SUNDAY COLUMN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 200, 1 June 1940, Page 3

SUNDAY COLUMN

NEWS OF THE CHURCHES. DEVOTIONAL READING. (Conducted by the Ashburton Ministers’ Association) , HIGH AIM. I would be true, lor there are those who trust me; I would be pure, for there are those who dare. I would be strong, for there is much to suffer; I would he brave, for there is much to dare. I would be friend of all, the foe, the friendless; I would be giving, and forget the gift; I would be humble, for I know my . weakness; I would look up, and laugh, and love and lift. —Howard A. Walters. THE SOUL’S NATIVE AIR. It has often been remarked as significant evidence of mail’s impulse to religion that no race or tribe known is without some religious beliefs and practices, however crude. Similar evidence may be found in the records of civilised history. It is particularly notable that where there has been a decadence of the orthodox accepted ieligion of the day humanity has turned to other means of giving satisfaction to the religious impulse. From tho decay of the religion ot ancient Greece arose a variety ol mystical cults designed to give an outlet to religion. Similarly from the darkness of mediaeval Europe rose a variety of groups and movements seeking religious reality, the finest of them moving towards the climax of the Reformation. The historian, Morse Stephens, writes of the-18th century: “Disbelief in the Christian religion was general in both the Protestant and the Catholic countries on the Continent.” He describes the reaction to secret societies and coteries' of mystics who replaced Christianity by ornate and symbolical ceremonies and suggests that the French fanatical devotion to the ideals of the Revolution is part of the, reaction. There is certainly something of the spirit of religion in some of the devotees of the Revolution (see “Revolutionary Europe”). “Man’s Other Religion.” In our own day the ruins of a conscienceless and misnamed “Christianity” in Russia have given birth to Communism, which Middleton Murray describes as “a living religion,” while Edward Sliillito has named nationalism “man’s other religion.” In the spirit of intense devotion to a cause, of carelessness of sell, of reckless abandonment to a leader or an ideal, these movements possess something only comparable to the passionate enthusiasm of a religious, devotee. Creeds oi wages, taxation, living space, empire and tlie like, have laid hold upon human devotion and harnessed the religious impulses of the soul. In some of these causes there is much that is commendable, for man may lose himself in far less worthy ends than human uplift. Some do, and the religious impulse turns inward, the devotion becomes a selfish one, the cause a personal ambition. Everyone makes a religion of something even though it be himself!

So Christianity does not seek to impose a foreign element upon the human soul, but to offer the highest type of religion for man’s devotion. “It is not a question of religion or no religion, but of what kind of religion.” Christ the Supreme Claimant. Jesus offers a cause which has been the inspiration of the good in other causes, yet excels them all, both in its demand upon devotion and its offer of high, opportunity. The niajestic forthright language of scripture proclaims that Christ came into the world “that the world through him might be saved.” All its ailments, personal and social, are to be cured, its life renewed and empowered, the whole basis of its existence changed until it becomes God-centred and the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our Lord. This task begins in personal forgiveness and salvation through Christ which involve a committal to his plans and leadership. And what a leader he is!

Christ is supreme over men partly because he is flawless among them. No successful criticism has ever been made concerning him ; no weakness can be discerned; there is no moment of indecision, no unwisdom of action, no momentary lapse, no yielding to prestige or power; but the calm assurance of one who knows himself supremely right. He offers no path of ease or guarantee of immunity from difficulty; lie minimises no obstacle. But lie does call us to the service of a cause that knows no equal, a life that knows no end, a leader who counted his own life as nothing that we might be found in him.' Well may we join the apostolic shout, “I am not ashamed of the gospel.” EARS, EYES AND PRAYERS. Forbid, dear Lord, that having ears and eyes, we should cease to hear or see such tilings as set honest hearts to glorifying and praising thy name. Give us to hear those spiritual voices that allay fear, promote jov, inspire hope, and direct men’s steps into the experience of thy salvation. Give us to see, even beginnings of thy unfolding plans for the nations. May we not miss any humble embodiments of thy great love and power. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.