Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-11-10
DIR. MARION MICH. HULL.

We turn aside from the story in Acts
today to consider with all the Sunday
school world temperance lesson. Tenn
perance means "self-control." Too fire.
quently the application of this has been
narrowed to the control of self in a mat
ter of alcoholic liquors only; but in our
consideration of it, let US remember not
only these but in other matters that
might be doubtful. such as the use of to-
bacco, cards. theaters, moving pictures,
dancing, and many others that might be
mentioned. These are singled out mere
ly because they are The things which are
prominently in ones mind when ques-
lions of Christian casuistry are consid-
cred. There may be other things to
which the principles we shall learn to-
day may be applied just as truly as to
these.
The lesson is taken from the practical
part of the letter to the Romans. The
first eleven chapters OF this letter are
doctrinal and deal with the great topic
of righteousness which Paul shows, in
a mastery and logical way, comes
through faith alone. He begins the
twelfth chapter basing on the unsearch-
able riches and mercies of God an ap-
ton of life that we may prove what is
the acceptable and perfect will of God.
The rest of the letter is a practical APP
plication of this in showing how con-
secration of life means transformation
of character; first, in relation to our own
selves in a true humility and consid-
Grafton of others; then in the fulfilling
of the law by love and discharging all
the obligations of citizenship third, by
Ns1s.., e. h
ers for what they allow in their own
lives, since all of us must give an &C
count of ourselves to God, being guided
in all of our relationships by the exam
pie of Christ who pleased not Himself.
THE REASON.
In the Roman church as in other
churches of that time, there were GEN
tiles who paid no attention, of course,
to the selection of meats which they ate;
and there were also Jews who had not
been able to get away from the restric-
tions which the Mosaic law had imposed
upon them in the matter of eating. al
though they realized that now they had
perfect liberty in Christ since He had
fulfilled the law. There was a tendency
on the part of each of these to criticise
the others. The Jews criticised the Cen
tiles for being too lax, and the Gentiles
criticised the Jews for being too strict
and narrowminded. Pauls word to them
was this: "Since you have been justified
by faith and have presented your bodies
as living sacrifice wholly acceptable OF
God, be guided by the law of love and
realize that each of you has to give an
account to God, and not to the other1
therefore. there is no reason why you
should criticise one another"
Instead of criticising, he says, each
one should be careful not to put a STUN
bling block in the way of another You
have perfect liberty, but the exercise of
that liberty must be such that the other
man will not be hurt. 1t is un-Christ-
like to do something that you may which
in doing will undo Christ's great sacri-
fee. OF course you have a perfect right
to eat any kind of meat you want, but
surely you will not crafty a sensual
pleasure that you have a right TO do ii
in so doing you will injure another mans
spiritual life. The essence of the king
dom of Christ is not such material
things as eating and drinking. but the
higher things of righteousness and peace
and Joy. Therefore, in choosing the
things which we allow ourselves to do
the peace and edification of ourselves
and others must be the aim. Further
more, We must be perfectly sure that
the thing we are allowing is right, for
if we are not sure we are doubling; il
We are doubling we are not doing 1t in
faith, and whatever is not done in faith
is sin.
There is one other consideration, AMI
that is the example of Christ himself.
He had a perfect right to do as He
pleased, and yet He pleased not Himself,
but made many sacrifices in order that
He might bear the infirmities of the
weak. Our very strength makes it nee
essary for us to bear the burdens that
the weak make for themselves and u.s.
THE PRINCIPLE.
The Bible does not give us definite in
structions as to how We should act in
this case and in that case and in other
case, but it lays down great principles
that should guide us in our choice in any
matter of detail. Here is the principle
which is laid down for us in these mat
tiers of choice where there may be hon.
est difference of opinion as to how a
Christian should act. In the first place a
Christian has a right to do anything ne
pleases; we are free in Christ Jesus, but
in the second place, He will not please to
do anything that will harm himself or
others. In the third place, he will please
to do only those things which will help
others and please Christ.
Now let us apply this to the things
we mentioned at the beginning. In
the matter of alcoholic drinks Shall
a Christian use wine as a beverage?
He has right to If he wants to; but
surely when he looks around and sees
the great destruction which liquor
causes in men who are weaker than
himself. he will not destroy with his
pleasure obtained from glass of wine
his weaker brother for whom Christ
died.
Shall a Christian man smoke? He
has a right to; but in considering
whether he shall allow himself to ex-
ercise that right he must necessarily
take into consideration and universal tes-
timony of scientists and of educators
that cigarettes are doing untold harm
to the mental and moral and phyical
natures Of thousands upon thousands