This section will focus on the threat to the church posed by communism, nationalism, secularism, the resurgence of Eastern religions, materialism and the threat of atomic annihilation.

A.C., 1937, p. 651.

      You may say that is an idle question. Christ said; "I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." His words, however, are no assurance that your church or mine may not be destroyed, or that a religious body may not pass out of existence. Nor are they an assurance that the whole institutionalised church, as we know it, may not be overthrown. Calamities worse than those which befell the church in Russia may come, our churches be closed or turned into museums, and Christianity be reduced to a simple fellowship similar to what it was in its beginnings. Not that that would necessarily be an evil thing, either for the church or the world it seeks to bless.

      The church has always been assailed by forces which have sought its destruction. In the first century the church was the victim of sustained persecution, first by the authorities in Jerusalem, and later by all the might of Imperial Rome. But "the blood of martyrs was the seed of the church," and it continued its triumphant progress till Rome herself was conquered.

      In the 18th century the church fell upon evil days. Whether you look at the immorality and grossness which prevailed among the higher classes, so called, or at the abject degradation of the masses of the poor, Christianity seemed to have perished. Then came the regeneration associated with the Wesleys and Whitefield, and the church was restored to new life and activity. Christianity was carried into the hearts of the people of England with a moral zeal which purified the manners and literature and life of the country. Will it always be, that out of opposition and seeming failure, Christianity will rise with new regenerating power?

      Perhaps the church has never had enemies more bitter and powerful than those she faces to-day. There is the menace of

Communism

      You know what has happened in Russia. The great Lenin regarded Christianity as an opiate, which dulled the senses of the people, and tended to keep them patient and subdued despite their oppressed condition. If a revolution was to be successful, the church must be destroyed. Perhaps few would dispute the statement that the Orthodox church in Russia had been false to her high calling. She misrepresented her Lord. A significant story is told by a modern traveller. He noticed on many church buildings in Russia a curious cross. In addition to the upright and cross beams there was a diagonal piece of wood underneath the main cross beam. He sought diligently to discover the meaning of it, and for a long time was unsuccessful. At last he found an old priest who told him that once upon a time, a priest in a worldly parish, disgusted at the hypocrisy of the church people, had placed the extra beam upon the cross to signify that they had cancelled the cross in their lives. Whether the story is true or not the fact is that the church in Russia had cancelled the cross of Christ, and made it of no effect, and it was this church with the cancelled cross which was rejected by the revolutionaries. The salt had lost its savor, and was shut out, and trodden under foot of men.

      But there were Protestant churches in Russia which, though at direct variance with the atheism and bloody violence of the revolution, yet felt that its ultimate ideals were good. Hence these churches sought to promote the welfare of the people under the new regime. They organised co-operatives, and began to reveal the true spirit of the kingdom of God. But the communists became frightened, and forbade these churches to have any part in social reconstruction. They could worship--that was all. Thus the new church, which seemed about to rise from the ruins of the old, was rendered helpless. But the end is not yet, and the church will rise from the beds of repression and oppression to new life.

      But communism among us, it is said, is an insignificant force. Politically, that is true. But its ideology is widespread, and the effect on our social life is tremendous. "As an ideal of world brotherhood and human solidarity it puts the church to shame." Certainly many people believe that communism is a truer expression of Christian principle than our Western civilisation. And when our churches are regarded,

as they often are, as the bulwark of the existing social order, the effect of communistic principles on the programme of the churches may be disastrous.

      In Germany the church has been attacked in another way. There the totalitarian state has come into being. Its motto is: "Nothing against the state; nothing outside the state; everything for the state." The churches along with families, schools, and all other institutions, are to be incorporated in the state. Church leaders who resist the demands of the authorities to control spiritual forces and bind the conscience are deposed or put in concentration camps. Their places are filled with state representatives, and the churches become primarily secular institutions. There are many Christians in Germany who refuse to submit, and serious as the situation is at present, the church will save herself, because of the noble men and women who refuse to allow conscience to be dragooned by the state, but say, "We ought to obey God rather than man."

