GOD AND THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2588, 9 October 1915, Page 7

GOD AND THE WAR

"THE WAY TO SOME BETTER - • THINGS."-

Preaching at tlio City Temple, London, the Rgv. R. J. Campbell said a Socialist newspaper had stated, with some show of justice, that it was almost blasphemous for preachers to talk about the ennobling effect of war. It was hell, and not heaven, that was master at this hour, and the power of darkness was on top; therefore, they were told, they should declare a moratorium or Christianity itself. It was obvious, however, that Jesus Himself regarded the temporary power of darkness a-s somehow compatible with-the good purpose of God. How far dared they press that? The question was by no means easy to answer. Was the power of evil at times too much for divine goodness? "Looking the situation calmly in the face," continued Mr. Campbell, "I want to tell you f£ seems'to me a view impossible for. the man of faith to hold. God is all-good and all-powerful, or there is no God. It becomes a . question of deciding for one or the other. If the loftiest being that ever lived cbuld suffer to the extent that He did and accept it as the ivill of God for Him—God could have stopped it if He would, but He did not —then you and I may well be reassured. The God of limited power is no "God for me. Take it for better or worse, there is 110 escape from the conclusion that God could save you from all, your pain if He chose. If He doesn't, it. it because He is preparing some better thing, and this is the way to it. It may strike a chill to the heart to sa.v, that God could stop all that dreadful slaughter in Flanders, and. doesn't. But light is shed on the problem by Calvary, whero we see God taking upon Himself the burden of human sin and sorrow. The world's sufferers are heaven's athletes. • Nothing matters much tliat happens to the flesh except as it enriches the temple of tlio spirit, and all pain does that."