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| Vol. 14 No. 11 November 2012 | Page 10 |
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| Vol. 14 No. 11 November 2012 | Page 10 |
Jerry Joseph
A question was recently raised concerning a “Homecoming Dance.” Specifically, should a Christian young person attend his or her “Homecoming Dance”? I know and realize that there are many activities at high school in which a young person can be involved. There are some activities that would be fitting and permissible in which a Christian young person may engage. However, that does not mean that every high school activity is an activity in which a Christian young person should be a part.
How does one determine what activity or activities to engage in at school for a Christian young person? Should we make that determination based solely upon the fact that…
For the Christian young person, what one does, in what he or she participates and supports is not determined by the school system, by what is popular, by what friends may or may not do, but solely by the Word of God (2 Peter 1:3; Colossians 3:17; 2 Timothy 3:15-17). The child of God (young or old) is to be different (2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:3-6; 12:1-2). We live in this world, but we do not live by the standards of the world.
To answer the question dealing with attending the “homecoming dance,” one must first deal with whether the “modern dance” is something in which Christian young people should engage. To answer that question should help us in answering the question concerning “homecoming dances.” Are there any precepts and principles from the Bible that will help us in dealing with that question? The following comes from an article that I wrote in the spring of this year in dealing with Proms. What I wrote concerning proms would also be true of “Homecoming dances.”
Dancing is condemned in the Scripture. When you read of the works of the flesh as listed in Galatians 5:19-21, Paul said that they who “do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Please consider two of the things mentioned: “Lasciviousness” and “reveling.” “Lasciviousness” is described as “filthy words, indecent bodily movements, unchaste handling of males and females” (Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon). “Reveling” is a “jovial feast with music and dancing” (Liddell Scott Greek Lexicon). When one understands the meaning of these words, it is evident that dancing and proms are condemned in Scripture.
Dancing causes lewd and lustful desires. You cannot obey “Flee also youthful lusts” (2 Timothy 2:22); “…neither be partakers of other men’s sins; keep thyself pure” (1 Timothy 5:22), and “…abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul” (1 Peter 2:11) while engaging in the modern dance. When we engage in activities that cause such, it is sinful. Remember that Jesus said, “But I say unto you, That whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matthew 5:28).
Dancing crushes one’s influence for good. We do influence the people around us for good or evil. Dancing or attending the prom is not a ‘good work.’ We must stay away from those things that are evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22; Matthew 5:16; 1 Timothy 4:12). Young people, keep your body and heart pure (1 Corinthians 6:16-20; Matthew 4:8). Parents, you must help your children to be pure in their attitudes, actions, attire and activities by guiding them and directing them in the way that is right. Both parents and young people need to stand up for what is right and oppose that which is wrong (Ephesians 5:11; 1 Corinthians 16:13). The Bible has not changed. It must continue to be our guide in everything we do and in which we engage. We must not see how close we can get to a “sin” without committing sin.
It is tragic when there are those who will try to justify the participation of Christian young people in school dances. Yes, I know there are things said to justify such activities, but none will stand in light of what the Bible teaches. What do some say?
“The Homecoming Dance is chaperoned by adults.” Since dancing is a sin, trying to give it respectability by calling it a “homecoming dance” or a “prom” does not work. You can call such school dances whatever you want, but the activity is still sinful. How are you going to chaperone sin? Would it be scriptural for young people to get together to watch pornography as long as it was chaperoned by adults? Of course not! Who would suggest such? You cannot chaperone sin and make it right, period!
“It Is Good Exercise.” Please, is that the reason that young people attend a school dance? What kind of exercise are they getting when there is a “slow-dance” and the young man is holding the young lady closely to his body? There is exercise for sure, but the unholy kind, the exercising of his mind upon things that are not pure (Philippians 4:8). What kind of exercise is going on when the two are rubbing their bodies together in such seductive ways? What kind of exercise is going on when there are wild gyrations with explicit sexual movements to seductive music? All such “exercise” is doing is to arouse sinful desires, but according to some it is not wrong because it is such “good exercise.”
“I enjoy the rhythm and when I hear it I must move.” Really? If two young people are in the back seat of their car listening to music and going through some of the same movements as displayed on the dance floor, I wonder how many parents would say “I understand.” Parents, if your daughter and some young man are in your home listening to music with earphones so as not to disturb you (you can’t hear the music) and you see them in their seductive dancing, would you be upset? You better believe it! Yet, if those young people unplugged the earphones so that you as a parent could hear the music, would you still be upset? Sadly, some would not. Isn’t it amazing how some think that “music” can make sinful actions no longer sinful? Just put music to it and it becomes a justified activity. Remember please that “music” does not “cover” immodest attire, indecent actions and activities in any shape or form.
“If it is wrong to attend the school dances because of what is going on there, then how can we go anywhere?” Do we not understand what the purpose of a “homecoming dance” is? It is to encourage and promote dancing, which is sinful. The activity is sinful. So, why would a child of God desire to attend a sinful activity?
If you go to a mall, a grocery store, a sporting goods store, etc., it is possible that you may see and hear things that are not good. However, that is not the purpose of shopping. It is the purpose of a “homecoming dance” to promote and encourage dancing, that in which the child of God must not participate. That is completely different. Besides that, when you are in a place and see and hear things that are not good, you can leave, as you should. This is what Joseph did when He was tempted by Potiphar’s wife in Genesis 39:12, “…and fled and got him out.” I wonder, if we had been the parents of Joseph would we have encouraged him to keep on going back to Potiphar’s house knowing what was awaiting him? Most parents would say no way is he going back there. Why is it, then, that we permit our children and encourage other young people to attend the school dances where there is sin practiced?
Attending any of the school dances is no place for the faithful child of God. We must be what God wants us to be. We must do as the Bible directs:
The modern dance is sin. Whatever form that sin takes, a child of God must be in opposition to it because of the result of sin (Romans 6:23). It matters not what the sin is, nor who is engaging in it, nor where it is being conducted. Our response to sin must be as one who…
Let us strive to always remember who has bought us, who we believe in and who we belong to so that more than anything else in this life we live for the Lord (Philippians 1:21) and long for that beautiful place called heaven (John 14:1-3).