Is it a sin to dance or to go to the prom?

1. Principles on Which We Can All Agree

1)We Strive to Apply Biblical Principles to Every Decision I Make and Every Activity That I Engage In - Col 3:17

2) We Seek to Avoid Questionable Decisions in My Life

3)We Are More Concerned With God’s Approval or Acceptance than Man’s - Gal 1:10

4)Something Doesn’t Have to be Expressly Forbidden to Be Wrong - Gal 5:19-21

“But the Bible doesn’t say…” Does God have to spell out everything? Not according to Galatians 5:19-21: Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these…” Hmm. Wonder what he meant by “things like these”-? Apparently his list of specifics wasn’t exhaustive. And apparently there are “things like these” that you need to look at carefully and avoid. God doesn’t spell out everything because He thinks you are smart enough to use the mind-power given you in order toreach the right conclusion. - Wilson Adams

5)We Are to Flee Youthful Lusts - 2 Tim 2:22

2. Biblical Principles to Keep in Mind

1)The Bible Condemns “Carousing” or “Revelries” - Gal 5:21; Rom 14:13; 1 Pet 4:3

“Nocturnal and riotous procession...used generally of feasts and drinking parties that are protracted till late at night and indulge in revelry” (Thayer)

Scott's Bible - "'Revelings' were such feasts, as were accompanied with music and dancing, and whatever could promote hilarity and sensual gratification."

“carousal, merrymaking, with music and dancing” (Liddell and Scott Greek Lexicon)

2)The Bible Condemns “Lasciviousness”; “Licentiousness”, “Lewdness”, or “Sensuality” - 2 Cor 12:21; Gal 5:19; Eph 4:19; 2 Peter 2:2,7,18; Jude 4

“unbridled lust, excess, licentiousness, lasciviousness, wantonness, outrageousness, shamelessness, filthy words, indecent bodily movements, unchaste handling of males and females” (Thayer 79-80)

"1. Lewd; wanton; lustful. 2. Tending to produce lewd emotions." And lewd is defined thus: "1. Given to indulgence of lust. 2. Suiting or proceeding from unlawful sexual desire." – Webster

“They interpret divine goodness as an opportunity to ignore God and do what they please (BDAG, 141)

Lewdness/Licentiousness in the N.T.

It Proceeds from the Heart – Mark 7:22b)

It is A Characteristic of the “rest of the Gentiles” (the world) – Eph 4:19

It is A Work of Darkness That Must be Cast Off – Rom 13:11-14

It Will Keep You Out of Heaven – Gal 5:19

3) The Bible Condemns Immodest Dress

1 Tim 2:8-10

We can dress in a way that causes others to lust - Matt 5:28; Prov 7:10

4)We are to Watch and Pray Not to Enter Temptation - Matthew 26:41

5)We are not to be a stumbling block in another’s way – Luke 17:1-2

Luke 17:1–2 ESV

And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.

3.Dancing and These Biblical Principles

Didn’t They Dance in the Bible?

Four Categories of Dancing Mentioned in the Bible

a)“religious” dances of the O.T. – Exo 15:20-21; 2 Sam6:14

Definition of term: מְ חֹ לָ ה (meḥō·lā(h)): n.fem.; ≡ Str 4246; TWOT 623h—1. LN 15.244 circle-dancing, round-dancing, i.e., a series of rhythmic body movements, likely segregated by sex, possibly accompanied by rhythm instruments and/or 2 musical instruments, with the associative meaning of being properly joyful (Ex 32:19; Jdg 11:34; 21:21; 1Sa 18:6; 21:12[EB 11]; 29:5; SS 7:1[EB 6:13]+). [Swanson, James. Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997

b)Expression of rejoicing – 1 Sam 18:6

c)Play of children – Luke 7:32; Job 21:11

d)The dance of Salome – Matt.14:6

“patterned rhythmic movements of the whole and/or parts of the body, normally to the accompaniment of music—‘to dance, dancing.’ (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. New York: United Bible Societies, 1996)”

