Church ‘Morally Inadequate’

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31123, 28 July 1966, Page 18

Church ‘Morally Inadequate’

“The moral inadequacy of the Christian church; its inability to influence society to act on international and human issues, its function as an ambulance rather than a researcher on social problems; and the failure to develop a New Zealand church because of the colonial attitude of “Mother knows best,” were discussed by Dr. W. B. Sutch in the opening address of the National Council of Churches two-day consultation on “Confessing the Faith In New Zealand.”

Many he had asked saw the function of the church as “presiding at births, deaths, and marriages,” Dr. Sutch said.

To have influence in society today, the church had to have the widest psychological, philosophical and sociological knowledge so that it could stand up to university departments. The factor which distinguished Christianity from other religions was the doc-

trine of love and its role was to teach people how to love. The church, however, was being permeated by the values of the Western world. They were the values of the market place and laid emphasis on profit rather than people. Perhaps the epitomy of present values was James Bond, Dr. Sutch said. The church did nothing about domination of some by others and freedom of thought. It was all very well making pronouncements and statements but action was required. Clergymen were avoiding their responsibilities for social protest, said Dr. Sutch. It was hard to step out and make a statement but this was the clergy’s responsibility. At

the moment the clergy was riding on society. Also, in the matter of social problems at home, the clergy was riding on society rather than leading it. As with international affairs, it was time that the churches’ view was felt by the whole of society. Instead of acting as ambulancemen in the case of the alcoholic and the problems of Maoris and Islanders, the churches should be thinking hard and leading research. The churches should know more about society than laymen did. “Do you know if the age benefit is adequate for human dignity?” Dr. Sutch asked, giving a typical question the church should examine.

The church should also closely examine all types of delinquency, regional development and town planning. Discussing the “ambulance at the bottom of the cliff” job undertaken by the churches in dealing with those in trouble, Dr. Sutch asked: “What is it which produces these people who need the ambulance?” Such a question should be closely examined by the churches through sociological research. Calling for a deeper study of theology by the clergy and more adequate teaching of the laity, Dr. Sutch said there was a need for “radical theology” to get to the root of the meaning of Christianity. He did not want to do away with the Bible but there was need to recognise that it was expressed in thought forms which belonged to the age in which it was written. The practise of love was a delicate and difficult matter. “If I preach love, then I must love my brother in Vietnam. I am then doing my job as a Christian here.” Love required a tremendous concentration, an objectivity and detachment, the application of reason and trust in others. The job of the church was to bring out the potential for love in people from the time of childhood.