Cancel Spring Break?

That’s what the Mayor of Miami, Florida wants to do–cancel Spring break.

The Mayor called for a ban after a violent weekend that ended with two fatal shootings and “excessively large and unruly crowds” as reported by several media outlets.

Reacting to the chaos on Monday morning, Mayor Dan Gelber said: “We haven’t asked for spring break in our city. We don’t want spring break in our city. It’s too rowdy, brings too much disorder and is simply too difficult to police.

The revelry is nothing new. It has been occurring on Florida beach towns for many years. It’s interesting, however, how the “hot spots” move from place to place through the years. Usually what occurs is that the residents and city officials get tired of the out of control partying and crack down on enforcing laws, arresting people, and implementing curfews, the rowdy crowds moves to a new location.

This reminds me of a news article I saved several years ago featuring Spring Break “hot spots” with the headline “Totally wild and trashy spring break spots.”

When you’re in college, Spring Break is the ultimate in week-long partying (for us it was, at least). Those seven days or so are reserved for drinking, sun tanning, dancing, and you know, um, making out. But sometimes, things can get really raunchy — think Girls Gone Wild, but without Joe Francis and his camera crew breathing uncomfortably down your neck. If you wanna hit the hottest parties this coming Spring, you’re going to need to book now — and these four spots are perfect for stripping down, boozing hard, and getting your freak on.

The article refers to the “rite of passage” of many college students and some high school students. This annual pilgrimage proves “March Madness” involves more than basketball! The key words in the piece that provide some insight were “rowdy,” “sexy girls,” “hot bodies,” hookups” and “no abandon.”

We have often written and taught that you have to be on your guard because the devil is devious. Crafty. Cunning. And clever. Yet, it seems “the devil has come out of the closet” in the 21st century. There’s not much hidden in the Spring break allurements. Our culture today is brazen. Bold. And unblushing.

It’s tempting to contrast the 21st century to the early and mid 20th century when there were common values and morals that most of society deemed appropriate. Yet, as Paul Harvey once said “in times like these we need to remember there have always been times like these.”

The Prophet Jeremiah condemned the abomination of Israel and said they could not even blush anymore! (Jer 6:12). The apostle Paul denounced the moral depravity of the Gentile world in no uncertain terms. “Futile.” “Foolish.” “Dishonorable.” “Debased.” (Rom. 1:20-32).

And so while there are temptations aplenty for our young people, it’s nothing new. The means and methods are new, but the basic problem is the same. The acceptance and tolerance for sinful behavior has become more prevalent in our generation, but it has always been there.

“The beach scene today has become the Garden of Eden all over again,” once wrote Dan Delzell in The Christian Post. He’s right. The lust of the flesh. The lust of the eyes. The pride of life. Satan enticed Eve that way. Tempted Jesus. And he seeks to ensnare today’s youth with his empty promises. It’s on full display on spring break’s beaches. Again nothing new. Paul spoke of people “Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.” (Eph 4:19)

So young Christians today, as well as others, need to remember that God calls us to be holy. To be separate from the world’s allurements (Titus 2:11-14).

• When the world invites, “Let’s party,” remember God says in Eph 5:18 “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.”
• When the world urges, “Go wild, get raunchy and have a good time,” remember God says not to do “what pagans choose to do — living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry” (1 Pet. 4:3-4).
• When the world sings, “get your freak on,” remember God says, “Flee sexual immorality” (1 Cor 6:18).
• And when the world is calling, Come and join us,” remember God is pleading, “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” ‘I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Cor 6:17-18).

Rather than cancelling Spring break, how about cancelling the permissive attitudes that spawn its rowdiness. Cancel the humanistic teaching that celebrate its lasciviousness. Cancel the Godless culture that mocks Biblical values.

To God’s people who may have been duped by the lure of the Devil’s allurements, God’s message from the prophet Isaiah is fitting, “Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.”

Ken Weliever, The Preacherman