Worldly Amusements - Finney

AMUSEMENTS

By Charles G. Finney (1792-1875)

...The question [concerning amusements] in all such cases is not, "What harm is there in this proposed amusement?" but, "What good can it do?" "Is it the best way in which I can spend my time?"...The question often arises: "Are we never to seek such amusements?" I answer: It is our privilege and our duty to live above a desire for such things.

All that class of desires should be so subdued by living so much in the light of God, and having so deep a communion with Him as to have no relish for such amusements whatever. It certainly is the privilege of every child of God to walk so closely with Him, and maintain so divine a communion with Him, as not to feel the necessity of worldly excitements, sports, pastimes, and entertainments to make his enjoyment satisfactory.

If a Christian avails himself of his privilege of communion with God, he will naturally and by an instinct of his new nature repel solicitations to go after worldly amusements. To him such pastimes will appear low, unsatisfactory, and even repulsive. If he is of a heavenly mind, as he ought to be, he will feel as if he could not afford to come down and seek enjoyment in worldly amusements.

Surely, a Christian must be fallen from his first love, he must have turned back into the world, before he can feel the necessity or have the desire of seeking enjoyment in worldly sports and pastimes...Probably but few persons enjoy worldly pleasure more intensely than I did before I was converted; but my conversion, and the spiritual baptism which immediately followed it, completely extinguished all desire for worldly sports and amusements.

I was lifted at once into entirely another plane of life and another kind of enjoyment. From that hour to the present the mode of life, the pastimes, sports, amusements, and worldly ways that so much delighted me before have not only failed to interest me, but I have had a positive aversion to them. I have never felt them necessary to or even compatible with, a truly rational enjoyment. I do not speak boastingly; but for the honour of Christ and His religion...

Some have maintained that we should conform to the ways of the world somewhat---at least, enough to show that we can enjoy the world and religion too; and that we make religion appear repulsive to unconverted souls by turning our backs upon what they call their innocent amusements.

But we should represent religion as it really is---as living above the world, as consisting in a heavenly mind, as that which affords an enjoyment so spiritual and heavenly as to render the low pursuits and joys of worldly men disagreeable and repulsive.

...Who does not know that it is the worldly members in the Church who are always ready for any movement in the direction of worldly pleasure or amusement, and that the truly spiritual, prayerful, heavenly-minded members are shy of all such movements? They are not led into them without urging, and weep in secret places when they see their pastor giving encouragement to that which is likely to be so great a stumbling-block to both the Church and to the world.

Great post brother Paul

If you have any more articles/essays along this line please post them too.

TJ

Oh, I have plenty, TJ! I'm just weary of starting another war. I have great articles from Wesley and Whitefield, and many sermon excerpts from Keith Daniel, Wilkerson and Ravenhill that deal exactly with this topic.

What does he mean by 'worldly'?

Also, can someone provide a list of activities that can be enjoyed and a list of activities that cannot (or should I say "should not") be enjoyed?

Thanks.

Also, can someone provide a list of activities that can be enjoyed and a list of activities that cannot (or should I say "should not") be enjoyed?

Do you really expect someone to provide you with a list here - and you would take it seriously?

(edited by commentor)

I seriously want to know.

For example, I like to play board games, I like to watch sports, I like a number of things.

I understand that it is wrong to watch a movie that contains nudity and foul language, but is it 'worldly entertainment' to watch a movie with no nudity or foul language but does not necessarily have a Christian message?

Is it 'worldly entertainment' to watch a football game on television or in person?

Please do not presume that I am here to fight, I am merely asking a question.

Okay, Jay. Fair enough! We'll see where this goes, and where your question leads.

, but is it 'worldly entertainment' to watch a movie with no nudity or foul language but does not necessarily have a Christian message?

May I ask you this: Does this nudity-less and profanity-less movie edify your spirit in Christ? Does it build you up in holiness, or, for the segment of time you watch it, are your thoughts focused on Christ, his holiness, his purity, and the fearsome Judgment Seat?

If "no", then why waste your time? We should ever thrist to become so totally consumed that we reach a point where [i]all things[/i] are vain and expendable that are not helping us grow deeper in God.

