Steinbach Bible Institute - Star Yearbook (Steinbach, Manitoba Canada)

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STEINBACH BIBLE ACADEMY YEAR BOOK 7 Education Luther, in his “Sermon on the Duty of Sending Children to School,” begins one of the sections as follows: “Where were your supply of Preachers, Jurists and Phy¬ sicians, if the arts of Grammar and Rhe¬ toric had no existence. These are the foun¬ tains out of which they all flow.” If Luther were writing that sermon today he would mention more professions and more sub¬ jects that he did in 1524. He would no doubt have mentioned Nurses, Farmers, Engineers, Teachers, Mechanics etc. and amongst the subjects he would have in¬ cluded Science, Mathematics, etc. There was a time and not so very long ago when such a statement would have aroused the opposition of nearly all Men- nonites. During Luther’s time many persons condemned all forms of higher education. The leaders of the Peasant’s Revolt in South Germany, and the men responsible for this catastrophic anabaptist revolt at ( j warkentin Muenster, were of this type. Many of our , ancestors decried all higher learning. The proverb “Je gelehda, je vekehda” was cur¬ rent and accepted as true by many of our forbears. It is highly probable that many of the young people, who attained a slightly higher school standing than the average, swaggered so much when they came home that their behaviour became offensive and so arose the expression. Similar expressions are found amongst the French and English; witness the following quotations: “Jack has stu¬ died in order to be a fool” (French Proverb): “Learning and Folly often dwell in the same person” (English Proverb): “No man is the wiser for his learning, wit and wisdom are born with a man” (John Selden, 1584 - 1654) Such was the general attitude amongst us some fifty years ago, but today the things have changed. There is hardly one of us who does not regret, that his knowledge is so limited, and that he did not take full advantage of the opportunities for learning that were offered him in his youth. Even those of us, who brag that we only got as far as Grade III in school and yet have made a success in life, are not satisfied to let our children quit school with the completion of Grade III, on the contrary, we would like our children to complete the High School Course, and very few of us would deliberately put obstacles in the way if our children wished to enter the University. Today we realize that a good education is desirable, is necessary. We may differ as to which type of higher training would be most valuable, but we are in agreement as to its desirability. In general we feel that the course which will most directly fit us for future work would be the best course to take, yet this is not always the case. Moses was taught all the wisdom of the Egyptians by Egyptian Priests. Paul had an early education which did not specifically train him for his future work. Luther’s High School and University subjects were chiefly the Classics, Natural Science, Philosophy and Law. Neither does there seem to be any fixed rule as how much we should learn. However, there are three things we should consider; we should get all the school circumstances will permit, some¬ where in our course there should be included a definite training that will prepare us for our life work, and lastly our own attitude should be such that in our study of the creature the Creator and not the creature be exalted.

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6 STEINBACH BIBLE ACADEMY YEAR BOOK MR. C. WILBERT LOEWEN CHURCH HISTORY THEOLOGY. EXEGESIS CHRISTIAN EVIDENCES “Let’s not speak such things too openly. It might antagonize that person and maybe put us on the spot.” This could very well he Mennonite youth speaking. There seems to be an attitude of uncertainty and timid¬ ity amongst our young people, when it comes to Christian principles. This is even more so when considering the peace prin¬ ciples which are founded upon God’s Word, and have been upheld by our forefathers. Why is this “hush” attitude so prevalent in our day? Is there something of which to be ashamed? Are we following imagin¬ ary fancies and devised fables? These questions should spurn us to search and hunt for the true way, if it has been missed so far. If not, we should ground ourselves in the truths that have been expounded, and stay by them. The searching for truth is necessary. We need it for ourselves, and also for those to whom we shall speak. Where can we get help to find the right way through God’s Word? The individual can read books writ¬ ten on the subject, and study them himself. However, for a systematic study of the Bible in its entirety, the Bible School is ready to accept such a student into its classes. In the classroom the student will gain possessions, of which, up to then, he had not thought himself capable. Not that the books weren’t there before, neither that the teach¬ ers weren’t there before, but because these weren’t set in contact with the person who had a keen desire to know. When the student has finished his course, he need no more be ashamed of s ' olid Christian Mennonite principles. - domz dfyzjoLcincj “Go ye therefore into all the world.” Is His command. Will you be faithful then To this great challenge that to us is hurl’d, And go into the whitened harvest field To wield your scythe and reap the souls of men Whose eyes are blind — who do not even know The name of Him who came, and loved them so? The time is short, but will you say “I’ll go?” The fields are ripe, and truly we must reap Before the sun goes down, and wbrk is o’er. Then bring these precious sheaves unto the One Who gave you that command. And you’ll be glad That you went out unto that heathen race To tell them of the Lord’s redeeming grace. Doreen Reimer

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8 STEINBACH BIBLE ACADEMY YEAR BOOK The Water of Life DON P. SHIDLER “Jesus answered and said unto her, whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but who¬ soever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst (John 4: 13, 14). It was noon in the French Sou¬ dan. The African sun was pouring down its vicious heat. There was no escaping it. We had been trav¬ elling since 4:00 a. m. and now, very much fatigued, we stopped at a native village to inquire the way to our destination. After receiving proper directions we started to leave, but the natives quickly stopped us and said “dye” meaning water. About that time a woman arrived with a large calabash of fresh water. I later learned that t ' o supply water to travelling strangers is a mark of native hospitality. After we had refreshed ourselves with it a large crowd had gather¬ ed and one of our party preached the gospel to them. In the incident were several thoughts. 1. The water was precious to them. It had to be carried fully half a mile from the nearest well, and there was not an over supply of it at this time of year. This water, precious to them, speaks of the Word of God which tells sinners of the precious blood of Christ that was shed and will cleanse from all sin. There is no shortage of the supply of this precious water of life for the Word tells us, “Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, . . . and let him that is athirst come, and whosoever will let him take of the water of life freely.” Again, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.” 2. The water so kindly brought to us was satisfying, cleansing and refreshing. In the twenty-third Psalm, we see how the Great Shepherd leads His own to green pastures, and still waters. This precious water of life truly satisfies every longing of our heart, it cleanses our lives from sin and refreshes our souls day by day. 3. The water is lasting. The re¬ freshment we received at the kind hand of these black natives lasted until we had reached our desti¬ nation, however that was only a short time. The water that Christ gives lasts forever, for He said, “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst.” Friend, have you been to that everlasting fountain? Will you be a- mong the white-robed Saints that we read of in Revelation 7: 9, 16, 17? “They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; for the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” 4. They gladly brought us their water for the refreshment of our natural bodies. We in turn should give them water for their souls. “Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” (I Peter 3:15). God gave His precious Son for you and me, that we might take this water of life to the uttermost part of the earth. Our prayer is that God will raise up many more graduates of the Steinbach Bible Academy to take this precious water of life to those that sit in darkness. PRINCIPAL ' S MESSAGE Continued from Page 4 spared. The spending on physical comforts in the house, cars, hospitals, etc. All in themselves good, but the percentage that is spent on this in comparison to missions or the spreading of the Gospel is definitely out of proportion. The one is for a short life, but the other has eternal issues ' of tremendous difference — heaven or hell. It is also seen in a partial recognition of the truth. Instead of taking the Word of God just as it is and applying ourselves diligently and completely to it in obedience, we use our own reason to decide which we ought to obey and which in our times will not be so important. We tone down the Word of God. So let us watch thereunto, recognizing that we battle against a mighty enemy, the enemy of souls. Stand on guard with the whole armour of God. Stand firm in the strength of the Lord and the power of His might. Be always sure that what you do is inspired of God, and not of men. B. D. Reimer.