Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1946-12-05

from the epistles of Paul for he was
constantly moved by the Holy Spirit
to exhort the churches and individ-
ual Christians to careful and
worthy walk before God.
In doing so he was not afraid to
speak plainly about the use Of in
toXicants. Perhaps his brethren in
the ministry today should consider
him and take courage.
Our lesson is temperance lesson,
and since some twist that word
temperance" to At almost any kind
of indulgence, we should like to
quote careful evaluation Of 1t by
DR. W. r. White:
Temperance is a seriously mis-
understood word. The best definition
we know defines it as abstaining
from that which is harmful, and
using moderately that which is legit-
innate. We would not advise a man
to be moderate in teasing a rattle
snake. We would not tell him that
II is all right to steal, lie or commit
adultery just so he is temperate
about it. We would not tell man
to use dope moderately. We
could tell a man to be moderate
about eating meat or any other
wholesome thing"
The only way to be temperate
about liquor is to let it alone!
I. The Wrong Way and the Right
Way-in the Church Il Cor. ll:20-
81.
There were number Of disorder
ly things about the Corinthian
church which needed correction. One
of these concerned the Lords Sup
per. A time which should have CIV
en- them a blessed unity in fellow
ship and love had become just the
opposite.
vt was their custom to eat So
called love feast before the sacra-
ment. and instead Of making 1t
time of loving and sharing. the rich
ate their sumptuous meals and let
a poor brother gnaw on a crust of
bread. HfH tt293iH
Then feasting led, as 1t so often
does, TO jexcesses,fW Somsee becar2fa
drunken on the vine and even par
took Of the Lords Supper while HI.
toxicated.
We are not so much concerned
with the Lords Supper in sthis les
son as we are with the behavior Of.
those who attended. Think of COM
ing to the holy table drunk 1t
seems impossible. and yet it hap
pened.
Do we not still let the poor in
our midst shift pretty well for them
selves? The rich fiaunt their affluence
and let the poor get along on their
crust of bread. The church needs
to renew its scriptural appreciation
Of what fellowship and communion
really means.
ii. The Wrong Way and the Right
the Community (Rom. 10:
10, 14.
This chapter of the epistle TO the
Romans concerns the right behavior
Of the believer In his civic relation
ships. He is a citizen Of heaven,
but he is also citizen of the COM
in which he lives.
The use of intoxicants which a
generation ago was shameful
thing is now generally accepted. The
home in which liquor was served
was a disgrace; now cocktail" is
one of the first words children learn.
What is the explanation? Is liquor
any less destructive and democrat
izing? Certainly not! Is it then
true that people are more candid
and open about what they do? No.
it is rather that moral standards
have slipped to the point where they
are no longer ashamed when they
should be, if they thought straight
Along with the liquor go all the
things enumerated in verse 10. Oh,
the awful depth Of sex degradation,
Of plain ordinary indecency and dis
honesty. of strife and envy. It is
not nice picture. but II is true.
The right way is found in verse
H. II was reading these two verses
In his mothers open Bible that led
to Christ He saw and
took the right way. Will others do
likewise?
III. The Wrong Way and the Right
Way--in the Heart fEph. 5:l8-2D.
This is personal matter. The
man or woman who finds satisfac.
lion In wine wants the overcoming
power Of the narcotic influence to
take away the sense Of responsible.
ty for life. II is weak and hope.
less way to avoid facing reality.
The right way is to let the Holy
Spirit take full control Of the heart
and life. This is to be an experience
Of complete surrender, being filled
with the Spirit"
Does life then become orab and
undressing? No. indeed! For the
first time you will be really joyful.
That inevitably leads TO thankful.
1ess. grace too little known and
oracticed. 1t is for all things at all
lines. Do not overlook that fact
Then too there will be delightful
attitude Of consideration and re-
,pect for one another ". 2D and
1f devotion to God
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