CHRISTIAN REUNION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20898, 13 June 1931, Page 12

CHRISTIAN REUNION.

Sir, —I quite understand how Mr. Hugh McHaigh has been led to accuse me of lack of clarity of thought. The phrase "He (God) would have us to compose our differences without compromise of the truth, as He has revealed it to any of us," obviously needs supplementing by some such other words as "Or as He may reveal it to us as we continue humbly, penitently, and expectantly to surrender ourselves to be led by God the Holy Spirit into all the truth." Plainly there can be no advance toward reunion if we remain satisfied that God lias already revealed the truth fully, and in all its bearings to us as we now aro. The essence of the sin of the Pharisees was their satisfaction that they knew fully the mind of God. They were unteacliable, even by God Himself, Incarnate in Jesus Christ. The Roman Church, because it is so convinced that it has all the truth, stands in special need to beware that it does not fall into the trap into which the Pharisees landed themselves. If it fails to give full consideration to the difficulties of those outside the Roman obedience, who long for visible unity, it may conceivably be adopting an attitude of resistance toward the fuller understanding of the implications of the Catholic Faith, into which I feel sure that God the Holy Spirit is leading us at the present time. If Mr. McHaigh will read my letter again, he will sec that what I suggest is earnest prayer to God that He will Himself point the way, and show us how to compose our differences without compromising the truth as we have, any of us, been receptive enough to grasp it. Mr. McHaigh will, I am sure, not suggest that lie will mislead us. My-use of tho word "compromise" springs from my desiro both to reassure members of denominations, other than the Church to which I have the honour to belong, that they are not being asked by our bishops to abandon anything which may still seem to be God's truth to them, and to assure our own people that there is a. realisation, at least by men of sufficient learning and authority in our Church to carry weight, that we shall not, ourselves, willingly lend ourselves to compromise our own heritage of faith. All that is wanted is surrender, by all of us, to the Holy Spirit for His guidance. And I believe that, that guidance will come largely through people who have a real desire for Christian visible unity meeting together, informally, to explore, with earnest prayer, each other's beliefs. I write in no controversial spirit.. We need to abandon controversy, and substitute for it tlig humble placing before God our differences of belief and practice, with earnest prayer that He will show us the way out of our difficulties. Not even the Roman Church, if her leaders really share in the longing that there is in the Sacred Heart of Jesus, can dare to stand aloof, merely waiting i'or the submission of all Clnistians to her obedience. Tho Good Shepherd still seeks that which has gone astray, and that very tenderly and! with consummate patience and understanding. G. Gordon Bell.