CHURCH AND POLITICS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 January 1939, Page 2

CHURCH AND POLITICS

It has hitherto been the habit, ti keep religion strictly apart from politics and economics. If it be true that the spiritual and moral forces are more important than the material forces, that attitude must be abandoned, writes Sir Alexander Macewen, the leader of the Scottish Nationalist movement, in his book, “Towards Freedom.” To what extent the Churches should take part in political and economic activities is open to discussion, but I do not think it is open to discussion that, unless Christianity can bring its influence to bear on fnese social and economic problems, it will be bad both for the world and the Christian Church. These problems arc vaster and more complex than those which were familiar to Jesus and His disciples, but their essential characteristics arc the same. We have still cur pharisees and scribes and the rich who disregard their responsibilities. We only lack the courage and indignation with which to denounce evil, and the faith to kindle love and hope. If nations are to recover health and vigour, they must be purified as with fire.”