The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1903-02-14
TEE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson In the International Series
for February AZ, 1o03-Christian
self-ControL

| those things that are offered In sacrince
| unto idols, we know that an idol is notninE
1 In the world, and that there - none olher
/ God but one.
| Gods whether In Heaven or in earth taS
| there be gods many, and lords manyl
! 6. But to us there is but one God, the ta-
\ ther. of whom are all things, and we IN Him.
| and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are
all things. and we by Hrn.
| 4. Howbeit there is not N every man man tnes
| knoWledee, for some with conscience OF
| the idol unto this hour eat 1t as thing OF
fered unto an idol; and their conscience
being weak is def1led.
8. But meat commendeth us not to Coo;
for neither. IL we eat, are we the peetets
neither, If we eat not, are we the Worss,
8. Buttake heed lest by any means tnlsnD-
| erty OF yours become stumbling piocn ~
! them that are weak.
10 Var II any man see thee which hast
knowledge sit at meat in the idoIs temple,
shall not the conscience Of him wnlcn ~
weak be emboldened to eat those things
which are offered to idols;
IL And through thy knowledge snan tne 2
weak brother perish, for whom Christ uea
y. But when We sin SO against the breth-
rem and wound their weak conscience ye
| sin aginst Christ.
1s Wherefore. II meat make my brother
| to offend, will eat no flesh while the worla
standeth, lest ! make my brother 70 OIL
| fend.
| follow after the things which ms s>e
! for peace.-Rom. 14s10.
OUTLINE OF SCRIPTURE SECTION;
| knowledge and love.............l Cor S;i-S'
| The liberty Of knowledge......l Cor s:e-1
| The self-denial of oflove...........l Cor. o.t-iS
| ME.-Spring Of A. p. 81
| PLACE.
| NOTES AND COMMENTS.
! eRecall from the study Of week ago
what sort Of city Corinth was ana
think Of the many questions OF pract'-
cal every day conduct that would De
ant 70 trouble a handful Of Christians
living in the midst of such great pa
ban city. AS matter Of fact this letter
of Paul to the Christians in Corlntn
was a reply to letter from them IN
which they had told him OF their DIM.
| culties and asked his counsel. one OF
the questions they askedhim was what
to do about eating meat that had been
offered before idols. The markets
were full of it, for the priests could
eat only part, and sold the rest. Some
held that it was wrong to eat it, for
| it seemed to them like taking part III
heather worship, and others held that
| it made no difference one way or the
pther. Those who did not eat looked
down upon those who ate for lndulg-
ing in what they considered questiona-
| BILE practices. Those who ate, believ-
ing that it was not a question OF right
and wrong at all, looked down on their
brethren for being so superstitious as
to think that the foolishness of offer
ing piece of meat before the statue
of an imaginary divinity made itwrong
to eat the beef. knowledge" The
letter to Paul had probably boasted
knowledge and the broader OF the
two views just mentioned. Paul
checks that boasting instantly
knowledge is not to decide, but love
After the question, "What theory as
to this meat is most reasonable?' is
this other, what course of action
would be most kind and helpful?'
j Heart, not brain, must decide.
Paul clearly takes the side Of the
more liberal and broad-minded sIorin'
thians, and holds that the thing in it.
self is not wrong. Idols are nothing
and the prey;cns experience of the
meat we eat hak as little to do with
j the religion of Jesis Christ as the price
we pay pound 4nr it. Paul would
have his converts be liberal and en-
lightened; he would have them glory
! in the liberty they have in the Gospel
ssHowbeit:" Paul does not stoI
there. "There is not in all men that
xnowledge:" That insight, clearness
and breadth Of view which Paul and
part of the Corinthians have attained
! Some of those who had been idolators
were unable to shake off the feeling
that in using meat that had been q
part of an idolatrous ceremonial, just
as they had done before conversion
they were compromising with idola'
try. They, too, knew that idols were
nothing, but felt that this was wrong
Conscience protested, and to disregard
conscience is sin. Take heed" Broad
minded freedom is good, but it mus
not make one forget to be kind; il does
not justify selfshness. In theory, al
y he shows in the next chapter, Paul was
most liberal, in practice, most con
seryative for the sake of others. il
settling ali questions Of right an'
wrong conduct, now as then, there j.
the greatest need of charity, love, un
selfshness. The Christian must no
simply ask, "How does the matter loel
TO me? Would il do me any harm?
but he must ask, "What would be bes
for all concerned?" We may feel tha
It is best to give up some things TO
! the sake of others-not that we ar
governed by their consciences, for w
are not--but simply that the giving u
might help them
ii may sometimes seem best to wait
. Paul knew that 1t was only questio'