MENACE OF ATHEISM.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18641, 20 May 1932, Page 4

MENACE OF ATHEISM.

A STRONG INDICTMENT. CHALLENGE TO THE CHURCH. CAN IT MEET IT? A strong, indictment of the modern trend towards atheism was made by Rev. 11. G. Gilbert in an eloquent and forceful sermon delivered in St. Andrew's Church, Claudelands, recently. Mr Gilbert’s text was from Psahn 127, verse 1: “Except the Lord build tile house, they labour in vain that build it; excep tthe Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” Both Jewish and Christian religions, stated Mr Gilbert, were alike in their monotheistic faith—'that is, they both believed in one God and one God only. The truth of the text, which formed the foundation of these two religions, seemed like a finger-post pointing back to the opening verses of the story of Genesis, “In the beginning God,” and also turning one’s thoughts to the last book of the Bible, and to the words, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.” As Christian people we believed in a God; we believed in a personal God; we believed In a G’Od that lias revealed Himself for man’s salvation; we believed, as one has said, that God is the light of all our journeyings, and the goal of all our seeking. The Christian knew nolhing of a God who was far removed in glory somewhere and left this world to take its own course; but believed in a God who was near. On the other hand, the atheist claimed that there was no God, that Christianity was a myth, and Jesus a fiction or a fool. Atheism As It Meets Us To-day. In approaching this part of his subject, the speaker emphasised the fact that he was mentioning some matters, not because he took pleasure in so doing, but beoause of a burning conviction that concerning such things the Christian must not, dare not, keep silent.

Referring to atheism in England, Mr Gilbert quo-tec! an article appearing In the Times Literary Supplement, which stated that the English atheist , was of a quiet, non-aggressive type.;, lie might despise the believer in God, ■hut would make no special effort to disillusion him. The French attitude showed a great contrast. There, atheism, Instead of being of a quiet order, was defiant and aggressive, especially since 1793, when godlessness and unbelief took charge, and ruthless hands tore down the crucifix In Notre Dame Cathedral and placed a woman from the streets In the place of the sacred emblem. The Frenjchman is passionate in his disbelief—an ardent mislsonary for atheism, always warring on Christianity, and pointing to evolution as the world’s only hope. In Russia much the same condition prevails. Allegiance to the Orthodox Church has been thrown off and the country established as anti-Christian. While there was no necessary camnection between communism and atheism, in Russia they were united with disastrous results. ■ In 1931 the Society of Militant Atheists boasted a membership of 5,000,000, exclusive of young atheists (under 18). They complained that religion was part of the scheme to keep the poor man in subjection. And all the time it stood written, "Except the Lord build the house, they labour In vain that build It; except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh In vain." All the time It stood written, "The nation that will not serve Thee shall perish.” One wondered If history brought no lesson at all to those men. One after another the nations of the past had risen and fallen, because they were weighed In the balance and found wanting. This was not the first time the kingdoms of this world had been ranged against the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ. The Menaoe of Atheism In Our Empire’s Borders. Even near to our own borders atheism was oreeping In like waves of the sea upon the shore. And atheism was almost entirely subversive of religion and morality. There could be no religion where there was no God to worship. Unless we believed we were praying to a G'od who answered, we would not pray at all. Atheism said there was no God. The preacher contended that history proved over and over again that apart from God and His revelation there could be no worthy standard of morality, but that every man would be a law unto himself. Abundant evidence of this truth was to be found in a book he had recently read, which showed man’s state when he cut himself adrift from God, a book which stated that sin was only a name and marriage unessential. Allied with revolutionary socialism and communism, atheism was the deadliest enemy of loyalty, true patriotism and law and order. The duty of the Church of Jesus Christ and of the Christian preacher was to he unrelenting and to j proclaim with no uncertain voice the I truth for which Christianity stood. ( In our neighbouring country just ( across the sea the influences of atheism | and revolutionary socialism were j easily discernible. Quietly, but surely, 1 anti-Christian teaching was gaining a hold in Australia and within our

borders. In New Soirth Wales recently, in a Socialist Sunday School, children were taught to sing, "Onward, Christian soldiers, duty’s cause is plain, slay your Christian brothers or by them be slain.’* . . . Comparatively recently a May Day lesson in New Zealand was. summed up by a socialistic lecturer: “I would as soon pray for a weasel fi/s for a king.” Were there no indi'cations in recent happenings that that spirit was at work in our midst?- Mr Gilbert quoted extracts from a catechism taught m Communist Sunda;/ Schools in some parts of England ‘and not unknown in New Zealand, as follows: — “What is God?-—God is a word used to designate an imaginary being which people of themselves have devised.”

“Is it true that G'od has ever been revealed?—As there is no God he could not reveal himself.” “Who is Jesus Christ? —Jesus Christ was Hue son of a Jewish girl called Mary.” “Is he the son of God?—There is no God, therefore there can be no God’s son.”

“Is it true, that after Christ's death the apostles received the Holy Ghost? —lt is not. The apostles had Imbibed too freely «of wine, and their dizzy heads imagined all sorts of queer things.”

The tra;gio suicides of George Eastman Kodak anllvan Kreuger showed atheism Hi* be a breeder of pessimism and despair, and there was no necessity to ga overseas to find sad and tragic coflflrmation of that fact. The preacher emphasised the fact that he did not contend that an atheist could mjt be as clean-living as a Christian. However, the man who led riots and smashed windows could he a thoroughgoing atheist, but no man could do that in Christ’s name. And no man in the name of Jesus Christ could repeat some of the revolutionary statements to which he referred. Can Church Meet Challenge? Tor the question as to whether the Christian Church could keep silent regarding such matters there was but one answer. He would like to see a great crusade, great in the spirit of trua driving power; he would like to see, the churches forget for a while their miserable differences regarding uaessentials and pray that the world Je«sus died to save might be safe from the menace of atheism and sdn. 1900 years ago the devil had Christ in the Wilderness. Now the devil had us in the wilderness. Jesus triumphed then. How fare we? The message should be proclaimed from the pulpit, platform, street, and through the Press. Men and women of strong Christian faith must stand shoulder to shoulder that that prayer which rose in the darkness of approaching Gethsemane from God's own Son, “Father, I pray that they may be one, even as we are one,” might be answered. On the eve of Trafalgar, when Nelson called his captains togther he was told that two of them were not on speaking terms. The great admiral sent for them, grasped them by the hands, then, pointing to the French fleet, said, “There is the enemy; shake hands and he friends.” That was the spirit that was wanted to-day. The Church should drop unprofitable disputes and stand foursquare, by the right, for the right, and strike up the band, up with the flag, quick march, because the Church that thoroughly believed In Jesus Christ as God’s Son and man’s Saviour must prevail, for did not Christ say, “Upon this rock I will build My Church and the gates of hell, shall not prevail against it?” If Christians would only line up shoulder to shoulder and be true to their Lord the army of Christ would triumph and their song would be, “Uplifted are the gates of brass; the bars of Iron yield; behold the Kiug of Glory pass; the Cross hath won the field 1”