The Wilmington morning star., 1945-06-16
Sunday School
L son
Nv WILLIAM E. GILROY, d. D.

In the early history VI Id oei ''Ae
religion Of the faithful was con-
stantly subject to the ailurements
of idolatry, and the immoral prac'
tees associated with the ldolatry
of the surrounding peoples. When
Greece became dominant through
the world conquests of Alexander
the Great, effort was made to cor
rupt the religion of Judaism by the
infiltration of Grecian pagan ideas
and practices. It was against TINS
that the Maccabees made their
valiant fight. and that many OF the
Jews were faithful despite cruel
persecution. Through defeat, exile.
and dispersion the Jewish people
had learned their lesson. 1t was a
purified remnant that came back
to Jerusalem from Babylon. and
Jews scattered throughout the an
cient world, instead of succumblng
to the pagan life around them.
cherished the more the religion OF
their fathers and of their home
land, worshipping. wherever they
we're, with their faces toward Jeru'
salem.
Many Gentiles, reacting against
the moral laxity and RIGHTEOUSNESS
of their pagan environment. and
observing Judaism's emphasis up
on the moral law. were converts
to Judaism. In this way among &c
vout Jews and Gentiles barriers
were established against paganisn
that made the work of the Chris
tan church and its growth easier
But the real power OF the church
was in the faith and zeal of the
Christian disciples. The Apostles
took the commission to 60 into al
the world and preach the Gospel
with deep seriousness, and great
est of all from the standp oint Of
missionary fervor and achieve
ment was the new Apostle, Paul
This remarkable man. who hao
lived in all good conscience from
his youth, and who in his consclen'
tious zeal had prosecuted the
Christians, when he perceived the
truth of the new way became az
earnest in his propagandism fol
his neWfound faith. Perhaps his
zeal was even greater because he
realized the evil he had done II
his ignorance and intolerance, ant
he had to exert himself as Chris
tan all the harder to undo the evi
of those former years.
1t was symbolic OF the work ane
purpose of the Christian churcE
that the disciples should have beer
first called Christians at Antioch
Antioch in Svris, was one OF II
Antiochs in the ancient world
which the conqueror Seleucus Ma
kator built and named in honor o
his father. At the time of the early
church it was gorgeous and beau
tiful city, IA miles from the sea OF
the navigable river, the Orontes
Its splendor is suggested by the
fact tn u do.',le-colonnaaed corst
ran from east to west Of the city
for five miles in a straight line. an(
in wet weather the populace coul,
walk from end 20 end under cover
Trees, flowers n d fountains
adorned the promenade.
But it was wicked and icen
tious city, so much SO that whel
moral degradation reached a 10y
point in Rome, Juvenal wrote tina
the Orontes had flowed into tn
Tiber." Now the Christian churc
exists, not for the enjoyment an
edification of its own member
; alone, but to minister the GoSpe
and bring salvation to lost worle
1t was fitting that in corrupt cit
, of 100000 people, the disciple
should have been called Christian!
The name befitted their characte
and their purpose. 1t is where 81
abounds that grace is needed.