The Higher Service

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 68, 13 December 1939, Page 13

The Higher Service

Sir, —Many will feel thankful to you for your courageous leader on Saturday last on this topic, and to RevFather Kennedy, on whose remarks your article was based. It is said (and rightly) in many quarters that the present war is a struggle between right and might, between righteousness and evil, between freedom and oppression, between Godliness and paganism, but. I have not yet heard it put as clearly and faithfully as it was by Rev. Father Kennedy, that it is between faith and unbelief first and foremost, and then for those principles of liberty, justice, and charity which flow from it. “So,” he says, “it is the duty of all to serve the cause of Christ, King and Country.” This is finely put, and it gives the right emphasis. In this struggle—as in all struggles—Christ should come first, as the fight is not merely one of principles, but of persons, and those persons, Christ and His opponent, Anti-Christ. -

The nation is toeing called back to God, but any return to God must be through the Christ whom God sent tor this purpose. To ignore this is no real return to God; it is an act of stubborn rebellion against Him. The early preachers of Christianity made this plain when they appealed for “Repentance toward God, and Faith toward Jesus Christ.” And, in plain common sense, what use is repentance unless it is accompanied by faith in some power stronger than ourselves? I know that the personal aspect of religion is a stumbling block to many; it touches them much more nearly than a question of principles or ideologies, yet it is time to face issues squarely, and in this war God is speaking to all the people of the world, judging us and challenging us, and His challenge is centred in His Son. It is a question for every man—'Christ or Anti-Christ? The present cry should be not merely for a revival of religion, not even merely for a return to God, but for a return to repentance and faith in Christ. —I am, etc., F. C. LONG. Wellington, December 11.