The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1907-06-28
TEMPERANCE
LESSON
Sunday SchsolLesson fortune 80. 1907
Srsc.al.y Prssarr1 FOR This Paper


eat acsA nor 20 drink wine. nor anything
whereby thy brother stumbleth. Rom.
1871
TIME-Paul wrote this cpis,le. from
Ephesus. about 4. u. s..
! pI.ACE-It was written 20 the church
al Cornth. one ~ the most worldly and
luxurious cities az the time. Paul had
lived and preached thcre for nearly two
Yeas CA D. 81 So, and knew the people
wen
SCRIPTURE EXPERIMENTATION
ance ard power. I Cor. s.-5-e1. Hos All:
I Pet 1.ia Temperance and honor. PROV.
SIS. Z Tim. 80. g. 5. Tit. 80, Tenn
prrance ana wisdom Prov Di. lisa.
~ Dan 1891 Amos. &C Temperance
ana -he future. ! COR G. To- Matt. 2i.iS-
81 Luke -i5i. Gal s2l; l Thes- Sc.
Pet. -.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
The Problem-Before Paul and Be.
fore us.-The new religion that Paul
preached vas. as was said of il. turn
ing the world upside down. II intro
duced new tests OF conduct and set
UP new and exacting standards Of liv-
ing Il banned as wrong. deeds that
for centuries had been accepted as
/ proper and even pious II is no won
der. therefore. that Paul. writing in
those disturbed times, was often
/ obliged ID discuss questions OF con-
duct that perplexcG the Christians
I themselves some of these We're the
/ matter az a rest day. whether they
should observe the Jewish Saturday
sabbath or the Christian Sunday or
< both. The matter of divorce. the ques-
tion whether the Gentle converts
should be required 70 become Jews.
I But TIE most generally perpleNing
question al least for Christians living
In Gentle cities like Corinth. was
whether they should eat meat thss
had been offered 20 idols
On the one hand. they should re
fuse 10 rartake OF such meats because
ID the practice had Been forbidden
by the decree Of the council al Jeru
salem seven years before acts
1920 i1l Because the act was pc /
culiarly offensive 10 their Jewish 4
brethen sl To use the flesh which 4
had once been offered TO A heather 4
divi1i-5. even Ia ordinary circum-
sta-ces. would be an announcement
% the practice Of sacrifice: much
more 20 partake Of the banquets
which took place in the precincts OF
'le temple itself. and on the scene OF
hose licentious orgies with which
the heather Worship was SO often ac-
e-ompanied Stanley lSee ! Cor I
.s-l59 ca There was especial dAn
Eer that the disciples themselves
A.. ~~--~------ ---r.~--<>>~r-
We be led not only INTO the cere. I,
ihonial. but the moral pollutions con. /
.-~ected with idolatry 60 There was 4
danger Of leading into temptation
those who were not strong in the
faith, and Of inducing them to act
contrary to their conscieuces
On the other hand. it seemed right
10 partake % The decree at Jeru.
salem given in Acts Is 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. (2) There
was no essential wrong in eating such
meat An idol is nothing in the
world. II they sbstaired. they
seemed 70 say that an idol was a real
being. and so they gave s.rction
10 superstition -. ". Robertson
90 The prohibition interfered with
he Christian liberty. and such liberty
s Of the utmost importance to all
~ The prohibition would cause a
great deal Of difficulty in obtaining
meats for food 80 Any unnecessary
BURDENS on disciples hirdered others I
rom becoming Christians. (el II
compelled the disciples 10 keep away I
rom almost all social and civil as.
emblies. and prevented them from in.
uencing their heather neighbors to
Fard the gospel CD Such emphasis
n matters not wrong in themselves
iould call attention away from real
ms and crimes. Il is always danger.
US 10 lay as much emphasis on Incl
entail things. as on the great truths
nd principles.
The parallel with the modern liquor
roblem is very close in all this The
VII Of strong drink ramifes every
here. There is scarcely a trades.
ian but may be called upon 10 work
! the interests Of the saloon. News.
apers with their advertisements nou.
clans with their laws. citizens with I
heir votes. artists with their pictures =
oets with their songs, farmers with
heir corn and rye pharmacists with
heir drugs. and even confectioners y
18th their candies-almost every ona
! liable 70 become involved in tho
N OF the saloon. II touches. soon or .
tie, every household Here also az u
the matter Of meat offered 20 idola (
here is the fear Of driving men from II
hristianity By appearing to be over. a
riot censorious. and cranky" How u
IT shall a Christian go in conformity n
tie saloon. and to a society whera
.rong drink Is such a power2 This al
ar. important practical problem FOR u
Fe'y one. OF
Prs steal Points. :"
I.ating and drinking are mentioned =
'rely because Paul had been talking :, =
,out them; the principle he laws ~