EARLY CHRISTIAN COMMUNISM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23516, 2 June 1938, Page 9

EARLY CHRISTIAN COMMUNISM

TO THE EDITOB Sir, —Mr G. Herring says In his letter in to-day’s paper that "the ideas of Communism and Christianity are misleading to those who do not think for themselves." Does he know anything at all about Communism as practised in Russia for the last twenty years and more? What does he think about the Communist flag with the hammer and sickle and the clenched fist raiser) to heaven in defiance of God? Does he know that though the Communists in Russia call each other “comrade” one minute, they are quite ready to stab each other to death the next? Does he know that they hate the Bible and all Christians and all that is good and true and pure and holy? “What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel 7 ” Your correspondent says that “Communism is not grab and plunder" Whereabouts in all the world is Communism not grab and plunder? Mr Herring continues; “His (Christ's' teaching is on the side of the oppressed and against the oppressor.” That is quite true, but then there are no people so terribly oppressed anywhere as in Russia. The Communist rulers in Moscow are the worst kind of cruel slave drivers; they mightly oppress all the poor people in their vast dominions. Even the lives of their favourites are never safe from day to day. What about all the killings that take place in that country year after year? Your correspondent seems to think that if only this Communism could be yoked in with Christianity, Christianity would improve it. He is certainly most optimistic. • Would he yoke a wolf and a lamb together? People who really think for themselves will come to the conclusion that the fate of the little lamb would be disastrous in such circumstances. Mr Herring further says that “ Christianity in its early form knew no class distinction.” What saith the Scripture? “ Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and His doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort. If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is poud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil, surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brough* nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” (I Timothy vi. 1-8.) See also Ephesians vi, 5-9; Colossians iii, 22-25; Colossians iv, 1; and the Epistle of Paul to Philemon. —I am, etc., , Maran-atha. [Subject to the right of reply by “Anti-competition,” this correspondence is closed.—Ed. O.D.T.J