles when a necktie was considered an indication of pride. A few years back the drug culture influenced many to become sloppy in their appearance. Now the necktie is almost a badge of conservatism. It is easy to become sidetracked fighting a dead issue. If Satan cannot get us to surrender, he delights in getting us to waste their ammunition fighting one another over personal notions. There is a battle being fought and Christians need to get on the front line. What are the issues of the '80s?

No major Wesleyan denomination today will stand squarely for the inerrancy of the bible. In the 1920s, the fundamentalist- modernist controversy divided most old-line churches. In the conservative churches that were formed at the time, the same issues are being fought again. We must stand without apology for the fundamental doctrines of the faith. We must be aware of new attacks on our faith such as neo-orthodoxy, liberation theology, ecumenicism, and process theology. We need to oppose the cults, the charismatics, the antinomians, and the Pharisees. We must make revival, transformation, and evangelization our priorities. We must fight ignorance, apathy, and fanaticism.

Not only is the Church under attack, but the family is also. We must stop the abortion epidemic in America or God will bring judgment upon our nation. Currently, abortion is the most prevalent surgical procedure in the U. S. and about 1 1/2 million innocent babies are being slaughtered every year. The homosexuals are being accepted as merely choosing an alternate lifestyle and as a minority, they are fighting for their civil rights. We must fight pornography. We have not done our duty merely to refrain from owning a television set. We are our brother's keeper and we must fight the violence, immorality, and humanistic bias on our neighbor's set or his blood will be on our hands. We must oppose easy divorce and the unscriptural annulment of marriages.

The Christian school is an extension of the home and the local church. It, too, is under severe attack. Churches and parents are almost daily fighting in the courts for control of their children. The Church must understand this issue and be willing, if necessary, to break the laws of the land in order to keep the law of God. Pastor Sileven has been resisting the State of Nebraska for five years in its interference with the educational ministry of his church. He has been in and out of jail and cannot get justice. Recently, the Amish and Mennonite communities have become so alarmed that many are selling out and moving out of Nebraska.

There was a day in America when the holiness leaders led the fight against slavery and later worked for the Prohibition Amendment. Today, many seem to be fighting yesterday's battles and are aware that something is wrong, but they are not sure what the real problem is. The most obvious target for many preachers is fashions. The real battle is more serious. The Church is in a life or death struggle with humanism for the control of this nation. She must either influence the world or it will influence her.

Many who oppose worldliness in dress have adopted worldly thought patterns. Many seem unaware and unconcerned about the real issues. Jesus declared that is the salt loses its flavor, it is good for nothing. It is time to reject pietistic tendencies and fight the real issues of today. Years ago Luther observed:

If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at the moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proven, and to be steady on all the battlefield besides, is merely flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point.

REFORMATION AND REVIVAL
--Vic Reasoner

We may pray until we are blue in the fact that God will bless our activities and put his approval on our machinery, but God cannot bless what is out of conformity to His Word. If God blessed and revived some institutions, He would be perpetuating error. Rather than ask God to bless our program, we must get back to His plan and then we can expect His blessing.

We must have a reformation that emphasizes not only the inerrancy, but the sufficiency of God's Word. We dare not add to nor take from the Word of God. It is our sole authority for faith and practice.

The battle cry of Martin Luther was "justification by faith." We dare not substitute signs and wonders or standards of dress for faith in the finished work of Christ. Every great awakening has been proceeded by a fresh emphasis on justification by faith and the new birth.

The evangelical church has cheapened the phrase "born again" and has reduced it to a human decision. We must teach a supernatural new birth which gives victory over sin. There is no explanation for the new birth except the Holy Spirit.

We need a new emphasis on holy living. Holiness is not a rigid state that cannot be lost, but it is a conformity to the image of Christ. The holy life is not characterized by peculiarity, but by practicality. It will be marked by a commitment to fulfill the ordinary responsibilities of life. It is not a spectacular emotional experience, but consistent Christian living which is sensitive to the needs of others. When it falls short, it does not cling to an empty profession, but seeks a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit.

The revival we need must be preceded by reformation.

The story of Frank Bartleman illustrates a sincere search for God without a proper concern for God's Word. Saved in 1893 in the Baptist Temple of Philadelphia, Frank turned down a chance to go to college and began preaching. Four years later he joined with the Salvation Army and became a captain. He was soon disillusioned and was ordained in another holiness group.

During this period, he experienced emotional instability ranging from suicidal depression to falling unconscious at camp meeting under "electric shocks" of blessing. After marriage, he pastored a Wesleyan Methodist congregation and shortly thereafter moved to Denver to work with the Pillar of Fire Church. In 1902, he was arrested in Boulder for painting scripture on the canyon walls near the city.

In 1904, he was in charge of Peniel Mission in Sacramento, California. At times his wife had to scrounge thorough garbage cans to feed their two children after he left Peniel. Then he moved to Los Angeles and worked with several missions before joining with a Baptist pastor who started the New Testament Church.

In 1906, a black evangelist came to Los Angeles preaching that tongues was the "initial evidence" of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Bartleman was in the group that moved to the historic 312 Azusa Street Mission with the evangelist. This location became the most famous address in the pentecostal-charismatic history.

Bartleman, a frequent contributor to holiness periodicals in the East, focused international attention on the new movement through his glowing reports. However, Phineas Bresee, who was founding the Church of the Nazarene in Los Angeles at the same time, called the situation at Azusa Street "a senseless mumble . . . a poor mess" which bordered on fanaticism and heresy. When Charles Parham, the father of the Pentecostal movement, arrived at Azusa Street, he denounced the phenomena as "spiritual power prostituted." He claimed the meeting had been taken over by "hypnotists and spiritualists." He was invited to leave and barred from returning.

In 1911, William Durham of Chicago arrived with his doctrine that entire sanctification was a "fictitious experience." When he was locked out at Azusa Street, he and Bartleman found another mission hall and the "revival" went on. When the "Jesus Only" movement came to Los Angeles in 1914, even though it denied the Trinity, Bartleman was rebaptized in Jesus' name. When he died in 1935 he was not a member of any church.

If we emphasize emotionalism at the expense of sound teaching we, too, will be lost in a sea of subjectivity. One charismatic had written on the flyleaf of his Bible, "I don't care what the Bible says, I've had an experience."

The growing Christian school movement is a conscious attempt, not only to fulfill the mandate of Scripture, but to set the stage for a genuine revival by teaching God's Word daily. In many cases, not only do the children need to be trained, by their parents, too, need to be grounded in the faith. Even on mission fields, God has sent revival after His Word was translated and faithfully taught.

According to J. Edwin Orr, there has been a great move of God somewhere in the world every generation since 1725. We can see revival, too, but as A. W. Tozer warned, "To beg for a flood of blessing to come upon a backslidden and disobedient Church is to waste time and effort. . . . Unless we intend to reform we may as well not pray."