I know your intentions were good, but it seemed a little pompous; He looked more like one of those professional wrestlers who plays on television on Saturday afternoons than a Man ordained of God, when he said, “The devil doesn’t take a day off. He doesn’t take a vacation, and neither do I.
I told him about the trip to the beach that my family was about to do, how relaxing it would be and how I expected it to recharge my pastoral batteries. I didn’t have any of that. ” I haven’t been on vacation in forty years. “He said to me. ” I see entertainment in the same way as Puritans: I don’t have a hobby and I don’t insist on having it.
- I knew I wasn’t going anywhere so I dropped the conversation.
- However it got me thinking.
- What are the limits of a Christian in terms of leisure? And the Puritans? Were they against pleasure? This is important because I agree with J.
- I.
- Packer that Puritanism is the culmination of Christian theology and spirituality.
- Perhaps the brightest star in the Reformation galaxy.
Since I met the industrious minister, I have studied carefully the writings of the Puritans and developed a deep affection for them; I have also made several escapes, with my wife and four children, as a pastor and Christian in need of rest. I realized that while puritans were perhaps somewhat deficient in their recreational perspective, they were not completely against it.
Puritans and recreation
With regard to theology, Puritan pastors and theologians were deeply biblical and tireless practitioners of the reformed principle of Sola Scriptura; as far as piety is concerned, they were, as J points out. I. Packer in Among the Giants of God: A Puritan vision of Christian life, which imposes giants on the stage of church history as the redwoods of California.
But when it comes to a solid biblical vision of leisure and leisure activities, puritans certainly left something to be desired. Leland Ryken, in his book Saints in the World: The Puritans as they were really, said it well: “Has anyone observed correctly about puritans who “wrote about recreation with the seriousness of a modern sociologist. “Consider, for example, cotton Mather’s words: “Let your business take up most of your time. It’s not an hour here and there in your business. “That’ll work it out on its own. Be excited about your business as soon as it suits you. Stay close to your business until it’s convenient to leave?
As Ryken points out, did the Puritans not enjoy leisure for themselves or as a celebration?A good gift from God for your glory. Instead, they saw leisure activities as activities that allowed them to work. “Recreation does not belong to rest, but to work,” wrote a Puritan, “and is used to make men through it more fit for work. “
Puritans could go to extremes when it came to non-religious pleasures. At one point, John Bunnyan believed that his participation in a batting game (considered a precursor to cricket and baseball in England) on Saturday was a clear sign of his disapproval. Richard Baxter said recreation is a “legal sport,” although he listed no less than eighteen parameters to assess the legality of a sport.
Although the Puritans were undoubtedly dissonant in this question, Scripture is the authorized instrument to answer it. Here are five lines of biblical reasoning about christian participation in leisure and hobbies.
1. Leisure and hobbies are not sins
Nowhere does the scriptures forbid free time. After God finished creating the world and everything in it, He rested and, in his rest, therefore established the beginning of rest for his people. Whatever your vision of Saturday, this is indisputable. sitting watching a football game, but I think that’s out of the question. God rested. He called for good creation; therefore, since free time is used to appreciate the things that God has created for our good, they are not sin at all.
But can they be? Seguro. Se become sins when they take precedence in our lives and lead us to neglect our divine call to work and serve our families.
Scripture is short and thick when he forbids laziness: “Does he who does not want to work do not eat?(2 Ts 3. 10; cf. Pv 6. 6). If afitions and afitions lead to laziness or incapacity, then they have become substitutes for God who can entangle our hearts as well as kudzu. But most hobbies are not in themselves a sin. My friend mentioned at the beginning of this text could have benefited from some free time.
2. Leisure and hobbies are necessary given human weakness and rhythms of life.
Puritans are often described as sabotage and strangers, and they took the gospel seriously. They took the Bible seriously, took theology seriously, took the church seriously. We can learn one or two things from them when it comes to taking these things seriously. One observer once told Packer that American Protestantism tended to be 5,000 kilometers wide and an inch deep. [4] Indeed. The desperate need of the moment requires no less seriousness on these central issues, but much more.
