396
The Adventist Home
as his decoys. This class are always ready for the gatherings for
pleasure or sport, and their influence attracts others. Young men and
women who have tried to be Bible Christians are persuaded to join
the party, and they are drawn into the ring. They do not prayerfully
consult the divine standard to learn what Christ has said in regard
to the fruit to be borne on the Christian tree. They do not discern
that these entertainments are really Satan’s banquet, prepared to keep
souls from accepting the call to the marriage supper of the Lamb and
preventing them from receiving the white robe of character, which is
the righteousness of Christ. They become confused as to what it is
right for them as Christians to do. They do not want to be thought
singular, and naturally incline to follow the example of others. Thus
they come under the influence of those who have never had the divine
touch on heart or mind
[519]
Avoid the First Step Toward Indulgence—You may see no real
danger in taking the first step in frivolity and pleasure seeking and
think that when you desire to change your course, you will be able to
do right as easily as before you yielded yourselves to do wrong. But
this is a mistake. By the choice of evil companions many have been
led step by step from the path of virtue into depths of disobedience and
dissipation to which at one time they would have thought it impossible
for them to sink
A Clear Declaration of Christian Principles—If you truly be-
long to Christ, you will have opportunities for witnessing for Him. You
will be invited to attend places of amusement, and then it will be that
you will have an opportunity to testify to your Lord. If you are true to
Christ then, you will not try to form excuses for your nonattendance,
but will plainly and modestly declare that you are a child of God, and
your principles would not allow you to be in a place, even for one
occasion, where you could not invite the presence of your Lord
It is God’s purpose to manifest through His people the principles
of His kingdom. That in life and character they may reveal these
principles, He desires to separate them from the customs, habits, and
practices of the world....
18
Counsels to Teachers, Parents, and Students, 340, 341
.
19
Ibid., 224
.
20
The Youth’s Instructor, May 4, 1893
.