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THE KING’S BUSINESS
ter however to obey God. Peace and growth are far more important in the church than skilful hair-splitting. vs. 20-23. “For meat destroy not ( Over throw not for meats sake) the work of God, all things indeed are pure (clean); but (howbeit) it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. It is good neither (not) to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor ( add, to do) anything whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. Hast thou faith-? Have it to thyself (The faith which thou hast, have tthou to thy self) before God. Happy is he that con- demneth (judgeth) not himself in that thing ( omit, thing) he alloweth (approv- eth). And (But) he that doubteth is damned (condemned) if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for (and) whatsoever is not of faith is sin.’’ The true Christian prin ciple o f total abstinence is found in verse 21. It applies to the question o f the use o f intoxicating liquors, but it also applies to a great many other things. It will go far toward settling many questions that are troubling Christians as to whether they should do this or that. The question to be decided is not merely as to whether it is wrong in itself or even whether you will be hurt by it yourself: the real question is, will anyone be injured or made to stumble by my doing it? I can not use meat or drink or any other indulgence, as a lover o f my fellowman and a follower o f Jesus Christ, if thereby I shall destroy the work o f God. I know that all meats are clean, that the ceremonial laws o f the Old Tes tament have been fulfilled "and thus done away, but I also know that many good men cannot eat these things, with a clear con science and they are evil for that man. If anyone else will be really injured by my indulgence in anything, no matter how innocent the thing may be in itself and how harmless it may be to me, I will not do it, in order that I may not injure my fellow men. That principle settles the moderate drinking question, the tobacco question, the dance question, the card playing questioti, the theatre going question and a thousand . other questions. It is a good thing to have
o f the sacrifice o f our brother’s soul we “walk no longer in love.” A true Chris tian will forbear doing many things about which in themselves he has no compunc tions o f conscience lest he destroy him “ for whom Christ died.” I f Christ gave up his life for them we certainly ought to give up our petty rights for them. The demands o f Christian love are far more to any true follower o f Christ than the-per mission o f Christian liberty. W e ought never to forget that a weak brother is a “ brother for whom Christ died.” vs. 16-19. “Let not then your good be evil spoken of: for the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; (eating and drinking,) but righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (Spirit). For he that in these things (herein) serveth Christ is well pleasing to God, and approved of men. Let us therefore (So then let us) follow after the ("omit, the) things which make for peace, and things wherewith one (whereby we) may edify one another.’’ Liberty is given us but it is quite possible for us to so use it that it is evil spoken o f and thus becomes a source o f evil.' W e are to be on our guard to never thus use it. The real proof that we are in the kingdom of God and that the kingdom o f God is in us is not found in our' scrupulousness, or lack o f scrupulousness, in eating or drink ing, but in our manifesting righteousness in our lives, having peace in our hearts (v. 13: ch. IS), and manifesting it toward our fellow man (v. 19: ch. 15:18), and being filled with “joy' in the Holy Ghost.” Many o f those whom I have known who are most scrupulous in what they drink have given least .proof o f being in the Kingdom o f God by the test' o f this verse. The object o f our earnest pursuit is to be the things “which make for peace,” and the things whereby we may build one another up. How many o f our pet hob bies it will be necessary for us to put on the shelf if we obey God’s command in verse 19, they certainly |do not make for peace and they do not build up. But we are so fond o f them that we delight to draw them out on every occasion. It is far bet
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