However, this does not mean avoiding the free time and less serious activities that bring relaxation and brighten our hearts. In today’s work environment, some researchers have found that an American’s average work week takes more than 50 hours. week of grueling work, our bodies and limited minds often need to rest. God sets a pattern in the created order (night/morning/afternoon) for six days, then sets a day off on the seventh. Our life rhythms tend to follow this line: work five or six days, then rest for a day or two. If used correctly, rest and leisure periods are useful.
Even the Puritans claimed, albeit stupid, leisure activities to rejuvenate therself physically and mentally. Ryken quotes John Downame (1571–1652), showing that Puritans encouraged people to participate moderately in hobbies such as walking in pleasant, pleasant, offenseless places. lectures, poetry, music, hunting and other licensed sports as well as the best. Does it fit men’s various arrangements for comfort and refreshment?[5].
3 Leisure and hobbies can be considered good gifts from God
My favorite pastime is watching major league baseball games and reading their story, and it’s a game I especially enjoy with my two kids. I train their teams and often watch games on TELEVISION and visit many stadiums across the country every summer. played outdoors under the blue sky of God and on the lush grass he has made.
During our family trips, we often visit ancient historic stadiums where famous teams or players have played. It’s a great way to spend time with my children and teach them lessons in history, sportsmanship and even biblical masculinity. We pray before we start the game (they will play, win, or lose, for God’s glory) and we often have the privilege of having gospel conversations with teammates. Do we see the game, and the pleasure our family has for him?as a good gift from God’s hands (James 1:17). They are gifts to be appreciated in the worship of a good God who demands all our faithfulness.
God wanted us to enjoy her creation in her own way as long as we understand that she has one: indication of glory, not maximum glory. The created order, though beautiful and dazzling, was designed as an indicator of an even more beautiful and dazzling Creator; in other words, it has glory for its Creator, not in itself. I believe that this is what David tells us in Psalm 19: “Heaven proclaims the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims the work of his hands. “Our love and our free time offer us the opportunity to enjoy the created order and gifts God has given us.
4. Leisure and hobbies can become idols
As Calvin put it very well, the human heart is an idol factory. Did Solomon experience pleasure and joy? That certainly included a good dose of leisure?
Recreation does not produce good gods. For me, baseball could easily become something that looks a lot like a cult. In the United States, sport (and I write this as a former sports journalist and long-time fan) borders on idolatry when fans leave Sunday service to attend these events. When our pastimes and hobbies replace the worship of our Savior, they have become functional idols.
5. Leisure and hobbies should be practiced for the glory of God
Here, Paul’s words are timely: “Then whether you eat, drink, or do something else, do everything for the glory of God?(1C 10. 31). He made no exceptions here, eating?We do it en masse, drinking? The same. We must seek the glory of God even in the most worldly things we do.
God has declared that everything in His creation is good. So, I think it’s completely biblical to say that hobbies are activities that can be done for god’s glory. Play, watch sports, take care of the garden, exercise, listen to music, participate in outdoor activities and much more?and must be appreciated by the Christian.
So, as John Piper would say, don’t waste your free time, use it to glorify the one who gives you these things and gives you life, encouragement and strength to enjoy them.
[2] Idem.
[3] Indem.
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This book is a faithful and gratuitoe account of puritanies, men who knew how to apply theology in many areas of their lives. In each chapter, Ryken presents the theological understanding of puritans applied to the main spheres of human life, such as faith, church, family, work, money, and many others.
By: Jeff Robinson. © 2016 The Gospel Coalition. Original: 5 Reasons not to waste your free time.
Translation: Leonardo Bruno Galdino. © 2015 Faithful Ministério. All rights reserved. Website: MinistryFiel. com. br. Original: 5 reasons not to waste time off.
Authorizations: You are authorized and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format, provided that the author, his ministry and translator are no longer no longer modified and not used for commercial purposes.