The issue is tricky even though the answer is CLEAR. It's one thing to follow ones convictions on these things but expressing the decision based on ones conviction is something else entirely.
I realized quickly that the only way to understand this is to have a genuine Biblical understanding and then a strong conviction to carry out that decision . So I had to break it down.
#1- Night clubs and dancing ARE NOT FREE OF SIN.
-What happens in night clubs and what exactly is DANCING?
Night clubs are places where people go out to entertain themselves, free their minds, dance, meet people, get together with friends, ...etc.
On the surface, it doesn't seem like there's inherently anything wrong w/ any of that. but bottom line, this is the MAIN thing WRONG with "clubbing" and dancing.
MY INDIVIDUAL TESTIMONY. What does it say to celebrate in public, dance to lyrics that don't glorify God, and make myself a part of an atmosphere that doesn't glorify God but instead is by and large a haven for people to meet, hook-up and celebrate sensuality and free sex largely with unmarried counterparts? And then you have the serving of alcohol and people getting high and drunk, etc. I can't be a part of that.
It's not exactly like taking public transportation. It doesn't necessarily glorify God either but also not a melting pot of sinful and Godless expression.
#2- My history w/ Clubbing and dancing is TODAY a stumbling block for me. It's probably where I most blasphemed and misrepresented Christ. It's a place where people without knowing it, literally thumb their noses @ God; saying to Him that they don't need Him in their lives b/c they can enjoy their lives w/out Him. Not everyone has to have that type of background or ill intentions BUT I did, people do ... and I'm reflecting on my convictions here.
#3- To me, it's similar to drinking, tattoos and smoking. Once you've become NEW in Christ, how you walk needs to represent Christ. Although you won't find "Clubbing" in the Bible or much about "Dancing", there are so many scriptures in the Bible that describe how holy God is, how much we need to represent Christ, and how we should walk in Him and be sanctified for growth that the true Christian's conscience on these things can ONLY lead one NOT to engage in them. It just can't be ignored.
Some people argue regarding FREEDOMS within our individual conscience while being Christian and I agree to an extent. But you also don't want to take the chance at making anyone stumble in their faith or people who look to you to represent Christ. There is strong language in the Bible regarding Children of God separating from this world and a lot of mistakes have been made when the church has tried to attract new converts by trying to mimic the world. This type of comfort has too many times produced FALSE CONVERTS. The truth is that Christ and His Church will NEVER look like the world so those who try and balance their stand between God and this world, will only end up drifting back towards this world (World system).
And this is because everyone born has a carnal nature not a Godly nature. Only by the Spirit of God are we attracted to God's ways but balancing our worldly nature with a Spirit-nature will always result in drifting back to our original nature. People tend to disagree with this because they have a hard time fully understanding how ungodly we actually are. And they have a problem seeing how ungodly and sinful we are because they don't have the right concept or understanding of exactly how HOLY God is. Most people think they are somewhat "good" people, and that of coarse is wrong; deadly wrong.
"No one is good but God" - Matt. 19:17 (Also Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:23)
God deserves to be represented and worshipped appropriately, and He isn't vague about this reality.
(John 4:23; John 14:17; 1 Peter 1:16; Lev. 10:1-8)
The Bible teaches that we're a NEW creation in Christ; His Spirit lives within us, and our bodies are the temple of His Holy Spirit. We are to glorify God with our bodies by being a living sacrifice unto God in holiness.
(1 Corinthians 6:20; 2 Corinthians 2:17)
Worship isn't just going to church. The Bible teaches that OUR BODIES ARE THE CHURCH. If we are the temple of God, then collectively, believers are the church and holiness must be an everything and everywhere thing.
Therefore, we're worshipping in everything we do and everything we say.
This kinda slows down the turn table on the music to a halt doesn't it? ... Well, it is what it is. It's the truth. But when the Bible verse says "All things have become new", this is also referring to change in a person's character.
Where we were once indifferent, we now pursue with passion, and where we pursued in passion, we now lose interest. When we're "born again" (John 3:3), all those things that don't glorify God start to shed away. And if it hasn't,
perhaps you have to ask yourself "Are you born again"? This is considered the fruit that bares witness of true discipleship; a new life and a new character.
Everyone has to follow their personal convictions and although it's not good to be legalistic about many things, a true Biblical conscience will always bust out on the surface within our decisions as we grow in The Lord.
His peace to you, Amen.
