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Editorials
Published at Berne, Ind. by The Fort Wayne Bible Institute, Fort Wayne, Ind.
THE BIBLE VISION
A Bimonthly Journal Reflecting the Light
of the Bible on Us and Our Times
tions; it had brought them in- ior year I had become convinced
tellectual confusion and inner that there wasn't anything that
despair. They had sought an es- could be believed. Everything
ape in various ways: One cast was relative, and I was in space,
le
his lot, temporarily, with the I waslike the guy in that rhym.e
Communists; another, into com- of Gillett Burgess': 'I wish that
could see that you couldn't write The Bible indispensable be-
is
off faith as one of the prime cause it alone answers the A B^
moulders of history, and that C questions of life and destiny.
when there wasn't any faith, Where did I come from? Where
pure gangsterism and piracy am I going? Why am I here?
broke loose. I could see that if What is the origin, the meaning,
I and my generation were going and the end of human existence?
to mean anything in this world The most brilliant thinkers to-
and not just be dots and specks day, the heirs of the accumula-
pushed around by forces we tion of scientific knowledge of
couldn't control, we had to find all ages, have no answer to these
out what our convictions were; questions. Julian S. Huxley says
but meanwhile I had lost my that the picture of the universe
moorings." as drawn by science is one "of
The narrator adds that this appalling vastness, appalling
particular story had a happy age, and appalling meaningless-
ending, for they came under the nessJ'
influence of a remarkable teach- This view leaves the mind of
er "who opened up their eyes man helpless and hopeless. One
to the real world" and "saved can only guess whether there is
their souls." This was fortunate, any purpose or meaning to life^
but exceptional. The system of There isn't a valid reason lefl^
education that made agnostics why anyone should choose to be
out of them remains; there are a hero or a traitor. There is
some notable exceptions among nothing to look forward to either
THE BIBLE VISION 7
for himself or the race. One as- days of deliberation they con-
k tronomer sees only the dismal eluded that there could be noth-
possibility of the solar system ing beyond loving one's neigh-
being wrecked by a passing star bor as himself. Not only is this
in a million or more years, and ideal revealed, but the dynamic
then the purpose of it all, if in- is provided by the power of the
deed there be a purpose, will re- Holy Spirit. "The love of God
main undisclosed. But the Bi- is shed abroad in our hearts by
ble reveals that man was ere- the Holy Spirit which is given
ated in the image of God and unto us" (Rom. 5:5).
that he was made to live and to The Bible is indispensable be-
serve his Creator. It places man cause it reveals the world's one
in a moral universe where values and only Saviour, Jesus Christ.
are much more important than "There is none other name under
light-years of space. It repre- heaven given among
men,
sents him as a moral agent who whereby we must be saved." Not
sinned and fell from his first only does He save men from the
estate. It thus provides the clue plight of their sins, but He gives
to the terrible evil now in the them something worthy to live
F world. The Bible also unfolds for and to die for. He Himself
the steps in God's great plan to is the supreme value, deserving
recover man from sin and to of complete devotion. He chal-
make him the heir of life lenges all who will follow Him
eternal. It points to the culmi- to engage in the most heroic, the
nation of history: the final tri- most sacrificial, and the noblest
umph of righteousness over evil, —
work in the universe the cause
In other words, the Bible gives of humanredemption,
a rational interpretation of his- The Bible is indispensable be-
tory and gives meaning to hu- cause it is the greatest of char-
man existence. acter-building agencies. The
The Bible isindispensable be- Apostle Paul advised Timothy
cause it vrovides the dynamic that the inspired Scriptures are
of the highest ethical ideal. To useful "for instruction in right
love God with the whole mind doing; that the man of God may
and heart and one's neighbor as himself be complete and may be
himself is the highest possible perfectly equipped for every
ideal for man. Love is the ful- good work" (Wey.). The Apos-
fillment of the moral law. which tie Peter makes the emphatic as-
^s woven into the very fabric of sertion that all things that per-
Pthe universe. Some years ago tain to life and godliness are re-
some free thinkers met to for- ceived ''through the knowledge''
mulate a higher ethical code than of Christ derived from the
the Sermon on the Mount. After promises of the Word (II Pet.
