Is Dancing Sin?

This is a question, like so many decisions that we have to make in our personal life, which is not directly answered in the scriptures. In other words, there are no scriptures that say, “Dancing is sinful”, or, “Thou shalt not Dance”.  And when it comes to questions such as this one, they are largely answered based upon our attitude toward the word of God. So the first thing that we need to ask ourselves in answer to this question is this: am I going to have an attitude that seeks to avoid any questionable decisions in my life and the appearance of impropriety? Or am I going to have an attitude that seeks to try to get away with as much as possible? If we have the attitude that we are just going to do the minimum and get away with doing as little as possible for the Lord and focus on trying to gratify ourselves then we will not come to the right conclusion regarding this question and toward many questions that will arise in our life. On the other hand, if we have the attitude that we are going to go the extra mile in our service to Christ (Matthew 5:41), to be a living sacrifice for Him (Romans 12:1), and avoid the appearance of evil (1 Thess. 5:22), then we will ultimately be better off.

Before we answer the question, let us define what we are discussing when we talk about dancing.  There was dancing in the old testament.  King David wrote in Psalms 150 and verse 4 to “Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and flutes.”  In the famous and well known chapter of Ecclesiastes 3, Solomon wrote, “A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance”  Dancing in and of itself is not inherently evil.  Certainly there have been in the past and could be today times when dancing would be ok. 

There are numerous types of dancing which I have been seen through the years which were fine. Tap dancing is a form of dancing as well as clogging and other similar forms of dance are examples of dancing which are completely suitable as long as they do not violate any of God’s principles for righteous (or rightful), living of the Christian life.  It is not sinful to use a knife.  Knives or other such instruments are not evil in and of themselves.  But to take a knife and transgress the will of God by murdering someone with it would be sinful.  It wasn’t the knife that was sinful, it was the action performed with it that was.  Likewise, dancing in and of itself is not necessarily something evil, but use it to transgress the will of God and everything about it changes.  Now that it has become an object used for sinful purposes, it becomes inappropriate.

We are not focusing about the companionship that a husband and wife may share together in the privacy of their own home. Nor we are not necessarily focusing on moving one’s body in rhythm with music such as children do or such as an adult might do when he or she is happy about something and is enjoying listening to music. There is nothing inherently wrong with moving rhythmically to music.

As we are defining dancing in answer to the question of the hour, We are speaking of the modern dance and the circumstances that surround it. The modern dance as a social function is an effort on the part of those who organize and participate in it to bring members of the opposite sex together in a social way so as to stimulate sexual attractiveness. The modern social dance places a man and woman together in a very close and intimate way in a very public setting. The modern social dance encourages men and women to move in ways that are lewd and suggestive. The attire at a modern day social dance usually has young women exposing a large part of their body in a suggestive and sexually attractive way. Also, generally associated with the modern day social dance is the consumption of alcohol; whether done legally or illegally there is usually someone who will bring it in to the mix. In addition to alcohol, the modern dance often leads a young couple to perform more intimate activities subsequent to the dance such as petting and even in some cases, sexual sin.

Another type of dance which falls into our scope of study tonight is the choreographed dancing we see on music videos and other such forms of entertainment.  The performers in these videos are, more often than not, immodestly clothed and engaging in downright lewd and suggestive behavior.  Occasionally I will hear a song on the radio that I like.  I may go find that song on the internet and it almost always has a music video attached with it.  Half the time I can’t understand the words to the music.  Most of it is just noise anyway, but those videos;  Some of them are disgusting to the point that I cannot watch them from start to finish.  I have literally turned them off and closed them out when I saw part of the video. At that point, I’m scared to find out what the words to the music are.  With what was happening on the video, I have to think it isn’t good.   In many ways, we can apply what we’re going to look at in this lesson to music as well.  Music, like dancing, is not evil in and of itself.  It’s the way it is used that causes it to cross over that line from the proper to the improper.  

Now while the Bible does not come out and directly say “dancing is a sin,” there are some scriptures that indicate that participating in such actions do not become one who would name himself a Christian. Let’s look at a few of these scriptures. The first is in 1 Peter 2:11. There Peter writes, “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul…” Peter was writing to Christians who were being tempted to follow after the ways of the world to fit into society. He tells them that they need to abstain from fleshly lusts. Fleshly lusts are evil desires that come from a love of the world and not a love of God. These fleshly lusts are said to war or fight against the soul. By this we understand him to say that by fulfilling these lusts, these desires, we will put ourselves into a situation where our Christianity will be challenged–where Satan will have opportunity to tempt us and where we will be discouraged from trying to do what is right. Now if the modern social dance the way we have defined it in this lesson does not fall into this category, I do not know what does. Those who participate in the modern dance will be challenged in their Christianity, they will give Satan an opportunity to tempt them and they will be discouraged from trying to do what is right. A Christian should never want to place oneself into such a situation where they would be tempted to sin.

