DANCING IS IT OK
Monday, September 04, 2006
Dancing: Is it OK?
A question that has passed through the minds of the Christian youth at one
point in time or another is: “Is dancing good or bad?”
Reaching an answer that satisfies every one is not easy. There are mainly two
opinions. Some of us think it is okay to dance, others do not. To these two
opinions, however, there are variations. Some say that it is okay to go to
dance parties as long as we keep a check on ourselves, and don’t go too far.
Others say it is more appropriate to dance only in small parties, birthday parties
for example, with only the close and trust worthy friends present. Another
variation to this opinion is that it’s okay to dance as long as we don’t put
other people present into temptations. Others say that it is OK if you only
dance on your own. The opposite opinion is more spiritual. It states that
dancing is inappropriate for Christians.
People dance because they want to pass time or because they enjoy it. When,
however, they grow in spirit, they would rather spend that time getting to know
God more closely and to strengthen their relationship with Him. And only at
very high spiritual levels would the one leave the whole world and dedicate his
or her life to the Lord our God.
The word “dancing” has a rather broad meaning, which may include such simple
activity as the expression of feelings of joy and enthusiasm, or the more
involved movement of one who is skilled to interpret and arouse powerful
emotions.
Biblical Instances:
Numerous Old Testament instances of dancing being approved can be cited. However,
a study of these accounts will reveal that each involved an expression of
rejoicing or religious enthusiasm because of some victory or accomplishment.
Such is the situation as Miriam led the women “with timbrels and dances”
(Exodus 15:20), after the deliverance from Egyptian bondage. Another example is
Jeptbah’s daughter greeting him with “timbrels and dances” after a great
victory (Judges 11:34). David’s thanksgiving for the safe return of the ark of
Covenant was evidenced as he “danced before Jehovah with all his might” (II
Samuel 6:14). Similar use of the term “dancing” is made by David the Psalmist
to express joy and praise unto the Lord God.
Since the term “dancing” is capable of expressing a broad range of man’s
thoughts and emotions? it may also portray that which is lewd and sinful.
Moses the prophet, having received the law from God, returned from the mount to
find the people dancing naked around the golden calf which they bad formed
(Exodus 32:19-26). Not only was this an
idolatrous act, but we clearly see Moses’ anger: “So it was, as soon as be came
near the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing. So Moses’ anger became
hot, and he cast the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the
mountain. Now when Moses saw that the people were unrestrained (for Aaron had
not restrained them, to their shame among their enemies), then Moses stood in
the entrance of the camp, and said, “Whoever is on the Lord’s side; come to
me.” And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him And about
three thousand men of the people fell that day.” Moses was clearly angry at the
behavior of the people, which clearly included the dancing.
The dancing of the daughter of Herodias had such appeal to the basic human
passion that Herod promised to give her anything she might desire and ask for -
a rash promise which led to the murder of John the Baptist. The Bible account
is as follows:
“But when Herod’s birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced
before them and pleased Herod. Therefore he promised with an oath to give her
whatever she might ask. So she, having been prompted by her mother, said, “Give
me John the Baptist’s head here on a platter”. And the king was sorry;
nevertheless, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he
commanded it to be given to her. So he sent and had John beheaded in prison”
(Matthew 14:3-10). Not only Herod was aroused with passion because of the
dancing, but also
Those who sat with him. “And when Herodias’ daughter herself came in and danced,
and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, “Ask
me whatever you want, and I will give it to you” (Mark 6:22).
Even when dancing for spiritual joy, Michal despised King David. For it was not
fitting that a person who is so close to the Lord, should behave in such a
manner, when he could have expressed his joy in a different manner that does
not cause offense to others, particularly the simple or weak: “We then who are
strong ought to bear with the scruples (weaknesses) of the weak, and not to
please ourselves (Romans 15:1). The second book of Samuel, Chapter six, verses
fourteen to sixteen tells us how Michal despised David: “Then David danced
before the Lord with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod. So David
and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and
with the sound of the trumpet. Now as the ark of the Lord came into the City of
David, Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David
leaping and whirling before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.”
People may also despise our dancing, and rather than telling this to us
directly, they will similarly despise us in their hearts.
