THE PRESIDENT'S SYNOD ADDRESS

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 29, Issue 8, 1 November 1938, Page 3

THE PRESIDENT'S SYNOD ADDRESS

Brethren of the Clergy and Laity: In welcoming you to the second session of the 27th Synod of the Diocese, I wish at the outset to say that I propose to cut my address into two parts. Here, I propose to speak to you on one of the primary needs of the world, and later m the Synod Hall, on more domestic affairs. One of the words being bandied about to-day is the .word "crisis." It ;& flung at us "by our leaders, taken lip by.,ihe Eress, and is often heard on the lips of average folk; so the

word seems to suggest we have no sense of security. We have Lord Cecil saying "This is not a crisis m civilisation— it is the crisis." We have Mr Anthony Eden saying: ''It is utterly futile to believe that we are involved m a European crisis — we are involved m a crisis of humanity the world over." Then we get the phrase so often heard "the present crisis m religion." As regards this last phrase, no one m his senses doubts a crisis exists, but it is used as being > a misfortune for our time, something that ought not to exist, and that religion will never come to its own:.un£il the crisis has passed away, and -"the tyranny be over passed."; What 'we forget is that this is not something new or modern or up-to-date* t^ofessor Jacks has pointed out that the only ages m the past when a crisis m religion did riot exist, were the spiritually dead ages, and that wherever the spirit of God has breathed upon the souls of men, the .effect has been to awaken the sense' of a great crisis. That is not the penalty but the reward of having any religion that is worth the* name. When, -this .fact comes home to us as m||viduals, let us thank God who hath patched us for this hour.. ; Vw- ; ;- ';;:£ One thing then we want to-day is a clear and certain diagnosis— for we cannot even begin a cure till we are certain what the complaint is. Here it is:— jpr. Headlam has lately said that "the most essential thing for the world to-day is a real and sincere belief m God." The root of our difficulties at present, lies m the fact that the majority of people do not believe really and vitally m God. They may not deny His existence, but their belief is vain and shadowy. When, then, we talk about a crisis m religion, let us be clear what we mean by religion;- Amid the many definitions of it, I think we are wise m sticking to the New Testam^ntr definition. Here religion isi knowing God. So a man's religion is his relation with the unseen power who conceived, created and controls the universe. Religion is that which binds us to God. .■;.■■' A wise man once^ said J'where there jjgjjQ vision lilcipeopfe will perish" — so where there is no vis-

BISHOPS OF THE PROVINCE OF NEW ZEALAND who attended the consecration of the new Bishop of Waiapu m Napier, on Friday, October 28. In front (left to right) : Rt. Rev. C. A. Cherrington (Bishop of Waikato), Rt. Rev. G. V. Gerard (Bishop of Waiapu), Most Rev. A. W. Averill (Primate of New Zealand and Bishop of Auckland), Rt. Rev. C. W. West-Watson (Bishop of Christchurch),Rt. Rev. W. A. Fitchett (Dunedin). Back Row (left to right): Rt. Rev. F. A. Bennett (Bishop of Aotearoa), Rt. Rev. H. St. Barbe Holland (Bishop of Wellington), Rt f Rev. T. H. Sprott (retired Bishop of Wellington), Rt. Rev. W. G. Milliard (Bishop of Nelson).

ion of God, religion dies or becomes atrophied. If religion is knowing God then it is evident that several things that go under that . name must be counted out. 1. Religion is not worship — m the narrow sense of the word it is not Church-going. Some who go to Church may have no more real religion than some who stay away. We always have to allow for the Pharisee, and he is with us to-day. Here let me add that real religion will always want to express itself m worship. A religious man will always feel the need of corporate as well as private prayer. But religion itself is something deeper and finer than this outward expression. 2. Religion is not morality — it is something more than living a good life. There are always and always will be good men out of Church. Many admit that Christ's teaching is the best platform of morality ever laid down. To say, as one did to me, that religion has overgrown its borders, its borders being the Church, is no doubt true. Nature lias its wild flowers as well as those grown m our gardens. Still, it needs saying that morality and a code of ethics is not enough, for there are many moral people who, from their neck up, are spiritually dead. True religion will, of course, affect character — that goes without saying — for a man's religion must be judged by his daily life, but the thing itself lies behind the visible effects on character. It's religion that pulls the trigger and fires the shot that makes real character. . 3. Real religion is not just social service. Let it be admitted that Social service is m the air to-day. It has caught on as few other things have done. Attention is being given, to social justice, a .. . reasonable standard of life and comfort, and the prosperity of all men. Communism and other secular philosophies have pounced on this as the necessity of the age and the only way of life that can capture the most ardent spirits. It all proves that men cannot long get on without religion. Our humanitarianism, philanthropy, and welfare work are efforts to fill the void left' by the decay of faithdrab substitutes for an older faith. The spirit of man craves for a friendly God and we give him eco-

