Evening star., 1942-12-12

than news Of politics or battle. It
undergirds the entire war theme, for
II the issues Of this war are to be
determined by Christian standards
and they should be-this subject Of
The Church and the Social Order"
should be moving like a flame
through every congregation and
arousing every member to new
thought and activity.
For 1t is primary Christianity.
Granted a God and gospel whose
supreme expression Is a cross on
which Jesus hung for the worlds
salvation. we cannot escape the con-
clusion that He died for all that
they which live should no longer
live unto themselves" The Master
Himself insisted that His followers
should be the purifying salt Of the
earth and the light OF the world
Their first concern, after avowing
allegiance to Christ. Is with the well
fare Of others. Unless she is puri-
flying and ennobling society, the
church is not doing its primary work.
Many Of us expect this war to arouse
Christians everywhere to an aware
ness of first things. This Is the days
most living issue. II, beyond the
war, we do not see world made
over into justice. peace. brotherli-
ness, freedom and common welfare,
then there is nothing but blackness
ahead.
A Fight for Life.
Intense interest is lent to our
theme by the little understood fact
that this is a war for the church s
very life. We all vaguely believe
that Hitlerism is anti-Christian.
Few Of us realize how definite and
deep-seated Is the Nazi determina-
ton to extirpate Christianity. An
elaborately documented brochure,
full of factual evidence. came to my
desk the other day-"The Nazi War
Against the Catholic Church." is
sued by the National Catholic We'll
fare Conference, 1912 Massachu-
sets avenue, Washington. Much of
the startling evidence piled up ap-
plies equally. of course, to Protest
antism. If all Of us understood how
vital is this conflict, this would be-
come in truth holy war;
Our hearts are thrilled by the
resistance Christianity has made
in Germany against Nazi pagan
ism. DR.. Einstein, himself Jew
paid moving tribute to the
church as the one organization
which has boldly withstood Hitler
ism. after the universities, the
press the scientists and the literary
forces had succumbed. He did not
mention the Divine life within hel
which has enabled the church
throughout the centuries to with.
stand all foes.
An Army With a Book.
December 13 is Universal Bible
Sunday, a timely reminder tha
the Church is an army with Book
More persons than ever before II
history are possessing themselves o
copies of the Scriptures. Therein
they are finding the explicit will o
God for human society that is ye
to become the Kingdom Of Heavel
on earth. All dreams OF a post-wa
order may seem unreal to the "prac
tical" man, until he finds that the,
conform utterly to the clear com
mands Of the living God, as revealed
in His word.
Is not the prospect thrilling ont
of every boy and girl in the lane
learning the character building
teachings of Scripture? OF every
man and woman awakened to the
possible achievement of new order
of society, in which the -four free.
doms" prevail; and love ruling ovel
all, having wiped out the meanness
the selfshness and the hatred which
mark world that needs not the
will of God?