Rev. Harlan G. Vanden Einde is pastor of the Oakdale Park Christian Reformed Church of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
THE CHRISTIAN AND AMUSEMENTS
Is there rcally that much wrong in playing cards?
A letter received by our editor from a Wisconsin reader some months back was referred to me for response in the Question Box. The writer refers to the subject or the Christian and amusements, particularly as that relates to card-playing. The author states that it is a common practice for Senior Citizens to play cards together; when asked to participate with them, and consenting to do so on one occasion, the result was a considerable feeling of guilt. “Is there really that much wrong in playing cards?” is the individual’s question.
The matter or amusements and the Christian‘s participation in them has been debated for quite some time in the history of the church. The familiar decisions or 1928, sometimes referred to as “a declaration of war upon worldliness,” stemmed from an overture to Synod in 1926 asking Synod “to utter a strong warning against worldliness and take a definite stand against the popular evils of card-playing, theater attendance and dancing.” Such a declaration of war was highly commendable, for we are all agreed, I trust, that worldliness strikes at the heart and core of the moral and spiritual well–being of the Christian. The disagreement over this issue has not resulted from a careless attitude about worldliness, but about what is amusement, and which amusements are “worldly.”
There were four general principles adopted by the Synod of 1928 regarding the Christian and amusements: 1) The Honor of God; that is, our whole purpose in life is to honor God, and our amusements, at the very least, should not conflict with any commandment of God. 2) The Welfare of Man; that is, even though there is a place for recreative activity in our lives, none of this should hinder our spiritual or moral well–being, and it should never occupy more than a secondary place in life. 3) Spiritual separation from the world; that is, we are to hold no fast friendship with evil men, and we must wean our hearts away from the things of this world which pass away. 4) Christian Liberty; that is, ours is not license to do as we please, but freedom from the power of sin and the law which curse us; we are at liberty, with a conscience controlled by the Spirit of God, to determine our participation in things neither prescribed nor condemned in the Word of God.
Although the Synod of 1951 was again asked to clarify the decisions of 1928, these general principles which had been adopted then were not negated or reversed. The Synod of 1966, through its study committee, did a further re-evaluation of these principles, and adopted a number of directives intended to guide the churches, most specifically with reg1rd to the film arts. Here again, no mention was made of negating the four general principles adopted by the Synod of 1928.
So it seems to me that the question regarding card-playing which prompts our consideration at the moment, must be answered in the light of the four principles mentioned above, as well as against the background of the directives adopted by the Synod of 1966. There is room for various interpretations when it comes to applying these principles to specific things. Apparently the church has not wanted to declare pointedly that card-playing is, in itself, always sinful. If card-playing involves gambling, then it is wrong. But then so is any other game we play if gambling is associated with it. If the Senior Citizens, or any of us for that matter, can justify the time spent together in some re-creative activity or amusement, then whether they are playing a game that involves cards or dominoes or shuffle-board, as I see it, makes little difference. The person, for example, who says he will not play a game of cards, but spends so much time on the golf course that he neglects his other responsibilities, is also in conflict with the principles mentioned earlier.
Some who approve games of skill have scruples against games of chance. The Bible teaches us that no one should act against his conscience (Rom. 14).
May I recommend in conclusion, that if you have access to a copy of the Acts of Synod of 1966, yOll read the report in its entirety on pages 316–361, or at least the recommendations which that Synod adopted on pages 33-36. Or for 2Ott, you may order a separate publication of this report entitled “The Church and the Film Arts,” published by the Christian Reformed Publishing House, 2850 Kalamazoo Ave., S.E., Grand Rapids, Mich. 49560.
Correction: In the Dec. 1978 Question Box on p. 20, the sentence in the middle of the first complete paragraph should read “We are not told to rest,” instead “we are told to rest.”
