AMUSEMENTS IN THE CHURCH.
By Archibald Brown
An evil is in the professed camp of the Lord, so gross, so brazen in its impudence, that the most short-sighted of spiritual men can hardly fail to notice it. During the past few years it has developed at an abnormal rate, ever for evil. It has worked like leaven, until now the whole lump ferments. Look which way you may, its presence makes itself manifest. There is little, if anything, to choose between church, chapel, or mission hall. However these may differ in some respects, they bear a striking likeness to the posters that figure upon and disfigure their notice boards. Amusement for the people is the leading article advertised by each. If any of my readers doubt my statement, or think my utterance too sweeping, let them take a tour of inspection and study the "announcements for the week" at the doors of the sanctuaries of their neighborhood, or let them read the religious advertisements in their local papers. I have done this again and again, until the hideous fact has been proved up to the hilt, that "amusement" is ousting "the preaching of the gospel" as the great attraction. "Concerts," "fancy fairs," "entertainments," "dramatic performances," "smoking conferences," are the words honored with the biggest type and most startling colors. The concert is fast becoming as much a recognized part of church life as the prayer-meeting, and is already, in most places, far better attended. "Providing recreation for the people" will soon be looked upon as a necessary part of Christian work, and as binding upon the church of God as though it were a divine command, unless some strong voices be raised which will make themselves heard. Providing amusement for the people is in direct antagonism to the teaching and life of Christ and all his apostles. What is to be the attitude of the church towards the world according to our Lord's teaching? Strict separation and uncompromising hostility. While no hint ever passed his lips of winning the world by pleasing it, or accommodating methods to its taste, his demand for unworldliness was constant and emphatic. He set forth in one short sentence what he would have his disciples be, "Ye are the salt of the earth." Yes; the salt, not the sugar candy or a "lump of delight." Something the world will be more inclined to spit out than swallow with a smile. Something more calculated to bring water to the eye than laughter to the lip. Short and sharp is the utterance, "Let the dead bury their dead; but go thou and preach the kingdom of God." "If ye were of the world, the world would love its own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." "In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." "I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." "My kingdom is not of this world." These passages are hard to reconcile with the modern idea of the church providing recreation for those who have no taste for serious things—in other words, to conciliate the world. If they teach anything at all, it is that fidelity to Christ will bring down the world's wrath, and that Christ intended his disciples to share with him the world's scorn and rejection. Jesus pitied sinners, pleaded with them, sighed over them, warned them, and wept over them, but never sought to amuse them. When the evening shadows of his consecrated life were deepening into the night of death, he reviewed his holy ministry, and found comfort and sweet solace in the thought, "I have given them thy word."—Rev. Archibald Brown, London, England.