News: Wheaton College to allow dancing?

The church I attend also forbids dancing of any kind.

I don't particularly have a desire to dance. But it is one thing to choose for yourself using the Bible as your guide and having someone tell you that it is forbidden. I was an adult long before becoming a member of my church but this contract seems to be a justification for not letting a person be responisble for their own choices. Much the way a parent would make decisions for a small child.

I guess because it says that David danced for the Lord, I have a bit of a problem with the church saying that it is ungodly.

Charlotte

 

Salome danced also and it cost John the Baptist his head! That's one thing wrong with dancing right there........lust.

 

I never considered dancing to be something to lose one's head over

Okay, seriously, I don't think it's the dancing, but the manner of dancing. I doubt Salome danced in the same manner than Jesus and his desciples might have danced, as above. And he must have at least been seen dancing, because he's described as "the Lord of the Dance". Also, in Psalms, we're told to praise God with dancing.

 

Yes I agree, sometimes dancing can insight a sexually immoral response.

But I think my problem with this issue isn't so much the issue of whether or not dancing in the broadest sense of the term is ungodly but who has the authority to dictate if a Christian is responsible enough to decern when it is appropriate or not. Shouldn't an individual person be accountable for their own decisions in matters of how they conduct themselves? Or more to the point, shouldn't the reason to decline from the practice be based on a heartflet descernment of what they beleive that God wants them to do rather than because they were forbidden by their church, school or fear?

Like I said, I don't have a desire to dance, I really do not. But I don't like the idea of someone telling me that if I do I am being immoral. If I want to take a waltz with my husband would this be wrong? Should I be made to feel that I am ungoldly if I consider it? That's all I'm saying.

My church has said that if your toes are tapping that it is the devil insighting you to immorality. That just seems overkill to me.

 

Stubborn,

This is the first time seeing your pic. Are you Asian?

 

Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I have always thought of dancing as a way of communicating. I dance with family (even my female cousins ) as a way of showing that I care for them. It allows you to get close to someone and talk and really get to know that person. It's kind of like a hug.

Would all who are against dancing also be against hugging other people? That could be misconstrued by others to be sexual. Seriously think about that.

If someone thinks my dancing with my mom, grandma, cousin, or even a fellow churchmember is sexual or dirty, then they need to pray about their own evil thoughts. Nothing could be further from the truth when I am dancing.

Also, do any of you ever do aerobics? That is a form of dancing.

You know, I feel sorry for people who can take something as innocent as a dance and turn it into something dirty. Now, that goes both for people against dancing alltogether, and those for any kind of dancing.

Some types of dancing are obviously dirty and shouldn't be done, but to say all dancing is wrong because of the way a few people turn dancing into "hanky panky" is to throw the baby out with the bath water.

I hope everyone will give what I have said some serious consideration.

God Bless. Bro. James - a "mean" two-stepper

 

But wasn't David au naturale ?? Nekked ?

I love to dance. Used to do a mean twist and stroll back in the 60s - when I was young before Arthur (arthritis) and Ben (Ben Gay - no Josh, nothing to debate here ) took over. And my back was thrown out. And my knees lost cartilage. And...

Two step. That's nice. Especially to Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and Unchained Melody. Ahh...(oops! I'm on the Baptist Board. To Self: Get ahold of yourself, Woman! )

 

This is so lame! How does this make you closer to God.....it doesn't it is legalistic *** unnecessary offensive slang removed***

[ February 24, 2003, 11:46 PM: Message edited by: C.S. Murphy ]

 

This is neither lame nor legalistic. This is the way our young people choose to dress and I applaud them for their stand for Godliness.

The young men have short hair and the young ladies have whatever style they choose. These are just a few of the things mentioned in the Bible.

Where did I say that dressing modestly made you closer to God???

There are some things meant only for a spouse's eyes to see. I believe your body is one of them.

If you wouldn't rub bellies with another man after marriage (and call it dancing), you shouldn't be doing it before marriage either.
Dancing with your spouse is fine.

