(Archibald Brown was a student of Charles Spurgeon. Under
Brown's ministry, scores were saved and instructed.)
Different days demand their own special testimony.
The watchman who would be faithful to his Lord and the city of his God, has
need to carefully note the signs of the times and emphasize his
witness accordingly. Concerning the testimony needed now, there can be
little, if any, doubt. An evil is in the professed camp of the Lord, so
gross, so brazen in its impudence, that the most shortsighted of spiritual
men can hardly fail to notice it. During the past few years it has developed
at an abnormal rate, ever for evil. It has worked like leaven until now the
whole lump ferments. Look which way you may, its presence makes itself
manifest. There is little if anything to choose between Church, Chapel, or
Mission Hall. However they may differ in some respects, they bear a striking
likeness in the posters which disfigure their notice boards. Amusement
for the people is the leading article advertised by each. If any of
my readers doubt my statement, or think my utterance too sweeping, let them
take a tour of inspection and study "the announcements for the week" at the
doors of the sanctuaries of the neighborhood; or let them read the religious
advertisements in their local papers. I have done this again and again,
until the hideous fact has been proved up to the hilt, that "amusement" is
ousting "the preaching of the Gospel" as the great attraction. "Concerts,"
"Entertainments," "Dramatic Performances," are the words honoured with
biggest type and most startling colors. The Concert is fast becoming
as much a recognized part of church life as the Prayer Meeting, and
is already, in most places, far better attended.
"Providing recreation for the people" will soon be looked
upon as a necessary part of Christian work, and as binding upon the Church
of God, as though it were a Divine command, unless some strong voice be
raised which will make themselves heard. I do not presume to possess such a
voice, but I do entertain the hope that I may awaken some louder echoes.
Anyway, the burden of the Lord is upon me in this matter, and I leave it
with Him to give my testimony ringing tone, or to let it die away in
silence. I shall have delivered my soul in either case. Yet the conviction
fills my mind that in all parts of the country there are faithful men and
women who see the danger and deplore it and will endorse my witness and my
warning.
It is only during the past few years that "amusement" has
become a recognized weapon of our warfare, and developed into a mission.
There has been a steady "down grade" in this respect. From "speaking out,"
as the Puritans did, the Church has gradually toned down her testimony; then
winked at and excused the frivolities of the day. Then she has tolerated
them in her borders, and now she has adopted them and provided a home for
them—under the plea of "reaching the masses and getting the ear of the
people." The devil has seldom done a cleverer thing—than hinting to the
Church that part of her mission is to provide entertainment for the people
with a view to winning them into her ranks. The evil nature which lies in
every heart, has risen to catch the bait. Here, now, is an opportunity of
gratifying the flesh—and yet retaining a comfortable conscience. We can now
please ourselves, in order to do good to others. The rough old cross
can be exchanged for a "costume," and the exchange can be made with the
benevolent purpose of elevating the people.
All this is terribly sad, and the more so because truly
gracious souls are being led away by the specious pretext, that amusements
are a form of Christian work. They forget that a seemingly beautiful
angel—may be the devil himself, "for Satan himself is transformed into an
angel of light" (2 Cor. 11:14).
Church amusements are not supported by Scripture
My first contention is—that providing amusement for the
people is nowhere spoken of in Holy Scripture as one of the functions of the
church. What her duties are, will come under our notice later on. At present
it is the negative side of the question that we are dealing with. Now,
surely, it our Lord had intended His church to be the caterer of
entertainment, and so counteract the god of this world—He would hardly have
left so important a branch of service unmentioned. If it is Christian
work, why did not Christ at least hint it? "Go into all the world, and
preach the Gospel to every creature," is clear enough. So would it have
been, if He had added, "and provide amusement for those who do not relish
the Gospel." No such addendum, however, is to be found, nor even an
equivalent for such, in any one of our Lords utterances. This style of work
did not seem to occur to His mind. Then again, Christ, as an ascended Lord,
gives to His Church specially qualified men for the carrying on of His work,
but no mention of any gift for this branch of service occurs in the list.
"He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and
some, pastors and teachers—for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of
the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ," Where do the
"public entertainers" come in? The Holy Spirit is silent concerning
them, and his silence is eloquence.
If "providing recreation" be a part of the Church's work,
surely we may look for some promise to encourage her in the toilsome task.
