Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1943-09-02

NZ-o9.
GOLDEN TEXT-Be We holy; for am
ly.-I Peter 1:16.
Labor Day, 1913, with a war-torn
world, finds us facing social order
deeply divided regarding the rights
nd wrongs of the relationship be-
cen man and man, especially cap
and labor.
For these many years we have
liked of a planned economy where
indness and justice shall control all
alings Of man with his fellow man.
to accomplish such a result
.rt from the hand Of God to guide
d restrain, has proved to be inn
ssible.
Selfshness and sin control too
oh Of the thought and action OF
world. We need to be remind
as was Israel in our lesson, that
I'd has called us to be a holy peo-
!. His holiness is not just some
ug Of which one sings in hymn
talks in a sermon. 1t means
ong other things, real social JUS
e.
God has always stood for social
Righteousness. The underlying NOR
al law Of the universe demands it,
and the law of God as revealed to
His people developed and nipple
mented it for successful function
ing, were we only wise enough to
see and follow it.
It is time that all Gods people
emphasize Gods moral principles in
the life Of society. Never forgetting
that its first business is to preach the
redeeming gospel of Christ, the
church ought also to make its in
fiuence felt for social righteousness.
Our lesson speaks first of the
foundational matter in all social JUS
tice. namely:
1. Holiness of Heart Before God
Gev. 1919.
Because God is holy, His people
were to be holy. 1t was not mat
ter Of choice or impulse. they be-
longed to holy God, they were to
be holy people.
There is an idea current in the
church today which has served Sa-
tan well, namely, that holiness of
life is something which is not re-
quired; that it is expected only of
few folk who are spiritually mind
ed, and mat the other professed fol-
lowers Of Christ may go on living
worldly, careless, powerless life. It
is the devils own lie. God expects
every Christian to be holy.
Such RICHNESS with God shows it,
self in rightness with others, which
we note as our second point:
ii. Holiness of Life Before Men
Uev. l9:11-18, 32-34.
How intensely practical and work.
able in daily experience were the
laws here given to Israel. They are
just as apropos to our present day.
/. Honesty wv. lib. No steal
ing, no perjury, no lying, no oppres-
sion, no withholding of wages, none
of these could be tolerated, for they
6ishonored Gods name. Think what
the elimination of dishonesty in
dealing between men would accom-.
plish. Most of our social problems
would be solved overnight. Mer-
chants would do well to read verses
IS and SO in this connection.
2. Kindness ". Ia. The deaf
cannot hear what we say about
them, nor can the blind see what we
do. But the eternal God hears and
sees, and He expects us to be kind
to them.
3. Fairness (vv. is, l6). Some
assume that a man must be right
because he is rich. Others are
equally sure that the poor are al.
ways worthy Of special considera-
ton.
Note the condemnation of the tale.
bearer. Every gossip who reads
these words knows that God con.
dennis that evil practice. Nor does
He countenance indifference to the
welfare of others. Their blood cries
out to Him for deliverance ". 16).
4. Love (vv. II, 49,. Love thy
neighbor as myself" That is the
standard. How much have we done
to meet it?
A rebuke may be necessary. bu,
love will not permit grudges, or the
seeking Of vengeance. even when we
have been wronged.
5. Respect wv. 8, 32). Gods
Word always stresses the need of a
right attitude toward parents. Cnil.
dren need to learn anew the lesson
Of verse 3.
Then there are the aged ". 32).
Old age pensions doubtless have
their place in our complex social or.
der. but perhaps they would not be
needed II men and women honored
the hoary head and the face of an
old man.
A pension does not take the place
OF honor and love for the aged, even
though 1t may pay the bills. God
has high standards.
6. Consideration wv. 80, 34). The
man who knows God will not be
party to taking advantage of a
stranger. He remembers that he too