I have always loved the idea of dancing and have always wanted to learn despite my two left feet. However, when someone asks,
"Dancing - Is It Expedient for Believing Christians?"
I want to dance all the more.
Ok, ok, I know - I need to investigate why someone would ask such a question. Let's start, at the beginning, which is always a good place to start. Ha!
Think of the plethora of types of dancing out there: square dancing, which forever beckons me; The Highland Fling; the foxtrot in a ballroom; tap dancing - clickey-clack, tap, tap, tap; waltz's; line dancing, ballet, salsa, the tango; hip hop; modern dance; cha-cha-cha, the suma'zau of Sabah and so many more.
Hoh! I'm out of breath already....
All joking aside, let's try to look at this objectively if possible. Off the top of their heads, many Christians will out-rightly say, "Dancing is Satanic - just think of tribal warriors working up their emotions in dance and drum beat to then go out to war; or dancing is so sensual in nature; and this next expression, I got from online, dance is "voluptuous pleasures and perpetual excitement". Another article explained that Christians needed to distance themselves from pagan, idol worship in which dance was an integral part and therefore outrightly condemned dance of any sort in order "to set an example of pious behavior". Furthermore, the dance hall promotes a lack of order, self-control, reason, uninhibitated passion and certainly lack of Christian spiritual growth.
Phew! They do have some points there.
Another question posed is, "Would a sincere Christian truly want to be involved and associated with such company?" Sounds a bit like a guilt trip, but there is a rhetorical question here.
Yet, many folks justify and rationalise dancing with a variety of reasons. Dances such as zumba are said to be exceptionally good exercise, which can also promote weight loss. There may be some value in that but godliness, a counter-argument says, has value for all things in this present life and that which is to come (1Timothy 4:8). Is there some other "good exercise" elsewhere that doesn't stir up negative vibes? What is the origin and negative character of zumba and other such dances? This, one must genuinely research and ask oneself.
Other pro reasons for dancing are that it is fun (I believe so); it's socially accepted; helps develop poise; relieves stress and anxiety; helps make friends; it's only ceremonial; builds up strength and endurance, among other positive sounding rationalizations.
Oh, a big one is "I can dance without having evil thoughts". On the other hand, can you control the thoughts of others? You may be ok, but you may also cause another believer to stumble and sin. One must not create a situation where someone else may look at a woman lustfully, which already means they've committed adultery in his/her heart (Matthew 5:27-28; 18:7). Jesus' words, not mine.
Yes, I know, that person should control themself and the onus SHOULD NOT be on the dancer! It's unfair. However, this reason against dancing does give me pause. I would not want to be the catalyst causing someone else to sin.
However, I'm still not 100% convinced and sold out that there are never times or places for dancing and I believe one should consider the individual situation. For example, a tribal greeting of hospitality is often a dance intended to make one feel part of the group in acceptance, and the villagers may pull a mission worker into their welcome dance.
Since we are speaking of believers in Jesus Christ who want to follow Him and do His will, we must turn to more specific Bible verses. There is no "thou shalt not dance" commandment and in fact it has been record that some Biblical characters danced. Moses' sister Miriam danced and got the other woman to join her. They sang, danced and played the tambourines. They did so out of great joy and rejoicing because God their Rescuer, had rescued them from Pharoah and all his people of Egypt. The Israelites had gotten out of Egypt and out of slavery, to safety. It had been a miraculous escape. So they praise the LORD for His mercy, expressing so in dance (Exodus 15:20-21).
King David also danced before
"the Lord with all his might" (2 Samuel 6:12-16).
There were shouts and sounds of music. He danced and leaped expressing his joy and gladness that the ark of God was coming to the City of David, in East Jerusalem; and additionally, I'd say David's was an act of praise and worship. God did not condemn him for it although his wife Michal despised him in her heart because of it.
Other instances of women dancing and rejoicing with tambouries, lutes and cymbals in the Old Testament were when the Israelite warriors had be victorious in battle (1 Samuel 18:6). Hop over now to the New Testament references. This is our 'Day of Grace' up-to-date guide. Turn to Luke 15 about the father who had waited for the younger son's return from his riotous living. Verse 25 says they were celebrating with joy because of it. We know the older brother didn't approve and was angry because of it. That did not stop the dances of rejoicing.
There's always a 'however', however. The Bible records dances of lust, amusement and pleasure. The heathen idol worship displayed by those Israelites who wouldn't wait for Moses to come down from Mount Sinai was a travesty. They had coerced Aaron into making a golden calf. The people then partied and became out of control. They were severely punished by God for it too (Exodus 32:19-28).