Another similar situation arose when Israel fought against the Benjamites (two
tribes of the Old Testament). Israel triumphed over the tribe of Benjamin,
of which six hundred men went into hiding. Israel swore not to give their
daughters to the Benjamite men, yet they wept for their ‘brother’ Benjamin,
since a tribe would be lost. To recover this situation, Israel fought against
the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead and took four hundred virgins as wives for the
Benjamites. They were still two hundred wives short. In the closing part of
Chapter 21 of the Book of Judges, we are told of the method that was ‘used’ to
provide the 200 Benjamites that remained with wives. The Bible says “However,
we cannot give them wives from our daughters, for the children of Israel have
sworn an oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the one who gives a wife to Benjamin”. Then
they said, “In fact, there is a yearly feast of the Lord in Shiloh, which is
north of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goes up from Bethel to
Shechem, and south of Lebonah. Therefore they instructed the children of
Benjamin, saying, “Go, lie in wait in the vineyards, and watch; and just when
the daughters of Shiloh come out to perform their dances, then come out from
the vineyards, and every man catch a wife for himself from the daughters of
Shiloh; then go to the land of Benjamin. And the children of Benjamin did so;
they took enough wives for their number from those who danced, whom they caught
Then they went and returned to their inheritance, and they rebuilt the cities
and dwelt in them” (Judges 21:19-23)
An important factor that cannot be ignored is the Last verse of the Chapter,
which was repeated a number of
times throughout the whole Book of Judges (verse 25): “In those days there was
no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes”.
Matthew Henry, in his commentary on this section, sums it up well: “At Shiloh,
in the fields, all the young ladies of that city met to dance, in honor of a
feast of the Lord, probably the feast of tabernacles (v. 19), for that feast
was the only season wherein the Jewish virgins were allowed to dance, and that
no! so much for their own recreation as to express their holy joy, as David did
when he danced before the ark. The dancing was very modest and chaste. However
their dancing thus in public made them an easy prev to those that had a design
upon them”
Praise or Sin:
Now in the late twentieth century do you think that the dancing that we see on
TV, discos or nightclubs is used to praise the Lord? I don’t think so. What is
seen is people using their bodies to serve sin.
Our “modern dancing” - a phrase used to include both ballroom dancing in which
there is continuous body contact between partners and such dancing as that
which commonly accompanies modern rock music, as well as the eastern Belly
Dancing - differs greatly from the dancing mentioned in the Bible for spiritual
purposes. Such present-day dancing has no trace of religious significance, nor
is it solo in nature, but involves men and women dancing together and is
sensual in naiure (to provoke desires) and not induce spiritual feelings.
The word “dance” in the sense used today does not appear in the New Testament;
however, the idea it represents is mentioned, and is clearly condemned. Saint
Paul the Apostle lists the works of the flesh and notes that “they who practice
such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21).
Appearing in this list of eternally destructive traits are two terms closely
related to modern dancing, namely, “lasciviousness” and “revelings”.
“Lasciviousness”, according to reliable Greek-English lexicons or even an
English dictionary is akin to sexual excesses, having reference to “filthy
words, indecent bodily movement, unchaste handling of males and females”.
“Reveling” basically refers to excessive feasting and carousing, but has a
close relationship with “music and dancing”. Who can deny that the body contact
between the sexes, and the bodily movements associated with dancing to modern
music will lead to sexual arousal? No one can deny this fact. In fact, some
advocates of dancing stress that dancing is an outlet for sexual urges. The
whole range of the modern dance is designed to express or convey a message,
namely, ‘love-making’ and is calculated to be sexually stimulating.
It is understood, of course, that sex is Cod-given and is not sinful per SE.
Yet, God-given desires must have God-appointed boundaries; the righteous
fulfillment of the sex urge is limited to the marriage relationship (I
Corinthians 7:1-9). To engage in any activity, which produces lewd emotions or
excites unlawful sexual desire is “lasciviousness” and stands out as condemned
by God (Galatians 5:19-21). Let none be deceived; the basic appeal of the
modern dance, as admitted even by its proponents, has its foundation in human
passion. Obviously, not every person who engages in dancing ends up a
prostitute, fornicator, or an adulterer, yet many who have come to immoral
ends, began their journey by way of the dance.
Getboyz Closer!
As the one grows closer to the Lord Jesus Christ, the more he or she feels less
need for worldly desires, because all of his or her needs are fulfilled within
the Lord. We shouldn’t do anything that doesn’t praise the Lord, whether it is
dancing, sports or even reading. If you want to come a step closer to the Lord
Jesus Christ, then do not dance at all. As Jesus said “If your hand or foot
causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to
enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be
east into the everlasting fire” (Matthew
18: 8).
