Know Your
Bible
VOL. 10 May
8,
2011
NO. 18
Sex With Your Clothes
On
Our culture continues its steady march from
traditional stances on morality and ethics. Practices go on today with barely a
commotion that only a few years back would have had entire communities in an
uproar. I don't know about you, but at times I find myself in an emotional
tug-of-war. I am partly filled with great hope and optimism: surely there is a
silent majority of people out there who have strong principles of morality and
possess godly values. The other part of me is not so optimistic: As the
generations go by, people have grown to question all that is right and embrace
all that is wrong. It does not help my optimism when I hear that those who play
a significant role in the development of our future leaders and members of
society embrace ungodly practices and write it off as "teens will be
teens."
Disturbing reports have come out of the
Brownsburg Homecoming Dance this year. Reports of "bumping and grinding" and
other provocative dancing have been widely circulated. "Bumping and grinding" is
described as back to front dancing where a girl gyrates against the pelvis of a
boy standing behind her. Some have described the dance as "sex with your clothes
on." This Spring, a controversy over this type of dancing erupted in Fort Wayne.
One student, who defended this kind of dancing said, "I've grown up with it.
That's the way dance is. You have to grow with the times." Some schools across
the country have banned dirty dancing. One school administrator in California
says, "it is like pornography...there are instances when a girl will be on the
floor and there will be guys on top of her," gyrating in sync to the song. The
San Jose Mercury News describes the dancing in this way: "There are times when a
student's head is nuzzled in another's crotch. Or legs are hung around hips as
pelvises thrust against each other. Basically, it's anything that looks like
sex." (
www.renewamerica.us/columns/zeiger/040424)
At this year's Homecoming dance, Brownsburg
school administrators had the DJ make an announcement about "appropriate
behavior," but no action was taken to stop the dirty dancing because there were
just too many people to control and no way to stop it. The behavior itself is
disturbing and clearly beyond the lines of morality. But perhaps even more
appalling than the dirty dancing, was the reaction of school administrators who
were fearful that if students were sent home for inappropriate conduct they
would have to endure the complaints of parents.
Two "chaperones" at the social event were
told that "teens will be teens and they (the chaperones) were out of touch
because they were not educators." It is a sad day when school officials do not
have the backbone to stand up to parents who would allow their children to
engage in such offensive behavior. Yes...my more pessimistic side is winning
out. When it comes to moral issues, the ones we entrust to be positive role
models for our children seem to be questioning all that is right and embracing
all that is wrong.
Dirty dancing falls into a category of
behavior that is clearly condemned in Scripture. Romans 13:13 says, “Let us
behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual
promiscuity and sensuality.” "Sensuality" refers to "wanton (acts or)
manners, as filthy words, indecent physical movements, unchaste handling of
males and females, etc." Those who serve God must cease this kind of behavior in
order to be pleasing to Him. In fact, those who engage in such behavior will not
inherit the kingdom of God. This is not based on one man's opinion, but the
inspired word of God. Galatians 5:19-21 says, “Now the deeds of the flesh
are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery,
enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you,
just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not
inherit the kingdom of God.”
But...children will be children and they're
going to do it anyway. Really? Who says? How many teenagers demonstrate great
courage in withstanding peer pressure? How many more would withstand peer
pressure if they had the proper guidance at home and school? When parents and a
school corporation operate under the "they're going to do it anyway" mentality
they in effect are giving their stamp of approval on the immoral behavior
despite weak-kneed objections to the contrary.
Unfortunately, a number of parents and school
administrators have caved into the spirit of moral compromise that pushes "black
and white" issues into "gray areas." We need leaders in the community who will
have courage enough to stand up to indecent and ungodly behavior! We need
parents who will teach their children how to be confident, how to stand on their
convictions, and how to know right from wrong. Principles of morality and godly
values do not change with the times! There are some behaviors that will always
be wrong no matter what entire generations of people say.
Let's get away from living in flesh to the
lusts of men, but to the will of God. (1 Peter 4:2)
---Author Unknown
Page 1
"You Know
How It Is"
She was a member of the local church and
hadn't been at services so I called to see if she or one of the children might
be sick. When she answered the phone I explained my concern and reason for
calling. She assured me that all of them were well, none of them were sick, they
just had an open-house family get together with lots of relatives dropping in -
''you know how it is" - and didn’t come to services!
I never cease to be amazed at the
lackadaisical way in which we view our service to the Lord. Who would think of
not showing up at work Monday morning, then when the supervisor calls, respond,
"I'm fine, no problem, I just didn't come in for work this morning" - and at
that point swing into that ''you know how it is" routine about oversleeping or
relatives came in for a visit, etc..
Talk until you are blue in the face and
you'll never convince me that you'd do this. In the first place you'd be too
embarrassed to try to palm off on your boss such a flimsy excuse for not coming
to work. In the second place, you know that no reputable company is going to
tolerate such a display of irresponsibility on the part of an employee. Yet you
expect the Lord to accept it! I want to say to these folks: "NO, I don't know
how it is!"
---Lowell Blasingame
Page 2
***SENTENCE
SERMONS***
Grateful people are happy people! Those who aren't,
aren't.
***
Greet the Word of God with an open mind and receptive heart.
***
If you are not a dog, don't spend all of your time
growling.
***
Sooner or later you must learn that God makes no
deals.
***
You can not strengthen a man's character by whitewashing
it.
Page 3
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