RELIGION AND THE WAR

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 33, Issue 6, 1 August 1942, Page 6

RELIGION AND THE WAR

(By the Rev. Wm. G. M. Heerdegen, 8.A., Rector of Millthorpe, N.S.W.) - There is a war being fought. Nations are locked m the grip of death/Millions of men are facing death. Even civilian populations are far from being immune. Women, children and crippled are just as likely to be killed as soldiers m the front line. . „ Surely, then, this must be a time of stock-taking. What does our religion mean to us? Gone are ,-the days when people went about their work and their sport, not worrying or caring about, the Great Eternity. To-day,, death is not a grim spectre to be avoided until old age and senile decay have enfeebled our bodies and minds.. Death is an everpresent possibility. x „■■,••, "This was written m New Zealand, a land further from" the scenes of war than any other country, sp.^of course, the civilian is, at present,, reasonably safe. But the New Zealander has relations and friends,- in Britain, and his sons are serving m all the forces of the We all have to face up to the realities of life. There are bound to be casualties iind deaths. But imagine the news of "a death coming to a non-Christian home. There would be a sense of total and complete loss— just death without .hope. But the knowledge of a death to a Christian is a far different thing. There is, oi course, the sense of loss. We would not be human if we did not feel that . But as soon as tears cease to fall, there is: the comforting knowledge of the greater life beyond the grave. * - . Who would exchange this wonderful Christian hope for any atheistic hypothesis or rationalist supposition? We know there is a life beyond the, All the atheists m the world have not been able to give us one atom ' of proof that life ceases at death. It s not that we have allowed a blind faith to take possession of our reason. We have read the word of God. We have accepted its authority. We are convinced that what is written m God's Book is* true. We know that Christ triumphed over the grave arid rose from the death on that glorious Easter morning. It is not imagination. Our faith is built upon knowledge, documentary evidence. - We know that just as Christ rose,, so will we rise from the, dead. This life is merely a testing-ground for the greater life that is to come. If this life is the end of aU life, why do men do deeds of heroism, arid sacrifiice all that they have for an ideal. Is it a blind impulse or foolishness .or vanity or what? It' is because we., all have within, ourselves a divine spark. Our characters are being put to the test. Atheists are a people without a God. Christians are a people for whom God is their hope. Even m their . darkest hours, when human comfort has failed and when life has seemed m vain, God is still the knowing Father. There is no victory m the grave. The grave was not strong enough to hold the body of Christ, even though an armed guard was set-to watch. For us, death holds no fear. Wonder -and curiosity— yes! But no. fear.

One would imagine that war -time would be the best time fo test 'our religion, but really, the opposite is the case. In war-time, when events happen so quickly, veryon'e becomes more religious — many because of fear. But m peace-time, there is not the same fear. Everyone lives a normal, life. This is when a person's religion is really put to the test. Why? Because religion is an everyday and lifetime affair. If our religion is strong enough "to carry us through life it will stand up to the worst knocks. '„:..' • ~ ■. Is your faith strong .• ;, If you are not sure, try it out; Try to imagine. that someone you love very dearly has been killed. Are you going ..to curse God for allowing so muchwickedness m the world? Are you going to swear • that you will never enter a Church again as long as you live? Are you going to blame God for killing your loved one? Or are you willing to admit that wars are man-made and not God-made? That God hates war as much as you do? That we have to obey the laws of God before we can ever hope for a just peace? That your loved one has preceded you from the House of Flesh, through the Door of the Grave, to the. Greater Life beyond? That is your faith! % In war-time, as well as m peace, our religion must be the rock of our lives, for without that rock there is no foundation and no hope. Yes! There is your faith! ■_...■_.