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John, the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus Christ. He was a godly man who pointed to the coming of the Messiah. He preached the truth regarding repentance. He taught that one must bring works "meet for repentance." Would to God that more faithful preachers would pattern their teaching and preaching from this man.
After preaching for a time, John was placed in prison. Here, it was, that we see a terrible picture unfold of lewdness, lust and murder-- all of the components for a great "movie of real-life proportions."
John was in the dungeon because he had preached the truth. One day, after many days, the king thought that since he had visitors, he would summon his step-daughter, Salome, to dance for them all. He did, and she did, and the rest is history. Here was a girl with no shame. It must be understood at this point that there was a reason for this. Her mother was also shameless (Matthew 14:6). There is a principle here that must not be ignored -- that is: the daughters of a harlot will generally have the morals of a harlot -- unless she breaks the chain.
Salome begin her dance. What kind of dance was it? A. T. Robertson describes it as being "some kind of rapid motion.....a shameful exhibition of lewd dancing," (Robertson's Word Pictures.) This young girl's dance was not seen by Herod alone, but also by his guests (Mark 6:21-22).
Today, we see this same type of shamelessness repeated today by many and the similarity of the lewdness of her dancing. First, the dance was designed to arouse the passions of the opposite sex. Let's take a look at types of dancing today:
1) Mambo; 2) Samba; 3) Jitterbug; 4) twist; 5) Bop; 6) Reggae; 6) waltz; 7) two-step; and many others that I cannot remember.
These dances are all designed to do the same thing by their "creator", and that is to arouse the passions among the participants and those who watch. I was not raised under the influence of the church of Christ, so I have participated in many of these lewd dances when I was a young adult.
I assure you that you know not of what you speak if you doubt what I am saying. I also assure you that if the "lewdness" and "lasciviousness" of these dances were somehow taken away, all dancing would stop! Why? It is because of the sensuality and erotic purposes that dancing in and of itself naturally causes. It is because of this that both sexes practice such. Such shamelessness as Salome showed and many worldly people (I guess we must also include church members), exhibit today, is condemned in scripture as lewd, riotous, licentious and revelling type of behaviour.
As a matter of fact, the word in the original language for "lewdness" is "aselgia", and means, accorder to Thayer: "unbridled lust...wanton acts or manners (including) filthy words, indecent bodily movements, unchaste handling of males and females".
Should Christian preachers, then, not preach about such as being absolutely intolerable for Christian activity with so much other immorality going on today? I, for one, say, "Preach on, Brother!" This type of activity would be placed under the "and the such like" of Galatians 5:19-21, with a warning spoken twice by Paul that those who partake of such will be condemned on the day of Judgment!
Dancing denies all aspects of a Christian woman and the traits she is to have, spoken by Paul to Timothy in 1 Timothy 2:9. She is expected to do that which is proper. She is to be modest. Can any type of dancing be typified as "modest"? I ask you to show me one that can! Even the square dancing that was so popular in the forties and fifties had the men twirling the women around to the point of showing their underwear. What other purpose is dancing for? Tell me, can you do it in the name of the Lord?
How many illegitimate children have been conceived because of a "night at the dance?" How many children have been left at home, while the parents go out for a "night on the town?" How many.....on and on, we could go!
There can be no doubt that the shamelessness of Salome was a contributing factor in the death of John of Baptist. This same lack of propriety among men and women today leads to many sinful acts -- not just "dancing".
John Clark
others@thechristianexaminer.com
The Christian has a unique relationship not only with his God but also with his fellow Christians. We have the distinct honor of being a part of something greater than ourselves, a part in a larger body, that of Christ (Romans 12:4-5, 1 Corinthians 12:12-27).
The idea of being a part of a unified whole is important to remember. What are the characteristics of a body? Well, think about your own- your nose and lungs work in harmony to deliver oxygen to the blood, and your mouth, esophagus, stomach, etc. work in harmony to digest food to receive energy needed to survive. We could go on and on, but it should be obvious that for a body to function properly, it must work together and in harmony!
Paul writes to Timothy in 1 Timothy 2:8:
Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.Unfortunately, the members of the body of Christ are often at odds with each other, and treat each other in a way not befitting those who profess Christ. Let us examine the Scriptures on how we should treat our brethren.
Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men as brothers, the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity.Furthermore, Paul's discussion of getting along with one another in Romans 14:1-15:13 also demonstrates the respect we must show to our brethren, attempting to not offend them in any way as much as possible.
But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body, which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our unseemly members come to have more abundant seemliness, whereas our seemly members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it.The body is composed of different people from all walks of life, some stronger, others weaker, but all having their purpose. The body cannot function when it is fighting itself or denigrating others within itself.
My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, "You sit here in a good place," and you say to the poor man, "You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool," have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court? Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called? If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law, according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.Every part of the body is essential for its growth and stability, be the part rich or poor, strong or weak, agreeable or disagreeable.
We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world's goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. We shall know by this that we are of the truth, and shall assure our heart before Him.We are to be willing to lay down our lives for our brothers; how much greater love can be shown? Only too often do we see others and ourselves not loving one another, and by doing so we endanger our salvation.
If nothing else, consider this: the body of Christ will be spending eternity as one. If you cannot get along with your brethren on Earth, how will eternity be? How can you walk with Christ and yet not get along with those who are the ransomed in His blood? I believe that we as Christians would be amazed how much spiritual progress we could make, within ourselves, the church, and in evangelism, if we only were able to learn how to love one another, respect one another, and get along. Time is running out for loving one another; shall we be condemned for not having love for the brethren?
Ethan R. Longhenry
ethan@thechristianexaminer.com
www.deusvitae.com
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