540
Evangelism
mind or that of others to God, or are they diverting the interest and
attention from Him? Do they strengthen your connection with the
divine agencies, or turn your mind to the human in place of the divine?
Are you serving, honoring, and magnifying God, or are you dis-
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honoring Him and sinning against Him? Are you gathering with Christ
or scattering abroad? All the thought and plan and earnest interest de-
voted to these organizations, has been purchased by the precious blood
of Christ; but are you doing service for Him when uniting yourselves
with atheists and infidels, men who profane the name of God, tipplers,
drunkards, tobacco devotees?
While there may be in these societies much that appears to be
good, there is, mingled with this, very much that makes the good of
no effect, and renders these associations detrimental to the interests of
the soul....
I ask you who take pleasure in these associations, who love the
gathering for indulgence in wit and merriment and feasting, Do you
take Jesus with you? Are you seeking to save the souls of your com-
panions? Is that the object of your association with them? Do they
see and feel that there is in you a living embodiment of the Spirit of
Christ? Is it manifest that you are a witness for Christ, that you belong
to a peculiar people, zealous of good works? Is it manifest that your
life is governed by the divine precepts, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy
God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind,”
and, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself”?....
Those who cannot discern between him that serveth God and him
that serveth Him not, may be charmed with these societies that have
no connection with God, but no earnest Christian can prosper in such
an atmosphere. The vital air of heaven is not there. His soul is barren,
and he feels as destitute of the refreshing of the Holy Spirit as were
the hills of Gilboa of dew and rain.
At times the follower of Christ may by circumstances be compelled
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to witness scenes of unholy pleasure, but it is with a sorrowful heart.
The language is not the language of Canaan, and the child of God will
never choose such associations. When he is necessarily brought into
society that he does not choose, let him lean upon God, and the Lord
will preserve him. But he is not to sacrifice his principles in any cases,
whatever the temptation.