Worldly Amusements.
Certain worldly amusements, such as card playing and dancing, are said by some to be perfectly harmless and innocent as pastime for young people who are not professors of religion. We cannot agree in this and beg leave to enter our most candid protest against such a notion. What is wrong for a professor of religion to engage in is wrong in itself. What is wrong in itself is wrong for even a non-professor of religion to engage in. We have heard parents say they once engaged in such things and enjoyed them, and they are willing for their children to pursue the same course and have their enjoyment while they are young. This sounds very strange to us, and those who say it would retract at once if they could only see the folly of the statement.But it is said that these pastime amusements are indulged in by high society people, and if our young people move in such society they must be allowed to conform to their customs. We reply by asking what is meant by high society? Is it the society of the rich and learned? Many among the rich and learned are far from being upright in life and character. Is high moral character to be measured by standards of wealth and learning? By no means. If the world calls such people high society people, it is only proof of the teaching of the Bible: "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter." Isaiah v. 20. The fact is, young gentlemen and young laides who live above these degrading practices are much better respected even by the sinful world than those who waste their time and employ their mental and physical power in such supposed amusements. Sinful people may not love them as well, but they are compelled in their judgment to respect them more.
Members of the church, of course, are under special obligations to keep themselves unspotted from the world. They should regard the profession they have made as a matter of highest importance, and should so live that the adversary would have no advantage of them. To this end it becomes them to keep themselves from the evils of the world and shun the very appearance of wrong. Places of sinful and vain amusements are degrading in their tendency, and should be avoided as unfit for such as want to lead a pious life.
Parents should be careful to lend no encouragement to such vain practices as tend to degrade the morals of their children. Supposed innocent card-playing has proved a stepping stone to habitual gambling for many a youth, and what is thought to be a respectable dance is never elevating and often degrading, and for this reason, if for no other, it should be avoided by all. Recreation should be of such a nature that the mind, as well as the body, is improved by it, keeping in constant view a high ideal of moral rectitude. All should unite in a persistent effort to raise the minds of the young above the obscene notion that sinful amusements must be indulged in to furnish needful recreation. We want our children to enjoy themselves, but we are anxious for them to learn to seek enjoyment in what will be elevating rather than degrading to them. If they do this their recollections of their childhood home will be truly delightful in subsequent years, and will be attended with a thankful heart for parental advice and watch-care.
J. R. D.
Copyright c. 2005. All rights reserved. The Primitive Baptist Library.