Nationalism

      That kind of peril, in so far as it threatens us, is seen in the growing spirit of nationalism. This Dr. Fosdick calls Christianity's supreme rival. Nationalism is a growing force in every country and under every form of government. In Russia under communism, in Italy and Germany under fascism, in England, America and Australia under democracy, the spirit of nationalism rears its ugly head, and it is difficult to forecast the issue. We need not now discuss the various aspects of the spirit of nationalism which are hostile to the Christian faith. We may note that it transgresses the universalism of Christianity, and those German leaders who recently wished to discard Christ and substitute the old Teuton gods as the national deities were quite logical. It is ridiculous for the different states with their developing nationalism, to try to worship the same God. Further, the motto of nationalism is "My country right or wrong," and it does not accord with the Christian outlook which includes the whole world, and would put the cause of justice before the demands of the state. Some of the leading Christian men in our city, advocates of a Christian order in all the world, have been warned to restrain their speech lest it lead them into trouble. The threat was not an empty one--we have our Crimes Act which seems to be designed to meet such a situation.

The New Paganism

      The new paganism constitutes itself another deadly foe to the church. This is the spirit of worldliness and compromise which has crept into the church, and is all the more subtle and dangerous because it does its deadly work from within. Against such foes can Christianity save itself? It can, of course, for it is a divine institution. But it must go the way of the Lord's appointment. "Except a grain of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth by itself alone, but if it die it bringeth forth much fruit." That was true of our lord, and it is true of his church. Could Jesus save himself? They said he could not, but he saved himself by dying, and he shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied. "He that saveth his life shall lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake and the gospel's shall save it."

      Nicol Macnicol, in "Is Christianity Unique?" has a striking passage on the effect of nationalism in India. He says that Indian leaders saw the need of reviving Hinduism, and tried to do it, without success. "Now from a wholly different quarter what they desire is being realised beyond all expectations. The new wind of nationalism has swept down upon them, filling their sails, and threatening to become a tempest, shaking the torpor from their creeds, making them prepared to die--that is alive at last." Prepared to die--that is alive at last! That touches a vital secret of life. Christianity can never perish while Christians are prepared to follow the path of sacrifice and suffering and death.

      It is part of the Christian programme to mould and remake the present order. We live in a world of hate, and war, and injustice. But a world revolution is taking place. What is the new order to be in this our land? Fascism? Communism? Or the golden dream of a Christian Social Order? That is part of our business, surely, to set the goal and supply the dynamic.

      Till that revolution is accomplished we Christians should seek an ever greater measure of fellowship among ourselves. That is the mission of social service. Its ideal is fellowship in suffering. "If one member suffer all the members suffer with it." "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."

      Can Christianity save itself? Not if it is greatly concerned to do it. If it is concerned to save others, not counting the cost to itself, it will find its own life renewed.

A. R.. Main, A.C., 1940, p. 129.

      We cull from the Methodist "Spectator" the following paragraphs from a report prepared by a subcommittee, composed of New South Wales ministers and laymen, appointed by the Methodist Conference, which has beep making exhaustive inquiries throughout the year in all State:--

      "While it cannot be denied that many of the obstacles which hinder the work of the church, and cause the drift from the church, can be traced to shortcomings of our own, this is not all the troth. It is evident that the Methodist Church is not alone in experiencing lack of interest and declining attendances, but that organised Christianity throughout the world is facing the same problem.

      "The break-up of old habits and traditions, the materialistic outlook of the day, the relaxation of moral standards, the enormous growth of scientific achievement, the facilities for pleasure and amusement, which are so easily available to all, and the general unsettlement in every department of life are making the work of the churches exceptionally difficult.

      "Material things have assumed an exaggerated and false importance, which the spread of education, too often purely secular in character, has done little to correct. New forms of amusement, easier and more increasing facilities for travel (and incidental Sabbath desecration), the introduction of picture shows and wireless, the influence of the press and its lack of Christian ideals and principles, the demoralising effect of a considerable section of modern literature are all factors which help to create the present position."

