Why is dancing such a “bad” thing in churches? 2 Samuel 6:14 says that David danced before the Lord with all his might. So what is the stigma? Throughout the Bible, dancing is linked to idolatry like the whole golden calf incident in the Old Testament or King Herod being entranced by a dancer’s seductive movements, leading to a catastrophic outcome in the New Testament. So is dancing ever OK?
Tim Brewer, Bible professor, says, “It all depends on the context of which the dance comes from. Some churches try to avoid it completely by outlawing all of it, including a father-daughter dance at weddings, while others just try to limit it. Some dance can be worshipful; it’s just all about the intent.”
So what kind of dance is OK? If your intentions are pure and for the purpose of worship, then dancing can be acceptable. For example, my church during Vacation Bible School loves to have a dance team and the children really enjoy it. Or if you’re at a wedding it’s fine and the dancing is all in good fun and not sexual or spurred from drinking (more on that later).
But what’s the spiritual significance of movement or dance? Well, Romans 21:1 tells us to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice. We should be giving ourselves to God in a worshipful way. Obviously, when you think of dance you probably think of “Dancing with the Stars” or some big choreographed dance but dance within the church isn’t like that at all. It’s letting the Spirit move in you whether that’s falling to your knees in prayer or lifting your hands in praise for God.
When all is said and done, it’s really up to your church whether or not dancing is OK there and it’s all about your mindset too. Are you worshipping and letting the spirit move within you? Or are you just trying to seek attention and validation from others? Make sure your mind is right with God before you start “dancing.”
Check out our recent stories!
Real Talk With Tay: Where Has Our School Spirit Gone?
From the Sidelines by Carlos Chicas: CBC Soccer
Nadiyah’s Notebook: The Perfect Day
Real Talk With Tay: Biblical Figures, But Make it CBC Majors
