Church Work and Life

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 655, 6 May 1929, Page 14

Church Work and Life

MESSAGES FROM THE PULPITS

INFLUENCE OF THE BIBLE

VALUE IN NATION’S LIFE PLEA FOR RESTORATION Bible Sunday was observed in P.tt Street Methodist Church yesterday. At the mornina service the preacher was the Rev. W. Walker who preached on “The Value of the Bible/’ He said the Bible had permeated literature, inspired much of the world's best music, helped in the formulation of laws and brought into existence the nation's free institutions. "No matter to what realm of life and thought we turn —art, science, literature, music, politics, poetry or religion —we find the ennobling influence of the Bible/’ said the speaker. ‘ The Bible Is a universal book. It is not only a book for all time, but a book for all people. “Other books can flourish only within certain geographical limits, but in whatever part of the world man has been discovered, and in whatever state of civilisation or barbarism he may be, the Bible makes Its appeal to heart and to conscience. ‘ The one thing which distinguishes the Bible from any other book is that it speaks to the inner life and brings the reader face to face with God. Moreover, the Bible has been behind most of the reforms which have made for the true progress of the race. Many of the greatest writers and social reformers have been men and women who were great students of the Bible.” Reference was made to the work of John Bunyan, John Milton, Abraham Lincoln, John Bright and W. E. Gladstone, all of whom confessed to the influence of the Bible in their lives. The preacher made a strong plea that this best of all books should be restored to its rightful place in the educational system. "Wherever an effort had been made to obtain the will of parents, there had been an overwhelming majority in favour. Dr. Dawson. Professor of Education, Otago University, had expressed his Win conviction that the Bible in State schools would aid discipline, vitalise the conscience and impart a note of seriousness to the tone of the school. It would restore an element without which manhood could not grow to its full stature.

EAST AND THE WEST

dUEEw VICTORIA’S BIBLE SECRET OF BRITAIN’S POWER Preaching at the Avondale Methodist Church last evening, the Rev. C. B. Jordan commented on a recent statement of the new Archbishop of York, who had drawn attention to a popular fallacy regarding the difference between eastern and western nations. The main difference was not due to the respective characteristics, said Mr. Jordan. It was mainly the same as the difference between Israel and heathen nations in ancient days. Religion and righteousness were coupled together in western nations, and righteousness was considered the principal business of life by the leading men in those nations. The western nations had received this characteristic from ancient Israel; Israel had got it from Moses and the prophets, and these latter in their turn had received it through the method of Divine revelation. Hence the real contrast was not between east and west, but between the countries where the Bible had a strong influence and the countries where its influence was weak or negligible. The speaker cited examples to show that roughly the nations of the world could be ranged upward or downward, according to the place the Bible did or did not occupy in their national life. He referred to an incident in the life of the late Queen Victoria, who, in reply to an inquiry from a heathen ruler as to the source of Britain’s greatness, sent him a Bible. Tho main distinguishing feature of the New- Testament religion was the “love” philosophy. Even the western world was somewhat slow in taking this seriously, for even the civilisation of Britain was based more on Moses than on Christ. All the same insofar as real Christianity or the “love” philosophy had been tried, it had proved a success in building up the life of nations, communities and individuals, and also in promoting peace.

‘THE VAIN SEARCH”

SERMON IN THEATRE TRUE GOAL OF LIFE Over a hundred people had to be turned away from the Strand Theatre last evening when the Rev. L. C. Horwoor, assistant Methodist Missioner in Auckland, spoke on the subject of the “Vain Search.’* Mr. Harwood said it was necessary for everyone of this day and generation to be sure that he was putting first things first. Not one of the things which engaged the wholehearted attention of the youth of to-day, such as money, excitement, speed, love of pleasure, could ever take its rightful place except that the Lord of all youth was given a place above them all. “The danger is,” said the preacher, “that, amidst all the manifold activities and interests of an unfolding life, manhood and womanhood find that the secret of life eludes them still and they have grasped nothing which abides steady and constant. Our need is to seek first and foremost the Kingdom of God, which is the reign of beauty, goodness, truth and love among men. Our primary object must be its full establishment upon earth. “If that object be the guiding purpose of our lives, then all else falls into its rightful place. Life finds an object and a goal, and those who must join the nation of to-morrow and govern the nation and the world, are upon the only possible way that can lead to international and industrial peace and a solution of the many problems of our day. Christ's way of life alone can satisfy every side of our nature and bring us to the full possession of our own soul, which possession is the first thing necessary for a contented, useful life in the world. The building of God’s Kingdom,” said the preacher, “lies in our hands and if we fail Him it means more long years of heartache and misery, distress and war for those who follow us.” The preacher concluded with an appeal to all to think about the claims of the Man of Nazareth.

