Public Opinion

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 163, 13 July 1933, Page 4

Public Opinion

“THE WAY OF GOD" Sir, —My attention has been directec to a sermon, by the Ven. Archdeacon Young, which appeared in your issue of the 4th inst., entitled “The Way of God—A Road to Success.” I would ask: Does the teaching of God’s Word, or human experience, lead us to understand that “The Way of God” for Man is that of “success” in this life? I thought that wag the way of the psychologist. Under the old Mosaic law, when the race was in its childhood state, success was promised to those who kept God’s commandments, but in this more mature dispensation, when men walk by faith, this is not so. Rather are we told: ‘‘ If any man will live Godly in Christ Jesus,” i.e., never losing sight of the offense of the Cross, “he shall suffer persecution. ” Has this not been the case with “The Captain of our Salvation” and with all who have really understood and sought to walk “in this way ” Considering the very great importance of the subject brought before us, with your permission, I would respectfully take issue with a few of the archdeacon ’s statements with a view to Hilding out “if these things are so” in the light of the only Authority recognised by all true believers in God's Revelation. Firstly, the preacher tells us that God says: “This is the way to solve your problem. He shows us but will not interfere and leaves a» at mat.” The Apostle Paul tells us that God has given us His Son, Christ Jesus, to be unto us our wisdom etc., i.e., that when His Spirit truly possesses a man, that man has the wisdom of Christ and acts accordingly. This is surely a more gracious way of God than merely showing us a way —and the preacher does not tell us what that way is—and then leave us to follow it as best we can. Christ is not a mere “way shower.” He is the way Himself. It it not because “most of us are seeking a way of living” merely, which the preacher defines for us as “Christianity,” rather than to be possessed of the Spirit of Christ Himself, that we never get very far and never reach satisfaction? God certainly did give us an example through a human personality of the life He would have us live, this satisfying life, but He certainly did not “leave it even at that,” for He has sent down the Spirit of His Sou into the sanctified heart to be the very motive power to work in. that life both to will and

to do His will. It is life that we all need, life from above. And since that .ife is only in His bon, it is very evident that our greatest need is that self-same Spirit. That “Spirit which never fails. ” And that Spirit can only come into the heart which believes that Jesus, as God Himself Incarnate, dice unto sin for us sinning men, and rose again with the power of God to send down His Spirit into our hearts. That is the point of Paul's prayer with which the reverend gentleman closes his address. If we will but have faith, as above, then Christ really will dwell in our hearts and all the rest mentioned in that prayer will follow. In conclusion, there are three points upon which I feel 1 must take further issue, with all deference to the preacher, be cause of their great importance. The first is that “Man is essentially a spiritual being.’’ He may be essentially a religious being, for all men have the instinct to worship something, but the Scriptures tell us that men are essentially natural and that they can only become spiritual when Christ, who is life, enters the heart. Second: The statement that “Christ was the man in the street of His Day.” Surely it was “the man in the street” which He came to seek and to save. He identified Himself with that man when He took upon Himself his sin, that He might die for him and thus bring to him His own transcendent spiritual life. And lastly: I doubt very much if “the world is immensely interested in watching anyone who will ‘try out' the following of Christ.” Lt is written that “the preaching of the Cross is foolishness unto the world." 1 think that the experience of most who have “tried out” the following of Christ, whether by mere human effort, or in the strength of the Indwelling Christ has been cither that they have met with contemptuous indifference or the persecution which Paul tells us is the certain lot of “any man who will live Godly in Christ Jesus.” Thanking you, sir, I am, etc., “CIVIS.” Wanganui, July 11.