Look also at 1 Thessalonians 5:22. In the King James Version we read, “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” If it even looks like it might be wrong, then we need to keep away from it. There can be no doubt that some of the movements in the modern dance have the appearance of evil and so we should abstain from it.

Notice also 1 Peter 4:1-4 “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you.” We notice from this passage that Christ suffered from the sins of the flesh so that we might be saved. Would we put ourselves into the presence of the very things for which He suffered in order for us to have a momentary time of pleasure and enjoyment? Peter lists the things that he is specifically talking about. These things include lasciviousness, revellings, and banquetings. These are activities that in the ancient world were associated with sexual promiscuity. The modern dance is also one of those things.

Notice Galatians 5:19-21 “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” The real interesting item in this list is “such like.” That is, if there is anything in the world that is similar to the types of things that have been mentioned in this passage which Paul says are the works of the flesh, we should not have anything to do with it. Certainly the modern dance places one in a situation where one is tempted to indulge in the works of the flesh and so we should abstain from it.

John writes to the Christian in 1 John 2:15-17 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” The modern dance is a thing of the world and when we demonstrate that we love things of the world more than we love God, God’s love no longer abides in us. Why would we want to remove ourselves from the love of God for an hour or two of worldly pleasure? James 4:4 states “…know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” Why become the enemy of God for a few hours of social interaction?

Finally, we should take heed to the admonition that Paul gives to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 15:33 “Be not deceived, evil companionships corrupt good morals.” Those in the world who go to and participate in the modern dance go there expecting to engage in something enticing and titillating. They go with evil purposes in mind. The Christian who chooses to participate in modern dance surrounds himself with these evil companionships. Why should a Christian purposefully want to ignore the inspired words in this passage?  In the case of the choreographed dancing we see in modern music videos, a faithful Christian wouldn’t want to even watch it because it visually brings about the temptations that physically come from participating in modern dance. 

The modern dance holds many dangers for the Christian both young and old. We are exhorted by inspiration to, “come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you” (2 Corinthians 6:17). 

In our previous lesson, we looked at modesty and how the Christian is to conduct him or herself.  Many of the guidelines we examined can also be used to determine whether a particular form of dancing may be something improper. 

We’re going to look at some basic guidelines which pertain to this topic, then we’ll close the lesson.

1.  Will the dance bring glory to God? “1 Corinthians 10:31
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
2.  Will our dancing help or hurt our influence for Christ? Romans 13:10, “Love worketh no ill to his neighbour”, Philippians 2:4, “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others”.
3.  Will the dancing emphasize one’s sexuality, thus tantalizing, enticing or tempting others to have impure thoughts? Matthew 18:7, “Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!”
4.  Will the dance cause someone to lust after us, thus causing them to stumble and sin? Matthew 5:28, “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”
5.  Is the dance part of a carousing, party full of drinking and other ungodly activities? 1 Peter 4:3, “For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles — when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.”
6.  Is the dance immodest in any way?
7.  Is the dance appropriate and respectful, befitting the station of a Priest of God? Revelation 1:6, “And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.”
8.  Is the dance stating that we are pure and holy?  1 Peter 1:15-16, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
9.  Because of the dance, would someone mistake us for a worldly individual? Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
10.  Because of the dance, do you touch a member of the opposite sex?  Do you brush up against them, or touch them in any way.  If you cannot walk up to someone and touch them in the exact same way apart from that dance, then touching them during the dance is equally wrong.  It is just as wrong to touch someone else inappropriately during a dance as the same action would be without having the dance involved. 

Anything can be abused.  Anything can be done improperly.  Anything can be done in such a way that there are unrighteous consequences.  There are a lot of things out there in the world that are not evil in and of themselves, but when these things are used in such a way that God’s righteousness is not upheld, then evil is brought about because of that abuse.  And where there is evil, there is always the consequences that go along with it.  Pain and suffering of mankind while on this earth, and eternal separation from God in the age to come. 

It isn’t that God does not want anybody to have a full and happy life.  It’s that God can see the consequences of everything and knows that they will bring pain and suffering to those He loves.  God knows that these things are not what brings a lasting happiness.  We are called to be righteous for a reason.  Think what a better world we would live in if there were no sexual predators, no thieves, no murderers, no sinners.  Think what a better world our world would be if not for the ravages of sin. 

