The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-04-01
International
SundaySchoolLesson
BY WILLIAM r. ELLIS.

For April 5 Is, ssThe Christian Living
With Others. Rom. 1871, 2. 9.21.
An Ancient Letter About Modern
Social Problems.
If that keen-eyedt little old Jew,
Doctor Paul, formerly of Tarsus. could
read our newspapers for a month and
look about at our civilization. he
would probably let loose some of his
boundless enthusiasm: ~ knew it
would work. I was sure they would
come to it. They called me an i'm
law of life; for none of US liveth to
himself and none dieth to himself
The old apostles sore eyes ewould
snap as he cries: Behold the Chris
tan law. of otherism at work on every
hand! Here is a city which is not per-
mitted to empty it's refuse into the
river, all for the sake of another city
a hundred miles farther down stream.
One old-fa shioned housewife, who pre-
fers ram water for laundry purposes,
ner rain barrel. even tho she person
ally does: not object to a few mos
Z your modern business is yielding
to the same social law. Shall not a
manufaeturer run his plant as he
pieases? Not any more. Even fac
tory does not live unto itself. The law
steps jim and makes the owner install
safety devices. 1t regulates the num-
Der Of hours his employees may toll,
and minimum wage they may re-
ceive- The age of minors who may
be hired is fixed by law. Matters Of
ventilation. sanitation and hygiene are
determined by the state. Big business
and little are being forced by law to
recognize this new teaching of Jesus
Christ; that the welfare of all is the
concern of each, and that the strong
.trgt fnr he r. a
None of us hveth to himself. and none
dieth to himself"
When we conjure up the figures of
the Apostle Paul amid these modern
scenes, We suddenly realize how So
cialized our day Is In dozens of ways
a day every one Of us yields obedience
| to the principle of regarding and
guarding the rights of the people who
are part of his life. What the spirit
level is to the builder. this old. teach
ing of Paul is to orr days social order.
Our time has set its face against self
ish ,individualispl, and all unsociai
usages.
Personal Work Possibilities.
Eagerness to extend his influences,
and to count largely in his time,
and to serve to the uttermost. marks
the apostle Paul. He wanted to
have a part in the life of the new
church of Rome. Therefore. he
Z
Sunday Schools of the world are
Studying Let it be said in passing
that it is a noble ambition for the
modern man, with greater instru-
mentalities for extending and en-
sysns hs s ssas 81 aa to- b 5saa
force today in China, in Turkey. in
Armenia, In Russia. What Paul did
rfor the Christian community at Rome,
before ever he had trodden the streets
, Of the imperial city. is possible today
for every large minded person with
respect to his own world. There are
iliterallys Thousands of young people
in the: Orient today who owe their
new life of mind and spirit to modern
Americans.
3. Two years before the adventures of
Paul on his way to Rome the letter
khadabeen written to the little company
of%C hristians who lived sand wor-
SHIPPED beneath the shadow of Nero's
throne. The Gospel had travelled
faster than the indefatigable mission
Nary apostle. Nobody can catch up
with the fast running truth of God.
Even under Nero's mad sway there
was arising a new imperium, which
would give Rome it's eternal char
acter. Outreaching Paul, eager to
have a part in this, development, sent
promising to follow the letter in per-
son as soon as possible He did not
know that his desire would be fulfilled
in SO strange a fashion, and that he
would arrive In chains.
The Penetration of Plain Truth.
& Always there is dynamite in clearly
stated truth. No army ever created
can stand against the propaganda of
principles. We in our own time have
old despotisms. Every new cause
comes to power and victory by means
Of the simple statement of its truth.
Eye shall know the truth, and the
truth shall make you free" If Martin
Luther had not been gripped by the
truth that '.the just shall live by faith
there would not now be millions of
Christians celebrating four centuries
of history's greatest achievements.
There is power for today in this old
letter of Paul. because it states eternal
truth.
this one. Its imperial sweep is needed
by world awakening from provincial
ism. 1t scores heavily upon present
tendencies, and its horrible picture of
heathenism's fruits is all too close to
present conditions. If We want to
know whittier the present tendencies
toward old sophistries and self indu1-
ence are leading us, we have but to
read the first chapter of Pauls Letter
toathe Romans. Even the old law
given to Moses was unable to save a
society given up to fleshliness. Paul
pronounces the doom ITO be carnally
minded is death" That judgment
should ring itself into the ears of our
sensualized day. No better tonic for
the time is conceivable than a careful
study. by Christian people. of the en-
tire Letter to the Romans.
A very close and practical relation
exists between truth and life. We say
commonly. aft doesn't matter what a
man believes, if he only does the best
he knows" All history answers that
error Deed is born of creed. Actions
are the product of meditation. las a
man thinketh in his heart, SO is he"
This letter is a notable summary of
doctrine, setting forth Paul's theology
in Hottest utterances. Yes. SO it is:
but it is all headed up in considera-
tons of conduct. PauPs thought is a
thru train that makes no stops until
it arrives at the great depot of trans
formed character Thers is no spiritual
hot 49,