Overcoming Worldliness Shall we dance Shall we dance

Overcoming Worldliness Shall we dance?

Shall we dance? A Moral Challenge • Will I participate in dancing (preteens, teenagers, adults)? • Will I attend dances? • Will I allow (give my approval) my child to go to dances? • Will I perform music or otherwise provide the occasion for dancing to occur? 2

Shall we dance? A Moral Challenge • Will I refuse to admit the sin that is associated with dancing? • Will I continue to dance and/or support dancing regardless of what Bible says? • Will I object to the preaching of Bible lessons like this one? 3

Dancing in the Bible Expressions of worship and joy (praise, gratitude, rejoicing), Psa. 149: 1 -4; 150: 4 “About the methods of dancing practiced by the ancient Hebrews but little is known. Probably the dancers in some cases joined hands and formed a ring, or part of a ring, as in some heathen representations. The description of David’s dance: he “danced before 4

Dancing in the Bible Expressions of worship and joy (praise, gratitude, rejoicing), Psa. 149: 1 -4; 150: 4 “might…leaping and dancing before Yahweh” (2 Sam 6: 14 -16) suggests three features of that particular display and the mode of dancing which it represented: violent exertion, leaping, and whirling round. ” 5 (ISBE,

Dancing in the Bible Expressions of worship and joy (praise, gratitude, rejoicing), Psa. 149: 1 -4; 150: 4 “Women seem generally to have danced by themselves, one often leading the rest, both in dancing and antiphonal song; so Miriam and the women of Israel, Jephthah’s daughter and her comrades, the women who 6 greeted Saul and David…” (Ibid. )

Dancing in the Bible Expressions of worship and joy (praise, gratitude, rejoicing), Psa. 149: 1 -4; 150: 4 • Miriam & the women of Israel, Exo. 15: 20 -21 • Jephthah’s daughter, Jug. 11: 34 • Maidens of Shiloh, Jug. 21: 19 -23 • Women of Israel when the Philistines were defeated, 1 Sam. 18: 6 -7 7

Dancing in the Bible Expressions of worship and joy (praise, gratitude, rejoicing), Psa. 149: 1 -4; 150: 4 • King David before the ark, 2 Sam. 6: 12 -16 • Expression of gladness in contrast to mourning, Psa. 30: 11 (Eccl. 3: 4; Lam. 5: 15) • Figure of joy of God’s people in the Messianic age, Jer. 31: 4, 13 8

Dancing in the Bible Expressions of worship and joy (praise, gratitude, rejoicing), Psa. 149: 1 -4; 150: 4 • This dance was occasions of public rejoicing (for victories and other divine blessings) • Expression of worship (thanksgiving) • Typically segregated by gender • Any attempt to associate today’s 9 social dance with this dance utterly

Dancing in the Bible Lustful, unrestrained conduct • Israel before golden calf, Exo. 32: 6, 19, 25 (1 Cor. 10: 6 -7) • Idolatry and moral nakedness, 32: 25 • Daughter of Herodias, Mark 6: 21 -22 • Sensual, enticing to eyes, pleasure derived 10 • Seductive and suggestive, void of

Dancing in the Bible Lustful, unrestrained conduct • This dance was associated with lust, selfindulgence, sinful motives and results Which of these two dances more closely defines, describes and depicts the modern, social dance? 11

Dancing is Worldly 1 John 2: 15 -17 Absence of Moral Decency Romans 13: 13 • Walk properly (decently), honorably (1 Pet. 2: 11 -12) • Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, Rom. 13: 14 • Make no provision for the flesh and its lusts 12 • Not possible in the modern dance!

Dancing is Worldly 1 John 2: 15 -17 Absence of Moral Restraint Romans 13: 13 • Lasciviousness, Gal. 5: 19; 1 Pet. 4: 3 • Unbridled lust, excess, licentiousness, lasciviousness, wantonness, outrageousness, shamelessness, insolence…wanton (acts or) manners, as filthy words, indecent bodily movements, unchaste handling of males and females, etc. ” (Thayer, 79 -

Dancing is Lascivious 1 John 2: 15 -17 Testimony from the World “There can scarcely be any doubt that dancing came about as an adjunct of sexual stimulation. ” (Medical Review of America) 14

Dancing is Lascivious 1 John 2: 15 -17 Testimony from the World “…the secret of the popularity of dancing (or is it a secret? ) is the exciting sexual stimulation resulting from the close embrace of male and female, whether it be in dancing or without music in petting and necking. ” (Dr. J. P. Gibson, M. D) 15