The Modern Dance is Relatively Modern

"While the mode of dancing is not known in detail, it is clear that men and women did not generally dance together, and there is no real evidence that they ever did. Social amusement was hardly a major purpose of dancing, and the modern method of dancing by couples is unknown." - Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia Of The Bible, "Dancing“

"Women seemed generally to have danced by themselves... Of the social dancing of couples in the modern fashion there is no trace." – ISBE

The Wycliffe Bible Dictionary states, "The dance as we know it today, performed by pairs of persons of opposite sex, seem to be entirely unknown in the Bible" (pg. 419).

Is Modern Dancing Lewdness/Licentiousness and Revelery?

Is it “indecent bodily movements, unchaste handling of males and females”? Does it tend “to produce lewd emotions”?

The Appeal of the Dance is Sexual

"Are You Going To The Prom?" J. R. Brongerwrote, "I was not raised to respect the Lord, so I participated in dances of all kinds, including the Prom...The High School I attended had regular dances...Therefore, I am well aware of what dancing and dances are all about. I was never compelled to consider whether dancing was right or wrong until after I became a Christian. What's wrong with dancing? The modern expression of dance involves "lewdness" (lasciviousness), which according to Galatians 5:19 is a work of the flesh...Lasciviousness is sinful anytime, anywhere. Dances are held for one main reason: sex appeal. Whether slow cheek-to-cheek, hip-to-hip swaying to sensuous music or bumping and grinding to pulsating beats, sex appeal (lasciviousness) is what dancing is all about. Dancing is a way to legitimize the sensual fondling of another. It is nothing but foreplay."

Interview with Arthur Murray: “Why has ballroom dancing declined? Murray responds: ‘Since dancing is based on sexual flirtation and since young people have no problem with sexual flirtation; dancing has taken a back seat to the back seat’. This only confirms what we all know, dancing leads from the ballroom to the bedroom – L.A. radio host Ervin Edwards [Big E.].”

Mark Weisner, Ph.D. in his article “When the Answer is Not Tonight” – “Think about activities that lead to sex. A dark crowded room with whispers of delight, the dance floor, a proven place for the struggling couple. A romantic dinner with a band, candles, and ‘the right foods’.”

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 whether it be with music in dancing or without music in petting and necking."

Catherine Gewertz in Education Weekly - “It looks like sex, but it’s dancing. It’s called freak dancing, and teenagers of all types are freaking at middle and high school events across the country.”

“The whole range of modern dances are designed to express ‘love-making’.” - Curt Sach, World History of the Dance

Dr. Leta S. Hollingsworth, professor of education at Columbia University (she approves of dancing) she still says that dancing ““Dancing is an exciting, pleasurable activity as it affords a partial satisfaction of the sex impulse...Dancing in fact, is such an erotic stimuli that it even works for boys and girls as young as the age of 11.”” [s.v. The Psychology of the Adolescent, p. 122].

Professor Louis J. Guyon, who owned and operated Paradise Ballrooms, one of Chicago’s largest dance halls, once wrote, “We know that sex is the strongest impulse planted in the human race. You can just picture the effect on a boy or girl of 18 or 20, when this hunger is keenest, when knowledge and experience are lacking in the formation of judgment, of one of these dances which calls for close bodily contact and frequently brings the cheeks together and entwine the limbs. Yet, we find thousands of boys and girls dancing in this very way who do not realize they are doing anything out of the way, and whose fool parents look on complacently. When you are told that youth of both sexes can...survive this experience without mental, moral, and physical pollution, you know the teller lies...If you can believe youth is the same after this experience as before, then God help your child or your charge, for you are not fit for your responsibility If you do not believe I have correctly described the modern dances and their effect, you either have not seen them performed or you are willfully blind to their true character.”

The Headlines and Articles Say It All

Cybergown.com says this: “The sexy necklines look good but try not to wear a necklace for a more astonishing sexy look...This time the prom dresses have become more and more seductive.”

