The Republican., 1941-07-17

earth.-Matthew 5:13.
The church has a grave respon-
sibility regarding alcoholic bev-
erages, but in recent years it has
largely failed to meet it with in
teIligence and enthusiasm. Let US
never forget that the first business
of the Christian and of the church
is to preach the gospel, winning men
to Christ 1t is not our calling to
attempt by social or economic meth
DDS to right the wrongs of this world.
Nor is ours a "social gospel with
the emphasis on social" But have
we forgotten that it is a gospel with
serious social implications and re-
sponsibilities?
The man, and the church, who fol-
lows Christ should be vitality con-
cerned about every influence in
American life which is destructive
to character, and right at the top
of that list stands alcohol. To meet
this gigantic (and growing) prob
lem effectively the church must be
1. Separated From Sin Il Cor.
SO, 10Y.
A church living in careless world
1iness has no testimony against the
sin round about it. In fact, its in
fluence is definitely on the wrong
side. The Christian is to be in the
world, but not of it. He must live
with the sinners, but he must never
by word or deed, or even by his pres
ence in the wrong place, seem to
condone their sin nor fellowship
with them in it.
Here we have one of the horrible
weaknesses of our day. Men and
women who profess to follow Christ
(whether they really do, only He
can judge) indulge in social glass
of wine, or sip a cocktail "for the
sake of courtesy" or attend gather
ings which are obviously non
Christian or anti-Christian. If there
is to be effective dealing with any
problem-With the liquor problem
we must have separated Christian
living.
II. CIeansed of Wicked Persons
Il Cor. 5:11-13).
Even a imam that is called a
brother" ". 1D may not be one
at all, but may be a wicked per-
son" ". 13). We are not able to
judge any mans spiritual expert
ence. His relationship to God is a
matter between him and God, but if,
in his life, he shows himself per-
sistently to be on the side of wicked
ness, it is the duty of the church
to have him put away from among"
them ". 13).
We can only judge man by his
actions, but we are required to do
that for the sake of the purity of the
church and the effectiveness of its
teaching. This is not to be done
in self-righteousness, but in humil-
ity and with the constant effort to
restore such a one (Gal. GID. But
it should be done. We are Woe
fully weak in the matter of church
discipline, and it shows in the in
ability of the church to do valiant
service for God and country.
HI. 1utcliIScHt LII OOCtIDlC illus
2:1-8; esp. l, 7, 81.
To be informed is to be wise, able
to plan properly, balanced in judg-
ment and action, useful and effec-
tive. Fundamentally every problem
of life finds its solution in a proper
knowledge of the doctrines of the
Christian faith. 1t is of great i'm
portance that we have information
about the liquor traffic, about the
dreadful results of the use of alco-
hol, etc. Helpful material on such
subjects is available, and the
sources are known to ministers and
Christian workers. However, we
must hold and use this information
in relation to Christian truth if it is
to be fully useful. A temperance
worker without Christ in his own
life and in his labors against liquor
is weak, lacking the real solution
and the dynamics to proclaim it eff
fectively.
~. Consistent in Life (Titus q:
1-8, esp. 2, S, y,
It is what we are that speaks
so loudly that folk do not pay any
attention to what we say. This pas
sage clearly states the fact that both
young and old, both men and women
yes, even the preacher ". Dare
to present before the world the un-
deniable teaching of a consistent
Christian life.
Read the exhortations of these
verses again with great care and
apply them first to your own life,
and then to your own church. What
great Christian graces we have
1'el Note that again and again
re is the admonition to tenn
lance. No user of intoxicants
be sober, temperate, discreet,
ste, sound in faith, and so on.
he writer of these notes is con.
ced that the only consistent posi-
i for the Christian individually
Tin the church) to take regarding
t5oholic beverages is that of tota.
Ctinence for himself and the lega
animation of temptation from
,qers.