The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1928-09-20
Improved Uniform international
Sl11nldayScl'ool
' Lesson '
(By REV. p. B. FITZwATER. DID. Dean
Moody Bible Institute of Chicago)
t0. 1928. Western Newspaper UnionD
+. Lesson for September %
THE CHRISTIAN BASIS OF TOTAL
ABSTINENCE
Temperance Lesson.

LESSON TEXT Cor. 8:l-13.
GOLDEN TEXT-Let no man seek
his own but every man another's
wealth.
Keep Gods Law.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Helping Others TO
Keep Gods Law.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
1C-Abstinence for the Sake of Others
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
1C-The Christian Standard of Social
Conduct
In this section of Scripture Paul is
bringing to view the great doctrine OF
Christian liberty and fOrbearance. The
occasion of this teaching was the I'M
certainty as to the right attitude for
Christians to take toward things sacri,
feed unto idols.
!. The Idol Is Nothing wv. 1-6)
Intelligent people know that an
idol is nothing but piece of timber
or stone. They know that there is
only one God, the creator and Sus
tainer of all things, Since an idoI
has no real existence, the eating OF
such meat is matter of Indifference.
1t should be borne in mind thai the
principle stated in this section has
reference to things which are in them
selves wrong. Strictly speaking, there
fore, this teaching cannot be applied
to indulgence in intoxicating liquors.
To do so would be perverSion OF
Paul's meaning. The indulgence in in
tOXicating liquors, the use of tobacco,
etc, are things wrong in themselves
because they injure the human body
The holding of stock in certain cor
porations and having partnership in
illegal business are things that are
wrong in themselves. In applying this
principle to the use of Intoxicating
liquors, this should be borne in mind.
The principle can be applied only to
things which are in themselves harm
less.
Il. Not All Christians Have Matur
ity of Discernment wv. Z, 81.
Uninstructed Christians were still
possessed of the conviction that an
idol WAS really a living and powerful
being. For those persons to sit down
to a social meal where such meat was
eaten would be to expose themselves
to the liability of being brought again
r. under bondage to their sins.
- ~. The Christians Behavior in
Such Cases wv. 9-13).
l. He should take heed lest his lib
erty become a stumbling block (v.9)
.. Liberty must be curtaled for the
sake of the weak brother wv. 10, ~
3. To disregard this is to sin
against our brethren ". 49,.
To disregard our brothers interest,"
is TO sin against Christ, for it is sin
ming against the one for whom Christ
the way of the believer is a terrible
crime. In enforcing this. three impor
tant considerations are brought out {:
"a The fate of the weak brother
". ~.
He perishes. Human sympathy, let
alone Christian love, would cause a
man TO give consideration to his con
duct lest he cause such loss.
(2) The relation of the man to his
slayer. He is his brother.
90 What Christ did for the weak
brother"
Christ died for him; therefore to
sin against a brother is to sin against
Christ, because the brother is men,
Der of Christs body.
~. The Teaching illustrated in
Paul's Life (ch. 81.
At Corinth Paul worked with his
own hands lest his mission to them
should be misjudged While he vigor
ously contended for his right to ask
for support of them, he refrained from
asking. By means of his own labOrs
and the donations which he received
from the Macedonian churches he was
able to boast that he had not been
chargeable to them.
v. The Teaching Applied (10:23,
33).
l. Christians may indulge in lawful
things only as they are expedient and
unto edifcation ". 23).
2. Let no man seek his own, but
each mis- neighbours good ". 24).
The principle of love is unselfiSh.
ness.
8. Whether therefore We eat or
drink, do all to the glory of God ".
> 3D.
The Christian is not at liberty to d.
that upon which he could not ask
Gods blessing.
4. Give no occasion for anyone to
stumble ". 32).
We should so live that no one can
ever say that we have been the occa,
sion of his downfall.
5. Follow the example of Jesus
Christ (11:D.
Christ gave up all for the sake OF
<others.
The Road of Good Works