Chapter 80—What Shall We Play?
Substitute the Innocent for the Sinful—Youth cannot be made as
sedate and grave as old age, the child as sober as the sire. While sinful
amusements are condemned, as they should be, let parents, teachers,
and guardians of youth provide in their stead innocent pleasures which
will not taint or corrupt the morals. Do not bind down the young to rigid
rules and restraints that will lead them to feel themselves oppressed
and to break over and rush into paths of folly and destruction. With
a firm, kind, considerate hand hold the lines of government, guiding
and controlling their minds and purposes, yet so gently, so wisely,
so lovingly, that they will still know that you have their best good in
view
There are amusements, such as dancing, card playing, chess, check-
ers, etc., which we cannot approve because Heaven condemns them.
These amusements open the door for great evil. They are not bene-
ficial in their tendency, but have an exciting influence, producing in
some minds a passion for those plays which lead to gambling and
dissipation. All such plays should be condemned by Christians, and
something perfectly harmless should be substituted in their place
While we restrain our children from worldly pleasures that have a
tendency to corrupt and mislead, we ought to provide them innocent
recreation, to lead them in pleasant paths where there is no danger.
No child of God need have a sad or mournful experience. Divine
commands, divine promises, show that this is so. Wisdom’s ways “are
ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
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While we shun the false and artificial, discarding horse racing, card
playing, lotteries, prize fights, liquor drinking, and tobacco using, we
must supply sources of pleasure that are pure and noble and elevating
1
Counsels to Teachers, Parents, and Students, 335
.
2
Testimonies For The Church 1, 514
.
3
The Review and Herald, January 29, 1884
.
4
Special Testimonies on Education “Living by Principle”, 1898, 19, 20
.
380