SHOULD ONE GO TO THE PROM?

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
   A. One has asked me to answer the question, "Should one go to the
      Prom?"
      1. Near the end of the school year an important social function
         for young people is the senior "Prom."
   B. Remember, the Christian lives by a different standard from that
      of the world.
      1. Because a certain practice is commonly accepted by people
         of the world does not make it acceptable to God. Rom. 12:2
   C. The main attraction of the Prom is dancing. Thus, among other
      things, our question becomes, "Should one dance?"

I. DANCING IS CONDEMNED BY SUCH WORDS AS "LASCIVIOUSNESS" AND        
   REVELRY".
   A. Gal. 5:19-21
      1. Lasciviousness is defined, "1. Lewd; wanton; lustful. 2.
         Tending to produce lewd emotions." And lewd is defined
         thus: "1. Given to indulgence of lust. 2. Suiting or
         proceeding from unlawful sexual desire." (Webster).
         a. Anything, therefore, that tends to produce lewd
            emotions, create evil thoughts, or excite unlawful sexual
            desire is lasciviousness. This, dancing does.
            (1) If any physical contact between male and female
                causes one to have desires that are not proper, one
                must not engage in that practice. Matt. 5:28
            (2) Many of the body movements involved in today's
                dances are highly suggestive, and often provoke
                lustful admiration from others, whether they are
                also dancing or merely watching. Ex. Daughter of
                Herodias, Matt. 14:3-11
      2. "Revelries" or "carousals" is also mentioned in Gal.        
         5:19-21.
         a. Revel is defined as "To rebel, carouse, a wild party or
            celebration." (Webster).
            (1) 1 Pet. 4:3 - New Testament writers always
                associated dancing with sexual immorality and
                drunkenness.
         b. We fool ourselves by imagining that alcohol and drugs
            are not a very dangerous part of the Prom scene.

II. DANCING OFTEN LEADS TO OTHER SINFUL PRACTICES.
   A. Consider the activities which are engaged in by those who are  
      at the Prom:
      1. Some entertain lustful thoughts.
      2. Some provoke lustful desires on the part of others.
      3. Some drink alcohol which often results in drunkenness.
      4. Some use marijuana and/or other improper drugs.
      5. Some wear indecent and immodest clothing.
      6. Some commit fornication after the Prom.
         a. Many a young man or lady took his or her first drink at
            the Prom and many a young lady or man lost their
            virginity after the prom.
            (1) Every year, some young person gets drunk, high
                on drugs, and some suffer serious consequences,
                i.e., a terrible automobile accident.
            (2) Many young girls are seduced and get pregnant on
                their Prom night.
      7. "I give you my personal bad experience, which is ever a
         shame to me. As a young man, I played music in a small
         dixieland band -- just for fun, at first. Our group was     
         asked to play at a social function -- no dancing then. Next,
         we were asked to play at a teen-age center where there was
         chaperoned dancing. I compromised my convictions, went
         against my parents teaching, and played for my very first
         dance. It was one of those alleged "nice" activities for    
         young people. From there it got worse. We subsequently      
         played in some of the worst dives and cesspools of sin you  
         can imagine. I repented sincerely of it and pled for        
         forgiveness -- but my sin is "ever before me." You can      
         remove a nail from a board, but the hole remains. I am      
         scarred permanently. I know (and hopefully you now know)    
         where I made my first mistake. I urge all parents and their 
         children to think seriously about what is written here."    
         (Name purposefully withheld).

III. DANCING IS QUESTIONABLE.
   A. Paul wrote to a young preacher - 2 Tim. 2:22.
      1. Being present at a Prom, whether you dance or not, is wrong
         because it puts you in the wrong environment.
         a. It doesn't enhance your spirituality. To the contrary,   
            the sexually oriented movements of dancing, the physical
            contact and handling the bodies of the opposite sex,
            entices to lust which leads to sin. James 1:14-15
         b. To "flee fornication" means to get far away from it, not
            get as close as possible to it. Modern dances lead closer
            to fornication, not further from it.
   B. The very fact that some say, "I'm just going to the Prom; I am 
      not going to dance," is clear evidence they are unsure. Rom.   
      14:23; Psalm 1:1
      1. If the Prom setting is a wholesome environment, it would be
         right to engage in whatever took place there.
   C. The chaperons are never able to control the problems.
      1. Why would they need chaperons if it were a wholesome
         activity?
         a. Any chaperon for a modern dance has to have loose
            morals. How could a Christian chaperon a dance?
            (1) If you, as a parent, could not in good conscience,
                chaperone a dance, how could you let your
                children attend it?

