Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-29

INTRODUCTION - Strictly speaking
this is not q temperance lesson. although
so designated by the committee 1t Is
rather one of those mastery passages in
which Paul seeks to protect Christian be-
levers against idolatry and prepare them
to stand fast amid the evils of the old
heather world. Incidentally he mentions
the food offered to idols. at that time
theme that generally agitated the followers
Of Christ. He has nothing to say here on
the drink habit, which prevailed at that
time, as 1t does in our day. However. In
his discussion he lays down certain great
principles by which conduct should be reg
ulated, and these principles may be ap-
piled to the subject Of temperance and OF
nearly every other subject in modern life
It is always better to go back to principles
to determine what Is right and proper.
rather than to depend on commands or IL
Illustrations. No one Is safe, even in his
thinking and more in his acting. until he
abides in the fundamental truths that un-
LAWFUL Verse 2s).-Paul begins in
this section with an assertion that at first
is startling-"all things are lawfur'-pre-
viously uttered. Every one knows that Is
not absolutely true in its broadcast sense.
God has regulated human conduct by vart-
Gus enactments that are constantly binding
upon all. By them society Is preserved
Hence all are under perpetual obligation
to observe them. Matt. v:1s) What the
apostle meant to say was that there was
no express command OF God against GER
tain practices about which he was writing
So far as the law of God was concerned he
was not restrained. Men find themselves
in such situations frequently, and they are
obliged to determine their course by some
other standard. This Paul does in this in
stance. Some of the things not forbidden
by the law are not expedient and others
edify not One must refrain from them
on one side or the other Of these grounds.
In that way long list Of actions will be
cut out entirely from the life Of a Chris
tian. Every one will see the wisdom OF
the rule
ciple needs to be guarded. What Is expe-
dent? What is edifying7 In the answer
one might stray far away from good liv-
ing. A corrective, or series OF correc-
tives must be found. Here Is the first:
wealth" This will seem to some to be I'M
practical and even unscriptural. Every
man must work for himself. eek, xx:9)
No one has a right to expect anything
without labor. Yes. but that Is part Of the
law before mentioned. Yet outside the law,
in the larger world where men rub against
one another. there Is needed an unselfsh
spirit. While every man must work and
he must at the same time desire equal OPP
portunity for other men. This Is Paufs
thought here. Let no man be so intent on
his own gain that he is Indifferent to the
the way for others. This Is a very neces-
sary principle in q social system where
acquisitiveness is prominent as in our day.
The unselfish seeking for earthly riches
will correct large part Of the evils that
afflict the industrial world.
COMMERCIAL Verse rs and 26).-
So much in the abstract Concerning every
action not regulated by law let the men
it profitable or edifying? Is it unselfish
Generally one will determine by this method
what he ought to do. Paul next presents
matters in the concrete. considering the
was peculiar. In the sacrifcial worship
of those times, Jewish and heather alike,
the meat offered was afterward eaten. 1t
was first presented to some god by cere-
mony of conservation so that all VINO par
took Of 1t confessed to that god. If there
was more of it than was needed by those
who sacrificed the remainder was sold in
the shambles markets with other meat
exposed for sale. Some Christians said
it should not be eaten, and some said it
might be eaten. The dispute was very
earnest. Hence Paul says: What is thus
sold in the market may be eaten without
any question" 1t was a purely commercial
matter. One needed not to go behind the
counter and ascertain the origin of the
meat. All these things belong to God. AS
soon as the meat comes to market 1t loses
Its religious Character anu pecoHies ioou.
SOCIAL Verse 2O.-Applying this
same principle one may easily regulate his
conduct in social life. Suppose a Christian
is invited to a feast in the home Of an I'M
believer, perhaps Jew or heather, at any
rate not Christian, he is at liberty to go.
No one is required to separate himself from
the association of worldly people, solely be-
cause they are worldly There may be good
and sufficient reasons for not accepting the
invitation which every one must weigh for
himself The Judgment of man may
not be a criterion for another. The primary
question of acceptance is with each indi-
vidual. In this matter the apostle might
have mentioned the example of the Lord.
Mark xi:16.) But II one goes to such a
feast then he ought to eat. what is set be-
fore him, asking no question for con-
science sake" duke, KID 1t will be seen
that this is large liberty. in striking con-
trast with Jewish law and custom, that put
restraints as to the kind of food, the mode