The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1937-09-02
IMPROVED
UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
.S SS06y
Lesson for September S
GOD REQUIRES SOCIAL
JUSTICE.
BY REV. HAROLD L. LUNDQUIST.
Dean of the Moody Bible Institute
of Chicago.
q Western Newspaper Union.

LESSON TEXT-Leviticus 19:1.18, 32-37.
GOLDEN TEXT-As we would that men
should do to you, do ye also to them
likewise. Luke 6:31.
PRIMARY TOPICAL Harvest Time.
JUNIOR TOPICAL Harvest Time.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
-Championing the Rights of Others.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
My RESPONSIBILITY for Social Justice.
Labor Day-in this year of our
Lord 1937-looks out upon a world
deeply divided in opinions of what
is right and what is wrong in the
relationship between capital and la
Dor. Political and economic Leaders
are talking much of social justice,
of a planned economy in which all
shall have a full share of the prod
ucts of labor. Surely, we would all
agree that there should be only
kindness and justice in all such
dealings of man with man. But how
to accomplish that result in world
of selfishness and sin, that indeed
is the question.
Unfortunately, many of those in
the church who have greatly
stressed social relationships have
forgotten that the true foundation
for such teaching and living is the
preaching of the gospel of re-
demption. In reaction to their inn
possible position, others who have
faithfully preached the necessity of
regeneration have forgotten to
stress the need of the expression of
regenerated life in the social rela-
tionships of man. We need God
given balance, with a proper re-
Election of gospel truth in honest and
helpful living. God wants his peo-
pie to show that they belong to him
by
1. Providing for the Poor and
Needy wv. 9, 10, IA, 15).
When Jesus said, eye have the
poor always with you" (Matt.
26:1D, he referred to one of the
responsibilities which thoughtful and
considerable men have always glad
ly borne, but which has been a con-
slant problem to both individuals
and nations. We have dealt with it
in our day on broad and supposed
ly scientific basis, but those who
are closest to it are quick to admit
that we have even now an imperfect
solution. In the days of Israel the
poor were fed by the purposeful
leaving of gleanings in the field
which the needy were free to gather
as their own. Thus they had the JOY
of helping themselves even as they
were being helped by others, and,
in the final analysis, by God him.
self.
ii. Guarding AnOther's Reputation
wv. 1919.
Gossip is a destructive means OF
breaking down the good standing
of another. 1t is sin all too COM
mon in our day, even within the
circle of Gods own people. Tale.
bearing and evil-speaking are q
blight on our social and religious
life. We should put them away.
Akin to this common and awful
sin is the bearing of grudges and
the seeking for revenge, neither Of
which serves any good purpose.
III. HonOring the Aged ". 32),
Old age pensions undoubtedly
have their place in our complicated
social life, but it is evident that
they would be entirely unnecessary
If men and women had in the fear
of God honored "the hoary head
and "the face of the old man," ever
as God gave command to Israel
Nv. Loving the Stranger wv. 49,
S4).
The man who knows what it is
to have been stranger, and tc
meet with love and protecting care
should never forget to go and dc
likewise. Living, as many of us
do, in great cities makes this some.
what of a problem, and yet one
sometimes wonders whether the
busting city is not often kinder tc
the stranger than the little com.
munity, which makes him fee
like an outsider"
v. Being Honest in Business wv,
lib, IS, 36).
No stealing, no false swearing, nc
defrauding, no Withholding of wages
for all these things dishonor or pro
fame the name of thy God"
A good motto to hang up behind
the counter or over the desk in q
business house is found in the words
of verses IS and So. False bottoms
trick scales, short measure-oh
yes. they are against the city ordi
nance, and you will be fined if you
are caught. But remember, they
are also an abomination in the sight
of the Lord.
The closing verse of our lesson
reiterates that important truth. Ir
carrying out the tenets of social
justice we are not simply being
humane and kind. We are observ.
ing the statutes and ordinances Of
the Eternal One, him who says, 81
am Jehovah"