Arkansas State press., 1943-11-12

ehew 81.
A. the divinely appointed center
Of mans life. the home holds .
place Of such Importance that 1t Is
The special target of Satan's often.
sive. That has always been true.
but II seems that in recent years the
onslaught against the home has been
intensified.
Books. plays. movies. magazines.
I'll contribute their filthy efforts to
break down all sense Of moral re-
sponsibility. Sex is magnifed. and
not In any useful Or normal sense.
but rather for the stimulating OF un-
holy desires and purposes. the
breaking down Of Christian stand
ards Of living, and the ultimate pros
titution Of the most sacred Of all
human relationships to the lowest
level Of which animals might well
be ashamed.
All this means that this lesson
should be taught with a holy bold
ness and plainness which will make
II effective for God in our homes.
We do not like to talk about adul-
terry and related sins, We must
speak with care and tact, but per-
haps the time has come for some
straightforward dealing with an un-
pleasant situation.
/. Protect the Purity OF the Home
(Exod. 2O.14, Matt. 5:27.s0l.
Any violation of the divine plan
for the marriage of n man and
one woman, in loving communion
for the founding and maintenance OF
the home. is a direct violation OF
the law Of God.
It ID also a violation Of the law Of
man. It brings serious results in
the destruction Of the home. and in
the ruin Of Individual Metaphysical,
moral. and spiritual.
The words Of Jesus broaden the
Interpretation Of the commandment
TO cover ell sexual impurity in
thought, word. or deed.
We are to be firm and definite In
our dealing with this temptation to
moral mclcanness even though it be
- painful A. tearing cut an eye or
iosine Z hand. The command here
b not necessarily to Be interpreted
literally. Tearing out an eye will
not help II there Is lust In the heart.
The point ID. 60 to the root Of the
matter, and get rid Of II even II II
hurts. Most Of US are far too easy
on our sinful impulses. We daily
with them when we should destroy
them.
II. Recognize Marriage As q d.
vine Institution mark 1929.
The Pharisees, who had devised
some ingenious schemes for getting
rid Of an undesired wife, wanted to
get Jesus involved in the question.
They put him up against Moses who
had allowed divorce.
Jesus made it clear that this was
not in accord with Gods plan and
only took place because Of their sin.
ful hardheartedness.
As a proper background for the
discussion Of divorce He set up the
divine origin OF marriage, He made
II clear that marriage was ordained
by God, and that 1t involves a holy
union Of two individuals which
makes them one.
All those who look forward to mar
rage should realize that 1t Is not a
casual thing, or a merely temporary
legal contract. 1t Is a union fol
life--be it for better or worse, In
sickness or health, in prosperity OF
adversely. All who are married
should highly regard their sacred
vows.
The high place of marriage in
Christian teaching dignifes that re-
lationship and denies the mislead'
ing and destructive theories Of men.
III. Follow Gods Law on Divorce
mark 10:9-12).
Failure to observe Gods law In
these matters may involve a person
In the guilt Of gross sin. This pas
sage and others teach that divorce
Is to be permitted on the one ground
Of adultery Matt. 5:32).
Divorce and remarriage other
than on grounds permitted by God
involves the parties In the sin Of
adultery. Men may make laws
based on the civil contract Of mar
riage which provide differently, but
man cannot remove marriage from
It's place as a divine institution, MOI
can he add to or take awey from
Gods law concerning 1t. D
Aware, as we are, Of the laxness
Of some branches Of the church ir
such matters. and the almost entire
lack Of standards In the world, we
cannot but present the plain teach
ings Of our Lord and urge every
reader to follow the commandment,
Of Gods Word.
There can be no question that d.
vorcs 10 . major evil In u day.
Statistics are positively shocking,
but they are cold and quickly for
gotten. But who can fail 10 see, and
who can forget, the awful woe
brought into American home life by
divorce.
Bad a. II Is, the awful effect on
parents ID nothing compared to the
rnrvo,fs Ynorn1 and spiritiaI shortR