South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-11-29
THE UNFOLDING RESULTS OF
SIN

SOtNeT a man SoWetn mat also snail
he reap. is as true of nations as OF
individuals. The nation with unjust
laws upon it's statute books or which.
in spite Of good laws, breaks the laws
OF God is unless il repents as sure to
become extinct in time as if a huge
earthquake should take place and the
country be swallowed up in a moment.
History repeats itself. and we can
trace the extinction of ancient nations,
I direct TO their violation Of the laws
OF God. The nation which breaks
Gods Sabbaths, which allows the rich
10 Cypress the poor, which allows WO-
men and children to be exploited for
the financial benefit of employers. is
sowing to, the wind and will certainly
reap the whirlwind. We think in
days, and months, and years, or at
most in decades or centuries; but God
thinks, when nations are concerned,
IN longer periods, and the accumulated
centuries of God bear witness TO the
fact that people who are untrue to
his fundamental laws are blOtted out.
The culture of the war spirit. the
crime of wasting vast millions Of
money in sO-called preparations for
war, can only have one end, and that
end is disaster. This huge prepare
ton for war IS only. one step less Grim
inal than war itself, and from some
standpoints is equally culpable. The
legalizatiOn of the liquor traffic. and
race suicide, will. unless stopped, bring
ruin TO any nation.
2. Community Sins IT may be diff
ficult to specify the sins of a com
munity from those that are national
inasmuch as each community forms a
part of the nation. In so far, however,
as community has self government.
II is responsible for the veal or woe
Of its own people. Most towns and
rff fng
regulate the liquor traffic, gambling
houses, theaters, moving picture
shows, professional sports and Sunday
business. In many places we find that
large number of the people are per-
mitted to break the laws of God,
which have reference to the things
just mentioned. Ii must be that i'm
proportion as the moral laws of God
are violated, that in that same proper
ton the people Of a community will
suffer. The selling of Intoxicating Ii
quOr, whether under the law, or in
violation of the law, should not be per
mitted to continue. Liquor selling is a
curse with no redeemjng features
whatsoever. 1t is an evil absolutely
and should be suppressed. Gambling
is another community sin which is the
cause of a great deal of crime and mis-
cry; the community which permits ii,
is permitting a poisonous stream TO
flow. Healthful sports are good. but
they have become professionalism,
and the people infatuated. that it is
doubtful if they are rninistering TO the
happiness of the people.
3. Family Sins. Perhaps, next to
personal sins, family sins are the most
harmful. In many families the chill
dren are actually taught to do wrong:
taught to steal and lie, to neglect the
day school. and the Sunday school;
Crrn Ia no .,Na~ II
seeds of deadly thistles, and the reap
ing by and by will be woeful. 1 do
not think. however. that the majority
of parents knowingly teach their chill
dren to do wrong, but when they
themselves are wrong, their example
is more potent for evil than their pre-
cept TO the contrary is for good. Par
ents who, when they are dishonest
and untruthful, teach their children to
be honest and truthful, simply waste
their breath, because the children will
do what the parents do, while neglect
ing what they command. Parents
who send their children to church or
Sunday school, but do not go them
selves. are committing a grave sin, for
which the children are sure to suffer
in after life. With the exception of
when God works miracle in the
hearts of such children, they are GER
tain TO go wrong. Such parents are
sowing thiStles and will reap thistles.
The responsibilities of parents for the
future of their children is vast, and 1
hope those who listen to these words
may see how relentless the law is, that
like begets like.
4. Personal Sins. Alas; that so
many young men think il is a good
thing TO indulge in sin and folly dur
ing their youth, with the expectation
that they will give up these evil
things when they get older There
is no middle aged or old man living.
who was untrue to God in his youth,
who is not now reaping the sad con-
sequences. He may have reformed
and be living an exemplary life. but
there are results OF the sins of youth
which he will have TO carry TO the day
of his death. Young people who in
dulge in anything resembling impur-
ity. or lying, or theft. or Sabbath
breaking, or smoking. or drinking, or
neglect of prayer, are sowing deadly
thistleS which they will reap by and
by. Not only has personal sin evil per-
sonal consequences. but the evil re-
suits are reaped by the family and the
community
ffsoDvrf~b4 1912 In L : nsv;dSop