The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-05-09
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

For May IL Is "Sin and Its Conse-
quences." Gen. 3:11.
Paris Knew What Eden Grew.
Adam, in the other world. may have
grinned at Paris peace proceedings
which amazed the world. He knew
the reason. Civilization stood aghast
at the failure of war-taught nations
to learn and practice the lessons OF
simple sincerity and true brother
hood. The clash of international riv-
aIries, the outcroppingS of deep and
designing selfishness, the ruthless
scheming to attain individual ambi-
tions seemed a scandal to the year In
which we live. Straightforward low
ers of humanity were incredulous OF
the reports of Jealousy ana intrleue
and strife at Paris; they would have
collapsed into black despair had they
known the full, unpublished facts.
Even so elaborate and modern
creation as the Paris conference re-
solves itself into the old elements of
human nature, which first made trou-
BILE in the Garden of Eden. States
men may look wise and talk behind
closed doors, but after all their prob
ems and plans rest upon what is tun-
damentaI in people. They cannot get
far away from human nature. Sin in
the individual, aggregate, becomes sin
in the state Altruism in the citizens
is what produces unselfishness in the
nation.
What allied the Paris conference
was simply what allied the Garden OF
Eden-SIN. There has not been that
change of heart which makes whole
peoples desire first the welfare of all
men The law of God is still displaced
bv the attempt to supersede it and
crafty selfish desires. The devil con-
tinues to do business with the vanity
and pride and desires of men ana Wo-
men. Critics of the league of nations
-IerI,f axriV IA
have to be a changed heart in human
ity before there can be the ideal
world; tho in the meantime we should
set up as much of the machinery OF
truly Christian civilization as is posi-
BILE and workable. Let US nave the
league of nations, and then consider
whether it is not the mission of tins
favored western continent to flll 1t
and thrill it with the fires of beneVo-
lence and altruism.
The Worlds Blacklist Fact.
1t was none other than the grand
vfzler of Turkey who himself told me,
a few days ago, that the blacklist deed
in all history was the Armenian afro
cities He was wrong for one bit OF
fruit from a flourishing tree is less
important than the tree itself. Central
to all the woes of the world, and the
producer of them every one, is the
black and ugly fact of sin. Any phil
osophy which does not recognize the
reality OF sin, does not adequately ap-
prehend the conditions of the world in
which we live. 1t is the presence of
sin that mars all our Edens.
New fashioned preachers do not talk
much about sin; wherein they differ
from every one of the, prophets,
preachers and teachers in the Bible.
There is a power within US and about
us which makes US choose the worse
rather than the better, the hurtful
VI
is sin; and they best know it who have
been most affected by it. Theological
seminaries may have doubts about sin,
but penitentiarieS and hospitals and
asylums do not. The consequences of
sin clank like ball and chain at the
feet of the onmarching world.
We are less concerned with the
origin and nature of sin than with the
fact of it's existence, and with the
havoc it is working in the life of our
own day. We read with interest the
story of the first temptation and fall;
and if we are retrospective we may
trace a similar course in our own eX-
perience-desire for what we should
not have, doubt that God really means
what He says, and determination to
have our own way, regardless of con-
sequences.
The Laws of the Jungle.
Casting aside all the phrases that
the preachers use, we ask ourselves,
what is the nature of sin? Wherein
exactly lies its distinctive quality? AT
root, and running out thru every twig
and branch of its life, sin is refusing
to believe that what God says is really
true. This takes for granted that we
may know what Gods wants of US;
which is another subject not to be
taken up here. Underlying all sin is
unbeiief. That is how Grandmother
Eve fell; that is how the latest of
her descendants stumbled.
An alluring trap-o the tempters-
and it is having an amazing vogue to-
day-was that Eve would become as
wise as God himself; that she would
be emancipated from all restrictions,
and free to follow her desires. 1t was
a religion of the exaltedness of human
nature that the devil preached in the
Garden His arguments made God
little and man big. God is only fool
ing you: he does not mean what he
says: the fact is, he is a bit jealous
lest you should eat of this tree and be-
come as wise as he is. For all expert
ence is sacred and permitted: the fact
that you desire this fruit is sufficient
reason why you should have it. See
how beautiful it is to look upon. and
how pleasant to taste. Come, cast
aside your fogy, narrow notions and
be free and divine-Iike unto God
himself" So ran the familiar seduc-
ton.
Cutting directly across this sophis-
try is the stern truth that nothing in
the universe, not even the becoming
like God himself. is so important as
obeying the clear will of God Be
hold. to obey is better than sacrifice"
cried Gods prophet to Saul The
writes, in those peerless parallels
called Jungle Tales"
These are the laws of the jungle; many
and mighty are they;
But the head and the hoof. the haunch and
the hump is-Obey''
and to do that thing despite hell and
all its devils, is the one supreme duty
and happiness of man. A revival of
obedience to God would do more for