Shall We Dance?Shall We Dance?

Dancing DefinedDancing Defined

WebsterWebster““the act or art of moving in measured step the act or art of moving in measured step

corresponding to the time of the music”corresponding to the time of the music”Encyclopedia BritannicaEncyclopedia Britannica

““Dancing consists in the rhythmical Dancing consists in the rhythmical movement of any or all parts of the body movement of any or all parts of the body in accordance with some scheme of in accordance with some scheme of individual or concerted action which is individual or concerted action which is expressive of emotions or ideas.”expressive of emotions or ideas.”

Differing types of danceDiffering types of dance

Types of DanceTypes of DanceSocial Dance/participationSocial Dance/participation

Historical, ballroom, folk, latin, swing, street, Historical, ballroom, folk, latin, swing, street, etc.etc.

Concert Dance/performanceConcert Dance/performanceHistorical, ballet, bellydance, 20Historical, ballet, bellydance, 20thth century, etc. century, etc.

Competitive DanceCompetitive DanceBallroom, disco, Irish, Scottish country, etc.Ballroom, disco, Irish, Scottish country, etc.

Resource: WikipediaResource: Wikipedia

QuestionsQuestions

1.1. Which dances are Which dances are condemned?condemned?

2.2. How does one determine How does one determine such?such?

How to approachHow to approach

Will not find a detailed list of Will not find a detailed list of dances which are condemned or dances which are condemned or allowed.allowed.

Will not find a “Thou shall” or Will not find a “Thou shall” or “Thou shall not” dance“Thou shall not” dance

Principles and categoriesPrinciples and categoriesDoes this type of dance run contrary to Does this type of dance run contrary to

principles of righteousness?principles of righteousness?Does this type of dance fall into specific Does this type of dance fall into specific

categories of sin?categories of sin?

Does it hurt my influence?Does it hurt my influence?

Matthew 5:13-16Matthew 5:13-16““salt of the earth”salt of the earth”““light of the world”light of the world”

TestTestAttending this dance will:Attending this dance will:

help my influence.help my influence.hinder my influence.hinder my influence.

Is it of value?Is it of value?

Philippians 1:10Philippians 1:10““approve the things that are excellent”approve the things that are excellent”““to be of considerable value, in view of to be of considerable value, in view of

having certain distinctive characteristics” having certain distinctive characteristics” Louw-NidaLouw-Nida

TestTestMy participation in this dance proves My participation in this dance proves

I understand what is truly valuable.I understand what is truly valuable.TrueTrueFalseFalse

Classified as work of the Classified as work of the flesh?flesh?

Sensuality (Galatians 5:19)Sensuality (Galatians 5:19)Lasciviousness or LicentiousnessLasciviousness or Licentiousness““wanton (acts or) manners, as filthy wanton (acts or) manners, as filthy

words, indecent physical movements, words, indecent physical movements, unchaste handling of males and unchaste handling of males and females, etc.”females, etc.”

“ “ (a) connected or preoccupied with (a) connected or preoccupied with bodily or sexual pleasures; voluptuous; bodily or sexual pleasures; voluptuous; (b) lustful; licentious; lewd”(b) lustful; licentious; lewd”

TestTest

This dance enhances my:This dance enhances my:sensualitysensualityspiritualityspirituality

This dance stimulates me to This dance stimulates me to greater:greater:sensualitysensualityspiritualityspirituality

Does it promote lusting?Does it promote lusting?

Matthew 5:27-28Matthew 5:27-28““committed adultery with her in his committed adultery with her in his

heart”heart”2 Timothy 2:222 Timothy 2:22

““flee from youthful lusts”flee from youthful lusts”Romans 13:14Romans 13:14

““make no provision for the flesh in make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lust”regard to its lust”

Testimony of PhysiciansTestimony of Physicians

““The modern dance is condemned The modern dance is condemned precisely at this point. It is not precisely at this point. It is not wrong solely because it might lead wrong solely because it might lead one to the physical act of one to the physical act of fornication, but it is sinful to the fornication, but it is sinful to the degree that is arouses unrestrained degree that is arouses unrestrained desires that cannot be fulfilled desires that cannot be fulfilled under present relations and under present relations and conditions.” conditions.”