We, as Christians, must do everything for the glory of our Lord, everything..,
both in body and spirit. Lis
ten to what the Apostle Saint Paul says: “Or do you not know that your body is
the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you
are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your
body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
We must not only glorify God by our actions, but we must also flee from any
lustful desires: “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from
fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among
the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your
good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. For this
is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of
foolish men; as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bond
servants of God” (I Peter 2:
11-12; 15-16).
Many Christian youth would say: ‘why must we suffer these limitations while
seeing others enjoy their life through sensual acts like dancing?’‘Why should I
be different from my friends?’‘They make fun of us when we abstain from dancing
because of our faith’. My friend, do not think that it is a shame to be
different or even to ‘suffer’ as a Christian, remembering the words of Saint
Peter the Apostle: “Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be
ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. Therefore let those who suffer
according to the will of God commit
their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator” (I Peter 4:16,19).
The ‘fun’ or ‘enjoyment’ that the others seem to be having is not true, but a
false cover-up that leads to destruction. The words of Job (Chapter 21:1-18),
in his sufferings, are so real:
1. “Then Job answered and said:
2. ‘Listen carefully to my speech, And let this be your consolation.
3. Bear with me that I may speak, And after I have spoken, keep mocking.
4. As for me, is my complaint against man? And if it were, why should I not be
impatient?
5. Look at me and be astonished; Put your hand over your mouth.
6. Even when I remember I am terrified, And trembling takes hold of my flesh.
7. Why do the wicked Live and become old, Yes, become mighty in power?
8. Their descendants are established with them in their sight, And their
offspring before their eyes.
9. Their houses are safe from fear, Neither is the rod of God upon them.
10. Their bull breeds without failure; Their cow calves Without miscarriage.
11. They send forth their little ones like a flock, And their children dance.
12. They sing to the tambourine and harp, And rejoice to the sound of the
flute.
13. They spend their days in wealth, And in a moment go down to the grave.
14. Yet they say to God, ‘Depart from us, For we do
10not desire the knowledge of Your ways.
15. Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit do we have
if we pray to Him?’
16. Indeed their prosperity is not in their hand; The counsel of the wicked is
far from me.
17. How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? How often does their
destruction come upon them, The sorrows God distributes in His anger?
18. They are like straw before the wind, And like chaff that a storm carries
away”.
Warning, Warning!
My friends, watch out for your life, particularly from these wars which are
portrayed as normal or OK. Watch out for the expression that says “If it feels
good, do it”! These are the little foxes that come through the fence, which
protects the vineyard that has been planted. They grow into big foxes that
cannot be removed easily (Song of Songs 2:15). But always be prepared: “Be
sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring
lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing
that the same sufferings arc experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But
may the God of all grace, who called us to Ills eternal glory by Christ Jesus,
after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you”
(1 Peter 5:8-10).
Let none be deceived, the fruit of the modern dance has never increased purity
and spirituality, but the
-Destruction of all that relates to human happiness and eternal salvation. “The
joy of our heart has ceased; Our dance has turned into mourning.” Lamentation
5: 15
1. Remember your love for the Lord as well as His
love for you.
2. Have a strong spiritual program to follow, under
the guidance of your Confession Father. Program
may include:
•+ Prayer (including the Agbia Psalms).
+ Reading the Holy Bible and other spiritual material.
+ Regular attendance of Youth Meetings and Bible
Study Meetings.
+ Regular partaking of Holy Communion (with
proper preparation of repentance and confession).
+ Take up some sort of service in the Church.
3. Avoid listening to music, which causes you to
dance. Substitute this music with spiritual music. There is a large variety of
instrumental hymn music available at Christian Bookstores.
4. Avoid places where dancing occurs, e.g. nightclubs, discos, parties and
receptions.
Practical Guide for Sacrificing Dancing for the
1 Lord:
225. Be strong in your convictions and principles, and do not be influenced by
‘friends’.
6. Avoid watching or listening to music video shows.
7. Associate with spiritual people for support and take them as an example in
your life.
8. Examine your weak areas with respect to dancing, with the intention of
overcoming them (seeking spiritual advice).
9. Use all of your spare time wisely.
References:
• The Holy Bible, New King James Translation.
• Commentary on the Whole Bible, Matthew Henry.
• Commentary on the Book of Judges, Fr. Tadros V. Malaty.
• Articles from the Internet, including the Interactive Bible.
Prepared By:
Fr Macarus Wahba
Parish Priest
St. Mary’s Coptic Orthodox Church
Melbourne - Australia
Address: P. 0. Box 72, Remington, Vie., Australia, 0331
Fax: +61 3 9330 4336
