The midland journal., 1946-12-06


from the npistles of Paul for he was
constantly moved by the Holy Spirit
to exhort the churches and individ-
ual Christians to a 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 fit almost any kind
OF indulgence, we should like to
quote careful evaluation Of 1t by
DR.. w. r. White:
Temperance is 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 man
to be moderate in teasing rattle
snake. We would not tell him that
it is all right to steal, lie or commit
| adultery just so he Is temperate
about it. We would not tell a man
to use dppe moderately. We
could tell man to be moderate
about eating meat or any other
wholesome thing"
| The only way to be temperate
about liquor is to let it alonel
l. The Wrong Way and the Right
Way-in the Church Il Cor. 11:20-
2D.
There were a 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.
1t was their custom to eat a So
called love feast before the sacra-
ment, and instead of making it
time Of loving and sharing, the rich
ate their sumptuous meals and let
q poor brother gnaw on crust of
bread.
Then feasting led, as it so often
| does, to eXcesSes. 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! It
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 flaunt 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
Way-in the Community (Rom. 13:
IS, 14).
This chapter Of the epistle to the
Romans concerns the right behavior
of the believer in his civic relation
ships. He is 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 disgrace; now cocktail is
one of the first words children learn.
What is the explanation? Is liquor
any less destructive and demoral-
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 60 all the
things enumerated in verse 13. Oh,
the awful depth of sex degradation,
Of plain ordinary indecency and dis
honesty, of strife and envy. 1t is
not nice picture, but it is true.
The right way is found in verse
IA. It was reading these two verses
in his mothers open Bible that led
Augustine to Christ. He saw and
took the right way. Will others do
likewise?
iii. The Wrong Way and the Right
Way-in the Heart (Eph. 5:18-21).
This is a personal matter. The
man or woman who finds satisfac-
tion in wine wants the overcoming
| power Of the narcotic influence to
take away the sense Of responsible
ity for life. It 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 drab and
uninteresting? No, indeed! For the
first time you will be really joyful.
That inevitably leads to thankful
! ness, a grace too little known and
practiced. It is for all things at all
/ times. Do not overlook that fact.
Then too there will be a delightful
attitude ~ oanc;Ia~o%;o.. -