The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1938-11-17

Lesson subjects and Scripture texts Sc
lected and copyrighted by International
Council of Religious Education; used by
permission.
The importance of the home as
the divinely appointed center of all
human life has always made it a
special target of Satan. That on
slaught of the power of hell is ap-
parently redoubled in our day.
Books, plays, movies, magazines,
all contribute their filthy efforts to
break down all sense of moral re-
sponsibility. Sex is magnified, and
not in any useful or normal sense,
but rather for the stimulating of I'M
holy desires and purposes, the
breaking down of Christian stand
ards of living and the ultimate pros
titution Of the most sacred of all
human relationships to a level
of which animals might well be
ashamed.
The lesson of today should be
taught with care and tact, but also
with a holy holiness and a plain
ness that will make it effective for
God and for our homes. We begin
with word which is little spoken,
while far too often the sin for which
it stands is practiced and tolerated.
1. Adultery "a Grievous Sin
(Exod. 20:14; Matt. SGT, 28).
First, let us note that any viola
ton of the divine plan for the mar
riage of one man and one woman,
in loving communion for the found
ing and maintenance of the home,
is a direct violation of the law of
God. 1t is also a violation of the
law of man. 1t brings serious re-
suits in the destruction of the home,
and in the ruin of individual life
physical, moral, and spiritual.
The words of Jesus broaden the
Interpretation of the commandment
to cover all sexual impurity in
thought, word, or deed. While we
recognize that the outward act of
immortality carries with it con-
sequences both in the life of the in
dividual and those with and against
whom he sins, which do not follow
upon the thought of evil without the
act, yet it is true that essentially he
is guilty who had it in his heart to
do the wicked thing even though a
sense of prudence or circumstances
hindered its execution. We need
clean hearts and minds if there are
to be clean lives.
III. Marriage-a Divine Institution
mark 1868.
AS the proper background for
discussion of divorce our Lord
makes clear that marriage was or
dained by God, and that it involves
a holy union of two individuals
which makes them one. All those
who look forward to marriage
should realize that it is not a casual
thing, or a merely temporary legal
contract. 1t is a union for life-be
it for better or worse, in sickness
or health, in prosperity or adversely.
All who are married should there
fore highly regard their sacred
vows.
III. Divorce Limited and Remar-
riage Forbidden mark 1924, 10
12).
This passage, and other scrip
lures, teach that divorce is not per-
mitted except on the ground of adul-
terry (Matt. 5;32), and that any re-
marriage involves the parties in the
guilt of adultery. Aware as we are
of the laxness of some branches of
the church in such matters, and the
almost entire lack of standards in
the world, we cannot but present
the plain teachings of our Lord and
urge every reader to follow the
commandment of Gods Word.
There can be no question that di-
vorce is a major evil in our day
The writer has been astonished to
find one family after another in his
own respectable neighborhood
where the children bear one name
and their mothers another, or there
are two "sets" of children in one
family with different surnames be-
CduSS VI ulNOINC anu 1GllldI l. &c.
In some cases he knows of the IA
theirs of children coming to see their
offspring at the home of the second
husband. What utter confusion such
situations must create in the minds
and hearts of the boys and girls!
~. Children-the Gift Of God to
the Home mark i0:13-16).
How relieved we are to leave the
consideration of such sordid, even
though vitality important, matters
as moral impurity and divorce, and
turn to the beautiful picture OF
Christ blessing the little children.
1t would appear that Jesus desired
to turn the thought of His hearers
from the negative thou shalt not
to the positive solution Of the home
problem.
Children make the home They
are Gods benediction upon the
marriage of man and woman. Sad
and disillusioned will be the men
and women who make themselves
childless, hoping thus for more com.
fort and pleasure. The road to hap.
piness does not go that way. The
soft and tender baby hand has lee
many couple to full happiness, and
the JOY of watching our children
grow into manhood and woman