CRUCIAL PROBLEM

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20310, 27 July 1940, Page 12

CRUCIAL PROBLEM

MODERN CIVILISATION AIM OF LIFE SPIRITUAL VALUES The life of each one of us is divided into two factors—the means by which we live, and the ends for which we live —and nothing enters much more deeply into determining the quality of a man or an era than the handling of these two factors. Everywhere, when we compare ourselves with previous generations with reference to our means for living, we are supreme, but whenever we turn our attention to the ends for which we live, a different picture presents itself. “Improved means to an unimproved end”—how much of our modern life is summarised in that shrewd phrase of Thoreau! Ever since James Watt made his steam-engine and the era of scientific inventiveness got well under way. we have been absorbing ourselves in the creation, accumulation, elaboration and multiplication of the means of living. But that second matter cannot longer be kept in the background. It is the crux of the situation to-day. Unless we re-establish the spiritual ends of living in personal character and social justice, our civilisation will ruin itself with the misuse of its own instruments. And just as soon as we begin thinking about the spiritual ends of life we are thinking of religion. Essence of Humanity Why is it, indeed, that in this last generation so many people have supposed that they could get on without religion? It is because this last generation has been absorbed in the provision of more means by which tc live, and that is not religion’s realm. It is the realm of science. It is not the function of science to provide the ends for which we live. That is man’s philosophy of life, his spiritual ideas, his religion. What is a generation profited if it gains the whole world of means by which to live, and loses its soul, tlie spiritual ends for which to live? Our generation as a whole may belong on the means of living, but short on happiness, for we are not dogs tc be satisfied when a few bones are flung to us. though they may be automobiles and subways, electric lights and aeroplanes. There is something else in us that makes the very essence of our humanity: we have to live for something. The deepest hell that some of us could ever fall into would be to have everything to live with, and nothing to live for. Statisticians have estimated that a century ago the average man had 72 wants, of which 16 were regarded as necessities; but to-day the average man has 484 wants, 94 of which are regarded as necessities, and that whereas a century. ago 200 articles were urged upon the average man by salesmanship, now 32,000 articles are urged upon us. The means by which we live is the underpinning of existence. but it is not the secret of happiness. That is a matter of finding something worth whiie to live for. “What Profit If We Lose Our Soul?” This generation cannot escape the question of our Lord. We may make money and become rich, multiply our means of pleasure, grow wild, tear self-control from the throne and put license there, but from the gates of the dawn there comes another generation to assess us with discerning eyes. Wha' ornfit if we lose our soul? If a genuine revival ol spiritual EL should really come, what could we not do with this world? . . . With the mot’ amazing world contacts on record w make world wars. The trouble is nc with our means; it is with our endsand there is no cure for that difficult; except the revival of genuine Christianity. with effective intellect tc make it work. This is the conclusion of the matter. Those who are sayin.; that Jesus is done for, that He is going, not coming, that He is a first-century Palestinian and out-grown, will face the surprise of their lives, if they live long enough to see it.—Adapted from a sermon by Dr. H. E. Fosdick, and supplied by the Gisborne Ministers' Association.