CHRISTIANS AND WAR

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20914, 20 September 1939, Page 9

CHRISTIANS AND WAR

METHODIST’S ATTITUDE . • PACIFIST POSITION REJECTED « MUST FACE GRIM REALISM (Special to Times) WELLINGTON, Tuesday “Insofar as haired of war la concerned, we are all pacifists, but pacifism does not mean merely a hatred of war,” said the Rev, Harold T. Peat, of Lower Hutt and formerly of Hamilton, senior chaplaJn of the Methodist Church in New Zealand, In a sermon at the week-end. "The Implications of pacifism are such that under no circumstances will the pacifist take part even in a defensive war. The pacifist refuses to minister spiritual comfort to soldiers, or even to succour tlie wounded, unless he can do so without being under the control of the military authorities. “From the very nature of modern warfare (apart from war on the civilian population) our assistance would have to be given under the direction of the military authorities. Therefore, much as I detest and abhor war, I dare not accept the pacifist position. As ambassadors for Jesus Christ, I believe we must be prepared to take His Gospel to all men—soldiers and civilians alike, and tbe pacifist position prevents me from doing this. In the New Testament I learn that our Lord Jesus Christ and His friends frequently came into contact with soldiers, and nowhere do 1 Ibid that He or the disciples demanded that the soldiers forsake their military occupation. Reprsttabls Feature “Our Lord did not approve of war, hut it is evident He recognised It as an unfortunate and regrettable feature of national policy, due to the hardness of human hearts based on an essentially materialistic outlook. In the New Testament 1 llnd the Lord Jesus Christ pointing out the way of life to soldiers, and nowhere do I find Him insisting that they must forsake their military duties. ..Matt. 8,5; also Acts IU, Luke 3, 14.) “The ideal of Christ is a warless world, in international affairs, however, the nations have not yet caught up with the spirit of Christ; they are not even nominally Christian. That being so, we have to concede to the nations the right to protect themselves against aggressors in a materialistic world. “Inasmuch as the nation provides for the material welfare and protection of lie citizens, and affords them whatever measure of security they enjoy, and as the social basis of civilisation and its advancement rest ultimately on r. system of legal restraints and compulsions, we are bound to aomit that the enjoyment of privileges carries With it certain obligations, however distasteful those obligations may be. New Soolal Order “Under our Lord's philosophy of life, there will yet emerge s new social order which will give oomplete expression to the Will of God. In that perfected state of humanity, war would be utterly impossible. Unfortunately mankind has not yet reached that perfect state. Consequently the governing authorities have to face realities in a materialistic world, a world apt to ignore God and to glorify force. Under these imperfect conditions we may practise our faith even though its complete and ideal realisation is as yet out of reach. “in humanity's painful progress toward the light, while cherishing ths ideal, we have to face the grim realism of this world. As children of God our interests are heavenly, hut I dare not close my eyes to the fact that as citizens our responsibilities ere also earthly. “In a state of war I am reluctantly compelled to the conclusion that I must do my utmost to shield those who look to me for protection; minister the consolations of religion to the soldiers; and seek to relieve the distress of the wounded and distressed. "Meanwhile I must continue to do all in my power, within the law of the land, to inculcate the principles of the Lord Jesus Christ. Those principles aim at the establishment of social and .nternatlonal justice. God is not dead, nor is He asleep, and some day His Truth will win its widening way of goodwill and reciprocity, till ultimately a warless world will be hound with cords of love about the feet of God."