Covenanter Witness Vol. 86 - Rparchives.org

Glimpses of the Religious WorldRev. L. E. Kilpatrick, D. D.207 Darlington RoadBeaver Falls, Pennsylvania 15010THEY NEVER LEARNThe ecumenical cause has been harmed by thecontroversy which arose out of the World Council ofChurches' recent decision to give financial help to"freedom movements" in Africa. Admitting this recently,the World Council's General Secretary, Dr. EugeneCarson Blake, added that some people inside and outsidethe churches had separated themselves and their churchesfrom the Council. Ecumenical enterprises and persons hadbeen put under new pressures, not only in South Africaand Rhodesia, but also to some extent in nations such asPortugal, Ireland, Greece, Britain, Germany.Nonetheless, he believed that the Council's decision hadbeen right.Once again we see the sheer arrogance with whichthe World Council expects all churches and their membersto follow its lead unquestionably. We see too an utterlack of humility — never does the World Council suggestthat its critics may possibly be right. By this timeit shouldbe obvious to all that the Council has long since abandonedthe saving Gospel of Christ for a purely secularprogram.—The Churchman's MagazinePALAU CRUSADE DRAWS 128,000GUATEMALANSGUATEMALA CITY (EP) — The largest crowdever to assemble in the National Olympic Gymnasiumhere — 12,000 people — gathered, March 28, on theclosing night to hear Argentine Evangelist Luis Palau.The three-week Guatemala '71 Crusade drew anaggregate audience of 128,000 people, put the Gospel on19 live one-hour TV programs, and enjoyed large andunexpected news coverage.Col. Carlos Arana Osorio, president of the Republicof Guatemala, gave Evangelist Luis Palau a 25-minuteinterview and accepted a copy of a Spanish Bible. Teamsoloist was Bruce Woodman and Dr. D. James Kennedy,minister of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church of Ft.Lauderdale, Florida, was the featured teacher at a schoolfor evangelism during the meetings.WITCHCRAFT EXPECTED TO FILL RELIGIOUSVOID'PHILADELPHIA (EP) — Witches are everywhere,says Susan Roberts, whose book Witches U.S.A. has justappeared. "Like other religions, witchcraft attractshousewives, engineers, truck drivers, people from almostevery profession — including a surprisingly large numberof men in the military."The witches I know are generally very hard coremain line conservatives," she said. "I even know a couplewho belong to the John Birch Society."Simply defined witchcraft was explained as "anancient polytheistic religion with a dual worship of godsand goddesses."Miss Roberts predicted witchcraft is going to be bigin the '70s. "If you have studied the occult, you know thisis the Age of Aquarius," she said. "Things go in 2025 yearcycles, and the Christian cycle is just about ended. Therewill be this religious void to be filled, and witchcraft iswaiting."TO PRODUCE A FILM ON PRAYERRosalind Rinker, well-known author of books on theprocess of prayer, spent five days in Newton, Kansasrecently to make arrangements for a film, Lord, Teach Usto Pray. She is writing a script for the full-color production.The film will be a teaching device on conversationalprayer, Miss Rinker's name for small-group prayer.Miss Rinker feels that she has been called by God toteach people to pray together. For the past ten years shehas traveled around the country, conducting workshopson prayer.—The MennoniteSPLINTERING EFFECT SEEN IN CHURCH UNIONSAN DIEGO (EP) — Do denominational mergers ofrecent years really represent growing AmericanProtestant solidarity? Quite the opposite, according to theRev. Gordon Melton, research director, Institute for theStudy of American Religion.The researcher has shown that each union hasproduced splinter groups that are helping to build a "silentmajority" or ruggedly individualistic, isolated religiousbodies. There are at least 800 small religious bodies in thiscountry, according to Melton, and the number is growing.He has concluded that the religious groups calling for thegreatest personal theological commitment and involvingthe least social action are the most flourishing.HOW MUCH SHALL I GIVE?Give as you would if an angelAwaited your gift at the door;Give as you would if tomorrowFound you where giving was o'er.Give as you would to the MasterIf you met His loving look;Give as you would of your substanceIf His hand the offering took.4 COVENANTER WITNESS