Evening star., 1921-06-25
BY REV. HUGH r. STEVENSON.

Our studies for the past quarter nave
covered "Some of the social teachings OF
the Bible" They have brought US face
to face with the program that the Lord
Jesus intrusted to His church. We have
seen in these lessons that the social
teachings of the Bible have covered
every phase Of life. During the three
months we have learned that the ideal
Christian had a social service task as
signed him in various fields OF en-
deavor and how he was called upon 10
work it out in the home, community,
country and in the world. We have been
called upon to consider the social task
in connection with health, labor. pow
erty, wealth, rest. recreation and
education. Ou. studies have helped US
to realize, in part. how conditions In
the modern world are challenging the
churches Of Jesus Christ to perform its
social task. Every thinking man recog-
nizes that the hope Of civilization in
this crucial hour rests upon the churches
responding to their needs, so as to pro-
mote "peace and good wilr' among men.
Hankey in his book, "A Student IN
fers the church an unprecedented oppor-
tunity to render a commanding service
or a chance to commit suicide
History reveals how the preachers
with a vision of the Masters social
message have brought about great So
less preaching of the Gospel and point
ing out its application to their own
times. Savanarola> in Italy, Calvin in
France and Switzerland. Knox in Scot
land, Luther in Germany, Wesley in
England are a few of the outstanding
figures in the history of Christianity
who have inaugurated reforms IN clvli
affairs. Our own country has 1ouno
in every moral issue and reform move
ment ministerial leaders who from the
pulpits of their churches and pubic
platforms have championed causes that
meant the advancement of humanity.
They have not been camp followers
but leaders in the forward movements
that gave social expression to the
teachings Of the Lord Jesus. The stu,
pendous task that the modern world
presents to the churches as challenge
for social service is so great that one
cannot well summarize it in a Sunday
school lesson. Some will turn the at
tention of their scholars upon the mis-
sionary side Of the work, as presented
by Brazil: others will concentrate upon
the educational need. SO that both the
country, civilization and Christ may Sc
cure a trained leadership from our
young people who will help the world
solve the problems presented by its
physical, economic and moral life.
One of the immediate tasks tnat cnai-
lenged the churches of Christ after the
armistice was the physical relief OF the
millions who were lacking food. shelter
and clothing. The crying needs OF the
Near East, Serbia, France and China
have been heard. Press reports bring
millions have as a result Of generous
giving and the promising harvest been
fed. Not SO the lands that were over
run by armies, leaving in their track de-
struction of homes, stores and churches.
Millions Of orphans must oe more o. iess
who have caught the Lords love. for
children. While much of the work has
not been done by the churches but by
outside of the churches
and not under their control, still 1t is
due to the support and service that the
members of the churches have given
that relief has been provided in such a
generous manner, even for our former
enemies, so that they have had an evi-
dence of Christian brotherhood that has
touched their hearts.
in its economic life, especially in labor
and industry. The money power has
suffered in continental Europe with
the fluctuating rates OF exchange. In
fhe effort to return to normalcy other
countries present the economic chal-
Ienge to the church more than here IN
America, where we are not free from
disputes between the employer and en-
ploye. It has not happened here as, for
example, q friend reported to the writer
that he had found in Germany, where
one told him that his wages had been
advanced three times what they were
before the war yet that living expenses
rad gone up over nine times. The prob
lem presented by cheap labor threatens
not only the prosperity OF our nation but
has tendency to bring wages, work..
inemen and wealth down to lower
than they possessed before
the beginning of the world war.
Back of every economic problem
will be found a moral problem. In
this the church faces its greatest
challenge for social I service. The
spirit Of self-sacriflce and sharing.
which was marked during the war.
has disappeared and in its place one
finds self1shness manifesting itself
among all classes. conditions and
countries The gravest danger. to
civilization is the spirit Of sordidness
and selfishness that men are called
upon to face throughout the world.
1t has made the winning OF the peace
more difficult than the task Of win
ming the war. It has caused riffs be-
tween the allies that at times have
threatened the worlds peace, as much
as the selfish ambitions Of the kaiser
filled the. world with suffering, sor-
row and struggle. Back Of this moral