Chapter 43—Church Social Life
Christian social gatherings should lead souls to Christ—What
has been your influence over those who assembled in your social
gatherings? What has been said or done to lead souls to Christ? Have
you been instant in season, out of season, to do your whole duty?
Are you ready to meet at the bar of God those with whom you have
mingled in your social gatherings, especially that class who have been
thrown under your influence and who have died out of Christ? Are you
prepared to say that your skirts are clear of their blood? I will mention
one case, that of Q. Will no reproach fall upon you from her, upon you
who were surrounded with good home influences, you who had every
favorable opportunity to develop good Christian characters, but who
have felt no burden for souls? Pride, vanity, and love of pleasure were
fostered by you, and you acted your part in disgracing your profession
and leading this poor soul, who had been tossed about and buffeted
by Satan, to doubt the reality of the truth and the genuineness of the
Christian religion.—
Testimonies for the Church 2:179
.
Importance
People are easily reached through social avenues—People are
easily reached through the avenues of the social circle.... It is highly
important that a pastor should mingle much with his people, that he
may become acquainted with the different phases of human nature,
readily understand the workings of the mind, adapt his teachings to the
intellect of his people, and learn that grand charity possessed only by
those who closely study the nature and needs of men.—
Testimonies
for the Church 4:266
.
Sabbathkeepers tend to neglect needed recreation—I was
shown that Sabbathkeepers as a people labor too hard without al-
lowing themselves change or periods of rest. Recreation is needful to
those who are engaged in physical labor and is still more essential for
those whose labor is principally mental. It is not essential to our salva-
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