MINISTERS MUST PROVE THEIR WORTH

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 600, 28 February 1929, Page 7

MINISTERS MUST PROVE THEIR WORTH

CHURCH NOT VENERATED THEOLOGIAN’S OPINION “There has been a time when the Church was venerated as ari ancient institution, and when a minister was held in respect simply because he was its representative. That time has gone forever. The Church has to prove it is a valuable element in the community, and the minister must

justify himself.” Thus the Rev. Dr. C. H. Laws, principal of the Methodist fiieological College, openeu an address in the Pitt Street Church last evening, under the auspices of the Methodist Conference. Dr. Laws examined tiie Church of today in relation to the world, and discussed necessary qualifications of its ministers.

Professor IT. Belshaw, of the Auckland University College, spoke on the Church and problems of education.

There was to-day a widespread disparagement of the Church, said Dr. Laws, not only by "publicans and sinners,” but by men of excellent character and keen mind. It had risen in two ways—the professedly Christian character did not conspicuously exceed in virtue that of the world unaided by religion, and Christian service so largely spent itself on secondrate things and trivialities. This criticism, even if fundamentally wrong, had produced a deep effect. AGE OF OPPORTUNITY

"Yet, if we only knew it, these are times ol great opportunity lor us,” continued Dr. Laws. "This is an age of great intellectual freedom and great intellectual independence. You say, why cannot our young people accept what they are told without question? The important fact is that they do not. There are men who say that an age with this mind is going to the devil. I do not like a man who disagrees with the temper of the times.

“I would far rather have a son given to think and question and examine, and so work the way to the truth himself, than have him swallow unthinkingly what I told him, believing himself to have faith.

“We must have in the pulpit men of candour —men who will speak out —not men who go about with religion as a close secret, but men who will take courageously a leading place in the li-.rge, free-thinking world. Nor is this ail. A minister must have an evangelistic passiun at heart, or he had better be breaking stones or adding up a column of figures. 1 covet the blend of scholar and evangelist for our Church in New Zealand.” Professor Belshaw divided his address into four main points, the first of which was to develop the capacities and habits of mind of the citizen so that he might achieve tiie maximum economic efficiency, related to which was the question of placing him in the most suitable occupation. The second was to develop his powers so that lie might use his leisure to his own greatest happiness and the enjoyment of others. A third problem related to personal morality—the way a man behaved to himself and other persons, the extent to which he played his part in community responsibilities and political life. The fourth problem was to select and educate for leadership those who were endowed with the necessary capacities for it. “COME DOWN TO EARTH”

Because of its spiirtual purpose, the Church was an educative factor of peculiar importance and tremendous actual or potential power. In consequence, a serious responsibility was thrown on leaders of religious thought. In modern communities the influence of the Church was limited as to the economic efficiency of the individual, but it could greatly affect the manner in which he utilised his leisure. It also provided a social centre round which might be grouped cultural activities of great importance. As a belief in the world to come was a common belief among Christian churches, it became difficult for preachers to avoid concentrating unduly on this, to the neglect of the social implications of Christianity. With their eyes on the world to come, there were too many who were satisfied with passive piety when what was needed was a more active interest in earthly affairs. Preparation for the world to come had overshadowed the preparation for this life. “In the past we have left the control of civilisation to men of action," concluded Professor Belshaw. “There is a challenge to the Church as well as to our schools and universities to provide leaders of thought who will make a beneficial impact on the whole community.”