That’s the kind of world God wants for humanity, but in order for that to happen, all of humanity has to follow after God’s righteousness.  Christians cannot follow God’s righteousness where it is convenient or easy.  We have to follow it regardless of how much we may want to or not.  We cannot claim God’s righteousness and dabble in the world where it suits us.  We as Christians have been called and have responded to a higher calling.  In order to fully take hold of God’s righteousness, we must forsake all the things that bring about unrighteousness.  Because it’s the unrighteousness, the darkness of the world that has made it the mess that it is today.  We must resolve ourselves to stand apart from it and not be a partaker of it.  James 4:4, “the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.“

Lesson prepared from a previous lesson by Kevin Cauley

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Soul and Spirit

EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE IN THE SOUL AND THE SPIRIT

I am assuming that when this kind of question comes up that one is pertaining to 1 Thess. 5:23 where we read, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Sometimes there seems to be a difference between the two and sometimes there does not.  The basic meaning of the word soul is “life.”  Sometimes it refers to the immortal aspect of man just like the word spirit does (Psalm 16:10, Acts 2:27, Matthew 16:26; Hebrews 6:19).  Sometimes it refers to a person’s body (Leviticus 5:2, 4).  Sometimes it refers to an individual person and their life (Romans 13:1).

So, is there a difference between soul and spirit?  Hebrews 4:12 says that there is a difference but that it is a fine distinction.  The difference is one of description.  The word “spirit” refers to something that is animated, whether it is animated only for a temporary time (such as a beast) or if it is animated forever (such as our immortal spirit).  The word “soul” refers to the idea of “life.”  Here too, sometimes life can be limited to THIS life.  But sometimes it refers to eternal life as well.

So, do these ideas refer to two different entities that exist separately within the individual person?  I don’t think so.  I don’t think that the individual person has both a soul and a spirit where each of those things refer to an entity that is specifically different within man.  In this sense, the word spirit and soul are synonymous.  However, there is a way to understand that we have both a spirit and a soul.  We have a spirit, something animated and eternal that will live on forever.  This idea looks at us objectively from the outside.  We also have a soul, a life that is eternal, our consciousness.  This idea looks at us subjectively from the inside.  Therefore, the spirit refers to man’s eternal spirit in an objective sense, and the soul refers to man’s spirit in a more subjective sense, but spirit and soul seem to refer to the same thing when being used to describe man’s eternal nature.

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Family Values (Part 2)

The family consists of several facets; one of them has to do with the relationship of the parents to the children. This article deals with some Biblical examples of parenting and the result of that parenting, in some cases the example is good in other cases the example of the parents rearing process results in problems. The examples that we will look to will aid us in knowing how best to rear our children and how not to do so. Please observe the following child rearing methods of Biblical parents in the past:

ABRAHAM – Because of his faithfulness he is declared by God to be a Good parent – Genesis 18:18-19, “18 Seeing that Abraham had surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of Jehovah, to do righteousness and justice. To the end that Jehovah may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.” ASV

JEPHTHAH – Created problems for his daughter because he talked too much, he was presumptuous – Judges 11:30-39, “30 And Jephthah vowed a vow unto Jehovah, and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver the children of Ammon into my hand, 31 then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth from the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, it shall be Jehovah’s, and I will offer it up for a burnt-offering. 32 So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and Jehovah delivered them into his hand. 33 And he smote them from Aroer until thou come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and unto Abelcheramim, with a very great slaughter. So the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel. 34 And Jephthah came to Mizpah unto his house; and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; besides her he had neither son nor daughter. 35 And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me; for I have opened my mouth unto Jehovah, and I cannot go back. 36 And she said unto him, My father, thou hast opened thy mouth unto Jehovah; do unto me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth, forasmuch as Jehovah hath taken vengeance for thee on thine enemies, even on the children of Ammon. 37 And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may depart and go down upon the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my companions. 38 And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she departed, she and her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains. 39 And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she knew not man. And it was a custom in Israel,” ASV

HANNA – A holy parent that planned a good life for her son before he was born – 1 Samuel 1:11, “And she vowed a vow, and said, O Jehovah of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thy handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thy handmaid, but wilt give unto thy handmaid a man-child, then I will give him unto Jehovah all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.” ASV

ELI – Was indulgent with his children, placing them before the instructions he received from God – 1 Samuel 2:22-29, “22 Now Eli was very old; and he heard all that his sons did unto all Israel, and how that they lay with the women that did service at the door of the tent of meeting. 23 And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings from all this people. 24 Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make Jehovah’s people to transgress. 25 If one man sin against another, God shall judge him; but if a man sin against Jehovah, who shall entreat for him? Notwithstanding, they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because Jehovah was minded to slay them. 26 And the child Samuel grew on, and increased in favor both with Jehovah, and also with men. 27 And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, Did I reveal myself unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt (in bondage) to Pharaoh’s house? 28 and did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up unto mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings of the children of Israel made by fire? 29 Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in (my) habitation, and honorest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?” ASV

