THE OXFORD GROUP MOVEMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23321, 13 October 1937, Page 17

THE OXFORD GROUP MOVEMENT

TO THE EDITOR Sir, —I desire to thank those whose letters and pamphlets I have received through your courtesy. Will they please accept this acknowledgment as it is quite impossible for me to answer personally? If they have read carefully the letters on the above subject which were published in Fridays paper, signed by “Veritas Vincit,” and the Rev. P. B. Fraser respectively, they will know why I am not in sympathy with the Oxford Group movement. I endorse all these two letters contain. “ Poor Parson ” has read my letters carelessly. I never said that the change in the condition of a lady who was referred to was a physical one. for her trying affliction was not removed; but your correspondent’s last letter implies that I did say so. The change was certainly a moral change I still maintain that so-called “ Christian Science ” is only Buddhism under another name, for I have good authority for my assertion. Further on in his letter your correspondent says that Dr Major’s opinion of the Group Movement is entirely irrelevant, as is the question also whether “Poor Parson” agrees or not with Dr Major. I disagree with “Poor Parson” because the opinion of Dr Major, the modernist, has a great deal to do with the matter under discussion: it applies to it very decidedly! What your correspondent affirms brings out the weakness of the position of this movement. According to “Poor Parson.” it is of no consequence whatever that the heart of the Bible is entirely cut out by the operation of the leaders of the Groupers! And nobody must be allowed to say anything about it or to cast any doubts on Dr Buchman and his helpers! We know there are true Christians in this movement, but the movement as a whole is not Christian. “Poor Parson ” will not say whether he is on the side of the modernists or not. He does like us to think he is on both sides, so we can picture him astride the fence.” He believes that “discretion is the better part of valour." Your correspondent admits that “the movement has no doctrinal ‘ Confession of Faith.’ It . . is a fellowship

within the Church.” How is it possible for people who hold all kinds of different beliefs, or no beliefs at all. to have fellowship together? “Can two walk together except they be agreed? ” Christians are warned to “be no more children, tossed to and fro and carried about with everv wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men. and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” Modernist ministers ofte:\ speak with two voices 'and generally face both ways. As many of them are in the movement. It is. therefore, both deceitful and underhand! Two distinct groups are forming in nearly every church to-day—those who are getting ready to meet Christ in the air and those who are getting ready to be deceived by the anti-Christ on earth,

The Oxford Group people profess to believe in God. but they ignore Christ, for the most part, and almost all that He said. Our Saviour foretells the coming of the anti-Christ in these words: “ I am come in My Father’s Name, and ve receive Me not: if another shall come in his pwn name, him ye will receive." Christ affirmed that “ if a man love Me, he will keep My words. ." He has told us a great deal about His second coming and the end of this present age. but what have groupers to say about it? Here are most of the references in the Gospels on the subject: Matthew xiu 37-50: xxiv: xxv Mark xiii; Luke xn. 35-48, xiii. 25-30, xvii. 23-36. xix, 12-27 xxi. 24-36: John xiv. 1-3, xxi. 21-23. Surely the following passage describes conditions as they exist to-day: “And there shall be signs in the sun. and in the moon, and in the stars: and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity: the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads: for your redemption draweth nigh.”—l am. c*r Maran-atha. [This correspondence is closed. —Ed. O.D.T.J