Dancing and the Christian

by Hugo Moule

Having moved from England to a Mennonite area of Canada, I soon discovered that that dancing was a taboo subject, and should not be engaged in by good Christians. Oh dear! What would Christians here think of me...a dance teacher?

It became my quest to understand the problem and to examine the subject of dancing from a biblical perspective.

Apparently, in days gone by, the dance was the place people went to get drunk and find someone to spend the night with. It is not surprising therefore, that Christians would shun this sort of event. In the course of time dancing was seen as being synonomous to drunkeness and loose living.

I asked someone recently if he would like to come to a dance where I was the teacher. He said, "Why would I need to go to a dance, I am happy with my wife. I have seen enough marriages break up because of dancing." It seemed he was associating dancing with licentiousness.

Another argument I have heard against dancing, is that it is considered by some Christians as being worldly, and as Christians we need to be separate from the world, so therefore dancing is an inappropriate activity for a Christian.

Why is dancing worldly? Is it any more worldly than doing sports or watching television or playing a game? You could argue that dancing is not as worldly as these other persuits, because dancing is mentioned in the Bible, sometimes as a good thing to do.

Dancing in the Bible

What does the Bible teach about dancing? There are 27 verses that mention dancing:

Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing. Exod. 15:20

When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, his anger burned and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces at the foot of the mountain. Exod. 32:19

When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, who should come out to meet him but his daughter, dancing to the sound of tambourines! She was an only child. Except for her he had neither son nor daughter. Judg. 11:34

and watch. When the girls of Shiloh come out to join in the dancing, then rush from the vineyards and each of you seize a wife from the girls of Shiloh and go to the land of Benjamin. Judg. 21:21

So that is what the Benjamites did. While the girls were dancing, each man caught one and carried her off to be his wife. Then they returned to their inheritance and rebuilt the towns and settled in them. Judg. 21:23

When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with tambourines and lutes. 1Sam. 18:6

As they danced, they sang: "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands." 1Sam. 18:7

But the servants of Achish said to him, "Isn't this David, the king of the land? Isn't he the one they sing about in their dances: "`Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands'?" 1Sam. 21:11

Isn't this the David they sang about in their dances: "`Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands'?" 1Sam. 29:5

David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might, 2Sam. 6:14

As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart. 2Sam. 6:16

So they took the bull given them and prepared it. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. "O Baal, answer us!" they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made. 1Kgs. 18:26

As the ark of the covenant of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David dancing and celebrating, she despised him in her heart. 1Chr. 15:29

They send forth their children as a flock; their little ones dance about. Job 21:11

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, Ps. 30:11

Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp. Ps. 149:3

praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, Ps. 150:4

a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, Eccl. 3:4

Come back, come back, O Shulammite; come back, come back, that we may gaze on you! Why would you gaze on the Shulammite as on the dance of Mahanaim? Song 6:13

I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel. Again you will take up your tambourines and go out to dance with the joyful. Jer. 31:4

Then maidens will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow. Jer. 31:13

Joy is gone from our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning. Lam. 5:15

"`We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.' Matt. 11:17

On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much Matt. 14:6

When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, "Ask me for anything you want, and I'll give it to you." Mark 6:22

They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other: "`We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not cry.' Luke 7:32

"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. Luke 15:25

Reading through all these verses in their context, I would like to point out a few things that I've noticed:

1. Dancing is very much part of the culture of people of the Bible.
   
   
2. Dancing is often associated with instrumental music, singing and tambourine playing.
   
   
3. On a number of occasions we are told women danced, but men may have been watching.
   
   
4. A possible interpretation of Jeremiah 39 v13 is that men and women may have been dancing together.
   
   
5. We know that King David danced with all his might for God.
   
   
6. Dancing is often seen as an expression of joy and is contrasted with mourning.
   
   
7. Dancing was often used in worship to the Lord or pagan deities.
   
   
8. Twice in the psalms, we are exhorted to dance in worship of God (Ps. 149:3, 150:4).
   
   
9. Jesus told a story of a man who squandered his father's fortune. On becoming broke, he saw the error of his ways and returned home begging his father for forgiveness. The father was so pleased to see him that he threw a party where there was music and dancing (Luke 15 v 25). Jesus used this story to illustrate how it is when a sinner is sorry for what he's done and comes to God. I do not believe Jesus would have used the word "dancing" in this story if he considered dancing to be wicked.
   
   
10. Nowhere in scripture does God say that dancing is wrong.

On two occasions God was angry at people who worshipped pagan deities, and the form of worship they used was dancing. God wasn't angry with the dancing, he was angry that the worship was directed towards other gods.

