St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1937-09-03
Lesson for September S
GOD REQUIRES SOCIAL
JUSTICE.
LESSON rExT-Leviticus 1s:1.la. s2-

LESSON TEXT-Leviticus ls:1-lS. 81
GOLDEN TExT-As ye would that
men should do to you, do We also 10
them likewise Luke 6:31.
PRIMARY TOPICAL Harvest Time.
JUNIOR TOPICAL Harvest Time.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR
neutrality-suspicious. the Rights OF Otn-
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT
TOPIC-My Responsibility for Social
Justice.
Labor DaS-in this year OF our
Lord textbooks out upon a world
deeply divided in opinions of what
is right and what is wrong in the
relationship between capital and Ia
Dor. Political and economic leaders
are talking much of social justice,
of a planned economy in which all
shall have 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 selfshness and sin, that indeed
is the question. In our confusion OF
thought, it is comforting to know
that God has always ''stood for"
true social justice, that the under
lying moral law of the universe de-
mands it, and that the principle it.
self is not a passing political and
economic fancy.
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 i'm
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, "Ye have the
poor always with YOU (Matt.
26:1D, he referred to one Of the
responsibilities which thoughtful and
considerate men have always glad
ly borne, but which has been 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.
There are others than the poor
who are dependent on our kind
thoughtfulness-t deaf, the blind,
and those who may stand before
us that we should pass judgment
upon them or their possessions.
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 a
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." even
as God gave command to Israel.
~. Loving the Stranger wv. 33.
34.
The man who knows what it is
to have been a stranger, and to
meet with love and protecting care,
should never forget to go and do
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 to
the stranger than the little COM
munity viii : makes him feel