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the world. The black candle bums •as brightly as the white one does, apd bl.ack boys and girls can shine for Jesus too, if only ’someone will tell the good news to them. This yellow candle represents the people whose skin is yellow. China and Japan have their own religions, but most of the people in China and Japan do not have the Light of the world, the Lord Jesus, and therefore they are lost in darkness. This candle burns as brightly as the others do. Here is a candle representing the Indian people, who are often spoken of as having "red skins.” Many believe Matthew 5:43 Ye have heard that It hath been said» Thou snalt love thy neighbor» and hate thine enemy. 44 Biit I say unto you, Love your ene mies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despltefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the Just and on the unjust. 46 For If ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the pub licans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which Is in heaven is perfect. Remans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For. there is ho power hut of God: the powers that be are ord^ineo of God. . 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the pow er, resfsteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves dam nation. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is. the minister of God, a re venger to execute Wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5 Wherefore ye must needs, be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For, for this cause pay yextribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending con tinually upon this very thing. 1 LESSON TEXT: Matt. 5:43-48; Rom. 13: OOLDEN TEXT: "Blessed are the peace makers: tor they shall be called the children of Ood” (Matt. 5:9). DEVOTIONAL READING: Isa. 11:1,10. Outline and Exposition I. . C hildren of G od (M att. 5:43-48) S HE LAW told how both friend 7 Render therefore to all their dues: trib ute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. ■ . - ' -v ,
n. C itizens of the S tate (Rom. 13:1-5)
that the Indians are hopeless in their many forms of idolatry, but the candle burns brightly just like the others do. When a person accepts Christ as Saviour, the Lord comes into his heart, filling it with light, and causing it to shine in, this dark world. No matter what the color of the skin may be, people in every land can let their lights shine for Christ. When Peter obeyed God’s command and went to Cornelius, a gentile, he had the joy of seeing Cornelius and his household shining for the Lord Jesus. relationship by including all, neighbor and enemy, within the bounds of the believer’s love. Because the believer is a child of God, possessed with God’s nature, he should manifest that na ture, which is love. To press this teach ing to the point where neighbors and enemies are treated with human love, which is mere sentiment, would deny other portions of Scripture. It must be remembered that in His providence, or government, God deals with all alike, making the sun to rise and the rain to fall upon the just and the unjust; and the believer also is to do good to all men. But God is also a righteous God, overlooking nothing that is sinful; and morally He takes note of and pours out punish ment upon the evil deeds of men wherever they may be. He does this with impartiality, not withholding judgment from His own people when they err, nor hesitating'to judge those who are not His people. Sometimes He stirs up His own people to make war upon evil men, and sometimes evil men to make war upon His own people when it is necessary to chas tise His own. Unless distinction is made between the love of God and the love of humankind,, hnd between the love of government and -His love in grace, confusion is sure to follow. • g - 1
One’s duty toward the state is uni versal, as is indicated in the phrase, "let every soul”—with no exceptions. This duty is acknowledged by sub jection: "Be subject,” not rebellious. And it is to be -publicly recognized, “unto the higher powers,” or govern ments. These powers are “ordained of God” and their soujpe and sanction come from Him. Christians are not of the world, but they are in it, and are under obligation to observe this in junction as citizens. Abuses of govern- 'ment do not alter the divine character of government, any more than abuses of marriage can alter its sacredness. The state is the “minister of God” as much as is. the man in the churCh pulpit; God has so ordained it, and has put the “sword” Into the hand Of the state to execute wrath upon evil doers. Punishment by the state is punish ment by God (V. 2). But, some may say, laws may be evil, advanced by ungodly men. The believer can refuse to obey an evil law and believingly accept the punishment, thus being subject to the state and yet true to his own conviction. The way of relief from evil laws is through prayer (*cf. 1 Tim. 2:1-3). If there were more true prayer, Christians would live more peaceful and quiet lives. It is not true that the Christian is responsible to God alone in civil affairs; he is responsible to the “powers that be,” ordained of God to govern in these civil matters. III. • S upporters of G overnment (6, 7) God has arranged for the support of His ciyil ministers by the tribute the citizens pay, and the Christian is to pay the tribute, or taxes,, as any other citizen should do. In the spirit ual realm also, God’s minister is sup ported by God’s ordained means. The word “minister” here is a temple term and refers more to the office than to the man who occupies the office. It is the office that is sacred; the man may be ungodly, as Nero was when these words were written by Paul. Christians would find it easier to pay taxes if they realized that they pay them to God, as He is represented by the government. This is not to say that government, and taxation in particular, are perfect in their en forcement. They may be far from that. It is the underlying principle that is God-ordained, and to which believers should respond in submission. The Christian has a twofold obligation and testimony; He must support the spiritual ministry of the church, and also the civil ministry of the state, both in war and in peace.
NOVEMBER 12, 1944 THE CHURCH DURING WAR AND PEACE I saiah 2:2-4; 9:6, 7; M atthew 5:43-48; R omans 13:1-7
BLACKBO ARD LE SSON
and enemy were to be treated (cf. Lev. 19:17, 18; Deut. 23: 3- 6; Ezra 9 :1 2 ). Jesus announced a new
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