Dr. Thomas C. WhitfieldDr. Thomas C. Whitfield

Testimony of EducatorsTestimony of Educators

The modern dance is a “system of The modern dance is a “system of means, contrived with more than means, contrived with more than human ingenuity, to excite the human ingenuity, to excite the instinct of sex action.”instinct of sex action.”

Professor W.C. WilkersonProfessor W.C. Wilkerson““Dancing is an exciting and Dancing is an exciting and

pleasurable recreation as it affords a pleasurable recreation as it affords a partial satisfaction to the sex partial satisfaction to the sex impulse.”impulse.”

Dr. Lita HollingsworthDr. Lita Hollingsworth

TestTestThis dance encourages me to:This dance encourages me to:

abstinence.abstinence.adultery.adultery.

This dance helps me:This dance helps me:flee youthful lusts.flee youthful lusts. follow youthful lusts.follow youthful lusts.

This dance, in regards to fleshly This dance, in regards to fleshly lusts, lusts, provides for their fulfillment.provides for their fulfillment.prevents their fulfillment.prevents their fulfillment.

Does it promote indecency?Does it promote indecency?

1 Timothy 2:9-101 Timothy 2:9-10““as is proper for women making a claim as is proper for women making a claim

to godliness”to godliness”

1 Peter 3:3-41 Peter 3:3-4““the imperishable quality of a gentle the imperishable quality of a gentle

and quiet spirit”and quiet spirit”

TestTest

Dancing encourages clothing Dancing encourages clothing which is:which is:proper.proper.promiscuous.promiscuous.

My dancing attire makes me feel:My dancing attire makes me feel:spiritual. spiritual. sexy.sexy.

Final QuestionsFinal Questions

Why do I want to go to dances?Why do I want to go to dances?What kind of people will be there?What kind of people will be there?What activities will be taking What activities will be taking

place there?place there?Will my attendance or my absence Will my attendance or my absence

help me convert others?help me convert others?Would I want Jesus to see me Would I want Jesus to see me

there?there?

““Yeah, but can I dance?”Yeah, but can I dance?”

Yes! If you can find a dance Yes! If you can find a dance which:which:Does not promote sensuality.Does not promote sensuality.Does not promote lusting.Does not promote lusting.Does not promote immodest clothing.Does not promote immodest clothing.Does not hurt your influence.Does not hurt your influence.Does promote what is truly valuable. Does promote what is truly valuable.

No! If you can’t find the above.No! If you can’t find the above.

ConclusionConclusion

Are you having doubts about Are you having doubts about dancing?dancing?Romans 14:23Romans 14:23

Do you still believe there’s nothing Do you still believe there’s nothing wrong with attending dances?wrong with attending dances?Present a scriptural casePresent a scriptural case

Colossians 3:17Colossians 3:171 Peter 3:151 Peter 3:15

Shall We Dance?Shall We Dance?

InvitationInvitation

Not a Christian?Not a Christian?Hear the gospel – Romans 10:17Hear the gospel – Romans 10:17Believe – John 8:24Believe – John 8:24Repent – Luke 13:3Repent – Luke 13:3Confess – Romans 10:10Confess – Romans 10:10Be Baptized – Acts 22:16Be Baptized – Acts 22:16

Not a faithful Christian?Not a faithful Christian?Confess – 1 John 1:9Confess – 1 John 1:9Repent and pray – Acts 8:22Repent and pray – Acts 8:22

A Brief Biblical History A Brief Biblical History Of DancingOf Dancing

Dancing in the Old TestamentDancing in the Old Testament

RejoicingRejoicingExodus 15:20-21Exodus 15:20-21Judges 11:34Judges 11:341 Samuel 18:6 (also 21:11; 29:5)1 Samuel 18:6 (also 21:11; 29:5)2 Samuel 6:12-14; 1 Chronicles 15:25-292 Samuel 6:12-14; 1 Chronicles 15:25-29Psalm 30:11 Psalm 30:11

PraisePraisePsalm 149:3; 150:4Psalm 149:3; 150:4

Dancing in the Old TestamentDancing in the Old Testament

ObservationsObservationsOccurred after extraordinary Occurred after extraordinary

deliverances, triumphs or favors deliverances, triumphs or favors bestowed by God.bestowed by God.

An expression of joy and gratitude unto An expression of joy and gratitude unto God.God.

Not mixed (men and women) dancing.Not mixed (men and women) dancing.Not for amusement, pleasure, exercise, Not for amusement, pleasure, exercise,

etc.etc.

