Newspapers / Gardner-Webb University Student Newspaper / March 1, 1956, edition 1 / Page 3
Part of Gardner-Webb University Student Newspaper / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
MARCH, 1956 THE PILOT Page Three Religious Emphasis Week Observed THE PASTOR' PEN JOHN S. FARRAR A real Christian student is a growing student. He is one whose faith and devotion are ever upward reaching. His capacity to worship and serve is ever increasing, buch a Christian student grows in his appreciation of wnat is pure and proper in the experience of divine worship. Recently I came upon an article oy Sterling L. Price wherein he reminds us of some uncouth and non-Cnristian acts which pass oif as a part of worship. 1 am placing the entire article below as it appeared in NiilvvSLETTER DIGEST, published by the Texas Baptist Student Union. DELIVER ME! Normally I am a quiet, peaceful personality wno uves in a reaim oi more or less status quo; out aunng tne past lew yeais tnere nas been Duiiamg up witnin me a pressure tnat neeus to be let loose, or various memoers oi my anatomy win De louna strewn an over tne btate oi iexas! ine cause lor all tnis unrest in my otnerwise narmiess soul is the utter ignoring ox tne meaning oi true Unristian worsnip m our cnurcnes. fiere is one wno nas come to tne nouse oi (j-od to worsnip beating nis moiars at a rapio pace, cnewing at least one sticK 01 gum—pernaps more—wniie ne joms m tne singing ot, “hioiy, ±ioiy, ±ioiy, Lord Goa Aimignty!” I cannot conceive of a Diooa Dougnt ana redeemed soui, coming to tne nouse of God to worsnip ±iim Vv no is Creator oi all and saviour oi all believers, grinding away on a wad ot gum UKe a cow cnewing her cud' ine tragedy of it all is tnat wnen tnese people are approached aoout tne matter of chewing gum in the nouse of God tney looK at you incredulously as ii you were on your spiritual rocKer and mumoie sometmng like, "It’s a tree world, ain't It?” Oh, yes! I forgot to mention the victorious crew-cut soul who manages to pop his gum at intervals and becomes there with tne pride of the balcony. The other bane oi my existence is that “buddy-buddy-with God” cult which is so evident in popular religious songs. “The Man Upstairs,” I note with disgust, has a successor in a square-dance tune with the words, “Jnave taith, hope and char ity, that's how to live successiully. How do i Know? The BiDle tells me so.” You cannot treat God this way and get away with it. He will have the honor due Him and irie will have it in language and song that are spiritually becoming. Another horrioie ex ample 01 church songs is the one 1 heard the other day, “I'm On a honeymoon with Jesus.” And then there is that gem about, “'i'he bells of Hell go tmg-a-lmg; where, O Death, is thy sting-a-hng?” 1 am preparing myseli now for the inevitable, which 1 suppose will be, “The Jesus Bounce.” I am not a prude, or at least 1 do not think I am; but it is my honest conviction that we must return to a true, reverent, holy worship of Almighty God, whose we are; and that does not include the grinding of our bicuspids and the singing of ditties. Students Deliver Talks On Religious Emphasis Week Pictured above is one of the panels responsible for the success of Religious Emphasis Week. From left to right they are: Dr. Bob Elliott, W. Lawson Allen, Dean J. O. Terrell, Dr. Robert Dyer, and in the background is Moderator William F. Trout man. A summary of the Religious Em phasis Week, February 20-24, was given on the radio program from Gardner-Webb College on Friday, February 24. Jimmy Sides gave the introduction and conclusion, and Sandra Ammons, Anita Hoyle, and Charles Mosley summarized the various phases of the week’s open forum programs. The Religious Emphasis Week was planned with three objectives in mind. These were; That each student would come to a closer and more personal relationship with his God, that each student would, at the end of the week, know more fully in what vocation he and his God would engage, and that each student would grow during the week by the enlightenment the week offered. Dr. Elliott began the week by de livering on Monday morning the ad dress “Living in Times of Grises”. In this address he said, “We are dealing with principles and not with methods.” We carried the thought in mind during the entire week, because we were not trying to solve any problems or pin-point answers to any questions, but we were to en lighten the students, to get every one to thinking about his discussion questions, and to draw his own con clusions and evaluations. Three sophomores, Mark Stone, Harold Long, and Boyce Freeman, addressed the student body on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings respectively. Open forum discussions were held on Monday thi'ough Thursday evenings with faculty members serving as panel ists. The addresses and discussions dealt with the student’s respon sibilities in discipleship and stew ardship. The students’ topics were “What Does It Mean To Be a Christian,” “Every Christian a World Citizen,” and “A Christian in Search of Health and Happiness.” The open forum themes were “The Christian Attitude in Race Relations,” “What Are My Moral Responsibilities To My Fellowmen and To My God,” “Which Should Come First? or What Emphasis Should Placed on Religious, Social, and Intellectual Life?” and “Christ In My Vocation.” The Rev. Gordon Weekley, Jr., Pastor of the Providence Baptist Church in Charlotte, concluded the Religious Emphasis Week on Friday morning with his address “A Vision Worth Following.” The Rev. Week ley said, “A life is not worth living unless it has a guiding purpose.” He also said that a Christian who thinks that life is worth living (1) believes that nothing matters except the will of God, (2) believes he is fighting on a winning side, and (3) is willing to pay the price of Christian living. EMPHASIS PLACED ON RELIGIOUS, SOCIAL AND INTELLECTUAL LIFE SANDRA AMMONS When I think of what the Religious Week has meant to me, I first recall the periods of quiet medi tation that preceeded the programs. In these silent moments of worship one could relax from the toil of the day and focus his whole attention on how he is living for his Lord and One of the discussions that stands out most in my mind is “Which should come First? or What Em phasis Should Be Placed on Re ligious, Social, and Intellectual Life?” We as college students realize that our primary reason in attend ing college is to get an education, but should be place all of our at tention on the intellectual life? How can we answer this question in the light of the scriptui-e: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his right eousness and all these things shall be added unto you!” Our real pur pose as Christians in obtaining col lege training is revealed in the scripture which says, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” We can glorify God through our studies by practicing the things we learn in service for Him. Therefore, let us concede that intellectual life is important, but this is not enough. Our education is not an endn in Itself but a means by which to glorify God. One might ask, “Should we put the major emphasis on our re ligious life?” Of what does one’s re ligious life consist? Is it mererly at tending as many services as possible or does it permeate everything we do? Too often we are guilty of being only active—^rushing from one meet ing to another—benefitting little. We should attend services whole heartedly and really worship. Our religious life consists of a daily life—what we are—not how many services we attend. Emphasis should also be placed on our social life. In joining clubs, fraternities, and other social organ izations, one should ask himself these questions—What does this or ganization stand for?