Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1946-12-06

Temperance Is readily taugh
from the epistles Of Paul for he wal
constantly moved by the Holy Splri
&c exhort the churches and individ
uiA Christians to careful ano
worthy walk tefore Got.
In dcing so he was not afraid to
speak plainlv about the use of in
toxicants Perhaps his brethren in
the ministry today should consider
him and take courage.
Our lesson is a temperance lesson,
and since some twist that word
Temperance" to fl almost any kind
of indulgence, we should like to
quote careful evaluation Of 1t by
DIR W r White:
Temperance Is a seriously mis-
understood word The rest definition
we know defines II as abstaininR
from that which is harmful. and
using moderately that which Is legt-
innate. We would not advise man
to be moderate in teasing rattle
snake. We would not tell him that
II Is all right to steal. lie or commit
adultery Just so he is temperate
about II. 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!
!. The Wrong Way and the Right
way-in the Church Il Cor. ll:2O-
~.
There were number Of disorder
~ 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.
1t was their custom to eat a So
called love feast before the sacra
ment, and instead Of making 1t
time OF loving and sharing. the rich
ate their sprnptuous meals and let
. poor brother gnaw on crust Of
bread.
Then feasting led. as It so often
does. to excuses. Some became
drunken on the wine and even par
took Of the Lords Supper while IN
toxicated.
We are not so much concerned
With the Lords Supper in this les
son as we are with the behavior Of
those who attended. Think Of com.
ing to the holy table drunk II
seems impossible. and yet II hap
pened.
Do we not still let the poor in
our midst shift pretty well for them.
selves? The rich faunt their aff1uence
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
way-in the Community (Rom l3;
Is. l4.
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 a citizen Of the com.
munity In which he lives.
The use of intoxicants which a
generation ago was a 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 dcmoral
izing? Certainly not Is it then
true that people are more candid
and open about what they do? No,
II 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 II is
not a nice picture, but it is true
The right way is found in verse
a. 1t was reading these two verses
In his mothers open Bible that led
Augustine to Christ He saw and
took the right way win others do
Hkewise7
LII. The Wrong Way and the Right
way--in the Heart (Eph, 5:i8-2D.
This Is a personal matter. The
man OF woman who finds satisfac.
ton In wine wants the overcoming
power Of the narcotic influence to
take away the sense Of responsible.
ity for life. II is a weak and hope.
hess way to avoid facing reality.
The right way Is to let the Holy
Spirit take full control OF the heart
and life. This is 70 be an experience
Of complete surrender, being filled
with the Spirit"
Does life then become drab and
uninteresting? No, indeed For the
r1rst time you will be really joyful
That inevitably leads to thankful
s3s, n grace too little known and
ecticed. II is for all things at all
es. Do not overlook that fact
hen 100 there will be delightful
attitude Of consideration End re
spec, for one another " 81 az
OF de- otio'i to Cod