      "A great portion of the present generation is frankly pagan. Numbers forsake the church because they do not feel capable of meeting the challenge of a high moral endeavor; many have fallen to the temptations of an age where the battle for security gradually breaks down high moral standards.

      "The most common attitude of mind, however, is one of aloofness firm, and indifference to, organised Christianity rather than hostility to religion itself. There are some who go so far as to say that a large-scale hostility does exist, but the committee cannot endorse this view. To a great extent there is an almost total loss of the sense of sin; but there is also, we believe, a deep spiritual hunger."

      We presume that it would be easy to assign scores of reasons for the decline in church attendance. Decline there is, despite the fact that some churches can report large attendances and good progress. There has been a great reduction of attendances in this last generation, and nearly every preacher will agree that Christian work has become more difficult. We who are Christians have to confess that the fault is partly ours. More faithfulness to Christ, more consecrated living in harmony with the expressed will of our Lord and the principles which he exemplified, and a more loving and definite proclamation of his gospel would doubtless have resulted in greater success. For failure due to this cause, the remedy is obvious. Disunity, apathy and indifference are found within the churches and not merely outside them.

      Some earnest church members, and even some preachers, do not seem sure of the message which they should give to the world, as if the Lord Jesus Christ had not made his will in this regard abundantly clear.

      The Methodist committee's statement regarding materialistic outlook, pagan attitude, general unsettlement, lowered moral standards, aloofness, and lack of a sense of sin, commends itself to us as accurate and fair, and worthy of the consideration of all believers.

A. W. Stephenson, A.C., 1947, p. 97.

      The old order has passed. A new era has come. By smashing the atom men have begun to smash civilisation based on the power of steam, petrol and electricity. Unexpectedly, and with fearful consequences, this atomic age plunged itself on to Hiroshima, Japan, on Monday, August 6, 1945. A great seaport of 250,000 people was smashed within a brief span of time by bomb blast and fire. As a direct result of the explosion 60,000 men and women were killed and 100,000 were injured; many were so burned with atomic rays they suffered intense pain. In addition, all their possessions were destroyed One atomic blast caused, not only the death of thousands, and permanently injured many more, it impoverished a whole city and community.

      Never has the world been so open to a major calamity as it now is in this atomic age. Never has the possibility of a world-wide catastrophe been so likely as now. What are people doing about it? They are eating, drinking and making merry. Nero fiddled while Rome burned. We despise him for his callous indifference. But what are we doing to save this age from ruin? Just as Hiroshima perished we may perish, unless we repent.

      Every church building ought to be packed with humble worshippers, every home ought to be a centre of righteous living, every individual ought to be a humble and contrite being, seeking by word and deed to save this age from the plight that Hiroshima suffered and to see that atomic power will be used for righteous ends and not as an instrument of lust and power. Let us again heed the words of Jesus, "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."

A. W. Stephenson, A.C., 1948, p. 375.

      Yes, the secret of the atomic bomb is out. This startling fact was brought before the notice of Americans by Dr. Robert M. Hutchins. Dr. Hutchins is the Chancellor of the University of Chicago, and is well qualified to speak with authority. The fact is that a very great part of the preliminary work in pioneering, in 1939, "atomic fission," was done by ten scientists, including Albert Einstein. Of the ten, five were Germans, one French, one Danish, one Italian, one English, and only one American. Many scientists came from Europe in August, 1942, and took part in the production of atomic bombs. "They contributed notably--so notably, in fact, that every single basic idea in atomic fission came from a European mind. Very few basic contributions were made by Americans. The American contribution consisted of applying those ideas and producing the atomic bomb." Dr. Hutchins adds, "All of these foreign scientists are entirely familiar with the processes involved in producing the atomic bomb. To-day they are scattered throughout the world--in at least four European countries, to my personal knowledge--and each of them knows all there is to be known about atomic energy and atomic bombs." So there is no secret.

