, 1934-11-16
SCHOOL
LESSON
Text Matt. 5: 1916; Acts ?: 4I-s7
The International Uniform sun
day School Lesion for Nov. rs.

G4A@WA Va AMNMAAIE
II ought to mean the same thing
TO be a church member and To be
a Christian. but, unfortunately as
everyone recognizes. the two are not
identical.
/ suppose It might be said that
the fact that one is a church men,
Der indicates the purpose to be a
Christian or a general alliance with
Christianity.
One young woman who was asked
II she we're a Christian replied that
she was. but II was found that she
meant that she was a Christian as
distinguished from a pagan OF a
Mohammedan.
II did not mean that Christian
truth and Christian ideals had
taken any very deep root In her
heart or life.
Church membership may be a
very formal thing. To be a Chris
tian Is a very real thing. We ought.
OF course, to distinguish between
sincerity Of purpose in a very Inn
perfect character and high fidelity
to the ideal.
We must recognize that many
people who r weak or immature
in their Christian lives are, never
theless. sincere and right-minded.
They need 10 be educated and
guided in the Christian way, and
they need TO grow in grace IN
Christ.
II Is instructive to remember that
early church members we're not
ideal in every respect. Paul found
IL necessary to rebuke many OF the
early church members, ever for the
immortality of their practices and
for their evil tempers.
And in the inner circle Of disci-
pies. before the church had been
formally organized, Jesus COM
planned more than once OF the
blindness OF his disciples and Of
their failure to understand or mani
fest his simple teaching concerning
love and brotherlineSS.
Nevertheless, the ideal Of church
membership is high, and the true
church member would be a true
Christian as well. Jesus gives a
beautiful picture Of the character
and privilege OF the true disciple
in his reference to Christians as
the salt Of tie earth" and the
light Of the world"
The world today still needs those
who viii let their light SO shine
before men that others may see
their good works and glorify God.
We shall hardly expect that IN
the modern world church members
and Christians are likely to take
the precepts Of the gospel so liter
ally that they shall follow the ex-
ample Of the early Christians in
selling their possessions and goods
and holding things in common.
IL Is a debatable issue In a prac-
tical world whether that would be
the best way of attaining the re-
suits to be sought in providing for
the needs Of every man. AT the
same time, one must recognize that
not even Communism can lay a
higher obligation upon man than is
laid by thR law Of Christian love
and brothEhood.
After all, our religicn Is tested
by the measure OF Dur responsible
ity for one another. and by the
manifestation OF love and sympathy
in practical ways.
II is doubtful how much we can
do by law and governmental agen-
cies TO bring about the ideal as
ISOLATION Of man with man. At
any rate. it Is true that beneath eZ
laws and governmental action there
must be in a true society the inn
pulses Of love and helpfulness.
IL Is only as men accept and
sponSibilities that society can at
share the common life and re-
tain a high degree OF welfare.
You wouldn't think of calling me
anything but Sophie" after you
knew me for a little while, now
would you?-Sophie Tucker.