This article was presented at a Bible class one
Sunday and I thought it might be of interest to others.
Only the uninformed or the religious fanatic would
say that a Christian should not have a recreational life. All
well-balanced, properly developed individuals must be engaged in
recreation. A Christian is not different. It is not of a question of
should we have recreation in our life, but what recreation is
permissible. Just what can a Christian do and what must a Christian
avoid? What recreation is right, and what recreation is wrong? These are
perplexing questions that confront every Christian as he or she
endeavors to select appropriate recreational activities.
The Bible does not answer these questions in
specific terms of “thou shall not” or “thus says the Lord”, but the
Bible does address them in principles. These principles should help us
make the right choices as we consider the many recreational
opportunities that confronting us every day. The following questions
serve as a guide to exercise our minds in testing the acceptability of
the different recreational activities.
- Does this activity destroy y identity as a
Christian by causing me to be regarded as the world?
2 Cor 6:14; Rom 12:1,2
- Do I Go along with the crowd?
- Do my friends know that there are some
things I will not do?
- Is the activity questionable in your own
mind and therefore as offense to my conscience? Rom
14:22, 23; Jas 4:17
- If I don’t know if an activity is right or
wrong, what should you do?
- Does this activity weaken my influence on
unbelievers or could it become a stumbling block to my brethren?
1 Cor 8:7-13; 1 Cor 10:23, 24
- Will my being engaged in this activity
make other Christians stronger or weaker?
- How serious is it if my influence is not
all that great? Matt 18:6-7
- Is this activity harmful to my body?
1 Cor 6:9, 19, 20
- Why is it wrong for us to abuse our body?
- Could this also include activities and
recreation involving extreme risks?
- Does this activity conflict with my duty as
a Christian? Matt 6:33; 2 Tim 2:4, Heb 10:25
- What if my recreational activity causes me
to miss assembling with the church?
- If every member of the church missed
services for recreational activities, would the church be
affected?
- Does this activity appeal to indecency or
cultivate a fleshly appetite? Cor 3:3-5; Tit
2:11-13; Phil 4:8
- Would being engaged in this recreation be
an undesirable habit?
- Does this recreation make my thoughts
impure?
- Does this recreation interfere with my
spiritual growth?
- Does this activity place me in bad company
or at a disadvantage? 1 Cor 15:33; 1 Thes 5:21,22;
2 Cor 6:14-18
- Will my being engaged in this recreation
make it harder for me to live as a Christian?
Conclusion: Some general questions we should
consider concerning our recreation:
- 1.Would I want God to know that I’m engaged in
this activity? (and He does).
- Could I invite Jesus to participate in this
activity with me?
- Would I be willing to ask the preacher, or
elders and their wives to join me in this activity?
- Would I want my parents, spouse, children or
other family members to know that I participate in this activity
Scriptures Used
2 Cor 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked together with
unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And
what communion has light with darkness? NKJV
Rom 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies
of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be
conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect
will of God. NKJV
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Rom 14:22-23 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before
God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23
But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from
faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin. NKJV
James 4:17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not
do it, to him it is sin. NKJV
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1 Cor 8:7-13 However, there is not in everyone that knowledge;
for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing
offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 But
food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the
better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse. 9 But beware lest
somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are
weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's
temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat
those things offered to idols? 11 And because of your knowledge shall
the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when you thus sin
against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against
Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never
again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. NKJV
1 Cor 10:23-24 All things are lawful for me, but not all
things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things
edify. 24 Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being.
NKJV
Matt 18:6-7 "Whoever causes one of these little ones who
believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were
hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe
to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to
that man by whom the offense comes! NKJV
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1 Cor 6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not
inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor
idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,
1 Cor 6:19-20 Or 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? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God
in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. NKJV
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Matt 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His
righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. NKJV
2 Tim 2:4-5 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with
the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a
soldier.
NKJV
Heb 10:25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together,
as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the
more as you see the Day approaching. NKJV
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Col 3:3-5 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in
God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear
with Him in glory. 5 Therefore put to death your members which are
on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and
covetousness, which is idolatry. NKJV
Titus 2:11-13 For the grace of God that brings salvation has
appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and
worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the
present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of
our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, NKJV
Phil 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever
things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure,
whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there
is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy -- meditate on these
things.
NKJV
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1 Cor 15:33 Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good
habits." NKJV
1 Thess 5:21-22 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22
Abstain from every form of evil. NKJV
2 Cor 6:14-18 Do not be unequally yoked together with
unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And
what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ
with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what
agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of
the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among
them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people." 17
Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do
not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you." 18'I will be a
Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters,
Says the LORD Almighty." NKJV
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