Dancing is Lascivious 1 John 2: 15 -17 Testimony from the World Disco Dancing (1970’s): The drawing power of the discos attributed to its “progressive sexuality” and the promoters pin-pointing “sexappeal” as the life-blood of the fad 16 (The New York Times Magazine)

Dancing is Lascivious 1 John 2: 15 -17 Testimony from the World “As a medical man I flatly charge that modern dancing in fundamentally sinful and evil. I charge that dancing is the most advanced and the most insidious maneuvering preliminary to sex betrayal. ” 17 Dr. E. S. Sonners

Dancing is Lascivious 1 John 2: 15 -17 Testimony from a Teenage Christian “These things do take place during the dance movements. The girl must yield her body completely to the guidance of her partner. Can’t this closeness produce desires which would be indecent when brought to the surface? 18

Dancing is Lascivious 1 John 2: 15 -17 Testimony from a Teenage Christian “Here is your answer: In a survey a group of men were asked to raise their hands if they could dance and not have evil thoughts and desires. Not one person’s hand was raised. ” Gloria Jean Davis, 17 yr. old Cited by Truman Smith 19 “Is It A Sin To Dance”, The

Dancing is Worldly 1 John 2: 15 -17 Absence of Moral Boundaries Romans 13: 13 • Revelries: Riotous partying and lustful excesses, Gal. 5: 21; 1 Pet. 4: 3 • Originally merely a merry-making • Entertainment that grew into carousing 20 • Nocturnal, riotous procession of half

Dancing is Worldly 1 John 2: 15 -17 Absence of Moral Boundaries Romans 13: 13 • “And the like” (Gal. 5: 21) • Dancing often includes dark setting, alcohol, sexual indulgences and excesses • Any activity that provides a setting for lustful thoughts and lewd actions is 21 against God’s principles of moral

Dancing is Contrary to Moral Purity Comes from a Corrupt Heart Mark 7: 21 -23 • Herod’s pleasure (Mk. 6: 21 -22) • Lust of the eye (1 Jno. 2: 16) • Causes impure thoughts and lusts, cf. 1 Ths. 4: 4 -5 • Flee youthful lusts, 2 Tim. 2: 22 22

Dancing Destroys Your Godly Influence Do not be deceived! 1 Cor. 15: 33 -34; Eph. 5: 6 -7, 11 • Cannot be a living sacrifice, Rom. 12: 1 -2 • Cannot help save someone, Matt. 18: 6 • Does not produce righteous influences (Titus 2: 11 -12) 23

Dancing Associates with other Sinful Fruit Evil company corrupts good morals 1 Corinthians 15: 33 • Immodesty (1 Tim. 2: 9 -10) • Drinking and carousing (1 Pet. 4: 3) • Sexual promiscuity (1 Cor. 6: 18) Keep yourself unspotted from the world! (James 1: 27) 24

Dancing Defenses “The dance will be chaperoned. ” • If dancing is innocent, pure and good, why do dances need supervision? • Problems come along with it: • Promiscuity, drinking, vulgarities, etc. 25

Dancing Defenses “Dancing is good exercise. ” • No doubt, some are physically demanding • If that is the reason for going to dances, have “boy only” and “girl only” dances! • Not the real purpose for dances • Not why people go to dances 26

Dancing Defenses “I just enjoy the rhythm of the music. ” • Then, why not dance in the privacy of your home to enjoy the rhythm of the music? • This is not the real reason behind the modern, social dance 27

Dancing Defenses “I go to be socially popular. ” • Or, “I allow my child to go because all his/her friends are going. ” • Do you use this rationale for smoking? Alcohol? Drugs? Premarital sex? • Christian must take moral stands that are against the norms of society, Rom. 28 12: 2; 1 Peter 4: 4

Dancing Defenses “I do not lust when I dance. ” • “I can control myself and my thoughts. ” • Self-control includes avoiding places where you can be tempted, 1 Cor. 9: 27 • What about your partner? Can you control his/her lustful thoughts toward you? 29

Dancing Defenses “No one is going to tell me what to do!” • Spirit of rebellion against God’s word • Such a defiant attitude is sinful and unworthy of a Christian, 1 Ths. 4: 7 -8 30

Shall we dance? NO! • The evidence is overwhelming • Those who crucify self and live by faith will not participate, Galatians 2: 20 • Dancing is not a “gray”/ “borderline” issue • A choice between right and wrong, good and evil, the Spirit and the flesh 31