Dancing

Why Can’t A Christian Dance? How can we say it is wrong when no passage specifically forbids it? Why some Christians see nothing wrong with dancing & encourage it? World thinks it is an innocent thing. Is it wrong to go to school prom? Many know it is wrong – can’t prove it.

Christians Live a Life of Moral Purity This PURITY is motivated by the desire to be like Christ - I John 3:1-3  This desire results in the Christian being “in the world” but not “of this world”. John 17:14-16  Affections are “on things above” (Col. 3:2)  Thinking different from the world (Rom. 12:1-2)  Sees the dangers of the world (I Jn 2:15-17)  Desires to be “unspotted from the world” (Jas. 1:27)

Dancing Is Worldliness Homer Hailey: “It is true that only a minority of church members dance, and possibly a small minority; but to whatever degree dancing is tolerated among members of the body, to just that degree the church tends toward the world, and allows the spirit of the world to infiltrate it.” “LOVE NOT THE WORLD” I John 2:15-17

Danger of Dancing I.What is Dancing?

Dancing Defined Dance is an expression in rhythmic movement of an intensified sense of life, arising from an inner perception that stimulates both mind and body. Grolier Dance is an expression in rhythmic movement of an intensified sense of life, arising from an inner perception that stimulates both mind and body. Grolier To move rhythmically to music, using prescribed or improvised steps and gestures. American Heritage Dictionary To move rhythmically to music, using prescribed or improvised steps and gestures. American Heritage Dictionary

What Is Involved In Dancing? Close Bodily Contact Moving in Rhythm To The Music Romantic Atmosphere: Lights, Music, etc.

Various Types of Dancing Waltz Waltz Disco Disco Ballroom Ballroom Dirty Dancing Dirty Dancing Prom Prom Party Party

Danger of Dancing I.What is Dancing? II. What Is The Appeal?

The Appeal: Sexual Dr. B. S. Talmey: "The modern dance copies the oriental dances and represents not wooing and love, but gross sexuality... the modern dance represents an appeal to the lower instincts."

The Appeal: Sexual Dr. Lita Hollingsworth, Professor of Education at Columbia, in an article defending the dance, admitted: "Dancing is an exciting and pleasurable recreation as it affords a partial satisfaction to the sex impulse."

Danger of Dancing I.What is Dancing? II. What Is The Appeal? III. Principles That Condemn The Dance The Dance

Dancing Is Lasciviousness A.G Hobbs (tract on Dancing): states that an audience of 1500 men were asked the question, "How many can dance and not have evil thoughts," and not one hand was raised! Dancing involves: close bodily contact, wild gyrations, explicit sexual movements, focusing on the body, sex appeal, sexual stimulation, etc.

Bible Principles That Condemn Dancing “19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness 21 …and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21 Lasciviousness

Bible Principles That Condemn Dancing Lasciviousness Defined: “Unbridled lust… indecent bodily movements, unchaste handling of males and females, etc. (Thayer) “lewd, wanton, lustful… tending to produce lewd emotions…” (Webster)

Passages: Gal. 5: Pet. 4:3 Rom. 13:13 Eph. 4:19 2 Tim. 2:22 Defined “Unbridled lust… indecent bodily movements, unchaste handling of males and females, etc. (Thayer) “lewd, wanton, lustful… tending to produce lewd emotions…” (Webster) Dancing wild gyrations explicit sexual movements focusing on the body arousing desires Lasciviousness

Dr. Thomas C. Whitfield: "The modern dance is condemned precisely at this point. It is not wrong solely because it might lead one to the physical act of fornication, but it is sinful to the degree that it arouses unrestrained desires that cannot be fulfilled under present relations and conditions. When such desires are aroused, the dancing is within itself sinful because it is then a lascivious act.“ Dr. A. C. Dixon: "The modern dance is the fine art of covering with music, indelicate, immodest and oftentimes indecent attitudes and postures between men and women.“

Professor Harry Stribes (renowned champion dancer and originator of many noted society dances): "I will say that I do not believe a woman can waltz virtuously and waltz well, for she must yield her person completely to her partner." Professor William H. Holmes (former dancing master): "I have found the ballroom an avenue of destruction to multitudes. This is a truth burned into the hearts of thousands of downcast fathers and brokenhearted mothers.“ T. A. Faulkner (former supervisor of the Dancing Assembly of Los Angeles & former President of the Dancing Master's Association of the Pacific Coast): "The strongest indictment of the dance is the attendant immorality. The inducement to immorality lies in the co-sexual dancing."

J. P. Gibson, MD: “Among those who dance it is noteworthy that very few girls spend much time dancing with other girls. Neither do men dance very much with own wives, nor brothers with their own sisters...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...” A Lubbock, Texas Physician: "As far as I am concerned, the children can stay home and twiddle their thumbs rather than go to dances, and others would feel the same way, too, if they could be in my office and see mothers come in with tears streaming down their faces, with their little girls begging for help and advice.“ J. Edgar Hoover: “Most juvenile crime has its inception in the dance hall, either public or private.”

Bible Principles That Condemn Dancing Lasciviousness Flee Lust 2 Timothy 2:22

Bible Principles That Condemn Dancing “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” 2 Timothy 2:22

Bible Principles That Condemn Dancing Lasciviousness Flee Lust Flee: “To run away, shun or escape” (Strongs) 2 Timothy 2:22 I Corinthians 6:18 1 Thessalonians 4:3-6 Flee Fornication

Bible Principles That Condemn Dancing “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God..” I Thessalonians 4:3-5

Bible Principles That Condemn Dancing “Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” I Cor. 6:18-20

The Appeal: Sexual The Testimony of The World The Testimony of The World If Remove Sexual – Kill Dance: If Remove Sexual – Kill Dance:  Bodily Contact  Lewd Movements  Boys w/ girls If Stop the Music – same actions would be called “petting” If Stop the Music – same actions would be called “petting” If a young man takes your daughter to the Prom – The parents are proud! If they engage in the same action in the Living room – Send him home!

“…by their fruits ye shall know them” (Matt. 7:20)  Evil companions, obscene language, smoking, drinking, petting, adultery and divorce  Albert Barnes said, "No child dances into heaven, but many a one dances into hell.“  Homer Hailey said, "A dancing foot and a praying knee do not grow on the same leg.”

“…by their fruits ye shall know them” (Matt. 7:20)  Dancing destroys the Christian’s influence.  Christians are to be the “light of the world" and the "salt of the earth“. (Matt. 5:13-16)  Dancing becomes a "stumblingblock" to the weak and erring. (Luke 17:1-2)

Bible Principles That Condemn Dancing “Flee also youthful lusts…” 2 Timothy 2:22 “neither be partakers of other men’s sins, keep thyself pure…” 1 Timothy 5:22 “Abstain from all appearance of evil …” 1 Thessalonians 5:22