DAVID – Could not restrain his son, Absalom; was rebellious and caused him mush distress – 2 Samuel 18:32-33, “32 And the king said unto the Cushite, Is it well with the young man Absalom? And the Cushite answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise up against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is. 33 And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!” ASV

JONADAB – Apparently controlled his sons, they honored him by obeying his instructions – Jeremiah 35:5-10, “5 and I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites bowls full of wine, and cups; and I said unto them, Drink ye wine. 6 But they said, We will drink no wine; for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons, for ever: 7 neither shall ye build house, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyard, nor have any; but all your days ye shall dwell in tents; that ye may live many days in the land wherein ye sojourn. And we have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, or our daughters; 9 nor to build houses for us to dwell in; neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed: 10 but we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed, and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us.” ASV

THE PRODIGAL SON,S FATHER – Forgiving his son’s headstrongness once he came to his senses and welcomed him home again – Luke 15:17-24, “17 But when he came to himself he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perished here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight: 19 I am no more worthy to be called your son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But while he was yet afar off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight: I am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 and bring the fatted calf, (and) kill it, and let us eat, and make merry: 24 for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.” ASV

THE MOST ACCURATE GUIDE FOR CHILD REARING TODAY

We know that God created mankind (Genesis 1:1-3); we also know that since this is true God knows how the family unit should function. Since God created us, blessed us with the ability to procreate, and gave us a perfect guide (i.e. the Bible), we ought to know how to fit in as a family member. Yes, we can know by using God’s rulebook for living as a Godly family unit.

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Modesty

When we turn on the television or we walk down the streets at any given time in any given place it’s not usually very long before we see someone who is either inadequately or inappropriately dressed.   

To set the stage for this lesson, let’s recall the account of Peter, Thomas, Nathanael of Cana, the sons of Zebedee, one of them being John, and two others left unnamed, went fishing one night after the Jesus had been crucified and had arisen.  They fished all night and caught nothing.  Jesus appeared on the shore and instructed them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat and when they did, they caught so many fish they couldn’t draw their nets in.   We are all familiar with that story.  But I want to make an observation about it.  We find this account in John chapter 21 starting in verse 1.  In verse 7 we read, “Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.“

According to the record, they were about 300 feet out in the sea of Tiberias.  When Peter realized that it was Jesus, he immediately puts on his outer garment and jumped into the water to go meet Him on the shore.  Peter put his coat on before he plunged into the water.

Have we ever thought about that?  Would that not be an odd thing for a man to do in the company of other men?  Peter is about to swim a hundred yards in the water to go to the shore and he puts on more clothes.  The term in the original Greek used here for outer garment is translated as “fisher’s coat” in the KJV.  It was a garment similar to the coats we would wear today to protect us from the elements.  That would be like one of us putting on an overcoat before jumping into the water to start swimming. 

People in the world and some in the church have a serious misunderstanding of modesty.  Most people think that if somebody dresses in a way that causes another person to lust, it’s immodest, and certainly that is true but brethren that is not enough.  How many of us want to put ourselves in the position of saying that if Peter believed that he did not put his outer garment on that Jesus Christ was going to lust after him?  Think about that.  There had to be another reason why Peter put on his coat to go meet the Lord. 

Peter was going into the presence of the Jesus Christ and he realized that dressed in just his undergarments was not appropriate.   They had been working all night, sweating and straining with the boat and the net.  Peter had removed his outer garment in order to work more freely with the fishing gear, but he put it back on in order to swim over to the shore?  One has to ask themselves, would Peter have put on his coat to swim to the shore if Jesus Christ were not standing there? 

The reason Peter did this is because, Modesty doesn’t just govern the area of causing lust, it has to do with appropriateness.  It has to do with being proper.   Now we need to understand that while modesty and appropriateness are related, they are not the same.  We will see this later on as we develop this lesson. 

This story doesn’t start in John chapter 21.  Let’s go back to where this really starts to Genesis chapter 2 with Adam and Eve.  In Genesis chapter 2 starting in verse 21 and following we read, 

21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.

23 And Adam said:

“This is now bone of my bones
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man.”

24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

Now turn over one chapter to Genesis chapter 3, starting in verse 7, we read, “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.

8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

9 Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”

10 So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”
NKJV

Something pretty significant happened between Genesis chapter 2 and chapter 3 because before they were naked and unashamed, now they’re still naked but now they are ashamed of their condition.   They had eaten of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  They understood now because of having this new knowledge that the way they were dressed was inappropriate. 

