“CHURCH AND THE WORLD”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 308, 29 December 1937, Page 6

“CHURCH AND THE WORLD”

BIBLE CLASS CONFERENCE PURPOSES OUTLINED MESSAGE 1 ROM PRESIDENT “We all know the importance of purpose in life. The life of a nation is determined by the purpose which it pursues. If these purposes are pagan then the whole life of the nation will be paganised. This is what is happening in some countries to-day and, to some extent in our own land,” declared the Rev. J. D. Salmond, M.A., when replying to a public welcome to the delegates to the Presbyterian Summer Bible Class Conference in the Opera House last evening. “The purpose of our conference can best be summed up by the title of our study book ‘The Church and the World To-day,”’ said the speaker. “Now what is true in the life of a nation is true in the life of individuals; our lives are made or marreu by the purpose we pursue. If self is the ideal pursued, then the inevitable result is a starved soul. If the gaze is away from self to some great purpose outside of one’s self then the outcome is entirely different. "In this conference we are assembled to achieve a definite purpose, and that purpose can well be achieved if we co-operate wholeheartedly in its pursuit. If we are to appreciate the great theme of the conference we must have a perspcc* live of the past, vision in the present and faith in the future.”

Dealing with perspective in the past, the speaker said that every Christian who knew something ul the history of the church could never despair. Nineteen centuries ago the Christian church came into being. The gospel brought hope and deliverance to a dying world; a world that was in the grip of despair and fear. Later, when the Roman Empire fell, it was the church that survived and conserved what was worthwhile of that great civilisation. When the Middle Ages came to an end it was the Reformation, the great religious awakening, that revitalised the life of Europe. In the 18th century, when England had sunk deep into the slough of materialism and lethargy, it was the gospel ■ preached by Wesley that changed the face of England. The gospel had been the power of God unto salvation in dark and troublesome times.

Recently, said the Rev. J. D. Salmond, a great conference had been held at Oxford, when great issues were frankly and fearlessly discussed. Important results would emerge; the church was not dead. If one looked around the world to-day one could see lands where the church was in eclipse, were Christians were being persecuted because of their loyalty to Christ. But to-day the church was world-wide; to-day the church was the defender of the faith and freedom. “We need more of the vision of Bishop Selwyn, who regarded New ealand as a strategic position for the spread of the Christian faith throughout the islands and lands of the Pacific,” said the speaker. “Paganism still stalks abroad in our land. Drinking has greatly increased,” said the speaker, when dealing with faith in the future. “The only power that could save New Zealand is the power ot God working through a living church. A living church is invincible, but a church from which His spirit has departed is already dead. A church that is living must be a believing church. The gospel of the New Testament rings with a note of joyous certainty. It is not a problem to be solved but a solution of every problem. To-day we must hold fast to those spiritual realities which never change—God, man, sin, salvation in Christ. Tc-day we must stand firm in those great moral principles of truth, honesty, justice, purity, which are the fruit of our faith.”

A living church must be a witnessing church. The enthusiasm which grew from deep conviction was essential; the propagandist spirit was required. When a church ceased to be misionary in its work it died because mission work was its very life blood. A living church must be a sanctified church. If the church was to live it must be a sanctified church and a sanctified movement. In the Christian faith there could be no neutrals; every Christian must be a crusaden, Christians should be willing to sacrifice themselves in the name of Jesus Christ and the extension of His Kingdom.

Those who wished to be Christians should first of all sit down and count the cost, for it was no easy business. Christian men and women in several countries were suffering for their belief and the day might yet come when those in our lands would have to face up to a definite challenge. Christ was not offering an easy and pleasant time but He did promise a victory to those who could endure to the end and were faithful even unto death. “Let us keep in mind all the time the serious siclt of our conference, as we are living in serious times, ’ said the speaker. “Let us keep in mind that we have a responsibility to the church and God let us seek to extend God’s Kingdom among the young people.”