When is dancing wrong?

Havin' a busy spell, John? It happens to the best of us.

Now John. You know that this passage is talking about marriage(and Paul's preference that folk remain single and celibate). Certainly isn't talking about dancing.

Honestly, you make it sound as though it's not possible for a man to simply touch a woman with being led to lust. If I thought that was the case I wouldn't let my husband out the door much less go to work in an office full of women.

Let me be clearer. While presenting the Bon in Japan as part of a religion festival is sin, would presenting the Bon in America as part of a presentation of Japanese folk dances also be sin?

Perhaps dancing hasn't been used to bring people to Christ, as you've used the martial arts, because of the stigmatism that has been attached to it. The same kind of stigmatism that some in the early church attached to meat that had been sacrificed to idols. (see I can make the passage about meat apply, just like you made the passage on marriage apply. )

 

It is not the violence that is wrong. It is using the violence in a manner that violates other principles in the Bible.

 

Now that's a deep thought... I had to think for a minute!!

 

As the god's that were offered meat had no power, the god honed in the dance has not power. Neither do harm to the Christian. Of course we would not dance in front of those here who still oppose such things.

 

But John, if you punch someone in the nose you must hate them is as fair as saying if you touch someone in a dance you must be lusting.

It’s easy enough to compare the two if either is taken out of a Christian mind frame. Are you telling me you’ve never came across a martial arts studio that had poor discipline and guidance, not to mention pagan philosophy instead of Christian values?

What’s wrong with me twisting your kata dancing around and say it leads to temptation for a challenge while there must be imagining of an opponent to destroy him in hate.

I personally know a 10th degree dan (will PM his name to you if you like) that doesn’t go anywhere without a body guard because his reputation alone leads people to hate him and challenge him causing conflict. BTW he is a pastor of a very large church and he being a martial artist is judged by other people hatefully, so can his art be considered to cause unrighteous violence since he chooses to participate in Arts? If not, why can social dancing be considered to cause lust if one chooses not participate in lust?

It that example there was no hatred involved; that could be considered a way to get free lessons. :smilewinkgrin:

And the problem is not with the social dance itself but the level of promiscuity or suggestiveness in the individuals doing the dance.

Right!

I’d have to do an exegesis and get the context working.

Hate to see you have to get out of a crowded burning building in a hurry with that interpretation. Will have to disagree that touching a woman on the waist in a dance is being sexually intimate. I know people who would say martial artist train to kill people.

Granted there are improper body movements in some styles of dancing but I have a feeling what some would consider “movements emphasizing certain parts of the body” or “immodest dress” to be unto lust may not even be thought of that way by others which again goes back to the heart. (Matthew 12:35 A good man out of the good treasure in his heart bringeth forth good things; an evil man out of the evil things in his heart bringeth forth evil things.)

Naw, I just don’t take dancing so personally, wiggle??? What would you have one do stand there stiff with their hands on their sides, would raising up and down on their toes be alright? :smilewinkgrin:

I don’t have to do all that I was just trying to suggest some training exercises for someone that thought dancing was dangerous. :wavey:

When I’m socially dancing I don’t have to concentrate on not lusting! I have my principles right too, and know precisely when and how and who (wife) to desire.

I’m just messing with you Bro, first if you think it is wrong for you to dance socially then I agree you shouldn’t do it, (if I saw you I would probably laugh at you anyway! :smilewinkgrin: ) as long as no one points a finger at me saying, sinner. Second, I’d be one of the last people on this earth to say that a Christian should roll over on his back with feet in the air like a whipped pup while wetting their self when confronted with violence or unrighteousness.

Further, I think martial arts is a great ministry tool to use for drawing youth into Christian fellowship. I just also think social activities such as dancing in a Christian mind frame shouldn't be so highly judged, while fellowship and pure thought would be encouraged could be very beneficial to draw couples to get out and be social while setting a good example that Christians don’t have to be stuffed-shirt and judgmental over what they judge is in another’s mind. Look at the divorce rate in this country among the Christian population, people aren’t being brought into the church learning Christian principles, they’re being pushed away by these types of religious judgments. We had a couples group at my old church that became very tight and grew rapidly through social events which “GASP” included dancing, swimming, laser tag, picnics, movies, and oh yes Bible study bringing people closer to God and "His" righteous judgment.

I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree about the dancing guidelines concerning matters of the heart as I would say if one thinks it causes them to feel sexually intimate then they should refrain from doing it.

 

When is it right?

 

When it's done in the privacy of your own home with your spouse.

 

Now there’s an idea, Christian dance style!!! yep, taking a secular idea and found a Christian ministry out of the original, Christian instructors… Christian philosophy… hey, this could really take off! I can already envision some new dance styles; the Christian twist- training would involve duck taping some boards from under their arms to their knees and let them have at that Chubby Checker tune.

Well see the thing about Wing Chun is that they always keep balance even though they stay in close, they actually think it’s acceptable to step in and will use your own poor balance against you; otherwise some old school TKD guy might kick the wind out of you. :thumbs: :laugh:

 

When is dancing wrong??

When you are not her husband ---- and she is not your wife!!!

You think about that one!!!