Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1921-06-03
LESSON FOR JUNE 5
MAKING THE NATION CHRISTIAN

GOLDEN observation-disclosures eXalt.
eth nation; but sin is reproach tc
any people.-Prov. H:3i.
REFERENCE MATERIAL--Deut. Sc.
II Psalm 1851
PRIMARY ToPIt-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
tion will be made Christian In this
dispensati0n; 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. blessed Is the Nation Whose
God Is the Lord" (psa. 33:12).
This verse shows lsraels peculiar
distinction. Israel Is the only nation
of which, IN name even, il could be
said that Jehovah was its God. He
called this nation into being for Il Pc
cullar purpose. II was not case
where n nation chose God, but where
God chose a natlOn for His own in
heritance. 1t would be blessed to have
an inheritance in God, but how In.
fnitely 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 its affairs shall be singular
ly blessed. AIuerica has been signally
blessed In the times when she ac.
knowledged Col. 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.
u. A Nations Glory prov. 4:3D.
The only fame for which nation
may justly be proud is righteousness,
the rendering 10 all their dues. 1t is
this that makes a nation strong and
influential. A DatiOn that sins
counts It's sacred covenants as scraps
Of paper" becomes an outcast among
the nations and eventually goes down
to ignominious defeat. The nation
that has no righteousness as Its stand.
ard has no right to exist.
III. Christian Citizenship Qlom
10 :1-10).
The believer in Christ is citizen
as well as a church member. Intelli.
gent Christians will show loyalty to
the state as well us to the church. The
failure to recognize this has brought
in.o disrepute In many
quarters.
1. The Christians obligation to the
state (vv 1-7). This obligation Is
upon all Christians. The reason this
obligation is universal is that civil
government is ordained Of God. and
he rulers are His representatives So
,iety could not exist without govern
nent. 1t is Gods purpose that man
should live under authority. To re-
use obedtence to civil authority Is to
'esist God. OF course, this does not
mean that Christian at the behest Of
he state should do that which Is NOR
lily wrong; just as parental authority
lOes not imply that the child Is UNI
Ter obligation to do that which is NOR
lily wrong at the command of parents;
,ut II does demand submission MS the
aw of the believers life. This Is the
aw Of the believers life not only be-
'anse God Is the source Of civil au-
h0rity, but because ii was ordained
or beneiicient ends. The Christian
frequently has need to call upon rUl-
RS for help and personal protection
Acts 1S:12-17; 10 :35-4l; % :25).
avs We're not made for the righteous,
nut for the lawless.
(2J The spirit of such obedience
v. 81. Ii is to be conscientious, that
S, 1t is TO be regarded not merely as
CRYING good purpose, but morally
fight.
(3) The nature of this obedience
w. 9, y. GAY Payment of personal
nd property taxes. The citizens who |
njoy the benefits of government are
Morally bound to support 1t. (b) Pay
nent Of duty upon merchandise and
Icense fees. The business exchange
etween nations must be regulated. |
OR such regulations expense Is in
urred, for which benefits the citizens
hould pay. (c) Veneratlon of mag
,trates. Fear to whom fear" Those
iho fear God should venerate his rep
esentatives, that is, civil rulers. I'D
Honor to whom honor" that is, honor
t civil servants because of the minis
ry they perform.
2. The Christians obligation to his
elbow citizens wv. $40. This Is
up In the word "love.' Love
! perpetual obligation. The only
ebt that is right to owe is thar of
we. This love forblls defrauding In
atters of property; 1t forbids going
ITO debt where there Is no reason
Die certainty of being able to meet
Ie obligation; II forbids defraudlng
matters of moral purity. Where
Iere is love, adultery cannot be COM
itted. It forbids murder; 1t for
DIS stealing; II forbids covetlng. for
'veting means desire for that
hich belongs to another; 1t forbids
e working of any Ill to ones neigh.