THE CHURCH AND POLITICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22826, 10 March 1936, Page 4

THE CHURCH AND POLITICS

TO THE EDITOR gji^—Your correspondent “ Alaran-atha ” makes several quotations from the New Testament to show why the Church should not have anythin'? to do with politics. His reference to the first church council is naive. What does he suppose would have been the result had this small body of men of low social etatus dared to in-

terfere with the doings of the great and mighty Emperor of their day or have tendered him advice about how he could rule his dominions more justly and m keeping with the teaching of their Master? I venture to say it would have been disastrous for them and the early Church had they attempted any such thing. In this year of grace 1936 things have altered. We are citizens of a nation that is at least nominally Christian. Therefore we should recognise the teaching of Jesus Christ as our guide, not only to the means to eternal happiness in the hereafter, but also our guide in all phases of our life here. The Church has now grown until it includes almost the whole of the population within its fold. Similarly, modern conditions allow all those who have reached man’s estate to take part in polities. I would very much like “Maran-atha” to point out why, since we are all in the Church, and also all in politics, we should keep church and politics apart. Our Lord when here in the flesh not only spoke of what we had to do to be saved, but also of the Kingdom of God which was to be set up in this world some time in the future. Now, since this Kingdom is to be set up in this world, it cannot be of a wholly spiritual character; it must bo of flesh and blood; and it. is the Church’s duty to teach all things pertaining to this Kingdom as much as it is to preach the Gospel of individual salvation. The fact that the preaching of the true nature of this Kingdom is being largely neglected has, I think, much to do with the spiritual poverty that exists in the world to-day. There is a far too great tendency in pres-ent-day preaching to divide things spiritual and things material into two watertight compartments and keep them there, with the result that we have one religion for Sunday and another for the rest of the week. God is interested in our every action and in all spheres of our life from the time we are born until we go to the grave, and it is the Church s bounden duty to teach us in all these in order that we may conduct ourselves in a manner pleasing to Him. In writing thus I do not wish it to be interred that I think that the churches should urge the support of any particular political party. They should confine themselves to broad general principles. Should any politcal party adopt a platform which conforms to the Church’s teaching more power to it! Communism does not seem to be a pet theory with “Maran-atha,” but in quoting the doings of the first Church Council in support of his argument ho has neglected to say that the early Church practised Communism. I wish he would define his attitude towards Communism more clearly.—l am, etc,, F. R. Hall. Mosgiel, March 8.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —The timely remarks of your correspondent “ Maran-atha ” should be considered by the clergy in general. The modern trend of ecclesiastical instruction is now beginning to bear fruit, but bad fruit. The organised societies masquerading under the name of Christian churches are endeavouring by frantic human effort to conceal the awful spiritual death which has enveloped them. to keep a semblance of movement all sorts of attractions are being prepared. I o some there is attraction in the clnldisii game of dressing up, to others appeals the pleasant and comforting practice of philosophising away the requirements of the Christ. To get money there is the duplex envelope system, the bazaar with its so humanly attractive display, and, yes, exciting raffle. There is the railing against Sunday trains Unit ‘lake the people away from the churches, but there is silence about the Sunday trams carrying worshippers past their own churches to the big and fashionable city churches. There is the complete silence us to the voluntary desire for common worship which will arise if the power of the indwelling Spirit of God is taught and sought. Now, the modern cleric is out of touch with God and is a failure in his own sphere, and is going to put things right by human effort. He is now evolving into a politician. But what other result can be expected when the ultra-modern exponents of the Christian faith teach that God’s 'method of teaching us of Himself is bj' collecting together a pack of lies _ and fables, and that the mind of Christ is so mysterious and abstruse that the simple man could not possibly understand it? Were the clerical epidermis not so tough and thick, or had the clerical mind not fallen away by over-indulgence in feminine conversation and afternoon tea. the causes of the congregational paralysis would not fail to bo apparent to the meanest intellect A revolt is coming in the organised churches ns the people realise that payment to the clergy has resulted in mammon worship and the erection of

golden calves, and that the God whom the simple man is seeking is being obscured by ceremonial priestcraft and a smoke screen of platitudinous verbiage. The parson had better get back to the “ simplicity which is in Christ.” For there is shortly coming a reckoning which will not be restricted to the outward appearance. “ Will tliere_ be faith on the eajttli?" To the man in the street the answer seems to be “ Not if the parsons can help it.”— l am, etc.. W. Ward. Dunedin, March 6.