“How To Have The Most Romantic Night Ever,” “Tonight Will Last Forever,” “Dresses So Hot They Sizzle,” “Your Hottest Prom Body,” “Sex-Its Your call.”

These are the messages being marketed to teens regarding the Prom from Magazines such as “Seventeen,” “Young and Modern,” “Prom Magazine,” and “Your Prom.”

Todd Clippard of Hamilton, Alabama and a grad of Freed Hardeman University, = “While the word Prom is a shortened version of the word “Promenade,” it might was well be a shortened version of Promiscuity. A Google search of the words “Prom” and “sex” resulted in over 1.4 million hits. Admittedly, not all of these were concerned with sexual activity as it relates to the Prom, but most were—including the first one. This link sent me to teenadvice.com and its “Prom Central.” Here I found a long list of links to articles about the Prom including—“How To Have Sex On Prom Night.” Among other links were numerous articles that promoted Prom as the night to lose one’s virginity. This thing is “not done in a corner” (Acts 26:26). Any Christian parent who does not know these things only does so by turning a blind eye to the whole situation”

Modesty and Modern Dancing/Prom

If one claims that ‘modesty” is characteristic of the modern dance they are woefully ignorant or blind

Wilson Adams - “Prom has long been the night when curfews are lifted, inhibitions are abandoned, and romance is in the air (along with hormones). Surrounded by young people of the world, it creates the “perfect-storm” for a Christian to compromise in the area of purity. And it starts with “The Dress…” My wife and I looked at on-line pictures of local proms from last year. The dress (or lack thereof) was embarrassing. After seeing a dozen or so shots of local teen girls (I saw way more than I needed to see), I had seen enough. The typical formal wear for prom is about one thing: cleavage and more cleavage. Apparently in our time, breasts are in—more literally out—according to the pictures. Blunt, but true. Is there such a thing as modest formal wear? Sure. And there were a few. The majority, however, were very revealing. Do you really want your son to be exposed to girls who delight in exposing themselves? By the way, government schools are powerless to stop it. They claim to have dress restrictions, but there weren’t any restrictions from the pictures I saw. By the way, if you argue that I shouldn’t be looking at prom pictures, then guess what my question would be to you? Modesty and purity go hand in hand. As one young lady explained it, ,“The girls today want to go to prom and look classy; instead, they look trashy!” After seeing the pictures, I agree. It hurts when I see young ladies (claiming Christ) who do not value themselves enough to dress modestly. I equally struggle with moms who can’t see past the “Cinderella moment.” My greatest question mark, however, is with the dads who let it happen. What are fathers thinking when they let their daughters walk out of the house dressed provocatively? Apparently they aren’t. Men, have we forgotten what is uppermost in the minds of teen boys? Sure, maybe your daughter dresses modestly, but are you willing to place her date into the company of the majority ofgirls who don’t? Aren’t we our brother’s keeper? Men and women are wired differently. You know that. Men are sexually stimulated by sight. You know that, too. Do we not as Christian men have a responsibility to help our daughters grow to understand human maleness and their responsibility in the male/female relationship? Sexual attraction isn’t bad—it’s good. God made it good. But He also regulated it and gave it boundaries. It is imperative, then, that we exercise caution not to place our children in situations where those boundaries are compromised.

Is One Fleeing Temptation and Being Watchful If They Place Themselves in This Type of Environment?

Are we fleeing fornication? - 1 Cor 6:19

Can you imagine Joseph or Daniel attending a dance? - Dan 1:10; Gen 39:10-12

Could I Be Putting a Stumbling block in Another’s Way?

4We are to seek our neighbor’s well-being - 1 Cor 10:24

We are to give no offense (cause to sin) - 1 Cor 10:32

Luke 17:1-2

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, andallows the spirit of the world to infiltrate it.”

Conclusion:

1 Timothy 4:12 ESV

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

2 Timothy 2:22 ESV

So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.