The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1907-06-28
TEMPERANCE
LESSON
Sunday SchOolLessOn fortune 80. 1907
Specially Prepared for This Papef

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LESSON TEXT Cor 1873. Mem
ory verse. g.
GOLDEN TEXT.-"It Is good neither TO
eat fash. nor 10 drink wine. nor anything
whereby thy brother stumbleth'-hom.
n.2l
TIME-Paul wrote this eDistie. from
/ Ephesus about A ID. o.
PLACE-ft was written 70 the church
al Connth. one Of the most worldly and
luxurious cities Of the time. Paul hai
lived and preached there FOR nearly two
years "a d. y, 3d. and know the people
we'll
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES.-T
ance and power. ] Cor 9.G-J. Hos. al;
Pet il3 Temperance and honor. Prov.
u5; 1 Tim. go. 8. g. Tit - 8 Tenn
pcrince and wisdom. PROV. 1li lsa-
2s'f. Dan. 1871. Amos. 6.6 Temperance
and the future. ! Cor. 8. 10 Matt 1i,is-
81 Luke. 2l.si. Gal 5.2i. ! Ihes. SO, l
Pet Al
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
The Problem-Before Paul and 81
fore Us.-The new religion that Paul
preached was. 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 Nv
ing. II banned as wrong deeds that
for centuries had been accepted as
proper and even pious. Il 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 ques-
ton whether the Gentle converts
should be required 10 become Jews.
But the most generally perplexing
question. al least for Christians living
in Gentle cities like Corinth. was
whether they should eat meat that
had been offered 10 idols.
On the one hand, they should re-
fuse 10 partake Of such meats. because
Cd the practice had been forbidden
BY the decree Of the council at Jeru-
salem seven years before (Acts
1920. 90 Because the act was pc
culiarly offensive 10 their Jewish
brethen. 90 To use the flesh which
had once been offered 10 a heather
divinity, even in ordinary circum-
stances, would be an announcement
Of the practice Of sacrifice; much
more 10 partake Of the banquets
which took place In the precincts OF
the temple itself. and on the scene OF
those Mcentious orgies with which
the heather worship was go often ac-
companied. Stanley (See 1 Cor.
'S:9-l3J (D There was especial dan
ger that the disciples themselves
would be led not only into the cere--
monial but the moral pollutions con.
nected with idolatry. go There was
LANCER OF leading into temptation
those who were not strong In the
faith. and Of inducing them 10 act
contrary to their consciences.
On the other hand. It seemed right
20 partake. % The decree at Jeru-
salem given IN Acts IS was intended
or special circumstances. and not for
4 universal rule. The letter contain
ing Il was addressed only 10 the
hurches Of Antioch. Syria and Gill
,ia."-Cambridge Bible 90 There
vas no essential wrong IN eating such
neat AN idol is nothing In the
world" II they abstaincd they
reemed 20 say that an idol was real
being and so they gave a sanction
% superstition. "-F. W Robertson
80 The prohibition interfered with
ne Christian liberty. and such liberty
g Of the utmost importance 10 an
- The prohibition would cause
great deal Of difficulty In obtaining
meats FOR food. 60 Any unnecessary
burdens on disciples hindercd others
rom becoming Christians 90 II
compelled the disciples 20 keep away
rom almost an social and civil as
scmhlies. and prevented them from IN.
luencing their heather neighbors to-
ward the gospel CD Such emphasis
1n matters not wrong In themselves
would call attention away from real
sins and crimes. Il IS always danger.
1us % lay as much emphasis on incl.
lental things. as on the great truths
and principles.
The parallel with the modern liquor
problem Is very close in all this Tho
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.
ticians with their laws. citizens with |
their votes. artists with their pictures.
poets with their songs. farmers with /
fheir corn and rye, pharmacists with /
their drugs. and even confectioners |
with their candles-almOst every one /
is liable 20 become involved IN the /
SIN Of the saloon II touches, soon or /
late. every household Here also. as /
In the matter OF meat offered 10 idols, /
there Is the fear Of driving men from /
by appearing TO De over
strict. censorious. and cranky" How
Gar shall a Christian go In conformity 1
10 the saloon. and 20 a society where /
strong drink Is such a power? This /
is an important practical problem for
every one
Practical Points.
Eating and drinking are mentioned
merely because Paul had been talking
about them; the principle he lays
down here applies 70 an life The
modern idea OF some acts being re.
hgious and some secular is neither
here nor elsewhere recognized by St