Topic(s): Moral Issues, Sin, Youth

Todd Clippard

Among the many misplaced priorities of America’s young people and the media targeting them is the hoopla surrounding the Prom. Teen-oriented magazines begin at the first of the year to promote this "once in a lifetime" event. Untold time and money are spent on what is considered the crowning night of one’s high school experience.

Tragically, many Christian teens and their parents lose all rationality and common sense when it comes to the Prom. Should Christian teens have anything to do with the Prom? An ungodly world puts tremendous pressure on God's teenagers to join with them in worldly recreation. While not wanting to sin, God’s teenagers do want to enjoy these years. It is for this reason that sin needs to be defined and lines drawn so that they can know what is right and what is wrong. So, with that in mind, what does the Bible say about the Prom?

The primary focus of the Prom is the dance. God’s word is clear in its condemnation of dancing. In listing the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21, dancing is condemned three times: as lasciviousness, reveling, and "such like." Lasciviousness is "indecent bodily movements, unchaste handling of males and females" (Thayer’s lexicon, p 79-80).

Some honest teens would ask, "What would be wrong in attending the Prom if I did not dance?" Paul warned Timothy, "be not a partaker of other men’s sin, keep thyself pure." Ephesians 5:11 forbids the Christian from having any "fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." Furthermore, dancing is an inherently sexual art form and as such incites lust. Paul admonished the young Timothy to "flee youthful lusts" (2 Tim 2:22).

While the word Prom is a shortened version of the word "Promenade," it might as well be a shortened version of Promiscuity. A Google search of the words "Prom" and "sex" resulted in over 1.4 million hits. Admittedly, not all of these were concerned with sexual activity as it relates to the Prom, but most were, including the very first one. This link sent me to teenadvice.com and its "Prom Central." Here I found a long list of links to articles about the Prom. Among these articles was a "how to have sex on your prom night." Among the other links were numerous articles which promoted Prom as the night to lose one’s virginity. This thing is "not done in a corner" (Acts 26:26). Any Christian parent who does not know these things only does so by turning a blind eye to the whole situation.

While working with teens in Tennessee, I asked them to consider the following questions as they considered their participation in the prom:

• How much time will you spend shopping and primping for the prom? How does that time compare with the time you spent helping the church outside of the worship services?
• How much money will you spend preparing for the prom? How do these figures compare with your church contribution in the previous month?
• Would you invite Jesus as your guest for the prom? If not, why not?
• Would you ask Jesus to dance with you? If you would, do you think he would accept?
• What effect will going to the prom have on your influence as a Christian?

I believe any honest person can clearly see that Prom is no place for the Christian teen.