King's Business - 1949-11

On the other hand, tobacco and the principles (Gal. 5:17-23) of the Bible certainly do not agree. Smoking doesn’t go with churches or prayer meetings. If Christ were to walk in our land today you know that He would utterly disapprove (Matt. 5:48). The true character of tobacco is aptly' illustrated by one of the first acts of the newly-bom-again Christian. When the sinner has known the cleansing power of the blood of Christ one of his first acts is to fling the tobacco habit out of his life. One of his first prayers is for cleansing from this degrading thing. Why? Because smoking belongs to the old life. It is a mark of the Kingdom of Satan. Smoking Christians are always carnal, worldly, fleshly (1 Cor. 3:1-3). They are the kind that do not grow in the things of God. But the spiritual Christian, the one who is daily asking the Heavenly Guest to direct his life, has long ago put away this vile habit (1 Tim. 4:12). It’s rather a danger­ ous practice to defile (1 Cor. 3:17) the temple of God. And surely this habit is a defiling one. The advertising of the tobacco companies is a laugh as any reputable M.D. will tell you. Don’t be fooled by it. And the testimonials so widely acclaimed on the billboards are all bought and paid for by tobacco-stained money. This habit is a filthy one, degrading, wasteful and harmful, and the spending of millions of dollars to deny it won’t change it one iota. It still smells! If you are already enslaved to this odorous monster, there is deliverance for you. Call upon the all-powerful Christ to help you, and decide that never again will your lips be soiled by this degrading habit (Matt. 28:18). The better way is to never allow yourself to become addicted to its use. What of the Movies? Moving pictures are such fun ! I suppose it’s because everyone loves to hear a story, only in the case of pictures, you see the story as well as hear it. Truly this invention ranks among the greatest even in this age of great inventions. It’s marvelous to sit and watch people and places which are over on the other side of the world, or to see events tran­ spiring before your very eyes which have passed into history. Governmental, educational and religious agencies are rightly awakening to the tremendous possibilities of the motion pic­ ture as a teaching agent. It’s certainly true that you remem­ ber what you see. But listen, when it comes to the matter of the “movies,” that’s another story. By “movies” we mean that industry which produces and markets films for entertainment. For this industry we have only the severest condemnation. They have ignored their high opportunity to be a powerful force for good upon our land, and have prostituted their powers in order to gain wealth and influence (1 Tim. 6:9, 10). They have become a monster, rich, unprincipled and corrupt. The commercial movies of today are for the most part drama­ tized and produced by wicked people and their influence is a vile curse upon our land. The proof? An impartial survey (obtained in your public library), conducted by prominent educators over a period of years, reveals that the theme of the vast majority of pictures is a sorry trio—crime, love and sex. The crime pictures show the life of crime as almost desirable, and are a horrible school producing young criminals. The love of the pictures is not our kind of love, but is illicit, indecent and lustful (1 Cor. 13:4-7). The pictures are liberally sprinkled with scenes of drinking and smoking. Bedroom scenes with semi-nudity and immoral situations abound. The sacred things of God, the church, the institution of marriage, and honest living are held up to ridicule. Tell me, how can followers of the Lord Jesus Christ support this degrading thing (Gal. 5:18-21)? The movies are attractive and almost irresistible, I’ll admit. They’re gay and glittering and most young people are just crazy about them. But the unvarnished truth is, that for Christians it just isn’t possible to sit and watch pictures of this sort and not defile their minds, and weaken their spirit­ ual life (Gal. 6:8). No child of God who allows the deadly virus of the commercial moving picture to enter his mind, can be the person his Heavenly Father desires him to be (1 John

2:15-17). Inevitably his love for Christ grows cold. Other sins follow. Listen, friends, you just can’t keep looking to Jesus and keep looking at the movies too (Heb. 12:1, 2). There must be a choice here. What’ll it be? Well, what about travel pictures, educational school films, home movies? They’re all right. It’s not the invention of the moving picture that’s wrong, it’s the improper use being made of them by an industry without conscience. There are also some films being produced by earnest Christians and to the glory of God which merit the confidence of the Chris­ tian public. If you’re in doubt about a picture ask the Lord for wisdom (Jas. 1:5). * What about the “good” picture, the historical film, the rec­ ommended film? True, there are some good pictures produced with nothing objectional in them. Occasionally they are shown alone, but more generally they are sandwiched in with un­ desirable films. In these films the same actors are seen which play in the vile ones. And even in seeing a good picture, you’re paying tribute to an industry which is rotten to the core. I wonder if these “good” pictures aren’t just bait to lure into the movie palaces those who have scruples against going? And in doing this the movie industry creates a theater habit which is difficult to break. Truly, it’s a real problem. I wonder if the best and safest course to pursue isn’t to renounce all theater going (Phil. 4:8) ? Would you do this for Christ’s sake, because of your love for Him, and your desire to live for Him (Phil. 1:21)? Would you do it because you want your mind and body to be clean for His use? I know of a surety that He’ll make it up to you in satisfaction and blessing (John 15:16). l y a c e to 5 ace “Now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to j a w ‘ —1 Cor. 13:12. Oh, sometimes my faith sees Jesus coming o’er the stormy sea. And the waves are stilled, the raging tempest past; Then the clouds return again, clouds of care and grief and pain, And the sweetness of His presence does not last. But some day I’ll bide with Him where no storm His face shall dim— He who loves me and who saves me by His grace. Here I walk by faith, not sight; but I’m walking toward the light, And—what glory when I see Him face to face! And sometimes my hope can see Him in the vision of the night As the Morning Star that ushers in the day; Then the mists arise once more, and they hide Him as before, And the splendor of His presence fades away; But I still my longing heart; here I only know in part, And but darkly through a glass His features trace; So with patience I can wait, come He soon or come He late, For—what glory when I see Him face to face! And sometimes my love beholds Him with the thorns upon His brow, And I cast my every burden at His feet; For I know He’s interceding, ever with the Father pleading; And the comfort of the thought is very sweet. So I’m watching for the day when all shadows pass away And we meet in that eternal dwelling place; Face to face—and that forever; Face to face, where naught can sever; I shall see Him in His beauty, face to face; I have caught faint glimpses here, Seen through many a falling tear, But—what glory when I see Him face to face! — Annie Johnson Flint

By permission Evangelical Publishers

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