Covenanter Witness Vol. 86 - Rparchives.org

Glimpses of the Religious WorldRev. L. E. Kilpatrick, D. D.207 Darlington RoadBeaver Falls, Pennsylvania 15010GLIMPSES AT HOMEThis is no new development in the CovenanterWitness, but it newly occurred to me to mention it. Areyou reading the excellent articles that deal with applicationof unchanging truth to current situations? Ihesitate to mention particular ones, but did you evaluatethe carefully stated principles that determine what isChristian literature? Were you able to apply them in yourown or your family's — or your class' — reading? Orperhaps did you write to Prof. Carson, suggesting how theapplication of those principles would result — for good orbad? I think he would appreciate it.Only the first article has appeared — in Arizona —of the articles on versions of Scripture. Mr. More isdealing with a basic problem that affects all Christianpeople because of the multiplicity of Scripture versionsand paraphrases on the market. He is attempting to dealwith it in a basic manner. Jay Green (Religious BookDiscount House) is attempting to update the King JamesVersion with the "King James II Version," claiming thatthe "best text was that used by Tyndale, Beza, and theKJV scholars"; this he concludes after "a pre-study encompassingmore than 1000 hours of textual criticism."(He really shouldn't have mentioned that 1000 hours. It'stoo little and he doesn't tell us whether they were all oneman's study, nor what man . It makes a difference, youknow.) However, Mr. Green has an extended book tradeoutlet, andit is quite likely that "King James II" will sellwidely.Many more recent Covenanter Witness articlescould be mentioned. Don't neglect them.AUGUSTINE, CALVIN AND LUTHER WEREWRONG"With this pretentious headline quote, EP NewsService introduces its lead item this week, announcing abook on sex published by David C. Cook PublishingCompany. That headline is about the only thing newreported in the full page item. "Straight honest talk from aChristian perspective . . . out in the open . . ." has hardlyhad its birth with this "publishing event." And while it maysell books,it seems a new low to advertise it as something"which an evangelical publisher wouldn't have dared print10 years ago." After sinking almost into oblivion a numberof years ago, through a watered down presentation of theChristian faith, apparently designed to offend no one, theDavid C. Cook Publishing Company has made a considerablecomeback, with S.S. teaching materials at least alittle improved. But this sort of use of the advertising artdoesn't inspire confidence in the product.SECOND U.P. CHURCH OF JOHNSTOWN, N.Y. LOSESThe highest court of New York has ruled that thePresbytery of Albany was properly awarded the assets ofthe former Second U.P. Church of Johnstown when thechurch seceded after a dispute relating to a change in thechurch's national policy. We are not told whether thePresbytery had invested funds in the Johnstown propertyby way of a home missions effort, or whether there mayhave been some other particular, distinguishing this casefrom the one ruled on by the U.S. Supreme Court, whichgave properties to two congregations in Atlanta. (EP)THE WARThere is no question but that the displeasure of theAmerican public is growing toward our involvement inVietnam. Yet, there is little evidence of a cohesive volumeof public opinion in support of the "get out now"movement. Not only for the Christian but also for thecitizen motivated primarily by self interest, there areconflicting considerations. There is the fate of theprisoners of war. Should we leave them there, forgetthem? There is the type and the apparent loyalties — orlack of loyalty — within the leadership of the protestefforts. That is, when arrests for violence and interferingwith the free movements of others begin, there are thosewith long records of violence who either escape arrest orare soon out on bail, if arrested, to continue their activities.Especially in the "veterans' marches" certain wellknown radical leaders, not veterans at all, were centrallyinvolved, but when the arrests started they ran. Then thereis the consideration of utter disregard for the rights andproperty of the rank and file, both of protesters and nonprotesters.This conflict of interest and purpose may be itselfpart of the judgment God is sending even now on us as anation.THE NPRF.Individuals from eight Presbyterian and Reformeddenominations met in Chicago in October 1970. Theydecided to organize "for encouragement and mutualassistance to those who seek in our time the unity of apure witness to the Word of God and the testimony ofJesus Christ in the communion appointed by Christthrough His apostles and prophets in the New Testament.Reformed doctrine and presbyterian church governmentfurnish the basis for this communion.. . ." April 15 and 16,1971, in Atlanta, Georgia, the group organized, adopted aconstitution and provided for incorporation.Membership consists of ministers and elders whosee page 164 COVENANTER WITNESS