Where is it? There is a promise that, "My Word shall not return unto Me
void." There is the heart-rejoicing declaration concerning the Gospel, "it
is the power of God unto salvation." There is the sweet assurance for the
preacher of Christ that, whether he is successful or not as the world judges
success—that he is "sweet savor unto God." There is the glorious benediction
for those whose testimony, so far from amusing the world, rouses its wrath:
"Blessed are you when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say
all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be
exceedingly glad—for great is your reward in heaven! For so persecuted they
the prophets who were before you." Were the prophets persecuted because they
amused the people—or because they refused to? The Gospel of
amusement has no martyr roll. In vain does one look for a promise from
God—for providing recreation for a godless world. That which has no
authority from Christ, no provision made for it by the Spirit, no promise
attached to it by God—can only be a lying deceit, when it lays claim to be
"a branch of the work of the Lord".
Church amusements are not taught by the Savior
But again, providing amusement for the people—is in
direct antagonism to the teaching and life of Christ and all his apostles.
What is to be the attitude of the Church towards the world according to our
Lord's teaching? Strict separation and uncompromising hostility.
While no hint ever passed His lips of winning the world by pleasing
it, or accommodating methods to its taste—His demand for unworldliness
was constant and emphatic. He sets forth in one short sentence, what He
would have His disciples to be: "You are the salt of the earth." Yes, the
salt—not the sugar-candy! Something the world will be more inclined
to spit out—than swallow with a smile. Something more
calculated to bring water to the eye—than laughter to the lip.
Short and sharp is the utterance, "Let the dead bury
their dead: but you go and preach the kingdom of God." "If you were of the
world—the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world,
but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." "In
the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer; for I have
overcome the world." "I have given them Your Word, and the world has hated
them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." "My
kingdom is not of this world."
These passages are hard to reconcile with the modern idea
of the Church providing recreation for those who have no taste for
more serious things—in other words, of pleasing the world. If they
teach anything at all, it is that fidelity to Christ will bring down the
world's wrath—and that Christ intended His disciples to share with Him, the
world's scorn and rejection. How did Jesus act? What were the methods of the
only perfectly "faithful witness" the Father has ever had?
As none will question that He is to be the worker's
model, let us gaze upon Him. How significant the introductory account given
by Mark, "Now, after John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee
preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is
fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent! and believe the
Gospel." And again, in the same chapter, I find Him saying, in answer to the
announcement of His disciples, that all men were seeking for Him, "Let us go
into the next towns that I may preach there also, for therefore came
I forth." Matthew tells us, "And it came to pass when Jesus had made an end
of commanding His twelve disciples, He departed thence to teach and
preach in their cities." In answer to John's question, "Are You the
one who is to come?" He replies, "Go and show John those things which you do
hear and see . . . and the poor have the Gospel preached to them."
There is no item in the catalogue for providing amusement, such as: "And
provide the people with innocent recreation."
We are not left in doubt as to the matter of His
preaching, for "when many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no
room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door, He preached
the Word unto them." There was no change of method adopted by the
Lord during His course of ministry. His first word of command to His
evangelists was, "As you go, preach!" His last command was, "Preach
the Gospel to every creature." None of the gospels suggests that at any
time during His ministry, He turned aside from preaching—to
entertain, and so attract the people. He was in solemn earnestness, and
his ministry was as earnest as Himself. Had He been less uncompromising, and
introduced more of the "bright and pleasant" element into His ministry, He
would have been more popular.
Yet, when many of His disciples turned away, because of
the searching nature of His preaching, I do not find there was any attempt
to increase a diminished congregation, by resorting to something more
pleasant to the flesh. I do not hear Him saying, "We must keep up the
gatherings at any cost! So run after those people, Peter, and tell them we
will have a different style of service tomorrow! Something very short and
attractive, with little, if any, preaching. Today was a service for God, but
tomorrow we will have a pleasant evening for the people. Tell them they will
be sure to enjoy it, and have a pleasant time. Be quick, Peter! We must get
the people somehow; if not by Gospel, then by entertainment!" No,
this was not how He argued. Gazing in sorrow on those who would not hear the
Word, He simply turns to the twelve, and asks, "Will you go away also?"
Jesus pitied sinners, pleaded with them,
sighed over them, warned them, and wept over them; but He
never sought to amuse them! When the evening shadows of His
consecrated life were deepening into the night of death, He reviewed His
holy ministry, and found comfort and sweet solace in the thought, "I have
given them Your Word." As with the Master, so with His apostles- their
teaching is the echo of His. In vain will the epistles be searched to
discover any trace of a gospel of amusement. The same call for separation
from the world rings in everyone, "But not conformed to this world, but be
you transformed," is the word of command in the Romans. "Come out from among
them. and be you separate and touch not the unclean thing." It is the
trumpet call in the Corinthians. Ln other words it is come out - keep out -
keep clean out - for "what communion has light with darkness, and what
concord has Christ with Belial?"
