SERVICE TO CHURCH

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20811, 23 May 1939, Page 10

SERVICE TO CHURCH

YOUTH’S ABILITY POSITIVE AIM NEEDED BISHOP OHFjRRINGTON’S SUMMARY Whether the Church could present to youth an appeal comparable to that oI the totalitarian leaders was the subject of discussion by study Croups of the Church of England Men's Society conference at New Plymouth. The findings, broadly summarised, were that the challenge must be positive and objective, that young people could be won to Christ and the Church by seeing others living lives of Christian charm and that, whereas the tendency had been to lower the demands of Christianity, religion should be aggressive and give youth a goal to reaeli in the church. The delegates were divided into five groups to discuss the question and each appointed a reporter to give its findings when the groups reassembled. The subject was then open for general discussion with a final summary by the Bishop of Waikato, the Rt. Rev C. A. Cherrington. It was necessary for youth to obtain a true vision of Christ, ran the findings of one group. Youth needed a positive, not a negative challenge, showing Christianity as an adventure. There was a tendency, suggested another group, to lower the standard of the demands of Christianity ralher than risk frightening people away. Totalitarian States appealed to the spirit of self-sacrifice and loyalty must be raised from allegiance to the State to allegiance to Christ. Historical Saviour The best challenge considered the third group, was the presentation of Jesus Christ as a real historical saviour who rose above race and colour and who was supernatural. The totalitarian system was coercive, the Christian religion should be voluntary. The need for the observance of Sunday as the Lord’s Day should hr stressed. “If every Christian man would live a Christian life fully,” concluded the group's finding, “that would be a sufficient challenge to the leaders of the totalitarian States.” The dedication of Sunday to God, even if it took the form of playing a golf match in a Christian spirit, would help to transform Sunday from what was becoming more or less a pagan festival, suggested the Bishop of Waiapu, the Rt. Rev. G. V. Gerard. “The apostles were all young men,” pointed out Dr. F. W. W. Dawson. “Religion is not an old man’s job, and It was a lot of young men who upset the old old Hebrews. Objective Christianity was to some “objectionable” Christianity, suggested another. Much lay in the way Christianity was presented to youtbCultlvatlon of Charm It seemed to him that what was necessary was the cultivation of the charm possessed by those who led a truly Christian life, said Bishop Cherrington. Young people had to have a leader. All Germans admired Herr Hitler, whatever other peoples thought of him, and the church had its chance in the same way. There were many ways in which young people could serve the Church. He suggested the distribution of parish magazines, a guild of new communicants with a monthly parade and continued instruction after conUrmation. A youth Sunday could be organised. In conclusion the bishop emphasised a point made in an earlier discussion by the groups, that good works could be performed only on the basis of the cultivation of a truly Christian life. Following that young people could be attracted back to the Church by the charm and example of good Christians leading happy lives.