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Otago Daily Times, Issue 18509, 21 March 1922, Page 6

THE BIBLE AND RELIGION. TO THE EDITOR. , Sib,— Your correspondents of late are yet a long way from producing any definite conclusion as regard® the matter of religion and the Bible. Whenever one correspondent states his views on any particular Scriptural quotation, another happens along, knocks the lege from under him, so to speak, and then proceeds to give us quite a different version of'the very same passage of Scripture altogether. This same old argument is world wide, and well-nigh threadbare. Some have summed up that the world is badly in need of a new Bible. Others have the idea that Christ is about to come and take all those away who are prepared for Him. These and a thousand other opinions arc voiced from far and wide, resuiting in nothing ©lee but chaos. Now, has not Christ explained the position clearly? But apparently He has had few listeners. When the scribe asked Christ the lioble question: “ What must Ido to have eternal life?” did not Christ answer him and simply say: Follow the Commandments. Now, take particular notice of that reply. Surely it means that it is the only possible way whereby we can over expect any material benefit. Yet not a soul in a million takes is into consideration. Look what it promises—eternal hfe and all that is associated with it, and none has made the least attempt at putting it into practice. It is the great golden rule that we must follow if we wish to become divine. Christ’s mission to this earth 2000 years ago was to provide us with the necessary means of abolishing our misery and death. There it is in the simple form of the golden rule. In olden time Ho begged of the people to listen to Him that thev might live forever youthful, but they would not. Her© we are still ■wrangling and tvondoring what is best and benefiting nothing. Scientists of to-day tell us that physical immortality is impossible. No doubt it is under these conditions. But what docs the greatest scientist of nil time say (St. John xiii, 51)? “ Verily, verily, I say unto you. If a man, keep my saying he shall never see death.’ It is well that the world believes that we are on the eve of some great event, yet that event will never take place until we are willing and agreeable to bring it into existence. It is to be that glorious event and beginning of Christ’s Kingdom which He so often referred to in His Gospel. It will be begun solely by those few who are willing to begin it and obey its principles—the golden rule. “Christ said, whereunto shall we liken the Kingdom of God? Or with what comparison shall we ccftnpare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is loss than all other seeds that bo in the earth: and when it is sown, it growetb up and bocomoth greater than all herbs and shooteth out great branches.” So it will bo noticed that this kingdom is to begin in a small way, and not on any gigantic scale, simply liecause the labourers ar© so few who are willing to begin reaping the great harvest. Nevertheless, it will be the greatest event in this world's history, because it will bo man’s first step towards making himself divine or physically immortal. Has not that same kingdom been longed for and sung of by all the prophets of the ages? Our only hope lies in the direction of that wondrous little kingdom, the home of health and happiness and love, where the heart may ooase its longing and the wearv will find reet. —I am. etc.. William Young. Oamam, March 20. [Tills correspondence has diverged greatly from the subject about which it originated. We cannot continue to provide space for a general discussion on the question of religious teaching.— Ed. O.D.T.J