JUST THOUGHTS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 53, 22 November 1946, Page 7

JUST THOUGHTS

During the centuries that have passed since Jesus Christ came to show us the way of those dependent upon repentance toward God and faith in Himself and His message there have been periods of time when men and nations have responded in varying degrees to His appeal and invitation. In many nations there are men and women who have accepted His appeal, there still are. No man can say what the percentage is or the influence it exerts for good, but it is obvious in the light of history, that the influence of the genuinely Christian people in the world and in the community in which they dwell cannot be estimated. Experience reveals that no man is in a position to condemn his fellow, for we are all sinners and cannot be graded, but we can all feel our own condemnation when we clo and say what we should not and leave undone what we should do and say and there is no health in us; however we can feel sorry and repent and start again any day everyday; we can each learn of Jesus Christ the way of life. We have been given each an individuality and a will of our own and at present have freedom to operate within \reasonable limits. In our British Commonwealth we still have freedom of thought and word and action and nobody can possibly prevent one from exercising ones conscience in the direction we think fit or make us accept anything that is not good or true. This is the greatest -privilege that man can enjoy. We would be foolish men and women indeed to vote it away for any political or material consideration however attractive it may seem. Why allow any experiment with a great privilege that ' our forbears and our families have shed their blood for and suffered untold hardship to build up and retain over the centuries, v/hy take any risk concerning it, worship of the State cannot and never should give better results than worship of God. Christians see to it that you make no mistake about this Freedom on November 27, next Wednesday. Do not sell your birthright for any fancied prospect.