Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1938-05-20

EnAnAfAn1 4SFNS-A SSEhon VI
JUNIOR ToPIc-A Sermon on q
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR
TOPIc-Loyalty to God and Country.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT
TOPIC-Oblgation Of Christian Citizen
ship.
For God and Country Is q rally
ing cry that well summarizes the
spirit and duty Of the Christian cit
izen. So clear and inspiring are the
teachings Of Gods Word regarding
the relationship Of the Christian to
his country that one marvels that
national leaders who are seeking to
stimulate civic loyalty do not pro-
mote a revival of the study Of the
Bible. DR.. Moore Is right when he
says, mo bad citizen II q good
Christian and no good Christian is
q bad citizen" The solution Of our
nations problems would be q great
Ovangelistie campaign from coast to
coast. A man like Moody would
then appear In his true position as
n great patriot. The Soul-winner
would be more important than the
vote-getter. Why not try it!
Our lesson presents our Lord on
Tuesday Of His passion week, when
He met His adversarieS in their
cunning efforts to entrap Him in
His words so that they might con-
denim Him. The two incidents be-
fore US have broader application
than to citizenship alone, but We
may well consider them in that
light for they reveal that the citi-
zen who is right with God win be
right with the nation and with his
own neighbors.
I. The Christian Citizen Loves His
Country (vv. l3-lD.
The Pharisees, who hated Rome
for its domination of Palestine, and
the Herodians, who supported Rome
in its control Of the land, were enc
mics, but they joined forces to tempt
Christ. They knew that If He
said Yes" to their question the
Jews would be angry, and il He
said No He could be condemned
as a traitor to Rome.
The trap was set, but IL caught
only the crafty hunters. Taking their
own pocket money he declared that
il they used Caesars money they
ought to pay taxes to Caesar. The
coin stood for an orderly govern
ment, benefits Of which they en-
joyed and which they ought to sup
port
No real Christian will evade his
duty to his country whether it be to
pay taxes, to take part intelligently
in its government, to defend it, to
pray for it, or otherwise to show
his love. One Of the blotS on the
Christian church Is the lack Of civic
righteousness on the part Of many
Of its members.
ii. The Christian Citizen Loves
God wv. 20-3O.
Although this point comes second
In our lesson it comes first in expe-
rience. It is the man who renders
unto God the love Of the heart, soul,
mind, and all Of his strength ". 30)
who is ready really to love his coun-
try as he should.
The scribes loved to dispute about
which was the greatest Of the 6l3
commandments which they recog-
nized. Jesus astonished them by
referring to the passage Of Scripture
most familiar to the Jews (Deut
Ga, 81, which declares the unity and
absolute exclusiveness Of the Lord
our God. 1t may be we'll for US to
stress this truth even in our time.
for most folk regard the worship and
service Of God as something option
al. They feel that If they are not
interested in religious things that is
their affair and that they are just
as good and living just as right as
those who recognize and obey God.
III. The Christian Citizen Loves
His NeighbOr wv. 31-34).
The scribe did not ask for the Sec
ond commandment but Jesus pre-
sents it as an unavoidable corollary
Of the first. The man who really
loves God win love his neighbor.
Every social injustice would be
wiped out and every cause for strife
removed If all men loved their fell
bowman as they love themselves.
Such a condition will never prevail,
however, until men love God. It Is
too much for the flesh to put others
before self. Only the grace Of God
Is sufficient for that. Hence the real
solution Of the problems Of capital
and labor, the ''haves" and the
have nots" is to win the men and
women on both sides of the struggle
to true love for God through Jesus
Christ our Lord. In other words, we
come again to the inevitable conclu-
sion that what our nation needs Il
q revival
Social panaceas. revolution either
by force or by law, dictatorships,
all these are destined to failure.
Men must learn to know and love
God supremacy and thus come to
love their neighbors as themselves.
The crossroad Sunday school
teacher, the missionary In the city,
slums, the preacher Of the gospel,
whether in the greatly city or onI
the countryside. the faithful Chris
tan living ostf fha ioua - FvI-i.k