"THE WIDER PASTURE"

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22825, 9 March 1936, Page 3

"THE WIDER PASTURE"

CHURCH AND THE PEOPLE APPALLING IGNORANCE OF YOUTH ADDRESS TO CONGREGATIONALISTS The need for the Church to keep pace with a changing world, the necessity for more youth work, and the desirability of enlarging the work of the Church generally were the principal points discussed in the presidential address delivered by Mr H. Sturge at the evening session of the fifty-third annual assembly of the Congregational Union of New Zealand on Saturday. In hie opening remarks Mr Sturge said that he had been led to choose as his subject that evening, "The Wider Pasture," which would be based upon that wordpicture painted by Jesus of the sheepfold. THE SEARCH FOR TRUTH. " The Congregational Church," continued Mr Sturge, " has always made it her boast that she seeks for the truth and is willing to accept light whenever or wherever it shines. Ever since our spiritual forbears sailed for America in the May-

flower we have been in the van of those who claim that 'the Lord hath more light and truth to break from His Holy Word. And it is not an empty boast to say that our pulpits have had at least their share in revealing the mind of God to man. There was a time, and not so long ago, when the Bible was the supreme authority upon every subject, whether religious or scientific. Our fathers would not accept any new discovery that did not square with the Word of God. "That intellectual giant, William Ewavt Gladstone, entered the lists to do battle against the heretical teachings ot science that threatened to overthrow Christianity, but few to-day have the audacity to attempt to prove science wrong by quoting texts. We attempt, rather, to make its findings magnify the Almighty, even if it does not always coincide with the Scriptures. The Christian Church is based upon truth, since it is based upon and rooted in Him who said: 'I am the Truth.' "If our church, or any church, refuses to see God outride her own particular little fold then she is doomed. It is my purpose to-night to attempt to remind you where more knowledge is to be found, or, in other words, sources of spiritual good. Even at the risk of being called blasphemous I do not think that the Bible contains all knowledge, neither has it a monopoly of such, nor can ' finis' be written to it. So long as men and women are dedicating their lives to the eerviee of Jesus Christ and pouring out their blood for the extension of His Kingdom, so long will the Acts of the Apostles remain an unfinished book, and while the Holy Spirit continues to speak to men, through whatever channel. He will continue to add pages to the Scriptures. WITHIN THE FOLD. "Whatever else Jesus intended to tench by the parable of the sheepf old, He shows very plainly that there is a clearlydefined line of demarcation separating those within from those outside the fold In the early church there was no disguising the fact that men and women were Christians. They were altogether different. The difference was as great as that distinguishing the present-day convert on the mission fields from his fellows. They were called upon to give up everything—home, family, social position, that they might find Christ—to become pariahs and outcasts to follow the Lord. Their mode of living was so different as to call attention to it. This is not so to-day. Living in a nominally Christian country there is little or nothing to distinguish us from ordinai-y decent citizens who make no claim to religion. Indeed, many of those outside put to shame those found within the church. This ought not to be, for followers of the Galilean should possess an extra something that should compel and fascinate, that should radiate the inner light. Though there is little or no apparent difference, there is, nevertheless, a tremendous difference. The Good Shepherd Himself says that they within the fold know Him and He knows them. There is the same relationship between Him and them as exists between Him and the Father. That is a truly staggering statement, meaning that there is a reciprocity of affection between them, that the two hearts beat as one. UNIVERSAL SOUL HUNGER. "It is amazing how and where men and women look for satisfaction. Not only the savage in the primeval forest making his offering to the spirit that resides at the crossroads or in a tree, nor the Indian as he sits in the blazing sun or on his bed of spikes, or makes a pilgrimage, nor the Chinese as he makes his offering to the spirits of his ancestor, but men and women of European culture and education are crying, 'Lord evermore give us this bread.' . . , " The scientist, with his hammer and chisel, his telescope or microscope, is seeking to wrest from Nature's bosom the secret of existence—the whence and whither of all things. Some have evolved a philosophy of life, but, unfortunately, it does not keep them safe when the winds of temptation blow and cables strain, neither does it suffice to keep their children strong and pure. The verv fact that men are again turning their thoughts to tlje religions of the East shows a restlessness and a soul hunger. How can they be satisfied there when the very peoples within tho :;e religions are unable to find the food for which their souls crave? They are held in bondage by spirits whose goodwill must bo purchased' and who on no account must be offended. " Granted that in men and women there is a hunger which the things of time and sense do not appease, why is it that our churches are not filled if we have what (hey need? For long enough we have been told that shortly there will be a great tr.rnijv to Christianity, but it is not yet apparent, although there are a few churches that are well attended. In the majority of cases there are far more empty seats than occupied, and it becomes increasingly difficult to get officers to fill responsible positions. We are being told that our faith is worn out and obsolete. Do you believe that? I do not for one moment, or I would not be here. "Thus far I have endeavoured to show that Jesus Christ can be found in every department of life and thought. Did He not say 'lf I be lifted up from the earth I will draw all men unto me?' That ' all turn ' means men and women of keen intellect as well as ordinary folk. So many of these people look with a pitying eye at the Carpenter of Nazareth, yet He is the One Who offers just what they need—offers wholeness of life. It is necessary to show to the ultra-educated that He can satisfy. The Student Christian Movement seems to be making a practical move in that direction. If Jesus Christ does not meet the demands of reason Ho does not do what He claims. He promised to give full or abundant life. Unless that takes in the whole being, including

