Comment By Torchlight

"I will build My Church"

During the past 1900 years or so secular historians have traced the progress and struggles of mankind, have pointed to the landmarks in man's tortuous history, and have attempted to give a pattern and a meaning to it all. Today the problems are more complex arid more baffling than ever they were, and few would attempt to interpret their significance or to forecast the future course of events. In spite of spectacular scientific achievement unregenerate man is apprehensive and bewildered; he is adrift, and he does not know where he is going.

To grasp the significance of the present age we need to look away from man's struggles to God's purpose. Scripture reveals that He has chosen this period of human history to bring to fulfilment one of the most wonderful of His designs. The words at the head of this paragraph are taken from our LORD's historic declaration at Caesarea Philippi (Matthew 16.18). They describe the central divine purpose of this dispensation. Men plan and strive, and build their world; and, although unable to solve their problems on this planet, they explore space and visualize inter-planetary travel. Our Lord Jesus Christ builds His Church. Silently yet ceaselessly the great work proceeds, secure beyond the reach of human and satanic hostility. From the pit of human sin material is being mined, and when at long last the completed Church emerges this wonder of divine grace will glow through eternal ages We need today a fresh vision of this divine purpose. We need to look beyond men's schemes and projects to God's certainty "I will build My Church" is written in shining letters over the age in which we live!

Preach the Word

We remarked in April "Comment" on the decline in expository preaching and we return to the subject this month. Effective preaching is so vital that we make no apology for underlining its importance. The following quotation from that great preacher, the late C. H. Spurgeon, gives further emphasis to the point we were making:

"Rousing appeals to the affections are excellent, but if they are not backed up by instruction they are a mere flash in the pan, powder consumed and no shot sent home. Rest assured that the most fervid evangelism will wear itself out in mere smoke, if it be not maintained by the fuel of teaching. The divine method is to put the law in the mind, and then to write it on the heart." These are wise words. If they were heeded, young converts would be fortified against the false teachings which abound, and fewer of them would succumb. The shallowness of some modern evangelism creates serious problems when the convert is faced with the challenges of the Christian life.

Gambling craze

One of the symptoms of social degeneration in Great Britain is the alarming increase in gambling of all kinds. All over the country betting shops are springing up and flourishing under the shelter of legality. Thousands flock nightly to bingo halls and millions of pounds are staked on football pools. Other forms of gambling from Premium Bonds to horse racing are booming. All this indicates the boredom and restlessness of the age. The side-effects in crime and corruption are becoming a serious menace to the social fabric of the country.

The facts need only to be stated to indicate the path to be taken by disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. As with many of the other evils of our time the pressure of custom is strong; "everybody does it", arid many go along with the stream and are engulfed before realizing it. There must be no compromise here. No fear of being dubbed a crank should deter the loyal disciple. We specially advise young people to take a firm stand at once on this question. There are many matters in which we must be "different", and this is one of them. This "difference" will provoke comment and question, and will afford many an opportunity to give a reason for the hope that is in us. Many around us are sick at heart with it all, and it is our great privilege to demonstrate by our manner of life that "godliness with contentment is great gain" (1 Timothy 6.6).

What is Truth?

In an age of ceaseless and subtle propaganda it becomes increasingly difficult for ordinary people to sort out truth from error. Overstatement and half truth are commonplace; bare facts hard to come by. 'Views' are often put forth as 'news'. This not only occurs in secular circles but also in the religious world. Care is always necessary lest we accept without question what is set forth. "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good" (1 Thessalonians 5.21).

In matters moral and spiritual the standards of Christian conduct are unchangeable. The Holy Scriptures remain the rock beneath our feet. In the shifting sands of human speculation and philosophy, much of which has on it the stamp of antichrist, we are safe only on "the impregnable rock of Holy Scripture". Once again, in our time, as in former generations, attacks are made on the veracity and authority of the Bible. Today the attacks are more subtle than formerly, but one has only to converse about the Bible with men of the world to discover how completely the bait has been taken. The prevalent ignorance and misconceptions about the claims and teachings of the Bible are appalling. In this matter we should be "as lights in the world" giving our witness, in this generation, to Rim who said: "THY WORD IS TRUTH".

unknown | Jun 1964
Comment By Torchlight