CHRISTIANITY AND CLASS DISTINCTIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 170, 19 July 1924, Page 18

CHRISTIANITY AND CLASS DISTINCTIONS.

IBy REV. TOM SYKES.)

Why are there i la>s distinctions? How ai" they created and maintained? What i- tin , r ell'ci't upon the life of the coinii.iiiiiiV.' Wlun men and women begin !■• iiii.'ii ihcin-eives egoism sull'ers sore tiTiiju.itnni; Hardly anybody feels they ;iiT i-:vdiie..l with their real importance. K< r:.:.'i_' Hji appearances is a jigsaw [■■..vie which may he shulHed out of .-iiiipe by any rough hand. "Class disI'nitions" which have hitherto been made arc likely to get some Tougli h;.lulling, li is time they did. It is l lirir-tUiiiity that will do it. It knows ii thing of aristocrat and democrat, and i>roletariat, but of men everywhere worshipping the Father, and to worship Him they must serve each other. The recognition of class distincticin is all right provided the greatest is servant of all. It implies a complementary activity and wealthy variety of service. There is no sense in talking oi a dead level average. We cannot climb in the fen country! This race of man lias to climb. He will follow the leader and appreciate the pioneer. Anyone qualified to ze first is a boon and a blessing. The "bourgeois" with his comfortable banking account, and the proletarian with his defiant aggressiveness, must find new foundations. The emergence during recent years of a social conscience and a social consciousii"sa lias radically changed the meaning and value of life. There may be an antediluvian remnant who still "dearly love a lord," but it is a fading remnant. The snobbery which talks of "upper classes" and "lower classes" is pagan and must perish. The submissive orderin!,' of "life duly and reverently to my *ncial betters" is a provocative sham. I'lass superiority, based on pedigree and possessions, is frequently heartless and fundamentally unreal. The maintenance of these false distinctions often inflicts distorting iniquities, and so arouses resentment and rebellion. The acid test of Christianity for this generation is its readiness and competence to right the "wrong, and to establish a just and righteous order ot life. The acceptance of the fact that "we are members one of another" will bring forth the true distinctions. The first shall be last and the last first. It will begin with a change of temper and spirit. Kot what we have, but who we are will create place and influence. We shall believe "there is no wealth but life."' (Some of the noblest men and women have been born in poverty and reared in indigence. The crucible of deprivation and the challenge of harsh circumstance refined and put into circulation rich seams of strength. But for one who breaks "his birth's invidious bar" thousands remain cramped up and denied a chance. The waste of talent, due to the selfishness of society, is criminal. There is a lot of cheap talk about equality of opportunity. But the same opportunity does not mean equality for different people. AVhat is needed is equity of opportunity. The only distinctions in Christianity are distinctions of service. Class disappears in a fraternity of spirit. All ye are brethren!