My school is having a dance. I actually went, too. I was excited. After 10 years of home-schooling, this was going to be my first dance! Whee! I was giddy with excitement. I thought we were going to go there and have a few drinks (non-alcoholic: I'm only 15), maybe dance a little, and generally just have fun. I was stupid and naive. The dance that I attended was the most wanton and gratuitous display of immorality and sensuousness I have ever seen. I left because I could not condone that dance by my presence. The music was a bunch of rap songs, with one even condoning the use of marijuana; the dancing was the shake-yo-booty-baby style of dancing; the girls there were dressed most immodestly, to the general amusement of all guys there; there was simply nothing there to warrant the presence of a Christian young man with a ministry. [sarcasm]But I haven't even listed the worst part![/sarcasm] On the way back, a group of three guys and a girl (who was dressed for the party) asked me why I left the dance. I told them and they mocked me. I was kind of expecting that, but it still surprised me a bit. I thought some people still had some form of ethics. I will never again attend a dance, and I admonish all Christian young people on these boards to not attend as well. Remember "What place hath God with Baal?". The answer is none.
In the midst of your sadness and woe, when you are tormented and afflicted, have comfort! God's will is done.
<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>[color:"blue"]On the way back, a group of three guys and a girl (who was dressed for the party) asked me why I left the dance. I told them and they mocked me. I was kind of expecting that, but it still surprised me a bit.</font><hr></blockquote><p><center>[color:red]"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."</font color=red> (2 Tim 3:12)</center><br><br>In His Grace,
Earlier this summer, we celebrated my mom's birthday at a new Greek restaurant in town. Not only do we love Greek food, but my mom wanted to go on that particular night because they had belly dancers. My mom thinks they are "cool." Well, I actually found myself a little offended by it. I don't think a woman shaking her chest in the air is particularly "cool." I sure wouldn't do it... <br><br>On another issue: I recently watched a movie in which their was a couple who has getting married. But, as with most Hollywood movies, they had engaged in premarital sex. Well, the bride wore white, and it made me think, "Does she even know WHY brides wear white?"<br>
True godliness is a sincere feeling which loves God as Father as much as it fears and reverences Him as Lord, embraces His righteousness, and dreads offending Him worse than death~ Calvin
Nathan,<br><br>I hope you remain sensitive to the worldliness you witnessed the other night and not grow numb to the sin of the culture. You might be interested in knowing that the major Christian school in my area awards with a class superlative in the yearbook: "Most Flirtatious"! I guess the award they give for "Best Car" isn't so bad after all.[img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/rolleyes.gif" alt="rolleyes" title="rolleyes[/img] I remember reading through the yearbook last year with mild shock over some of the things I read, which I would never consider quoting on this site. I would have been in greater shock, but I am all to familiar with the school. These snippets were the some of the final thoughts of the graduating seniors. When I came to the award "Most Changed" I commented to the person who owned the yearbook "I guess the Lord must have really grabbed hold of this person this year..." Unfortunately, that was not the case at all. Far from it. I was told that the young man received the award for "Most Changed" because of how much he moved away from the things of God! He was expelled by the time the yearbook was published! Need I say more about even the Christian school offering in my area.<br><br>Fight the good fight, but always in the power of grace!<br><br>Ron<br>
I am glad for your response, and encourage you as well to remain sensitive to that kind of thing. I'll tell you it doesn't get any easier, either. The Baptist college I just graduated from just began an annual beauty pageant my last year there, including a swimsuit competition. i appreciate Pilgrim's response, and also encourage you to press on, persecution will come in many forms, be prepared! <br>In Christ,<br>troy
Grace is but glory begun; Glory is but grace perfected! - Jonathan Edwards
Dear JF2:<br><br>I thank God for your sensitive and honest reporting of what happened at your first dance and I extend a hand of comfort and understanding at your disappointment and hurt. <br><br>I also praise God that He convicted you as to the true nature of what you saw there and your presence being a form of approval of it. That He gave you strength to leave and stand up for Him and speak the truth when confronted as to why you left is also cause for praise.<br><br>May the Lord strengthen and comfort you as you take up your cross and walk with Him in this "preverse and evil generation".<br><br>As Pilgrim pointed out from scripture, if we are enabled to see it, there is an encouragement in the fact that we suffer persecution for Him, as you have done, and by His strength only, will continue to do. <br><br>Gerry
<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>[color:"blue"]PrestorJohn did you not mean Bath-room-ball or Baal-room-ball [img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/rofl.gif" alt="rofl" title="rofl[/img]</font><hr></blockquote><p><br><br>Joe me thinks that some that baptist heritage still lurks in you. I dare say even the Puritans would have danced. [img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/grin.gif" alt="grin" title="grin[/img] But its nice to see it none the less. [img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/rofl.gif" alt="rofl" title="rofl[/img]<br>
So tell me did you write a letter to the regents and the board protesting their decision to make the college more like the world? Did you get with like minded individuals and organize a protest? What are you doing to restore the campus to being a place where it is both salt and light?