Now we need to remember something when we consider this example of Adam and Eve.  How many other people were there on the earth at this time?  There were none.  Scripture plainly says that Eve was the mother of all living, (Genesis 3:20).  Adam and Eve were alone as far as other people were concerned and they had come to the understanding that just walking about on a daily basis without any clothing on was inappropriate because who were they in the garden with?  They were with God.  And they understood that they could no longer do this so what did they do about it?

Genesis 3:7
Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.
NKJV

They fashioned themselves coverings from fig leaves.  By today’s worldly standards, they probably could have appeared as they were, dressed only in those fig leaves in public or on our television sets without fear of reprisal.  But what we need to focus on in this lesson is that even though they were covered in some fashion, Adam admitted to God that he was naked.  The first thing we need to take from this lesson today is that a man and a woman can be somewhat covered and still be considered naked by the Biblical standard.  We are going to focus later in this lesson on the fact that the clothes Adam and Eve made for themselves were not modest. 

When we think about the sin of Adam and Eve, we focus more on the sin of rebellion against God’s command to refrain from eating of the forbidden fruit than we do about them being naked in the garden.   We don’t pay much attention to the fact that they were naked and ashamed of themselves.  After they ate of the fruit, they used fig leaves to cover themselves, yet for all of their efforts, when God came into the garden, they still considered themselves naked, so they hid.  Having acquired the knowledge of good and of evil, they experienced guilt from being immodestly dressed. 

Due to their sin, they suddenly found themselves living in a world where nakedness was immodest.  And brethren, we still live in that same world today.  Nakedness is immodest and you don’t have to be totally nude to be considered naked by God. 

Immodesty dominates much of what we see on our TVs in our country today.  Music videos, commercials, regular TV shows.  It’s a constant flow of immodesty into our homes.   And make no mistake about it, modestly goes way beyond just what we wear.  Immodesty is expressed in the way these people move, in the way they act and interact, in their speech and in the way they present themselves.  Modesty is far reaching and goes way beyond our apparel.    It is entirely possible to be modestly dressed but still be immodest through our behavior. 

So how does a Christian remain modest in a immodest world?  First we have to know what is modest and immodest.  We have to know what God’s standard for modesty is.  We do that by studying what God has revealed about it in His word.  He certainly did not command modesty but leave us with no way knowing what He considers modesty to be. 

Going all the way back to Adam and Eve, we see that God made “coats of skins, and clothed them” (Genesis 3:21).   Now keep in mind here that God made the same clothes for Adam that He did for Eve.  Now we need to consider that while at the some time remembering that the world thinks that men can wear something different, or less than a woman and still be modest. 

Why would God have made these coats of skin if it was not necessary?  Adam and Eve were alone in the garden.  There was nobody else on earth but them.  the coverings that Adam and Eve made for themselves, by their own admission, was simply not good enough.  They still hid from God because of their shame and because of their guilt. 

At that time, God saw fit to make them clothing that was both adequate and suitable.  Now we have right here an example of divinely designed and God approved coverings of the human body.  We are not going to find a better example of how God wants mankind dressed than clothing designed by Him.     God fitted them with coats of skins.  The word for “Coat” in this passage indicates that they were entirely covered from their shoulders to the bottom of their thighs.  God’s personal designer clothing for the covering of mankind included the upper and lower portions of our torso, for both men and women. 

The same thing applies to Adam and Eve as it did for Peter out fishing.  If modesty were only about not causing someone to lust after another, then why oh why did Adam and Eve feel shame for their nakedness.  I will submit to you that the last thing on Adam and Eve’s mind at that time was concern over God lusting over their nakedness.  Just like Peter, Adam and Eve were not just dressed immodestly, they were dressed inappropriately.  Appropriateness is as much as part of modesty as proper covering of the body is.  Let me illustrate.  Skins covering Adam and Eve from their shoulders to their knees was modest.  And for the situation at hand on that day, it was appropriate dress as well.  But, that same outfit that God designed and fit them with would not be an appropriate way for me to have dressed this morning for services.  Imagine the reactions here if I showed up this morning all ready to preach to you dressed in fig leaves and an animal skin coat. 

That is why we do not find a step by step detailed account of how a Christian ought to dress in scripture.  Because if we did, it would almost certainly be first century type dress and we would be constrained to dress exactly that way all of the time.  God did not do that to us.  What He did do is give us guidelines for overall righteousness and leave it up to us to accomplish both modesty and appropriateness in the way we present ourselves as  Christians before the world.   

How does a Christian remain modest in an immodest world?

