Ancient Perils in Modern Churches (Part 3)

“What harm is there in such things?” is the echo of the question of silly Christians bent on doing everything the law will allow. The word harm is too mild to express it. Danger is the word that ought to be swung as a sign with a red lantern on both sides of it over such places as a warning to those who patronize them innocently. Dancing is based on the lust of the flesh. Argument is hardly necessary to sustain the assertion to normal people. It appeals to that part of human nature that needs no emphasis, but constant restraint. Nobody dances merely because he or she “dearly loves to dance.” Proof: Regulations requiring brothers and sisters or husbands and wives to dance together, barring other partners in the dance, would soon put dancing “out of style.” Mixed swimming is no better. Good sense and common decency condemn the idea of men and women swimming together in such scanty attire that it amounts to no attire. Such pageantry of nakedness is repulsive to the moral sense of people who yet possess modesty. It shocks the sensibilities of those who engage in such at the first, and they are “timid,” but “get used to it,” which only verifies the statement of the apostle that one’s conscience may become seared and reach the state of being “past feeling.” Parents, save your children! Elders and preachers, “fulfill your ministry” of rebuke, reproof, and exhortation!

What about card playing? A deck of spot cards has always been associated with dens of vice and gambling. If a mother claims the right to play cards in the parlor in a game of “social gambling,” she cannot consistently object to her son’s making the same use of a pair of dice in the backyard--his parlor--with his companions. A whisky bottle in a Christian’s pocket, though it contained nothing but “soda pop,” would not be a good recommendation if carried around. A pack of spot cards is as much out of place in a Christian’s hand as a whisky flask in his pocket. Christians who love the Lord and his church, who regard their Christian influence as precious to the salvation of others, will cease to engage in practices that are not consistent with the dignity of their profession and which reproach the worthy name by which we are called.

Behind all of this worldly drift and moral decline is the grotesque influence of Hollywood. Can anything good come out of Hollywood? It has become a synonym for scandal. Yet Christian parents fail to see that the “movie caste” is casting the character of their sons and daughters. And not infrequently do we hear some Christians say that they attend the movie for the “moral” of the picture. About like going to the garbage can for a good biscuit! Granting that one might be found, we prefer the cupboard to the garbage can for good morsels of food. The same is true regarding our attitude toward moral lessons.

But suppose everything except the moral were eliminated from the movie? How many Christians would attend? We venture an opinion that the number would barely compare with the prayer-meeting crowd--about a baker’s dozen!

Paul’s admonition to the Romans will serve as a fitting final word: “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” In fashion with the world or in favor with God--which?

Foy E. Wallace, Jr.