Questions & Answers about Primitive Baptists
by Elder Tim McCool
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Why do Primitive Baptists not have entertainment for youth?
Primitive Baptists do not condemn entertainment when it is moral and in moderation. We also recognize that men of God in the scriptures occasionally use humor and sarcasm (Is. 40:18-23, 44:12-20; Lk. 16:9), so this too is acceptable provided that it is clean, purposeful and moderate. However, the idea that it is the role of the church to entertain is absolutely alien to all that is scriptural. When churches have taken sports, games, comedy and other amusement, and have commingled them with songs of praise, prayer and preaching, then no difference is being made between the holy and the profane (Ezek. 44:23). The scriptures suggest that Paul had an interest in some sports (1 Cor. 9:24; 2 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 12:1), yet he condemned competitiveness in the church (1 Cor. 4:7, 11:21-22). The instruction of the scriptures is both necessary and sufficient to guide young people as well as old, and to strengthen them against the temptations of the world (Deut. 6:6-7; Ps. 119:9-11; 1 Tim. 5:14; 2 Tim. 3:15-17). Furthermore, youth group involvement yields mre civil and criminal liability risks each year, as deviant and deceptive individuals are at times unknowingly placed in positions of supervision over children.
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