BIBLICAL CRITICISM.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14162, 30 September 1911, Page 11

BIBLICAL CRITICISM.

ITS RESULTS ON RELIGION. At the annual meeting the Diocesan Synod of Waiapu, held last week. Bishop Averill, in his opening address, referred to the results of Biblical criticism. His Lordship said: —"One practical result of Biblical criticism which seems to be tending towards tJieconservative and traditional view, especially as far as the Books of the -Yew Testament are concerned, has been the exaltation of the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Never, I suppose, has the personality of Jesus stood forth in such bold relief as in the present age, unless it be in the more confined area, of Apostolic times. The writings of men, representing every phase of thought, ring with words of admiration for the Person, life and ethics of tho Lord Jesus. Well nigh every section of thoughtful and progressive humanity claims Jesus Christ ac its ideal, its champion and its authority. Whilst we are not blind to the fact that many of these ardent admirers have, so far, only grasped the humanitarian aspect of the Christ, and are endeavouring to confine His Sacred Personality within the narrow limits of a great social reformer, yet we shall be wise not to ignore this 'Time Spirit-.' this feehng after sanction and authority for efforts which tend towards tho betterment of the eocial order and tho development and intensification of tho Kingdom of God. If tho tendency of the present day is to separate tho Christ of History from tho Christ of Theology, shall ,we say that it has no useful purpose to serve? Shall wo say that the Church can accept no responsibility for what is <kmbtless a mental and illogical confusion of ideas? Shall we not confess that some a&pects of ccclesiasticisni have helped to obscure the Christ of the Gospels? It was through personal contact with the Lord Jesus that His apostles were gradually led on to the realisation of the fact that Ho was more than a prophet, that He transcended all eairthly limitations, and could bo. none other than 'The Christ, the »Son of the Living God.' It is not through laying emphasis upon tho virgin birth, or th-» Resurrection in the first instance, that we shall lead men through their conception of a humanitarian Christ, to the real transcendent Christ, tho Christ of God, but by bringing them face to face with the life and words, and claims, aiid character of the Lord Jesus Himself. The Church must first be saturated with the Spirit of Christ, before men will realise that tho Christ of History and the Christ cf Theology aro ono and the samo Divine.personality. Tho Church 1 has absorbed too much of the spirit of the world, is relying too much upon the methods of tn© world, and men too often find the world in the Church, and fail to find tho Christ as they see Him in the Gospels. Instead of the Church being unlike the world, too often she is >*o conformed to it that tho vision and Spirit of Christ are lost, and she fails to be a real witness to tho world, and so fails to elevate the thoughts of tho world. Is it not a fact that the clergy are practically compelled to resort t« all kinds of doubtful and worldly methods i." order to keep up the finances of their parishes; and to build needful churches and schools and vicarages? Is it abeolutely an unknown tlu'ng for a clergyman to be forced to collect his own stipend ? Is there not a danger of the Church, becoming a business concern instead of a witness, and the God-or-dained instrument for upholding tho ideals'of Christ, and ministering tho life'of Christ? Is there not a danger lest the 'serving of tables' should interfere with the serving of Christ? I speak with the deepest sympathy for the unhappy position in which many of the clergy are iplaced at th© present time, but I speak also from the deepest conviction, for the vision wliich I see from my watch-tower is not that of a combined, powerful, spiritual army, influencing and inspiring the ideals of the world, end winning converts by its faith ' and spirituality, but an army struggling to hold its position fey catching at worldly straws. ' The Church is fade to faoo with refined heathenism, with a revival of the old heresies under new names, and with the dead weight. of indifference and .worldinoss, and she can only hope to meet and overcome these hindrances by a renewal of her own unity, strength, and devotion to her living Master aJid Head."