TRAGIC DESTINY

New Zealand Listener, Volume 30, Issue 770, 23 April 1954, Page 5

TRAGIC DESTINY

Sir-In The Listener of April 2 a Mr. Malton Murray says of the Bible, "It has no more validity than the Veda, the Koran, or even the Book of Mormon." I would like, with your kind permission, to remind Mr. Murray of a few well-known facts. A hundred and fifty years ago, that is to say, just over 1700 years after the last book of the Bible was written, a group of Bible-in-fluenced persons were satisfied that the Bible had so completely validated itself during those 1700 years that it would be of great benefit to mankind if it were translated into many languages and distributed as widely as possible. In this they were backed up by other

Bible-influenced persons, including the great British philanthropist, William Wilberforce. They founded the British and Foreign Bible Society with a view to carrying out these aims. The new Society found favour ameng the people of Britain and that favour has never abated, so that the Society is now doing greater work than ever before. Not only so, but other Bible Societies have sprung up, and are doing good work, so that the Bible has been translated (in whole or in part) into well over a thousand languages and dialects. Again, thousands and _ thousands of men and women in various lands are making ‘it their life’s vocation to make known the precious truths of the Bible, and millions and millions of others by earnest prayer and really selfsacrificing giving are speeding on the work. ‘Lastly, thousands of Moslems are now studying the Bible, either together with, or in place of, the Koran, and hundreds at least are forsaking Islam and embracing Christianity, through the influence of the Bible. I suggest that Mr. Murray should tell us what any one of the three books he mentioned has done to prove its Validity. X

CHARLES W.

ELD

(Rangataua)

Sir-Mr. J. Malton Murray says "one sees no evidence of any plan of salvation. . . Mankind seéms to be approaching nearer and nearer to the climax of its tragic destiny." Yes, if the only begotten Son of God had stayed where Mr. Murray leaves Him, on the Cross, But why stop there? Dr. Stanley Jones, in Christ and Human Suffering, points out, "As from His lips comes the cry ‘My God, Why?’ it seems that all the anguish and pain of the ages is gathered up in that bitter cry. . . How far can hate go? Why does the universe tolerate injustice? Why are the good seemingly deserted in their hour of anguish? Will the universe back good men? ... These and many other questions " voiced in . that tragic prayer. What is the answer? God did answer, and answer adequately, and in the very place where the questions were raised. The Cross raises the questions and the resurrection answers them, It answers the fact of injustice and pain with a bigger fact-the Victory! God’s last word is not the Cross, but the re-surrection-a fact, the most stupendous fact in human history. We know now how things are coming out."

WAYFARER

(Auckland) _

Sir-I note that Mr. J. Malton Murray "sees no evidence of any plan of salvation." On*’the other hand, he says, "mankind seems to be approaching nearer and nearer to the climax of its tragic destiny." It is just too bad that he has such a keen eye for the bad, yet fails to see the obvious good. I maintain that the Bible does teach a very wonderful plan of salvation for the human race. Those who know what this plan really is, find it also very easy to see it being worked out in perfect detail in human history. But if Mr. Murray is foolish enough to ridicule the Scriptures he is cutting the foundation of faith from under his own feet. What then has he left to stand on? He suggests that the Bible records numerous Gods "invented" by different individuals or groups. Rather than this, — the truth is that the Bible records the increasing revelation of God to men as they have been able to receive it. The various conceptions of God in the Old Testament show the growth of the

human soul over the centuries. The most perfect revelation came through Jesus Christ, who revealed God as altogether good, our Father, and with a plan of salvation for all men. Yet even Jesus never suggested that the Plan would be fulfilled quickly or apart from the will and co-operation of the human race. Rather did He predict that good and bad (as "wheat" and "tares," etc.), would grow together till the "harvest" at the end of this present age. Then, He said, there would be a sorting out and elimination of evil elements so that the good could shine forth and usher in the age of peace and righteousness. He said this "harvest time" would be a time of great tribulation in which the human race would have the power to destroy itself, if left alone, As we see this condition existing today, we might indeed be tempted to think with Mr. Murray that "mankind seems to be approaching nearer and nearer to the climax of its tragic destiny" were it-not for the fact that Jesus also told us that this tribulation period would be "cut short" before the human race could destroy itself. Then Hewith many more of the prophets-pre-dicted the dawning of a new and better

age during which, and following ages, all negative conditions, even to death itself, will be overcome and all men shall finally know God as Father and Jesus Christ as Lord. ; So instead of the present chaotic world situation being the "climax of our tragic destiny," it is but one of the dark patches in the overall pattern that will eventually show itself to be beautiful and perfect. The lessons we humans are learning just now will lead us to "beat our swords into ploughshares" and prepare ourselves to do the will of God on earth. Today’s conditions confirm the Bible as the Word of God, which points us beyond the present crisis to the grand time of blessing and salvation on the other side.

C. L.

SAUNDERS

(New Plymouth).