Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 11
November 26, 1959
NUMBER 29, PAGE 11a

"From Pat Boone"

John H Tull, Grand Prairie, Texas

From a church bulletin we received recently, we lift a portion of a letter from Pat Boone, dated April 29, 1959.

"I am sorry that your daughter and niece were misled in the fact that I danced in Mardi Gras. I am sure you know I do not dance and do not believe that dancing is in harmony with living for God. At the time the picture was made, I thought that since I was portraying a character in a story that I could do what he would have done without saying that I would do the same thing. I now realize however, that many people do not understand this point and have supposed that I have changed my views concerning dancing. For this reason, I regret very much that I danced in the picture and do not intend to do so again."

Signed, Pat Boone Notice that as an individual, he felt that it would be wrong to dance. But, he also believed he could play a character in a story, commit whatever wrong that character would commit in the story, and God would not hold him responsible for that sin. We suppose God would hold that character responsible. Just think! this principle would permit him to "get by" with all kinds of sin! If he is playing the part of a dancer, he can dance! If he is playing the part of a husband, he can kiss someone besides Mrs. Pat Boone — and that someone he kisses is, in all probability, someone else's wife. We suppose that if he were playing the part of a drunkard, it would be permissible for him to get drunk also. Lord, you'll have to excuse me, because I am engaging in these lusts of the flesh now as an actor, I am not doing this to satisfy my own lusts, but to satisfy the lusts of the millions of people who will see me on the screen. I hope you will understand, Lord. No, Brother Boone — God still says, "Friendship with the world is enmity with God." (James 4:4) We are to present our bodies a living sacrifice, and we are not to be conformed or patterned after the world, but we are to be transformed by the renewing or the changing of our mind with regard to sin. (Rom. 12:1-2) The old sins that we committed before conversion are not to find a place in our lives after conversion. If they do, we again become guilty of sin, and need to repent and ask God's forgiveness. "For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revelings, banquetings and abominable idolatries — (1 Pet. 4:3) V. 4 indicates there was such a complete change in the Christian's life, that his former friends would think it strange that he didn't continue in sin with them. Paul tells us to abstain from all appearance of evil (1 Thess. 5:22) and to abhor that which is evil (Rom. 12:9). To abhor means to detest, loathe, hate, to shrink with shuddering from. How can we abhor any evil, and at the same time appear to be enjoying it, before an audience of people?

His last two sentences indicate that he didn't regret dancing in the picture because dancing is a sin, but merely because many people "do not understand" his belief that he can act like a sinner before multitudes and still not be guilty of those sins. If our sorrow is a godly sorrow, it works genuine repentance. If we are truly sorry because we have sinned against God, we will change our mind with regard to that sin, and will begin to change our lives. But the sorrow of the world worketh death. (II Cor. 7:10). Brother Boone says he regrets dancing in the picture because some people misunderstood him. Is this godly sorrow, which leads to repentance?

Brother Pat, we implore you — abstain from all appearance of evil — abhor evil — not just in your private life, but also on the stage. Your life may be a shining example in comparison with some of today's stars, but is that what God wants — just for us to be better than someone else? No — Christ is our example — let's look to Him, and transform our lives to bring them into agreement with Him. We fear, brother Pat, lest you be completely overcome by the manifold temptations that constantly confront you — the same temptations which have overtaken thousands in your profession. You rejoice in the fact that you are a Christian, and this is good — but does your life, both public and private, portray Christ?