INTRODUCTION:
Imagine, with me, that 2,000 years have passed in time, and it is now the year 3998.
a. A natural disaster had completely buried our society around 1998, thus preserving the remains for future excavation.
b. When the archaeologists dug up the remains of our society, what do you think they would find?
1) They would find that we were fascinated with success, power, and sex.
2) They would probably find advertising which used sex to sell everything from ball point pens to fertilizer.
3) They might even find some of our television shows or movies which are saturated with sexual scenes.
4) They might find some of our music which is almost pornographic in nature in many cases.
5) They would discover signs that parents had little concern for their responsibility toward their children.
6) It would probably be said that we were a modern day Corinth.
2. It isn't difficult to see that our world is engulfed by a polluted cloud of moral filth.
a. On every hand is found an encouragement to do wrong, and our nation is increasingly headed toward the fulfillment of that encouragement.
b. And where are the parents who are supposed to guide young people away from the evils of our world? Where did purity and our parents go?
3. Tonight I want to look at three very serious, and very controversial subjects that deal with young people, but the lesson is written as much if not more for the parents as it is for the young: the lesson is called "How To Kill Your Kids."
DISCUSSION:
I. If You Want To Kill Your Kids, Allow Them To Dress Immodestly.
A. Too many women and men who claim to be Christians show no concern for the way they dress, and it is time that we speak out against this tragedy, especially concerning our young people and the parental responsibility along this line.
B. Since the fall of man in the garden of Eden, men and women have needed to be adequately and decently clothed.
1. You remember how that Adam and Eve sinned, and when they sinned they became conscious of their nakedness and were ashamed -- a consciousness and sense of shame that we need in our world today.
2. They tried to clothe themselves with aprons of fig leaves, but God clothed them more adequately and decently (Genesis 2:25 - 3:31).
3. I read one particularly writer who said he wished he could find some of the fruit that Adam and Eve ate so he could pass it on to Christians by the bushel -- so that they would open their eyes and know that they were naked (Genesis 3:7).
C. Since sin awakened man's sense of shame, God has always demanded a certain code of dress (even though no-one else was even around at the time of sin entering the world except Adam and Eve).
1. God insisted that the Old Testament priests wear sufficient clothing to prevent exposure as they ascended the altar steps (Exodus 20:26; 28:42-43).
2. Queen Vashti refused to allow herself to be placed on public display for the purpose of gawking at her physical beauty (Esther 1).
3. And of course we remember David and Bathsheba, who because of public immodesty and a lack of self-control fell into adultery.
D. It would be good if we had a proper understanding of immodesty.
1. Immodesty is wearing clothing that reveals or emphasizes parts of the body that, when seen by the opposite sex, draw attention to you and encourage or create evil desires.
2. And by dressing to entice lust, a Christian not only sins themselves, but they cause others to sin.
a) No piece of clothing is wrong in and of itself, but it becomes wrong when worn before those of the opposite sex in such a manner that would cause a person to have lustful thoughts which cannot be scripturally satisfied.
b) Some clothing would be immodest on certain occasions, but not on others, for example, it is not immodest to take a shower naked, but it would most certainly be immodest to be in public in the same condition.
c) At this point someone will invariably argue that if a person has an evil thought that this is their problem.
d) I would agree with this in a limited sense.
e) But if I contribute to that thought, then I have participated in their sin.
E. The most important thing for us to remember when it comes to immodesty is that we are to be a people who are trying to please God. This should be our whole attitude toward everything that we do, including fashion.
1. Our question should be "is my clothing pleasing in God's eyes?"
2. Paul wrote: "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. 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" (Romans 12:1-2).
3. If you wear fashions that could do just about as much good off as on, then you are guilty of wearing immodest apparel and you are an abomination in the eyes of the Lord, rather than being a living sacrifice, and to be frank, I've seen clothes here on occasions that fall into this category.