I am not against all dance, just MOST dance! The wiggling and jiggling in Elvisizing forms that goes on in most dance I am against. When appropriate and even in a ballroom you may see me do a English Waltz, Viennese Waltz, or the Foxtrot, but only with my wife.[img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/flatcat.gif" alt="flatcat" title="flatcat[/img] I must admit normally we dance in the privacy of our home as well--the waltz there is a little difficult, but we manage.<br><br>As far as Baptist--well I just moved to Orlando, Fl and have been looking for a good church. I have attended ALL the PCA and OPC churches within a reasonable distance (within an hour on a good day) and the best one I have found so far is a Baptist Church--the others being to liberal in their worship service and the sermons are left wanting for the most part..... Funny the order of service is just like in the regulative principle except they use the LBC and there is not a blessing at the very end. The preaching is expository and very good (just began Jeremiah and expecting a 1.5-2.0 year stay in this book). He is a graduate of Mater's Seminary, but AMIL and I will save the rest for later.....<br><br>I have two other choices coming up (1) a new OPC mission church is preparing to open so I need to check them out next month. (2) I just discovered a Reformed Congregational Church close by. Thus, my options IMHO are limited at this time.<br><br>The choice is not so much a matter of denomination (as long as it is Reformed and conservative...I can turn the other cheek when one does not baptize a deserving infant..if I have too), but of where my wife and I can serve to God's glory. As any other Christian we have gifts and desire to serve accordingly.
You're very right, and I even admitted my naivete'. But in my defense, I have never been exposed to things like that, as I have been home-schooled for ten years.
In the midst of your sadness and woe, when you are tormented and afflicted, have comfort! God's will is done.
<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>[color:"blue"]If you want to dance show them dancing that glorifies God and is beautiful. (Watch Gene Kelly movies now there is a man who could dance and still looked masculine doing it) </font><hr></blockquote><p><br><br>You're talking about ballroom dancing, right? OK, but I'll look pretty stupid dancing with myself....[img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/laugh.gif" alt="laugh" title="laugh[/img]
In the midst of your sadness and woe, when you are tormented and afflicted, have comfort! God's will is done.
Personally I think it was good you went. You were able to see from "experience" how much you had grown. You were able to "demonstrate personally" from the Scripture how to discern both good and evil. Well done my man! [img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/clapping.gif" alt="clapping" title="clapping[/img]<br><br>Now, if you go five years from now I will ask you what is going on [img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/broke.gif" alt="broke" title="broke[/img]
<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>[color:"blue"]As far as Baptist--well I just moved to Orlando, Fl and have been looking for a good church. I have attended ALL the PCA and OPC churches within a reasonable distance (within an hour on a good day) and the best one I have found so far is a Baptist Church--the others being to liberal in their worship service and the sermons are left wanting for the most part..... Funny the order of service is just like in the regulative principle except they use the LBC and there is not a blessing at the very end. The preaching is expository and very good (just began Jeremiah and expecting a 1.5-2.0 year stay in this book). He is a graduate of Mater's Seminary, but AMIL and I will save the rest for later.....</font><hr></blockquote><p><br><br>You might want to check out St. Andrews Chapel in Sanford. This is R.C. Sproul's church.<br>
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