Shall We Dance?
Introduction. The new school
year has begun, and young people now face a question that has long plagued us—should
Christians dance? This morning I would like to consider what the Bible
teaches on this important question.
I.
Dancing in the Bible.
A. There is dancing
that is not sinful.
1. It was a sign of
joy.
·
Job
bemoaned that the children of the wicked feel joy—“their children dance.
They sing to the tambourine and harp, and rejoice to the sound of the flute”
(Job 21:11-12), and yet
the righteous often
suffer.
·
David
praised God, declaring—“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You
have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness” (Ps. 30:11).
·
Solomon
tells us plainly that there is a “time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time
to mourn, and a time to dance” (Eccl. 3:4);
·
Jesus
quotes a proverb of the children (Matt. 11:16-19)
2. It was connected
with celebration.
·
Jephthah’s
daughter danced with the tambourine after her father’s victory (Judg. 11:34).
·
Israelite
women danced with the tambourine after Saul and David’s victory (1 Sam. 18:6-7).
·
All
Israel danced after a defeat of Philistines (1 Sam. 30:16);
·
In
Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son, when the prodigal returned home there was
“music and dancing” (Luke 15:25).
3. It was an
element of Old Testament worship (Exod. 15:20-21; 2 Sam. 6:13-15; Ps. 149:2-4; 150:3-6).
B. There is dancing
that is sinful.
1. Connected with
idolatry. Israel and the gold calf (Exod. 32:17-19). The New Testament never
teaches dancing as any type of worship (any more than it teaches instrumental
music, incense, or animal sacrifice).
2. Connected with
sinful behavior. Herodias’ daughter (Matt. 14:6-8). This was probably
provocative, and sexually seductive dancing that motivated Herod’s rash oath.
3. Connected with
“revelries.”
·
Gr.
komos— “properly a village festival: a revel, carousal, merry-making… it ended in the party parading the streets crowned,
bearing torches, singing, dancing, and playing frolics” (Liddell & Scott, Intermediate
Greek-English Lexicon).
·
“A
nocturnal and riotous procession of half drunken and frolicsome fellows who
after supper parade through the streets with torches and music in honour of
Bacchus or some other deity, and sing and play before houses of male and female
friends; hence used generally of feasts and drinking parties that are
protracted till late at night and indulge in revelry” (Thayer, Greek-English
Lexicon of the New Testament). They usually involved dancing and drinking.
·
Christians…
» Should not participate
in them (Rom. 13:13-14).
» Spend no more
time in them (1 Pet. 4:3-5).
» Cannot participate
in them and inherit the kingdom of heaven (Gal. 5:21).
II.
Dancing in Our World.
A. Adult
opportunities to dance.
1. Bars—Ballrooms—Weddings.
2. Usually
associated with drinking, immodest clothing, and sexually provocative
movements.
B. Opportunities
for young people to dance.
1. Schools dances—Parties—Banquets.
2. Also, usually
associated with drinking, immodest clothing, and sexually provocative
movements.
C. How do these not
qualify as komos-type revelries?
1. If so, we are
commanded not to participate in them (Rom. 13:13).
2. If so, we are
not to spend time in them (1 Pet. 4:3).
3. If so, we cannot
do them and inherit the kingdom of heaven (Gal. 5:21).
III. “But What’s the Harm?” Let’s say you
are not convinced that modern types of dances are the type of activities that
are condemned by Scripture—are there still reasons you should avoid them?
Yes!
A. You might be
led into sin (Prov. 6:27-29).
1.
The attraction between a man and a woman is one of the most powerful forces God
has ever created.
2.
It is a powerful bond intended to draw a husband and wife to one another—but as
this passage shows, it can be misdirected toward one to whom a person is not
married.
3.
Here is the fact: two bodies cannot be pressed against one another and moved in
rhythm to music without arousal!
4.
Two bodies cannot stand in front of one another and then move to music in
gestures that approximate sexual behavior without arousal! To give oneself over
to this sin.
B. You might
lead others to sin (Matt. 5:27-28).
1.
I am convinced that most young girls (and even some women) do not understand
the struggle that young boys and most men have.
·
I
have asked both my wife and daughter if they really understood the nature of
this until they were married and they said no. Let me try to explain it as
delicately but as frankly as possible.
2.
It is not simply that males find females attractive. Males that do not
deliberately fight to control their thoughts (in obedience to Christ’s
commands), with no effort at all—have constant sexual thoughts about women
around them.
·
That
includes not only mentally undressing women around them in their minds, but
also imagining themselves in sexual acts with those women.
·
Ladies
and girls, if you could spend five minutes in a football locker-room listening
to the type of talk in which non-Christian boys and men engage, this would
become crystal clear to you!
3.
Clearly, that is their responsibility—that is their sin—but, do Christians
want to contribute to that?
·
How
can a Christian woman or girl wear a dress that climbs half-way up her thigh
and it not contribute to the sin of others? How can a Christian woman or girl wear
a top that exposes her chest, shoulders, or back and it not contribute to the
sin of others?
·
How
can a Christian woman or girl wear clothing that exposes straps or bands of her
undergarments, and imagine that she is not contributing to the sin of others?
» Illustration. There are some
here that have a license to carry a concealed handgun. Part of the regulation
regarding this requires that it be carried in a way does not make it readily
apparent that you are carrying a concealed hand gun. If I wore a shoulder
holster that revealed the straps I would be inviting those around me to
recognize that I am carrying a concealed weapon. When a woman or girl (or even
men or boys) expose part of their undergarments they are inviting those around
them to consider what is concealed.This is not the way Christians should dress anywhere
in public! Church, the store, school, work, or anywhere.
4. At dances girls
and women will dress this way and even worse. Christians should not put
themselves in this environment.
5. Many might
agree, but let me ask this…how is it different to go to a dance, and to watch
one on television? How is it any different? Now, not all types of dance are
sinful but when there is skimpy clothing, provocative movements and
gestures…Christians don’t need to engage in such things via the airways or in
person.
Conclusion. What measures
should we take to avoid sin?
·
Personally
(Matt. 5:29-30)..
·
Causing
others to sin (Matt. 18:6-9).
These principles make it clear that
Christians have no business participating in or going to dances.