Evening star., 1928-11-03

Our world temperance Sunday les
son does not take up the vital prob
lem of prohibition. In fact the Old
and New TeStaments are silent upon
the question of the hour Zenos has
pointed out that there is nothing in
favor of coercive laws prohibiting the
manufacture and use of intoxicating
drinks in the Scriptures" Paul does
not say anything against such meas
ureS, because the problem of curtailing
the use of intoxicants by law was nor
one that was agitating the members of
the early church. From Xiv.21 it would
appear that the question of Christians
drinking wine was a subject that was
causing differences of opinion and
judgement among the brethren in Rome.
The beloved of God called to be
saints" met in three different places
in Rome. Paul speaks of two different
factions among them, "the strong" and
"the weak" Evidently the minority
late herbs and abstained from the use
of wine" This was not due to any of
Paul's old enemies efforts, for the posi-
ton taken by these ascetic Christians
was not due to any Jewish teachings,
for the eating of flesh and drinking Of
wine was not prohibited by the Old Tes-
GNAACA4bAyS SAAN 6OAA4Ao VA SAAS
temperance movement had appeared
among the Gentle Christians in Rome.
They had certain principles of Chris
tianity to which they appealed for their
position and others appealed to other
ideals as the basis of their position.
Following his practice, Paul in his let
ter to the Romans took up the doctrinal
teachings of Christianity and then made
a practical application of the same to
the political and social questions. In
the epistle to the Romans, one-fourth
has to do with social problems. Our
lesson Is taken from the practical part,
which emphasized good citizenship by
its teaching of patriotism, philanthropy
and piety.
Loyalty to Law.
Loyalty to law and obedience to the
civil government was insisted upon as
Christians patriotic duty by the apos-
tie. 1t was a timely subject at the
moment. A few years previous riot
among the Jews had led to their ex-
pulsion from Rome. There appeared to
be a danger that the Christians might
be confused with the Jews, because of
the close connection between Judaism
and Christianity. Some of them may
have taken up some of the views of
Hebrew patriots. Judas the Gaulonite
founded sect that held it to be un-
lawful to obey earthly rulers. The
Ebionites taught that the power which
rules the world through civil magis-
trates was devilish. Although Chris
tianity has emphasized and developed
the spirit of individualism, Paul by his
teaching concerning the right of COL
lective unit, like the state, to curb and
regulate the course Of individualisrn
provided a safety valve for human
rights and checked any tendency that
may have existed in the ranks of the
Roman Christians to resist the author
ity Of the government.
Our Lord had acknowledged the
right of Ceasar to legislate and levy
taxes in Palestine, when He was asked
to state His opinion upon these ques-
tions by His enemies, who had sought
to trap the Master. Paul had followed
the precepts and practice of the Christ
in his position that government of the
state was of divine origin and power
was essential to that government.
American ideals have separated church