Some people have argued that Herodias's daughter's dancing before Herod was sinful ( Matt 14 v 6), but the Bible gives us no evidence of this. It was the murder of John the Baptist that was the sin.

In conclusion, it seems there is more of a case in the Bible to why we should dance than to why we shouldn't.

Is dancing wrong?

Is playing ice hockey wrong? If a group of people play a game and everyone has an enjoyable time, then it must be a good thing. However, if the hockey game ends in a brawl with unkind words being said, then it must be a bad thing. The answer to the question, is ice hockey wrong, is it depends on what happens at the game.

The same is true with dancing. There are certain dance situations I would stay well clear of because they are morally wrong:

1. As I mentioned before, I would stay well clear of any dance where there is drunkeness and promiscuity.
   
   
2. Dances can be anti-social. No one wants to live near a dance hall where there is loud music and anti-social behaviour.
   
   
3. Some dances contain pelvis and hip movement. It is unfitting for a Christian to invite people to lust after them and to cause more sensitive people to be embarrassed.
   
   
4. If you have an unhealthy interest in people of the opposite sex, then it is unwise to fuel that interest.
   
   
5. If the prevailing culture considers dancing with the opposite sex to be wrong, such as in many muslim countries, then I would gladly refrain from dancing so that I could be a good witness for Christ.
   
   
6. Some dancing is rooted in the occult, for example Morris dancing. Most of it is most probably harmless, however, I have no wish to promote pagan rituals, as this might encourage others to become interested in the occult.

It can equally be said that there are situations where dancing should be encouraged because it is a good thing to do:

1. In many areas of the world dancing is very much part of people's culture: Southern Africa, Latin America, North American Aboriginals, Greece, Russia, Israel, Spain, Ireland and Scotland are just a few of the countries or people groups where dancing is important. It would be tragic to outlaw dancing and thus contribute to the destruction of cultures. The gospel may however, effect the way people dance. For example, I have modified a few dances that I teach from the way they were originally danced so as not to cause embarrassment.
   
   
2. I have found from experience that country dancing is a wonderful ice breaker and a good catalyst for building relationships, and sharing our faith. I was part of a group that welcomed international students. We put on many social events including country dancing. We found that the more fun we had, the more likely the students would open up and want to study the Bible and talk about spiritual issues.
   
   
3. The world needs to see Christians have fun together. It is a tremendous witness. Jesus knew how to enjoy himself. Shouldn't we do the same? The best parties I have been to have been organised by Christians. At those parties people didn't get drunk, fight or behave anti-socially. Rather, people were kind to one another. We talked, ate good food and laughed a lot. We sometimes played silly games or danced or even tucked ourselves into a corner to have a deep meaningful conversation. I can remember how impressed some non-Christians were when they saw Christians enjoy themselves.
   
   
4. In the Bible we are exhorted to worship God in dance. Shouldn't some of us explore what it means to dance in worship of God? Sometime ago I was part of a dance/drama team that did performances to the general public in the open air. As a result we got plenty of opportunity to share our faith. I am convinced that many people were attracted to us because of the purity they saw.
   
   
5. One of the most important aspects of being a Christian is building good relationships. Dancing is a good forum for this to happen because team work is required. By learning to dance, you learn to relate better to others.
   
   
6. Some country dancing has something to say about how men and women should treat each other with courtesy and respect. Doesn't this enforce Christian values?
   
   
7. Dancing is good exercise.
   
   
8. Touching one another can be therapeutic and good. My two year old son gets a lot of hugs from me and my wife. He looks loved and behaves like it. I've noticed other children who've looked neglected. They are starving for affection and it shows. I'm sure the amount we've been touched in an affirming way has an effect on us throughout our lives. In most dancing there is a certain amount of physical contact with others and this is good if it is done with pure motives.

In conclusion, dancing can be good and it can be bad. It all depends on what goes on at the dance.

What then should our attitude be towards dance?

I would plead with all Christians not to reject dancing outright. If you have been told all your life that dancing is wrong, then it may be difficult to change. However, to hold onto this attitude could make you a stumbling block to those who are considering Christianity. If a Christian says that all dancing is lustful, what would a non-Christian think about Christianity, if they knew they didn't lust when they danced? Attitudes like this could put people off Christianity for the wrong reasons.

For those who want to dance, I would say be discerning and don't compromise your walk with God.

When I lived in England, I got asked to lead International Folk Dancing about 40 times a year at mostly church or evangelistic events, mostly to people who had little or no dancing experience. It was such fun. Having moved to North America, I am saddened about the resistance to dancing among Christians. They are missing so much that is good. I long to help Christians here to discover the joy of dancing in a way that would honour God.

Any Comments?

Copyright CALITE June 2002