First we must know God’s standard for modest dress.  Second, we must know and understand the consequences of immodesty.  And third, we must accept our responsibility as Christians and take a stand for modesty.  One cannot be modest in an immodest world and not know the standard of modesty, and not know the consequences of immodesty and not take a stand for modesty.  And brethren, make no mistake about it, that is the hardest part.  It’s easy to take a stand against murder and robbery isn’t it?  It’s easy to take stand and oppose lying and cheating.  But it’s harder when it’s something that permeates our entire culture.  It’s harder when taking a stand is going to put you at odds against society as a whole.  It’s harder when taking a stand is going to cause you to stand out as different, strange, not like the rest and therefore risk the disapproval and scorn of society, your friends, and in all likelihood your families. 

First, what is God’s standard for modest dress?  

What do we need to have covered up?  We have already seen that God clothed Adam and Eve from the shoulders to the bottom of their thighs.  God gave commandments concerning His priests in the Old Testament.  Priests were commanded not to climb the steps to the alter in such a way that their nakedness be exposed to those standing beneath in Exodus 20:26.  In Exodus 28:40-43 we read God’s instruction concerning the attire of His priests, “For Aaron’s sons you shall make tunics, and you shall make sashes for them. And you shall make hats for them, for glory and beauty. 41 So you shall put them on Aaron your brother and on his sons with him. You shall anoint them, consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister to Me as priests“.  Ok, so here we have them being dressed in tunics which was the standard article of clothing at this time in history.  A tunic commonly covered one from the top of the shoulders down to the bottom of the thigh.  But that’s not enough for a priest who is going to ascend to the top of the alter.  You can see under a tunic if the wearer is standing above you.  So we read on in verse 42, “And”, (meaning in addition to), “you shall make for them linen trousers to cover their nakedness; they shall reach from the waist to the thighs. 43 They shall be on Aaron and on his sons when they come into the tabernacle of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister in the holy place, that they do not incur iniquity and die…”  NKJV

During the times when the priests were engaging in activities such as working overhead or reaching up to light candles where their nakedness would be exposed, they were required to wear trousers that prevented that.  These trousers worn as undergarments beneath their tunics were to cover them from the waist down to the bottom of their thighs.  The consequences for failure to keep their nakedness covered was to incur iniquity and die.  God considered the exposed thighs of men to be nakedness.  The modesty of God’s priests was important enough to God that He set in place measures which would insure their modesty regardless of their activities. 

Now one might ask what bearing the adornment of a priest in the old testament has to do with us who live under the new covenant.  We need to be aware that there are priests of the new covenant and who they are.  If God had a standard of modesty and appropriateness for priests under the old covenant, what makes any of us think it would be any different for a priest under the new covenant?  Peter wrote in his first epistle in chapter 2 verses 9 and 10, “But you” (speaking to fellow Christians), “are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.”

We are a chosen generation, we are a holy nation, we are the people of God, His own special people, we are God’s royal priesthood.  Every Christian alive on this earth today is a priest of God.  Man or woman, young or old, we are all priests of God if we are a Christian.  We have to ask ourselves, when are we priests?  When are we not priests? When do we act like priests?  When can we not act like priests?   Are we priests after we leave here today, or do we leave this place of worship and leave our priestly responsibilities behind and embrace the ways of the world?  Certainly not. 

The consequences of immodesty

So we have the standard of modesty and what God expects of us as His priests.  What about the consequences of immodesty?  The first and most obvious consequence of immodesty is sin.  It promotes “the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes” as written in 1 John 2:16.  Immodesty is a double edged sword.  It is sinful to be immodest and it promotes sin in others. 

Consider the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:28, “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”  The same goes for men who dress immodestly where women are concerned.  We are going to be judged by the desires of our hearts.  Immodesty can cause someone to stumble and fall.  We can, with immodesty, cause someone to lose their salvation.  And scripture is clear that to cause someone to stumble bears the same consequence as those who do stumble.  Romans 14:13, “Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.”  So when we dress or act immodestly, we are not only guilty of personal sin, but we can cause others to sin as well.

Another consequence of immodesty is sexual crimes.  There is no way we can quantify the pain and suffering brought upon humanity as a result of immodesty.  There is a multi-billion dollar industry we know as pornography which is built around immodesty.  Immodesty is linked to more than sexual crimes too.  King David saw Bath-Sheba on a roof-top washing herself.  She was immodestly exposed.  King David lusted after her and when it was all said and done, Uriah, Bath-Sheba’s husband died because of it.  He was an honorable man, unjustly murdered because of David and Bath-Sheba’s sin.  We must ask, how many people today suffer because of someone else’s immodesty?   How many children have been molested because of someone else’s immodesty?   How much needless pain and suffering have innocent people had to endure because of other people’s immodesty?

