SUBVERSIVE PROPAGANDA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24226, 19 February 1940, Page 3

SUBVERSIVE PROPAGANDA

TO THE EDITOR Sir,—At the beginning of the war I listened to H. E. Fosdick inflicting upon the ether a barrage of plausible pacifism, some of which was anything but complimentary or charitable to Britain. At the end of this high-flown harangue. I thought to myself that this was just what one would expect from a leading exponent of modernism. True to form it ran, a selfish, insular outburst, totally divorced from present-day realities. I am sure that among a large section of the Christian Church in America who know this man, and have seen the fruits of his teaching, there would be general approval of “ Maran-atha’s ” letter in the Daily Times of February 12 It is a pity many more such voices were not raised against the specious teaching that modernists are permeating our religious and national life with to-day. The spate of p<..cifism that has emanated from modernist pulpits in the last 10 years has contributed largely to Britain’s recent inadequate preparedness, and thus has contributed to the present war. To-day sugar-coated religious platitudes are at a premium. Wistful thinking, not wisdom, is applauded. Communists delight to see pacifism progressing. Modernist literature is used to give their subtle propaganda religious flavour. There are many like “ Deborah ” today, admittedly sincere, but often unwittingly wrenching the Scriptures from their context. They run true to form when they scurry from the teachings of the Old Testament, upon which our Lord has set his imprimatur —teachings that would unseat them from the comfortable pedestal of pacifism. Strange that “ Deborah ” should choose a nom de plume from the Old Testament, and that the name of a warlike prophetess. She quotes Matthew xviii; 14; I should say also that it is not God’s wish that we should quietly stand by while Nazis make orphans and widows and murder our women and children. She says Christ was a radical. I agree. He was so radical that He took a lash to clear the stench from the temple. One wonders just what sort of radical weapon Hte would prescribe against the infinitely more nauseating Nazis’ stench., “Maran-atha” is right. Our war effort is being hindered by modernism and its offshoots. Since the time of Noah, when life was going cheap, God has placed the responsibility for orderly government on man’s shoulders. He laid down certain fundamental laws for the protection of organised society. One was that “ whosoever sheds man’s 1 blood, by man shall his blood be shed.” Life is man’s most precious possession.. Infinite wisdom has decreed and experience proved that this is the only adequate safeguard and deterrent against murder, either individual or national. The principle is the same. This fundamental law has never been revoked; man does so at his peril. Organised society must be protected by organised government. See Romans chapter xiii, verses 1-6. May I conclude with a thought from the New Testament? Its most out-, standing apostle was Paul. He was extremely proud to proclaim that he was born a citizen of Rome, happy to avail himself of its privileges and to seek its protection in trouble. Would this zealot for duty be likely to accept of its privileges and not be willing to render unto Caesar the service necessary in a time of national need?— I am, etc., J. Dunedin, February 15. , ■