Public Opinion

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 76, 14 December 1949, Page 4

Public Opinion

Though their views oh all subjects are freely published here because we believe it our duty to uphold the public’s right to freedom of opinion, our correspondents’ opinions are not necessarily shared by this news- , paper. \ \'• ' ‘ Sir, —May I express my hearty */■ agreement with “Visitor” when he says we should view contentious questions from a truly aspect, rather than from that of “religious churchianity.” He is also right about the heathen hear home. I’d even venture to suggest there are regular Church attenders not even slightly touched by the redeeming spirit of Christ. But that has nothing to do with Sunday cricket; Why are so many people so keen to amend the Commandments to suit their own de--nominational prejudice? As I read it, the Commandment says; “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou-' labour, and do all thy work . . .” I can find no ? place where it says, “On that day thou shalt sit on thy posterior and do nothing whatsoever after thod hast been to Church* • thou shalt play no manner of sport' nor take part in any manner of ref ' joicing; on that day thou shalt de-%i* vote thyself solely to deep and mis- * erable contemplation of thy sins and condemnation of. the-innocent pleasures of thy neighbours.” A Christian can be as near to God on a sports field as in an armchair, and if I’m certain of anything at all I’m certain the Lord must love , a man who has a clean, healthy spirit in a clean, healthy body.. Sportsmanship is built on the practice of the Golden Rule and, though I’m past -my own sporting best, I’m still a keen believer 'in sport as a character builder that teams up admirably with Christianity, even on Sundays. / / , Yours etc., ' ' CHARITY.