The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1935-06-27
Lesson for June 30
LIBERTY UNDER LAW
Temperance Lesson)

LESSON TEXT-Romans 14:1S-21; I
Corinthians S:9-1S.
GOLDEN TEXT-It is good neither
to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any
thing whereby thy brother stumbleth.
Romans 1921.
PRIMARY ToPIC-Giving Up Our
Own Way.
JUNIOR TOPIC-The Royal Law.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Ths Attitude of Good Citizen To-
ward Law.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-Personal Liberty and Law.
A more appropriate title for this les
son would be "The Christians Obliga-
tons in Matters Of Conscience" The
Scripture reference from Romans sets
forth fraternal duties in matters of
conscience. The background for these
obligations Is to be found in the fact
that there were some In the Church
who were very conscientious in regard
to the eating Of flesh. Likely, these
were Christian Jews who were scrupu-
lous in the observance of dietetic laws
given by Moses. Others In the Church
ate what was set before them without
question. There were some also who
had particular regard for feast days
and holy days. Others regarded every
day alike. Differences and disputes
arose. In dealing with this situation
the apostle enumerates the following
obligations:
|. Neither Party Is to Sit in Juds-
ment Upon the Other (14:1-13).
This instruction applies to things
which are Indifferent in themselves.
The passing of judgment in such cases
Is wrong, because:
l. Every man is responsible to God
alone ". ~.
2. Every man must decide for him
self what is right for him to do wv.
SD. Concerning matters Indifference
in themselves, an action which may be
right for one may be sinful for an
other.
8. Every man lives not unto himself,
but unto the Lord wv. s, 81. The su-
preme purpose of Christ's death and
resurrection was that he might be the
Christians Lord, both in life and
death.
4. Every man must give an account
to God wv. 1912. Every man must
one day stand before the judgment
seat of Christ, and render an account
of himself unto God.
II. A Stumbingblock Should Not Be
Placed in the Way of Another IA 1929.
In many things the Christian has lib
erty so far as he personally is con-
cerned, but that very liberty may be-
come an occasion Of stumbling to an
other. The following urgent reasons
are given:
1. The weak brother for whom
Christ died may be destroyed ". 49,.
If it was worth while for Christ to die
for a man, surely it is worth while that
we should deny ourselves some priv
ileges for his sake.
2. Good should not be evil spoken
of wv. 1919. Ones manner of life
determines the measure of his influence
over his fellow men. Such life will be
characterized by:
a. Rigf eousness, or moral rectitude.
b. Living in peace among brethren.
c. Joy in the Holy Ghost, the usual
characteristic Of the saved man.
3. That which makes for peace and
edifcation should be followed ". 1917.
He who causes the weak brother to
stumble through the exercise Of his
liberty destroys the work Of God.
4. We should exercise faith in God
which offend the weak brother wv.
q, 22).
III. Personal Liberty to Be Abridged
Il Cor. 1913.
Love is to be the governing principle
of the life. Love is more important
than knowledge. This love will move
one
1. To abridge his liberty for the
sake of the weak brother wv. 10, 11).
While the one who has proper knowl-
edge can eat meat with impunity, if
his eating would cause his weak broth
err to stumble he should desist from
eating.
2. To exercise liberty in such case
is to sin against the brethren ". 49,.
Shining against our brother for whom
Christ died is to sin against Christ.
The great question in all our acts
should be "Will they harm our breth-
REM" This obligation is enforced by
three important considerations.
q. The fate Of the weak brother ".
~. 1t may cause him to perish. Such
possible loss shows the responsibility
of our actions. b. The relation Of the
man to his slayer ". III. He is his
brother. c. What Christ did for the
weak brother. Christ died for him.
II Christ was willing to die for the
man, we ought to be willing to deny
ourselves our personal rights for his
sake.