Dancing in the Old TestamentDancing in the Old Testament

SensualSensualExodus 32:19-26Exodus 32:19-26

ObservationsObservationsThe people were “out of control” verse The people were “out of control” verse

2525““let go, let loose, people, i.e. remove let go, let loose, people, i.e. remove

restraint from them”restraint from them”““to let loose in the sense of to let run wild”to let loose in the sense of to let run wild”

Dancing in the New Dancing in the New TestamentTestament

RejoicingRejoicingLuke 15:25Luke 15:25

ParableParableMatthew 11:16-19; Luke 7:31-35Matthew 11:16-19; Luke 7:31-35

SensualSensualMark 6:21-28; Matthew 14:6-11Mark 6:21-28; Matthew 14:6-11

Shall Shall WEWE Dance? Dance?

Testimony from the worldTestimony from the world

Testimony of PhysiciansTestimony of Physicians

““The modern dance is the fine The modern dance is the fine art of covering with music, art of covering with music, indelicate, immodest and oft indelicate, immodest and oft times indecent attitudes and times indecent attitudes and postures between men and postures between men and women. It is too bad for women. It is too bad for reformation. Its only remedy is reformation. Its only remedy is extermination.”extermination.”

Dr. A.C. DixonDr. A.C. Dixon

Testimony of PhysiciansTestimony of Physicians

““Among those who dance it is noteworthy Among those who dance it is noteworthy that very few girls spend much time that very few girls spend much time dancing with other girls. Neither do men dancing with other girls. Neither do men dance very much with their own wives, nor dance very much with their own wives, nor brothers with their own sisters . . . The brothers with their own sisters . . . The secret of the popularity of dancing (or is it secret of the popularity of dancing (or is it a secret?) is the exciting, sexual a secret?) is the exciting, sexual stimulation resulting from the close stimulation resulting from the close embrace of male and female, whether it be embrace of male and female, whether it be music in dancing or without music in music in dancing or without music in petting and necking.”petting and necking.”

Dr. J.P. GibsonDr. J.P. Gibson

Testimony of PublicationsTestimony of Publications

““Once again this spring, in villages Once again this spring, in villages and sprawling cities, millions of and sprawling cities, millions of teens are undergoing the ritual teens are undergoing the ritual romance, panic, thrills and let-romance, panic, thrills and let-downs of that one special night. . . downs of that one special night. . . And they all spend hours before And they all spend hours before mirrors primping for the oh-so-mirrors primping for the oh-so-slow dance to Endless Love.”slow dance to Endless Love.”

People WeeklyPeople Weekly

Testimony of Fashion Testimony of Fashion DesignersDesigners

““For the first time I have done For the first time I have done away with corsets, even for away with corsets, even for dance dresses. I have often dance dresses. I have often heard men complain that in heard men complain that in dancing they couldn’t feel a dancing they couldn’t feel a living form under the woman’s living form under the woman’s corsets.”corsets.”

Christian DiorChristian Dior

Testimony of PreachersTestimony of Preachers

““As one ‘who formerly could really As one ‘who formerly could really dance.’ Now as a minister, there is dance.’ Now as a minister, there is no way I could get behind the pulpit no way I could get behind the pulpit and tell young people it is OK to and tell young people it is OK to wiggle their bodies on a dance wiggle their bodies on a dance floor. . . If there is a young girl on the floor. . . If there is a young girl on the dance floor wiggling, trying to entice dance floor wiggling, trying to entice a young man, would a parent want to a young man, would a parent want to see their son enticed that way?”see their son enticed that way?” David Mirchett, Pentecostal ChurchDavid Mirchett, Pentecostal Church

Conclusion from our Conclusion from our TestimonyTestimony

Dancing is dangerous.Dancing is dangerous.Sexually enticing.Sexually enticing.Sexually stimulating.Sexually stimulating.Indecent attitudes, movements, touching.Indecent attitudes, movements, touching.

If worldly people see a danger in If worldly people see a danger in dancing shouldn’t Christians?dancing shouldn’t Christians?

Should Christians do that which Should Christians do that which worldly people warn against?worldly people warn against?

Remember 1 Corinthians 5:1Remember 1 Corinthians 5:1

Is It Wrong To Dance?Is It Wrong To Dance?

Testimony from the Testimony from the scripturesscriptures