Bible-In-Schools

Northern Advocate, 30 December 1937, Page 3

Bible-In-Schools

(To the Editor)./

Sir,—Mr H. J. Hayward says his critics desire to impose upon our schools their own particular brand of religion. So tar as I. as one of his critics, am concerned, he is wrong. As a matter of fact, I agree with all lie says about the 141 so-called Christian religions of New Zealand, orthodox or otherwise. History reveals that they have always endeavoured to do the impossible—to serve both God and Mammon, to hold on to Christ with one hand and the world with the other, each claiming that theirs was the best and only true church; obviously because each placed their own private interpretation upon the Word of God ( instead of simply believing what was written. Undoubtedly, it is this proud and patriotic spirit, which is not of God but carefully fostered by the leaders of all the kingdoms of men, that is at the root of all the troubles of the world today. The par-

sons fight for the particular kingdom they hope to go to hereafter (.whilst net forgetting the good things of the present), and the masses are taught to fight for the particular kingdom they belong to now. Mr Hayward shows a little, of that spirit in saying: “We possess the best and happiest country on earth.” In my former letter, I simply pleaded for belief and instruction in the old Bible, just as it is written, not for belief in any man’s dogmatic interpretation of it. As an example to show hew few are willing to believe and obej r 'the Scriptures in this simple waV, I quoted Proverbs 31. in which it is shown that God does not require tb pass laws to take av/ay.temptation from our "children, and that even wine (described as a “mocker”) has its uses, but He requires us to bring up our children to learn to resist temptations, that they may develop characters acceptable, to Him—characters which, if possessed by all, would immediately put the wlible world right. Where can such instruction be found better than in oUr discredited Bible? If our chil- •, dren are not taught to read it either at home or in school, they are at the mei’cy of these “141 fighting sects.” who perhaps capture them later on. generally by appealing to their natural social instincts, teaching them to use “carnal weapons” in direct dis-

obedience to Christ’s commands, that ' they may be imbued with that proud and patriotic spirit which is leading all the world to destruction, and hastening the day when Christ will return, according to His promise, to set

up; His kingdom upon the ruins of the ; kingdoms of men (Dan 2: 44). that at %-i .las^.G.Qd's.wiH.-■.v_may-.be done on earth || as it in heaven."—l am, etc., - <'"'V ' A. P. FISHER.