Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1890-04-19
Don't Lower Your Colors !

A vast deal of mischief is done by
lowering the standard of doctrine in
preaching; but it is equally danger
Gus for protesting Christians to lower
the standard of daily practice.
Young converts when they enter the
church ought to realize that they
"come ont from the world" and
should endeavor to stay ont. Church
members should be al"peculiar peo-
Pile" not peculiar in oddly, or
crankiness, or self.righteous censori-
business, but peculiar in abstaining
from many pursuits and pleasures
that do not trouble the conscience of
a wording. Christ drew sharp
lines of distinction between the
church and the world that can never
be rubbed out? Young Christian, be
careful how you take the first step
over the linel
Begin by running your colors up to
masthead, and don't lower them by
single inch. For example, in the
matter of amusement and recreation,
take the right stand and stick to it.
Wholesome recreatiOns are neces-
Sary; but whatever amusement
strains your conscience, sullies the
purity Of your godliness and smirch-
es your Christian influences over
your associates is 1crOng let it alone.
There are certainly pure pleasures
enough to be found without tasting
of either the muddy or the poisonous
waters. The joys Of home-life, the
pleasures of wholesome books, of
music, of refined art, of pure social
intercourse and many other things a
healthy Christian can enjoy, and
ought to enjoy. 1t is contemplate
and childish to ask to be everlasting
ly amused life is too serious a thing
for that. But wholesome amuse-
lnents at the proper time do not
harm. They are not wholesome il
they faint your spiritual life or dam.
age your influence. (
Unless / am very much mistaken
there is tendency to lower the stan
dards in these days. Even Gods
ministers are in danger of catching
the infection. They ought not to be
"glum" or gloomy; neither should
they "court a grin" either in the pull
pit or the ecclesiastical assemblies
Paul declared that "foolish jesting'
is not BETTING any Christian, much
less an ambassador of Christ and il
he or Peter or John were to address
modern Presbytery or General AS
sembly doubt whether their speech
es would be punctuated with "grea
laughter and applause" The tone o
our religious gatherings is being
lowered By this increasing tendency
to fun and frivolity. Bretheren, LEI
us not drop our sacred cOlors into tn,
mire! In the matter of amusement
also a minister's example shoulC
never imperil the weakest of hi,
flock. 1t is reported that when a
popular actor performed in certain
city several ministers and theologi
cal students were present in the play
house, Would their Divine Maste
have gone with them there, if h,
were on earth? Then they had nc
business to be there. The theatre i
IN institution it mast be judged as {
WhOLe does the average stage i'm
prove the morals of the community
Is it an ally of the church, and doe
it promote the spiritual health o
Christians? If so, let all minister
and good people pray for Gods bless
ing on the playhouse, and encour
age young Christians to go there. 1
not so, then Christ and "Belial" haC
better be kept apart. When a young
Christian gets enamored with tn,
play house, or the promiscuous dane
ing assembly, or the convivial club
he is seldom seen at the prayer.meet