Newsletter Vol.2, #19—May 21, 2006
Matthew 8 19And a scribe came up and said to him, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go." 20And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."
Please Keep Your Clothes On!
David Posey
We all have our pet peeves, I suppose - things that particularly get on our nerves. For example, few people like someone hovering over their shoulder while trying to get something done; or for someone to "invade your space" by standing too close to you while conversing.
Well I've got one for you and it goes along with the little news snippet below: women (and men, for that matter) who think their bodies are so wonderful that they insist on sharing them with whoever happens to be around. They do it with real tight tops or curve clinging dresses or real short short-shorts. Now, I don't want to be like the preacher who loudly proclaimed, "If that's not indecent, I would like to see what is!" But it bugs me that people have such a high opinion of themselves that they think the rest of us want to see just about all of them. Makes one yearn for the Amish way. Please do us a favor, and keep your body to yourself.
I'll be candid here. I'm offended by Christians, or children of Christians, who don't have the sense to dress (or prevent their children from dressing) in a non-seductive way. We are to be a counter culture. But if we dress like the world dresses, what culture are we countering?
Chuck Colson, in a recent Breakpoint article, spoke about the serious efforts of some retailers to sexualize our children. He reports that Abercrombie & Fitch has been in hot water for selling thong underwear to girls as young as seven. He goes on to report on Playboy's "Playboy is not just selling a bathing suit; it's selling an entire lifestyle that revolves abound sex without consequences and devoid of emotion and meaning - and it's selling this to kids"
"This is nothing more than grooming young girls to be the sexual objects young men want them to be, and it's done under the guise of playfulness and fun."
Believers understand that the divorce of sexuality from the Christian's ideals of fidelity, selflessness, and sacrifice has resulted in many of our culture's woes. We also know Playboy is not selling fun to our kids, but poison.
Let me give you four simple reasons why dressing in sexually-loaded attire is wrong.
(1) Dressing in skimpy garb is a blatant sin because it is immodest (1 Tim.2:9).
(2) It is arrogant to think that others are interested in seeing your belly button or whatever you may be showing off.
(3) Dressing in seductive clothing is tempting someone to sin. You could be helping to lead a soul to death (Matt.5:28). You might as well poison the man, because the effect is the same!
(4) Tight, low, and/or too short apparel sends a terrible message to the world and our friends who may be looking for an alternative to the garbage-filled world of which they have been a part.
Please, put some clothes on, if not for the Lord's sake, for our sake.
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)