the intellect, then He is misleading men. Unless this life reaches out, and embraces all that surrounds it, it is not a full life. That is a biological law. " Ordinary folk are not being drawn in, and yet under a seeming indifference there is a respect for our Lord and for the things He stands for. It requires a great national calamity, such as the death ol a well-beloved King, and they instinctively turn to Him. There is in man a latent instinct for worship and a yearning for the unseen and unseeable. Yet he does not attend the regular and ordinary means of grace. "If the Church generally does not satisfy what of Congregationalism? That is the thing that more immediately concerns us. It is for that we have met. We are not making the strides we should. Is it that we are unable to hand on to men that which they need? The wells of God are deep and inexhaustible, and His storehouse overflowing; but if our church is not being used for the feeding of hungry souls it is bight time wo had a search to discover causes. A CHANGING WORLD. "The world is changing, every generation sees things in a new light. What was advisable a few years ago is utterly futile to-day. To meet the present needs of men the church has to change too. Not that there can be any lowering of Christian standards, but the Gospel must be presented in a way to suit the times. For this purpose the best brains and most consecrated lives in the universal church 6hould be pooled. To me it seems high time that the evangelical churches sank their difference., and together met to discuss the best ways of meeting the needs of the masses. Petty denominational jealousies and misunderstandings are the greatest reason for the inefficiency of the church. "Men are intolerant of the weakness and inability of disorganised Christianity to right wrongs. There are moral reforms that a united church could bring into being. One of my dreams has been n church party in the Government of New Zealand —only an idle dream perhaps, but just as unlikely dreams have come true. A few years ago the Labour Party seemed to have no hope of holding the 'political reins, but there were men among them who dreiimed and have wakened to find the dream come true. You may say that you cannot compel unwilling souls into the Kingdom by legislation. No, but you can remove stumbling blocks that make it difficult for men to enter in. One of the stumbling blocks is tno appalling ignorance of young people about the Bible and the most elementary teachings of Christ. As long as the present education system obtains that ignorance must continue. It is impossible to teach very much in the time at the disposal of the Sunday school teacher even if the child is sent there. "But with all her faults and her disunion the church is still the 'salt of thn earth' sweetening society; it is still ' the leaven' working in the cause of righteousness and truth. During the depression, which happily seems to bo Hearing an end, the churches did more than (heir share in helping the needy. We have given and given without stint. Whenever help has been required an urgent appeal from the pulpit has met with a ready response, and our own funds have suffered in consequence. The churches are still in the forefront of social endeavour whatever the critic may say to the contrary. THE FIRST ESSENTIAL.

"The first essential of a strong independence is a simple dependence on God. That takes the fear of the unseen and the future from the soul, and so we face life with the certainty that ' nothing can separate us from the love of god.' So there comes a sweet peace and tranquillity that this world can neither give nor take away. There, dwelling in God's care, we forget what estrangement means as He becomes more intimate and more precious. He is yearning to become better known to us —far more anxious than we are to know Him. Helen Keller often wondered as a child what sort of people her parents were. Did they care for her and pity her in her blindness and eternal silence, did they love her. Meanwhile they were almost breaking their hearts to reveal themselves to her. As He reveals Himself to 113 we learn more and more to yield ourselves to Him. "So we come back to the old message that has fallen from the lips of countlees chairman of various churches. It is just that the success of the Congregational, or any other church, depends on the Christian character, or the Christlikeness, of its members. The only way to become like Him is to walk constantly in His company. Thanks be to God it is possible to do that for we follow One who died but lives for evermore. Other religious leaders are said to rule from their graves. But the cross did not put Him out of existence. He still lives in Christlike lives and all power is His. We know that because we have heard it so often, but if we could only grasp its significance, what n mighty force we should become. There would be no need continually to set forth the claims of the sheep of other folds. The London Missionary Society would receive a great impetus. No need to scheme and scrape for laek of funds to carry on our work in New Zealand. No more empty churches with broken-hearted ministers. A handful of dedicated people could become an irresistible force in moulding the character of this Dominion."