WORLD CRISIS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 71, Issue 46, 4 December 1950, Page 2

WORLD CRISIS

RESPONSIBILITY OF CHRISTIANS ADDRESS BY DR. FISHER (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Dec. 3. “It is a thing we ail regret, that anyone should mention the atom bomb at such a moment as this,” said the Archbishop of Canterbury (Dr. G. F. Fisher) when preaching at matins at St. Mary’s Cathedral to-day. This morning’s service, which was attended by a congregation which filled the Cathedral, and which was heard by many hundreds more beyond the walls, was the Archbishop’s, last oflicial function in Auckland. His visit began on Tuesday, when he arrived from Australia. He left after luncheon to-day for Hamilton. Basing his sermon on the fact that to-day was the first Sunday in Advent, Dr. Fisher took as his text, “Be ye therefore ready also, for the Son of Man cometh at an hour when ye think not.”

Advent declared the Christian belief that when God so wished the world would have its ending by an act of God, said Dr. Fisher. That was the plain significance of the season. What Advent declared was that this was 10 accidental business of physical science. By God’s decree, human history would come to its end.

Authority of God

The picture of tradition was that of Christ coming on the clouds of heaven as the Saviour of mankind. It was uot to be supposed that that was literally how God would end this human scene; but better this than no picture. It was well for Christian souls to keep that in mind, because it contained the essential truth.

“This is the declaration of our belief that all created things are subject to the authority of God,” Dr. Fisher continued. “There is no corner of the universe which is outside His control and authority. Advent says, ‘ln the beginning' was God.’ ” The secure and confident message of Advent waa a declaration of God’s sovereignty. Life was not governed by destiny, as Hitler thought, or by determinism, as Marx believed. It was not in the power of a blind force, but in the hand of a living God.

“We go on to look at history under God’s control, yet fashioned by men," said Dr. Fisher. “He leaves us our freedom to operate and judge. Men are the history-makers, «md they judge. The responsibility for his own choice, the determination of what pait he ghall play rests on every man. “The chief responsibility is with those men who make history. Men vary in their capacity, and in the power of good or ill that they exert. They bear before God their own inevitable responsibility. How immense it is. Whether out of Korea will come restraint and the limiting of conflict, or folly rashness and the extension Ohcetility to unknown lengths, it is upon men —statesmen that the decision rests. We do well to pray for them.

“‘Guardians of Power” In the recent trying days, the leaders of the Commonwealth had been very wise and restrained, but strong where strength was necessary, and determined . where determination was right, continued Dr. Fisher.- All regretted that the atom bomb should be mentioned at such a moment as this. Every man who controlled power in civic, national, or international life, and determined the course of other people’s lives, was a guardian of power, personally responsibe to God for the way in which he exercised it. Exhorting his ‘hearers to be ready and alert for every demand which the Christian situation might lay upon them as parent, child, teacher, neighbour, and worker, Dr. Fisher said that the Son of Man came in every human duty and human contact. People tried i to dodge the immediacy of what Christ demanded; they tried to make Iff® *ru easy, unexacting, undemanding thing; their spiritual muscles weakened, their sinews withered. The same problem presented itsell everywhere; to defeat evil by good; to be so “on-the-spot’fethat when evil presented itself in all its manifold little forms, one did not turn from it or acquiesce in it, but attacked, it. Dr. Fisher added: “There is a sluggishness in the membership of the Church. How can we be ready for His demands if we are sluggish in Church life? Discipline yourselves that you may stand before the - judgment of Christ, for judge He will.”