Should I Go to the Prom?

Introduction:

1. It is that time of the year again--PROM TIME!

1) There will be hundreds-thousands-of young people dressing up and stepping out to the prom.

2) There will be hundreds of gallons of whiskey and beer sold to young people--many of whom are minors--and consumed by the same.

3) Many of these people will be on the road while they are drinking and thus it will be unsafe for the innocent.

2. Sincere, honest, dedicated Christian young people sometimes ask the question, "It is wrong to go to the prom and not dance?"

1) An ungodly world puts pressure on God's teenagers to join with them in worldly recreation.

2) While not wanting to sin, teenagers do want to enjoy these years.

3) It is because of this, sin needs to be defined and lines drawn so they can know what is right and what is wrong.

3. Sometimes parents who love their children do not stop and think of the consequences when it comes to the subject of their children going to the prom. Sometimes parents, who love their children, will use this type of reasoning…

1) "It is your prom and all your friends will be there and your date wants to go."

2) "You only graduate from high school once and the prom is an important part of high school social life."

3) "It will be well chaperoned and nothing will happen."

4) "You want to dress up and eat out and have a fun time with your friends."

4. Let's examine some questions to determine whether it is right or whether it is wrong to go to the prom.

1) We are going to address our remarks directly to our young people.

2) But, they will also be directed to their parents, for many young people go to the prom with their parent's knowledge and endorsement.

3) Parents who allow their children to choose whether to go to the prom or not are allowing their children to go with their blessings--as they could say flat NO!!

I. What Effect Will It Have On You?

1. Will it make you stronger in Christ or weaker?

1) Will it tear down your inhibitions to worldliness?

2) Jesus gave instruction in the model prayer saying--Matt 6:13 (KJS) And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

3) Will going to the prom put you in a position to be tempted to sin?

4) In one poll, 80% of young men responding to a survey said dancing (the modern dance) caused them to have lustful thoughts.

5) Indeed many can trace their falling away back to its beginning at a dance.

6) Why take such a chance?

2. Will it cause you to go against your conscience?

1) Roma 14:23 (KJS) And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because [he eateth] not of faith: for whatsoever [is] not of faith is sin.

2) Can you, in faith, encourage (by your presence and support) the souls of other young mena nd women by participating in that which is harmful to your soul and the souls of other young people?

3) Would you have to compromise Christian principles to attend?

4) Would you feel confident good Christian brothers and sisters would support your going to the prom?

3. Will your going to the prom encourage you to go to heaven?

1) Will you be taking a step down the narrow way that leads to life or down the broad way that leads to hell?

2) Matt 7:13 (KJS) Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

3) Either dancing is from God or Satan--no middle ground!

4) Attending the prom is a big step--but in what direction?

II. How Will It Affect Your Christianity?

1. Will people recognize your Christianity?

1) Phil 2:15 (KJS) That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

2) Can you shine as a light in the world while participating in and encouraging an even twhich emphasizes dancing?

3) The world knows what kind of activities accompany the prom.

4) Will they not assume you are aware of and in agreement with these activities?

2. Will your going to the prom aid your evangelism?

1) Will it be easier or harder for you to influence your friends to become Christians?

2) Will they see you as a hypocrite for attending or as distinctively different (in the right way) for not attending?

3) 1Tim 4:12 (KJS) Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

4) How will your going affect studying with other people?

5) Will you have any influence trying to get other people to study if they know you attend the prom?

6) Really, is attending a dance exemplary conduct for a Christian young person?

7) Would Timothy have gone to the prom? Would his mother and grandmother have allowed him to go? Would Jesus have gone?

3. Will going to the prom show you to be worldly?

1) Roma 12:1 (KJS) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

2) 1Joh 2:15 (KJS) 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. 16 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. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

III. How Will It Affect the Influence of the Church?

1. Would you be ashamed to tell someone at the prom that you are a member of the church?

1) Mark 8:38 (KJS) Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

2) Remember, Christ died for the church--would He approve of His body being at a dance?

3) Acts 20:28 (KJS) Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

2. Will your attendance at and support of the prom show the church of Crhist is distinctively different from churches of men?

1) Your absence will!!!

2) Your proper conduct and Christian principles for not attending will be a good influence which may result in some soul being saved.

3. Would it be okay for the preacher and his wife to go to the prom?

1) What about elders and their wives?

2) If it would not be okay for them to go, why then would it be okay for any Christian to go?

3) If it would be a disgrace for the preacher to be there, why not brother Smith or sister Smith?

4) Would the church stand for the preacher to go? NO!!! Why should it stand for any Christian to go?

1- Heard about an eldership which mounted the pulpit and stated if any of the teenagers at this congregation attended the prom they could expect a visit from the eldership and if they did not repent they would be withdrawn from.

2- We need more elderships like that.

IV. Where Does the Bible Say it is Wrong to Go?

1. Gala 5:19 (KJS) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 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.

1) Lasciviousnes--"Filthy words, indecent bodily movements, unchaste handling of males and females."

2) Revellings--"an occasion of merrymaking or noisy festivity with dancing, etc."

1- This description aptly portrays the high school dances and proms of our day.

2- The very atmosphere of dancing is sinful and is not appropriate for someone seeking to walk the "strait and narrow way."

2. Either dancing (proms) is from God or from the world.

1) James 4:4 (KJS) Ye adulterers and adulteresses, 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.

2) Surely we can make a determination into which category to place the prom.

3. Matt 5:28 (KJS) But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

1) The movements involved with the modern dance are such that the sexual desires of young people would be easily excited at proms.

2) The attire worn to such today is another avenue of Satan's attack.

3) Someone says: "I can dance without having evil thoughts"--if that is possible why tempt the person you dance with to do the same--Matt 18:7 (KJS) 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!

1- Offences--"a trap-stick (bent sapling), snare."

2- It is a sin to put someone else in a situation to stumble.

Conclusion:

1. Well, the evidence seems overwhelming that it would be a sin for a Christian young person to attend the prom whether he or she danced or not.

2. Ephesians 5:11 (KJS) And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [them].

3. What can our young people do to avoid this sin?

1) James 4:7 (KJS) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

2) Ps 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

3) 2Tim 2:22 (KJS) Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.