Dangerous Amusements for the Young
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The standard of piety is low among professed Christians gener-
ally, 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 restrain
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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.
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