When Christians want to know about how they may please God in a certain area of life, there are two places they can go for guidance—the moral law and the life of Christ. Despite what we might initially think, those two sources have much to say on the subject of recreation.

All areas of our life should be regulated by God’s law, which is summarized for us in the ten commandments. The sixth commandment, which prohibits unlawful killing, requires all our lawful endeavour to preserve our own life and the life of others. In other words, we are to seek to use every opportunity to promote the spiritual, mental and physical welfare of ourselves and our neighbors. Included in this is the sober and proper use of recreation, showing that proper recreation and rest is not only permissible for Christians, but to be commended.

Our Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled this law for His people during the course of His life. An example of this is found in Mark 6:31. During a busy period in Christ’s ministry of progression (v. 7), persecution (v. 27) and popularity (v. 33), Jesus takes time to seek after His disciples’ welfare. Mark 6:31: “And he said unto them Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while; for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.” By these words we are taught that proper recreation is best when private not public (apart), basic not luxurious (desert place), temporary not permanent (a while), and not excessive (to eat).

Recreation is distinct from work. Both are of God, but recreation and rest only make sense when contrasted with labor and work. God set this pattern for us when He created the universe in six days and rested from the activity of creation on the seventh. Two implications of this are that rest must follow prior work, and that more time is to be spent on labor than recreation.

Recreation involves the enjoyment of pleasure. All pleasure is not forbidden in Scripture, only unlawful pleasure. The biblical view of justice based on the fact that man was created a being capable of pleasure and pain, reward and punishment, innocence and guilt. In Ecclesiastes chapter two, Solomon mentions his enjoyment of laughter, property, agriculture and horticulture, music and song, his wisdom still remaining with him. Nevertheless, he also warns us that those things are never an end in themselves, and have no real profit under the sun or apart from God.

Recreation must be according to the law. Its object is in the use of things indifferent rather than what is commanded or forbidden. Recreation is clearly unlawful when it involves the use of holy things, the sins or offenses of men, or God’s judgments of sin.

Recreation must be moderate. As Christians our priorities must be at all times right. God is to be our chiefest joy, and everything else is subordinate. We must be moderate in the time spent planning and practicing, moderate in effort expended during, and moderate in attitude toward ourselves and others when engaged in any act of recreation.

Therefore, Christian recreation is to be defined as the moderate use of lawful pleasure in distinction from work. If we believe in the sovereignty of God, then we will be anxious to submit to His authority in every area of our lives, including that of recreation. ♦

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Allen is a member of Covenant Reformed Fellowship in Northern Ireland.