, 1935-03-08
BIZ WM. 4. GILROY, ID. ID.
Editor of Advance

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The titles o. this lesson are in
tereSting and significant. The gen.
eral title. Peter breaches to Gen.
tiles" based upon the text OF the
lesson, is charged for titles based
more upon its application in its
reference TO intermediate and SEN
ior groups, and to young people and
adults.
The intermediate and senior topic
Is The Gospel for AL" and the
topic Tor young people and adults
Is Overcoming Racial and Nation
al PrejudiceS."
The truth that God is no re-
specter OF persons would seem TO
be written all over the New TeS-
lament and TO be inherent in the
gospel OF grace that Jesus gave TO
men.
To believe that God Is a being
N1nO Is arbitrary in his judgments.
WHOSE grace IS moved with con-
s~iderationS of preference for a man
OF one color above another, or for a
man OF race or nation above an
other, would b. TO destroy the great
ness OF God ard make him a crea-
ture Of biaseS and predujices.
The impartiality OF Gods Judg-
ments Is a condition Of the integ-
rity and righteousness OF his
judgments.
Despite the fact that he had left
all things TO follow Jesus and was
concerned about the salvation OF
men. the instructive. or developed,
preJuoiceS OF Peters religious train
ing and environment came immed-
lately into prominence as Soon as
there was a time of testing. He was
accustomed to think OF Jews a. a
preferred and chosen people who
had a sort OF monopoly in religious
privilege and truth.
When he found the gospel hav-
ing the same effect upon Gentiles
that IL had upor Jews. and Gen
tiles becoming interested in the
power of the gospel, he was frank
" embarrassed. He did not know
what TO make Of 1t.
10 required a vision from heaven
with great clearneSS OF application
to shake Peter out OF his p%reiudiceS:
and ne was compelled to recognize
that what God had cleansed was
neither common nor unclean.
The one fine thing about Peter
was that once he really perceived
n thing. he wzs very bold and de-
ciSive IN acknowledging IL.
His vision might become again
Swallowed or confused, and he
might lapse from his high mo-
ments. but his frank ayowal OF his
own narrowneSs and his own error
when he perceived a larger and
nobler way.
It was the experience OF large
contacts and larger outlook in
religion that changed Peter. That,
after an Is The way in which most
people are changed. We find II easy
10 be narrow and prejudiced be-
cause our religion experience Is so
small.
When Peter found that Corne-
Illus and other GentileS could have
the same sort OF experience in re-
ligion that he had himself. he was
forced TO realize that the gospel
was something larger and deeper
than ne had conceived IL 70 be.
II we meet our fe!lowmen SYM
pathetically and on a wide range.
the one surprising thing will be
the discovery how much Of noble
character. rich experience. and fine
&ttude and outlook are found in
rfen and women of all races and
colors and nations.
II Is through the discovery OF
this, and through the sharing
everywhere in the world OF the
things that are fine and true. that
we must hope for progress in the
battering down Of Tire barriers Of
hate and prejudices and miSunder-
standing.
The essence OF the gospel. II
men would preach il and live II,
Is this attitude OF heart and life
that is In harmony with the grace