A recent article on MSNBC documented a movement around the country of high schools taking measures to change the way teens are dancing. There is growing concern about the sexually explicit nature of their dancing which is taking place at school dances. Parents are offended that some other person’s kids are dancing like this around their child, principles are embarrassed that students at their school are dancing this way.

So the question is, how will they stop such dancing from taking place? How do they plan on corralling such lust?

The article stated a several different methods schools are trying:

• implementing dress codes
• canceling dances
• having students sign contracts that outline acceptable behavior and apparel
• turn on the lights during dances
• having a wristband system to enforce compliance

But the one method that stood out to me was a school in Minnesota who is telling high school students to dance like Grandma’s watching. The reasoning behind this measure is such: “Kids may not care about offending or annoying their parents, but it’s a different story with grandma.”

Now, I suppose that many young people would act differently if their grandma was watching, but I think that totally misses the point.

All of these methods simply want students to act differently. They don’t show any concern for the heart of the students. The engine that is causing teens to dance lewdly does not stop operating when grandma starts watching or when a contract is signed. The fires of lust that drove them throw their hips into someone else are still raging.

If we are to really help teens turn from the lust of their hearts, then we need to connect them with the gospel. Only the gospel can change a student’s desire. Only the gospel can motivate someone away from the allure of sin.

Making teens stop inappropriate dancing is like taking the bad fruit off a tree and concluding that the problem is solved. But if the bad tree still exists, then the bad fruit will continue.

It is sad that young people dance differently because grandma is watching (even though she isn’t), rather than dancing like God is watching (because He is). “No creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” (Heb. 4:13)

Today in Sunday school, I taught on Habakkuk and in the last part of the book, the prophet gives a piece of theological gold in 3:17-19. So to help the students understand this, I tried to adapt it to a life of a junior higher.

Though there be not money in our wallet,
nor gifts under the tree,
my dad has lost his job
and my family has to move,
a loved one has passed away
and my friends have all rejected me,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
God, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer’s;
he makes me tread on my high places.