Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1941-01-30
THE INDIVIDUALS RESPONSE
BILITY REGARDING BEv.
ERAGE ALCOHOL


ERAGE ALCOHOL
LESSON TEXT-Habakkuk els: Gen.
ians 5:22.
GOLDEN TEXT-Abstain from every
form Of evil Thessalonians 5:22. r. v.
Responsible for the drunkards of
my community? Not me; am
against the use of intoxicating liq-
uors." Such is the answer Christian
men and women would probably
make if faced with that accusation.
But wait! Responsibility means
more than just refraining oneself or
speaking against ''booze' in a
church meeting. Before we finish
the study Of our lesson, we may
find ourselves guilty of the charge,
and needing to ask forgiveness, and
see the need Of bringing forth works
meet unto repentance. We hear
Gods Word telling us:
I. Do Not Tempt Your Neighbor
(Hab. 2:15).
God is very severe in judgment
upon those who tempt others. OF
course He condemns the one who
gives another a drink of liquor.
Nothing could be more despicable
than thus to start man or woman
on the way to a drunkard's grave.
There can be no question about the
guilt Of the one who makes the stuff
and the one who sells it. But be-
yond that, those are guilty who
share in the profits from such busi-
ness, who rent their buildings for
the manufacture or sale of liquor,
who vote to legalize its sale or sup
port politicians who do such things;
in fact, everyone who encourages,
condones, or in any way profits,
whether directly or indirectly, from
1.-THE traffic" Are you still mot
guilty?
ii. Do Not FAN Your Brother
Gen. 4:9-12).
Everyone who says, "Am ! my
brothers keeper" classes himself
with the murderer Cain. Certainly
I am my brothers keeper. This is
the positive side of the matter. It
is not enough that I do not tempt
my brother. The question is: Have
l neglected to do anything that
could and should have done to save
him?" :. a.s.- $50 iii
That makes it my positive bust
ness to eliminate every possible
temptation. It means that the
Christian is vitality concerned about
the taverns, road houses, dance
halls. and what not, which entrap
and destroy our young people,. It
is not enough to passively lament
their presence; we must actively
seek their removal. It can be done,
and Is being done all over the land.
III. Do Not Offend Children mark
9:42).
The Lord holds His followers to
a high measure Of responsibility re-
garding the children whose lives
they touch, whether they be in their
own family. or in the community In
which they live.
Children are innocent until their
elders make them otherwise. In
their innocency they are trustful and
ready to learn. Their knowledge Of
the right way to live is received
from their parents and other grown
ups. and (mark it wellD they learn
more from what we do than from
what we say.
Here is the question each one Of
us should honestly face right now:
How does my daily walk influence
the children who see me?" Let us
answer that in the light of verse AZ.
Nv. Abstain From Evil-Judgment
Is Coming mark 9:43-48; Thess.
5:22).
The Christian is called to abstain
from "all appearance Of evip' or, as
the Revised Version puts 1t, every
form Of evil'' Il Thess. SGD. That
may call for the sternest kind of
self-denial mark 9:43-47), but why
not? We do not follow Christ who
sought for Himself the way of ease
or comfort. He gave Himself in
complete and willing sacrifice, going
even to the death of Calvary's tree
for US. Do we then falter and seek
the easy way?
The fact that there is a day Of
judgment to come is something to
remember. but may we not stress
the other side Of the truth. 1.-THE
very sternness Of our Lords stric-
lures regarding the importance Of
self-denial only serves to enhance
the value Of the privilege we enjoy
in being citizens Of the kingdom Of
God. If II is worth the loss Of a
hand. foot. or an eye to gain that
life. then, In view of the great value
we place on these members Of our
bodies, how great must be our d.
vine privilege. Christianity il not
merely 4 negative religion, but It
takes the negative SMILES to show
US the positive glories'' CDR. John