"God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our
Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world is crucified unto me and J unto
the world." Here is the true relationship between the Church and the world
according to the Epistle to the Galatians. "Do not be partakers with them.
Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather
reprove them," is the attitude enjoined in Ephesians. "That you may be
blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and
perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world. Hold
firmly the message of life," is the word in Philippians. "Dead with Christ
from the rudiments of the world," says the Epistle to the Colossians,
"Abstain from all appearance of evil" is the demand in Thessalonians.
"If anyone purifies himself from these things, he
will be a special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master,
prepared for every good work," is the word to Timothy. "Let us then go to
Him outside the camp, bearing His disgrace," is the heroic summons of the
Hebrews. James, with holy severity, declares that "Friendship with the world
is enmity with God; whoever, therefore, will be a friend of the world is the
enemy of God." Peter writes: "As obedient children, do not be conformed to
the desires of your former ignorance but, as the One who called you is holy,
you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written—Be holy,
because I am holy." John writes a whole epistle, the gist of which is, "Do
not love the world or the things that belong to the world. If anyone loves
the world, love for the Father is not in him. For everything that belongs to
the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in
one’s lifestyle—is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world
with its lust is passing away, but the one who does God's will remains
forever."
Here are the teachings of the apostles concerning the
relationship of the Church and the world. And yet, in the face
of them, what do we see and hear? A friendly compromise between the
two—and an insane effort to please and amuse the world. God help us, and
dispel the strong delusion. How did the apostles carry on their mission
work? Was it in harmony with their teaching? Let the Acts of the Apostles
give the answer.
Anything approaching the worldly amusements of today, is
conspicuous by its absence. The early evangelists had boundless confidence
in the power of the Gospel, and employed no other weapon. Pentecost
followed plain preaching. When Peter and John had been locked up for the
night for preaching—the early Church had a prayer meeting.
Directly they returned, and the petition offered for the two was, "And now,
Lord, grant unto Your servants, that with all boldness they may speak
Your word." They had no thought of praying, "Grant unto Your servants
more wisdom, that by a wise and discriminating use of innocent recreation,
they may avoid the offence of the cross, and sweetly show the unsaved, how
happy and merry a lot we are."
The charge brought against the apostles was, "You have
filled Jerusalem with your doctrine." Not much chance of this charge
being brought against modern methods! The description of their work
is, "And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to
teach and preach Jesus Christ." Then, it they "ceased not" from
this, they had no time for arranging for entertainments! They gave
themselves continually to the ministry of the Word. Scattered by
persecution, the early disciples "Went everywhere, preaching the Word."
When Philip went to Samaria, and was the means of
bringing "great joy to that city," the only recorded method is, "He
preached Christ unto them." When the apostles went to visit the scene of
his labors, it is stated, "And they, when they had testified and preached
the Word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the Gospel
in many villages of the Samaritans." When they had finished their
preaching, it is evident they did not think it was their mission to stay and
organize some "pleasant evenings of entertainment" for those people who did
not believe.
The congregations in those days did not expect anything
but the Word of the Lord, for Cornelius says to Peter, "We are all here in
the presence of God—to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to
tell us." The message given was, "Words whereby you and all your house shall
be saved." Cause and effect are closely linked in the statement, "Some of
them went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, preaching the
good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord's hand was with them, and a
great number of people believed and turned to the Lord." Here you have their
method—they preached. Their matter—the good news about the
Lord Jesus. Their power—the hand of the Lord was with them. Their
success—a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
What more does the Church of God require today? When Paul
and Barnabas worked together, the record is, "The Lord gave testimony unto
the Word of His grace," When Paul, in a vision, hears a man of Macedonia
saying, "Come over and help us," he assuredly understands that the
Lord had called him to preach the Gospel unto them. Why so? How did
he know, but that the help needed was the brightening of their lives by a
little amusement, or the refining of their manners by a collection of
paintings? He never thought of such things! "Come and help us!" meant
to him, "Preach the Gospel." "As his custom was, Paul went
into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the
Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise
from the dead." That was the "custom" of evangelistic work in those days,
and it seems to have been wonderfully powerful; for the verdict of the
people is, "These who have turned the world upside down—have come here
also!" Just now, the world is turning the Church upside down; that is
the only difference.
When God told Paul that He had many people in Corinth, I
read, "And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the Word of
God among them." Evidently then, he judged that the only way to save
them, was by the Word. A year and a half—and only one method adopted.
Wonderful! Our modern preachers would have had a dozen methods in that time!
