Dancing and Lasciviousness I. Introduction A. We come to a topic that is rather contentious and hard for many to understand 1. Romans 12:1-2 2. 1 Corinthians 2:10-3:1 3. Importance of understanding things according to the spirit and not according to the flesh B. It is good to speak about the matter of dancing C. Dancing is a socially acceptable means for young people especially to associate D. Is it, however, what God intends for young people? E. Let us consider dancing and what the Scriptures say regarding it II. Caveats A. We are not speaking about any and all types of dancing B. Dancing between married persons in private is certainly fine (Hebrews 13:4) C. There are also many other forms of dance that would not be considered lascivious or any such thing D. Our concern today is principally with many of the forms of dancing seen involving young persons in particular in various social settings III. The Nature of Dancing A. Dancing is really nothing new 1. Almost every culture has some form of institutionalized dance 2. Almost always the dances are designed as opportunities for boys and girls to get together 3. According to biologists, the purpose is to demonstrate one's fitness and virility-- the attempt to attract a mate based on physical competence B. This impulse is enshrined today in the modern high school dances primarily, homecoming and prom C. This is also seen in the prevalence of clubs and other dancing places that usually serve alcohol D. The nature of the dancing today is highly problematic 1. Much of modern dance leaves little to the imagination! 2. Highly sexual 3. No one would allow such persons to do such things in public if the music were turned off or the lights turned on! 4. Even the tamest types of dancing involve significant physical contact E. What do the Scriptures say about such things? IV. The Scriptures on Dancing A. The Scriptures do not explicitly speak regarding these matters 1. Miriam and the women engage in some kind of dance when singing a song to God in Exodus 15:20 2. On the other hand, the Israelites danced on account of the golden calf in Exodus 32:19 3. David danced before the LORD in 2 Samuel 6:14, but his wife's reaction seems to show that it was not a normal or expected occurrence 4. Jesus speaks of it only in a metaphor (Matthew 11:17, Luke 15:25) 5. In all these matters, then, we have no commands regarding dancing 6. There is one negative example-- Herodias' daughter before Herod and his bad decision (Matthew 14:6-7) 7. Nevertheless, has God left us without direction? B. While God may have not explicitly spoken regarding these matters, God does give us a brain and expects us to render righteous judgment 1. Hebrews 5:14-- maturity consists of proper discernment to distinguish good from evil 2. We should not expect for God to tell us in exacting detail every little thing that is right or wrong 3. 2 Timothy 3:16-17: Scriptures equip for every good work 4. Romans 14:23: whatever is not of faith is of sin 5. Therefore, we must search the Scriptures to see if a practice is commended or commendable or not commended 6. How, then, can the Scriptures guide us in these matters? C. Galatians 5:16-25 1. Paul establishes emphatically that we who are in Christ have crucified the flesh and its passions (v. 24) 2. Said passions are listed, although not exclusively, in vv. 19-21 3. The alternatives are listed in vv. 22-23 4. Therefore we must investigate and see: to which does such dancing concord? D. Let us consider the work of the flesh known as "sensuality" or "lasciviousness" 1. Thus is defined the Greek term aselgeia 2. Lasciviousness, according to Webster's, is defined as looseness; irregular indulgence of animal desires; wantonness; lustfulness; tendency to excite lust, and promote irregular indulgences 3. Lasciviousness/sensuality, then, can be defined as any activity that is lustful or promotes lust E. What is going on with dancing? 1. When we consider dancing, especially the modern types of dancing that we see in high school dances and in clubs and so forth... 2. Do such dances concord with goodness, faithfulness, peace, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)? 3. Or do they seem much "more like" lasciviousness (Galatians 5:19-21)? F. Let us be honest with ourselves! 1. I ask you to think spiritually and think realistically 2. What is going on at dances? What are the intents? 3. The prom, for instance, is considered a "rite of passage" for teenagers 4. ...but is it not also true in our culture that society has created the idea of post-prom sexual relations as also part of that "rite of passage"? 5. Are we to think that the dancing at the prom has nothing to do with such things? 6. If you went when you were younger, what were your intentions? 7. In a recent "Dear Abby" column (5/7/2007), a man wrote in being concerned about hearing about the prevalence of "prom babies" and girls intentionally seducing their dates/boyfriends into sexual relations after the prom to get pregnant so that they would not have to go to college and deal with "college stress" 8. Sure, such thinking is horribly misguided, but that is not stopping some teens! G. If we consider the matter soberly and with spiritual understanding, the conclusion is evident: the close contact and movements of dancing is there to promote lust, is therefore lascivious conduct, and therefore a work of the flesh, a "thing like these" (Galatians 5:19-21) H. The warning is there: those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom (Galatians 5:21)! V. Disagreements Considered A. This understanding is not accepted by many, and for various reasons B. Some do not think that the dancing is lascivious behavior 1. Many persons perhaps want to deny the idea of it being lascivious because it is enjoyable and want to keep doing it-- such persons are warned to crucify the flesh with its passions (Galatians 5:24)! 2. On the other hand, there are some who perhaps being more innocent of these matters do not see how it is lascivious 3. While innocence is good, and we are to be innocent in sin itself, we still must be wise as to how sin works (cf. Matthew 10:16) 4. It is not much different from Eve before having tasted the fruit and not having the understanding of many things-- just because she could not understand it in her innocence does not mean that the danger was not there (cf. Genesis 3)! 5. So it is with many young people: it is good that they have not tasted of such "forbidden fruit", but they need to recognize that even if they don't see it, it is still there! 6. It's not innocent! C. Some see no problem with attending without participating 1. Many may agree that the dancing is lascivious and therefore will not actually dance but will still go anyway 2. What, then, would be wrong with going? 3. First of all, by going one opens themselves up for the temptation to participate, and while they may not succumb, it is not wise to open oneself up to temptation (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:13, Proverbs 6:27) 4. Secondly, presence indicates approval at some level 5. Your attendance may influence another to go and perhaps they will not avoid dancing; if so, you have sinned (cf. 1 Corinthians 8) 6. Even if that were not the case, what kind of influence can you possibly have on others if they see you doing everything else the world does (cf. Matthew 5:13-16)? 7. Notice that those who give approval to people sinning are doing no better than those sinning themselves (cf. Romans 1:32)! VI. Conclusion A. We have considered today the nature of dancing and lasciviousness B. We recognize, of course, that there are some forms of dancing that are appropriate because the persons involved are married or the dancing is not designed to promote lust C. We can see, however, that the object of much of modern dancing among unmarried young people is designed with lust in mind D. While the Scriptures may not explicitly establish it as sin, we can make proper and righteous judgment and see that such dancing does not correlate with the fruit of the Spirit but indeed is a deed "such like" lasciviousness, and therefore under the same condemnation as sin (Galatians 5:19-21) E. While it may not be easy, it is the right way F. Let us not involve ourselves with such actions nor participate in them in any way G. Invitation/songbook