      Can Russia make atomic bombs? Dr. Hutchins replies, "Of course!" "An able scientist prophesied, after reading the Smyth report, that Russia would complete her first atomic bomb within three years, and thereafter would produce them more rapidly than we could. That prediction was made more than two years ago: "Russia has 27 first-class nuclear physicists and no fewer than 700 universities. If each university has a competent atomic scientist, then Russia has an excellent scientific corps. The production of atomic bombs is a manufacturing problem. "There is no secret," says Robert Hutchins.

      There is no defence against atomic bombs. "One hundred and fifty atomic bombs will ruin any nation on earth." By atomic warfare nations could destroy each other. "An atomic bomb of average size, detonated under the surface of New York harbor, when the wind was right, would cover all of Greater New York with a deadly atomic spray. So it is reasonable to conclude that there is no known defence against the atomic bomb."

      While we are given this fearful picture of the destructive power in atomic energy, we are also shown something of the blessings which can come to mankind if the power of the atom is used for the benefit of man. Not for 4000 years has man come into such a material possession likely to give him unlimited blessing. By means of it he could produce better and cheaper goods, cure many ills, and make possible a leisure "beyond all dreams."

      Man has come to the crisis hour. He may enter a period as agonising as literal hell, or he may enter an age of unparalleled prosperity. What will man's response be?

      The serious threat of atomic power has aroused in men a new desire to bring the world into one fellowship and to outlaw war among the nations. Knowing the serious situation, Dr. Robert Hutchins and Dr. G. A. Borgese called a committee of representative men to discuss plans for a world federation. The aim was to "bring down to earth" the idea of a world government. "The age of nations must end and the era of humanity begin." The plan suggests that the world be divided into nine "societies of kindred nations and cultures, or regions, by name Europe, Atlantis, Eurasia, Afracis, Africa, India, Asia Major, Australia and Columbis." Each region chooses an equal number of candidates for a World Council. The aim of this World Council is to establish justices throughout the world, and to remove the clauses which create war.

      Cord Meyer, Jr., is the president of the United World Federalists Inc. He was an American marine on Guam and lost the sight of his left eye when a Japanese hand grenade exploded in his face. He also lost a twin brother on Okinawa. These tragic events turned Mr. Meyer's attention to the need of world government. Unless this world government comes by 1951, Mr. Meyer is considering seriously a plan to take his wife and two sons to Africa and to start life anew with the Pygmies. Without world government he believes there will be another world war. "It will be fought with vastly improved atomic and biological weapons, and Mr. Meyer is convinced it will destroy Western civilisation."

      How can world government come? How can peoples be brought into a closer fellowship? By what means can people be shown the way to a common brotherhood? We have no hesitation in urging that the Christian church, when loyal to Christ, has the answer. But how long must we wait for people to adjust doctrinal differences before we can work together in some united way? Even if we do not agree with another on certain theological questions, we can agree on this one moral principle--the need for men to live together in peace and unity. In an atmosphere of peace we can settle our theological differences, but in war we achieve little but destruction.

      The people who ought to lead the way to world government are the Christians who live in every nation and belong to every race. Christians have a motive which is not found in others; it is the love

which has come from God, in Christ, and moved them to have compassion on needy fellow-men. When church representatives from every nation meet in the Amsterdam World Council to deliberate on ways and means of demonstrating to the world the spirit of brotherhood a they ought to be wise enough to submit themselves completely to Christ's will and to provide the dynamic for a world faced with dire peril to find the way to world peace. If on such broad lines Christian statesmen can act, now that politicians have failed, the Amsterdam Conference will be, then, the greatest event in our time, and of greater historical significance than the discovery of atomic power. Can Christian revelation release a power of love to match this hour made fearful by the threat of atomic power? While it is not possible by might nor by power, it is possible by God's Spirit. May God's Spirit brood over this chaotic world, as he did at the beginning, and bring order and harmony into this age! May Christians around the world pray for wise decisions to be made, and show their desire for a world church to make possible a world government, and to reveal that Christ has come from the Father to save the world.

[NOF 530-534]