But then Paul never reckoned that providing something pleasant for the
ungodly, was part of his ministry; for, on his way to Jerusalem and
martyrdom, he says, "But I count my life of no value to myself, so that I
may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus—to
testify to the gospel of God's grace." This was all the ministry he
knew.
The last description we have of the methods of this
prince of evangelists, is consistent with all that has gone before, "For
two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all
who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of
God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ." What a contrast to all the rot
and nonsense now being perpetrated in the holy name of Christ! May the Lord
clear the Church of all the rubbish that the devil has imposed upon her, and
bring us back again to apostolic methods!
Church amusements are not spiritually fruitful
Lastly, the mission of amusement utterly falls to
effect the desired end among the unsaved; but it works havoc among the young
converts. Were it a success, it would be none the less wrong. Success
belongs to God. Faithfulness to His instructions is my only
responsibility
Nonetheless, providing amusements for the people
is a contemptible failure. Let us see the converts who have been won
by amusement. Let the harlots and the drunkards, to whom a dramatic
entertainment has been God's first link in the chain of their conversion
stand forth. Let the careless and the scoffers who have cause to thank God
that the Church has relaxed her spirit of separation and met them half-way
in their worldliness, speak and testify. Let the husbands, wives, and
children, who have been saved by church amusements, tell out their joy. Let
the weary, heavy-laden souls who have found peace through a pleasing
concert, no longer keep silence. Let the men and women who have found
Christ through the reversal of apostolic methods declare the same, and show
the greatness of Paul's blunder when he said, "I determined not to know
anything among you—but Jesus Christ, and Him crucified." There is neither
voice nor any to answer. The failure is on a par with the folly—and
as huge as the sin! Out of thousands with whom I have personally
conversed, the mission of amusement has claimed no convert!
Now let the appeal be made to those who, repudiating
every other method, have staked everything on the preaching of the Gospel.
Let them be challenged to produce results. There is no need. Blazing
sacrifices on every hand attest the answer. Ten thousand times ten thousand
voices are ready to declare that the plain preaching of the Word was, first
and last—the cause of their salvation!
But how about the other side of this matter—what
are baneful effects of providing entertainment? Are they innocent? I
will here solemnly as before the Lord, give my personal testimony. Though I
have never seen a sinner saved by amusements, I have seen any number of
backsliders manufactured by this new departure from the Scripture. Over and
over again have they come to me in tears, and asked what they were to do, as
they had lost all their peace and fallen into evil. Over and over again has
the confession been made, "I began to go wrong by attending worldly
amusements that Christians patronized." It is not very long since that a
young man, in an agony of soul, said to me, "I never thought of going to the
theater—until my minister put it into my heart by preaching that there was
no harm in it. I went, and it has led me from bad to worse—and now I am a
miserable backslider; and he is responsible for it."
When professors begin to forsake the gatherings for
prayer, and grow worldly, I almost always find that worldly Christianity
is responsible for the first downward step. The mission of amusements
is the devil's half-way house to the world! It is because of what I have
seen that I feel deeply, and would sincerely write strongly. This thing is
working rottenness in the Church of God, and blasting her service for the
King. In the guise of Christianity, it is accomplishing the devil's own
work! Under the pretense of going out to reach the world—it is carrying our
sons and daughters into the world, With the plea of "Do not alienate the
masses with your strictness," it is seducing the young disciples from the
simplicity and the purity of the Gospel. Professing to win the world, it is
turning the garden of the Lord into a public recreation ground! To
fill the church with those who see no beauty in Christ—a grinning Dragon
is put over the doorway!
It will be no wonder if the Holy Spirit, grieved and
insulted, withdraws His presence; for "What harmony can there be between
Christ and the Devil?"
"Come out!" is the call for today! Sanctify yourselves!
Put away the evil from among you. Cast down the world's altars and cut down
her groves. Spurn her offered assistance. Decline her help, as your Master
did the testimony of devils, for "He did not allow them to speak, because
they knew Him." Renounce all the worldly policy of the age. Trample
upon Saul's armor. Grasp the Book of God. Trust the Spirit who wrote
its pages. Fight with this weapon—only and always. Cease to amuse—and
seek to arouse with the preaching of the Word. Shun the clap of a
delighted audience, and listen for the sobs of a convicted one. Give up
trying to "please" men who have only the thickness of the ribs between their
souls and hell! Warn, and plead, and entreat—as those who see the fires of
eternity about to devour the lost!
Let the Church again confront the world—testify
against it—and meet it only behind the cross! And, like her Lord, she
shall overcome, and with Him share the victory!