Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: May 1, 2005
SATAN’S PARTY
Wayne Jones
Would you go? Seriously, if Satan hosted a party, would you go? If he sent you an
invitation in the mail would it quickly find its way to the trash can or would you
save it for future reference? Keep in mind, Satan’s party would be filled with
temptation, immorality and wickedness. There is a good chance that at Satan’s
party alcohol would be available. Many in attendance would be dressed in
scandalous clothing which will produce lustful thoughts. At this party, the
combination of whirling lights and loud music will make dancing the theme of the
evening and the primary purpose for the party. Emotions will run high and physical
desires will be teased leading many at this party to stain their souls with sin.
Would you go?
The truth of the matter is, Satan does host a party. Every year at high schools
throughout our land, Satan becomes the master of ceremonies for a party centered
around sexual impurity — THE PROM! Sadly, many parents spend hundreds of
dollars to ensure that their children enjoy this teenage “rite of passage.” Despite
the clear spiritual and even physical danger that is associated with such, there are
even members of the church (who should realize their Divine responsibility to
remain unspotted by the world) who readily accept Satan’s invitation. Dear reader,
the prom or any other such gathering is not a place for a Christian to be found!
There are several groups of people who should be consulted when we receive an
invitation to Satan’s party. Let’s consult them together.
What Do Some In The World Say?
J. Edgar Hoover, former head of the FBI stated that “Most juvenile crime has its
inception in the dance hall . . .” T.A. Faulker, an ex-dancing instructor and ex-
director of the Dancing Master’s Association, authored two books entitled The Lure
of the Dance and The Ballroom to Hell. You could imagine that the effects of
dancing as seen by this former instructor were not favorable considering the title of
these books. Author Murray, the world renowned dancing teacher, stated that “the
difference between wrestling and dancing is that, in wrestling, some holds are
barred.” There are even reports that one foreign city banned school dances because
of dancing’s adverse effect of “a student’s scholastic work and his sense of moral
decency.”
These statements were not made by those with a religious point to make. The
above mentioned people had seen the harmful impact that dancing had brought
upon those involved, especially as it related to young people. That ought to speak
volumes to us about the deadly and damaging affects of such sinful practices.
What Do Our Children Say?
Those of us who are not very far removed from our teenage years can probably
remember the talk at school before and after the prom. If our young people are
honest with us and with themselves, they would have to admit that the prom is
known for being a night of sexual exploits. The prom is an event after which man
teenagers plan to lose their virginity (if they have not lost it already). Parents, ask
your children their opinion of the prom and the opinions of their classmates.
Chances are, the subject of sexual immorality will be at the center of the
conversation.
If we consulted our children about why they want to go, this basic answer is given
— because everybody will be there. Basically, their reasoning is the same as any
other generation — because every one else is doing it. Do you know some
sympathetic parents fall for this excuse! What ever happened to this parental
answer: “If all your friends jumped off a bridge would you?” God dealt with such an
excuse in various parts of Scripture: “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil . . .”
(Ex. 23:2). Again, God demanded that we “have no fellowship with the unfruitful
works of darkness” (Eph. 5:11). It is likely that some parents cave to the excuses of
their children because they are looking for an excuse to let their children go to the
prom (for popularity’s sake).
What Does The Bible Say?
The Bible mentions two types of dancing; an expression of joy and happiness and a
lewd sexually enticing dance. The first of these dances is mentioned in passages
such as 2 Samuel 6 when the ark of the covenant was returned to Jerusalem.
There is nothing to suggest that this was anything more than jumping in
celebration. The second type of dancing is found in passages such as Mark 6:22
where Herodias danced before the king and was given anything that she wanted.
This lewd and sexually enticing dance led to the death of John the baptizer.
It is this second type of dancing that is endorsed and encouraged at the prom. This
type of activity is condemned in many Bible passages such as Mark 7:21-23 and
Galatians 5:19. The word “lasciviousness” is also translated “lewdness” in the
NKJV and “sensuality” in the NASB. The Greek word is aselgia, and as defined by
Thayer means, “unbridled lust . . . wanton acts or manners (including) filthy words,
indecent bodily movements, unchaste handling of males and females.” The English
word lascivious is defined as “exciting sexual desires.” This word would then
include anything which excites the lust of the flesh (words, bodily movements,
unchaste handling). A one word description of lasciviousness would be “dancing.”
How could we honestly reconcile our duty to flee the lusts of youth (2 Tim. 2:22);
abstain from all forms of evil (I Thess. 5:22; and to keep ourselves unspotted from
the world (James 1:27) with the sin, wickedness and immorality related to the prom
(and other events like it)? The answer is, we cannot.
Husbands, would we want our wives dancing with another man the same way they
would dance with us? Wives, what about your husbands? Parents, what about
your children? Does the addition of music, expensive dresses and swirling lights
make right what God has condemned?
May we, with concern for our children and their souls, do all we can to help them
avoid places of temptation and spiritual peril. May our young people have the
courage to be different from the world and avoid such places so that they might
remain pure and holy.
If Satan were hosting a party, would you go? Or, better yet, will you go?
— via “The Searcher,” Weekly Bulletin of the Southaven church of Christ,
Southaven, MS, April 17, 2005