And the last and most serious consequence of immodesty is spiritual death.  It is sin to be immodest or to cause others to lust.  James 1:14-15, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”  Immodesty, whether by one’s actions or by one’s dress is primarily used for one thing.  It is used to appeal in some way to a member of the opposite sex, to attract them, to cause oneself to be desired or to look desirable to them.  It is wrong to be immodest and equally wrong to succumb to immodesty.  And the consequences for both is spiritual death. 

And the third thing a Christian must do to be modest in an immodest world is to know our responsibility and take a stand against it.   

What is our responsibility as a Christian?  We have already seen from 1 Peter 2:9 that Christians are a royal priesthood.  Peter wrote in his second epistle in chapter 1, verses 5-7, “…giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love” What does godliness mean?  Godliness means to be “like God”.   We are to be “like God”.  This means in our manner of dress, in our actions, in our speech, in every facet of our lives.  We are to strive to be like God.  Decent, modest and appropriate at all times.  We are let our light shine before the world so that they can see our good works and glorify God in heaven (Matthew 5:16).  God expects the world to see His light through us, His royal priesthood.

As God’s royal priesthood, we are commanded to glorify God in all our actions.  Read Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 10:31, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”  What is left out of “whatever you do”?  We have to ask ourselves, does our appearance out in the world being glory to God?  Our appearance out in the world starts with the way we adorn ourselves.  Are we presenting ourselves to the world as priests of God to His glory, or are we presenting ourselves as children of the world?  Are we promoting God with our appearance or are we promoting the things of the world?  Are we as the royal priesthood of God representing Him properly to the world?  What does the world see, when they see us out in it.  These are questions we must ask ourselves. 

Let’s consider the words of Jesus in Luke 16:13, “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” 

James wrote in chapter 4:4-5, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

Are we as the priests of God trying to serve two masters?  Are we as priests of God trying to be friends of the world?  Where is our loyalty?  To God or to the world? 

1 John 2:15
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

We know our responsibility as Christians, now how to we take a stand against immodesty?  The exact same way that we take a stand against murder, lying, fornication, and other forms of sin.  We abstain, we keep our distance, we shun it, we shut it out of our lives, we don’t have anything to do with it.  Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 6:17, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you“.

Taking a stand means more than just avoiding it too.  This is the hard part.  This is where it gets really tough brethren.  Let’s consider the words of Paul in Ephesians 5:5-7, “For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.”  We cannot partake of the sin of immodesty with the world, but it doesn’t stop there does it?  Paul had more to say.  Reading on in verses 8-12, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.”  The KJV translates that as “reprove them”.  That word means to convict, convince, point out a fault, or rebuke. 

Brethren, it’s not enough to just abstain from immodesty.  We are commanded to rebuke immodesty.  We are commanded to make a stand.  To know God’s standard, abide by it and be intolerant of immodesty and to point it out when we get the opportunity, perhaps with our friends, our family, our co-workers.  The word of God says to take a stand. 

So how is the best way to convict, convince and point out fault to others?  It starts with our actions.  We cannot participate in immodest behavior.  If we participate in immodesty, we show the world that we approve of it.  We universally show our disapproval by our own modest speech, behavior and dress.  When others perceive in our actions that we do not support or approve of immodesty, God is both glorified and the light of truth has been shown on darkness.  There is without question times when a verbal rebuke is appropriate, but for the other situations which arise on a daily basis, our behavior, actions and appearance are the way that we point people to the light.  Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

As priest of God, Christians need to be aware that we are God’s representatives out in the world.  He is counting on us to show others the way. It has been left to us to be the examples, to live the Christian life, to lead others to God by being what we ought to be.  We must shine the light of truth on the path to heaven so that others can find it.  The world out there is a mess with all the things that are going on.  Christianity is the only hope the world has.  God is the only answer, God is the only way, God is the only hope.  Righteousness and truth is the remedy for what we see in the world.  God’s righteousness is the solution for all the troubles we see out in the world.  As Christians, we must resolve ourselves to be part of the solution.  If we aren’t part of the solution, then we’re part of the problem and we don’t want to be a part of what we see going on out there.  Jesus taught in Matthew 12:30, “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.”

Let’s consider the words of Paul in Titus 2:11-15, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.  These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority.”

We deny ungodliness by living soberly, righteously and godly in the present world.  Living godly means living as God lives.  And by so doing, we are not going to be like the world.  We are going to be a peculiar people, God’s own special people.  The people of the world are going to see and know from our actions and the way we live that we are different from them.  They are going to know that we do not consider this world our home.  And indeed, scripture refers to Christians as pilgrims in 1 Peter 2:11.

We’re going to look at some guidelines for modesty, then we’ll close the lesson for today.