F. As Christians we should be concerned with our adornment beginning on the inside and then moving to the outside.
1. Misinterpretations of Peter's teaching about outward adorning (1 Peter 3:1-4), have led to several extremes on the subject.
2. Some conclude that all outward adorning such as wearing gold, braiding the hair, and the like is forbidden, but if this is what Peter meant then no-one could wear any clothes because he includes the "putting on of apparel."
3. The proper understanding of this passage is to see that we are to be a people who are placing our emphasis on the inward. If the inward is right, the outward will follow.
G. The Bible stresses that our clothing ought to avoid two things: sexual allurement and materialism (Proverbs 31:30; 1 Peter 3:3-5; 1 Timothy 2:9-10).
1. What we're seeing today is that more and more Christians are dressing more and more in ways that barely stops short of complete nudity.
2. The shame of their nakedness is revealed by their clothing.
3. If all of this is decent or modest apparel -- what could be considered immodest or indecent and still be called apparel?
H. I read an article in which a man talked about a visit to a detention center where he saw a sign that read: "Visitors must be appropriately dressed. Underwear and bras must be worn, no halter tops; no short shorts; no revealing clothing."
1. The author of the article commented to the guard about the notice and was told that "inappropriate clothing causes problems."
2. He said it reminded him of Jesus' statement in Matthew 5:27-28: "...everyone that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."
3. I couldn't help but wonder as I read of this account, if the world can see what problems are created by immodest dress, why can't Christians.
I. If you want to kill your kids, allow them to dress immodestly.
II. If You Want To Kill Your Kids, Allow Them To Participate In Modern Dancing.
A. I don't expect any of this lesson will be particularly popular, but I would expect this section will really be unpopular with some, because it is never popular to condemn sin and it is even less popular when it is a sin that several people enjoy.
B. Unfortunately this is an area where a real lack of teaching has occurred.
1. Many teenage and adult Christians participate in dancing simply because they have never been taught its dangers.
2. Some others have been taught the truth on this subject, but have refused to accept the truth.
3. The second category I cannot help, but I do hope that if you fall into that first category this section of the lesson will help you.
4. We're going to identify three very serious areas of problems concerning the modern dance.
C. First, we need to understand and we need to teach our kids that dancing is worldly.
1. Everything associated with dancing is worldly, the songs, the places, the clothing, the refreshments: and don't think I'm so old enough that I can't remember, I've been there, I remember all too well.
2. John wrote: "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. 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. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever" (1 John 2:15-17).
3. So many sinful things are associated with dancing today: drinking, drugs, going parking, petting, immodesty, and fornication. I can remember just a few short years ago when our Senior class picked their faculty advisor based upon which one would be most likely to go along with all of these things at the dances and the senior trip.
4. Paul wrote: "Abstain from all appearance of evil."
5. And James tells us that pure religion is being "unspotted from the world" (James 1:27) -- yet I cannot see how one can be unspotted from the world and still participate in the sinful act of the modern dance.
D. We also need to understand and we need to teach our kids that dancing is a work of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21).
1. It is "lasciviousness."
a) The appeal of dancing is, at least partially, sexual in nature.
b) A study of the original word which is translated "lasciviousness" here in Galatians 5 quickly reveals that this is not something a Christian is to be involved with.
2. The definition of lasciviousness is -- absence of restraint, indecency, indecent bodily movements (that would be dancing), and unchaste handling of males and females (petting, and also in some dancing).
3. Argue all you want but you can't change the fact that dancing is sexual in nature.
a) How many dances occur in which the entire time is spent with dancing only done with someone of the same sex, not guys with girls?
b) The only dances that occur this way are homosexual dances, which again proves the point that dancing is sexually motivated.
E. We need to understand and we need to teach that dancing leads to further sin (Proverbs 6:27).
1. The school statistics, and the police statistics, and the medical statistics, all confirm that school dances (including and especially the prom) all raise the rates of teen sex, drunkenness, venereal diseases, and other problems.
