OUR COMPETITION.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 26, Issue 7, 1 July 1935, Page 4

OUR COMPETITION.

Great interest was taken m our competition, and we have pleasure m printing the winner's criticism. His Lordship the Bishop, m making the award, said: "Miss Webb's is the best criticism of the article. The others are more m the nature of another essay upon the same subject." We congratulate Miss Webb on her effort, and have forwarded to her a copy of Fosdick's "The Secret of Victorious Living." "THE STEWARDSHIP OF MONEY." (By Miss A. M. Webb.) I have read the article m "The Waiapu Church Gazette" on "The Stewardship of Money" with great interest. It raises many points vital to all who are endeavouring to follow m the footsteps of our great example — Jesus. Christ — but it does not deal satisfactorily with those points, and m also somewhat illogical. First: While it is true that there are many businesses m which a Christian may not engage, I do not think that those enumerated m clauses (1) and (5) fall into that category. The Army and Navy are great means of creating and maintaining peace. The Navy is a great life saving institution. The protec-

tjon of the weak and the deliverance of the oppressed are Christian duties and force is sometimes needed to carry them out. Punishment is one of the duties of parents to their children, and is also a duty of the State. St. Peter speaks of Governors being sent by God "for the punishment of evil doers," and Christ Himself made a scourge of small cords to drive out those who profaned the Temple. But Mr. Burton is illogical, for, later m the article, he likens the Christian Church to an Army at war. He has already classed the Army as "demonstrably vicious" and the Church of Christ cannot be like vicious things. Second: If a business is so dishonest m its higher branches that a man "cannot accept promotion" m it, it is illogical for him to engage m that business m its lower branches, since he would still profit by the dishonesty of others. Lastly: Mr. Burton suggests that a man should first provide for his.necessities, and even for his amusements (although he certainly recommends economy) before he devotes any part of his income to the work of Christ and His Church. This is quite contrary to the command of Christ — "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God .... and all these things shall be added."