8 THE BIBLE VISION
1 2-4)
: . And this claim for the interest the people of his church
old book is confirmed by modern —
had in the Bible ninety per ^
experience; one of America's cent carried their Bibles to
foremost psychologists says, "The church services. Then this bril-
greatest and most authentic text- liant university man made this
book on personality is still the admission: "I see now I have
Bible, and the discoveries which missed something very vital in
psychologists have made tend to my education." He meant that
confirm rather than contradict he had missed the one thing of
the codification of personality supreme importance thorough—
found there."* and direct study of the Scrip-
These are the great verities tures. It axiomatic that the
is
taught by the Bible. Every evangel must first know the Bi-
youth needs them for the foun- ble and the Person whom it dis-
dation of his life. And who closes before he can communi-
should be better versed in these cate its saving message to others,
than the Christian worker? And The Bible is a perennial
yet, sometimes the wisdom of source of vision, inspiration,
this world is substituted for idealism, faith, hope, and cour-^
systematic study of the Bible by age. Today youth is lost because™
men who would prepare them- it does not know its counsels,
selves for the Christian ministry. "There is a spirit in the Bible
A well educated minister, who which, if it gets into men, makes
had graduate degrees from two them tallof soul, tender in
Eastern universities, was relat- heart, just, gentle, patient,
ing an experience that he had strong, faithful in life and fear-
with an alumnus of our Insti- less in death. We
must recover
tute. He told how well versed the Bible." If we do, youth,
this graduate was in the Scrip- which has come to the stage of
tures, how he could quote pas- human action in the most chaotic
sages and cite chapter and verse, period in history, will have an
Then he was amazed to see what adequate basis to face the crisis.
Otherwise, as Dorothy Thomp-
*Henry c. Link, "The Return to son stated, a class resigns from
Religion," p. 103. history, but history goes on.
PREPARED
Helen White, M.A.
P.
'
"My heart is fixed, O God, my ending in song and praise. "I
heart is fixed: I will sing and will sing and give praise." To
give praise." Psalm 57:7. be sure, in a previous verse,
A marginal rendering of the despite the troubles that would
word fixed is prepared which surround him, we are impressed
lends added meaning and force with the fact that God is exalted
to the word. "My heart is pre- and glory is attributed to Him
pared, O God, my heart is pre- above all the earth. But this
pared." is only a temporary pause in the
The Psalm opens with a plea, picture, for in the very next
"Be merciful unto me, O God, verse we have further recital of
be merciful unto me." The his woes. His soul is bowed down
Psalmist admits his trust in God and it is as if a net has been
and his place of refuge as being prepared for his steps,
under God's wings. But the re- But now the spirit of song
ality of the situation for him is and praise continue throughout
a stern one. His soul is among the Psalm. Our hearts are lifted
lions, and he is lieing among above the calamities and
men "whose teeth are spears and troubles of the past. We say
i arrows" whose tongue "is a sharp with the Psalmist, my heart is
sword." fixed, my heart is prepared.
