Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 115:458 (Apr 1958)
Article: Periodical Reviews
Author: James F. Rand

BSac 115:458 (Apr 58) p. 188

Periodical Reviews

James F. Rand

Baker, David W., “The Miracle of Christmas,” Eternity, 8:12:10–11, 40–41, December, 1957.

The author rightly pin-points belief in the incarnation as a pivotal doctrine of Christianity. “Old fashioned modernists were expected to deny the deity of Christ, but today times have changed. Men are affirming belief in the deity of Christ, but denying the deity of Jesus, denying the Incarnation, denying that God became man, or that He ever could or can become man, because, say they, the finite and the Infinite are poles apart, and never the twain shall meet.” Dr. Baker, an ordained Presbyterian minister as well as a practicing physician, time and again drives home the importance of the belief that God did become man, the miracle of Christmas. This is an excellent article which should become fuel for some down-to-earth Christmas preaching in the years to come.

Cowan, John L., “The Church in Russia,” His, 18:3:32–34, December, 1957

There are those who deny that genuine Christianity exists in Russia and refuse to believe the reports of those who have visited evangelical churches in that Comunist-dominated land. Here is a sympathetic report by a correspondent of the religious periodical The Life of Faith, who visited evangelical Christians in Leningrad and Moscow. His comment on their faith was written in these words: “It was evident that Christ meant much to these believers, much more than mere material things which seem to them to be non-essentials. Promotion in trade or profession might not come the way of those who are sincere believers in a land which speaks to us of atheism and Lenin-worship, but one could be in no doubt as to their devotion to our Lord.” Cowan found that evangelicals are also Communists. In their words: “We see nothing wrong with our goverment; the believers are content and we teach our young people to serve and defend our country.” The obvious reason for this attitude, Cowan found, was that “the people only read and hear what their rulers approve of, so their views of the West are formed on what, to us, at any rate, is: one sided propaganda. …It would appear to us, as observers, that throughout all walks of life and in all circumstances, the Russian is careful to avoid any criticism of the state; it could lead to great difficulties and is carefully avoided at all times.” The question of freedom of worship is not discussed. It is obvious from Cowan’s report that freedom of worship is restricted by the Soviets in two ways: restriction of the number of churches, e.g., only one evangelical church for all Moscow, and restriction of type of activity; their activities are confined to the church building and to visiting in the homes or hospitals.