Recreation

IT is a common plea, in extenuation of worldliness on the part of young Christians, that "young people must have some recreation." Now no one will deny the necessity for recreation in a legitimate manner; but it would be well for young folks, and old ones too, to inquire, What is recreation? and whether there be not a limit to Christian indulgence.

Webster's definition of recreation is: "The act of recreating, or the state of being recreated; refreshment of the strength and spirits after toil; amusements; diversion; sport." The points in this definition would seem of themselves to mark the limit of the application to Christian life. The first point, or primary meaning, is supplied in Christ: "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature." Here is recreation, with unlimited exercise, of the highest type. The second point, it must be conceded, expresses a necessity of the human frame and mind, even when renewed in Christ. But is this necessity confined to young folks? No one, after a moment's thought, will deny that old folks need rest from toil more than the young do. But they do not need folly; neither do the young. A change of employment is rest; excess of any change is not rest. Cheerfulness is a necessity of old or young, as much of one as of the other; but it does not demand the hours designed by nature for quiet. Carried to this degree, it becomes the opposite of recreation, and this plea fails to be an excuse for late hour enjoyments.

The remaining three points in the definition denote the gradual tendency toward utter abandonment, as though more had been added to supply a growing popular demand in the use of the word recreation, till it ends in "sport." This latter term includes all the extremes of depraved pastime. The "sporting" journals, and the sporting columns of the ordinary newspapers, comprise all the brutal contests in the catalogue, and drag into notoriety the very dregs of humanity.

When we come to the "amusement" point in the definition, we strike the ground where a line must be drawn between the Christian and the world. Here is a prominent battleground of the overcomer. Nor do the Scriptures make any difference between old and young. It is nowhere intimated that the old must overcome, but the young may continue in amusement, in diversion, in sport, until the become old. The Saviour did not set up a little child as a pattern because of its natural desire for amusement, but because of its innocence and its teachableness. Says the apostle John, "I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one." And again, "I have written unto you, young man, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth m you, and ye have overcome the wicked one." How different is the situation today. The old folks may do the overcoming, but young men and women must needs be amused. What amusement, or diversion, or sport, ever made a young man "strong," or enabled him to "overcome the wicked one?"

The tendency of the human mind today is toward amusement. There never was a time when the theater was so popular as in this generation. There never was such a demand in the social world for light and trivial entertainment as at the present time—even the church feeling obliged to cater to the craving appetite in order to sustain its much desired popularity. The mind thus pampered naturally becomes averse to solid things—solid reading, solid thought, solid employment—and seeks "diversion." To such extent has this tendency been encouraged, that we are constrained to believe that much recreation, in the primary sense, is needed to divert the minds of professed Christians toward the solemn responsibilities of the present hour.

But says one, "It is easy to be good when you get old." Now, dear, deluded one, you could not make a greater mistake than to indulge that idea. You never heard an old person say so, nor do you admit the principle when applied to other things. When an article of clothing has become soiled, and you wish to cleanse it, you do not say, I will wear it a week longer, and it will be easier to cleanse; and at the end of that week say, I will wear it still longer, and by-and-by it will require no effort at all to get it clean and keep it so. You admit that such a course would be the height of folly. Well, it is a fact patent to all serious observers, that inordinate desires—"the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life"—gather more rapidly, and cling more tenaciously to the unrestrained mind and heart, than do material impurities to the most delicate fabric. Then it appears that spots on the character would be more readily erased in youth than if allowed to remain until firmly set by age; and every one of any experience whatever knows that it is easier to refrain from untoward habits than to break thorn off after long indulgence.

We have a pattern in Jesus. It is said "he was tempted in all points like as we are." And we believe it, for "it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered, being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted." Heb. 2:17, 18. He overcame, although the sins of the world rested upon him; but there is no record in all his pattern life, that he was aided by amusement or sport. He was once a child, and no doubt a lively, cheerful one; but at the age of twelve years he realized that he must be about his Father's business, and his Father's business with this fallen world was a solemn business. He indulged in nocturnal recreation too, but this recreation consisted in nights of prayer for help to overcome the world. When his disciples begged him to eat because of his weariness, his reply was, "I have meat to eat which ye know not of."

It is not expected that children, even when converted, will be men and women; nor do we here refer to such amusements as are ordinarily engaged in by children. But when they have grown to such age as to no longer desire to be called children, it is but reasonable to expect them to begin to "put away childish things." The work of overcoming the world can only be done in Christ, who as a help has given us his example, and has promised further assistance only to those who follow him. We must all, old and young, get beyond that desire for amusement that "counts reveling for a day pleasure," before we can hope to be reckoned as perfect overcomers.