Mountain advocate., 1913-11-07

Paul was In Corinth, a city OF lux.
ury, learning and RIGHTEOUSNESS when
he wrote this letter to the believers in
Rome. a letter Of profound logic and
ethics as well as a profound study In
psychology and philosophy.
!. None Of US Ilveth to himself"
w. I'll. Paul begins this chapter By
giving a caution as to doubtful dispu-
tations. Judgments upon thoughts"
whether II be in the matter of eating
herbs or meats, or In the observance
Of set days Who are we but fellow
servants ". ~ OF Godi About such
things as habits and observance Of
days we must each be assured In our
own minds, ". 81, but while that Is
true yet. none liveth to hinself'
". u. for I'VE are the Lords" ". 81.
He il the universal Lord, both of the
living and the dead. ". 81. What folly,
therefore. for any believer to set him
self up in judgment upon his brother
Four Things Suggested.
~. solve an account to God" w.
1918. Verse IL suggests four things:
~ A universal summons. each one
Of u.s." great and small, obscure or IA,
nous, each one must appear, mona
overlooked, none excluded, none ex.
cused. (2) A particular summons,
each one of u.s." not en- masse. but
as separate units. (3) A purposeful
summons. ito give account" not OF
others but each of himself. It will not
be blind Justice" that shall await us
there, but holy God, one who knows
all, sees all, every thought and imagi-
nation of the human heart (Gen. $3.50
and whose judgment will be righteous.
(4) A rightful summons, because of its
source, before God" and shall not the
Judge of the whole earth do right?
No excuse because of the failure Of
others will avail, no subterfuge be &C.
ceptable, "strict justice" will condemn.
Man-made laws and ordinances as to
what We eat or what days we may OBJ
serve will then be revealed IN the
white light of the God whose name is
love. In the light Of such a prospect
how pertinent therefore that we turn
". 49,, from judging others and look
well to our own conduct. lest that con.
duct become a rock of stumbling to
other and weaker brethren.
Another Law.
III. "FoIIow after things which make
for peace" w. 1928. To follow that
which shall edify is to exercise the
law OF liberty" James In his epistle
0:25, 2:12) tells us to look into this
law and to continue therein for by it
we shall be judged, yet there Is still
another law, ''the royal law" (2:S,
Matt. 22:3640). the fulfilling of which
will settle every question OF mans re-
lation to man. We should 80 use our
liberty that 1t be not evil spoken OF
or become rock of stumbling to any.
Whether or not the kingdom of God
be In us, or we in the kingdom, de-
ponds not upon the scrupulous obsery-
ance of ordinances either as to eat
ing. or the observance of days, but
rather In the manifest righteousness of
our lives and In having peace in our
hearts, CHI. Is: 10. being filed with 10y
in the Holy Spirit" v. II. Therefore.
II to eat meat shall cause my brother
to stumble or to be made weak ". 2D
II will eat no flesh for evermore,"
|. Cor. S:l3.
All OF this leads up to the true prin-
ciple OF total abstinence as revealed
In verse 81. ut is good not to eat
flesh, nor to drink wine. nor to do
anything whereby thy brother stun.
bleth or is offended" This does not
alone apply to the Great American
Juggeriraut, the commerciallzed liquor
traffic, which. according to the United
States Supreme court, has no legal
ground upon which TO stand When |
the members Of the churcn of God
In this land OF liberty" shall each
be governed by this principle it will !
not be long before the liquor problem |
any many other questions that are |
troubling US will be settled. The real |
question will not be 'Is II wrong?" /
but rather, How will It affect my
brother?" All meats are clean. we |
know that Acts 1915, but we ALEC
know that many ca4not eat, cannot
participate In our acts, with a clear |
conscience because in so taking part /
there comes before the mind OF the |
weaker brother the evil associations
and practices which 80 frequently ac-
company such acts or such eating.
Our indulgence. no matter how limo
cent and entirely harmless 1t may be
TO US. is therefore not 20 be thought
OF. This settles the drink question.
the tobacco habit. dancing. card play.
Ing. theater going. and all question
able amusements."
For once teach a temperance lesson
not on the ground OF the narrowing
effects OF this awful traffic. but try TO
show that intemperance is largely the
result OF selnshness. Show how less
In our social relations
would help to keep men away from
The saloon. Less seldshness In money
would keep us from accepting bloody
tar money. Less selhshness on the
part OF churches by activities during
the week would keep children and
Toung reoplo from growing familiar
with end finally embracing the mon
,ter vice. Many ancient authorities