Arkansas State press., 1942-12-11
THE VALUE OF THE CHURCH TO
THE SOCIAL ORDER

LESSON TEXT Matthew 5;I3.l6;
Mark 12;l3-l7; Peter 2:l3.l7.
GOLDEN TExT-Ye are the salt oi
world.-Matthew 5;l3. IA,
Social and political leaders have
In he church the strongest influence
for good in all the world One mar
vels that those who profess to seek
the best for humanity. who try ev'
cry kind of social experiment. who
labor with every expedient Of man,
fail to see and use in full measure
the power Of Christianity. Perhaps
the explanation is that some Of these
leaders are themselves unsaved
men. who do not understand spiritu'
al things. and are not willing to give
God the glory, Perhaps in the case
Of others it is because Of ignorance
or lack Of contact with the church.
Whatever the reason, the situa.
ton should be remedied. America
could solve her problems. both So
cial and political. by nationwide
revival Of true Christianity. with the
accompanying salvation OF thou.
sands OF unconverted. II we can.
not have that, let us not fail to
have revival in our own hearts.
our own churches, our neighbor-
hoods or communities.
We find in our lesson that the
church is
I. A Powerful Influence for Moral
Good (Matt, 5:l3-l6)
Salt in the midst OF corruption,
light In a world of unbelievable
darkness-What striking and mean
ingful figures with which to describe
the Christian.
Believers are the salt of the
earth because they draw their sa-
vor from God Himself. The Chris
tian church, by Gods own state
ment, is His own powerful antiseptic
which preserves the social order
from falling into the moral decay
which sometimes seems imminent.
1t should, therefore, be honored and
encouraged by that society which
1t serves.
Christians are the light of the
world and it is the essential ma,
ture of light to shine. The darker
its surroundings the more marked
its brightness, and the more needed
its illumination. The good works of
Christians reflect the goodness of
God, and so they glorify His worthy
name. Brother, is your light burn
ing brightly in this wicked world?
II. A Stabilizing Element in So
ciety Mark l2:13-lO.
The world is in social ferment.
and our own country has its share
of 'isms" and social theories call
ing men to follow, asking their 10y
atty, making them Utopian promises
without foundation.
Alert and intelligent Americans
are concerned about these clamor-
GUS voices, many Of which are quite
properly suspected Of having pur-
poses far from beneficial to our
American way of life, or to democ-
racy itself Yet they dare not OPP
pose them lest there be the cry Of
denial Of freedom Of speech, etc.
What can we do to meet them?
Here is the answer: Preach Christ.
Bring men to saving knowledge of
Him and to godly way of living.
For the Christian is directed by
Christ Himself to render unto Cae.
sar the things that are Caesars
and they do it too, because they
have first rendered to God the
things that are Gods"
iii. A Loyal Example OF Good
Citizenship Il Pet 2:l3-l7.
The highest measure of loyalty to
country is the Christian standard
here stated. In Romans 13:l-10 we
learn that all authority comes from
God and that the power OF rulers
Is to be recognized as His gift. That
means that true rulers will submit
to Him IN every detail Of their gov
eminent, seeking to know and to do
HIS will.
However, the Christian gives loyal
obedience to the powers that be-"
even though they may not recognize
the source of their power. This is
subject only to the limitation that
they may not demand that we do
those things that dishonor God S
name Since their only real power
to rule comes from lin, they have
no authority to tell anyone to do that
which is against His holy will. When
that happens. the Higher Authority
takes over and our loyalty must be
to Him, the King of kings. The
Christian then will be the best citi-
zen. eager to do what king or coun-
try may ask, in order thus to bear a
good testimony and to close the
mouth Of foolish critics OF the
church.
The history Of our country and Of
other lands reveals the names Of
many illustrious Christian patriots,
and the roll of honor OF those who
loved and served their country well
in the humble and difficult places.
would bear its hundreds Of thou.
sands Of names which are found also
on the roll Of the church.
Christians, let us be earnest and
intelligent followers Of Christ, whose
lives count for moral uprghtness
For God and Country" is the excel.
lent motto Of the American Legion
but il should be more than that; it