Chapter 127—Dangerous Amusements for the
Young
The desire for excitement and pleasing entertainment is a temptation
and a snare to God’s people, and especially to the young.
Satan is constantly preparing inducements to attract minds from the
solemn work of preparation for scenes just in the future. Through the
agency of worldlings he keeps up a continual excitement to induce
the unwary to join in worldly pleasures. There are shows, lectures,
and an endless variety of entertainments that are calculated to lead
to a love of the world; and through this union with the world faith is
weakened.
Satan is a persevering workman, an artful, deadly foe. Whenever
an incautious word is spoken, whether in flattery or to cause the
youth to look upon some sin with less abhorrence, he takes advantage
of it, and nourishes the evil seed, that it may take root and yield
a bountiful harvest. He is in every sense of the word a deceiver,
a skilful charmer. He has many finely woven nets, which appear
innocent, but which are skilfully prepared to entangle the young and
unwary. The natural mind leans toward pleasure and self-gratification.
It is Satan’s policy to fill the mind with a desire for worldly
amusement, that there may be no time for the question, How is it
with my soul?
An Unfortunate Age
We are living in an unfortunate age for the young. The prevailing
[374] influence in society is in favor of allowing the youth to follow the
natural turn of their own minds. If their children are very wild,
parents flatter themselves that when they are older and reason for
themselves they will leave off their wrong habits, and become useful
men and women. What a mistake! For years they permit an enemy
to sow the garden of the heart, and suffer wrong principles to grow
and strengthen, seeming not to discern the hidden dangers and the
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Dangerous Amusements for the Young 337
fearful ending of the path that seems to them the way of happiness.
In many cases all the labor afterward bestowed upon these youth
will avail nothing.
The standard of piety is low among professed Christians generally,
and it is hard for the young to resist the worldly influences
that are encouraged by many church-members. The majority of
nominal Christians, while they profess to be living for Christ, are
really living for the world. They do not discern the excellence of
heavenly things, and therefore cannot truly love them. Many profess
to be Christians because Christianity is considered honorable. They
do not discern that genuine Christianity means cross-bearing, and
their religion has little influence to restrain them from taking part in
worldly pleasures.
Some can enter the ballroom, and unite in all the amusements
which it affords. Others cannot go to such lengths as this, yet they
can attend parties of pleasure, picnics, shows, and other places or
worldly amusement; and the most discerning eye would fail to detect
any difference between their appearance and that of unbelievers.
In the present state of society it is no easy task for parents to [375]
restrain their children, and instruct them according to the Bible rule
of right. Children often become impatient under restraint, and wish
to have their own way and to go and come as they please. Especially
from the age of ten to eighteen they are inclined to feel that there
can be no harm in going to worldly gatherings of young associates.
But the experienced Christian parents can see danger. They are
acquainted with the peculiar temperaments of their children, and
know the influence of these things upon their minds; and from a
desire for their salvation, they should keep them back from these
exciting amusements.
When the children decide for themselves to leave the pleasures
of the world and to become Christ’s disciples, what a burden is lifted
from the hearts of careful, faithful parents! Yet even then the labors
of the parents must not cease. These youth have just commenced in
earnest the warfare against sin, and against the evils of the natural
heart, and they need in a special sense the counsel and watch-care
of their parents.
338 Messages to Young People
A Time of Trial Before the Young
Young Sabbath-keepers who have yielded to the influence of the
world, will have to be tested and proved. The perils of the last days
are upon us, and a trial is before the young which many have not
anticipated. They will be brought into distressing perplexity, and
the genuineness of their faith will be proved. They profess to be
looking for the Son of man; yet some of them have been a miserable
[376] example to unbelievers. They have not been willing to give up
the world, but have united with the world in attending picnics and
other gatherings for pleasure, flattering themselves that they were
engaging in innocent amusement. Yet it is just such indulgences that
separate them from God, and make them children of the world.
Some are constantly leaning to the world. Their views and
feelings harmonize much better with the spirit of the world than with
that of Christ’s self-denying followers. It is perfectly natural that they
should prefer the company of those whose spirit will best agree with
their own. And such have quite too much influence among God’s
people. They take part with them, and have a name among them; but
they are a text for unbelievers, and for the weak and unconsecrated
ones in the church. In this refining time these professors will either
be wholly converted and sanctified by obedience to the truth, or they
will be left with the world, to receive their reward with the worldling.
God does not own the pleasure-seeker as His follower. Those
only who are self-denying, and who live lives of sobriety, humility,
and holiness, are true followers of Jesus. And such cannot enjoy the
frivolous, empty conversation of the lover of the world.
Separation from the World
The true followers of Christ will have sacrifices to make. They
will shun places of worldly amusement because they find no Jesus
there,—no influence which will make them heavenly minded and
[377] increase their growth in grace. Obedience to the word of God will
lead them to come out from all these things, and be separate.
“By their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:20), the Saviour
declared. All the true followers of Christ bear fruit to His glory.
