Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1921-06-02

Z
eth a nation; but sin is a reproach to
any people.-Prov. 1874
REFERENCE MATERIAL-Deut So
Il; 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.
1. blessed Is the Nation Whose
God Is the Lord" (Psa. 80 :12).
This verse shows Israers 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 a Pc
culiar purpose. 1t was not a case
where a nation chose God, but where
God chose nation for His own In
heritance. Il 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
ly blessed America has been signally
blessed in the times when she &C.
knowledged Cod In the recent awful
war when the national congress set
aside a day of prayer, God heard the
cry of His people and victory was
given to the allies.
10. A Nations Glory (Prov. IA :34).
The only fame for which 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
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 (Rom.
13:1-1o).
The believer in Christ is a citizen
as vel as a church member Intelli-
gent Christians will show loyalty to
the state as well as to the church.
l. The Christians obligation to the
state (vv 1-O. This obligation is
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. 1t is Gods purpose that man
should live under authority. To re-
| fuse obedience to civil authority is TO
resist God
~ The spirit of such obedience
". -. Ii is to be conscientious, that
is, it is to be regarded not merely as
serving a good purpose, but morally
right.
CO The nature of this obedience
| wv. 6, y. (a) Payment of personal
| 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
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. S-10). This Is
| summed up in the word love" Love
is a perpetual obligation. The only
| debt that is right to owe is that of
| love- This love forblds defrauding in
matters of property; it forbids going
| into debt where there is no reason
able certainty of being able to meet
| the obligation; it forbids defrauding
in matters of moral purity. Where
| there is love, adultery cannot be com
mitted: it forbids murder; it for
bids stealing; it forbids coveting. for
coveting means desire for that
which belongs to another; it forbids
the working of any i'll to ones neigh
Dor.