THE CLIMAX AND THE TERMINATION OF HUMANISM

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 6, 12 December 1947, Page 7

THE CLIMAX AND THE TERMINATION OF HUMANISM

Contributed by the Ministers’ Association. “The Climax and Termination of Humanism” is a striking phrase from a paper written recently by that great Russian, Professor Nicholas Berdysev. The paper was written at a gathering of ministers in England and was entitled “The Crisis of European Consciousness.” It was a solemn and prophetic announcement, setting forth the present spiritual, and moral sickness of Europe, and insisting that “the old world is crashing but no creative joy accompanies the emergeance of the new world, even among those who consider themselves its builders.” Are we prepared to accept such a gloomy statement as justified by facts? If so, we may be permitted one or two remarks. Humanism, which exalts a man at the expense of God, when worked out into the social order, can have no other outcome. It leaves out of account the tendency or bias to wrong which is a real part of every man’s inheritance: the fatal way in which this bias becomes an actual reality in every man’s life; and the kingdom or mesh of evil which is part of our environment. Only by exalting God, and by giving Him power and rule in our lives .can we overcome the evil which is within and around.

Again Christianity teaches us to affirm that the judgment of God follows inevitably upon human wickedness and we find many of the events which we see taking place inside and outside of the organised Church as being God’s judgment. We are not surpi’ised or nonplussed. We know that since God is in the heavens, it cannot be otherwise. We learn personal lessons here to ke<®p us more close to God ourselves.

Finally, Christianity tells us that there is h Kingdom which cannot be shaken: the Kingdom which is righteousness and justice: leading to peace—the smooth and harmonious running of affairs—and to joy. This faith upheld the writer to the Hebrews in a day of international confusion; Augustine too as he watched the Huns pouring down upon" Rome: and it speaks to us a word of courage and calls us to faithfulness -and hope. The Kingdoms of this world! Yes—but finally, the Kingdom, the rule of our Lord Jesus Christ. We see through the storm to the calm glory beyond: and only the Christian can be sure of this.