Among the seven abominations listed that the LORD hates, “a lying tongue” and “a false witness who speaks lies” are both mentioned (Prov. 6:16-19, NKJV).  The children of Israel are instructed in the 10 Commandments not to “bear false witness against your neighbor” (Ex. 20:16). In the New Testament, Christians are told to put “away lying” and “speak truth” (Eph. 4:25). In Colossians 3:9, Paul writes, “Do not lie to one another….” Moreover, we learn in Revelation 21:8 that no liars will be found in heaven. Lying is a serious problem – and we would all be lying if we said we have never told a lie.             This perhaps raises a question in our minds – what is lying? Lying is the act of telling “an intentionally false statement” that may even involve deception “to get oneself into or out of a situation.”[1] To lie is simply to not tell the truth. When looking at the way the word is used in the New Testament, we learn that to lie is “to tell a falsehood,” as well as being “an attempt to deceive.”[2] Generally speaking, a lie is something that one will tell to either receive some benefit or safety for themselves or others.             Over the next couple of weeks, we will continue to examine the subject of lying in our articles. Next week, we will consider why lying is a problem. After that, we will examine whether or not the situation determines whether or not a …

As mentioned in the previous article, not all forms of dancing in every context are sinful. We examined the parable of the lost son (Luke 15:11-32), where the dancing mentioned appeared to be celebratory rather than sensual. In that context, it was not condemned by Jesus. However, this does not mean that all forms of celebratory dancing are acceptable. For instance, cheerleaders are tasked with engaging fans through cheer, celebration, and dance, but there is no doubt that this is sinful due to immodest clothing and suggestive bodily movements. The Bible emphasizes that modesty is a priority (1 Peter 3:2-4; 1 Tim. 2:9-10), and we must consider how our clothing can influence others (Rom. 14:23). As Jesus taught, “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery in his heart” (Matt. 5:28 NKJV). Dance halls and clubs are often filled with people dressed immodestly, clinging to their partners and moving their bodies in suggestive ways. In doing so sexual tensions rise and those involved are flirting with temptation (James 1:14-15, 4:7-8). This atmosphere leads to sinful behaviors such as lewdness, lasciviousness, fornication, alcohol consumption, drunkenness, and even adultery. Paul clearly associates such behavior with the works of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21). Peter references such behavior to the old man (Rom. 6:6) but is clear in saying this is not acceptable for a child of God. He writes, “For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will …

In last week’s article, we explored various instances of dancing in the Old Testament and concluded that the mere mention of dancing does not necessarily mean it was approved, disapproved, accepted, or rejected by God. In fact, when men and women are depicted dancing together publicly, as in Exodus 32, it is later condemned. While Moses was on the mountain receiving the Ten Commandments, the Israelites, led by Aaron, were creating a golden calf. The passage states, “As soon as he (Moses) came near the camp, he saw the calf and the dancing. So, Moses’ anger became hot…” (Exodus 32:19 NKJV). Yet in another instance, the psalmist says, “Let them praise His name with the dance” (Ps. 149:3). This contrast suggests that we may need to take a closer look before hastily condemning all forms of dancing as sinful.  What can we learn about dancing in the New Testament? The act of dancing is only specifically mentioned a few times. One notable instance is when the daughter of Herodias danced before Herod (Mark 6:22), a performance that many believe was lascivious in nature, something typically associated with prostitutes of that time. If this interpretation is correct, her dance would have been a sinful act of lewdness. In Galatians 5:19, Paul writes, “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness” (KJV). Lasciviousness, or lewdness, refers to actions that express or are filled with sexual desire (according to Merriam Webster), which can often be seen …

Dancing is another significant topic to consider as we tackle moral issues in our weekly articles. It is an activity that has become deeply ingrained in today’s society, affecting both the youth and adults. From nightclubs and bars to dance halls, social gatherings, school events, and from TV shows to competitions, dancing has grown in popularity among all age groups—not only as a means of recreation and celebration but also as a major form of entertainment for a global audience.  As Christians, the crucial question we must reflect on is what God’s word has to say on the matter. Romans 15:4 states, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning…” (NKJV). Some might argue, “Since God’s people danced in the Old Testament, it must be acceptable.” To explore this idea, let’s look at a few examples. In Exodus 15:20-21, Miriam led the Israelite women in a celebratory dance after their deliverance from the Egyptian army: “Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.” There are several key points to consider: (1) This dance was an act of celebration, likely involving jumping and leaping rather than moving the body in seductive or persuasive manners. (2) In ancient times, dancing was a common expression of joy, and the Israelites certainly had much to rejoice about. Later in Israel’s history, victorious warriors were greeted by women coming out of the cities, …

As we began our look at the subject of alcohol, we noted Genesis 1 and God’s creation. All that God created is good, yet man has twisted God’s creation into something into something other than God intended. This is the case with alcohol. Having considered the negative examples and dangers of alcohol over the past few weeks, it may seem strange to consider that there are times when the Bible speaks favorably of alcohol. What we will discover, however, is that even in these contexts, there is something very specific about the situation that seems to make it okay. The Proverbs teach us the folly of alcohol in passages such as Proverbs 20:1 or 23:29-35 (NKJV). At the same time, however, Proverbs 31:6-7 offers what appears to be an acceptable usage of alcohol – “Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to those who are bitter of heart. Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.” King Lemuel is told by his mother to give alcohol to those who are perishing and facing great affliction. In this sense, alcohol is used as a type of medicine to try and numb the pain and cause one to lose sight of his problems. Within the same context, however, King Lemuel is told to stay away from alcohol himself as it causes one to “forget the law, and pervert the justice of the afflicted.” It is clear that this mother is wisely teaching her son …