And God said, Let us make man in
our image . . . and let them have dominion over . . . every . . . thing . . .
upon the earth. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and
multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it:and have dominion over the
fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that
moveth upon the earth. (Genesis 1:26, 28)
In spite of man’s disobedience
it would seem that he has very largely done as God directed in the above
verses. Man’s dominion or rule of the earth seems pretty well in hand at
present. His dominion over the animals in air, on land, and in the sea has been
such that many species have suffered near extinction. Man’s efforts now have
turned toward conservation in all these areas in order to preserve these
creatures over which he has dominion.
God’s word to man to "be
fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth" (Gen. 1:28; 9:1) seems to
have been heeded—so much so that at present one of man’s chief concerns is the
"population explosion" and how to feed the teeming multitudes which
nearly "fill the earth."
The injunction to subdue the
earth seems largely complied with, too. The earth has been explored from pole
to pole. The realms above and below the earth’s surface have been explored for
miles. Man has brilliantly adapted himself and learned how to live under vastly
different conditions. "The earth hath He given to the children of
men" (Psa. 115:16), and they do indeed seem to be making the most of
things.
Now Canada is celebrating its
centennial and its Montreal is the chosen site for EXPO 67. News write-ups tell
us this promises to be "the greatest international exhibition in the
history of the world." As might be expected the sixty-two participating
nations are displaying their most outstanding achievements. The unifying theme
for EXPO 67 is Man and His World. Seventeen thematic pavilions portray man as
creator, producer, provider, explorer, and member of the community. Thus has
man subdued the earth and displays his achievements with unmuffled pride.
As we survey the Holy Scriptures
we are struck with the similarity of EXPO 67 to Nebuchadnezzar’s proud walk
"in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon." He said as he surveyed Babylon’s greatness, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of
the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?"
(Daniel 4:30). What Nebuchadnezzar did not learn on the throne, he did as he
roamed the fields as a beast the following seven years, that "the most
High ruleth in the kingdom of men" (Dan. 4:17, 25, 32). We wonder if this
lesson is yet realized by any exhibitors of Man and His World who praise man so
unreservedly and give little or no acknowledgment to the living God.
But one might counter exclaiming
that the Lord’s things are given a prominent place in EXPO 67. There is a large
"Christian Pavilion." This, too, rates the praise of not only the
world but also most churchmen of the day. The praise is not so much for the
awesome architecture of the $1,300,000 structure but because it represents a
major ecumenical breakthrough for Canada. Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox,
Anglicans, United Churchmen, Baptists, Presbyterians, and Lutherans have all
joined forces to put up this "Christian Pavilion." This represents a
united front to millions of world visitors by ninety-two percent of Canada’s professed Christians.
In the language of John’s letter
to the church at Laodicea what possible principle but lukewarmness could unite
such vastly different communions. In that same letter, the Laodiceans are
reprimanded for saying they are "rich, and increased with goods, and have
need of nothing." We wonder what pleas for support of gospel work and aid
to starving poor can be taken seriously when such wealth is lavished on art
scenes and religious symbolism.
What place is our Lord Jesus
Christ given in all this religious splendor? The "Christian Pavilion"
is to lead visitors to the "answer" in three stages. The first is a
scene depicting life as it was before Adam’s fall, consisting of a beautiful
garden, flowers, etc. and a pool (which is supposed to represent baptism to the
imaginative). The second stage depicts life as it is, beginning with the
comparative innocence of a newborn babe and progressing to a gory panorama of
human atrocity and orgy, aided by weird sounds and frightening screams.
Visitors are expected to want to run from this scene to the third stage where
the "answer" is also similarly portrayed. By psychological
intonations aiding a modern-day presentation of the Lord Jesus’ birth, life,
death, resurrection, ascension, and Pentecost, the "answer" and
purpose of Christianity is to be conveyed. We wonder if any scriptural
"answer" is possible from such an array where, we fear, our Lord is
on the outside knocking.
Our hopes for EXPO 67 might be
somewhat brighter if we stroll over to the display of Moody’s "Sermons
from Science." Here at half the cost of the "Christian
Pavilion," Moody Science Films and live science demonstrations are used to
present God’s message. Since only one Christian pavilion was permitted, Moody’s
entry was accepted on a science basis. Here, at least, unlike the
"Christian Pavilion" there are counselors. But, there will be no
proselytizing done since all enquirers are to be turned back to the church of
their choice. We cannot imagine a better missionary opportunity than when the
heathen from all parts of the world come to you. But we are dismayed that
earnest enquirers among these should be returned to the church of their choice,
when the same churches cannot discern Christ’s gospel just down the lane at the
"Christian Pavilion."
EXPO 67 parading Man and His
World is what we might have expected from the world. But we had some little
reason to ‘expect better things" of those professing Christ as Savior.
Their displays seem to us to represent Man and His Church. It has little
resemblance to Christ’s Church but favors more with each passing moment that
Laodicean condition, "neither cold nor hot," which the Lord says,
"I will spue . . . out of My mouth." The appeal and counsel of the
Lord Jesus to any that will hear His voice is:
Buy of Me gold tried in the
fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed,
and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with
eye salve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten:be
zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock:if any
man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with
him, and he with Me.(Revelation 3:18-20)
FRAGMENT
I have always remarked of infidels, or infidel writers (for it is better to
call things by their names) that they can make you doubt of many things, but
they can give you nothing. They never give you one certain truth. The word of
God gives you many certain truths. It makes you doubt of nothing. It has no
need; for it possesses the truth, and gives what is positive. This is an
immense difference:it stamps both morally. When infidel minds speak of a love
of truth, they never that I can see go farther than Pilate:"What is
truth?" They do not hold fast the truth, but cast doubt on what others
believe, and profess to search for truth, and to be always ready to receive it,
I suppose because they have never found it