Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-06-02
Sunday School
Lesson
BY BEN NEwsoME-


This beautiful lesson has unfor-
tunately been the center around
which many controversies have
ragged. and pious men, as well as a
great many whose highest concep-
ton of piety was the maintenance
OF their own opinions, have argued
over the merits of various points
here suggested. We have two classes
of controversialists that trouble the
conscientious believer, and both are
serious menace to sincere, prac-
ticai religious life. One class In
ssts on extreme liberalism. making
no allowance for the habitual imag-
cry which was a practice of oriental
writer, now for the fact that our
Bible is the compilation and trans
lation OF various writings originally
worded in an anvient language and
subject both to the personal color
ing OF the writer and the posslbiI
ity of errors in the translation.
These are the people who make
theological mountains out of doc
, trinal molehills. The other class is
so very liberal that the Christian is
left largely to conjecture and the
guidance of his own fallible judg
meht. To steer reasonable me-
dlum between these two extremes
requires prayerful reading and
study and the grace that comes only
from on high and cannot be taught
ny theological senlinaries or COM
mentators.
we have here the observance of
Ioot- washing and the establishment
OF the Lords supper. One was an
incident to teach the disciples Mimil-
ny. given right on the crisis Of a
uIspute between them as to a per-
sonal preference The SAVIOR sought
10 impress upon them that excel
renee in the kingdom of God depend
ca not upon ambition or self-assert-
lYeness, nor upon having some kind
or pull" but that he was the
noblest OF all who cuold sink self
and serve his fellows most humbly
and effectively. As far as we can
see, there were no indications that
this act was intended to establish
an ordinance Of the church; had 1t
been so, the Savior would doubtless
have indicated that fact, as he did
In regard to the bread and wine. II
was demonstration that plainly re-
buked the pride and selfish desires
Of some of his disciples showing
do the most menlal acts for the serv-
Ice of those who loved him, 1t i'll
became them to bubble about hon
ors and emoluments.
Likewise the fires of controversy
have ragged about the Lords suIa
per, the literalisis holding that Jesus
transferred the fact Of
his body and his blood into the
bread and the wine. He also said
on another occasion, Il am the
ioor" yet nobody pretends to be so
literal as to claim that he wa ac-
ually the entrance to dwelling.
Neither is there justification for the
contention that he made the wine
md the bread to become actual
Iesh and blood, What he did say
was do this in remembrance of
ne His body was sacrificed and
lis blood shed for our sins, and 1t
S well that we should commemo crate
nat fact in the form which he set
Town Tor us to observe. The sacr3s
nent was not an incident brought
lp by some happening, like the
ootwashing but was premedltatcd E,
institution designed to help his fol- ,
overs remember the sacrifice on
,alvary. 1t is hard TO find anything
iIsuCdi OF miraculous IN SuCn an ,
observance. but rather a loving COM
nemoration Of the supreme act Of
liYine love. The Lord never used
miracle to carry his point when
he familiar facts OF nature served
ust as well.
The third and most controversial
,oinr Of all was the character of
Iudas and the part he played in this
,reat tragedy. We are told in all
eriousness that this man was com
nissioned from the beginning Of
ime to play his ignoble part, and
hat he could no more escape his
ate than he could have escaped be-
ng born. There are many sincere !
Christians who believe this Yet a !
.areful reading OF the scriptures !
ioes not bear out any such con-
,lUsion. The.Lord says he was mot
Wiling that one OF these little ones
hould perish" Any man who de-
cends TO the depths OF lniquity
.oes so because he wants to-. He is
/ free agent and can decide the
'ourse Of his life for himself That
iecision may be helped or hindered
Jy hereH.ty, environment or circum-
stance You have heard people ex-
use themselves for trivial sins ny /,
saying 1T is my nature-I cannot
lelp it." That is a lie. 1t is a