The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1943-09-02

GOLDEN TEXT-Be We holy; for I am
holy.-I Peter l:16.
Labor Day, 1913, with a war-torn
world, finds US facing a social order
deeply divided regarding the rights
and wrongs of the relationship be-
tween man and man, especially cap
ital and labor.
For these many years we have
talked of a planned economy where
kindness and justice shall control all
dealings of man with his fellow man.
But to accomplish such a result
apart from the hand of God to guide
and restrain, has proved to be i'm
possible
Selfshncss and sin control too
much of the thought and action of
our world We need to be remind
ed as was Israel in our lesson, that
God has called us to be a holy peo-
pie. His holiness is not just some
thing of which one sings in hymn
or talks in a sermon. 1t means
among other things, real social JUS
tice.
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.
1t 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
fuence felt for social righteousness.
Our lesson speaks first of the
foundational matter in all social JUS
tice, namely:
/. Holiness of Heart Before God
Nev. l9:1-4.
Because God is holy, His people
were to be holy, 1t was not a 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 a
few folk who are spiritually mind
ed, and that the other protested fol-
lowers Of Christ may go on living a
worldly, careless, poWerless life. 1t
is the devils own lie. God expects
every Christian to be holy.
Such Brightness with God shows it.
self in a rightness with others, which
we note as our second point:
ii. Holiness of Life Before Men
Oev. 19:11-18, 32-3N.
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.
l. 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
dishonored God 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
So and Sc in this connection.
2. Kindness ". 1N. 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 wv. Is, 16). 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 deHverance ". 16).
4. Love wv. II, 18). Love thy
neighbor as myself" That is the
standard. How much have we done
to meet it?
A rebuke may he necessary, but
love will not permit grudges, or the
seeking of vengeance, even when we
have been wronged.
5. Respect wv. 3, 32). God s
Word always stresses the need of a
right attitude toward parents. Chill
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 if 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 it may pay the bills. God
has high standards.
6. Consideration wv. 33, 34). The
man who knows God will not be
party to taking advantage of a
stranger. He remembers that he too
has been a stranger. To meet with
loving kindness and tender care
when one is in a strange place
should inspire one to go and do like
wise.