Eggwhite

*Takes deep breath, writes semi-controversial post*

So the kids are rehearsing for the Christmas program this week quite a bit during the day.

I was making one of my usual office-hang-out runs, chillaxing and fraternizing with the office staff when in walks one of the students. We greet her, make small talk, expecting her to tell us at any moment where her boo-boo is so we can put a band-aid on it and send her back to class. After a minute or two, she sits down, so I just ask her why she's in the office. Turns out, she's sitting in the office because her parents forbid her to VIEW or PARTICIPATE in anything pertaining to 'theater'. For those of you who are SDA, you already know where this is headed. And why, might you ask, is theater (stage plays, in this sense of the word) so bad?

Because the venerable prophetess E. G. White said so.

-Messages to young people- p398/399
"The true Christian will not desire to enter any place of amusement or engage in any diversion upon which he cannot ask the blessing of God. He will not be found at the theater, the billiard hall, or the bowling saloon. He will not unite with the gay waltzers, or indulge in any other bewitching pleasure that will banish Christ from the mind.

To those who plead for these diversions, we answer, We cannot indulge in them in the name of Jesus of Nazareth. The blessing of God would not be invoked upon the hour spent at the theater or in the dance. No Christian would wish to meet death in such a place. No one would wish to be found there when Christ shall come.

When we come to the final hour, and stand face to face with the record of our lives, shall we regret that we have attended so few parties of pleasure? that we have participated in so few scenes of thoughtless mirth? Shall we not, rather, bitterly regret that so many precious hours have been wasted in self-gratification,--so many opportunities neglected, which, rightly improved, would have secured for us immortal treasures?

It has become customary for professors of religion to excuse almost any pernicious indulgence to which the heart is wedded. By familiarity with sin, they become blinded to its enormity. Many who claim to be children of God gloss over sins which His word condemns, by linking some purpose of

399

church charity with their godless carousals. Thus they borrow the livery of heaven to serve the devil in. Souls are deceived, led astray, and lost to virtue and integrity by these fashionable dissipations."

Ok so let me get this all together here and straight in my mind. On a good, conservative day, I can understand the gist of what she's getting at. To summarize, her point seems to be that by engaging in frivolity, you are essentially wasting the precious gift of time/ life that God has given us to further His kingdom; that by participating in activities that cause you to enjoy this earth, you are lessening your relationship with God. And, that more or less makes sense. It's a song that she often sings in fact, even to the degree of saying that such 'frivolous' things as pickles, bicycles, and playing checkers are not to be a part of your life. This is where I start to lose her.

But first, back to the school play.

From reading her words, the best way I can interpret it even if I wanted to agree with this little girls parents, is that you aren't supposed to go to a theater (a place which at the time of her writing was lavish and full of 'spiritual distractions').

"The true Christian will not desire to enter any place of amusement or engage in any diversion upon which he cannot ask the blessing of God". But the play is being done by an SDA school, and it's about Jesus. So..

"He will not ... indulge in any other bewitching pleasure that will banish Christ from the mind." Again, doesn't sound like a play TELLING THE STORY OF JESUS.

"When we come to the final hour, and stand face to face with the record of our lives, shall we regret that we have attended so few parties of pleasure? that we have participated in so few scenes of thoughtless mirth?" Oh, you mean like... You get the point.

I am most frustrated by this (and these types of people) because they MISS THE POINT BY SO LITTLE. They are so close to getting it, and instead make a slight miscalculation if you will and in the end miss it by a mile.

I hesitate even to say this because it's a slippery slope, but bear with me. The other thing at play here is the time issue. As I mentioned before, theaters in her day were not the same as theaters today. If you live in MD, you would in no way view the BSO to a burlesque show. Likewise, going to the IMAX to watch a film about nature does not strike me as a waste of time or something that would pull me away from my Creator.

Another thing to consider: what does it even mean to live by that standard of seemingly avoiding pleasure in exchange for spending time devoted to growing closer to God? Does that mean we shouldn't go snorkeling? Hiking or mountain biking in the woods? For drives along coastal highways late at night? Didn't God fill this earth with pleasurable things? Good things to see, to taste, to smell, feel, etc? Why do we have senses? What if pleasurable things bring us closer to God? Didn't God say he was the SALT of the earth?! Salt is an additive! You don't NEED salt. It's something FANCY. So ...?

I believe that up until the point where it conflicts with Gods clear law, he wants us to be HAPPY. To enjoy life. To live vibrantly, fully. To skydive (He wants OTHER people to do this, not ME lol). To explore. To sing, dance, yell at the top of a mountain, whisper in a lovers (within the proper parameters) ear, taste hot peppers, drink from a mountain stream. I believe it is the job of the Holy Spirit to impress upon the heart of a person when their pleasure seeking becomes a distraction from their walk with Christ. I really don't feel like eating pickles is going to keep me out of heaven. I wonder which is worse, to indulge in playing checkers, or to be proud of your 'clean record'?

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All of that being said, theres a side of me that struggles. There are two extremes when it comes to Christianity. Either too conservative, or too liberal; and I have to say, if I had to pick one, I'd go with the first every time. The Amish are a perfect example. They seem to me to be pretty crazy to be honest. Almost masochistic. Why avoid so many modern conveniences such as cars, electricity, etc? But. When was the last time you heard of the Amish mafia? How many abortions do the Amish have yearly? How about theft? They leave their houses unlocked. How about murder? Adultery? Bullies? You can't help but scratch your head. Maybe they're on to something after all. And it's worth noting, that the girl in the office is one of the best students in the school. Well behaved, smart, obedient, helpful, the list goes on and on.

So what do you think? I have to go do work now :)