HITLER’S “BIBLE” AND GOD’S WORD

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 188, 6 May 1940, Page 6

HITLER’S “BIBLE” AND GOD’S WORD

Canon D. J. Davies, preaching in St. Peter’s Anglican Church last evening, contrasted the philosophy and teachin" of . Hitler’s “Mein Kampf’ with that of Hie Bible. He said that. “Mein Kampf” taught the absolute authority of .the State. The State was paramount, and the individual existed simply as a means to an end, the worship and supremacy of the State. Nothing .could be done by the individual without official sanction of State authority. Then force was regarded as the final sanction. International law, pacts and agreements wer« treated with profound contempt, to be upheld only when it was in the interest of the State to do so. Justice, truth, liberty -were mere words, to be set aside at the will of the State. Hitler s “bible,” as it had been called, had borne its fruit in brutal tyranny, suppression of independent thought, and complete disregard of religion, liberty and hlmanity. Turning now to the Bible's philosophy of life, what a contrast is seen! Behind all creation the supreme God, Whose essence was wisdom, goodness, love. To Him alone men rendered worship and obedience. His laws were the decisive factors in the life of men and nations. Righteousness, not force, said the Bible, exalted a nation. To the individual infinite worth was ascribed. History was the mighty drama of a conflict between good and evil, in which God Himself was involved, and into which He entered to contribute new resources of spiritual power, brought within reach of men. The ultimate issue was beyond doubt because nothing escaped the sovereignty of God. His purposes might be delayed; they could not be defeated.

The fruits of the Bible could be seen in much of British life and character, specially since the day when “England became the people of one Book, and that Book the Bible.” Many of the great political, social and industrial reforms were due to its inspiration. Lord Bryce said that democracy was the child of Christianity. The Bible had fostered the love of liberty, the sense of justice, reverence for truth and for the authority of moral law. Which' of the two books contained the nobler philosophy of life? asked Canon Davies, who continued: “Germany has become formidable because Hitler has captured the youth of the country. . Are we as wise? The Book that has inspired the best in English life and literature is excluded from our national education system. The Bible must be restored to its rightful place in our national life. How long shall we continue to withhold it from our children, or allow it to shine but dimly on account of our sectional prejudices?”