In verse seven the scene Fixity of purpose
the and
changes. We have expressed spirit of preparation
are not
there a declaration of purpose, strange sounding phrases to us
14 THE BIBLE VISION
in these days. In the papers, in yet known to the world. It is
the magazines, over the radio not too unlogical to think that
and in general speaking, we have before the brightest hour yet to
kept before us the purpose of come when the Lord shall de-
defeating our country's enemies scend and we shall rise to meet
and the need of being prepared Him in the air and when He
to do it. The Red Cross is ask- shall have perfected redemption
ing for blood to resuscitate the — it is not too unlogical to think
wounded on the battlefield. The that another dark hour will de-
Government is asking for in- scend upon the earth. In the
creased purchase of war bonds minds of many there is that
thatmore money may be forth- thought that we are in that time
coming to manufacture war ma- now, that we are at the thresh-
terials. Conservation of tires, old of the dawning. The hosts
of gas and some of the lesser of evil, it would seem, are sure-
mon, indeed, among the Hebrews Hebrew family life and absolute-
for men to dedicate their houses ly indispensable to its efficiency
(Deut. 20:5) as we dedicate our was paternal authority. Abra-
churches. Their dwellings may ham was chosen to be the spirit-
have been, probably were, in ual head of a people. To be
many cases, very humble, but able to lead men he must first
THEBIBLEVISION 17
STUDENTS AND FACULTY ENJOY they are working for the evangeliza-
GET-ACQUAINTED PICNIC tion of the world.
The first social event of the school
year found most of the Institute fac- SEVERAL GOSPEL TEAMS AVAIL-
ulty and students at Foster Park on ABLE FOR SERVICE
Saturday afternoon, September 11. The Among the students of the splendid
second year men, who had challenged student body the Lord has sent to the
the first year students and seniors to Bible Institute this year are many who
a game of ball, defeated them 13 to 7. have special gifts and talents. Several
Some of the girls loyally supported Gospel Teams have been organized to
their heroes, while others chose to par- do practical work for the new year.
ticipate in volley-ball and various The teams consist of men's and wom-
games. en's quartets, trios, duets, and soloists.
After a picnic lunch, the group form- The objective of the team work is to
ed a large circle and joined their hearts miake a spiritual contribution and to
and voices in adoration to the Lord. meet the need as far as possible of the
The Rev. Mr. Adams, a returned mis- particular entertaining churches. This
sionary from Korea, challenged the work is carried on by free will offer-
group with an inspiring message on the ings which go into a fund used exclu-
text: "That Christ may dwell in your sively for carrying on Gospel work by
hearts by faith." students. Pastors, Sunday School su-
perintendents, or young people's lead-
STUDENTS' OWN MISSIONARY ers desiring the services of gospel
ADDRESSES MISSION BAND teams in their churches may address
Rev. Clayton Steiner, the missionary their correspondence to the Manager M
to Peru whose entire support is as- of Gospel Teams, Fort Wayne Bible
sumed by the student body, was the Institute, Fort Wayne 6, Indiana.
speaker at the first Student Mission
Band Service of the school year, Fri- WEDDINGS
day evening, September 17. He gave A pretty church wedding was held in
an inspiring and challenging account the Missionary Church, of Grabill, In-
of many of his experiences on the mis- diana, on the afternoon of August 22nd
sion field. Mission Band President, Mr. when our Hostess, Miss Maxine Roth,
Glen Head, presided at the service, Mr, of that city, became the bride of Mr.
George Schaser led the singing, Miss Glen Head, of Walworth, Wisconsin.
Loretta Lugbill played the piano, and Nupitals were performed by Rev.
Mr. Lyndell Cash was at the organ. Tillman Amstutz, brother-in-law of the
Music was furnished by the Students' bride, and a former graduate of the In-
Brass Band and by a male quartet com- stitute. Following the ceremony a re-
posed of Messrs. Vernon Petersen, ception was held at the Roth home
Jake Schierling, John Blosser, and El- with about 75 guests in attendance.
mer Neuenschwander. Mrs. Head is continuing her duties as
Hostess and Dining Room Supervisor,
C. M. A.FOREIGN SECRETARY and Mr. Head is a member of the sen-
SPEAKS IN CHAPEL ior class this year.
Those attending chapel Friday morn- A number of other weddings took
ing, September 17, had the privilege place during the summer, but for lack
of hearing Rev. A. C. Snead, foreign of space, we can only make mention
secretary of the Christian Missionary of them.
