Christian Stewardship

Chronicle (Levin), 19 September 1949, Page 4

Christian Stewardship

"Members of the Presbyterian Ghurch have complete ffeedom of action and decision in all matters that do -not' entef i-nto tlie s'Ubstance of the Faith/^. said ReV. A. Salmond in St. Andrew's Presby1 teriah Ghufbh yesterd&y.' "A Presbyterian is free to eat meat or to refrain from eating it and is free to drink fermented liquors or tb abstain. SUch matters -and many similar ones do hot fehtef into the substance of the GhriStian faith. When men insist that they do they' Are actihg not' ds "ChriStians but as Pharisees. But tiavihg said that one musc .gb on to say that historically iii. NeW Zealand, the Presbyterian Church . oburts haVe cohristehtly ad Voc'atfed temperance and have encouraged ohurch members a-nd organisa-

ions to oppose the ravages of the iiquor traffic and to work by precept and example for an informed ibmmunity which; by democfatic methods, will abolish ih this jountry what has been proved 'to ,'oe ih all countries, a wasteful and sociaily destfuCtiVe ■ habit &hd "r have never known a man who was the better fhf having made himse«lf into a' mbderate irinker, or a moderate gambfer, or an immoderate eater," said the speaker, "but I have knowft meh who have grown spiritualiy by denying themselves what- they sonSidered Were their legitimatfe rights for the sake of brethren weaker • than themselves. "Presbyterians are not ashafned of ah element of Pu'ritahi-sm Ih thfeit livihg. Disbiplihe- IS the orice men must pay for strength of charaCter and a discipThed life liolds itself Clear from the easily contraeted habits of slack and selfish liVihg. : • "Ghristian stewardship and the ' emheranCe that ChristlanS exhibft go ttjge'thet. The . Christiah Who s conscious that his bbd'y i's the t'emple bf the Holy Spifit .will hot Ihjure or defile that 'body. The Ghristiah Who kriows . that his mind has been giveh to him to ;hink God's thoughts after .Hihi will not degrade that mind by ndulgence in alconol, ahd the Christian Wh'O khoWS that the /ears of his life are limited Will aot fritter time aWay in sensubus iving and selfish indulgehce. "Ghristian temperance arises out of the exercise bf a Christian stewardship bf the many gifts of 3-od. A generatioh with little sbnse / of Christian stewardship will also be a gerieratioh with ittle appreciation of Christian emperance,'* concluded the preacher. 1 r ;ii rr -\ rrnc fyw