The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-08
membership in His glorious body, tn
church beyond the veil.
Let Us, Then, Judge Ourselves

Lcb O5, lnCH, JuOSC OulSCiNCc
The Apostles argument is that, instead
of Judging fellow members of the conse-
Grated body, we should be full of sympa-
try for them. We do not know thorough
ly their difficulties, their trials, their en-
vironments, their heredities. Our keen
sense of justice should find its principal
exercise in self-criticism and in watchful-
ness not to do anything to stumble a
brother--to discourage him or to cause
him to fall away from the faith.
How many find it easy to excuse their
own weaknesses, while they are very crit
ical respecting others shortcomings How
the Lord warned His people against such
an attitude! Those who are hypercriti-
cal, and wish to measure others up to the
full standard of perfection. are thus rec
ognzng a high standard; and that recog-
milton will>make 1t proper for the Lord to
measure them by that high standard. If
we could but remember that the merciful
will obtain mercy, how glad we all would
be to be extremely merciful to others!
The apostle Is not referring to filthiness
of clothing or person, but to foods which
to the Jew were made unceremonially
unclean. While the Jew was forbidden
the use of swine, rabbits oysters, etc.
these restrictions were imposed as tests
of his obedience to God, just as the for
hidden fruit was thereafter unclean to
Adam and Eve.
"Nothing Unclean of Itself"
The apostles argument is that to the
Jew who died to all nope of attaining
eternal life through keeping the law
covenant and who became united to
Christ, the restrictions of the law cove
nant would no longer be binding. And,
of course, to the GENTLE, who never was
under the law covenant, it's restrictions
would have no application when he ac-
cepted Christ.
Having stated this broad principle, the
apostle admits that if any man had his
reasoning faculties so twisted on the sub
ject that he thought himself under obli-
cations, he would be responsible accord
ing to his judgment. For him to violate
his conscience would be to commit sin,
as he would be wrong in doing what he
thought to be wrong, however harmless
the matter might be in itself.
But anyone realizing his own liberty, as
the apostle did, might eat freely, without
any reproof from his conscience or in
Gods sight. But the brother still in the
dark respecting his liberty should not be
urged to violate his conscience. Rather,
the brother of enlightened mind should
abstain from using his liberty, lest he
tempt his brother to violate his con-
sciene.
The argument of the apostle seems to
be that the brother who Is strong men,
tally, morally and physically, should
gladly abstain from whatever would
stumble his brother or anybody else upon
whom he exercises an influence. If Christ
so loved the world as to leave His
Heavenly glory to die for sinners, should
not we be glad to lay down our lives for
the brethren? And If SO, should we not
be much more ready to abstain from the
use of comparatively trifling liberties TOR
the sake of our weaker brother, for whom
Christ died? This is a strong argument
Who can deny it?
Let not your good be evil spoken Of"
Your knowledge, your appreciation, of
your liberty is a desirable thing; never
theless, you should SO govern your exer-
else of that liberty that none will misun-
derstand it and think you an evildoer.
Rather restrain yourself of your liberties,
preserve others from the temptation too
strong for them, and increase your own
influence by faithfully abstaining from
everything that might appear to be an
1t might be in your own sight and how
ever correct your own judgment of the
divine law on the subject might be.
"Not Meat and Drink
The apostle adds another argument. He
remarks, For the advantages connected
with our membership in the embryo king
dom of God consist not - the greater
privileges and liberties we have in eating
and drinking, but rather in the righteous
ness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit
which are ours because we are probation
ary members Of this kingdom class. He
who thus serves Christ Is we'll pleasing
to God and Is approved of men.
Do unto others weaker than yourself
what you would have them do for you
If you were the weaker and they the
stronger.