Brother Paul

May I ask you this: Does this nudity-less and profanity-less movie edify your spirit in Christ? Does it build you up in holiness, or, for the hour of time you are watching it, your thoughts are far from Christ, holiness, purity, the Judgment Seat?

I am not saying that this nudity-less and profanity-less movie is going to have the same effect as the Holy Bible and prayer, but I am saying that it is not sinful to enjoy said movie. Are saying it is sinful?

but I am saying that it is not sinful to enjoy said movie

Who said anything about [i]sin?[/i] To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

(edited by commentor)

We should ever thirst to become so totally consumed that we reach a point where all things are vain and expendable that are not helping you grow deeper and deeper in God.

I agree that we should do all for the glory of God. I am never going to assume that it is ok to tune out God for a period of time.

What I am saying is that one does not have to turn his back on God to enjoy amusements. I hate to drag Krispy into this discussion but I believe he is an avid hunter. Since hunting is an amusement and is not prayer or bible reading, is it sinful to hunt? Do you see where I am going with this? We need to do all things for God but that doesn't mean we are locked in our room all day praying and reading the bible.

And who said anything about sin? To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

So if it is not a sin then why would we tell people to avoid it? We are to confess and repent of sin. If something is not sin then what is the problem?

You are saying that we should avoid amusements because they do not edify the spirit, then you ask why the mention of sin is brought up in conjunction with this. I affirm that verse and say that it is wrong to tell someone to avoid an amusement that is not sinful.

You are saying that we should avoid amusements

Finney wrote the article, I didn't. And Finney didn't say "you should avoid worldy amusements" - that is your interpretation of the article. Finney, in a nutshell, said there is something far, far greater than worldy amusements for the child of God. That to indulge in worldly amusements is beneath the dignity of the child of God. That when God is everything to the Christian, there will be no room for worldy amusements.

(edited by commentor)

PaulWest wrote:
Oh, I have plenty, TJ! I'm just weary of starting another war. I have great articles from Wesley and Whitefield, and many sermon excerpts from Keith Daniel, Wilkerson and Ravenhill that deal exactly with this topic.

please do post them brother, i hope it dont develop into a "war", but it can only be that when people start "defending" the worldliness

I know where this is going! Long discussion ahead.

I'll chime in with my 2 cents.

I do not believe that (all) worldly amusements are not able to be done to the glory of God or whatever. Such as a roller coaster theme park. Depends on where your heart is-- your own walk ultimately.

It's complex. Simple, but complex.

I watch many documentaries. They give me an inward perspective on many happenings around the world, and as such I find them productive, practical, and edifying to my Spirit. I'm not sure where I stand on other sides of this, so I won't go into anything further.

Food is one thing that can be a worldly amusement, can be a Godly edifying deal. Music another. Film another. The Internet another. I think with this all, there's two sides to the coin, and we can't generalise to say all Film is a worldly amusement. It's a complex issue that I'd wish not to tackle due to my small fortitude :-)

Jordan

i think this is a true statement,

That when God is everything to the Christian, there will be no room for worldy amusements.

maybe the "need" to be amused is a sign of "a" lack of God in your life? not saying it is that way always...but maybe that is question we should ask ourselves?

hmmhmm

I like your W. Gurnall quote. I got "The Christian in Complete Armour" in the mail today.

Thanks for all the J.A.James posts too. They have been wonderful.

Peace be with you

TJ

I say this in respect, but you say Finney did not say that we "should avoid worldly amusements" but that is exactly what he is telling us.

Quoting Finney:

"If a Christian avails himself of his privilege of communion with God, he will naturally and by an instinct of his new nature repel solicitations to go after worldly amusements. To him such pastimes will appear low, unsatisfactory, and even repulsive. If he is of a heavenly mind, as he ought to be, he will feel as if he could not afford to come down and seek enjoyment in worldly amusements."

This passage tells me that if I am truly abiding in Christ then I will find worldly amusements repulsive. How can you say that he is not telling us to avoid worldly amusements?