IV. DANCING HARMS MY INFLUENCE.
   A. Not only does dancing have an adverse influence on me, it
      destroys my influence on others.
      1. Christians are to shine as lights. Matt. 5:14-16
         a. They are to have a distinct flavor. Luke 14:34-35
   B. From "A Teenager's Answer to 'Shall I Go to The Prom?'" by
      Sherry Burgess: "With a week and one-half to go, everyone at
      school was buzzing with excitement. Then, one night, I suddenly
      thought of an argument I just could not rationalize away - my
      sister! You see, I have a little sister who is twelve years    
      old. She is a Christian and is really trying hard. Although the
      whole school might not mind if I went to the prom, and although
      no one else might find out, there would be one special person  
      who would know for sure that I went - my younger sister. I     
      imagined Melissa thinking as she entered high school, 'If      
      Sherry went to the prom, then why can't I go to this dance     
      too?' Suddenly, it wasn't concern only about my own soul, but  
      was also the possibility of causing my little sister to stumble
      by my actions and being finally lost. 'But whoso shall offend  
      one of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better   
      for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and that he
      were drowned in the depth of the sea'(Matt. 18:6)." 
   C. I heard of a young man named, Tommy, who was a member of
      the church, and who went to the Prom with his non-Christian
      date. They did not dance. They just went to the Prom because it
      was the thing to do. Their picture was taken, and then put in  
      the yearbook. From that date forward, anytime someone saw that
      picture, they would assume that Tommy and his date danced at
      the Prom. What else would they conclude?

V. VITAL QUESTIONS WHICH NEED TO BE ANSWERED.
   A. Here are some questions which, hopefully, will help one who is
      trying to decide whether or not to go to the Prom.
      1. What is my real reason for wanting to go? We need some
         deep soul-searching here. Is my reason for wanting to go a
         worldly one? Please apply the Bible principles.
      2. What kind of people will be there? Will they be the kind of
         people with whom a Christian would and should want to
         associate? 1 Cor. 15:33
      3. What kind of activities will taking place there? Will they  
         be wholesome, spiritually uplifting, or will they be the    
         kind a Christian should avoid? 1 Thess. 5:22
      4. Will I appear to be approving evil practices by my
         attendance? Eph. 5:11
      5. Would I want to be seen by other Christians at such a
         function?
      6. Would I want to take other Christians with me to such a
         function?
      7. If Christ should return, would He be pleased with me for
         being at such a function?

Concl.
   A. Young people, I challenge you to make your own decision on,
      "Shall I go to the Prom?"
      1. I hope that you will decide to never dance.
      2. I hope you will seek wholesome, godly activities for        
         yourself and your friends.
      3. If you do, you will grow stronger, not weaker; you will gain
         real friends, not lose them; you will reap the fruit of the
         Spirit, not the works of the flesh. 
      4. More importantly, you will be making an important step in
         letting God rule your life.
      5. I quote these closing words from "A Teenager's Answer to
         'Shall I Go to The Prom?'" by Sherry Burgess:
            One night was hard
            God held my hand,
            He gave me courage
            To take a stand.
            It doesn't hurt me anymore
            I'm stronger than I was before.
            One night was hard
            I made a stand,
            And now there's left
            The Promised Land.

Chart #1
Consider the Activities Often Found at the Prom:
                                         
1. Some entertain lustful thoughts.
2. Some provoke lustful desires on the part of others.
3. Some drink alcohol which often results in drunkenness.
4. Some use marijuana and/or other improper drugs.
5. Some wear indecent and immodest clothing.
6. Some commit fornication after the Prom.

Chart #2
Should One Go to the Prom (or any dance)?

1. Dancing is condemned by such words as "lasciviousness" and        
   "revelry".
2. Dancing often leads to other sinful practices.
3. Dancing is questionable.
4. Dancing harms my influence.
5. Vital questions which need to be answered.

Chart #3
Vital Questions Which Need To Be Answered:

1. What is my real reason for wanting to go?
2. What kind of people will be there? 
3. What kind of activities will taking place there?
4. Will I appear to be approving evil practices by my attendance?
5. Would I want to be seen by other Christians at such a function?
6. Would I want to take other Christians with me to such a function?
7. When Christ returns, would He be pleased with me for being at such
   a function?