THE RELIGIOUS WORLD.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 249, 9 February 1917, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE RELIGIOUS WORLD.

CAN WE HAVE A CHRISTIAN NATION ? Mr Robert Blatchford we are not a Christian nation, also tnerc never will be a Christian nation, because any nation which, faithfully acted upon Christian principles would erase to be a nation. Mr. Blatchford has always been noted for contradicting himself. Though we may not be a Christian nation today, wno can say we may not be, so one day. It should be the one ideal of every citizen to seo that the Christian Principles are carried ouL in his city, and thus through tjx individual, the collective whole would then ho moulded and shaped and become eventually Christian.. Mr. Blatchford, like a great many others can see the nobility of Christianity, thougn ho has been pricking against it* for many years. His complaint is chiefly against those who profess to carry it out and do not. \\ edo not desire to differ from him here. But there is the great principle that underlies the Nation, and in so far a?, that principle is acted en. we can say it is Christian. Possibly he would say that unless other nations become Chnst'an, there will always be striffiy and if we do not strive against this strife we shnll go under, and if we strive we shall cease to ho Christian . That does not follow. It is the first principlo of a Christian to make his neighbour a Chrstian, and it should also be the nrst principle of a Christian Nation to make other nations also Christian; and when all nations become Christian there will be no cause for strife, and no desire to diffor from aech ether. The nulls of God grind slowly, and great ideals are a long time before the)' come to fruition. In the same way it is a long time before the fruits Christianity ripen and are accepted universally. While we admit the evil in our midst is non-Christian, in whatever form ft is seen, it is only another evidence tliat Christianity is the one thing needed to do away with the evil. Some are saying ' What of the devotion to material ideals, and of tho indifference to spiritual things, as seen in their extremes!/ forms at the two polos of society." Do tnese things attest the nation as Christian? It does not touch the point. There is often more religion at these extremes than in the middle-classes. It is the widespread indifference and contempt for the Word of God, the House of God, and the day of God—the mad fever for pleasure, which so completely possesses such numbers, which is the cause of the low moral standing in our midst. There is not an atom of reason why all these things could not be altered to the advantage of the individuals and for the good of the State by simply accepting the principles of Christianity. Another writer has pointed out that the vast mass of the people now outside the Churches have been ebaptrscd in infancy, and considers the most difficult problem of all to be that of dealing with what he calls "baptised heathendom." We must again admit the truth of this, but it is because of the loos? and lighthearted way parents and others have taken their responsibilities. The fundamental principles of the need of Conversion and baptism of the Holy Sp : rit has not been taught to these as it ought to have been by those responsible for their baptism. Besides, this is only another way of say'ng that the basis and ideal of the nation is Christion, the fault is in the uwhrineing or the lapse from the Christian idea's set befn'-n. them. Tlie problem no doubt is worthy of the Greatest consideration, in arriving at the id oil of a Chistian nation, and one is inclined to think that it is here the Church has bren most neelrgent. The young people have not been brought ur> to attend Church. Tn our Sundayschools of to-day hardly per cent attend our Church services. The special services for the voung held on Sunday morning, and the Sunday-school on Sunday afternoon does not give to tin voung neonle the desire to come to Cuirr-h. We must spo that our Sirndavschool scholars arc trained when young to attend Church, either in the company of their parents or in the company of their Sunday-School teachers. We might say "Oh, for the good old times' of the family pew" and when the family Kept Holy Day, and went to the House of God in company. This is another evidence that the peril of the Church, as with the soul, is ever within, and the things that threaten and hinder proceed from the heart: therefore let us "keep cur heart with all diligence, for out of it arc the issues of life." But we come back to the great tnitn —"Can we h.ave a Christian Nation?" Why not? Is it not the one tlijng that is needed? And the one thing we are all craving for, though we may not know it! Tiro Old Testament- throbs with the spirit of Nationalism. It is the record of a nation's relationship to God. Every realm of national interest and responsibility is directly related to their tu knowledgment of God. And when in tho fulne-s of time Christ came, He inspired His followers to go and preach the Gospel, making disciples of all nations. Over and over again in the New Testament we. have the thought that Jesus Christ shall l>e supreme, that at tho name of Jesus every knee shall liend,, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to tho glory of God the rather.'' The apo-tle John at l atinos proclaims the filial triumph of tho kingdom of God. He is s.o sure of the ultimate victory to be won by the •innies of the Lord, that he exclaims,

" The kingdoms of the world arc become t.he kingdoms of our (lod and of His Christ: and lie shall reign for ever and ever." There was nothing in the con- ■ utioii i of things then to justify his conTht'. Church u;:g then hut a liandful of men and women, drawn mostly from the ranks of the poor, anil the slaves of those days. He himself was a prisoner and an exile. The world 'ay in the grasp of the great, ruthless, pagan emp : re of Rome. To the average ■ itizen of that great empire, the tririnph of the Cross seemed hut the ravings of a madman. But John did not «aver. In the rapture of li>- vision, lie »iw the kingdoms of the world mustered, subdued, and willingly accepting the allegiance of Christ! Wh'if can we say to-day as we lonic lack over History. Spate will not permit me tn enlarge on the triumph of Clir'stianity. Historians tell us the heptarchy of England gave wav to one king hi'cnu-e the Cliiirch had hut one (■eiitl--J't'su-, Clirist. The royal coronation: the op-, ning of Parliament ; the form t>f oritlis in our law courts; the place we give to the Bihle in the h unes; tur poetry. whether from Milton or Siiakesf>ea.ro: our wor-hip: our la.\\s of Saliliath: and iur music or h\nin> are a 1 distinctlv Christian. \t ver was there such an exhibition tif genoro-/ty, self. "»a.eri(i' e, and willingness to tarry out the Christian srntiincnt in the Nation a« row . If the Churches will divest- themselves of honds and grave-dothes ami seel< fir.-f the kingdom of Cod and Ifis righteousness amongst all nations, we mav not lie. far from that time wTien the ii i: tary powers wid lie broken and the principles of .T"sus Christ hr* supreme, r.t t each me feel i( to he his duty, for the sake of hurnanitv, tn do away with

! i;o indifference and apathy, the nariv politics, and the f;dse ideat, of what a

Christian nation should he. Let us Jearn from the past that the one head of the Church and of the Nations must bo the personal Saviour of The whole world—Jesus Christ —the perfect Man rnd perfect God, by whom and tlyougli whom every citizen of all empires may iiavo access unto the Father, to whom light- royal obedience to His Divine laws shall lie tendered in perfect good-will to each ether. Time and space hinders one lrom savins more at present. CI VIS.