The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1886-03-19
The World in the ChHrcl.

/ DsoUln VI OGSlluCeiOH anu GeDuk6S
not its sins and ways? The agencies
of evil are ever active and on the
alest seeking to satisfy the insa tirate
thirst eff humanity, There are but
two surces Of supply, enc from above
the other from BENEATH. The fer.
l former purifying, elevating and
ennobling, the latter unsatisfying
degrading and running. This way
cannot be better dcnoninated than
as in the Scriptures. "Worldliness'
or worldlikeness." When we became
members Of the church we profegscd
to have come out from the world, to
have forsaken its ways and spirit,
and to walk in newness of life.
| Against nothing do the commands,
and exbortations of Scriptures bear
with more potency and force than
| this world-loving spirit. Glove not
the world neither the things of the
world, if ye love the world the love
Of the Father IS not in you" Be
not conformed to the world but be ye
transformed By the renewing of
| your mind, says the Apostle, and in
| still stronger terms doesSt James tell
US Eye adulteres and adultereses
known ye not that the friendship of
the world is enmity against God
| Therefore Whoever will be a friend
of the world is an enemy of Go,P
such are some Of the forcible terms
employed in Scripture and our at
titude if we stand on either side
clearly shown. A failure to pom
der these words upon the part of
any protesting christian, or church
and to draw a line of demarkation
is criminal and fraught with direful
consequences and will ultimately
prove a curse to that individual
church aud community. Against
a few only Of the forms in which
this spirit manifests itself will | now
enter my demurrer, and endeaver to
break the fierce Of that current that
now threatens the spiritual lite OF
the church in this town, that
j and engulf many Of
I our young people in the
vortex Of worldly dissipation anC
rum. know that IN the denuncia-
= ton Of these things ''of VIII come
> my head" with many perhaps, but
be it 40, rather than I be derelict to
my duty. Ispeak Of Theatre go
I ing" dancing" and "card playing
All of which I consider insidieus
forms of evil, and gatherings out Of
J | which no good can come fostering
as it does a worldly spirit creating
y love for that which is neither NOR
ally, intellectually, nor spiritually
: improving and hardending the hear
against the claims OF God and rel
giOn. ] shall not enter into a dis
cussion of the merits. or rather de
J merits, of any of these forms OF
worIdliness nows. Suffice it to say
that the leading lights of all the
CHI urches have uttered from time tt
ime their FORMAL prote SITS against then
s l know that this is a subject Oh
s which much has been SAID and per
e haps in an improper spirit, and W.
e are often asked to say nothing about
). 1t. As long however as the people
S participate in such, SO long will il
e be necessary to speak plainly even
!, though some weak broth or be Of
Tended.
= Now christ ian people, I beg Of
+ you think before you further 60, and
!. let go. lis in your power to do
} what ye will eye are the lig hit
f Of the world" if the light that is in
/ thee be darkness, how great is that
f darkness. Has it come to this that
. nothing can be prepared by CHRIS
: tian people for the social enjoyment
of the young, but something bearing
the Anathemas Of the churches, the
incIpiency of vice, and whose record
is as dark as the tomb. 1t would
seem that rs much mirth and world
. illness is being crowded into the
} present as possible to atone Ter the
! deprivation Of the lental season now
!. upon us, and its spiritual value there
| by greatly decreased. l deem it
my right and duty to speak in be
half of the flock 1 represent mas
much as the mental and moral tram
ing is largely given over to others
han DIS, and because eve are all mem
! bars of the same body and if one of
the members safer, all suffer with it. "
Does not the attainment of high and
holy living ofords sufficient scope
for the use ofall our time and talent
Does not the world that lieth out
in wickedness engage our thoughts
and attention? Can we not employ
more of our time in devlsing means
and ways Of helping others to God
and Heaven? Are not these ques-
tions mora wise than, what shall do
for such 20 called "amusements
whose ways seemeth right unto man