BIBLES FOR BOMBS

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21051, 1 March 1940, Page 5

BIBLES FOR BOMBS

We have heard much of some as- i toundingly effective weapon the war i might produce, comments the Chris- 1 dan Science Monitor. Now come dispatches which indicate that Finland may have launched it; the Finns 1 are assailing Russia with the Book. Bibles in the Russian language are finding their way into the Soviet Union and Finnish bombers are re- j ported to have dropped New Testa- 1 ments on Leningrad. The Finns de- • clare Bibles are better than leaflets. , far superior to bombs. They can find support for their * view in history. Religion has always . been a revolutionary force. Consider Christianity’s effects, its work . in Rome, through the Reformation, 1 . the Puritan Revolution in England, j and the setting up of the American ' Republic, down to today’s struggle— I of which Finland’s is the clearest : phase—between godless totalitarian- ‘ J ism and concepts which in some j: measure recognise the real man as j i God-endowed and capable of self- \ > government. When Wycliffe, Luther ; 1 and Tyndale, Gutenberg and Caxton, • made it possible for millions to read ; J the Bible they released a combustible j i force no totalitarian counter-revolu- j < tion can suppress. ] 1 Consider what some things the J Russians may read in the Scriptures ; i would do to a regime which rests on 1 1 hate, intolerance, cruelty, aggression I <

ind worship of the State. Of direct ipplication to the attack on Finland s a certain story of David and Goliith. The Tenth Commandment has i word about not coveting a neigh)our’s land. Then there are the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the peacenakers” for one. And other sayngs of Jesus and His disciples: “Love me another . . .” “Now are we he sons of God.” This last alone will free all who inderstand it from the false beliefs ibout themselves which make war md misgovernment possible.