A POPULAR MISCONCEPTION OF CHRISTIANITY.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2713, 22 June 1925, Page 5

A POPULAR MISCONCEPTION OF CHRISTIANITY.

“OTHER AVOKLDLINESS.” In tho course of a sermon at St. Andrew’s Church, yesterday, the Kev. G. T. Brown, M.A., said that Chrisianity had been charged with being so much, concerned with things of the other world as to be of not much value for the practical affairs of this life. But this was not true, said the speaker. The primary purpose of Christianity was to tit men for this world; to fit them to_ take their place among their fellows in Parliament, in workshops, in factories. Jesus Christ came down into the world not only to show heavenly love, but to show love in action botgecn man and man, and His teaching was intensely practical at every tfirn. The Bible showed men not only the way to heaven but how to be furnished completely to every good work. Christians were called to be not the light of heaven but the light of the world and the salt of 'the earth. They were not to shut themselves away from the world but to mingle with it and bring wholesome-nc-ss into all its affairs. The religion of Jesus Christ was so intensely practical, said the speaker, that if only half carried out it would bring auout something like heaven on earth. The world was not to be grasped and held for personal pleasure and aggrandisement. This would bo grasping at the shadow and losing the substance. Tho world was a means to a great end—tho formation of character and the development of tho soul of men. It was a kind of gymnasium or drillhall to prepare us in character and faith to fight a good fight. Tcmptanons arid difficulties and sorrows were to be expected. They were meant to nufen our moral fibres and strengthen our spiritual muscles. Then the world was a sphere for Christian service. Christ loved" the world and died for it, and His disciples were not to shut themselves away as it were from contamination but to seek every contact with the world not only for their own sukes but for the sake of the world. The charge against Christianity of “o.therworldlintss” was refuted in tho mani- I fest result of Christianity in the lives of men. Tho speaker enumerated 1 statesmen, presidents of the United States, philanthrophists, arniy generals reformers and social workers, t men at affairs and outstanding men of action, i all of whom had been men of developed Christian spirit. On the other! hand it had been said against Christianity, continued the speaker, that the idea of reward in the next life appealed to the cupidity of men and inclined them to acknowledge faith in it only for what they could get out of it. The speaker admitted that the idea of reward bulked largely in the teaching of the New Testament and Christ never apologised for that aspect of His teaching, but declared boldly that there was a reward." But the place of a reward in Christianity w r as not to entico men to be good Men would always, said the speaker, believe that a bird in tho hand was worth two in the bush, would elect to enjoy this world and take their chance for the future. We could not seek to entice men to heaven by rewards, but they were necessary to comfort men in sorrow and to inspire them when weary with battles ,of life. The idea of a reward in hbaven was necessary to explain the unfulfilled aipts of life. The hope of eternity did more thjan anything else to sweeten life here, to inspire effort,- to soothe weariness and to take the sting

from defeats. Life was inconceivable without a future. The speaker deplored the life of selfish worldlincss growing up among the people and the hations. To gain the world meant to lose one’s soul. If possessions were our aim wo lost character and lost our way, missed the true aim of life and lost the eternal love of Christ.