“Is it right for Christians to take part in such amusements?”

November 2010 – Grace & Truth Magazine

QUESTION: Is it right for Christians to go to movies, to dance, play cards, smoke, drink, and participate in other such amusements?

ANSWER: I know that a great many young Christians are troubled by similar questions. They find that certain practices are clearly condemned in the Bible. But after much searching, they also find that there are many other practices, common in the world today, which are not mentioned. The purpose of this answer is to provide Christians with nine questions and a number of Scripture references to help them decide whether or not to engage in a questionable activity.

1. Is it distinctly forbidden by the Lord today? If it is, avoid it as you would a deadly plague. If you do not know, don’t do it until you have had a chance to find out (1 Th. 5:22).

2. Is there any glory for God in it? First Corinthians 10:31 plainly states: “Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Before you engage in the activity in question, can you honestly ask for God’s blessing upon it, believing that He will be honored through your participation?

3. Is it “of the world”? If it is, then it is not of Christ. He said concerning His disciples, “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world” (Jn. 17:16 NKJV). He was in the world, but not of it at all (1 Jn. 2:15-17).

4. Would the Lord have done it? He has left His example to follow (1 Pet. 2:21).

5. Would you like to be found doing it when the Lord returns? Someone has wisely remarked, “Don’t do anything, say anything, or go anywhere that would cause you shame if the Lord should come” (1 Jn. 2:28).

6. Can you still feel free to do it when you remember that the Holy Spirit dwells within you? “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” (1 Cor. 6:19; Eph. 4:30).

7. Is it acceptable conduct for a child of God? When a king’s son acts in an unworthy manner, he brings disgrace on his father’s name. So does the Christian when he behaves in an unbecoming way (Rom. 2:24; Col. 1:10).

8. What effect will your conduct have on others? Will it be a good testimony to the unsaved, or will they decide that there is really no difference between a Christian and an unbeliever (2 Cor. 5:17)? Also, will it cause someone who is young in the faith to stumble? The apostle Paul warned that no man should put “a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way” (Rom. 14:13).

9. Finally, is there the least bit of doubt in your mind about it? If so, don’t do it, for “he who doubts is condemned” for “whatever is not from faith is sin” (Rom. 14:23).

In connection with this question of what a Christian may or may not do, it is well to remember that we “are not under law but under grace” (Rom. 6:14-15). This does not mean we can do as we like, but rather that we should want to do what God likes because He has done so much for us. We should not avoid worldly pleasures and amusements because we have to, but because we want to. The reason we want to is because Christ died for us, and now our ambition is to live in a manner that will please Him. “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 Jn. 4:19; 2 Cor. 5:14, 15). God does not say, “If you keep away from sinful pleasures, you will be a Christian.” But He does say, in effect, that, “You are a Christian! Now live in a way that is consistent with your high calling” (Eph. 4:1).

It is possible for a Christian to forget his dignified position, and engage in the things of the world. In such a case, God will bring him back by loving correction, just as a shepherd brings back a wandering sheep by placing his crook around its neck. If God’s grace is forgotten by the believer, he will be restored by God’s chastening hand.

Answered by William MacDonald