THE CHURCH AND PEACE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22505, 25 February 1935, Page 10

THE CHURCH AND PEACE

TO THE EDITOR Sir,-—The president of the Methodist Conference says . that the Christian Church is not bound to any economic theory. Quite right. That is just where the Christian Church went wrong ages since, with the result that our Empire is' now landed _into the economic position which it occupies. The text book or guide to the Christian Church is, or should be, the Bible, not just the New Testament as many teachers now preach. In the Bible God enumerated a complete set of economic laws for governance of ""the righteous nation," and Christ, during His earthly ministry, said that He came to fulfil (confirm) the law. Therefore,- it is positively certain that the Almighty intended His- model laws to continue. And when His laws are kept He promises abundant blessingß, not economic chaos. The Church all along has pandered to the wealthy, imagining its bread was buttered that side and it would not do to fall out with the rich men by upholding the Biblical laws, with the result now that the Babylonian system of gold has become the master of the world, instead of being its servant; and there is now no individual mind or group of human minds sufficiently clever to get us out of the chaos into which the church has landed us.

Peace and righteousness throughout the hations of the earth are a first essential to prosperity. , Does it look like peace with Russia just declaiming that her military strength is now increased hundreds per cent., and saying she is rea.dy for war? Italy bemoans a shortage of 2,000,000 potential soldiers with her decreased birthrate, and is already moving war material alongside Ethiopia —the old biblical name which' Abyssinia has readopted. France, armed to the neck, is blaming Britain for being the cause of the last war because she did not show her hand in July, 1914, and is leaning more and more on Russia for support. Germany,' smarting (in spite of Hitler's soft phrases) under the loss of her colonial empire, is determined to be ready to help anybody to overcome the ' perfidious" nation, that she may have a full share of the spoils. Turkey, Egypt, Ireland, and eo on. Does it loo'k like peace? Throughout the Brittanic countries one of those " unclean spirits like frogs" raves up and down trying'to persuade all and sundry to join in a no more war" movement, or, if you are genteel, to subscribe to a " Sherwood Eddy" creed. Why? So that the Christian England may be rendered impotent against the coming onslaught of antiChristian Rosh and all its confederates, and become an easy prey so that Jerusalem for ever may be a desolation and ,a derision, with Protestant Britain likewise, and the British henceforth slaves after all. That is their hope, and, remember, Mr Forbes warned us last week that what affects England must affect us. The stage for the fray is all set. Practically all is in readiness save Britain and the young lions. They are at the pictures instead of on their knees. They see not the need, because they are not told.

Why do not the Methodists be methodical and persuade the tmited churches of Dunedin to get their heads together and study the Scriptures on the subject of peace, so that they may learn the truth before it is too late?—l am, etc.. February 24. G. Steel.