APATHY TO RELIGION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 217, 12 August 1940, Page 6

APATHY TO RELIGION.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR WAR. DUTY OF CHRISTIANS. The opinion that people in the British Empire were partly to blame for the war because they bad not practised Christianity as it should be practised was expressed by the Bishop of AVaikato (lit. Rev. C. A. Cherrington) in his sermon at All Saints’ Church last evening. “Wo hardly know what to say or how to pray because of this terrible catastrophe which has fallen on us,” said the Bishop. “It may be God’s will to preserve the British Empire in grace and favour, or it may have to be taught a lesson as punishment for its apostasy in the past and its widespread apathy to Christianity in the present. A great deal of the blame can bo laid at our own door because we have not been Christian enough. The Kingdom and Empire of Jesus Christ must not fail.” Bishop Cherrington pointed out that Germany was forsaking religion and persecuting the Jews, who had done much to preserve the greatness and holiness of God. Russia, once the handmaiden of the Church, with a long history of faith, had given up religioid To-day Christianity was in the discard. “It" behoves us, rising from our penitent knees, to do all we can here and now to preserve oux - Empire and the knowledge and love of God, so that it can be banded down, as we received it, unimpaired from those, godly benefactors of the past,” the Bishop added. Taking his text from the loth and succeeding verses of the first chapter of St. Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians, the Bishop referred to the faith, hope and confidence of tho Apostle during his sojourn in prison, after his six oi eight years’ strenuous work in spreading the gospel among many large centres between Jerusalem and Rome.

CHRISTIAN BELIEFS. As Christians, the Bishop proceeded, he would ask them what they believed in. Firstly, they should believe that God was the Ruler and Governor of the universe, of all countries and nations that have been and are. _ In the past He had rejected one nation and exalted another. They should believe that Jesus Christ as His Son Was the full and final Revealer of God. They should believe in the life to come. The world beyond the grave was the home of the sons and daughters of God. This life was merely preparation for it. Those who confessed their sins and were absolved knew real happiness. The moment we turned from sin God was waiting to receive us. To-day people cherished refinement in their homes and lives, but did they realise that all the finer virtues were due to Jesus Christ? Civilisation came from Christ. Our Christian civilisation was far from perfect, and millions of heathen were still living in fear, fear of evil spirits and baneful deities which only the spiritual freedom of Christianity could disperse. They must become one with Christ in will, thought and intention. “We must make Him the big tiling in our lives,” i concluded the preacher. “Wo must emphasise once again, the solemn truths enshrined in His blessed word. Christ made it possible for all to be redeemed and to this great task we must dedicate ourselves.”