Worldliness

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Worldliness
Dancing
Many questions asked by membersof the church
concerning dancing

• Is it wrong to dance?
• Can I go to the prom?
• If dancing is wrong, why is there not a
  passage that specifically forbids it?
• Why do some Christians see nothing wrong with
  dancing and even encourage it?

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Dancing

• World thinks dancing is an innocent thing
• Many Christians believe it is wrong to dance, but
  they cant prove it
• This puts them in an awkward position
• Christians live by a different standard

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and
always be ready to give a defense to everyone who
asks you a reason for the hope that is in you,
with meekness and fear (1 Peter 315
And do not be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that
you may prove what is that good and acceptable
and perfect will of God. (Romans 122)
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Worldliness

• What is worldliness?
• of or limited to this world temporal or
  secular devoted to or concerned with the
  affairs, pleasures, etc. of this world (Webster)

Do not love the world or the things in the
world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the
Father is not in him. For all that is in the
world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the
eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father
but is of the world. And the world is passing
away, and the lust of it but he who does the
will of God abides forever. (1 John 215-17)
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Worldliness

• Worldliness is
• A participation in sin the sphere of iniquity
• Given to a life of following ones passions
• Living like the world not being or trying to be
  separate
• Living a life devoted to the temporal not
  spiritual

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What Is Dancing?
Dancing 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)
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What Is Involved with Dancing?
Close Bodily Contact Moving in rhythm to the
music Romantic atmosphere lights, music,
etc.
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What is Appealing About Dancing?
The testimony of the world says that the appeal
to dancing is SEXUAL!
J. Edgar Hoover
Most juvenile crime has its inception in the
dance hall, either public or private.
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What is Appealing About Dancing?
Professor W. C. Wilkerson Chicago University
It is a system of means, contrived with more
than human ingenuity, to excite the instinct of
sex action.
T. A. Vogner former supervisor of the Dancing
Academy in CA
No woman can waltz well and waltz virtuously.
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What is Appealing About 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 their
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 whether it be with music in
dancing or without music in petting and necking.
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What is Appealing About Dancing?
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.
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Biblical Principles that Condemn Dancing

• Lasciviousness (Galatians 519-21)
• Lasciviousness defined Lewd wanton lustful
  tending to produce lewd emotions (Webster)
• Lewd defined Given to indulgence of lust
  suiting or proceeding from unlawful sexual
  desire (Webster)
• Anything that tends to produce lewd emotions,
  create evil thoughts, or excite unlawful sexual
  desire is lasciviousness

Dancing certainly does this
But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman
to lust for her has already committed adultery
with her in his heart. (Matthew 528)
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Biblical Principles that Condemn Dancing

• Revelries or Carousals (Galatians 519-21)
• Revel defined to rebel, carouse, a wild party
  or celebration (Webster)
• New Testament writers associate dancing with
  sexual immorality and drunkeness
• 1 Peter 43 Romans 1313
• Flee Lust
• Flee defined run away, shun or escape
  (Strongs)
• 1 Thessalonians 43-6 2 Timothy 222 Colossians
  35
• Flee Fornication (1 Corinthians 618)

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Other Considerations

• Dancing is Questionable
• Romans 1423 Psalms 11-2
• Dancing Harms My Influence
• Matthew 514-16 1 John 33
• Dancing Makes Obedience toChrist Impossible
• 1 Thessalonians 521-22
• 1 Corinthians 1031
• 2 Corinthians 617

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Vital Questions

• What is my reason for going?
• What kind of people will be there?
• 1 Corinthians 1533
• What kind of activities will be taking place
  there?
• Will I appear to be approving evil practices by
  my attendance?
• Ephesians 511
• Would I want to be seen by other Christians at
  such a function?
• Would I want to take other Christians with me to
  such a function?
• If Christ should return, would He be pleased with
  me for being at such a function?

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Worldliness Dancing
When deciding whether to attend a dance or not,
consider first what God would want you to do
choose for yourselves this day whom you will
serve (Josh 2415)

• By seeking wholesome, godly activities you will
• Grow stronger not weaker
• Gain real friends not lose them
• Reap fruit of the Spirit not works of the flesh

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