The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1921-05-26
IMPROVED UMrORm INTERNATIONAL
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' Lesson '
Try REN T. u F1TZW AFTER, -. d.
Teacher ~ English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute u ChicagoD
20. 1921, Western Newspaper UnionD
LESSON FOR JUNE 5
MAKING THE NATION CHRISTIAN.

LESSON TEXT-Psslm ni2. prov u:
" Rom Billie
GOLDEN TEXT Righteousness eSaIt-
eth a nation. but sin II reproach to
any people Prov nA
REFEHENCE MATERtAIs-Deut Sc
n Psalm n 81
PRIMARY ToPIC-Jesus Love for His
Country
JUNIOR TOPtC-Ioving aud Helping
our country
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Loyalty 60 pur country
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Christian Principles In Law and Gov
eminent
Not Making the Nation CHRISTIAN"
II 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.
ulent nowhere teaches that any ma
ton will be- made Christian In this
dispensntiou: but rather that Christ
Is gathering out from among the ma.
tIOns the people who shall constitute
His church. showing that Gods pur-
pose is the salvation " individuals.
Z. blessed 10 the Nation Whose
God 10 the Lord" (Psa. S :i2).
This verse shows lsraers peculiar
distinction. Israel Is the only nation
of which, IN name even, Il could be
said that Jehovah was It's God lie
called this nation into being for pc
culiar purpose. II wis not case
where nation chose God, hut where
Tod chose nation FOR His own In
hertance. IL would be blessed to have
an inheritance In God. but how in
hnitely more blessed To be- Gods in
heritnnce No nation can have
Isrncl's unique place but the nation
which today gives Cod Hts rightful
place In It's affairs shall he singular
Is blessed America has been signally
blessed In the times when she ac-
knowl,-tgrd God In the recent awful
war when the national congress set
aside day ~ prayer God heard the
cry Of His people and victory was
given 10 the allies
u. A Nations Glory prov l4:3f)
The only fame for which q nation
may justly b. proud Is righteousness
IN. rendering to all their dues. II IL
this that makes nation strong and
influential A nation that sins
counts its sacred covenants as scraps
OF paper" becomes an outcast among
the nations and eventually goes do~n
to ignominious defeat The nation
that has no righteousness as its stand.
ard has no right 90 exist.
~. Christian Citizenship Wom
i3:l-lO)
The believer In Christ Is a citizen
as well as a church member lntelli.
gent Christians will show loyalty To
the stat. as well as To the church
|. The Christians obligation To the
state wv ~ This obligation Ia
upon all Christians. The reason this
obligation Is universal is that civil
government Is ordained Of God. and
the rulers are His representatives. SO
ciety could not exist without govern
ment II is Gods purpose that man
should live under authority. To re-
fuse obedience Ia civil authority Is To
resist God
(2J The spirit Of such obedience
". 81 II Is To be- conscientious, that
is II is to be- regarded not merely as
serving Il good purpose. but morally
right.
(3) The nature OF this obedience
wv. q. - (a) Payment OF personal
and property taxes. The citizens who
enjoy the benefits OF government are
morally bound TO support II. (b) Pay
ment Of duty upon merchandise and
license fees. The business exchange
between nations must he regulated.
For such regulations expense Is in
CURED for which benefits the citizens
should pay. (cl venerntion of mag
istrates. Fear to whom fear" Those
who fear God should yenerate his rep
resentatives. that is. civil rulers. cd
Honor TO whom honor" that is, honor
Of civil servants because OF the minis
try they perform.
z. The Christians obligation to his
fellow citizens (vv. 500. This In
summed up In the word love" Love
Is II perpetual obligation. The only
debt that Is right 10 owe is that Of
love. This love forblds defrauding In
matters OF property II forbids going
into debt where there IN no reason
able certainty Of being able to meet
the obligation; II fSbids defrauding
In matters Of moral purity. Where
there is love, adultery cannot be com
mitted: II forbids murder: II for
bids stealing IL forbids coveting, for
coveting means desire for that
which belongs To another; Il forbids
the working OF any III to ones neigh