Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: March 2, 2008
THE PROM
It is very appropriate at this time of year to warn against the sowing of fleshly oats. Too
many young Christians have made the choice to take part in the dance known as “The
Prom.” While the young people get caught up in the glamour of such, parents pray that
this bit of sowing to the flesh will not sprout. Yet it is a physical and spiritual law that
whatever a person sows that he or she will reap (Gal. 6:7).
Dancing is “bumping and grinding” or as folks used to say, “bucking and jiving” (See World
Dictionary under “jive”). The prom is the rubbing of warm bodies against each other. Boys
use the dance as foreplay. Girls use it to tease. Fathers know what the physical contact
“sport” does to the libido (sexual desire — BJ) of the boys. Mamas wring their hands and
pray. (Sadly, not all Mamas are concerned about the danger their daughters face. Some
want their daughters to learn “grace” and “poise”).
Dancing is lasciviousness and the Holy Spirit said such is the work of the flesh (Gal. 5:
19). Of the Greek word from which it is derived, aselgeia, J.H. Thayer says, among other
things, “wanton (acts or) manners, as filthy words, indecent bodily movements, unchaste
handling of males and females” (Pg. 79). The Holy Spirit warned that those who practice
such “shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:21).
Let me urge parents, teaches, and other faithful Christians across the land to plan
alternate programs and dinners to the “passion pits” known as “Proms.”
Remind yourselves and your children that you want them to be chaste (innocent, pure)
when the time comes for them to marry. Aids, genital herpes and other STD’s stalk the
earth waiting for just a one night stand to destroy the whole life of your beloved daughter
or son, and too many times “The Prom” night is that night.
— written by Jim E. Waldron in 2001
I LIKE LABELS
Terry M. Hightower
Often we hear brethren say: “I don’t like labels! I don’t think we should put people in
‘pigeon holes’.” May I choose to disagree? I LIKE LABELS so long as they are accurate!
Label me “anti-sin”! Call me “anti-mechanical instrumental music,” and I am proud to
wear such! How confusing it would be when we purchase groceries if none of the cans had
labels (like the ones thrown in a grocery cart and sold at a fraction of there true price). We
wouldn’t know the contents, amount, or the price. I LIKE LABELS! There titles serve well
as sort of a “shorthand” to lengthy, full-bore descriptions as to what’s inside — just take a
look at your Walmart receipt sometime.
Medicine and chemicals have warning labels cautioning against the contents: “WARNING:
May be harmful or fatal if taken orally.” I LIKE LABELS! I detest wanting to purchase an
item and not knowing how much I must pay for it — I appreciate the fact that some stores
have little machines mounted here and there so I can electronically “scan” for the price of
the item without walking to the front of the store! But I’d rather have a LABEL with the
price on it!
We also need labels for the purity of the church and our spiritual well-being. “Now I
beseech you, brethren, mark (i.e. note — as in scrutinize) them that are causing divisions and
occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which ye learned: and turn away from them”
(Rom. 16:17). Paul goes on to call them “belly-servers, smooth talkers and beguilers” in
the next verse. Note some Biblical labels — “Warning labels:”
OFFSPRING OF VIPERS (Matt. 3:7)
BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS (Matt. 23:5)
PHYLACTERY BROADENERS (Matt. 23:5)
HYPOCRITES (Matt. 23:13, 15, 23, 25, 27, 29)
THAT FOX (Luke 13:32)
SATANIST (Matt. 16:23)
FALSE PROPHETS, DECEITFUL WORKERS (2 Cor. 11:13)
DIOTREPHES — LOVETH TO HAVE THE PREEMINENCE (3 John 9)
[Other individuals are named “Shipwreckers” Hymenaeus and Alexander — I Tim. 1:19-20,
“forsakers” Phygelus and Hermogenes — 2 Tim. 2:15.]
FALSE TEACHER (2 Pet. 2:1)
LIARS, EVIL BEASTS, IDLE GLUTTONS (Titus 1:12)
DOGS, EVIL WORKERS, CONCISIONISTS (Phil. 3:2)
TRADITION BINDERS (Mark 7:3-4; Matt. 15:1-9)
MEAT AND MARRIAGE FORBIDDERS (“anti-meat” and “anti-marriage” — I Tim. 4:3).
JUDAIZERS (Gal. 2:14)
BALAAMITES, NICOLAITANS, JEZEBELITES (Rev. 2:14-15, 20)
Consider also:
FAITHFUL MEN (2 Tim. 2:2)
GOOD SOLIDER (2 Tim. 2:3)
FAITHFUL AND BELOVED BROTHER (Col. 4:9).
SERVANT OF CHRIST (Col. 4:12)
HELPER AND FELLOW WORKER IN CHRIST (Rom. 16:9)
GOOD MAN (Acts 11:24)
Don’t misunderstand me. I have no desire to PUT anyone in an IMPROPER (i.e.
mislabeled) slot at all, but it often helps to know which “pigeonhole” a person occupies (e.
g., Crossroader/Bostoner/ICCer). The great danger in labels is attaching the WRONG
label as per objective facts for which we will all be judged: “Woe to those who call evil good,
and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and
sweet for bitter” (Isaiah 5:20; cf. Jer. 8:11)!
We all know that there is a federal and spiritual law against false advertising, but let’s not
jerk all the labels off the cans because a grocery boy marked a price or the contents
incorrectly now and then! Also, let’s not just assume the “grocery boy” mislabeled because
someone cries “foul” either — make him prove it!
QUOTE FROM DAVID LIPSCOMB
“When a church is not engaged in active conflict with error within itself, it is floating down
a broad stream to an open hell. Those who introduce error are responsible when it
presents itself a traitor to God, to Christ, who died to root out error and establish truth —
and who sent his servants into the world to prove all things and hold fast that which is
good — and are charged to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints.
Brethren complaining indiscriminately at all when engaged in controversies, those who
oppose as well as those who introduce error, throw their influence for the error. It says,
“let error be introduced without opposition” — error with quiet[ness] is preferable to truth
with controversy.”
— Gospel Advocate, Nov. 11, 1885