“THE WITNEŚ OF THE CHURCH”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21358, 11 June 1931, Page 7

“THE WITNEŚ OF THE CHURCH”

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — If “ Unbeliever ” will add the word “ things ” to my sentence, making it to ' read— Unbeliever is just another whose gropings after truth have been confined too much to the secular, without sufficient regard to spiritual things,” he should understand iny meaning—if he can grasp the significance of spirituality in the human life as a result of faith in omv Lord as the Redeemer of man to God. Only by believing, in the power of Christ to transform human lives according to the measure of that faith in Him can we. I believe truly experience spirituality. To me ft is common sense to believe in the teachings of Christ, because balanced judgment shows no other way .to a closer relationship with God, which is of vital importance if we are to live our lives to their fullest value.. That is why I sign myself “ Commonsense Believer.” Yet, common sense is just sound practical judgment, and so we find that ability to judge Christian values is restricted to the measure of insight into the purpose of God, which faith’in Christ as the divine teacher has given us. Hence my “ common sense ’ is not wholly satisfied because the insight I possess is bounded by my faith and by my human ability. ■ “Things that men highly value will be remembered,”' ; said Richard" Baxter. “ They will be matter of their freest and sweetest thoughts. Do not those then make light of Christ and salvation that think of them so seldom and coldly in comparison of other things? Follow thy own heart, man, and observe what it daily runneth after; and then judge whether it make not r light of Christ.” Christian witnesses down through the centuries —and to-day—have been more, much more, than “ witnesses of the inhereut goodness of human nature,” as “ Unbeliever ” would have them to be; they are witnesses of the inherent goodness of God, which is exemplified in the doctrines of Christianity. And if the state of consciousness we term human nature has goodness, whence did it come?* Could it be other than from God, the source of it; and could there ever •be a better example of goodness than Christ, His bon? Modern science, understood with a finely balanced sense of judgment, will still leave us anchored in Christian faith. “Unbeliever” must not accept, for instance, “ the glib jargon of the newer psyohological theories as a final account of rcligious facts,” as Professor Collie puts it; and apropos of this, he should consult Dr William Brown, psychologist. I shall encroach no more on your space in this , matter, Sir, but as a parting "ift to “ Unbeliever ” I would ask you to post him at my cost, and with my good wishes, a copy of the Outlook of June 8, containing a verbatijn report of Professor Collie’s address which I heartily commend to those of your readers who may observe this correspondence. —I am, etc., “ COiIMONSENSE BELIEVER.