Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-18

| no i'll to his neighbor.-Rom..
| 1910.
| During the week we have observed
| the 150th anniversary of the adoption
of our Nations flag, that symbolizes
| the spirit of our country. Its red
stands for courage that every Amer
lean should possess, If he at all times
will do the right and face every
peril without fiinching or fear. II
speaks of the courage that inspired
the sacrifices of the founders of the
republic and of all our Nations
heroes that have not hesitated to
sacrifice their life, labor, and love to
establish and perpetuate the princi-
pies of liberty among men. Its white
proclaims the purity of the motives
| that have animated the Nations soul
and service. Its blue symboliZes
loyalty that Peter in the section Sc
lected from his first epistle, taught
should mark the character, conduct
and career of every Christian in the
performance of his obligations as a
citizen.
The apostle in his missionary work
had preached the gospel in Asia
Minor, according to the samtation of
it's opening verse. an the Provinces
of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia
Proconsular Asia. and in Bithynia
countries, in which Christianity had
been planted mainly by Paul and his
disciples" The members Of these
churches were suffering great per-
secution from the pagan world, who
were aroused to oppose the followers
of Christ because they declined to
participate in any OF their social
activities, because it was not possi-
BILE to share in part with any OF the
social or political life without rem
dering worship to some pagan god
1t was not possible for them to pur-
chase meat without buying roast
or steak that had first been sacri-
feed to some heather deity. The en-.
tanglements of their daily life made
it hard for them to keep their spir-
itual life clean and unspotted from
the world, especially when they faced
the charges of being disloyal to the
government, because of their I'M
willingness to share in public fuuc-
tons that required them to pay
homage to pagan gods.
Character of Christian Citizenship.
Peter epistles are full of practical
advice to the members of the Chris
tian brotherhood, who faced difficulties
in their dealing with the Roman au-
thorities and their pagan neighbors.
1t took full 800 years for the Chris
tians to secure freedom from the
hostility Of the Roman government
and political persecution on account
Of their faith. Although the apostle
recognized that the religion of Jesus
was primarily spiritual, Peter insisted
that being right with God required
hot hal chn hn frrhf
with their fellow man. He preached
a gospel of salvation. but demanded
that every one possessing the good
tidings" should demonstrate the same
by a clean and worthy life, character
ICED like the life of the Master by the
performance of good deeds for others.
Peter called upon those followers Of
the Risen Lord, who because they were
"sojourners" among men for a brief
season, while they were pilgrims"
moving on to a better country. were
inclined to separate themselves from
the social, practical and political af
fairs of their day, because their
citizenship was in heaven, to over
come the persecution and opposition
Of their enemies by living a life free
from all forms of guilt, wickedness,
hypocrisy and envy and evil speaking.
Peter knew the power Of such lives
over the men of their day. BY their
acts of self-denial, sacrificial service,
and self-control they would exercise
a quite and irresistible force that
would encourage the weaker brother
and sister to be strong and persuade
the pagan neighbor to recognize the
supremacy of the Christian faith in
the character of the believers lives
and labor.
No. Ill -
Lindberg home have been led to ad-
mire him, not only for his courageous
mastery of the air, but for his
diplomatic stand for the principles of
temperance that he learned from his
honored father and noble mother. In
the application of the principles to
the new conditions which he faced
abroad he demonstrated a strength
of character that will help to make
many a youth not only in America
but in other lands to realize that his
observance of the temperance ideals
has helped to make him the hero of
the hour. 1t took more courage to
take his stand for temperance in the
circles of European society than it
did for him to continue his flight
when he was tempted for a moment
to turn back. The attitude of the
man who sees in the observance Of
the Nations laws way to a greater
freedom will not be easily under
stood by the scoffiaw, who sees in
the same law an Infringement of his
personal liberty. Peter called upon
| the scattered disciples to obey the
laws of the empire and provinces,
even If their citizenship was in
| heaven. The apostle recognized
| that the Christians were considered
| to be narrow, but that their enemies
would be compelled to recognize their
| Christlike character and conduct as
citizens if they lived law abiding
| lives marked by charity, friendship
| and love for others.
| Peter insisted that the performance
| of his duties as a citizen by every
Christian should be "for the Lords
sake" No Christian can neglect
doing his part in the promotion Of
good government and the eradication
Of every form of evil that threatens
the safety, security and stability Of
the government The enforcement
of law, even when one may not ap-
prove Of the same, is an obligation
that rests upon every citizen whether
he is a Christian or not. The fol-
lower of the Lord Jesus proves his
loyalty to the Christ by his fidelity
to his duty as citizen.
The Good Citizens Motives.
Back of the enforcement of all law
in a democracy Is the attitude Of the
community. Peter had good reason to
oppose the powers that controlled the