—How will it affect me and my Christian witness if I participate in its activities? Because man is a composite being he has a religious, social, and in tellectual life. These phases of man’s life cannot be completely separated. Our social life has a direct bearing on our religious in fluence. Both of these add to our intellect. To be the kind of person God wants, man must mold the phases of his life into one complete life, fully dedicated to the service of God. A quotation from Richter tells of this kind of life: “Life, like the waters of the seas, freshens only when it ascends toward heaven.” CHRISTIAN GROWTH ANITA HOYLE Religious Emphasis Week has meant a great deal to my Christian growth. Through the informative and stimulating discussions my Christian convictions have been strengthened and I feel that Christ truly has been present to help me grasp more fully and completely the great truths that the speakers have put forth. One particular aspect that has meant a lot to me is that a Christ ian student’s relationship to his fel low men. My belief that the founda tion to batter social relation is brotherly love has been confirmed substantially in my mind by the remarks of the speakers of the week. The second of the Ten Command ments clearly states that we are to love our neighbors as ourself. This alone is evidence that the first ob ligation of a Christian toward his fellow man is to glorify God thi'Ough Christian love. I believe that the Other points that have been brought out concerning a Christian’s rela tionship to his fellow man have been such that they will fall in line in the proper perspective if we first consider love for our fellow man. I believe that Christians are ob ligated to non-Christians to win them to Christ. In fulfilling the great commission we must carry the gospel to others, not only to those in foreign lands, but also those who live next door to us. Our lives must be such that they can see Christ living in us everyday. Through prayer and witnessing it is my be lief that we as Christians are to win our fellowmen to Christ. Christ said in Matt. 5:13-14 that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Salt flavors, pre serves, and heals. We as Christians flavor the lives of others if we have a strong witness. If we win others to Christ they are preserved through eternity. When one becomes a Christian he then is healed of the wounds of sin. This means to me that a Christian is to help and serve his fellowmen. Christ did this when he came to earth and we are to be Christian in our daily life. I beiieve tnat a Christian should be his best in whatever he unaer- takes. Ihis means that he wouid be socially graceful, ever courteous and helpful to his fellowmen, wnetner in business, school, recreation, or in whatever capacity he may find him self. Christ was a servant, a teach er, a healer and a helper. He never criticized a person who was laden down with sin but rather helped him. Since we as his followers are to be liKe him, we too are to help rather than to criticize those who are not Christians. A true Ctiristian will try to adjust himself to those things over which he has no control, and to change the things that he can improve. ENLIGHTENMENT — TO i'n.KsONAl^lTY CHAKLES IVlOSLEY This Religious Emphasis Week has been of great enligntenment to me personally, and I feel that all who have attended the services have likewise been enlightened. As young people in the world today many questions come to our mmds con cerning our relationship with our Creator. Is Christ truly the answer for the crises in our world today? What are our moral responsibilities to God? What emphasis should be placed on religion in our lives? As Jim has alreaay stated the purpose for this week has been to show us principles rather than methods. We must know and understand the principles in order to formulate methods. The panel programs and speakers this week have so stimu lated our thinking as to help us formulate in our minds these much needed methods. Presiaent Elliott spoke to us Mon day about the crises in the world today; of the revolutions that are taking place in our time. The Christ of Calvary is the only answer that can prove sufficient. We must make Christianity and democracy work. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.” Certainly the salvation of the world today is Christ. We all have certain responsibilities to our Saviour. By meeting them we grow in our faith. We must live up to standards set by Christ whUe he lived on earth. We are to give Christ first place in our lives. “Christ is all that matters for Christ is in all.” We cannot separate our religious life from the other phases of life, but they all must go hand in hand. This rela tionship with God must be a con tinuing one; one that grows closer throughout our lives. This relation ship is to be stimulated and moti vated by the Love of God. I feel that this week has helped to better my relationship with God, and we pray that many have grown in then- Christian lives as a result of this Religious Emphasis Week. The students supported the week with prayers, attendance, and ques tions. The faculty members gave us their support and whole-hearted co operation in attendance and in participation on the panels. We of Gardner-Webb feel that the Lord has greatly blessed us. We have come to realize anew the im portance of turning our hearts, minds, and, most of all, our souls upward to our Maker and Creator, Proverbs 3:4-5 sums up the feelings that have arisen through our Re ligious Emphasis Week in that a person must “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding, in aU thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Gardner-Webb University Student Newspaper
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
March 1, 1956, edition 1
3
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75