What Do You Find At The Promenade?

(Kent E. Heaton Sr.)

With the beginning of Spring, minds of young people turn to the closing

activities of school. Among the most prominent events closing out the

school year is the yearly Promenade - better known today simply as the Prom.

By Webster's definition a Promenade is a "ball or dance, esp. one given by a

college or school class and then usually called prom."

Hurried activities encompass the lives of the young people as they prepare

for this one night. Money is saved, clothes bought, limo's rented, corsages

ordered and dates lined up. All the school seems to be focused upon the

Prom - except Christians.

Christians know what the Prom brings and what one finds at the Prom.

Because of their allegiance to Jesus Christ, they have chosen not to be a

part of the Prom. In examining what happens at the Prom, the Christian

young man and Christian young woman choose to please God, rather that fall

to the pressure of their peers.

The Christian knows that the Prom is a dance and that dancing is sinful.

The Bible describes dancing as "reveling" and "lasciviousness" and is

included as a work of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21. "Now the works of the

flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,

idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath,

selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness,

revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told

you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the

kingdom of God."

The Christian knows that immodest dress is sinful. Young women wear very

revealing dresses to the Prom that are not in harmony with the virtues of a

Christian young woman. Other activities will be found at the Prom such as

drinking, petting, obscene language, fornication and so forth.

The Christian young man and Christian young woman follows the admonition of

Romans 13:12-14 - "The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let

us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let

us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in

lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus

Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts."

The Christian will not make any provisions for the flesh but will flee from

youthful lust. The prayer of Jesus will be in the hearts of our young

people who will ask God not to lead them into temptation. (Matthew 6:13)

This is accomplished by not putting themselves in a place that Christians do

not belong.

The Lord said, "Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ ...

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble,

whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are

lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if

there is anything praiseworthy-- meditate on these things ... having your

conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as

evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in

the day of visitation ... He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to

walk just as He walked." (Philippians 1:17; 4:8; 1 Peter 2:12; 1 John 2:6)

The Christian young man or woman will "Stand Up For Jesus" and be an example

to other young people.

Kent & Karen Heaton

P. O. Box 265

Trenton, Florida 32693

352-463-6916

Kerux@svic.net

God Is So Great! I find this more and more each day.