Tim Smith
From time to time certain sins seem to "come into season".
Because of this, in bulletins across the country articles about these "seasonal
sins" appear. This issue is an example of this. It is "prom"
time, and as the world readies itself to participate in the yearly festival
of dance I think it most appropriate that the word of God be given a say.
I ask that you read my comments and those of Randy Kea (writer of the following
article) and consider them heavily before deciding to go to and/or participate
in your "prom" or any other dance.
If I were to suggest to you that we should assemble a
bunch of teenagers and whip them into a frenzy by getting them an expensive
outfit, going through the ritual of sending them off "as a family" on their
"date", directing them to a large room with only a handful (if that many)
of adults, have the lights turned down in the room, have music playing
loudly, and encourage them to "pair off" with members of the opposite sex
and rub their private parts against one another and wiggle around in front
of one another for hours on end, would you think my suggestion to be a
godly one? That is exactly what happens at "proms" and other dances
across the country. People who look at the modern dance cannot help
but notice the sexual nature of it. Basically, dancing is a dangerous,
damnable sin; and christians who are faithful to God neither engage in
it nor encourage it in any way.
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SHOULD I GO TO THE DANCE?
RANDY KEA
(Taken from GOSPEL NEWS, Holladay Church of Christ, Holladay, TN)
Every year our Christian young people are faced with this question. For some twenty years I've preached against Christians attending dances. I have always based what I have said on what the Bible teaches. Faithful Christians do not dance. Faithful Christians do not attend dances. My children will not go. In fact, my children have never even asked if they could go.
Dancing is a work of the flesh. Lasciviousness and revelings are two sins listed as works of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21). When one checks the meaning of these he finds a perfect description of the modern dance floor: Indecent bodily movements, unchaste handling of males and females, a letting loose, a jovial festivity with music and dancing. (These definitions are taken from standard Bible dictionaries and lexicons).
How can a faithful Christian even attend a dance without compromising and violating the instructions of the following passages: "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness...what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness...Abstain from all appearance of evil...abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul...be not conformed to this world" (Ephesians 5:11, II Corinthians 6:14, 17, I Thessalonians 5:22, I Peter 2:11, Romans 12:2).
Parents please remember that all who engage in the works of the flesh "shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-21).
Prof. J. Louis Guyon as an owner and operator of a large dance hall in Chicago made the following statement while speaking before the World's Purity Federation Congress: "We are all men. We know the natural desire of youth. We know that sex is the strongest impulse implanted in the human race. You can picture the effect on a boy or girl of eighteen or twenty, when this hunger is keenest, when knowledge and experience are lacking in formation of judgment, of one of these dances which call for close abdominal contact and frequently brings the cheeks together and entwine the limbs. Yet you find thousands of boys and girls dancing this way every day who do not realize they are doing anything out of the way. There is left but one reason for the popularity of the dance, and that is sex appeal. When you are told that youth of both sexes can survive this experience without mental, moral or physical pollution, you know the teller lies. If you do not believe I have correctly described the modern dances and their effects, you either have not seen them performed or you are willfully blind to their true nature." This statement does not prove dancing wrong. The Bible does this. I do however, find it interesting that one who is not even a member of the church sees the moral and spiritual dangers of dancing better than many of my brethren.
(I do not know Randy Kea, but the preacher who ran this article, and from whose paper I took it, is Stan Brantley. He lists his office number as 901-584-6351. Consider seriously the words of the article, as the happiness (both here and in the after-a-while) of your children depends on the decision you make concerning this issue. Tim Smith)
VOLUME XIX April 21, 1996 Number 16
"THE TRANSGRESSION OF THE WICKED..."
Psalm 36:1
In the verse cited above the Psalmist wrote, "The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes". This is an interesting and astute conclusion. When people willingly flaunt their disobedience to the will of God before the world, what conclusion can one draw but that there is no fear of God before their eyes? Why would men try to marry men? They do not fear God. Why do men or women steal from others? They do not fear God. Why do religious men stray from the straight and narrow? They do not fear God.
It is regrettable, but history seems to be repeating itself in our nation. History teaches us that when people lay down God's ways they fall. Our nation is in the midst of a mass laying down of God's ways! People are supporting laws to not only make abortions "more" "legal", but that require you and I to pay for others to have them! States are recognizing the "marriages" of queers (that is what we called them in Arkansas when I was growing up, and you have to admit, it is "queer" for people to leave the natural use of the opposite sex and seek sinful gratification elsewhere). People are now doing openly what would not be discussed in decent company a generation or two ago. Why? There is no fear of God before their eyes.
What kind of nation will we be leaving our grandchildren? Will it resemble (even remotely) the one of a generation ago? Will God be known in the land? What of our churches (the churches of Christ)? Are they doing their part to restore the "fear of God" to the world? Many are, and they have my commendation and support. Many, however, are not. They are too busy trying to court the world by using the inventions of the world. They fear that if they stand against sin their image might be harmed. They lack the zeal and love of God needed to stand for the right and against the wrong. Maybe they, too, have not the fear of God before their eyes. May they wake up, for, "...it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."
Tim Smith
1272 Enon Road
Webb, AL 36376