PLEA FOR CHRISTIAN IDEALS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 85, 4 January 1941, Page 11

PLEA FOR CHRISTIAN IDEALS

Moderator’s Message PEOPLE TURNING BACK TO GOD "We come to the close of the year in a somewhat happier frame of mind than has been ours for some time past.” writes tiie Moderator of the Presbyterian General Assembly, Rev. G. 11. Jupp, in the “Outlook.” "The attacks on Norway, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, and the fall—wc will not use the word ‘defection’ —of France left us in a state of bewilderment. Even those who felt reassured as they summed up the difficulties which must be overcome before Great Britain could be ‘beaten to her knees,’ were unhappy as they considered our semi-prepared condition and the impossibility of an accurate estimate of the activities of the Fifth Columnists. If the Continental nations had been so seriously riddled with treachery which, as far as we can ascertain now, was almost quite unknown, what might be the position in our own Empire? “But slowly, surely, definitely we have all come to the realization of our safety. Paganism there is in our nation; but there is also a deep, living, intense experience of God’s love in Jesus Christ. Carelessness on the part of many professing Christians and Church members is only too rife; but there is a throbbing heart in the Church which beats in unison with God’s revealed will. Much there is to fear, lack of earnest endeavour to grasp fundamental truths, proneness to forget God’s great purpose of love and to doubt His Fatherly care; but as the months have passed we have seen that more people than we have known to be doing so are true to their belief in and love for and reliance upon God. Above all this, too, is the effect that our dark experiences are having on many, turning them back to God, making them think seriously, and calling to the aid of us all the resources which had been lying unused, almost forgotten. Let us thank God, and take courage. Lesson From Apostles. “The New Testament book which will appeal to numbers just now is The Acts of the Apostles. In its pages, we see how tremendous was the business in which those early Christians knew themselves to be engaged. “Go ye into all the world and make disciples of all the nations.” That command was taken literally. They proclaimed the ascended Christ and claimed for Him the whole of human life. Not a few people here and there, in Athens and Corinth and Rome, in villages and country districts, would satisfy them. That was not their command —‘of all nations, did not mean some ‘out of all nations.’ Every person of every nation was their aim. The kingdoms of this world were to become the Kingdoms of God and of His Christ. It did not occur to them to hesitate. With uplifted faces they delivered their message knowing that His Word spoken by them would be found to be the Word of power. That is still our privilege and our responsibility. We may have a difficult time. Remember that in the upper room at Pentecost there were 120 persons. They were charged with the work of revolutionizing one hundred and twenty millions—one to a million. A worth-while piece of work which is still ours! Let us thank God and take courage. Sense of Service Spreading. “The Church is not the same thing as the Kingdom of God. The Church It. the means: the Kingdom is the. end. That thought is spreading and it is bringing back to us the sense of service and of enterprise. We shall see mighty happenings when we all believe that we are enrolled under His banner to fight against the world, the flesh, and the devil. The Kingdom of God is the Kingdom of righteousness, of love, of harmony, of brotherhood—a greater thing than any Socialistic State. But we must show the nobler, truer faith of Christ’s Gospel that His Kingdom will come into the world and that the mission of the Church, and her prayer, too, is to establish it in the world. To be successful in this duty of winning the world to allegiance to Christ there must be unity in the Church. The world considers that we are unable to look at the big things. Our minds are filled with petty matters and we are unable to look steadily at the great things which should be everything to us. Our enemies are intensely subtle. They aim to nullify our witness and undermine our influence. Yet indiscreet action will hinder, and premature steps will lead to disaster. Great wisdom, great , patience, and, more than all, the gift of Charity are all needed. There can be no hurry, but there must be no procrastination. Tiie opportunity is with us now. Let us thank God and take courage.”