CHRIST’S PLACE IN THE MODERN WORLD

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 231, 19 December 1927, Page 16

CHRIST’S PLACE IN THE MODERN WORLD

ARCHBISHOP’S MESSAGE Does the world need Christ today or has it outgrown Him? This question was asked by Archbishop Averill at St. Mary’s Cathedral last evening. "At the present time we may pause and ask ourselves whether Christ is really a necessity for worldly well-be-ing to-day,” he said, "and if so. whether we are playing our part in lifting Him before the eyes of the world. Are we crowding Him out of our lives and can we find a substitute?” The Archbishop pictured the world to-day with its constant warfare in the industrial world, with happiness kept back by jealousy, hatred, greed and suspicion, and with the weakening of married life. Men looked on the envy and suffering and then asked themselves if Christianity had failed. Was Christ only a visionary not able to carry out His ideals? "Men forget that Christ is dependent upon their co-operation for the manifestation of His power and omnipotence,” said the Archbishop. The answer to those who think because of the injustice in the world that Christ has failed, is that Christ has not failed because He 3 never yet been tried. Progress had been 'made since the first beam of light pierced the darkness, a,nd its slowness was because God’s power was limited by men’s free will. The Christmas spirit of love and charity should be the every-day spirit of the world. "Give more boldly,” said the Archbishop. His final message was “Remember that Christmas Day is an Holy Day.”