Evening star., 1931-06-20

Our temperance lesson for this quar-
ter has been selected from PAups letter
to the Romans. This epistle Is consid-
cred by scholars to be the apostles
masterpiece. A distinguished critic has
said that 1t is 1.-The most profound work
ever written" Tertius was the Aman-
uensis who transcribed the greatest ef-
fort of the Ambassador to the 0entiles
Ito ali that are In Rome, beloved Of
God, called to be saints"
Christianity was carried to Rome by
the Sojourners from the empires capital,
who were witnesses, while In Jerusalem,
of the wonderful works Of God on the
great day of the Pentecost. They had
q knowledge Of the law, so there prob
ably were included In their number both
who had accepted the Christian faith.
Most Of Paups letters we're addressed 10
churches that he had organised or vis-
ited during his missionary travels. Many
believe that there was no organized
Christian Church in Rome when the
apostle sent this letter, because Of the
lack Of any reference to the pastoral
leadership of either bishops or any other
church ofncials in the epiBtle or in the
account in Acts Of the reception given
Paul when he reached Rome aS . pris-
oner.
In all probability the Christians met
IN groups in various homes without any
organized guidance. In q cosmopolitan
city like Rome this division would not
tend TO the development of their
strength either in numbers or spiritual.
ity. While working in Corinth, Paul met
many persons who gave him an insight
into the weakness Of the brethren in
Rome. The differences, disagreementS
and divisions which they reported to
Paul caused him to write to the Chris
tlans In the empires capital this letter.
Many of them were known to Paul, and
he was interested in their spiritual de-
velopment. because they occupied a
strategic place In winning the world for
Christ and His Kingdom.
In an ehort to remove the friction
that existed among the Christians in
Rome, which place he desired to visit
after he carried the offering for the
poor to Jerusalem, Paul tried to turn
the thoughts Of the believers to their
personal relation to the Lord Jesus
Christ. He recognised that the tie that
united them was q spiritual one. Chris
tians are united with one another by
their love for the Master, Just as water
Is the result Of the affinity of two gases
Tor one another, and their desire to
prove their loyalty to Him by their
labor in His cause.
One of the sources of dif1lculty among
the Roman Christians was the use of
meats as food. Naturally, the Hebrews,
who had accepted the Lord Jesus car
ried over into their Christian fellow
ship the view that certain meats were,
according TO their Jewish ritual and
custom. ceremonally unclean. The use
of these meats, which the council OF
GhFfattaY IA0ARFa daAfAAA g.
be enforced in the case OF Gentle
Christians, was complicated because In
the meat markets Of Rome there was
offered for sale the meat that had been
dedicated to heathen gods by being
placed upon the heathen affairs Under
the circumstances one could not be Ger
tain that the meat bought had not
been placed in the markets for sale by
priests Of pagan temples. The spiritual
bond Of love and fellowship was strain
ed, and differences arose because some
insisted upon observing the strict jew
ish ritualistic requirements in reference
to diet. especially when some insisted
that they were no longer under the law
and were not required to observe its
rules.
Christian Conduct.
In emphasizing the principles that
should govern the relations of Chris
tianS 70 one another the apostle went
down to the fundamental basis for all
Christian fellowship and conduct. It
is because In his discussion of the prin-
ciples that should govern our relations
with other believers there is an indi-
rect reference to temperance that this
part Of Pauls letter was selected for
our temperance lesson. Growing out
OF our relations to the Lord Jesus, we
should recognize that every Christian
must answer to Him Who will judge
our labor and our actions for all Of our
acts. One can't live for self or enforce
personal ideals upon any other disciple
We should seek to understand the mind
of our Master, who called US to follow
Him in q life of Self-denial, sacrifice
and service. We should respect the
Judgment Of others, knowing that they
must answer to the Lord and not to
US for their life. We ought to love one
another and abstain from censoriouS
criticism. We will hesitate about pass
ing judgment upon others II we realize
that we would be judged just rs we
Judge others. We fail to consider the
stock whence some people. who diff
fer with us, sprang. We do not give
proper weight to their environment, ex-
perience and education.
II we realized our responsibility for
the lives of others, We would seek TO
live and act that We could never be
charged with being q stumbling
block" in their spiritual lives. Many
people who consider themselves above