Overcoming Worldliness

1
Overcoming Worldliness

• Shall we dance?

2
Shall we dance?A Moral Challenge

• Will I participate in dancing (pre-teens,
  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?

3
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?

4

• Hebrew (khool) to twist, whirl, dance,
  writhe
  
• Greek (choros) a band (of dancers and
  singers), circular dance, a dance, dancing (only
  in Luke 1525)
  
• Greek (orcheomai) middle voice from orchos (a
  row or ring) to dance

5
Dancing in the Bible
Expressions of worship and joy (praise,
gratitude, rejoicing), Psa. 1491-3 1504

• 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 Davids
  dance he danced before Yahweh with all his

6
Dancing in the Bible
Expressions of worship and joy (praise,
gratitude, rejoicing), Psa. 1491-3 1504

• mightleaping and dancing before Yahweh (2
  Sam 614-16) suggests three features of that
  particular display and the mode of dancing which
  it represented violent exertion, leaping, and
  whirling round. (ISBE,
  II1170)

7
Dancing in the Bible
Expressions of worship and joy (praise,
gratitude, rejoicing), Psa. 1491-3 1504

• 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, Jephthahs daughter and her
  comrades, the women who greeted Saul and David
  (Ibid.)

8
Dancing in the Bible
Expressions of worship and joy (praise,
gratitude, rejoicing), Psa. 1491-3 1504

• Miriam the women of Israel, Exo. 1520-21
• Jephthahs daughter, Jug. 1134
• Maidens of Shiloh, Jug. 2119-23
• Women of Israel when the Philistines were
  defeated, 1 Sam. 186-7

9
Dancing in the Bible
Expressions of worship and joy (praise,
gratitude, rejoicing), Psa. 1491-3 1504

• King David before the ark, 2 Sam. 612-16
• Expression of gladness in contrast to mourning,
  Psa. 3011 Eccl. 34 Lam. 515
  
• Figure of joy of Gods people in Messianic age
  (see gender separation), Jer. 314, 13
  
• Feast when prodigal son returned, Lk. 1525

10
Dancing in the Bible
Expressions of worship and joy (praise,
gratitude, rejoicing), Psa. 1491-3 1504

• 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 the modern dance with
  this dance utterly fails!

11
Dancing in the Bible
Lustful, unrestrained conduct

• Israel before golden calf, Exo. 326, 19, 25 1
  Cor. 106-7
  
• Idolatry and nakedness, 3225
• Daughter of Herodias, Mk. 621-22
• Sensual, enticing to eyes, pleasure derived
• Seductive and suggestive, void of spiritual
  content

12
Dancing in the Bible
Lustful , unrestrained conduct

• This dance was associated with lust,
  self- indulgence, sinful motives and results

Which of these two dances more closely defines,
describes and depicts the modern, social dance?
13
Dancing is Worldly 1 John 215-17
Absence of Moral Decency Romans 1313

• Walk properly (decently), honorably, 1
  Pet. 211-12
  
• Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, Rom. 1314
• Make no provision for the flesh and its lusts
• Not possible in the modern dance!

14
Dancing is Worldly 1 John 215-17
Absence of Moral Restraint Romans 1313

• Lasciviousness, Gal. 519 1 Pet. 43
• Unbridled lust, excess, licentiousness,
  lasciviousness, wantonness, outrageousness,
  shamelessness, insolence (Thayer)
  
• Fundamentally No restraints

15
Dancing is Lascivious 1 John
215-17
Testimony from the World

• There can scarcely be any doubt that dancing
  came about as an adjunct of sexual stimulation.
  
• (Medical Review of America)

16
Dancing is Lascivious 1 John 215-17
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)

17
Dancing is Lascivious 1 John 215-17
Testimony from the World

• Disco Dancing (1970s)
• The drawing power of the discos attributed to its
  progressive sexuality and the promoters
  pin-pointing sex-appeal as the life-blood of
  the fad
• (The New York Times Magazine)

18
Dancing is Lascivious 1 John 215-17
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.
• Dr. E. S. Sonners
• The Carnival of Death, 68-69

19
Dancing is Lascivious 1 John 215-17
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. Cant
  this closeness produce desires which would be
  indecent when brought to the surface?

20
Dancing is Lascivious 1 John 215-17
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 persons hand was raised.
  Gloria Jean Davis, 17 yr. old
• Cited by Truman Smith
• Is It A Sin To Dance, The Voice, May 2000

21
Dancing is Worldly 1 John 215-17
Absence of Moral Boundaries Romans 1313

• Revelry Riotous Partying and Lustful Excesses,
  Gal. 521 1 Pet. 43
  
• Originally merely a merry-making
• Entertainment that grew into carouses
• Nocturnal, riotous procession of half- drunken
  fellows

22
Dancing is Worldly 1 John 215-17
Absence of Moral Boundaries Romans 1313

• And the like (Gal. 521)
• Dancing often includes dark setting, alcohol,
  sexual indulgences and excesses
  
• Any activity that provides a setting for lustful
  thoughts and lewd actions is against the
  principles of moral purity, Gal. 516-17

23
Dancing is Contrary to Moral Purity
Comes from a corrupt heart Mark 721-23

• Herods pleasure (Mk. 621-22)
• Lust of the eye (1 Jno. 216)
• Causes impure thoughts and lusts, cf. 1
  Ths. 44-5
  
• Flee youthful lusts, 2 Tim. 222
  1 Tim. 611

24
Dancing is Contrary to Moral Purity

• The modern dance is the fine art of covering
  with music, indelicate, immodest and oft times
  indecent attitudes and postures between men and
  women. It is too bad for reformation. Its only
  remedy is extermination.
• Dr. A. C. Dixon, The Carnival of Death, p. 70
  Cited in Dancing, Donnie V. Rader
  Searching the Scriptures, Nov.
  1990, 7-8

25
Dancing Destroys Your Godly Influence
Do not be deceived! 1 Cor.
1533-34 Eph. 56-7, 11

• Cannot be a living sacrifice, Rom. 121-2
• Cannot help save someone, Matt. 186
• Dancing does not produce righteous influences
  (Titus 211-12)

26
Dancing Associates with other Sinful Fruit
Evil company corrupts good morals
1 Corinthians 1533

• Immodesty (1 Tim. 29-10)
• Drinking and carousing (1 Pet. 43)
• Sexual promiscuity (1 Cor. 618)
• Keep yourself unspotted from the world!
  (James 127)

27
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.

28
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

29
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

30
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? Pre-marital sex?
  
• Christian must take moral stands against the
  norm, Rom. 122 1 Pet. 44

31
Dancing Defenses
I do not lust with I dance.

• I can control myself and my thoughts.
• Self-control also means avoiding places where
  you can be tempted, 1 Cor. 927
  
• What about your partner? Can you control his/her
  lustful thoughts toward you?
  
• Tempting another person to sin (Matt. 186-7)

32
Dancing Defenses
No one is going to tell me what to do!

• Spirit of rebellion against Gods word
• Such a defiant attitude is unworthy of a
  Christian, 1 Ths. 47-8

33
Shall we dance?

• The evidence is overwhelming
• Those who crucify self and live by faith will
  not participate, Galatians 220
  
• Dancing is not a gray, borderline issue
• A choice between right and wrong, good and
  evil, the Spirit and the flesh
  
• NO!