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 When
approaching a study on popular practices, there are usually
dozens of "reasons" given as to why the practice is
all right for the Christian. Such was the case in a recent study
with the high school class here at Oaks-West. When we began a
study on dancing, the first order of business was developing an
objective viewpoint toward the study. We had to take an honest
look at our own thinking and see if the "reasons"
given to dance were indeed reasons.
One
young man stated, "Dancing is in the Bible, so doesn't that
make it right"? Let's take a look at the kind of dances in
the Bible. First, there were dances of public rejoicing. Yet
these dances were performed in open daylight by men OR women
(each sex dancing separately) and only at times of blessings or
to express joy over some event. Dancing today is not the
same as this type of dancing (Ex. 15: 20; Jud. 11:34; 1 Sam.
18:6; 21:11; 29: 5; 2 Sam. 6:12; 1 Chr. 15:25). Second, there
were dances of worship (Ps. 149, 150). To say that you dance to
worship God would be to add to what is authorized in the New
Testament (2 Jn. 9,10). Also, most of the students agreed that
no one could honestly say that they dance to worship God.
The only other dancing mentioned in the Bible are those dances
which resulted in evil (Ex. 32:19f; Job 21:11; Matt. 14:6). Note
that all of these dances resulted in an evil attitude or deed.
The person that says dancing is in the Bible had better not use
these dances to justify his activity — and he cannot honestly
use the dances of public rejoicing or worship. Now, are you
beginning to think objectively?
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Let's
look at some other "reasons" that were given to
justify today's dancing. One person argued that it was fun, but
the students agreed that "fun" does not make a
practice right. Another argued that dancing was good exercise.
The students objectively replied that exercise did not make it
right. One young man flatly stated that no one goes to dances
for the exercise. I tend to agree — plan an all-girl or
all-boy "exercise" dance and see how many show up.
After looking at a few other "reasons," the students
realized that whether the argument for dancing was social
popularity, development of poise, or family income, those
arguments do not make dancing right or wrong. The
only factor that determines whether a practice is right
or wrong is what God says on the subject. If it violates
any New Testament principles, then it is wrong. Let's look at
the principles that shed some light on today's dancing
practices.
Space
does not permit a detailed study of two very important words in
Gal. 5:19-21 — lasciviousness and revelings. Both words allude
to activities that involve drinking, indecent handling of the
body, indecent bodily movements, and impure thoughts. This is
descriptive of today's dances. Read Matt. 1:33 and be honest
enough to admit that the fruits of most dancing are evil.
Obscene language, smoking, drinking, evil companionships,
petting and fornication are fruits of and companions to most
dances. Most of the high school students here at Oaks-West were
honest enough to admit that dancing is not Christ-like
activity — Are you? Kevan O'Banion
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