Featured A Time to Dance

The best argument against dancing can be made by watching me try to do it

Best argument for dancing is found in scripture.

Confronting the text: Qoheleth's argument might be that a wise person would know when the correct time was.

Scripture would suggest joyous times and during time of praise… like when we celebrate Christ's resurrection.

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever! Psalm 30:11–12 (ESV)

Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Psalm 150:4–5 (ESV)

Imagine that, percussion instruments and dancing in praise of our Lord.
Not so sure our fundy friends will be in the front row.

Rob

 

There was no dancing in the tabernacle, temple or synagogues. The Jews didn't consider worship to be a time to dance.

 

It's always humorous to watch someone try to force a sin into the Bible that is not there. Or define what is sin by their own measure instead of strictly by the written Word. Every sinful act or behavior is an adulteration of a God-honoring act or behavior. The same is true for dancing. There is a right time for it; whether that be in worship of God, dancing with one's spouse or children, or at a social "square dancing" type of activity.

The trouble is that so many people have been convinced that dancing is innately sinful and cannot be conducted without some vile sexual thoughts or behaviors. Perhaps this speaks more to the thought life of the condemners. It is also humorous to hear the silence from those who claim to garner their beliefs solely from Scripture when challenged with Biblical examples of God-honoring dancing. Then, just for laughs, bring up the verses on drinking wine & watch the theological "dancing" around.

 

Just dealin' with the text of the OP. The text was there in the first century. Did the Jews dance in the temple or in the synagogue? Did Christ and His disciples dance in their times of worship?

You can do what you want. It doesn't look like Ecc. 3:4 is the verse for you, though.

 

What is that supposed to mean? The verse says that there is a time to dance & a time to mourn. Those times are assumed to be self-evident; which they are. When we are glad & when we are sad....as simple as that.

 

Do tell... :smilewinkgrin:

 

Well, to be quite honest, if Tracy would dance with me, I would do it at the house. However, she isn't a dancer, and I am no good at it either.


The song "I can't dance" by Genesis, whoever wrote it, had me in mind.....

 

It means neither the Jews nor the Christians of the first century applied the verse to dancing in the Temple, synagogues or during church gatherings.

If you want to use it to support your superior, more spiritual and joyous form of worship-dance, go ahead, but you do so contrary to the testimony of the cloud of witnesses.

 

Now that's funny! I just love how you slip those little descriptors in that haven't been used by me, or anyone else on this side of the discussion. That's not a "cloud of witnesses", just the smoke screen your blowing to give weight to your position. The only "witness" is God's word, which gives testimony to Godly men dancing before Him in praise under the Old Law. Those same Jews, which you are claiming to emulate, kept others in bondage to an unScriptural law & had Christ crucified. Do you really think their's is a true & perfect example? If God honored self-abasing dance in praise of Him under the restrictive Law, which separated God & man, I have no doubt that He is still pleased when His children dance for Him under the New Covenant of grace.

Your doctrine is one of omission, not commission. By your standards, the CofC must be correct in their rejection of any type of musical instrument in the "church" since Scripture does not record their use under the New Covenant. The CofC have the same view of music in worship as you have of dance. Let's see if your doctrine of omission is consistent or reserved for those actions which offend your personal preferences. Do you allow musical instruments in your church?

 

In our era "dancing" generally means a simulation of the sex act set to music. If you feel comfortable as a Christian with that, go for it.

 

Good 4 U . What is that thing the kids were doing a couple of years back, couldn't remember the name of it. Not sure if that's what the OP was talking about. But even the tango, the bossonova, all of those are ritualized sex acts, essentially. That's not what David was doing. If someone want to whirl around ecstatically in praise of God, they should do it. Not my cup of tea either.

 

So, when you cannot defend your doctrine from Scripture, you resort to setting up a straw-man & making a condemnation of those who do not adhere to your false argument. Perhaps a more accurate statement would have been, "In my church, dancing is seen as a simulation of the sex act set to music". Our "era" is not limited to your narrow, twisted view. I actually dance with my wife without the need for sex afterward. I also dance with my daughters, ages 9-18, without a single sicko-defined thought crossing my mind.

This discussion reminds me of the teachers at a fundamentalist school I attended who told the boys not to put our hands in our pockets because they thought it looked like we were, and I quote, "playing with ourselves". Sick minds judging others based upon their own sick thoughts. This is what happens when we leave the spiritual freedom of the Spirit & priesthood, and use man-made law as our guide & sustainer.

 

No it would not have been more accurate, as I have never heard that statement uttered by anyone previously.

What do you think, I was in church, and the pastor was orating that from the pulpit, and I was scribbling it down furiously in my notes, "Dancing is the simulation of a sex act."

 

Of course, David's wife was made barren for criticizing his dancing, something to keep in mind I guess.

 

They have said that since before Jesus was on the earth. Your imagination outstrips reality.

 

Oh come on Ann! You know why they say Baptists don't have s*x while standing? Cause it looks like they're dancing! :laugh::laugh:

My bad. I'll probably get an infarction....er...infraction for that. :smilewinkgrin: