Is Dancing Sinful?

Sure.

 

Me and my girls dance all the time, even when other people don't hear music, lol! My oldest would dance to the hum of the vaccuum cleaner when she was only months old, she taught us to find the rhythm in anything.
da Gina

 

...sort of depends on the kind of dancing you do...

I've seen some of what the local teens do, and it makes me blush!

On the other hand, whirling around with the kids, square dancing, waltzes, polkas, or just kind of turning loose in an exuberant way rather than a suggestive way -- go for it!

(My oldest son used to RIDE the vacuum cleaner when he was about 18 months old. Made cleaning the house real exercise for me!)

 

LOL Helen! That's funny. Dancing can be sinful if it is done like many of the teens do it today- sexually. Dancing just because it is dancing is not sinful however.

Look at Moses and the Isrealites- they danced!

UNP
Adam

 

Some dancing can be sinful. Some dancing can be just plain fun.

 

King David danced naked in front of the servants' maids, and his wife Michal (the daughter of Saul) was made barren for criticizing him for it. (2 Sam 6:14-23)

Is David's example applicable to us today?


[ December 28, 2001: Message edited by: BWSmith ]

 

My view of dancing is like any other activity which is related to the social climate of the times. If you are talking about dancing like teenagers do today--as Helen said, it can be sinful because it is done to be erotic to the opposite sex. David's dancing was a different sort, in a different culture.

Here is the way to tell if something today is a sin. Ask yourself: Would a non-Christian view you as being a hypocrite if they saw you partaking in the activity. When I see somebody standing in their front yard talking with someone with a beer-can in their hand, I'm sorry, but I see what I would consider a non-Christian. I would imagine a non-Christian assumes the same thing. I know that sounds judgemental, but non-Christians will judge Christians and will look for reasons not to believe and if dancing is viewed upon as sinful by the non-Christian world, then we as Christians should stay away from it. Same with going into R rated movies. You may be a strong enough Christian to ignore the sin in the movie (although that is a whole other subject) but if people who are not Christians see you there they are likely to judge you and your religion.

Dancing at home with the kids, no problem--going to the corner bar where people go to drink and dance will effectively destroy your testimony. Maybe I have been wrong, but I have let my daughters go to the school proms, but they are to come right home afterwards and not cruise and drink with the other kids.

This is where pastors are USING "legalism" in a wrong way by saying churches should not be "legalistic" and Jesus Christ takes away sin so that is all we should worry about. What has happened is the pendulum has swung too far to the other side and now liberal churches will allow their members to do anything they want to because Jesus erased their sins. While that is true, we still should follow the laws of God and if we are viewed as a sinner, then we are doing something wrong. I went to a very liberal Baptist church and they even had dances for the kids in the basement----the youth minister said they had to use rock and roll and dancing to attract the kids to church---when does it end---do we start serving beer to the kids because they won't come to church otherwise? I don't think so.

 

Phillip, for the most part I completely agree. I only see a problem with the example you used. You say that if you see someone with an alcoholic drink in their hand you consider it to be a non-Christian act. I myself will never drink, beer, wine, or otherwise because I choose not to, but I have not yet seen an airtight case against drinking beer or wine, when it is done in moderation. I am curious as to what reasons you see it as non-Christian?

Thanks!

UNP
Adam

 

In a few minutes, I'm leaving to go hang out and sit in with a friend's band at a local bar.

When we're done, I plan to dance and probably have a Yeungleung or two.

Nothing wrong with it, just blowing off a little steam.

Mike

http://www.keylife.org

[ December 28, 2001: Message edited by: Smoke_Eater ]

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Helen:
...sort of depends on the kind of dancing you do...I've seen some of what the local teens do, and it makes me blush!
On the other hand, whirling around with the kids, square dancing, waltzes, polkas, or just kind of turning loose in an exuberant way rather than a suggestive way -- go for it!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I totally agree, Helen! I live in a house full of dancers. I see nothing wrong with dancing, unless it is done in a sexually suggestive manner.

Cecilia, who has 2 left feet but doesn't let that stop her from enjoying the music

 

Good, clean, fun dancing- good.
Sexual dancing- bad.
Polka dancing- ugly.

--Odette

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by flyfree432:
Phillip, for the most part I completely agree. I only see a problem with the example you used. You say that if you see someone with an alcoholic drink in their hand you consider it to be a non-Christian act. I myself will never drink, beer, wine, or otherwise because I choose not to, but I have not yet seen an airtight case against drinking beer or wine, when it is done in moderation. I am curious as to what reasons you see it as non-Christian?

Thanks!

UNP
Adam<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Well, that was probably not a good example. I must say that I as a person see no problem with a drink or two in moderation; however, I will say that I have some neighbors who tend to have beer cans in their hands 12 hours a day if they are outside wandering around in their yards. I associate them with non-Christians because that is exactly what they are and that picture just came to my mind when I was posting earlier. Remember, I live in the Bible belt and in this area we are "expected" to be less sinful than other areas of the country. I have embarassed deacons to the point of almost having them try to hide when seeing them pick up a six pack of beer at the grocery store. Obviously, if they feel guilty then it is obviously they feel that it is sinful and to them -- it probably is. I did not necessarily mean that if I see someone in a front yard with a beer can in his hand that he is NOT a Christian. What I meant was that it seemed to be something a non-Christian would likely do more than a Christian. If I thought my can of beer (just like the dancing) were to have an effect on my testimony (Hey, there's that guy from church, Phillip out there drinking beer, some hypocrite.) This is the type of comment that might be heard from a non-Christian. Now remember, this part of the country is heavily Baptist and Baptists in our area are expected not to drink (right or wrong) I think if it hurts your testimony that it is sin. Yes, I know wine was used at wedding ceremonies in Christs day and one of his first miracles was to turn water to wine, but the culture in our small town is different now. Back then it was a practice that was done by everybody and the Bible did mention not to drink to drunkenness or something like that, but today in our town a Budweiser can in the hand seems to have a little more worldly meaning than it did back then. This is simply my opinion and I am not telling you that it is wrong for you to drink. I could see Christ with a cup of wine in the Middle Ages, but somehow I just can't see him with a sitting in a smokefilled bar putting down a few brewskies while watching the women wiggle on the dance-floor. (I hope that example illustrates my point.) I did not mean to be judgmental to the point of "If you drink a beer you are a non-Christian." Does all that make sense? I'm having trouble getting my brain and hands to work together tonight. Have a good New Years!

 

Sensual dancing is evil. Non-sensual dancing with your spouse or in a group is legitimate entertainment.

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Phillip:

Remember, I live in the Bible belt and in this area we are "expected" to be less sinful than other areas of the country. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Are you serious? Have you ever read any of the great Southern literature?

I was born, raised and educated through college in the deep south (B'Ham, Alabama) and I live in Yankee-ville now.

Most of the people I know up here think we all walked out of Street Car Named Desire.

Mike

http://www.keylife.org

 

Psalm 150 mentions dancing as a way to Praise God.

David danced unto God with all his might for 20 miles when the ark of the covenant was returned.