Alliance. He emphasized the fact that Joan Rohrer and Robert McBrier, ^
we are all working together in one
cause. The field is the world. Whether
called to work at home or abroad all
of God's servants should realize that M
both of Goshen, Indiana, on June 18.
Juanita Roth, Canton Ohio and Edgar
Neuenschwander, of Saginaw, Michi-
gan, Aug. 28.
THE BIBLE VISION 29
Wakarusa, Indiana. Mrs. Smith was ed into the presence of his Lord, whom,
formerly Miss Goldie Hughes. he had so faithfully served since he
Born to Mr. ('30) and Mrs. C. H. was sixteen years of age.
Furman on Sept. 5th, a boy. He has The following day his body was laid
been named John Clarence. The Fur- to rest in the U, M. S. Cemetery close
mans are doing missionary work in by the Wm. Finlay Memorial Church,
southeastern Kentucky. there toawait the glad resurrection
May the Lord guide and bless the morning. "Valley of Tears'" would
parents of these little ones, and we quite fittingly describe a portion of
trust, if the Lord delays His coming, Jebba town as the people wended their
that each one will someday be a stu- way home at the close of the funeral
dent at B. I. service at the grave. Not only the
Christians of that valley, but heathen
THE HOMEGOING OF REV. JOSEPH and Mohammedan mourned the loss of
UMMEL a friend and helper in the death of
On July 8th word was sent to field Mr Ummel. The Hausa people especi-
headquarters that Mr. Ummel was not ally felt a claim to him since he spoke
well (feverish), rather the usual their language so very well. The after-
symptoms of malaria. On the following noon had been cool but bright, and all
Saturday Mrs. Ummel wrote that he —
had been quiet so different from the
was worse and that she had sent for usual funerals when there is mourning
the Government doctor in Ilorin sixty and wailing. Rev, I. W. Sherk had
miles away. He was very busy but conducted a short service in the church
sent medicine and also said that if Mr, before the burial, the missionaries and
I
Ummel could be sent to him by train two white men of the Nigerian rail-
he would take care of him in his own way had returned to the house. Stand-
home. Monday afternoon his tempera- ing near by were the members of the
ture had gone much higher and his W. M. S. of the Jebba church when
condition became more disquieting. A quite suddenly a mist came down over
telegram was sent to the doctor asking the valley (In 1931 Misss Willa Caf-
him to come. He arrived at one o'clock fray very appropriately named th,e
the next morning. The doctor stayed place "Peaceful Valley") and just be-
faithfully by all the next day, attack- yond appeared a beautiful rainbow
ing each danger point as it arose. It seeming to reach from one side of town
was necessary to strengthen the heart to the other. As Mrs. Ummel beheld
at times and by evening those standing it, a glory seemed to shine from heav-
by knew that only God could save the en upon her as she exclaimed, "God's
life. After careful examination, the promise to me." All present felt the
doctor sadly said it was only a matter presence of One who said, "Death is
of moments; he had done all he could. swallowed up in victory."
Mr. Ummel slept quietly for sometime Let us remember Mrs. Ummel and
and Mrs. Ummel and friends sadly the family at the Throne of the God of
waited by his bedside. Hearts ached all comfort. He alone is able and will
for the dear wife who had been so sustain them
diligent in caring for his every comfort
(Mrs. Ummel was formerly Miss
through his illness, and who had been
his loving companion for over sixteen
Mabel Hygema and a graduate in the
class of '24,)
years now very soon to be separated
"till He come again." But the time
. came when the most willing and faith-
f ful hands could do no more. Tenderly
they watched, and at twenty minutes to
We can not always change our
midnight, July 13th, the breath ceased but we can live right
difficulties
so quietly and only close observation even in the midst of the most
could detect that Mr. Umnnel had pass- disturbing difficulties.
ATTEND
The Annual Youth Conference
of the
ANDREW RUPP
Bible Institute Fort Wayne 6, Indiana