The Faith I Live By

Closing the Door of Temptation, August 20

In Contact With Others

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15. FLB 238.1

Between the associations of the followers of Christ for Christian recreation, and worldly gatherings for pleasure and amusement, will exist a marked contrast. Instead of prayer and the mentioning of Christ and sacred things, will be heard from the lips of worldlings the silly laugh and the trifling conversation. The idea is to have a general high time.^{96Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 336, 337.} FLB 238.2

Worldly pleasures are infatuating; and for their momentary enjoyment many sacrifice the friendship of Heaven, with the peace, love, and joy that it affords. But these chosen objects of delight soon become disgusting, unsatisfying.^{97The Adventist Home, 521.} FLB 238.3

Some of the most popular amusements, such as football and boxing, have become schools of brutality.... Other athletic games, though not so brutalizing, are scarcely less objectionable because of the excess to which they are carried. They stimulate the love of pleasure and excitement, thus fostering a distaste for useful labor, a disposition to shun practical duties and responsibilities.... Thus the door is opened to dissipation and lawlessness, with their terrible results.^{98Education, 210, 211.} FLB 238.4

The true Christian will not desire to enter any place of amusement or engage in any diversion upon which he cannot ask the blessing of God. He will not be found at the theater, the billiard hall, or the bowling saloon. He will not unite with the gay waltzes or indulge in any other bewitching pleasure that will banish Christ from the mind. To those who plead for these diversions we answer, We cannot indulge in them in the name of Jesus of Nazareth.... No Christian would wish to meet death in such a place. No one would wish to be found there when Christ shall come.^{99The Adventist Home, 515, 516.} FLB 238.5

If we venture on Satan's ground we have no assurance of protection from his power. So far as in us lies, we should close every avenue by which the tempter may find access to us.^{100Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 118.} FLB 238.6