The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-11-11
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER !.
WosLps TEMPERANCE SUNDAY

The early Christian church had two
loutstanding problems. the question Of
the Sabbath days 1.-TWO OF them) and
the question OF eating meat offered to
IDOLS. This lesson suggests the soIu.
Mon OF the latter. Our modern prob.
fem Of intoxicating liquors is very
4 much the same as this ancient one Of
the early GENTLE Christians.
u. 1Let W not therefore Judge one
abether" (vv. 1870. There are GER
tain acts which are universally conce.l.
IedSto be right and within tile Christian
Paw Of liberty. There are nlsn other
acts which are as plainly prohibited.
There are large number Of acts which
2ie In the region between these two.
and men ought tn bc careful how they
condemn one another for these Inter
things. Where good and true men dir
FER. their acts. on the matter OF the
Sabbath tSee Col. 2:16). or on temper
nnce, must he determined as being
unto the Lord, sincerely. conscientious
qJ It Is not for us To Judge ". I3).
literally, to pronounce Judgment. They
nave right to their opinion and 10
their liberty Of thought and action, but
INV. IA, %, 23) Ls for Paul ar the
Christian, he must have clear con.
science. He must have faith, and lie
assured that he Is right: otherwise he
10 condemned by God and by his own
conscience. and Is not sincere Chris.
fian disciple. The word therefore" in
verse 18 points back 10 verse T.. which
ought to he carefully pnn,iered. AZ we
plnve each to render our accounts to
iod, we should stop judging one an.
other. Food Is very proper thing,
!and laws are also proper. yet love is
THE ruling principle Of the Christian
llife.
We ought to have our liberty cur
tailed rather than have our souls lost.
Five magnify our liberty to the sacrl-
fice OF our brothers soul we walk no
longer in love-" The demands of
christian love are more to the true
Followers OF Christ than the permits.
etons OF Christian liberty. The priv.
fege Of eating and drinking while II
tnJures others. however harmless to
yourself, Is not to be tolerated.
The word "stunbleth" here used
Nv 21) Implies movable trap or snare.
literally any impeachment placed IN the
way so as to cause another to fall. We
must never forget that even q weak
brother IL "a brother for whom Christ
died"
". Let not your good be evil spoken
pr wv. 1928. The kingdom Of God
70 not meat and drink. but 1t is a life
ef righteousness. peace and joy in the
aoly Ghost. fOur liberty is to be 20
used that 1t shall not HI evil spoken
pf. The real proof that we are in the
Singdom Of God and that the kingdom
pr God is In us Is not found In our
scrupuiousness or luck OF Il. iu our eat
lng and drinking, hut In the manifesto.
= lions OF righteousness In our lives. md
Pf having peace in our hearts u5:13).
Ihis peace must be manifested toward
pur fellow men ". 10; Oh. 1I:1s) and
heing filled with Joy In the Holy
ahost." The object Of our pursuit 10
70 be the things which make for peace.
The things whereby We may fiI one
another up. not the exploitation OF
some. pet hobby. for the kingdom OF
GOD does not consist OF riding hobbies.
IN this matter Of temperance reform
Ne all recognize that alcohol has mauy
Z hses besides that for drinking pur.
poses, and that there are various opin.
! Ionss about drinking certain forms of
1t, and various ways Of advancing the
temperance cause. all Of which nre
honestly held by many good men. hut
christian patriotism demands that pv-
Fry true-hearted man or womar., every.
pne VINO Is loyal I" his country. To hu-
mantty and 10 his God. should take
Paurs position. ~ That he will not
pc a stumbling block In the way of the
weak and Of the young. (3) That he
viii not do anything to destroy his
prother for whom Christ died. (3) That
pc VIII deny himself anything for their
Jake. (0 That his attitude will be
that Of love and not Of selfshness.
phis places Temperance on high moral
plane, but the world is also beginning
70 recognize tnat the temperance cues.
Hon Is also an economic one.
1t is well to have faith. hut 1t Ia
also well to have the love that does
not injure others by the exercise Of
that faith. The question is. Are YOU
perfectly sure this thing is right :"
When In doubt rs to whether any &C.
Hon VIII please God. doubt your doubts,
& and avoid that act.
III. 1--WE then that arc strenor us:
/. 1-3). This section is in reality a con
xtlnuation Of Chapter Il. Paul is con.
tinuing bis thought that we are not
10 please ourselves, but rather to i've
4 such lives as will edlfy or build up our
heighbor. Our strength is not given
10 US that We may glory or lord 1t
pyer our weaker brethren, but rather
That We may serve them.
To please my neighbor does not mean
that when In Rome do ms the Romans
DO" but rather to live such a life that
my action will he for the good and ell.
shcation Of my brother, thereby rlcas.