Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-06-17
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR.

Topic For the Week Beginning June
| 1s-Comment by Rev. S. II. Doyle.
ToPIo.-Intemperate pleasures.-H Tim. iii,
-. "a temperance meeting.)
Love of pleasure and excessive and
ntemperate indulgence in pleasure are
among the greatest enemies of religion
today. The age is demanding more and
more amusement and entertainment,
md surrender TO this spirit of the age
,oon leads to dissipation, and dissipa-
ton soon deprives one of all interest in
moral and spiritual improvement.
How far Christians can indulge in
worldly pleasures is therefore most
rital question. The Scriptural creed is
''use the world, but not abuse it, But
another question arises, When does the
ase of the world become the abuse of it :?
Where can we lay down the line and
say, THUS far is use-beyond is abuse;
thus far is temperance-beyond is in
Temperament This question must be
answered by every individual for him.
self What is temperance for one may
be intemperance for another. What is
legitimate for one may be abuse by
another. No religious society, no church
court, can decide rhis question. 1t can
only be decided by the individual con-
science, enlightened by the word of
God, but no Christian. can decide it
without taking into consideration the
effect of his decision upon others. Meat
consecrated to idols may not harm us,
but if meat maketh our brethren to Of
fend we should eat no meat while the
world standeth.
While it is true that each one must
decide for himself as to how far he can
indulge in pleasure, yet it is also true
that certain general principles are found
in Gods word that apply to all Paul
lays down, some of these, in writing
to Timothy, suggesting under what cir
cumstances pleasures are Incorporate.
l. Pleasures are intemperate when
they lead to actual transgression of the
law of God. Love of pleasure may lead
to the immoralities suggested by Paul
selfishness, covetousness, pride, bias
phemy, disobedience to parents, un-
thankfulness, unholiness. etc. When
love of pleasure leads to any of these
things, directly forbidden by the moral
law of God, then there can be no ques-
tion but that we are abusing pleasure.
Pleasure that leads to sin is intemper
ate pleasure.
2. Pleasures are incorporate when
they usurp in the heart and life affec-
tions and duties of greater Importance.
When our love of pleasure is greater
than our love of God. when indulgence
in pleasure leads to neglect of religious
and other duties of grave Importance.
then our pleasures are Incorporate.
8. Pleasures are Incorporate when
they lead others 10 sin. They who to
satiate their appetites for pleasure lead
others. who are thoughtless, silly and
easily led astray into sin, are most in
temperately indulging in pleasures, are
committing crime for which God will
bring them UNTO an awful judgment.
Let US strive to use pleasure, never to
abuse it, and let us seek our highest
joys and pleasures in our religion.
1.-THE pleasures of sense will surfeit and
not satisfy. but the pleasures of religion
will satisfy and not surfeit. -
Bible Readings.-Ps. xvi, Sill; EccL
ii. Ill; lisa. lviii. IS, IA; Rom. xiii,
1914; Cor. iii, 16, II; Gal V, 1926;
Eph. V, 1921; l Tim. V, 6; Titus iii,
II; Heb. xi. 2426; Jas. V, II; 1
Pet. iv, 1-6: II Pet. ii. 9-14; John ii,
1917; v, 4, s.