Evil Sights and Sounds All About Us. --There is reason for deep solicitude on
your part for your children, who have temptations to encounter at every advance
step. It is impossible for them to avoid contact with evil associates. . . .
They will see sights, hear sounds, and be subjected to influences which are
demoralizing and which, unless they are thoroughly guarded, will imperceptibly
but surely corrupt the heart and deform the character.
All Need a Bulwark Against Temptation. --In Christian homes a bulwark should
be built against temptation. Satan is using every means to make crime and
degrading vice popular. We cannot walk the streets of our cities without
encountering flaring notices of crime presented in some novel or to be acted at
some theatre. The mind is educated to familiarity with sin. The course pursued
by the base and vile is kept before the people in the periodicals of the day,
and everything that can arouse passion is brought before them in exciting
stories.
Some fathers and mothers are so indifferent, so careless, that they think it
makes no difference whether their children attend a church school or a public
school. "We are in the world," they say, "and we cannot get out
of it." But, parents, we can get a good way out of the world, if we choose
to do so. We can avoid seeing many of the evils that are multiplying so fast in
these last days. We can avoid hearing about much of the wickedness and crime
that exist.
Sow Lawlessness, Reap a Harvest of Crime. --Many of the popular publications
of the day are filled with sensational stories that are educating the youth in
wickedness and leading them in the path to perdition. Mere children in years are
old in a knowledge of crime. They are incited to evil by the tales they read. In
imagination they act over the deeds portrayed, until their ambition is aroused
to see what they can do in committing crime and evading punishment.
To the active minds of children and youth the scenes pictured in imaginary
revelations of the future are realities. As revolutions are predicted and all
manner of proceedings described that break down the barriers of law and
self-restraint, many catch the spirit of these representations. They are led to
the commission of crimes even worse, if possible, than these sensational writers
depict. Through such influences as these society is becoming demoralized. The
seeds of lawlessness are sown broadcast. None need marvel that a harvest of
crime is the result.
The Lure of Popular Music. --I feel alarmed as I witness everywhere the
frivolity of young men and young women who profess to believe the truth. God
does not seem to be in their thoughts. Their minds are filled with nonsense.
Their conversation is only empty, vain talk. They have a keen ear for music, and
Satan knows what organs to excite to animate, engross, and charm the mind so
that Christ is not desired. The spiritual longings of the soul for divine
knowledge, for a growth in grace, are wanting.
I was shown that the youth must take a higher stand and make the word of God
the man of their counsel and their guide. Solemn responsibilities rest upon the
young, which they lightly regard. The introduction of music into their homes,
instead of inciting to holiness and spirituality, has been the means of
diverting their minds from the truth. Frivolous songs and the popular sheet
music of the day seem congenial to their taste. The instruments of music have
taken time which should have been devoted to prayer. Music, when not abused, is
a great blessing; but when put to a wrong use, it is a terrible curse. It
excites, but does not impart that strength and courage which the Christian can
find only at the throne of grace while humbly making known his wants and, with
strong cries and tears, pleading for heavenly strength to be fortified against
the powerful temptations of the evil one. Satan is leading the young captive.
Oh, what can I say to lead them to break his power of infatuation! He is a
skilful charmer luring them on to perdition.
Impure Thoughts Lead to Impure Actions. --This is an age when corruption is
teeming everywhere. The lust of the eye and corrupt passions are aroused by
beholding and by reading. The heart is corrupted through the imagination. The
mind takes pleasure in contemplating scenes which awaken the lower and baser
passions. These vile images, seen through defiled imagination, corrupt the
morals and prepare the deluded, infatuated beings to give loose rein to lustful
passions. Then follow sins and crimes which drag beings formed in the image of
God down to a level with the beasts, sinking them at last in perdition.
I Will See No Wicked Thing. --Parents must exercise unceasing watchfulness,
that their children be not lost to God. The vows of David, recorded in the 101st Psalm, should be the vows of all upon whom rest the responsibilities of
guarding the influences of the home. The psalmist declares: "I will set no
wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall
not cleave to me. A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked
person. Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that
hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer. Mine eyes shall be upon
the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a
perfect way, he shall serve me. He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my
house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight."
Say firmly: "I will not spend precious moments in reading that which
will be of no profit to me, and which only unfits me to be of service to others.
I will devote my time and my thoughts to acquiring a fitness for God's service.
I will close my eyes to frivolous and sinful things. My ears are the Lord's, and
I will not listen to the subtle reasoning of the enemy. My voice shall not in
any way be subject to a will that is not under the influence of the Spirit of
God. My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and every power of my being shall
be consecrated to worthy pursuits."