1.  Will what we are wearing, doing or saying bring God glory? (1 Corinthians 10:31; Exodus 28:40,43; Isaiah 61:3)
2.  Does what we are wearing meet or exceed God’s standard for being modest (Genesis 3:21; Exodus 20:26; 28:40-43)?
3.  Will our clothing, speech or actions help or hurt my influence for Christ (Romans 13:10; 15:3; Philippians 2:3,4)?
4.  Is our clothing too short?  Sit down, cross your legs, bend over, squat down, reach up. At any time, does the garment reveal any of your leg above your knees? (Exodus 28:42) With tops and blouses, is your midriff showing at any time (Genesis 3:21)?
5. Is our clothing too tight?  Are we revealing the form of our bodies which highlights or emphasizes sexuality, thus tantalizing, enticing or tempting others to have impure thoughts (Matthew. 18:7; Galatians 5:19?
6. Is the neckline too low?  Remember that God covered Adam and Eve from the top of their shoulders to the bottom of their thighs.  Bend over – what can you see? Sit. What can be seen while looking down at you. Keep in mind that God made sure His priests were appropriately covered in every situation while performing their duties.
7.  Can our skin or undergarments be seen through our outer clothing?  Peter was considered naked while wearing only his undergarments in John 21:7.
8.  Is what we are wearing appropriate and respectful (Genesis 41:14; Matthew 22:11-14)?
9.  Because of how we dress act or speak, would someone mistake us for a worldly individual (Proverbs 7:10; Genesis 38:15)?
10.  Is our apparel, actions or speech stating that we are pure and holy, or objects of desire by others?
11.  Will our apparel, actions or speech cause someone to lust after us, thus causing others to stumble and sin (Romans 14:13; 1 Corinthians 8:9; Matthew 5:27,28)?

Does our apparel, actions or speech properly reflect our status in the kingdom of God as a member of His royal priesthood.  Would God be proud to be seen with us, or would He be ashamed of us?  Would He point to us as His example of righteousness before the world, or would He turn away from us?    Does our modesty illuminate the path to Heaven, or does it lead us and others down the other path?  Are we always pointing the way home to others who are lost?  Are we always glorifying God with our actions, dress and speech.  Are we a beacon of light to a dark and hopelessly lost world?  Do others look at us and see through heaven’s gate? 

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You Don’t Hit a Friend

I stopped to pick up David at pre-school one day and the teachers informed me that they had not had a very good day. Seems as though David, for some reason, got mad at his best friend and hit him. Things apparently deteriorated from there. David and I, after stopping in to tell his mother what had happened, headed home for a little father and son “talk.” I asked him how he thought his friend felt. David simply replied, “Sad.” And how does David feel? “Sad.” I explained to him that no matter what happens, you don’t hit a friend.

This brought to mind a conversation I had recently had with a friend who attended another congregation. My friend was going through a very tough time in her life and had made some brave, yet difficult, decisions. She was a faithful Christian woman whose only desire in life was to serve God and help bring as many people to Christ as possible. This she was doing with great sacrifice! She went to an elder of the congregation where she attended seeking help and support, but she left feeling let down and frustrated. It was as if she had been hit by a friend.

I have heard of brethren who are afraid of and/or intimidated by their elders. These men certainly are not the caring shepherds the Bible describes, but abusive friends. They lord over Christ’s body, instead of caring for the needs of their physical and spiritual health. What are they thinking? The Bible makes it clear that they will have to answer for the souls that have been entrusted to their care. Notice carefully what the Hebrew writer says, “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you” (Hebrews 13:17). Now notice that we are to obey them. But not if they are not watching out for our souls with joy and guiding us as loving shepherds. An elder should look at each member of the church as he would his own mother or father, son or daughter. Paul said, “For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?” (1 Timothy 3:5).

But this principle is not something unique or limited to elders. Preachers, Bible Class teachers, deacons, and every other Christian can be just as unloving, unkind, and unfriendly. Consider the fact that we as brethren in Christ are to have the same care one for another (1 Corinthians 12:25). When Paul wrote to the church at Philippi he said he was sending Timothy because there was “no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state” (Philippians 2:20).

Consider the story of the “Good Samaritan.” Here we have the quintessential example of the kind of care we should have for everyone, especially those brothers and sisters in Christ (Galatians 6:10). The man of Samaria was not concerned about the time he lost, the money it cost, the danger he might encounter, or the reputation or image that might be portrayed. He only was worried about the good of someone else. God did the same thing by sending His Son to die for our sins (John 3:16). Christ did the same thing by leaving us an example for us to follow (1 Peter 2:21). Each of us as brothers, sister, children of God, and friends need to remember, “You don’t hit a friend.” Be faithful!

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