The teens from our church , Southern Heights Baptist, are at Siloam Springs church camp this week. That brings back memories of time I spent there.
Church camp was not only fun as a child but I loved it as an adult. There were such nice, shady hookups provided for those who wanted to camp. So we hooked our trailer to our van and drove over for a week at Siloam Springs Baptist Assembly. Our daughters were old enough to go with the group from the big, red brick church down the ...street from the post office. So off they went and we followed up later.
Church camp was not only fun as a child but I loved it as an adult. There were such nice, shady hookups provided for those who wanted to camp. So we hooked our trailer to our van and drove over for a week at Siloam Springs Baptist Assembly. Our daughters were old enough to go with the group from the big, red brick church down the ...street from the post office. So off they went and we followed up later.
One particular summer, we were delighted to have some very dear friends there. He was the children's pastor that year and they were staying in little cabins nearby, provided for teachers or pastors who would be leading the youth. Their children were also there but, like ours, were staying in the dorms. What a wonderful time we shared that week just catching up with each others lives; laughing and talking and relaxing together.
The four of us loved to play Rook. I remember one particular night after the worship service in the open air tabernacle, the four of us walked back to our camper hoping to get in a great game of Rook before lights out. As I recall, it was a fairly cool evening so our windows were open and the curtains pulled back. With the lights on, we could be seen by anyone passing by. As the cards were dealt, one of us remarked that perhaps we should pull the curtains so the children's pastor wouldn't be accused of playing cards. So, pull the shades we did.
As I look back at that time, the four of us really weren't disobeying any of God's laws. However, to someone walking by and seeing us playing cards, they might have thought we were gambling. Because we represent Christ, any appearance of wrong doing presents a wrong picture of how a Believer should act. So, as God's children, we have to be aware of everything we do because, even though what we are doing is innocent, it might offend others. Offending or causing someone to sin, even by doing something that is allowable, is still a sin. Little children at camp look up to their teachers and pastors. They also look up to their parents and other adults in other walks of life.
So, as adults, we must be very careful in all that we do; we must avoid even the appearance of evil for we are setting an example for someone.
“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea." Matt. 18:6 NIV
The four of us loved to play Rook. I remember one particular night after the worship service in the open air tabernacle, the four of us walked back to our camper hoping to get in a great game of Rook before lights out. As I recall, it was a fairly cool evening so our windows were open and the curtains pulled back. With the lights on, we could be seen by anyone passing by. As the cards were dealt, one of us remarked that perhaps we should pull the curtains so the children's pastor wouldn't be accused of playing cards. So, pull the shades we did.
As I look back at that time, the four of us really weren't disobeying any of God's laws. However, to someone walking by and seeing us playing cards, they might have thought we were gambling. Because we represent Christ, any appearance of wrong doing presents a wrong picture of how a Believer should act. So, as God's children, we have to be aware of everything we do because, even though what we are doing is innocent, it might offend others. Offending or causing someone to sin, even by doing something that is allowable, is still a sin. Little children at camp look up to their teachers and pastors. They also look up to their parents and other adults in other walks of life.
So, as adults, we must be very careful in all that we do; we must avoid even the appearance of evil for we are setting an example for someone.
“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea." Matt. 18:6 NIV
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