Christian blindly follow the latest fashion (1 Pet. 3:3-5). This applies to boys as well as girls. One of the most revolting sights of today is the shameless display of the male torso at our bathing beaches. Most ob servers will instantly and gladly agree that, so far as beauty is concerned, the expanse of hairy chest and protruding abdomen should be fully and forever covered. And as for the benefits of sun-tanning, skin specialists tell us that undue exposure to the sun is a too frequent cause of skin cancer, and that the beneficence of the sun’s rays can be absorbed through light clothing just as readily. The argument for freedom in swimming is also a myth, for surely there is no benefit in shedding 75 per cent of already skin-tight suits. One of the mysteries of the modern world is why girls who so earnestly strive after beauty will dress up like a circus and paint up like an Indian on the war path. Beauty does not come this way. Loveliness comes from a radiant personality and a happy heart combined with careful habits of cleanliness (Prov. 31:10-31). Charm can never be painted on. Christian girls should strive to look their best so that as friends are attracted to them, they may have the exquisite joy of pointing them to the loveliness of Christ (Col. 2:9). When make-up is to be used, the secret is to use it so sparingly and skillfully that no one will be aware of its pres ence. Care for the hair is right and proper and is a true source of womanly beauty (1 Cor. 11:15). But this becomes a sin when most of the waking thought of the girl is centered on how her hair looks. Finger nails too should be well groomed and neatly polished but never with screaming colors. All the problems connected with clothing and care of the body are to be understood as a means to an end. The end is that everything we are, and all that we possess must serve to add glory and honor to the name of the wonderful Lord whose we are (1 Cor. 10:31). To center our thoughts on anything else is to rob Christ of that which is rightfully His. But when He occupies the throne of our hearts, all else falls into its rightful and proper place (Col. 1:18). Impure Literature . . . Be on guard. We’re living in a day when there is a disgust ing flood of indecent and immoral literature available. On every hand there is “ smutty-smart” and “ arty-art.” Magazine racks are filled with confession and detective stories which seem to specialize in sexy filth put up in narrative form. More and more periodicals are entirely devoted to displays of immodest and suggestive pictures. The Sunday and daily newspapers play up what is lurid and sensational. Modern best-selling books go into intimate details concerning situa tions which would not have been allowed several decades ago. Even advertising is designed to be eye-catching. All these things are extremely pernicious to the spiritual health of the Christian (Prov. 4:23). It’s impossible to allow his mind to dwell on this literary sewage and remain pure (Prov. 23:7a). Some Christians áre surprised to find something within their breast which subtly condones this impurity (Gal. 5:17). They will do well to remember that when they were saved, and Christ gave them His new nature, He did not destroy the old, sinful nature but gave an explicit command that it should be controlled by His power. Nowhere is the old nature more ready to pop up than in our thought life. We may earnestly ask God for His help here (Phil. 4:6). This modern literary looseness has its effect on the thoughts, actions and tongues of our worldly acquaintances. Some will always have a questionable story to tell, or an obscene picture to pass around. But we must avoid these as we avoid the breath of hell. Nothing will so inflame our imaginations or become the parent of such grievous sins as indulgence here. Take heel and run from this as you would from Satan himself. Much of the answer to this peril is positive Christianity. Nail your colors up immediately. Let everyone know just where you stand. Surfeit yourself on the literature of Christ (2 Tim. 2:15). Focus on the screen of your mind the picture of the Lord Jesus (Heb. 12:2). Remember your eyes no longer belong to you, but to Him who purchased them with His own precious blood (1 Cor. 6:19,20). Page Fourteen
Cards and Gambling . . . What’s the harm in card games? Well, that depends upon what card games you mean. Some games with cards are intellectually stimulating and entertaining as well as instruc tive. But if you’re speaking of the deck of modern playing cards, while there may be nothing inherently wrong in the cards themselves, you’ll have to admit that they are insepar ably associated with worldly things and ungodly people. The bridge player, the palm reader, the saloon operator and the professional card swindler all make use of the common play ing card. Cards, gambling, worldly habits and sinful people invariably are found together. For a Christian to play with these cards would identify him with such things (1 Thess. 5:22). And for one whose heart is fixed on the Lord Jesus this is unthinkable. Gambling is different. It is inherently wrong for the prin ciple of gambling is that of getting something for nothing at the expense of robbing others (Prov. 26:18,19). Carried to its logical analysis, gambling is robbery by chance. This is the sport of wastrels, the business of thieves, the father of dishonesty and the school for crime (Prov. 16:8). Gambling dangerously stimulates the appetite for easy gain and becomes an insatiable mania. It readily fosters hatred and strife. This applies to all kinds of gambling, even apparently innocent forms. Don’t say that gambling is all right because business, farming, and even life is a gamble. To be sure, these things are risks, but we do not enter the risk of business merely for the thrill of taking the risk. There’s a vast difference between the hazards of honest investment and the folly of chancing your wealth on the turn of a wheel. Anyway, Christians don’t live on the basis of mere risk. Nothing can enter our lives but God must first approve (John 10:28-30). As we love God, all things must work together for our good (Rom. 8:28). Time spent at a card table or in the gambler’s den is time forever lost. And time is exceedingly precious, for every moment must be accounted for (2 Cor. 5:10). For Christians who foolishly waste it there will be God’s stern condemnation (Matt. 25:26). There are scores of other ways a “ born- againer” may profitably and enjoyably spend his time. Profanity . . . Born-again ears are shocked at the prevalence of profanity today. It sounds as if some fellows and girls went to hell for their education the way they defame God’s name. But don’t be deceived. Don’t think that God has repealed His command ment forbidding blasphemy, or will fail to bring into judgment everyone who is guilty (Ex. 20:7; Rev. 20:11-15). There is a day of reckoning coming. Profanity is not a mark of toughness. Rather it’s an indi cation of weakness, of stupidity. Those who so boldly profane God’s name just indicate their mental poverty and lack of self-control. They are, as it were, just lifting the curtain so that all may see the fact that their heart is filled to over flowing with profanity. Surely every child of God will place a triple guard upon his lips so that he sins not in this matter (Psa. 141:3). Many Christians who would shrink from using downright profanity are guilty of employing “minced” oaths. They commonly say “ gosh,” “ golly” or “ gosh darned” which any dictionary defines as substitutes for saying “ God” and “ God damned.” Or they explode with the terms “ Gee” or “Judas Priest” which most certainly refer to Jesus and Jesus Christ. Others regularly say “mercy,” “ gracious,” and “ goodness,” which have a familiar ring when we remember that goodness, mercy and grace are attributes of the Most High God. There are said to be 400,000 other words in the English language which we are sure may be used with impunity. Today seems also to be the day of the wisecrack, the smart answer or the gay repartee. Just what should these worldly- wise words have in the vocabulary of the truly surrendered child of God? Rather should not our speech be always sound (Tit. 2:7, 8) with grace, seasoned with salt (Col. 4:6) ? Life is serious business too. In this connection, think of the speech of the Lord Jesus (Luke 4:22). He made every word count. He’ll make our words count too if we’ll turn over the key of our lips to Him (Rom. 12:1,2). T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
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