The enemies who attacked the town of Ziklag, absconding with David and his men's families and loot, were carousing in triumph. There is actually no mention of dancing but I suppose it is assumed. There was "drinking and reveling" (1 Samuel 30:16 NIV). Our imaginations can imagine the sight David saw but it allowed him and his men to get their families and possessions back.
Then there's the notorious sensual dance of Herodias' daughter as revealed to us in Mark 6:14-28. A dance of amusement Herod and guests enjoyed but which ended in John the Baptizer's head on a charger. Gruesome.
From these biblical accounts we can see three categories of dance: public rejoicing, public worship and the dances of lust, amusement and pleasure. If we go through each type of dance we know today - the hip-hop, waltz's and so on as mentioned earlier, which of these three categories do you suppose they'd slot in to?
Some dances I did not really know by sight as to which is which, so I went on line to have a peek. Oh my, I don't recommend doing that, some of them I had never heard of and they are so obscene! Others less so but the sensuality is still evident. Guess which category they fit into? That's a another rhetorical question. We all know that answer.
Don't worry, we are getting somewhere with all of this. Here's a few big words. Do take the time to look up their meanings, if need be. Look for 'lasciviousness', 'licentiousness', 'lewdness', 'revelry' and 'wantonness'. Enough to make one puke...sexual desires, lust; promiscuous and unprincipled in sexual matters, lacking moral restraints; indecent or offensive; noisy festivities involving drinking large amounts of alcohol and merciless, inhumane behavior and worse..." (Merriam-Webster & dictionary -Oxford). I think we can safely say it's mostly all "evil", no matter the changes and forms or styles of dances for amusement. Many of these words are found in the Bible! They are not favorably used, either.
It is a serious matter to cause another to sin. We are exhorted in Scripture on this, not to cause others to stumble and sin even if we ourselves think we are strong ("Mattthew 18:6-9). We are to be salt and light to non-believers but I do believe we should be to our fellow brothers and sisters-in-Christ, as well.
So saying though, each believer must examine themselves and not blame others for their own sin. It's like a two-sided coin. One side we each need to behave in such a way that won't cause another to sin; the other side is to realize that when we are tempted, not to blame God or others, but to realize we can be drawn away to wrong behavior by our own evil lust and choices (James 1:14-14). First Corinthians 10:23 tells us that "all things are lawful but not all are expedient".
We need also to do all things in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If what we do and allow in our lives cannot be done with a good conscience and faith then it may well NOT be done in Jesus' name.
Yes, we love to spend time with our friends and do enjoyable things together. It would be an excellent idea of other more healthy activities that could be done in a group: fishing, hiking, badminton, ice hockey, building a home for the poor with organizations such a Habitat for Humanity; join a mission trip; jamming and creating a new song of praise, among others. Think of these things that could further God's Kingdom and act upon them. There will be joy in it, believe me.
Charles Stanley noted in his article "A Time to Dance," a title taken from the verses in Ecclesiastes 3, verses 3-4,
"To everything there is a season...a time to dance...".He believes that Miriam and David's type of dancing was one of those times. Now is not the time but there is another time coming when Jesus comes back to reign on earth that the public rejoicing and public worship dances will once again arise.
Hopefully all of this is not too disappointing for people, especially those who love to dance and those like me who would love to learn without tripping all over ones self, to express our joy in rythmic movement of dance. It's true enough that dancing in its many forms does stir up the flesh, yet I hold an ace. That is, the instance where I believe there would be no holds barred at this time.
Have you guessed it? It is the time between ones own husband or wife, as the case may be, that they could have their very own private dance session in the privacy of their very own boudoir. They can go for it and dance to their own beat.
I also don't really see that the dances of worship to the Lord, or the welcome to a village dance is not for this time. I could be wrong.
Nevertheless, as Stanley says,
"May the Lord separate all that are His from this pleasure seeking world."
May our joy be in the Lord our strenth.
~ERC April 2022~
Based on a Youth Bible Study Guide about Morality - Social Issues Facing the Church by Rob Harbison. Also a tract called, "Dancing - Is It Expedient For Believing Christians" by Tom A. Roach and the tract entitled, "A Time to Dance" by Charles Stanley.
Search the Scriptures for principles to God's way especially when there is no direct black and white, "thou shalt's" or "thou shalt not's". In all we do let us please our Savior and Lord with the way we live and what we allow in our lives.
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