Their lives testify that a good work has been wrought in them by
Dangerous Amusements for the Young 339
the Spirit of God, and their fruit is unto holiness. Their lives are
elevated and pure. Right actions are the unmistakable fruit of true
godliness, and those who bear no fruit of this kind reveal that they
have no experience in the things of God. They are not in the Vine.
Said Jesus, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear
fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye
abide in Me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in
Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without
Me ye can do nothing.” John 15:4, 5.
Those who would be worshipers of the true God must sacrifice
every idol. Jesus said to the lawyer, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy
God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first commandment.” Matthew 22:37, 38. The first four
precepts of the decalogue allow no separation of the affections from
God. Nor must anything share our supreme delight in Him. We
cannot advance in Christian experience until we put away everything
that separates us from God.
The great Head of the church, who has chosen His people out of
the world, requires them to be separate from the world. He designs
that the spirit of His commandments, by drawing His followers to
Himself, shall separate them from worldly elements. To love God [378]
and keep His commandments is far away from loving the world’s
pleasures and its friendship. There is no concord between Christ and
Belial.
Promises to the Young
The youth who follow Christ have a warfare before them; they
have a daily cross to bear in coming out of the world and imitating
the life of Christ. But there are many precious promises on record
for those who seek the Saviour early. Wisdom calls to the sons of
men, “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall
find me.” Proverbs 8:17.
“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to
the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation
of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves
according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as He which
hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.”
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1 Peter 1:13-15. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath
appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and
worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in
this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious
appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave
Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify
unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:11-
[379] 14.—Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 325-330.
Chapter 128—Establishing Right Principles in the
Youth
The young should be controlled by firm principle, that they
may rightly improve the powers which God has given them. But
youth follow impulse so much and so blindly, without reference
to principle, that they are constantly in danger. Since they cannot
always have the guidance and protection of parents and guardians,
they need to be trained to self-reliance and self-control. They must
be taught to think and act from conscientious principle.
Relaxation and Amusement
Those who are engaged in study should have relaxation. The
mind must not be constantly confined to close thought, for the delicate
mental machinery becomes worn. The body as well as the
mind must have exercise. But there is great need of temperance in
amusements, as in every other pursuit. And the character of these
amusements should be carefully and thoroughly considered. Every
youth should ask himself, What influence will these amusements
have on physical, mental, and moral health? Will my mind become
so infatuated as to forget God? Shall I cease to have His glory before
me?
Card-playing should be prohibited. The associations and tendencies
are dangerous.... There is nothing in such amusements beneficial
to soul or body. There is nothing to strengthen the intellect, nothing [380]
to store it with valuable ideas for future use. The conversation is
often upon trivial and degrading subjects....
Expertness in handling cards often leads to a desire to put this
knowledge and tact to some use for personal benefit. A small sum is
staked, and then a larger, until a thirst for gaming is acquired, which
leads to certain ruin. How many has this pernicious amusement led
to every sinful practice, to poverty, to prison, to murder, and to the
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342 Messages to Young People
gallows! And yet many parents do not see the terrible gulf of ruin
that is yawning for our youth.
Among the most dangerous resorts for pleasure is the theater.
Instead of being a school for morality and virtue, as is so often
claimed, it is the very hotbed of immorality. Vicious habits and sinful
propensities are strengthened and confirmed by these entertainments.
Low songs, lewd gestures, expressions, and attitudes, deprave the
imagination and debase the morals. Every youth who habitually
attends such exhibitions will be corrupted in principle. There is no
influence in our land more powerful to poison the imagination, to
destroy religious impressions, and to blunt the relish for tranquil
pleasures and sober realities of life, than theatrical amusements.
The love for these scenes increases with every indulgence, as the
desire for intoxicating drink strengthens with its use. The only safe
course is to shun the theater, the circus, and every other questionable
place of amusement.
There are modes of recreation which are highly beneficial to
both body and mind. An enlightened, discriminating mind will
[381] find abundant means for entertainment and diversion, from sources
not only innocent, but instructive. Recreation in the open air, the
contemplation of the works of God in nature, will be of the highest
benefit.—Testimonies for the Church 4:651-653.
Provide Innocent Pleasures
Youth cannot be made as sedate and grave as old age, the child
as sober as the sire. While sinful amusements are condemned,
as they should be, let parents, teachers, and guardians of youth
provide in their stead innocent pleasures, which will not taint or
corrupt the morals. Do not bind down the young to rigid rules and
restraints that will lead them to feel themselves oppressed, and to
break over and rush into paths of folly and destruction. With a firm,
kind, considerate hand, hold the lines of government, guiding and
controlling their minds and purposes, yet so gently, so wisely, so
lovingly, that they will still know that you have their best good in
view.—Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 335.
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Recreation in Missionary Work
The hours so often spent in amusement that refreshes neither
body nor soul should be spent in visiting the poor, the sick, and
the suffering, or in seeking to help some one who is in need.—
Testimonies for the Church 6:276.