THE DEVIL'S MISSION OF AMUSEMENT.
By Archibald C. Brown
[The following is from a tract by Rev. Archibald C. Brown, of East London (Eng.) Tabernacle. Published by Fleming H. Revell Co., New York.] DIFFERENT days demand their own special testimony. The watchman who would be faithful to his Lord and the city of his God, has need to carefully note the signs of the times and emphasize his witness accordingly. Concerning the testimony needed now there can be little, if any, doubt. An evil is in the professed camp of the Lord, so gross, so brazen in its impudence that the most shortsighted of spiritual men can hardly fail to notice it. During the past few years it has developed at an abnormal rate even 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. 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," 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," "Entertainments," "Fancy Fairs," "Dramatic Performances," are the words honored with 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. I do not presume to possess such a voice; but I do entertain the hope that I may awaken some louder echoes. Anyway, the burden of the Lord is upon me in this matter, and I leave it with him to give my testimony ringing tone, or let it die away in silence. I shall have delivered my soul in either case. Yet the conviction fills my mind that in all parts of the country there are faithful men and women who see the danger and deplore it, and will indorse my witness and my warning. It is only during the past few years that amusement has become a recognized weapon of our warfare, and developed into a mission. There has been a steady down grade in this respect. From "speaking out," as the Puritans did, the church has gradually toned down her testimony, then winked at and excused the frivolities of the day. Then she has tolerated them in her borders, and now she has adopted them and provided a home for them, under the plea of reaching the masses, and getting the ear of the people. The devil has seldom done a cleverer thing than hinting to the church of Christ that part of her mission is to provide entertainment for the people, with a view to winning them into her ranks. The human nature that lies in every heart has risen to the habit. Here, now, is an opportunity of gratifying the flesh and yet retaining a comfortable conscience. We can now please ourselves in order to do good to others. The rough old cross can be exchanged for a "costume," and the exchange can be made with the benevolent purpose of elevating the people. All this is terribly sad, and the more so because truly gracious souls are being led away by the specious pretext that it is a form of Christian work. They forget that a seemingly beautiful angel may be the devil himself, "for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light." 2 Cor. 11:14. My first contention is that PROVIDING AMUSEMENT FOR THE PEOPLE IS NOWHERE SPOKEN OF IN HOLY SCRIPTURE AS ONE OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE CHURCH. What her duties are will come under our notice later on. At present it is the negative side of the question that we are dealing with. Now, surely, if the Lord had intended his church to be the caterer of entertainment, and so counteract the god of this world, he would hardly have left so important a branch of service unmentioned. If it is Christian work, why did not Christ at least hint it? "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature," is clear enough. So would it have been if he had added, "and provide amusement for those who do not relish the gospel." No such addendum, however, is to be found, nor even an equivalent for such, in any one of our Lord’s utterances. This style of work did not seem to occur to his mind. Then, again, Christ as an ascended Lord gives to his church specially qualified men for the carrying on of his work, but no mention of any gift for this branch of service occurs in the list. "He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." Where do the public entertainments come in? The Holy Ghost is silent concerning them; and its silence is eloquent. If providing recreation be a part of the church’s work, surely we may look for some promise to encourage her in the toilsome task. Where is it? There is a promise for "My word," that it "shall not return unto Me void." There is a heart-rejoicing declaration concerning the gospel,—"it is the power of God." There is the sweet assurance for the preacher of Christ that, whether he be successful or no—as the world judges success—he is a "sweet savor unto God." There is the glorious benediction for those whose testimony, so far from amusing the world, rouses its wrath: "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." Were the prophets persecuted because they amused the people? or because they refused to? The gospel of amusement has no martyrology. In vain does one look for a promise from God for providing recreation for a godless world. That which has no authority from Christ, no provision made for it by the Spirit, no promise attached to it by God, can only be a lying hypocrite when it claims to be a branch of the work of the Lord.