The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1913-11-07


flesh. nor to drink wine. nor to do any |
thing whereby thy brother stumbleth."
Rom. N:21.
Paul was in Corinth, 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 we'll as a profound study In
psychology and philosophy.
!. None Of us llveth to himself"
w. Iii. 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 himself
". y, for I'VE are the Lords" ". 81.
He 10 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.
n. "GlVe 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, none
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 1t will not
be blind justice" that shall await US
there, but a 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.
| (D A rightful summons, because OF Its
source, before God" and shall not the
Judge of the whole earth do right2
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 ia
love. In the light Of such a prospect
how pertinent therefore that we turn
". 49,, from Judging others and look
we'll to our own conduct, lest that con-
duct become a rock of stumbling to
other and weaker brethren.
Another Law.
HEaIIa,., aEkan 4kIa ~ ,.,aIab lie
for peace" w. 1928. To follow that
which shall edify is to exercise the
law OF liberty" James in his epistle
Q:25, 2:12) tells us to look into this
law and to continue therein for by II
we shall be judged. yet there is still
another law, the eroyal law" (2:S
Matt 22:36.40), the fulfilling Of which
will settle every question OF mans re
lation to man. We should so use our
liberty that It be not evil spoken OF
or become a 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 observ
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 oul
hearts, CHI. IL: 10, being filled with 10y
in the Holy Spirit" v. II. Therefore
II to eat meat shall cause my brother
to stumble or to be made weak ". I'll
II will eat no flesh for evermore,'
/. Cor. 8:13.
All of this leads up to the true prin
ciple OF total abstinence as revealed
in verse 81, ut Is good not to ca
flesh, nor to drink wine, nor to d.
anything whereby thy brother stun
bleth or is offended" This does no
alone apply to the Great American
Juggernaut, the commercialized liquo
traffic, which, according to the United
States Supreme court, has no lega
ground upon which TO stand. Whel
! the members OF the church Of Coz
in this "land OF liberty" shall eacl
be governed by this principle 1t will
not be long before the liquor problem
any many other questions that ar,
troubling us will be settled. The rea
question will not be us 1t wrong?
but rather, How will 1t affect m,
brother?" All meats are clean, W
know that, Acts 1915, but we ais
know that many cannot eat, canno
: participate in our acts, with a clea
conscience because in so taking par
, there comes before the mind Of tn
: weaker brother the evil association
: and practices which so frequently at
company such acts or such eating
: Our indulgence, no matter how innC
, cent and entirely harmless 1t may b
! to us, is therefore not to be though
Of. This settles the drink question
, the tobacco habit, dancing, card play
, ing, theater going, and all question
, able amusements."
For once teach temperance lesso
not on the ground Of the harrowin
. effects Of this awful traffic, but try
: show that intemperance is largely tn
] result OF selhshness. Show how les
5 selfishness in our social relation
l. would help to keep men away froI
l. the ealoon. Less selfishness in none
would keep us from accepting blood
tax money. Less sel6shness on tn
part Of churches by activities durin
the week would keep children an