Evening star., 1921-09-17
Sunday School Lesson

priests had placed on the market, be.
cause they did not how the eating of
such meat had any special spiritual
value, Paul recognised the liberty OF
wished. He points out that while the
law Of liberty allows the Christian the
right to eat food that he could not
eat under the Mosaic law. yet the ex-
ercise of that right should be In har-
mony with the responsibility of the
others While its application of self
restraint was called for by the pc
! culiar conditions of the Corinthian
Church yet it's application to the tenn
apparent. There Is no escaping Its
force. for 1t summons all Christians
to practice abstinence for the sake OF
the weaker brother.
The discovery Of distilling alcohol
was not made until the seventh CEN
tury after Christ and one need not
hesitate from the study Of the Lord
teachings to claim that II He were
among men today He would be found
opposing the sale and use OF intoxl-
eating drinks as a beverage. Every
Christian ought to be controlled by
the law of love for the welfare OF
those who are weaker than himself,
so that his actions will not cause an
other to stumble. yet he is also to re-
member his relation to the church
that is the :'temple of God" that re-
fleets the love of the Father to men in
service for their uplift. The spirit
dwelleth" in the church. Dtnerences
and divisions destroy the effectiveness
Of the work of the organization tnat
the Lord Jesus had appointed to re-
veal his law and life to man. hence
no one ought to insist on having ms
way when 1t would promote discord
and divisions in the church. The spfr-
1t of love rebukes that selhshneSs
Il.
ed upon to adjust their actions so
that they will be perfectly Christ
like.
The Christian is to glorify God in his
physical, mental and spiritual lie. II
he is to do that he will abstain from the
use of anything that will weaken his
physical power. impair his mind. or In
terfere with his spiritual life: whether
in the home or social affairs Of life. The
Christian cause is injured by narrow.
irritable. egotistical individuals VINO
put self above Christ. and even with
them one must exercise charity ana
spirit of liberation. but not when by so
doing.the well being Of others Is in any
way impaired. The one who insists upon
his rights and liberties at all times and
under all occasions Is poor representa- :
tive of Christ, who sought to do MT His
own will. but that Of the Father. Every
Christian will reveal his relation TO the
Master by practicing abstinence for the
sake OF others. Inc LOru y CAUSE Cdiis
for the practice Of temperance.
Science has demonstrated that the at
titude of the scriptures in reference to
! the use of intoxicating beverages is cor
| rect When the eminent surgeon. DR..
Charles H Mayo, Of Rochester. Mimi.
was chosen head of the American Med
ical Association. he called upon the
members OF that organization to form
"a fighting phalanx for prohibition and
! suggested that the physicians prescrip-
tion for alcohol be consigned to the
waste paper basket" His position re-
ceived the hearty approval of those VIII,
| heard him. Not only science. but our
government, has made the principle OF
Paul a part of the Constitution. requir-
| ing all 10 cease using alcohol as bev-
erage in our social life.
The application Of the Christian prin-
, ciples. that Paul gave to settle the
differences concerning the eating of food
| will solve most of the social problems.
Whenever the followers of Christ prac-
| tice seff-denial, self-restraint and self
sacrifice for the benefit Of others in any
/ line they are carrying out the precepts
| of Paul, as taught in this weeks study.
Let US put in practice the golden text
of the lesson in all lfe's activities.
| whether. therefore, ye eat or drink. or
| whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory OF
God"