The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-09-22
BY WIN. E. GILROY, ID. ID.
Editor of The CongregatiOnaliSt


THE worlds temperance lesson
Il is based upon tbs famous
passage in which Paul discusses the
philosophy and practice of Chris
tian conduct.
In that sphere of life where the
customs and opinions of men diff
fer greatly, with corresponding diff
ferenceS of conscientious conviction,
the question that arose here in this
licentiouS and pagan city of Corinth
was concerning meat offered to
idols. The quantity of such meat
was excessive for the needs of the
temple, and it was the custom to
sell portions of this meat in the
shambles of public market places.
Immediately there was a division
among Christians concerning this
meat. Some said, 1T was offered
to idols. 1t is tainted with its as
sociations in a pagan worship, with
which are associated also immoral
rites and practices. We cannot eat
such meat"
Others took a very practical and
hard-headed view of the matter
They said, What is an Idol? An
idol is nothing. The meat is not diff
ferent in its usefulness, or in its
quality in supporting life because it
has been offered to an idol. We dc
not believe in the idol; W do not be-
lieve in the sacrifice of meat to it
Why should we not eat the n cat?'
So there arose rather a sharp con-
tention between these two types.
1t ought to have been possible foI
men with conscientious convictions
to have had proper consideration
for one another. Why should the mar
who could not conscientiously eat
this meat condemn the men who
conscientiously could? Why should
the men who could eat it conscien-
tiously despise the brother whose
conscience troubled him?
Paul saw the whole problem from
a standpoint higher than either
party to the controversy. He seems
personally to have shared the view
of those who had no objection inner
emily to partaking Of the meat, but
his deep sympathies for the weaker
brother made him exceedingly un-
willing to offend him or to become
for him an occasion for stumbling.
Was Paul right? Is there not &
danger that in failing to follow
ones conscientious freedom one
encourages the prejudice and mar
rowness of the weaker brother
or becomes a stumbling block II
his path only because this weaker
brother is looking for occasion!
or stumbling where he ought to b
pulled Up or kicked up into a stall.
Wart and strong positions
Sometimes we are inclined X
think Paul's argument of consid
Grafton for the weaker brothe,
has been altogether overdone, anC
we have wondered whether il Pau
had seen the use to which it ha
been put he would not have repu
dated its being made an occasion
of enforcing narrow prejudices.
When one comes to consider TIN
application of this lesson in. tn,
realm of intoxicating liquor ant
its use, the argument is rathe
more convincing because here w
are dealing with something tina
is dangerous in its effect boil
upon the individual and society.
Here weakness is not altogethe
matter of prejudice. There ar
those to whom the wine cup or tn
cocktail is both temptation an
menace. 1t is perfectly con
Sistent and noble attitude for one b
take the ground of total abstinenc
even though he feels that moderat
drinking has never done him an
harm. BY his example and inf1u
ence he thus helps to establish safe
guards against a recognized evil an,
does all in his power to encourag
in other men sobriety and the dis
use of that which has occasioned s.
much havoc in human life.
Here it is not a question of mea
offered to idols, but question o
regarding something that Is eithe
inherently dangerous or is asso
ciated with danger.
If the drinking of Intoxicating
liquor were purely personal matte
the argument might not be s.
strong, but the drinking habits o
individuals imply a traffic which
very quickly becomes a power TO
evil.