Tired Church Members | Page 2

of gold, and of silver, of brass, and of iron, of wood and of
stone."
"And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their
feasts: but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the
operations of his hands." [15]
"A feast is made for laughter,"--but this laughter is "mad"; utterly
interdicted to all those who would "live soberly, righteously, and
godly" in this world.[16] Such "revellings" are classed among "those
works of the flesh which are manifest"; there can be no question about

them: the "revellings, banquetings," [17] for which "the time past of
our life may suffice us." [18] That time when we were without God in
the world, walking as other Gentiles walk. With all such "recreations"
the true Israel have absolutely nothing to do.
Does it follow then that a Christian must stand aloof from all festivities
that are not wholly among Christian people? Not quite that. "I am a
companion of all them that fear thee," said David,[19] and it certainly
looks ill for a man if his habit is the other way. Yet there are exceptions,
there must be,--else, says the apostle, "ye must needs go out of the
world." [20] But like everything else for you and me, it is all within
regulations. First as to the going.
"If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to
go--" [21]
And then follows the first rule. Whatsoever you can do there
Christian-wise; whatsoever you can join in that will not implicate you
as a possible worshipper of his idol that bade you--even the god of this
world--that do. But otherwise there is the strictest hands-off! And for
two reasons.
"Eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake." [22]
No matter if it be something as simple as eating and drinking. That is
the instance given by the apostle, the eating of meat which had been
first offered to an idol. And just as once the missionaries in a far off
Eastern island never tasted beef for two whole years, because they
could get none which they were sure had not been so offered; in like
manner are you called upon to absolutely let alone everything which
may cast even a doubt upon your loyalty to your Master.
Can you go to the entertainment so, keeping your garments spotless?
Can you go as the Lord did?
"And Levi made him a great feast in his own house; and there was a
great company of publicans and others that sat down with them." [23]

Pharisees murmured, but the Lord knew why he went.
"And Jesus answered them, They that are whole need not a physician;
but they that are sick." [24]
If you can go thus, to do your Master's work; mingling with his
enemies to win them for his friends; seeking their company not for their
wealth and place, but rather because of their deepest need and danger;
not for their gaiety, but for the abounding joy you would fain make
known to them out of your own heart-store: then I should say again: "If
any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to
go,"--go!
But beware of compromises,--that specious temptation not to make
religion disagreeable. It can never be really that if it is the true thing,--a
burning fire, a shining light,--but some one has well said: "When
religion loses its power to repel, it loses also its power to attract." It
must be intense, active, clear enough to do both. "The disciple is not
above his Master. If they have called the Master of the house
Beelzebub, how much more them of his household"![25]
And it is only as an uncompromising servant of the Lord Jesus, that you
can ever hope to do anything for him. On all days, in all places, you
must count yourself on duty and under orders. You cannot pledge a
man in the wine cup to-night, and to-morrow plead with him to escape
for his life. You cannot join in the "foolish talking and jesting, which
are not convenient," [26] and afterwards reason of "righteousness,
temperance, and judgment to come": or if you do, people will not listen.
You will find that, like Lot, you have "lost your spiritual credit." "He
seemed as one that mocked, to his sons-in-law."
"I had dined every week all winter with Dr. ----," said a lady to me,
"and never guessed that he was a clergyman till yesterday!" Johnson
said of Burke, that "you could not stand with him five minutes under a
gateway in a shower of rain, without finding out that he was an
extraordinary man,"--and how long shall it take people to learn that