A FRIEND asked me one day the following questions; 17 and I desire to ask the same questions of my readers. I shall, however, add one question which my friend did not ask me.
What do you think of novels and novel-reading? I think that novels, as we generally understand the word, are very frivolous when they are not worse; and their readers are exactly like them. Stupid, silly people write them; and stupid, silly people read them. A taste for reading novels is a very depraved taste; and, as a rule, those persons who read many of them have no brainpower for reading anything better.
What do you think of dancing? Is it not sanctioned by Scripture? Certainly it is; and if you want to dance as Scripture sanctions, you have my hearty approval in dancing as much as you please. The dancing of the Bible was the expression of religious joy and praise; only men never danced with women, and women never danced with men. If you want to dance like this, in the worship of God, commence your dancing with praise and prayer, and then dance till you are tired. But the dancing of the world is quite another matter. Gossip, foolish mirth, idle talk, and pleasing the flesh, are its accompaniments and what will the retrospect of these be on a dying bed?
But what do you think of a game at cards? Cards are for men who have nothing better to do with their time. They are utterly unworthy the attention of immortal beings. Can you afford to throw away your precious time? I cannot.
What do you think of the theater? It is the place of shams. It is a vain show, professing to be unreal. It kills time, truly; and it kills the soul as well. I never heard of anyone getting any real good at the theater; but I have known of many who have got a great deal of real harm there. I should be most sorry for anyone I loved to go even near a theater.
I have now answered these questions. Will you kindly answer just one of mine?
“What do you think of Christ?” Do you know anything of Him? Do you love Him for His love, prize His atonement, and rely by faith in His precious blood? Do you serve Him, follow Him, pray to Him, and try to tell others about Him? It is indeed a very important question: “What do you think of Christ?”