Friday, 10 October 2008
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Are Dances Sinful?
I never had a senior prom - not because I didn't go, but because my Christian high school prohibited dancing, and therefore, prohibited dances and proms by default. Instead, we had banquets, where we ate hotel buffet food, took pictures, and were entertained by the faculty and student council. I don't think I missed out on much by not having a prom, as I had a blast at banquets even without dancing (I learned how to dance on my own once in college anyway).
But now I wonder how big a deal dancing is within the Christian community, and why it's even an issue.
I mean, I understand if a Christian high school, or a church/campus ministry wants to keep the activities G-rated. It pretty much goes without saying that a Christian institution wouldn't encourage its members to grind or get smashed on spiked punch. But why can't they host dances while chaperoning the students? Is something inherently wrong with DANCING?
For awhile, even the "Christian interpretative dance" group at my high school kept their activities under wraps because of the "no dancing" rule, which was a little silly because even Miriam and the women in Exodus danced to praise God. The student council often brought up the "no dances" issue with the school administration, but by then, the policy had been too ingrained into our school tradition to change. That, or the administration was afraid of being critized by the more conservative families for allowing dances.
Does your church/campus ministry/Christian school allow dances? Why do you think dances are frowned upon in the Christian community?
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Comments (108)
A lot of Baptists don't allow dances. I grew up Catholic, so I never had that problem. I think they're just scared that it might lead into something 'sinful'.
nothing wrong with dancing..in judges, the children of Benjamin got their wives from the daughters of Shilo coming out to dance...Jesus told of the father who celebrated the prodigal son's return by killing a fatted calf, with music and dancing...just like there is nothing wrong with drinking...some church groups major in the minors...but, they get to if they wish...i have bigger fish to fry....
I imagine that many Christians have issues with dancing/dancing b/c they assume that all dancing is of the lustful/'we'd be having sex if we weren't wearing clothes right now' variety.
David danced as a form of worship. Definitely nothing wrong with dancing.
Dancing is frowned on in certain branches of the Christian community for the same reason that playing cards, alcohol and rock music are likewise frowned upon: such things allegedly are "of the world" and therefore can lead a Christian into sin. (Fallacious thinking at the best of times: the tunes that hymns are sung to are no less "in the world" than rock instrumentals, one can gamble just as easily with an Uno deck as with traditional playing cards, and food can be just as much an addiction as alcohol (i.e. gluttony).)
In my Christian high school (where all these things were verboten) we students had a running joke: the reason premarital sex is wrong is that it leads to dancing.
people in the Bible rejoiced and praised God through dancing. each person just needs to check what's in their hearts when they dance. which, i admit, can lead to sinful thoughts and provocative dancing... -k-
this has nothing to do with the post, but i think the girl on the right in the blue dress is showing too much cleavage to be on a Christian post like this. i'm sure there are pictures of girls at a prom wearing modest dresses...
If Christian schools can't allow dancing, then they should be either all girls or all boys schools, no one of the opposite sex even allowed on campus - teachers included. A girl walking down the hall, no matter what she's wearing and covering up is going to be thought of in a lustful way by someone, and I bet she has those thoughts about boys, too. I don't see what the big deal is, honestly. It happens, it's natural, everyone does it. Then again, I suppose I'm just some heathen who's opinions have nothing to do with Christianity. =.=
@droftreeology@xanga - They're just boobs. All girls have them, and they're completely natural. What's wrong with that?
Music is a form of sorcery and dancing to such an expression. Who are they worship-NG with their movement?, david put praise in the right place with movement to the one an only but I have been guilty of both the XXXpression and the praise. I love dance but know the power of such.
I dance in private worship, no visions of witness but my myself and my angels.
Peace
@HeartOfPandora@xanga - Haha, I agree.
And seriously, I go to a Catholic school.
You should see our dances. Dirty dancing to the max.
It's just DANCING. It's no big deal. Yeah, that girl's going to hell because her shirt's a little too low and she's grinding a little too much. Gah, but I'm not Religious at all, so maybe I don't count.
But seriously, if someone says YES, dances are sinful...Wow.
I'm Baptist, and I have absolutely no problem with dancing.
Of course, I"m southern baptist, but apparently we're all lumped together. Haha!!
Seriously, though... there is some dancing that's inappropriate... just like there are some words that are inappropriate, etc. You just have to have some common sense.
I have a friend who is on a dance team for God. That's awesome!
i grew up in a church of christ school that felt the same way about dances.
here is my favorite quotes on the subject"When we make dancing and movies the test of our spirituality, we are guilty of substituting a cheap morality for a genuine one. We do these things to obscure the deeper issues of righteousness. Anyone can avoid dancing or going to the movies. These require no great effort of moral courage. What is difficult is to controll the tongue, to act with integrity, to reveal the fruit of the Spirit." - from " The Holiness of God" by R.C.Sproul
also check out mt.15:11
@HeartOfPandora@xanga - dressing modestly is important. it's a problem if the way you dress causes guys who look at you to think wrong thoughts about you, namely adulterous thoughts.
dressing modestly ensures that you keep other young men's purity of mind intact.
yes, a guy can and should look away, but it just makes it easier all around to avoid temptation. that's like drinking in front of a recovering alcoholic.
