Why do Baptists object to dancing?

Speaking for only ourselves, we see nothing wrong with certain kinds of dancing.
We've attended an old fashioned dance from the 1800's a few times, where the waltz, Virginia Reel, and other dances were done in circles. The music is generally old American folk music, with dulcimer, mouth harp, guitar, fiddle & banjo. Square dancing, etc.is generally in a wholesome, family setting and gives children an idea of how things were in times past.
I see this kind of thing as very different from going to a dance hall where the music blares, smoke fills the room, people are getting intoxicated and "wolves" are seeking whom they may prey upon next.
Each church is different, of course, but I think today Baptists have varying attitudes & convictions about such things.

 

I dont see a problem with dancing. Christians all over allow their daughters to take ballet and tap dancing without any thought. Its the nasty stuff that bothers most Baptists I know.

 

I don't have a problem with dancing. . . there is good and bad kinds.

 

Luke 15:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

 

On the last cruise my wife and I went on there was an 'oldies' party with good dance music attended mostly by people our age and older (lots of gray hair). I thoroughly enjoyed dancing with my wife on those occasions. Anybody who thinks that sort of dancing is a sin needs his head examined!

 

I personally do both regular dancing and choreographed dancing, it's wonderful exercise and
very fun to do. Dance is simple a very good form of expression and sometimes to just let loose and have fun.

karen

 

Hum, I think I took a wrong turn around the corner. I was heading for the Baptist Theology & Bible Study forum, and inadvertently wound up here on the dance floor. Let me get out of here!

[ March 17, 2002, 05:13 PM: Message edited by: Barnabas ]

 

To quote Dr. Ronnie Simpson, "Dancing is vertical adultery looking for a horizontal position." The only dancing I feel that wouldn't grieve the Holy Spirit is the dancing a husband and wife might engage in, in the privacy of their own home (not to the tune of worldy music though). There is nothing spiritual about a group of people getting together to "dance." Furthermore, I've never seen anyone dance to psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. It's always to music that is either contemporary or worldly; both of which I believe to be wrong.

Give me the old, gospel hymns that don't arouse the flesh or give place to Satan and his devices. When it gets to your feet before it gets to your heart, something is wrong.

 

There is nothing spiritual about a group of people getting together to "bowl." Furthermore, I've never seen anyone bowl to psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. It's always to music that is either contemporary or worldly; both of which I believe to be wrong.

 

There is nothing spiritual about a group of people getting together to "play golf." Furthermore, I've never seen anyone play golf to psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. It's always to music that is either contemporary or worldly; both of which I believe to be wrong.

 

There is nothing spiritual about a group of people getting together to "ride bicycles." Furthermore, I've never seen anyone ride bicycles to psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. It's always to music that is either contemporary or worldly; both of which I believe to be wrong.

 

How spiritual are the football, baseball games etc, Christians go to?

How about the shenanegans and the music that goes on there?

Take me out to the ball game...

HankD

 

bking said:

The only dancing I feel that wouldn't grieve the Holy Spirit is the dancing a husband and wife might engage in, in the privacy of their own home (not to the tune of worldy music though).

Luckily for the rest of us, the Holy Spirit seems to feel differently, considering the very positive portrayal of dance throughout the God-breathed Scriptures.

There is nothing spiritual about a group of people getting together to "dance."

There is nothing spiritual about a group of people getting together at Swiss Chalet for chicken after church, but there don't seem to be an awful lot of polemic sermons out there about the sin of eating.

Furthermore, I've never seen anyone dance to psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.

You've never seen someone clap hands, tap their feet, sway, etc. to music in your church? Sure, they might not be twisting in the aisles, but it's still dance - and a perfectly natural, physical response to music.

Give me the old, gospel hymns that don't arouse the flesh or give place to Satan and his devices.

It's not the hymns - it's the insipid manner in which they are sung or accompanied.

 

If God can't be in the center of the "activities" we choose to engage in then we have no business doing them. If I have to compromise what God's Word teaches in order to "bowl", play "golf", or ride a "bike" then I'll do none of the three. A dedicated, separated, HOLY life doesn't include dancing. Never, never, never.

 

Ransom, if your response were not so extensive I would have transferred them to the humor forum - for they made me laugh. But aside from its suttle humor I do not find it correlated to Bible principles.

Now, to answer the original question this thread was opened with, my feeling on dancing is as follows:

The word, danced, appear about 4 times in the New Testament. It is never referring to an activity which was done by Christian believers. In Matthew 11:17, and Luke 7:32 Jesus likens the generation He lived in to children in the marketplace, as He said: We have piped unto you (played the flute), and ye have not danced.....

In Matthew 14:6 and Mark 6:22 we see the nature of dance again, as the daughter of Herodias danced during the Birthday celebration of Herod. We know the outcome of that one: John the Baptist was beheaded.

And finally, in the parable of the lost son (The Prodigal Son), we see the reaction of the older brother, upon returning from the field and finding merriment inside the house: Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.

While the former two example depicted dancing in the negative light, the latter in a positive light. Nevertheless you have to consider that the parable of Jesus was given before His walk to the cross, and we did not ever hear of any encouragements from the great Apostles of the faith to keep dancing for the glory of God after the cross. So, if I am not asked to dance - why should I?!

On the other hand, if our esteemed theologians, such as Dr. Griffin and Dr. Cassidy, in the privacy of their homes don't mind dancing with their wives - who am I to criticize them?!

 

Is this any way to treat Lawrence Welk?

Turn off the bubble machine!

HankD

[ March 19, 2002, 11:11 AM: Message edited by: HankD ]