nomics. He asks for immortality and we say be content, here is beer and bacon. So miracles, once the province of the Church will now be performed by the State. Don't think I am decrying humanity, kindness and philanthropy. These are not new things discovered yesterday. No one wants a religion that hasn't a troubled conscience. And the love of our neighbour and the improvement of our social conditions are bound up with Christianity. But, it seems childish to think that all the griefs of the world have their origin m economics. OUr world planners have great designs for filling empty stomachs— but there's a more intricate problem still — how to satisfy empty hearts. Love God — that is the first commandment — then will spring the power to enable us to love our neighbour as ourselves. To swing dur thoughts back — 'religion is knowing God — and once we know Him, then worship, morality, social service, should spring up naturally m personal and public life. Dr. Headlam, I think, is right: the most essential thing for the world to-day is a real and sincere belief m God. Anyone then, who tries to gather up the threads of present trends will find religion is being challenged. That's a good thing for us. It saves us going to sleep; but it will also, I think, lead us to fresh ventures of faith, of understanding and action. The challenge comes to us double-barrelled — one is theoretical, the other is practical. It's the latter I want to speak about. Apart from individual theories, the centre of attack lies m this question — Why doesn't Christianity show better results? Most men admit that Christ's ideals are the best for every man and that the world would be a better place if they were followed. Many, however, leave the whole thing alone, because they say the Christianity preached by the Church does not come up to sample. Christianity is good m theory but too hard to live up to. So we get the Archbishop of Canterbury's revealing phrase— "Religion attracts — the Church repels." Let us briefly look at it. The Church is often condemned for not doing what it never proposes doing. The Church's business is to teach religion — not a morality. It

believes that the facts of Revelation, —of Sin, Redemption and Grace are the only grounds for inspiration — either for Christian living or morality. If the Church ceased to teach these doctrines it would cease to be a Church— moreover, it has never claimed to .make all men good — but to know the way of life that leads to goodness. So, I believe m the end it does matter what a man believes. The Church's faults. Having said that, let us admit the Church has faults to confess and repent of. Those of us who are associated with the Church cannot ignore these faults, so it's well on the principle of the cobbler sticking to his last, to cite some of these faults— especially of the Church we belong ; to—the. Church of England. Let us name a: few briefly, without enlarging on them. (1) It has failed to develop a great sense of devotion. In Clergy and. Laity it seems satisfied to produce a morality and character that turns out decent citizens. (2) It has failed to produce a real fellowship. No one will claim that a real fellowship is found m our Churches. Probably our party division and our social snobbery are to. blame for this. (3) It has failed to keep abreast with the conscience of the age and: the urgent social needs of the day—; to a large extent it has ignored those things that deface life m the world.Most social reformers to-day have drawn their inspiration from other sources than the Church. ■ > (4) It has failed to. get its centralmessage across to what we call, the man m the street. Our scholars pour; out their lectures, or preachers broadcast their services — but all this effort — our teaching and preaching, has not harnessed creed to conduct and to meet the problems men meet m daily life. 1." Whilst admitting such faults I think it's only fair to say there's another side to the picture. First, Christians themselves are imperfect people and have never claimed to be anything else. Our Lord's warning about the wheat arid the tares, St. Paul's admission that the Christian" treasure is contained m earthern vessels, amounts to : this—Our "Lord has only imperfect members through whom He can work.

2. The Christian Church is engaged m the greatest experiment ever tried m human fellowship — that is the experiment of inviting all men to pursue the highest spiritual aims, and because of that, its influence has done more for the world than any other organisation. Though it has sometimes been cowardly and unwise, it has left its mark. Our secularist friends may say the advance has come from education, but m saying that they forget that education developed under the Church's mantle, and that many of our social reformers were Christians. It has been producing saints m common life, keeping the world m mind of divine facts, and by the ceaseless round of prayer and sacrament it has kept the channel open between God and Man. 3. To this credit side of the Church other facts must be borne m mind. The Press, which a generation ago ignored religion — now publishes religious articles. The most recent and effective organ of publicity — the 8.8.C. and other stations, devotes attention to religious broadcasts. Finally, there is the fact that religion plays its part m the public life of our nation. If it's Armistice Day, the death of a King, or the Coronation of his successor, men expect some form of religious service. Our duty th6n, as a Diocesan Synod is to recognise all the facts of the situation — and the words quoted by Dr. Headlam sum up the facts: "The root of our difficulties lies m the fact the majority of people do not believe really and vitally m God." A young Churchman m a broadcast talk expressed it by saying "the Church I want is one that quite simply puts God first." The position to-day reminds one of the young couple, busily engaged m papering the attic not knowing that downstairs a disastrous fire threatened their home. Men to-day are not anti-religious, but the smouldering fires of agnosticism are at work. This should indicate the task for leaders of Christian thought and I would here remind the Laity this is part of their task, as well as the Clergy. Secularism is throwing out its challenge— let us accept it. The world has been trying it and to disestablish the spiritual. Now ask, are the results satisfactory? Are

our moderns with their new morality making a success of life? Is the picture of human welfare and happiness given us m a modern novel, exhilarating and attractive? With all our so-called progressive ideas is the present condition of the world so good; that it can afford to point the finger of scorn at religion? No. The Church may be a disappointment to God, but it's still His steward without which we cannot get real world betterment. To that end let us try to understand, teach, and practise this religion better, because it is the only medicine that can make us whole.