THE PALESTINE MASSACRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20363, 18 September 1929, Page 14

THE PALESTINE MASSACRE.

Sir, —Mr. O. E. Burton says the theory of God's "international determinism" is un-Christian, but from some aspects so was the treatment, of Job, or the driving into the sea of the people's pigs at Gadarene, even the doctrine of redemption is repellanl and un-Christian to some modern ininds. The truth is, we need to take a very wide range to come at the truth in these matters. Ib is little aid to an inquiry to dismiss one group of Bible students as unscholarly because they are not orthodox. Whether "international determinism" is Christian or not is not the question, but whether it is true or not true. If found true by the Bible, it is wholesome to be believed. The Bible plainly affirms it and history verifies it. God said,. "Israel shall be a peculiar people unto me," and unto Abraham He promised "in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed" and "unto his seed would he give the land of Canaan." Israel was chosen, disciplined by 40 years' wandering in the wilderness, enlightened, instructed, that they might bo a "holy nation," communicating to the world the knowledge of God. These are early instances of "international determinism" and the Book of Exodus and history is the grand confirmation of the same. Other instances are the destruction of the Babylonian Empire that was predicted in terms that have been exactly fulfilled. The Assyrian Empire was an instrument used for the chastisement of Israel but woo was predicted for. that people by whom the punishment was wrought. And does not the history of the British race over blundering into conquest, security and wealth predicate an "international determinism" on the part of the Lord God of Israel for a chosen nation. Jesus said to the Jews: "The Kingdom of God shall be taken away from you and shall bo given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." Who and where is that nation but us ? If there is a whole wealth of circumstantial evidence which leads to the belief that the British race is the lost ten trihes of Israel and such a belief is in harmony with Scripture, and is not repugnant to a Holy Catholic Church, then why spurn it ? Now 1 would ask Mr. Burton which is the more honouring to God—to believe that He is working according to plan to end the conflict between Christian righteousness and the world, the flesh and the devil, or to suppose the battle will go on for ever? Moreover, is it not possible that, the fulfilment of prophecy is a predestined way of convincing, mankind that the Lord God of Israel is God indeed. 1 It. is hardly conceivable'that, there can be a Kingdom of God upon earth with Christendom divided into Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Protestant, but. suppose a turn in the world's affairs convinced man that, the Bible is true and the priest a deceiver, would not all men turn to the faith and practice of the primitive Apostolic Church and thus God's will be done upon earth as it is in heaven ? G. C. Stevenson.