@droftreeology@xanga - I'm pretty sure that no matter how much a girl covers up, someone's still going to look at her and picture her naked. Putting more clothing on doesn't change the nature of the mind, it just makes it more fun to imagine what a body looks like under all those clothes.
I've never really understood that whole anti-dance thing.
Dancing is a sin. Period.
Well, unless it's a "Holy Ghost Train" or a "Holy Ghost Macarena" or a "Holy Ghost C-Walk", or a "Holy Ghost Moonwalk", it's alright. If it is not any of the above, do NOT dance. I beg you. I implore you!
But you know what, why can't we just leave it at that? Instead of slapping Christian labels on the dance floor, why can't we just say dancing is the great evil altogether? I've done the "holy ghost train" before in church, and God... I felt so dirty. /facepalm
On a serious note, I don't think you really missed much. Prom is like a banquet except with an added fling to it: dancing. Dancing isn't that fun unless you know how to dance like a clubber. And no sane Christian wants to dance like a clubber.
I mean, really, what are you gonna do? The robot? You're gonna do the robot while everyone else in the room is grinding? LOL
@HeartOfPandora@xanga - true, but it does help those guys who are trying to refrain from such thoughts.
@droftreeology@xanga - Going out on a limb here but I'd have to that any teenage boy at a dance is not going to be refraining from sexual thoughts. Boys are loaded with testosterone at that age, and if they're mature enough to not look at girls like that there's no way they're going to be at a dance with teenage girls. Smart boys have better things to do. ;)
When I was a teen, growing up in a small town, dancing was actually banned by the town itself. What had happened was a group of kids had been killed in an auto accident coming home from a dance. One of those kids was the son of Rev. Moore, who was quite influential in the town and was able to convince the citizens that dancing was plain sinful and a tool of the devil.
Some time later a young man moved into town, from Chicago, I believe. Now, he had an eye for the Reverend's daughter, Ariel, and he was committed to setting up a dance for the high school. There was quite a bit of controversy as I recall. A dance was set up outside the town limits, but that fell apart. Finally, the young man was able to convince even the Reverend, with many of the same passages from scripture that have been referenced here, that dancing itself is not sinful but it was the Reverend's grief over his son that drove his hatred of dance. So the dance went on. I often wonder whatever happened to that young man.
Ballroom dancing is sinful? The Waltz can be considered a slap in the face to God? I really don't get it. Sure, I am kind of with you when saying that grinding is a little disgusting when over done (I do that), but I never thought that it's sinful? Maybe the idea that it might lead to lust? But then again, there are many other things that can lead to lust. Can we help it? Some can, but for most of us, not. Does it automatically make you a bad person? No. It's like someone who wears a lime-green shirt to a business meeting. Sure, it may seem a little ridiculous, but it doesn't deem them as a horrible person.
I just say dance and feel happy. People dance when they are happy. Are you going to refrain people from being happy?
The fact that this is even a question disturbs me. Seriously, no wonder people laugh at Christians...
I do not see any issue with dancing. I know some establishments do though; particularly the Bible college in my hometown. I think if you aren't strong enough to go out for an evening with some friends and enjoy some dancing without lusting or being tempted (guys) to bring some girl home afterwards because of how she was dressed or how she danced, thats a personal problem. We're all old enough to make good choices in our lives.
Tonight, I'm going out to the bars in my college town with my friends. I'll probably end up dancing. My boyfriend isn't here--in fact, he's two hours away from me. But because I know my limits and I know what's right for me to do and what's wrong, there'll be no problem. He doesn't mind me going out, and I don't feel like I do anything to make me guilty for dancing. But maybe that's just because I'm not a Christian that I hold that perspective.
One word: Footloose.
Just watch it. Srsly.
I completely see your point. Dancing is dancing...harmless right? well, yeah, that's what I thought.
i go to the average american public school, and dances are usually the highlight of the year. last saturday night we had our dance and let me tell you, it was not pretty. The first 2 hours or so were great...i was having a blast. but by 1030 [and there was no punch, therefore no spiked punch to get smashed off of] i counted maybe 100 couples grinding, sandwiching, creating mosh pits...let's just say that i am scarred for life and left early. there were even 15 chaperones there!! it was sick and disgusting, and made me ashamed to be human. so, i hear your point, and totally agree, but i can also see the other side of things. obviously not everyone at my school are christians...but this is the modern generation, the new people, our FUTURE for crying out loud...and it not only freaks the living daylights out of me...it makes me sick!
i don't think you're missing out on very much, though i do encourage people to dance. lol. =D
the issue is with a matter of the heart, I think, and with school leaders, administrators, teachers, parents and such, who think that a good way to teach the students how to deal with matters of the heart (lust in particular in this case) is to protect them from the temptation to lust.
and to some extent, it is wise for us to shield ourselves from temptations, if you're tempted to lust, don't go somewhere you KNOW barechested men hang out, or scantily clad women. if you're tempted to drink, don't go to a sports bar to watch the game. so in a way, the leaders are trying to make a decision they don't feel the students are mature enough to make for themselves.
dancing itself, though, isn't wrong. and maybe there's a better way to teach restraint... and maybe the students should be given a little bit of credit... I guess it would depend on the maturity of the group as a whole.
@chosenbygrace22@xanga - Precisely.