The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1936-07-23
Lesson for July 26
CHRISTIANITY SPREAD BY PER-
SECUTION

LESSON TEXT-Acts 7:5s-s:4; Peter
GOLDEN TExr-Be thou faithful unto
death, and will give thee crown Of
Me.-Revelation 2:10.
PRIMARY TOPIC-A Man Who Was MOI
Afraid.
JUNIOR ToPIc-stephen the Unafraid
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Persecution, Then and Now.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Modern Forms of Persecution.
Leaders of contemporary thought
and observers of modern life decry
the evident decadence of old-fash-
toned virtues. Our times are too
materialistic, encouraging young
people to strive for worldly success
rather than high and noble char
acter.
In a time when expediency is the
ruling principle, it is well for Chris
tians to emphasize the fact that fol-
lowing Christ has through all the
years called for that loyalty to con-
victions which has caused some who
bear his name to be willing to die
for him, yea, even to live and to
suffer for him, for sometimes it
may be harder to do the latter than
the former. True followers of our
Lord are willing.
I. To Die for the Faith (7:54-8:D.
Stephen, one of the first seven
chosen as deacons of the church, "a
man full of faith and OF the Holy
Spirit" (6:5), having been called
before the Sanhedrin to answer
false charges (6:8-15), faithfully
stands for the truth. His indictment
of Israel cuts to the heart. In anger
his hearers stone him to death. He
becomes the first martyr of the
Church, that holy succession which
has representative in the young
manhood and womanhood of today,
ready, like John and Betty Siam,
to die rather than to deny Christ.
Note that in this hour Stephen
was given a vision of his risen and
assembled Lord ". $50, standing at
the right hand of God to welcome
his faithful servant. He prayed for
those who took his life ". CO.,. How
gloriously that prayer was an
swered in the subsequent life of the
young man Saul, who was Consent
ing unto his death"
Not to all who follow Christ comes
the need to face death for him, but
all should be determined.
II. To Live for the Faith 1924.
The early Church found that liv-
ing for Christ entailed bitter perse-
cution. Not even the sanctity of
their homes was inviolate. Their
persons and property felt the hard
hand of havoc-making Saul, yet we
find no intimation of complaint.
Soon they were driven from home
and scattered abroad, but the re-
suit was the establishing of gospel
centers wherever they went. Liv-
ing for Christ calls for daily witness,
for more than steadily bearing the
responsibility of life. Not to preach
ers and Bible teachers alone is this
sacred duty given, to be discharged
only in church service or Bible
school. No, "they that were scat
tered abroad"-all of them went
"everywhere." They were not mere
ly reforming or devoting their lives
to social service, good as these
might have been, but preaching
the word" ". A..
Are we who are now scattered
abroad" going Everywhere" and
are we preaching the word"?
III. To Suffer for the Faith Il Pet.
4:12-19).
1. We are not to be surprised by
suffering ". 12), not even by fiery
trials, for blessings will follow. The
Lord proves his children, even as
the reflner tests gold to cleanse it,
to prove its worth, and not to de-
stroy it. Gods testings are to prove
us worthy.
2. We are so to live as not to suf-
fer for our misdeeds wv. IS, 16).
Many are they who would have the
world believe they suffer for Christ's
sake when they are but meeting the
just recompense for their evil deeds.
It is shame to suffer as an evil
doer, but an honor and privilege to
suffer for Jesus sake.
3. Believers are to make their
sufferings a testimony wv. 1919.
If we as Christians must needs be
purged in order to be fitted for
Gods service and the glory that
Is to come, what will be the end
of those who "know not God and
obey not the gospel of our Lord
Jesus Christ" (II Thess. IL, 81?
Peter refrains from even mention
ing what their ultimate end will be,
but the writer to the Thessalonians
goes on to say that they shall be
punished with everlasting destruc-
ton from the presence of the Lord
and from the glory of his power"
Solemn words are these. Have we.
and those to whom we minister,
needed their warning?
RNu-