WHITHER BOUND, HUMANITY?

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 39, 20 April 1948, Page 4

WHITHER BOUND, HUMANITY?

Sir, —I am afraid that “Sickened” has completely missed the point in my previous letter on this subject. “Sickened’s” vision is apparently limited to the political field, while I looked further ahead, as I believe P. Mora also did. My letter was definitely not a defence of capitalism, nor was it an attack on Communism. It was not political, but as “Sickened” sees fit to force v the glove to fit his" own hand, some further remarks, are in order.

While there may be some who, as your correspondent states, are “being led along by the nose by the powerful controlling capitalist minority,” there are also those who have swallowed the deceiving bait of political salvation, political guidance and remedy for all things, in place of that Divine guidance that a far-seeing God has provided for man’s benefit in those very circumstances that “Sickened” would seek to deal with purely politically. I refer to the subject of my former letter: the Holy Bible as the source of guidance for humanity today. I know full well there are those who would have us believe that this guidance, the Holy Bible, is but a tool in the hands of capitalism as part of a plan to bring man into subjection, or in words that “Sickened” may recognise: “an opiate for the people.” Those who believe such,statements reveal that they know and understand precious little of that Holy Book. What greedy capitalist would choose to present those he wished to oppress with guidance such as: “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.” (James 5:1-6). Is that capitalist propaganda? In thus condemning the greedy capitalist, is this then authority to act violently against the capitalist? Read further: “. . . Stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned; behold, the judge standeth before the door.” (James 5:8,9). The fact that so many overlook is that the greedy capitalist is just as fylly condemned by God as is he who,is greedy in. any other,-political sphere, be ft to the right or to the left. God is no respecter of persons, nor is His Word. No ideology gives freedom from the condemnation of that eternal Law of God. That Law which says to the greedy (be he capitalist or Communist) “Thou

shalt not covet.” That Law that says to he who would take by tealth, by force, or by confiscation, that which belongs to another:. “Thou shalt not steal.” That Law which says to he who would slay those who stand in the way of their own particular ideas and ambitions: “Thou shalt not kill.” ' This Law of God, the Ten Commandments, does not apply to any particular group only, but to all mankind,, and for all® time, and if “Sickened” will think about it himself, he too will see that no political system gives the answer to this world’s problems, which hinge . so greatly on that greed which taints the hearts,of nations and of adherents to all political groups, and leads to abuse of power, oppression, and ,the things that “Sickened” naturally longs to put right. Politics cannot change the human heart, and. never will. We need a greater power, which God has made available for all who will turn to His guidance. Regarding our subject, “Whither Bound Humanity?” Jesus named-, only two paths that humanity can follow, neither of which are political. Our choice .regarding these paths decides the question, “Whither Bound” for us, for “Sickened” as well as for > LAYMAN.