A FRANK ENQUIRY INTO THE WAY OF AUTHOR OF "LAY RELIGION,' ""THE CHRISTIAN REVOLUTION," LONDON STUDENT CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT 32 RUSSELL SQUARE, W.C. 1 PREFACE THESE Bible studies were first written for Chinese students following the conference of the World's Student Christian Federation in Peking. At that gathering a series of findings were brought in by the "Forum " on social and industrial problems. These were based upon the idea that the teachings of Jesus were the practical guide for our present social disorders. It was felt that as they were discussed in the colleges of China, it would be a great help to have, at the same time, a body of material that would show in greater detail what these teachings are and how they affect our problems to-day. In the original draft there were many references to Chinese conditions. The studies have been worked over and in part rewritten for British students. In some particulars the Chinese flavour may be found still to remain. Yet it is believed that there is nothing in them which does not bear upon problems faced by England at the present time. The line taken is similar to that I have followed in my recent volume The Christian Revolution, the main differences being the form of question and daily study, the perpetual reference of all to the actual words of Christ, and the absence in this volume of the illustrative material published in the second part of The Christian Revolution. I hope that in this form the leading conceptions on which that volume is based may not so much be transmitted to the student as won by him for himself. The inexhaustible mine which we have in the words and deeds of Jesus Christ is still open for us See Appendix, p. 134. to dig in for ourselves. As life unfolds its meaning and as one problem follows another, one comes back with ever fresh wonder and satisfaction to the wealth of wisdom and inspiration to be found in these writings. I hope that each student of these pages may be a discoverer, with something of the zest of the pioneer breaking fresh ground, seeing fresh beauties, enriched with fresh power for his own life as day follows day. Whether he sees just what I have seen is small matter. That his own eyes may be enlightened and his own spirit uplifted is my great hope. In the matter of recording results, each person and group must take the line which seems best. The suggestions are simply thrown out for the sake of those who find such a method helpful. The idea of daily readings and a weekly group study has often been found helpful, but there is no reason why this book should not be used either by an individual studying these matters alone or by a group whose members do not follow the method suggested. In that case the group should take each study and not only those arranged for the weekly gathering. Many problems are raised which are not fully answered. I have often indicated the kind of answer I should make with my own knowledge and experience, but the object of the book would not be achieved were students to follow this lead without thinking their own way into each question. For this reason the lead has often been very slight. SHANGHAI. HENRY T. HODGKIN. March 31, 1923. |