Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1905-08-14

and Notwithstanding the very unfavor-
| .ble weather conditions. the audito-
rium was crowded with people to hear
him His text was First Thessalon.
isns. fifth chapter and twenty
verse:
"Abstain from all appearance of
evil" Rev. Moore then said in part:
NV dear friends. am free to CON
fess that there are many other things
besides dancing of which might we'll
occupy my time in speaking tonight,
hit this is one form of worldliness
about which SO little is said in our
nulpits and yet something ought to be
said that | feel called upon to tell
inst what the Bible says about it..
This may serve to make me somewhat
unpopular with certain Christians
who engage in this practice, but 7
have never yet been accused of seek
ing the popular side to question
where right and wrong were involved.
I want to say, further, that I shall
sneak with love and kindness. and as
to the arguments I employ invite
your keenest attention and criticism.
saw this with all boldness and frHe-
dom. because ] feel that my every ar
eument has biblical substantiation.
In this discourse I shall address my
self especially to Chrstians-all 9th
ers are of the world and they will do
the things of the world. Sad to say,
however. you will find here in our city
very large number whose names are
on some church book, but who say
frankly that they have never been
converted and make no claim to being
Christian These have my sympa-
thy and prayers. for somebody or
something is to blame.
Nav a Christian dance9 To your
surprise I answer yes If the aues-
Ton were. SiloulH \ III i'9' l'' II
dance?" I should at once answer in
the negative
Dancing is an exercise of very an
cient date. The Bible mentions two
kinds of dances. One religious
service in which praise and gratitude
to God were expressed. You will
find this mentioned in Elk. 1920;
Judges 1884: Ps. 3O:11, The other
kind was a worldly amusement In
which both sexes united in hilarious
revelry OF this kind of dance I have
found only three instances recorded
here in the Bible. and these three
records so plainly classify and portray
the nature and appearance Of modern
dancing as to really answer the ques-
ton in the mind Of honest inquirers.
a The first mentioned is the "vain and
y Shameless fellows" mentioned in Ill
Sam. 600. The second is of the "un-
godly parents" Job 21:1115. The
third is of that most revolving scene
mentioned in Matt. 14:3-12, which re-
suited in the murder of John the Bap-
tist After hearing the reading OF
these records. does it not answer the
question in your mind? Modern
dancing is of this same kinda world
ly amusement-and to this there are
many objections.
The famous lecturer and preacher,
Bob Burdette. was once asked this
same question and he replied: 'Of
course, Christian may dance. He
might swear and lie, too. but it would
not make him a better Christian. Yes;
you many dance, but dancing Will
never identify you as child of God
My first objection that shall pre-
>sspt is that modern dancing is purely
worldly amusement. The word of
God forbds conformity to this world.
rom. 1872; Phil 1927. You violate
these plain precepts by dancing. The
'io also prohibits love or the WORTH.
John 2:15. You will not deny that
uahclng is one of the favorite pleas
ures OF the world and that those who
continue in it become passionately
lond of it. This very love of dancing
is one OF the greatest obstacles to the
inversion of your boys and girls, as
well as to the spiritual enjoyment and
progress of young Christians. Look
dt the examples and individual illus
'ratlons of this argument Therefore
the Bible prohibits dancing.
My second objection is that modern
oanclng has the appearance of evil