The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-15
CHRISTIAN SELF-coNTROL,

The international Sunday school les
son for Feb. Is is found In I. Germ
thians viii, Alb. The date is in the
spring of the year A. D. 81, and the
place Is EphesuS. The golden text Is
Romans xvi, 10. In our last lesson
Paul was at COrinth, and the present
lesson is devoted to temperance. PauFs
admonitions to the believers at Corinth
are applicable to us today. Now, as
then, one ought not always to indulge
in that which he feels sure is perfectly
harmless or even beneficial, because,
as our lesson shows, his example may
work injury to others. The question is
as to how far one should go in denying
himself that he may not be a stumb-
ling block to others,
Recall from the study of a week ago
what sort of a city CoTinth was and
think of the many questions of prac-
teal everyday conduct that would be
apt to trouble handful of Christians
nVlng In the midst of so many paganS.
This letter of Paul to the Christians
in Corinth was a reply to a letter from
them in which they had told of their
difficulties and asked his Counsel. One
of the questions they asked him 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 in
heather worship, and others held that
it made no difference. Those who did
not eat looked down upon those who
ate for INDUCING in what they consid-
cred questionable practices Those who
ate, believing that it was not a cues
ton of right and wrong at all, looked
down on their brethren for being so
Superstltious as to think that the fool
1shness OF offering piece of beef be-
fore the statue Of an imaginary CiVin-
ity made 1t wrong to eat the beef. The
letter to Paul had probably boosted
knowledge" and the broader of the
two views just mentioned, Paul checks
that boaSting. knowledge is not to de-
eide, 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?' Heart, not brain must
decide.
Paul clearly takes the side of the
more liberal and broad minded Corin-
thtans, and holds that the thing in it.
self is not wrong. Idols are nothing
and the previous experience of the
meat we eat has as little to do with the
religion OF Jesus Christ as the price we
pay for pound of 1t. Paul would have
his converts be liberal and enlightened;
he would have them glory in the lib
erty they have in the gospel.
Paul does not stop there. There is
not in all men that knowledge: That
insight, clearness and breadth of view.
which Paul and some Corinthians have
attained. Some Of those who had been
fdolaters were unable to shake off the
feeling that in using meat that had
been part of an fdolatrous ceremonial.
just as they had done before CONVEX
sion, they were compromising with
idolatry They, too, knew that idols
W fT7O hsT4 foIk
wrong. Conscience protested, and to
disregard conscience is sin.
Broad minded freedom is good but
1t must not make one forget to be kind:
it does not justify selfishness. In the
Dry, Paul was most liberal, in practice.
most conservative for the sake of 9th
ers. In settling all questions of right
and wrong. now as then, there is the
greatest need of charity, love, unset
hShness. The Christian must not sim
ply ask, How does the matter look to
me? Would IT do me any harm?" but
What would be best for all concern
ed?" We may feel that 1t is best to
give UP some things for the sake of
others-not that We are governed by
their cons iences-but simply that the
giving up might help them.
1t may sometimes seem best to wait.
Paul knew that it was only a question
Of time and clear thinking when his
own more liberal view should prevail.
He was willing to wait. Right and rea-
son are bound to win. and the Christian
can better afford to have charity and
wait than to ride rough-shod over even
the unreasonable scruples of his breth-
rem. The lesson teaches:
i. knowledge puffeth up hut love
buildeth up" Better love without
| knowledge than knowledge without
love.
q 1t is not sc much a question Of
what one may do, but what is best and
wisest for him to do.
3. Better give up any pleasure than
to indulge in it to some ones undoing.
4. If one leads a weaker brother
astray, he is SHINING against the Lord
himself.