2. In one Bible passage dancing resulted in murder. In Matthew 14:1-12 we read of this and the style of dancing here would be the closest Bible description to the modern fast dance.
F. I would hasten to point out that there is nothing inherently sinful about dancing if it has the proper participants and is in the proper place.
1. Having said that though, let me add that it is just like the sexual relationship.
2. If a husband and wife wants to dance in private with one another, they would have a right to do so because they would have a right to fulfill the sexual aspects of that relationship.
3. But other than in a private setting between a husband and wife, dancing is sinful.
G. If you want to kill your kids, allow them to participate in the sinful modern dance.
III. If You Want To Kill Your Kids, Don't Teach Them About The Sexual Relationship And Marriage.
A. As we begin a section of the lesson dealing with sex outside of the marriage relationship, I should begin by pointing out how God feels about a sexually immoral society.
1. Deuteronomy 22:20-24: "But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel: Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father's house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you. If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel. If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbor's wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you."
2. Matthew 15:19: "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies."
3. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God."
B. What's the reason to keep the sexual relationship in marriage, is sex too enjoyable out of marriage? Is God a prude? Is He out to make sure we don't have a good time?
1. Keep in mind that Jesus came so we "might have life, and might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).
2. So somehow, saving the sexual relationship solely for the marriage relationship is for our own good. Here are a few good reasons:
a) Pregnancy: 1 out of 3 teens who has sex out of marriage gets pregnant. 1 out of 5 of these teens who gets pregnant does so in the first month of sexual activity.
b) Sexual diseases: AIDS, etc.
c) Relationship with each other:
1) As God designed it, the sexual relationship between a husband and wife is the deepest, most intimate form of communication and giving.
2) When properly expressed, it draws them closer and forms the lifelong bond of "becoming one" (Matthew 19:5).
d) Relationship with God: sin always eats at our relationship with God. We can pray until there are blisters on our knees, but it won't do any good until we repent.
C. Why keep the sexual relationship only in marriage? Because God said so.
1. That might be the easiest answer. If you've just bought a computer and you ask the people you bought it from, "Why can't I wash the insides with soap and water?" Because the manufacturer says not to and he knows how it works. Likewise, God made sex, and He set the boundaries so we won't abuse it. He knows us. He knows what will happen if we abuse our sexuality.
2. Sex was intended for a complete commitment. "Till death do we part."
3. I might throw something about parenting responsibilities here, and I want you to understand that I'm not telling you at what age to allow your kids to date or whether or not you were wrong in the date you chose, I'm only going to give you some facts that I found sobering.
a) Survey of 2,400 teens found that the younger a person begins dating, the more likely they are to have sex before graduating high school.
b) 12 years - 91%; 13 years - 56%; 14 years - 53%; 15 years - 40%; 16 years - 20%.
D. Three principles about sex.
1. God created sex.
a) The media would like you to think sex was their invention.
b) God could have made us all one gender and have another way to continue the race, but He made us male and female (Genesis 1:27).
c) No-one should have to apologize for having a sexual desire, but all should look to the Creator of that desire for instructions about its use.
2. Sex was created for married people.
a) Sex can be wonderful, but man can corrupt it.
b) A knife in a surgeon's hand saves lives. Someone else could use the same knife to take a life.
c) Sexuality is the same way. Within its God-given boundaries, it is beautiful. But if we abuse it, it WILL be harmful.
CONCLUSION:
1. Obviously I've been speaking of killing your kids spiritually, and I realize this has not been an easy lesson, and that it has been a lengthy lesson.
2. However, our responsibilities as Christians, and our responsibilities as parents are very serious.
3. God will hold us accountable for what we do as parents.
4. As parents we need to avoid sin in our own lives, and we need to teach our children about the dangers of sin, and use our parental authority to ensure that they don't participate.
5. Understand first though that ungodly parents rarely produce godly children, even though occasionally children will overcome their parents' influence.
6. What kind of influence do you have as a parent, and young people, what are you living?
Sermon from Anchor of the Soul