But It’s The Prom! (Part 1)

Steve Higginbotham
04/21/13 - Morality

After reading the above title, I'm sure some have already drawn some conclusions about me. However, I can live with that. All I ask is that you keep reading and give what I have to say a fair hearing.

Allow me to start right here… "Is dancing wrong?" I must first answer "No." Dancing is not an intrinsic evil. There is no sin in moving one's feet to the rhythm of music. Not all dancing involves indecent dress, unchaste contact, or illicit movements. In fact, the Bible records instances when righteous men danced as an expression of their joy (1 Chronicles 15:25-29; Luke 15:11-32).

However, dancing that calls for close bodily contact between unmarried males and females is wrong. Dancing that involves indecent and suggestive bodily movements is wrong. And dancing that involves impure handling of a dance partner is wrong. The kind of dancing that God's word condemns is the kind of dancing that stirs one to have impure thoughts, and act in impure ways. That is the problem with most of the dancing that takes place today. Its appeal is sex. Now, there is nothing wrong with sexual attraction either. In fact, sexual attraction is a perfectly healthy matter that God created and put within us. However, that attraction must be kept within proper bounds. It should not be tantalized or it will very likely get out of hand. Unmarried people who have no legitimate means to fulfill their sexual desires need to be extremely careful to avoid any situation that could feed or flame such desires.

In years past, there was hardly any Christian who would openly defend dancing. Thepreachers of times past taught that it was sinful, and the congregation concurred. So, what has happened? Are things different today? Has dancing cleaned up its act? Were the preachers of yesterday all wrong about dancing? Has God's moral standards changed some over the years?

Well, dancing certainly has not become any more moral over the years. If anything, the modern dance is more sensuous today than it ever was. Furthermore, preachers of the past were correct in preaching and warning against fleshly lusts which war against the soul (Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Peter 2:11). And of course, God's moral law has not changed (Matthew 24:35). So then, what has changed? What has changed are the attitudes and respect (or lack of) God's people have for His will. Some apparently seem to be more willing to justify their "pet" sins than they are willing to justify God's high moral standard.