The following material was originally written as part of a classroom study on :
"Moral Issues Facing The Church"

Dancing

We should have an understanding about certain points before we begin this study:

1. We do not desire to deprive anyone of pleasure that is right.

2. We do not affirm that everyone who ever danced was immoral.

3. We don't say that dancing is any worse than any other sin.

4. We do want to discover God's will on the subject.

5. Help us to see that where doubts are present, we must avoid the circumstances that caused the doubt

 We should also resolve another area before we continue this study. That a
Christian must be different from the people of the world as far as their spiritual condition is concerned.

1.	A Christian must be holy-
	1 Thessalonians 4:7	"For God hath not called us unto uncleanliness, but unto holiness."
	1 Peter 1:15,16	"But has 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"

Yes a Christian can be holy. The word holy has two basic meanings each within our reach as children of God. (l) It means to be separate from evil; (2) secondly it means to transcend the materialism of the world and become morally pure. Holy then means to be set apart from sin and pure in our morals.(Also see Romans 12:1,2.)

2.	Christians are not to be lukewarm-
	Revelations 3:15,16	"I know the works, that thou are neither cold nor hot:  I would thou wert cold or hot.  So then because thou are lukewarm and neither cold not hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth."

Being lukewarm is trying to have the best of both. You cling to the principles of Christianity and yet try to gratify the material things in the world at the same time. Brethren, we cannot belong both to the world and to Christ. There is no middle ground! (Read I Corinthians 10:21, Matthew 6:24, Romans 6:16, and Galatians 5:16,17.) If dancing is proven to be a tool of the devil ,used to keep his servants faithful to him, then we must avoid all appearance of evil.

3.	Christians are to be committed to God.
	I Peter 2:21-24	//Please Read Text//
		Christians are called to follow Christ. Because he left us a perfect example. No sin, no guile etc.
		Because Christ died for our salvation.
		We are dead to sin.

With these things firmly in our minds from the beginning of this study, the full lesson that follows will let us examine the Bible teachings on dancing and decide for ourselves if we as Christians can engage in it, promote it, or allow it to be condoned in our families.