IDOLATRY by James White

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 1, 1860

IDOLATRY.

By James White

THERE is a great difference between tyranny and anarchy. Some who have escaped from the trammels of unjust restraint, are unwilling to suffer any restraint whatever. It has been a cause of regret to many that those who call the churches Babylon should so readily run into confusion. This is sometimes manifested in our meetings. Leaving churches where there is apparently nothing but formality, and attending meetings mostly in private houses, all ideas of order seem to be discarded, and the children are allowed to run about the house and make any amount of noise with impunity. And this passes for religious liberty!

But what we wish to call particular attention to at this time is the habit of some of not only letting their children run around and play, but they seem to enjoy the pastime about as well as the children. Professing to assemble for worship, their minds seem to be all absorbed in the sports of the juveniles. I have seen some who do not often enjoy the privilege of preaching, with their minds all taken up with playing across the house. Is this becoming? Is it Christian?

To all such we would say: Of all false worship, perhaps child worship is as agreeable as any; but as it is not likely that you will be able to get a great many to worship your children with you, (there being so many who enjoy privileges equal to your own), it would perhaps be advisable to relinquish all efforts for social worship of that nature, and confine it to your own fire-side.

J. H. W.