THE CHALLENGE OF THE GOSPEL

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24582, 2 June 1945, Page 5

THE CHALLENGE OF THE GOSPEL

A Portrait of Jesus. By Sherwood Eddy. Allen and Unwin. 231 pp. There Is a Tide. By Mervyn Stockwood. Allen and Unwin. 101 pp. ■ The Good Samaritan. By Max Huber. Gollancz. 77 pp. Dr. Eddy’s “twentieth century interpretation of Christ” is based on the assertion that “spiritual certainty is not in the historic; it is in the realm of faith and experience,” Hence his study of the four Gospels, the nature and reliability of which is examined in an appendix, attaches less weight to their factual record than to their convincing substance as a “drama of salvation.” This attitude he supports by reference to St. Paul, who without contributing first-hand historical evidence, “realised all that Christ came to give” and communicated what he realised—the answer, now as then, to man’s “first and final problem.” “There always have been wars, there always will be wars. You cannot change human nature.” Here, Mr Stockwood says, “we are confronted by the terrific challenge of the Gospel, which asserts that such a statement is a lie, for human nature can be changed and man is capable of living as a child of God.” The interest of his book is raised, but by no means depends on, the circumstances in which he was prompted to compose the 11 lectures or sermons on it, Mr Stockwood, in “Horizon," urged political,.thinkers of the Left to look again at the Christian Faith as the basis of a new order. Sir Stafford Cripps’s daughter asked him for' “a reasoned presentation”- of his Christian belief. Left or Right, many readers will agree that, seeing it as the task of their generation to “bridge the gulf between a Church which is half-awake and a people .who have almost lost their spiritual vision,” £e has reasoned with stirring force. Professor Huber, an international lawyer, has during the war served as President of the International Red Cross. An introduction by Adblf Keller gives an admirable first-hand description of the work done at Geneva and of Huber’s leadership—and more than that, of the principles and the ideals he pursues in it. This is truly an introduction; for Huber’s reflections, which follow, on the nature of the International Red Cross and the demands of its service—“an indefatigable will to do the works of Charity,” fulfilling the message of Christ—are focused and illuminated by it.