The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1941-05-08
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE
HOME REGARDING BEVERAGE
ALCOHOL

ALCOHOL
LESSON TEXT-Deuteronomy SAT; Jer-
emiah 35:5-l0
GOLDEN TEXT-Train up child in the
way he should 60: and when he is old, he
will not depart from it.-Proverbs 22:6.
The responsibility of the home re-
garding liquor is primarily that of
providing a place for children to
grow up under proper principles
and practice. That means that the
home should be a Christian home,
where both parents follow Christ in
life as well as profession. Young
people about to establish new
home should give themselves with
out reservation to Christ. Those
who began their home as a Chris
tian home, but who have drifted
through carelessness or unbelief,
should renew their devotion to
Christ. America needs many
things, but first and foremost stands
its need of real Christian homes.
I. Preparing to Meet Temptation
(Deut. CAD.
Temptations will come, and when
they do it will be too late to prepare
a defense against them. We are all
'defense conscious" these days. We
have seen in the sad events of the
last year that there must be ade-
quate preparation in advance if we
are to withstand the enemy. That
is doubly true in the realm of the
moral and spiritual. We must build
moral fiber and appreciation of spir-
itual things into the lives of our boys
and girls from their infancy. How?
l. By Consistent Example wv.
5-6). Only the father Cor mother)
who loves the Lord with all his be-
ing and who has permitted Gods
Word to enter into his heart will set
the right example 1t is we'll to know
something about child psychology,
about the principles of rearing chill
dren, ETC., but these, without a right
relationship to God, are cold and
poWerless. But let the parents walk
before their children in earnest
Christian living, let them honor
Gods Word in their lives and in the
home, and they will lay the finest
foundation for Christian character
in their children.
2. By Correct Teaching ". y.
The parent should make the teach
ing of Gods Word to children a mat
ter of first Importance. 1t is to be
expected that the children will be
in church and Sunday school with
their parents (notice the word
'with''-it's not enough to send
them), but that is not sufficient.
Blessed and fruitful is that home
life in which the Word of God is a
normal and easy topic Of conversa-
ton, where spiritual things are dis
cussed intelligently and without re-
straint. Every home can be that
kind of home, if the parents will
do what they know they should do
about it.
II. Standing in the Hour of
Temptation Ger. 35:5-10).
AS a protest against the heathen-
dom, the intemperance, and corrup-
ton of the city life of his day, Jona-
dab instructed his house or tribe to
live an itinerant life and, above
all, not to touch wine.
We are not called to initiate in
detail their way of living, but rather
to learn from them the principles
of consistent temperance.
l. Remembrance wv. 6, y. Jere-
miah was sent to test the Rechabites
(not to tempt them to falD by offer
ing them wine, but to them it was a
real temptation. They met it
promptly and without fear, because
they had in their hearts and minds
the teaching of their father" Jona-
dab.
Blessed is the boy or girl who
in the lone and trying hour of temp
tation is not confused by the mega
tive or unchristian example of par
ents, but who at once has vision
of a God-fearing father and mother,
and remembrance of their faithful
teaching of Gods standards of life.
g. Obedience wv. 8-10). Here
again is a lesson which must be
learned from the tender years of
babyhood, but which bears glorious
fruit in the days of young manhood
and womanhood. The parent who
does not tactfully, kindly, but with
al, firmly, teach children to obey
has undermined their life in ad-
vance.
The Rechabites Loyalty obeyed the
word of their founder, and passed
their hour of testing with flying col
ors. They had his example, they
knew his teaching, and life itself
had proved to them that they were
in the right way.
A closing word. The liquor in
terests are concerned because the
consumption of beer is rapidly fall
ing off and because most of their
customers are elderly or middle
aged" They are spending tremen-
dous sums in advertising to "get the
beer drinking habit instilled in thou
sands, almost millions, of young
men who do not at present know
the taste Of beer"
That is their avowed aim. Shall
they be permitted to put it across?
Not if Christian people will put the
influence of the American home
squarely where it ought to be-
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