Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-25

World Temperance Sunday calls for
us to consider lesson from an epistle
that has been in modern days q battle
ground for freedom. We have come to
an hour when the followers of Jesus
use the spiritual weapons that He has
given US to conquer the world for Jim.
The members of the Catalan Church
faced the peril of losing their spiritual
freedom by becoming followers of the
law that was established TO guide men
to Christ, but not to hold in subsection
those whom He had saved. The true fol-
lower of the Lord Jesus seems to the
worldly minded person TO be living UNI
der constant restraint. The apparent
restraints are not his Masters because
he originates controls and imposes them
upon himself" In an effort TO aid the
members Of the church in Galatia to
preserve their liberty Paul sent them
this epistle.
One of the greatest perils Of our day
comes from those who claim that free
dom, which Christianity has given to
the world in our modern democracies,
should not seek by law to interfere with
any mans personal liberty. In many
cases they are teaching doctrine that
Is destructive in its character. 1t is I'M
dernining the foundations of human
society by claiming that liberty gives to
men the license to give expression to
their own desires. A distinguished
American psychologist has pointed out
that when the Sophists taught post
war youths Of Athens that the individ-
ual Is q law and q measure unto him
self, and that there Is no authority or
universal norm. the far-seeing Socrates
prophesied that the inevitable outcome
Of such doctrine would be social dis
integration and confusion, resulting in
the downfall of Athenian civilization.
Our present-day Sophists, with equal
recklessness, are preaching equally dis
turbing doctrines to the present genera
ton" Paul held that we are never to
use our liberty "for an occasion to the
flesh" Just as firmly as he urged that
the Catalan Christians should not be
"entangled again in the yoke of bond
age" of the law, because Christ had
made them free from its grip and do
minion. He has summoned us to enter q
worldwide conflict to win all men and
every nation for Him by the use Of
spiritual weapons.
Spiritual Freedom.
Every form of modern freedom that
has found place in our civilization has
its basis in spiritual liberty. The de-
velopment Of our freedom can be traced
back to the influence of the spiritual
freedom that Christ gave to His fol-
lowers, who responded to the Holy
Spirits call to live for the glory Of the
Lord Jesus and enjoy the liberty. Their
freedom was to be the base of operations
for them, not to abuse their newly ac-
CURED spiritual life as an occasion for
INDUCING In their own passions, pleas
ures and appetites. but through love TO
serve one another. The characteristic
mark of the Christian is seen in his love
for his neighbor. 1t grows out of his
spiritual fellowship with the Lord Jesus.
1t shows itself in his life Of self-denial,
kindness and liberality TO all mankind.
He is called upon to avoid all backbit-
ing that Is destructive Of not only the
character of others but of the one who
INDUCES in SANDER. he should live a
life free from seeking the possession Of
others goods without giving fair pay
ment for the same. Unless one gives his
all to the Master and devotes his whole
life and time to His service there Is O
danger that his spiritual freedom and
life may be weakened
The Christians moral life, being per-
vaded by the Spirit, certainly viii not
fulfill the lustS of the flesh" The an
tagoniSm that exists between the flesh
and the Spirit are so strong that
the faithful follower of the Lord Jesus
will not continue doing those things,
whatever he may wish, because he will
seek to develop his personality along
spiritual lines and to preserve his spir-
itual freedom by following the leader
ship of the Holy Spirit The spiritually
minded man Is absolutely free, but the
man who boasts Of his personal liberty
Is apt to md that he Is slave to his
appetitss or passion. No man can break
the shackles Of uncleanness, witchcraft,
hatred, strife and the eyil cf contentious
controversies by hts own power. II he
seeks the guidance Of the Spirit and fol-
clete, he win ind that being led by the
Holy Spirit gives victory and progress
along spiritual lines. Paul penned this
eDiefIe to warn tNk nsembefa 81 tl1e O. :