Among the many problems confronting youth today, and especially young Christians, is what should be their attitude toward so-called "recreation." Instead of re-creating, much of it is demoralizing and destructive. (WRECKreation) High on the list of activities paraded under this guise of Satan is the modern dance.

I realize that we live in a time when most young people have time on their hands and Satan has deceived young people, and many parents, into thinking that the dance is a fine and wholesome way to spend that time. But, my dear young friends, and deceived parents, please study with me some of the many evils of this trap of Satan, and ask yourselves the question, "Is it worth the risk."

FIRST-the very fact that it poses such a problem is evidence enough that dancing is QUESTIONABLE. As we shall note later by testimony, many even worldly people admit the evils of it. Those things which are doubtful are sinful for Christians. (Rom. 14:23.) Therefore, if it could be proven to be right otherwise, this is enough to demand that every Christian abstain from such.

SECONDLY-it is destructive to one's Christian influence. The dancing church member is looked upon by the people of the world with little respect and by the faithful Christian as a weak and erring brother. One participating in such can have little or no influence. for good, and at the same time might become a "stumbling block" to others. Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven." (Matt. 5:16.) The very fact that dancing destroys one's influence demands that every Christian have no part in such.

THIRDLY-the modern dance is of the world. All who have named the name of Christ are to be a "peculiar people," that is, they are to be different and easily distinguished from the world. "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people." (I Peter 2:9.) "Friendship with the world is enmity with God" (Jas. 4: 4) and therefore for one to participate in such makes him an enemy to God! John urges, "love not the world, neither the things that are it the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (I John 2:15.) Paul warns, "Be not deceived, evil companionships corrupt good morals." (I Cor. 15:33.) Therefore, for a church-member to participate in such is to destroy that distinctiveness which must be seen between him and the world.

FOURTHLY-the fruits of the modern dance are only evil always! Jesus declares, "Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit." (Matt. 7:17.) Young friends, and poor deluded parents, please consider this: a small portion of the abundance of undeniable testimony available: "Most juvenile crime had its inception in the dance hall, either public or private."-J. Edgar Hoover. (Those foolish enough to argue that they should provide "supervised" dancing to keep our young people out of the public dance halls should give careful notice to this.) "Dance halls are the modern nurseries of divorce courts, training shops for prostitution and graduating schools of infamy and vice."-Dr. Frank Richardson. "Seven-tenths of the girls received here have fallen through dancing and its influences."A Matron of a home for fallen women in Los Angeles, California. Need we consider further testimony? But lest some young man, or parents of young men, reason, "All this testimony concerns girls only; therefore has nothing to do with me," remember, even if you could participate without falling, you are still held accountable before God for every case of a fallen girl with which you participated, for in this you surely contributed to her fall! "Think not that ye shall be held guiltless"!

FIFTHLY-the modern dance is enslaving. After one has participated in such, he considers other means of entertainment "too tame." It will cause its participants to disregard the feelings and wishes of others. When a school dance is planned it just must be regardless of how many object, or how many must "stay at home" or violate their conscience.

SIXTHLY-the modern dance is specifically condemned in the Word of God! It is REVELRY- " Envyings, drunkenness, revelings and such like; of which I forwarn you, even as I did forwarn you, that they who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." (Gal. 5:21.) In Whedon's commentary he states, "REVELINGS - Inclusive of drinking, feasting, dancing, etc. And here we record our testimony against all dancing, even in private circles. It is a branch of a whole system of connected revelry, just as card playing is a branch of a whole connected system of venture and gambling." In Webster's unabridged dictionary dancing is one of the listings under revelry. "Those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."

FINALLY-dancing is lasciviousness. In the nineteenth verse of that same fifth chapter of Galatians, as Paul begins the list of works of the flesh he states, "Now the works of the flesh are manifest which are these: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness." Webster defines lasciviousness as, "Tending to produce lewd emotions." Anyone who has participated in the modern dance who will be completely honest will have to admit that such certainly produces "lewd emotion." In A. G. Hobb's tract IS IT RIGHT TO DANCE? he states that an audience of 1500 men were asked the question, "How many can dance and not have evil thoughts," and not one hand was raised! Hear this testimony from one in a position to know: "I attack the modern dance as a reversion toward savagery. As a medical man, I flatly charge that modern dancing is fundamentally sinful and evil. I charge that dancing charm is based entirely on sex appeal. I charge that dancing is the most advanced and most incidious maneuvering preliminary to sex betrayal. It is nothing more than damnable, diabolical, animal, physical dissipation. I tell you the basic spell of the dance is the spell of illicit physical contact. Under what other shield can a man, or woman, a youth or maiden so promiscuously fondle so many of the opposite sex in a single night, or a lifetime - Dr. E. S. Sonners, M.D.-nerve specialist of Chicago, in THE CARNIVAL OF DEATH, pp. 68, 69.

This, my dear reader, is unquestionably one of the insidious devices of Satan, and as Paul states . . . we are not ignorant of his devices." (2 Cor. 2:11.)

Truth Magazine IV:1, pp. 15-16
October 1959