CALL FOR COURAGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24803, 31 December 1941, Page 4

CALL FOR COURAGE

UNITED CHURCH MESSAGE FULL SERVICE' FROM ALL ’ - /. (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 30. The following New Year message has been issued on behalf of the Church of England, the Presbyterian Church, the Roman Catholic Church, the Methodist Conference, the Baptist Union, and the Congregational Union of New Zealand: — ’ As war always brings bereavement, distress of mind and sad and anxious hearts, we would direct our people to the good news which God has proclaimed to the world in Jesus Christ, in whom is the true source and secret of strength, courage and inward security. Christ has taught us that, a life worth living does not consist in self-preservation, but in willing self-sacnflce and the taking up of our cross. If we 'bear our own troubles in this spirit, God will enable us to share and lighten the burdens of others, and so, victorious over selfishness, to help in the fulfilment of His purpose of love for man., ; If the noble programme of brotherhood and fellowship outlined in the “Atlantic Charter ” is to be carried through, the future holds for us not days of ease and freedom from care but days of blood and sweat and tears. We must face the fact, but let us not be dismayed. God has not ceased to control the destinies of mankind, even if man has challenged. His authority. Our reply to that challenge must be given by living our lives in obedience to God’s will declared in Jesus Christ our Lord. Let us dedicate ourselves to the great cause of human deliverance for which bur Saviour laid down His life. Now that the struggle of war has spread to the Pacific we, the heads of Christian churches in New Zealand, call upon our people to brace themselves with courage and determination to meet the stern reality of all-in service. The forces of right must be enabled to triumph over the forces of evil. ’ We realise that those who have the richest spiritual equipment are best suited for this conflict and also to fight, endure ; and direct, the forces of righteousness after victory comes; therefore we earnestly urge ouir -fellow-citizens to msyke' this time of peril an opportunity for facing the spiritual issues involved and for definitely giving up: all which weakens their.-morale. Each man is either a spiritual asset or a spiritual debit to the" community. If we are to look to God for help in our struggle then we must seek to co-operate with Him in fulfilling his purpose rather than ask Him to co-operate with us. Campbell WMt-Wat*Mi,V : Archbishop of New Zealand. John Davie, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. Thomas O’Shea. Archbishop of Wellington, w. A. Burley, ' >• ' ■ President of the Methodist Conference of New. Zealand. . . H. T. Falla, President of the Baptist Union • '.of New Zealand.' ■' •• C. Csnnell Hoakfai, Chairman of the Coagrega- , tional Union of New Zealand.*;