Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1921-06-02
LESSON FOR JUNE S
MAKING THE NATION CHRISTIAN

"a; Rom. 13:1-1o.
GOLDEN TEXT-Righteousness exalt-
eth nation: but sin Is a reproach to
any people.-Prov. 14:34
REFERENCE MATERIAL-Deut. b:e-
| 81; Psalm 1851.
| PRIMARY TOPIC-Jesus' Love for His
| Country.
JUNIOR ToPIC-Loving and Helping |
| Our Country.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC |
Loyalty to Our Country
| YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
| Christian Principles in Law and Gov"
| eminent
Not Making the Nation Christian"
if the lesson committee please. Neither
of the passages chosen for today's
lesson has any bearing on the title
chosen by the committee. However,
they do set forth some important
teachings regarding the nation, and
the teacher should carefully bring out
their vital meaning. The New Tesla
ment nowhere teaches that any ma
ton will be made Christian in this
dispensation; but rather that Christ
is gathering out from among the ma
tons the people who shall constitute
His church, showing that Gods pur-
pose is the salvation of individuals.
I. "BIessed Is the Nation Whose
God Is the Lord" (Psa. 80: 12).
This verse shows Israels peculiar
distinction. Israel is the only nation
of which, in name even, it could be
said that Jehovah was its God. He
called this nation into being for pc
culiar purpose. 1t was not q case
where nation chose God, but where
God chose nation for His own in
heritance. Itawould be blessed to have
an Inheritance in God, but how in
finitely more blessed to be Gods In
heritance No nation can have
Israel's unique place, but the nation
which today gives God His rightful
place in it's affairs shall be singular
ly blessed. America has been signally
blessed in the times when she &C.
knowledged God. In the recent awful
war when the national congress set
aside day of prayer, God heard the
cry of His people and victory was
: given to the allies.
II. A Nations Glory prov. 14:34).
The only fame for which a nation
|, may justly be proud is righteousness
the rendering to all their dues. 1t is
this that makes a nation strong and
influential. A nation that sins
!. counts it's sacred covenants as scraps
a of paper" becomes an outcast among
/ the nations and eventually goes down
+ to ignominious defeat. The nation
It that has no righteousness as its stand
u ard has no right to exist.
f Ill. Christian Citizenship (Rom.
e 13:1-10).
# The believer in Christ is citizen
) as well as church member. 1ntelli-
4 gent Christians will show loyalty to
t the state as well as to the church.
/. 1. The Christians obligation to the
d state wv. 1-O. This obligation is
i, upon all Christians. The reason this
$, obligation is universal is that civil
l. government is ordained Of God, and
It the rulers are His representatives. So
1t ciety could not exist without govern
r. ment. 1t is Gods purpose that man
h should live under authority. To re-
IS fuse obedience to civil authority Is to
|
It resist God.
e (2) The spirit of such obedience
". 81. 1t is to be conscientious, that
is, it is to be regarded not merely as
serving a good purpose, but morally
u right.
(3) The nature of this obedience
;. wv. 6, y. GAY Payment of personal
J and property taxes. The citizens who
= enjoy the benefits of government are
morally bound to support it. (b) Pay
ment of duty upon merchandise and
license fees. The business exchange
between nations must be regulated
For such regulations expense is in.
cured, for which benefits the citizens
should pay. (c) Veneration of mag
istrates. Fear to whom fear" Those
who fear God should venerate his rep
resentatives that is, civil rulers. ca
Honor to whom honor" that is, honor
of civil servants because of the minis
try they perform.
2. The Christians obligation to his
fellow citizens wv. 500. This Is
summed up in the word "love." Love
Is perpetual obligation. The only
debt that Is right to owe is that Of
love. This love forblds defrauding IL
matters of property; it forbids goint
into debt where there is no reason
able certainty Of being able to NEE
the obligation; 1t forbids defruudinl
in matters of moral purity. Where
there is love, adultery cannot be com
mitted: it forbids murder; it for
bids stealing; it forbids coveting, TO
coveting means desire for tina
which belongs to another; it forbid