The Sure Footing For Things Which Count

Chronicle (Levin), 7 June 1949, Page 4

The Sure Footing For Things Which Count

»« n' ■ " Justice, kind iness and decency, the things we really deslred in our deeper and better moments, .did not have a #ure footing in.any human community unless thao community was made up of people who had a deep and active faith in the God and Father of 'Jesus Christ. ' These were the comments of Rev. A. Salmond, preaching at the evening service in St. Anarew's P^esbyterian Church, Levin, on Sunday. Mr. Saimond anaiysed the .Old Tes.ament stories of King David, Ijriah vhe Hittite, Bathsheba, his wife, and the prophet Nathan, and of King Ahab, Queen Jezebel, Naboth, the vineyard worker, and Elijah, the: prophet. "Both stories indicate clearly that even the King is under God and owes obedience to 1 God," said Mr. Sa mond. "No rpling class, no State, no Government is exempt from a final obedience to God and no' national sovereignty that & rives to be absolUte can ever ,be healthy." Jt was not the job of 'the Church to speak for, the nation, but if the Church remained true to the prophetic calling it had to speak to the nation in God's name. The Church that mere.y echoed curreni public opinion was in the long run useiess tJ the State. The Church that antagonised the State hv sneakinsr unwelcome truths to

careless citizens, and by seeing tha, those who suffered in justice ■ were not convenient y ' forgotten, could be the State's best friend. Both Old Testament s.ories had something very important to say about the ordinarv man, eontinued

the preacher. Unah was a soicuer Naboth was a small farmer, and because God cared for Uriah and Naboth, kings couM not be unjust with impunity. Because Naboth was conveniently murdered, a dynasty was wrecked by the will of God. "People for whom God cares have rights that no one can finally deny. That truth has some very far-reachiftg implications for you and me," conc'uded the preacher.