AMUSEMENTS

AMUSEMENTS
J. R. Miller, 1880

The same principle must be applied to time spent in any kind of relaxing pleasure, however innocent. Life - is not play! Life - is very serious. It has its responsibilities and duties, which press at every point, and fill every day and hour. He who would succeed in the exciting life of today, cannot afford to lose a moment. Every hour must be made to count. And he who would fill up the measure of responsibility implied in consecration to God - must redeem the time - every moment! Amusements are lawful, therefore, only so far as they are necessary to reinvigorate life's wasted energies; or to put fresh buoyancy and elasticity into powers, which are wearied or worn by the strain of physical or mental toil.

Amusement is not an end - but a means. It is not life's object - but a help along the way. It is not the goal - but the cool bower, or the bubbling spring - on the stiff, steep mountain-side. This distinction is vital - and must not be overlooked by those who would so live as to please God.

Then, as to the KIND of amusements in which we may lawfully engage, there are several equally clear principles to be observed. At the very outset, whatever is in itself sinful - carries its own condemnation on its face!

A Christian is never to indulge in sin. No necessity of relaxation can ever give license to anything that conflicts with the pure morals of the gospel. A Christian is never off duty; he is never to do anything inconsistent with the purity of Christian living. No combination of circumstances can make him blameless, in violating the principles and precepts of Christianity. These are just as binding on Tuesday or Thursday evening - as on Sunday. Amusements, as well as books, speech, business and all conduct - must be brought to the bar of the highest Christian morality.

True religion and common life are not two different and distinct things. We may not cut our existence in two parts and say, "Over this Christ shall rule - but over that He shall have no control." True religion knows no difference between Sunday and Monday, so far as the ethics of life are concerned. Each day brings its own specific duties - but there are not moral precepts for the one - which are suspended when its sun sets - that for six days a mitigated or less holy law may prevail. Holiness is to be the Christian's dress all the week through - in every hour's conduct. All pleasures and amusements must be tested by the unvarying rule of right. The standard of perfect purity - cannot be lowered!

It is the fashion to laugh at criticisms upon certain forms of amusements, made on moral grounds. But for a Christian, there is nothing which must not be tested by the severest rules of purity. All immodest exhibitions, all improprieties of attitude which would in ordinary associations be condemned, all forms of pleasure in which lurks even the suggestion of impurity - must by this principle be excluded from the class of amusements which are proper for one who would closely follow Christ.

A further test which seems just and reasonable - is a reference to the spirit of Christ's own life. This is to be the Christian's guidance in all things. The earthly life of Christ - is the copy set for us. It is a safe and true thing to test every separate act, and to ascertain our duty in every uncertain moment - by asking, "What would Jesus do - if He were in our place?" All Christian living - is but following Him. Where He will not lead us - we must not go! As we have seen, He does not frown upon pure and innocent pleasures. He went Himself, when He was on the earth, to places of enjoyment and festivity. He attended a marriage-feast and contributed to the gladness of the guests. He accepted invitations to family feasts. There is not a trace of asceticism in all the story of His life. And He would do the same - if He were here now! Pleasures that are pure, innocent and helpful, or that contribute to the joy and good of others - He would enjoy. And what He would do if He were in our place - we, as His followers, may do!

But there are amusements in which we may be sure that He would not indulge. A tender spiritual instinct will readily discriminate between those in which He would - and those in which He would not engage. This seems a reasonable and legitimate test for us, His followers.

Then there is another test. The one great business of Christian living - is godly character-building. The aspiration of every earnest Christian, is to grow every day in holiness and spirituality. This motive is to rule all life. Our business, our associations, our friendships, are all to be chosen - with reference to this one object. Anything that tarnishes the luster of our spirituality, or hinders the development of our Christian graces, or breaks the inner peace of our hearts, or interferes with our communion with God - is harmful and must be excluded from among the circumstances of our lives!

The question as to which amusements are proper - and which are improper for us - each one must answer for himself. Questions continually asked of pastors and recognized Christian guides, are such as these, "Is it right for a Christian to dance? Or may he attend the theater or opera or circus, or play cards?" The true way to answer such questions, is by an honest appeal to experience. What is the influence of such amusements, on our spiritual life and character? Is prayer as sweet, as welcome, as helpful - after we have partaken in the specific amusement? Do we return to prayer, from the hours passed in such pleasures - with the same eagerness, the same desire, as before? Do we find our communion with God as sweet, as restful, as uplifting? Do we retain the warmth and glow of heart, that we felt before the amusement? Or do our amusements mar our peace, and interrupt our enjoyment of the divine presence? Do they unfit us for devotion? Do we find our hearts made cold and distracted by them? Do they chill our ardor in Christian work? At what times in our life do we care most - for such pleasures? Is it when our piety is at its best, when love is most fervent, and zeal most earnest? Does the young Christian, in the warmth and glow of his first love - care for these things? Do they, in our experience, promote our spirituality, and fit us for higher spiritual usefulness?

This is the experimental test. All the circumstances about us, are educating influences, and whatever is injurious to piety, whatever lowers godly character - is not proper or right, as a means of enjoyment or amusement.

True and rational amusements are a great force in educating and building character. All pure joy is helpful. All pure art leaves its touch of beauty. Pure music sings itself into our hearts, and becomes thenceforward and forever - a new element of power in our life. Pure laughter makes life sunnier. It sweeps the clouds from the sky, shakes off many a care, smoothes out many a wrinkle - and dries many a tear. Pure pleasure sweetens many a bitter heart-fountain, drives away many a gloomy thought and many a hobgoblin shape of imagined terror, and saves many a darkened spirit from despair.

"A cheerful heart is good medicine; but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22. Not the least highly-gifted men - are those to whom God has imparted the talent of pure humor - that they may make others laugh. Sanctified wit has a blessed mission. Life is so hard, so stern, with so many burdens and struggles, that there is need for all the bright words we can speak.

The most wretched people in the world - are those who go about in 'sackcloth', carrying all their griefs in their faces - and casting shadows everywhere! Every Christian should be a happiness-maker. We need a thousand times more joy in our lives - than most of us get. We would be better men and women - if we were happier.

We need, most of us, to plan more pleasures, especially more home pleasures. Busy men need them; weary, worried women need them, glad-hearted children need them. There are amusements and relaxations, which do not tarnish the soul's purity - or chill the ardor of devotion - or break our fellowship with heaven - but which refine, exalt, purify, enlarge and enrich life!

Much harm has been done in the past, by the indiscriminate condemnation of all amusements; while nothing has been provided to take the place of those amusements which are harmful. The absolute necessity of relaxation of some kind - must be kept in mind. God has made us - needing mirth. Men will have amusements of some kind. And in this, as in all other reforms, the truest and wisest method is not to condemn and cut off all amusements, leaving nothing; but to provide true and holy pleasures - and let these win hearts away from the impure, and the hurtful amusements.

It was a maxim of Napoleon's, "To replace is to conquer." Let Christian parents and Christian people in a community, provide pure, healthful, and profitable entertainments for the young - and these will gradually and insensibly uproot and replace those which are pernicious and injurious. There is no other true and effective way! This is as much the duty of Christian leaders - as to preach sermons and conduct Sunday-schools. Otherwise, while one day's religious services bring help and purity to the lives of the people and the children - six days of worldly pleasures will more than undo all the good. Let Christian men and women quietly institute in every community, such means of enjoyment as shall combine pleasure and profit - and thus the harmful shall be replaced.