Evening star., 1954-11-21

our enemy; to recognize it for
what it really is. Some see the
enemy only as a political state
or group of states, or merely as
an economic system. Spiritual
vision gives better intelligence of
the fact. The enemy is atheistic
materialism. Whether it be en-
trenched in the organs of a
foreign state, or in one of our
own domestic institutions, it is
atheistic materialism that seeks
to destroy us. This is the enemy.
In the second place, we must
be strong. Material strength is
necessary, of course, and its
proper organization and DISPOSE
ton are of immediate urgency.
But material strength, like ply
sical vision, is not enough. This
nation must look to its spiritual
strength. Our vast physical re-
sources and our mastery tech
nical skills will avail us nothing
unless we are a people strong
in the faith which gives purpose
to action, and in the morality
which fosters discipline and
courage. The true strength of a
Christian nation is insthe power
OF God which outweighS all force
of arms.
Unfortunately, in recent times
the drift from God and from
the spiritual and supernatural
view of life has seriously weak
ened this country. It is true that
a rise in church membership has
been reported during the past
few years. but in the light of
other evidence, one is forced to
question how significant such
mere statistics may be. One
looks. in vain for any CORES
ponding increase of religions
beneficerlt influence; upon the
nation s. life. Indeed, the trend
in public. and private morality
has been downward; there is an
alarming disregard in practice
for Gods teaching and for Gods
law. Is there any need to in
stance the growing evils in fam
lily !, life. the lustf1l self-indul-
gence which leads from birth
prevention to divorce, from
broken. homes to the broken
lives of youthful delinquents?
Need we adduce in evidence the
appalling circulation of indecent
literature, and the low moral
level of so much of the public
entertainment in these days.
PreoccupatiOn Cited.
tt is not that the existence of
God is expressly or generally
denied; it is rather that so many
men ignore Him and His law in
their absorption with the ma
terial world which He created.
There is not yet a deliberate
turning away from God, but
there is an excessive preoccupa-
ton with creatures. This form
of materialism reveals itself as
secularism in politics and Gov
ernment, as avarice in business
and in the professions, and as
paganism in the personal lives
and relations of all too many
men and women. This people
honors Me with their lips, but
their heart is far from Me-"
MARK Z, g..
Materialism has brought about
a decline in the influence of
religion upon American life
Confusion in our thinking and
a sort of paralysis of the ma
tional will have been the in
evitable results of this decline
Here then we have the source
of that weakness which is cauS-
ing so much concern to men OF
good will. Unless we arrest this
religious decline, unless we push
back the domestic invasion oi
materialism, we shall not be
able, as history clearly attests
to Withstand the enemy from
without.
Materialism is the real enemy
at home as well as abroad. In its
varietiesa there is little difference
of kind: the difference is largely
one of degree. Both are deadly
for America. The way of matter
and Of the flesh is the way OF
death; the way of God and OF
the spirit is the way Of life. II
we would have life. we must re-
new and reaffirm our Faith In
God and in His Christ; we must
cling again to that Christian
moral code which is the Ameri-
can way of life at its purest and
its best.
First Essential.
We need faith, first of all;
belief in God and in the Son
Whom He sent us. Jesus Christ
Faith is the first essential Of
human living. But let us be clear
about what we mean by this
wondrous word. Faith Is not a
mere emotion. 1t Is not q vague
sentiment Of reverence In the
presence of goodness and beauty
or of awe In the presence OF
mystery. Faith has to do with
knowing. not with feeling. 1t
Is knowledge in its highest and
surest form. Faith is the intel
lectual act by which, under the
influence of grace. we accept on
the authority of God the truths
by Him revealed.
BY Faith. we know. It lis q
key to knowledge, to knowledge
/