Lifestyle and Activities of the Remnant
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Christians have many sources of happiness at their command, and
they may tell with unerring accuracy what pleasures are lawful and
right. They may enjoy such recreations as will not dissipate the mind
or debase the soul, such as will not disappoint and leave a sad after-
influence to destroy self-respect or bar the way to usefulness. If they
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can take Jesus with them and maintain a prayerful spirit they are
perfectly safe.—
Messages to Young People, 38
(1884).
Our gatherings should be so conducted, and we should so conduct
ourselves, that when we return to our homes we can have a conscience
void of offense toward God and man, a consciousness that we have
not wounded or injured in any manner those with whom we have been
associated or had an injurious influence over them....
Any amusement in which you can engage, asking the blessing of
God upon it in faith, will not be dangerous. But any amusement which
disqualifies you for secret prayer, for devotion at the altar of prayer,
or for taking part in the prayer meeting, is not safe, but dangerous.—
Messages to Young People, 386
(1913).
Music That Elevates
As the children of Israel journeying through the wilderness cheered
their way by the music of sacred song, so God bids His children
today gladden their pilgrim life. There are few means more effective
for fixing His words in the memory than repeating them in song.
And such song has wonderful power. It has power to subdue rude
and uncultivated natures, power to quicken thought and to awaken
sympathy, to promote harmony of action, and to banish the gloom and
foreboding that destroy courage and weaken effort.—
Education, 167,
168
(1903).
Music forms a part of God’s worship in the courts above, and
we should endeavor in our songs of praise to approach as nearly as
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possible to the harmony of the heavenly choirs.... Singing, as a part of
religious service, is as much an act of worship as is prayer.—
Patriarchs
and Prophets, 594
(1890).
The use of musical instruments is not at all objectionable. These
were used in religious services in ancient times. The worshipers
praised God upon the harp and cymbal, and music should have its
place in our services.—
Evangelism, 500, 501
(1898).