There are so many temptations in this world today. Satan is trying to steal our young people and we'd better wake up and realize this fact.

Any temptations we can keep our children from encountering is one less they have to fight. This is our job as parents!

JMHO
Sue

 

My wife is the graduate from a school where the teachers were mostly BJU grads. Dancing, movies and facial hair were verboten.... I was not allowed to attend her junior/senior banquets(prom alternatives) because I had hair that touched my collar and facial hair. I learned young(19) that legalism reeks. My main problem is that instead of teaching why we do or don't do certain things. We stop with telling the kids do not do this or that. I have made my wife agree to teach the principles behind the prohibitions. All 3 of my daughters enjoy Ballet and such. I see nothing wrong with dancing as long as appropriate attitudes of respect to God and my girls (and 12 inches of empty space) are maintained. Inappropriate touching will result in strict disciplinary action. My daughters all know this and they also know the astringent standards potential suitors are to meet, before I will approve the date.

 

As far as "rubbing bellies and calling it dancing" goes . . .

Not all dancing involves touching, and not all touching involves dancing. It's incredibly misleading to equate dancing (even slow dancing) to just random belly rubbing (which phrase I presume is intended to construe something sexual - please correct me if I'm wrong).

 

Having grown up in such legalism, you can rest assured: a) the young people rarely "choose" to dress that way & b) and girls wearing coullotes and boys wearing sweats when they play basketball is no sure sign of godliness. Such legalism drove away far more young people from our school/church than it molded into Christ-likeness. The focus was so outward that we forgot Christianity is about a heart relationship.

Thank God for freedom from such legalism !!!

 

Which leads us to the old joke for which the punchline is: Because someone might think they were dancing.

(Set-up for the punch-line ommitted because some people here will get offended by anything.)

Joshua

[ February 25, 2003, 01:02 PM: Message edited by: Rev. Joshua ]

 

It's funny that you should mention that. I was just on the phone with a colleague while browsing through the forums and he mentioned how - when he was a teenager - the girls who came from those environments were guaranteed to be "easy" because of their eagerness to escape the repression.

Joshua

 

I can see why threads get closed down that you decide to participate in Joshua.

What a terrible stereotype and very unGodly. I will pray for you and your friend both...

 

While you may not have preferred Joshua's description, his point is a valid one. It was also my experience that very often those who were force-fed such legalism went to the opposite extreme.

My wife and I, who both grew up in very legalistic situations, often grieve over our teenage friends who no longer will have anything to do with church or Christianity b/c of the brand that was forced upon them. We can count just as many or more who have abandoned Christ than those who are now living consistent Christian lives .

And most of those who are living for Christ have left the legalism of their youth. As a matter of fact, I can count on one hand young people who were active in our massive youth group who maintain the same legalistic mentality in which they were raised. That in itself speaks volumes. Legalism allows no middle ground.

Grace is liberating indeed!

 

It's certainly not a completely untrue stereotype. I knew many many girls in my church (and quite a few PKs I went to school with) who proved it. But it is anecdotal evidence, and as such, is fairly inadmissable. Either way, it's not a stereotype limited to the former teenage mind of Joshua's friend.

 

I Am Blessed,

Pardon? I'm not aware that threads have ever been closed because of the content of my posts. News threads always get closed after the third page.

Is there a more delicate way I could have phrased my post and still made my point? It is, admittedly, anecdotal evidence - but an awful lot of people have those anecdotes. SBC's point about what a small number of people actually perpetuate that legalism into adulthood is also significant.

Joshua

P.S. I remember a liberal adult friend who used to date someone in Jim Merritt's church - even to the point of attending there with her. When asked why, he gave a similar explanation to that of my colleague above. I always think of that when I consider the size of many conservative churches.

 

I had nightmares of going to a Christian legalist health club, where I'd be forbidden from wearing gym shorts and sleeveless tee in the weight area. I can't imagine how uncomfortable it would be to wear sweats in the steam room!!!