“LAMP TO THE FEET”

POWER OF SCRIPTURES “MODERNISM A TRAITOR” Speaking at Kohimarama Presbytern^ Church last evening, Mr. Reuben L. Dowll took for his text, “Thy Word is a lamp to my feet and a light unto my path,” and dealt with “Footlights Ancient and Modern.” During the last decade archaeology has contributed much to the truth and power of the Bible.” said the speaker. “All have read of the numerous tablets found at Tel el Amarna. The ancient records found in the earliest portions of the Scriptures relating to the Hitites are now admitted by sceptics to be genuine. Some time back Dr. Kyle deciphered a number of tablets which referred to foot-lamps. He realised at once that these tablets referred to the tiny lamps so often dug up in Eastern countries. It was seen that these footlamps were suited to fasten on to one’s toe, and to be strapped round the foot. “There can be no doubt that these foot-lamps were used by David to .show the use and power of the Word of God. “Therefore, we to-day, must stress the efficacy of the Scriptures. It is indeed a lamp to our feet and light to our path. It is a lamp of exceeding brightness, and will, if we are honest with ourselves guide us through moral darkness. “The necessity of the Bible should be clear to every candid inquirer. It is not reasonable to suppose than an all-wise Creator would so highly endow man with spiritual and intellectual powers and fail to provide for his most deep-seated aspirations. That desire of the human heart and mind may be fully satisfied in ‘The Light of the World/ David, in the 119th Psalm, alludes to this fact, when alluding to ‘laws, statutes, commandments, precepts and the lamp of God’s Word.’ Such a book as the Bible should be treasured and diligently propogated. “The natural state of human beings has been fully stated by St. Paul. In Romans he states the ancients changed the truth of God into lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, and that they would not retain God in their v knowledge. They loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. They wero ‘given up to vile affections/ The history of the past abundantly proves that superstition, idolatary and various forms of scepticism were the direct products of departure from the lamp of eternal truth. Myths of all kinds flourish when the lamp of truth is put on one side. On the other hand the righteousness that exalts a nation flourished when the lamp of truth has burned brightly. “Modernism as we have it to-day is, therefore a traitor to the individual and the State. The Light of the World is Jesus, is a logical and correct statement. Science falsely so-called must be put on one side and the lamp of Divine truth will bless and uplift the race,”

ERADICATING WAR

MR. DONALD GRANT FOR VIENNA WORLD FELLOWSHIP For the past three and a-half years general secretary of the Student Christian Movement in New Zealand, Mr. Donald Grant is to leave the Dominion shortly for Vienna to take up the position of general secretary of the International Fellowship of Reconciliation. He is at present in Auckland, and on Saturday evening was the guest and speaker at a well attended meeting representative of all the local branches of the Student Christian Movement. The chairman of the district council, Mr. J. W. Shaw, M.A., presented Mr. Grant with a New Zealand rug as a token of Auckland’s appreciation of his work for the Student Christian Movement in New Zealand. The International Fellowship was initiated durnig the war years in Great Britain by a section of the community who felt that war was antiChristian, as well as obsolete and ineffective. The fellowship stands for the direct application of Christian Principles and the expression of the Christian attitude in social and international life. The fellowship seeks to diminish, and even eradicate, the root causes of war. Mr. Grant expects to sail from Wellington on May 23 by the Port Campbell. and before taking up his duties at Vienna in August, will attend an international conference of the International Fellowship of Reconciliation in Paris,