Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-07-27
Sunday School ;
LESSON TOR July 20. !.

o~N~~
Jesus Dimes with a I'harisee.-Luke
IA liza. Learn verses IS, IA. Read
Luke II :3I-o4.
Golden Textile that humbleth MN
self snail Ire cxaited.-LukG il:ii.
This lesson teaches us how Christians
ehould hold themselves before the world,
and how they should meet the fnult-tind-
ing, dishonest criticism that the world IS
ALWAYS ready to throw at all who try TO
live holy lives.
In the first place, Christians should not
separate themselves from all who are not
Christians to the extent Of refusing to
mix with them in lawful ways. We are
to separate ourselves completely from the
evil that is in the world, but we are COM
manded to go out into the world IN order
that the people may get to know us, ana
through us. may become acquainted Win
our Master Jesus Christ. 1t IS not only
that we are permitted to enter into friend
ly relations with those who are not Chris
tians; we are directly taught to do so.
And as Jesus dined with those who had
little or no sympathy with His work, so
must we place ourselves in contact with
those who do not honor Him that we may
influence them for good.
The coroIlary to this teaching is that
we must always make it evident that we
ourselves are not in sympathy with the
wrong ways and ideals of the world, put
that we are followers of Jesus CHRIST. It
would never do to 80 amongst worldly
people and never let them know that we
have a higher aim in life than merely TO
pursue our own ambitions or desires.
Jesus mixed with all sorts of people, but
-, - hoo, -. -irlnr N
the truth and to disc0untenancc error
whether in teaching or in practice.
We must associate with all kinds OF
people if we are to be effective in bring
ing others to Christ. But in all places.
and at all times we are bound to make
our loyalty to Christ evident.
This is an extremely difficult thing to
do. More than human wisdom is needed
to show the disciple of Christ how to act
and what to say that he may give his tes-
timony for Christ by word and act with
out needless offense or conveying n false
impression concerning his beliefs and his
motives. But more than human wisdom
is promised to those who seek and trust
in the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Our lesson shows us also how we must
meet the carping criticism that is sure to
be leveled at us and at oil things Chris
tian if we are really trying to be faith
full. Worldly critics will be watching
us as they watched our Master. They
will try to find something wrong in what
we do. And it will not be easy to take
their attacks wisely and in the right
spirit. 1t will be more easy to meet at
tack with counter-attack of the same per-
sonal and useless kind. SO we must hold
ourselves in check and remember that it
is not our business to defend ourselves,
but to glorify God.
1t is also much less necessary to make
clear to the critics just where they are
wrong than it is to show them clearly the
truths they are so sadly in need of. In
trying to show a man where ne is wrong
one is apt to arouse his gonism in n
way that binders him seeing what way
truth lies. The best way is, therefore. to
simply strive to teach truths in a positive
way and allow the truth to do its own
fighting. When alone face to face with a
truth a man may give in to its influence
in d way he would not do if the truth
were presented in a controversial spirit
and as a direct contradiction to something
he had asserted. . u.
Of course we must necessarily come into
collision with those who are Intentionally
worldly or hypocritical and with those
whose religion is merely a matter of
forms and ceremonies and Thou-shalt-
nots. But even with such as these there
is little to be gained by controversy.
Every mans OWE argument is most con-
yincing to his w mind, however shallow
or illogical it may be. 1t is better there
fore to avoid direct antagonism as much
as possible while maintaining our own po-
sition as confessed followers of Christ
and believers in the Bible.