TIME OF PROBLEMS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 40, 17 February 1939, Page 7

TIME OF PROBLEMS

A CALL TO ACTION

THE CHURCH & THE PEOPLE

"We are living in an 'age of disillusionment, bewilderment, and dread," said the Rev. Angus Mcßean, president of the New Zealand Methodist Church, in his inaugural address at the annual conference of the Church, now in session at Christchurch. "In the year just past, the heart of humanity almost stood still with horror, confronted as it was with the awful' fear that the monstrous dogs of war were once more to be unleashed upon a troubled and afflicted world. And a cry of thanksgiving, universal, and almost too deep and poignant for words, went up to the Almighty, because forsooth the sword-clenched hand of an arrogant Dictator was held in check, and he was allowed to take without resistance what he had resolved to seize by force and the horrors of war. We must pay tribute to Mr. Neville Chamberlain for the initiative, courage, and determination he showed in his pursuit of the way of peace—or at least the avoidance of war. But this is the world in which we live today—a world in which the nations were so recently.on the brink of the abyss of war. It is a troubled world and a world full of rapid changes. But if the Church is really alive it need fear no change which the future may bring. No power on earth can destroy a Church made up of people whose religion is real. But a Church which is only an outward shell, containing none of the great forces which produce the finest things in the world, will go down before the blasts of persecution and the onward sweep of godlessness in high places like a jerry-built palace before a hurricane."

"How shall the Church meet the challenge of the times?" asked the president. There is need for a positive faith, and an experience that is deep, satisfying, and triumphant. Too often, in place of this we see little but perplexities and problems. . . . People outside the churches today have problems enough of their own. There is little use in asking them to come and share ours. We must have something better to give them. And we shall not get far with them by saying something like this: Look at us; we don't get drunk, we don't swear, and we don't buy tickets in art unions or sweeps.. That simply doesn't impress them at all. For it is not what we don't do that matters much; it is what we are that counts. Are we more generous, more dependable, more unselfish, easier to live with and work with, is the natural tendency to selfishness, greed, : self-seeking being overcome; does our presence on a committee add sweetness arid graciousness to it? How is it that year after year passes without any change in the personnel of many congregations by the winning of an outsider?

"We need more Christians in the Church today. But a greater need still is the, need for Christians of a better quality. ' We need a renewal of the thought that the Church is the Lord's army, and that He is leading it onward in a mighty and triumphant campaign. We have been too full of fear. We have been satisfied to assume the defensive, in the-'fight, and that Isa poor defence. The fine example of Marshal Foch at the Marne is worthy of remembrance. He reported from the field: 'My right is turned, my left is threatened!' Would he therefore fall back? Listen: 'I propose to attack at the centre with all my force.' That has always been good strategy in the spiritual warfare through, the ages. The Church is an army—it may well be a mighty army, an army on the march, and agoing forward to victory. The objective is set before us in our hymns and in our prayers; yet many lose sight of it. 'Thy will be done!' It is a call to action: it is more than that, •it is the Divine programme for mankind. 'Your old men shall dream dreams,' said the prophet. But they will not be dreams of the long dead past, 'the good old days.' For these men, whose eyes have been opened to the glory of God and His Kingdom, the Golden Age lies in-the future, they dream of great days' yet to be. But those who think the best is gone, and who face the future without hope and without courage, these are already old, though their years may not number more than twenty-five or thirty. Armed with a dream! Let those laugh who will, but believe me, this is the one impenetrable armour in the world. No enemy can ever break a people who are armed with a dream worthy to be believed."