Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-07-13
TEMPERANCE
LESSON
Sunday SehoOlLessos fortune 80. 1907
Specially Prepared Tor This Pager

CRY verse. 81
GOLDEN TENT.-''1t IS good neither 20
eat flesh. nor 10 drink wine. nor anything
whereby thy brother s,urnbieth. Rom.
18.2l
TINfE-Paul wrote this epistle. from
Ephesus, about A. ID go
PLACE-It VAS written o. che church
az Corlnth. one ~ the MOSS worldly and
luxurious cities of the time. Paul had
lived and preached there Cor nearly two
years CA u. o.. $50. and knew the people
well
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES Temper
nucc and power. D Cor. e.---7. Hos 4,ll;
Pet 1.12 Temperance and honor Prov
81 3. Tim go. O. So Tit. l--f. s. Tenn
pcrance and wisdom. Prov. 4t. lsa-
2s7. Dan. 1891. Amos. CSC. Temperance
and the future; Cor 8. 30. Mate PASS
OF; Luke. 2l.sl. Gal 5-l. Thcs 5-j, 4
Pet. f.I
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
The Probieu-Before Paul and Be
fore Us.-The new religion that Paul
preached was. as was said OF &C. turn
ing the world upside down. IT. intro
duced new tests of conduct and set
up new and cXactinE standards of i've
ing. IL banned as wrong. deeds that
Tor centuries had been accepted as
proper and even pious. It is no won
der. therefore. that Paul. writing in
those disturbed times. was often
obliged 10 discuss questions OF con
duct that perplexed the Christians
themselves Some of these were the
matter of a rest day. whether they
should observe the Jewish Saturday
Sabbath or the Christian Sunday or
both: the matter of divorce, the Qucs-
tion whether the Gentle converts
should Doe required Go become Jews.
But the most generally perpleuns
question go least for Christians living
in Gentle cities like Cor.nth, was
whether they should eat meat that
had been offered no idols.
on tho one band. they should re-
fuseN rartake of such meats. because
CD The practice had been forbidden
by the decree Of the council at Jeru-
salem seven years before tActs
1920. l2l Because the act was pc
culiarly offensive 60 their Jewish
brethen. Dal TO use the flesh which
had once been offered 90 "a heather
divinity "Cven in ordinary circum-
stances. would Doe am encouragement
OF the practice 0f sacrifice, much
more 90 rartaEc OF the banquets
which took place in the precincts of
the temple ITSELF and on The scene Of
those licenuous orgies with which
the heather Worship was $50 often ac-
Comuauicd Stanley. tSee 7 Cor.
S:9l3l CD There was especial dan
ger that thc disciples themselves
would Doe lcd not only into the core-
monial. but the moral pollutions con-
nccted with iioletry. l5) There was
danger OF leading into temptation
those who were not strong I'm the
faith, and of inducing them 90 act
contrary 90 their cousciences.
on the other hand 81 seemed right
10 partake. O) The decree at Jeru-
salem "given in Acts 10 was intended
for special circumstances. and not for
a universal rule. The letter contain
ing IL was addressed only TO the
churches Of Antioch. Syria and Gill
cia."-Cambridge Bible 90 There
was no essential wrong in eating such
meat An idol is nothing in the
world" III they abstained, they
seemed 90 say that an idol was a real
being and so they gave a sanction
CD The prohibition interfered with
the Christian liberty. and such liberty
is OF the utmost Importance TO all.
(4) The prohibition would cause a
great deal of dimculty in obtaining
meats for food go Any unnecessary
burdens on disciples hindered others
from becoming Christians 90 II
compelled the disciples 20 keep away
from almost all social and civil as
sembHes. and prevented them from in
fluencing their heather neighbors TO-
ward the gospel. 90 Such emphasis
on matters not wrong in themselves
would call attention away from real
sins and crimes. II Is always danger
Gus to lay as much emphasis on Incl
dental things, as on the great truths
and principles
The parallel with the modern liquor
problem is very close in all this. The
evil of strong drink Families every.
where. There is scarcely a trades.
man but may be called upon 10 work
IN the interests of the saloon. News
papers with their advertisements. poll
Jicians with their laws. citizens with
their votes, artists with their pictures
poets with their songs. farmers with
their corn and rye. pharmacists with
their drugs, and even confectionery
with their candies-almost every one
is liable TO become involved in thu
sin OF the saloon. II touches. soon OF
late. every household. Here also. a:
in the matter of meat offered To idols
there is the fear OF driving men from
Christianity by appearing TO be over
strict, censorious. and cranky" How
far shall a Christian go IN conformit,
20 the saloon, and 10 a society wher,
strong drink is such a power? This
IS an important practical problem 70
every one.
Practical Points.
Eating and drinking are mentioned
merely because Paul had been talkin,
about them; the principle he lay.
down here applies TO all life 9TH,
modern idea OF some acts being re
1igious and some secular is neIthei
here nor elsewhere recognized by st
sauI.""-Enicott.