Post by pitbull on Dec 12, 2005 9:22:11 GMT -5
In 1915 one of the greatest evangelists of all time, Billy Sunday, preached a message against ballroom dancing. The form of dancing that took place in 1915 would be considered innocent compared to the forms of dancing today. Yet a mighty man of God filled with the Spirit of God preached against it. Today an astoundingly higher number of Christian teenagers attend dances through the public schools and teen nightclubs than did in 1915.
I myself grew up not thinking anything was wrong with dancing. I remember making fun of one young lady because she would not dance or go to school dances. I have found that most professing Christian teens dance and defend dancing, believing that dancing is good clean fun. Even professing Christian adults today tend to not see anything wrong with it.
This poses some questions. If dancing was wrong in 1915 can it be right in the 21st century? Is right and wrong variable and dependent on our culture and on society’s changes and adaptations? Do Scriptural interpretations and applications depend solely on the characteristics of our day and age and what the majority of churches allow, or do they depend on the character of God and His will for man?
Ecclesiastes 3:4 tells us that there is "a time to weep, and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance." There are four Hebrew words translated "dance" in the Old Testament.
1. Chagag--to move with turns, as turning around in tokens of joy.
2. Machowl--similar to chagag but more frequently used--to turn around in celebration, praise, and joy.
3. Karar--to move about quickly and lightly (skipping).
4. Raqad--to jump, leap, or skip for joy. This is equivalent to the Greek word orcheo which is translated "dance" in our New Testament.
In the Bible there are examples of dancing that lay down the following three basic guidelines:
1. It should only be done in gender-separated events. This is to prevent lust and temptation forming in the hearts and minds of the participants [2 Timothy 2:22; 1 Corinthians 6:18-20]. Most dances today are co-ed that are done in darkness [John 3:19], close physical contact, and with women wearing mini-skirts or other immodest clothing [1 Timothy 2:10].
2. It should only be done to sacred, melody-based music, as compared to the fleshly, rhythm driven “music” that is used at most dances today. [Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:19]
3. It should only be done to praise and honor God [Psalms 149 and 150].
Also read Exodus 15, Exodus 32:6-7, Judges 11, 1 Samuel 18, 1 Chronicles 15, Mark 6:14-29 to find out more examples and reasons for these guidelines. If your dancing does not line up with these Biblical guidelines, you should obey 1 John 1:9 and get right with God.
I myself grew up not thinking anything was wrong with dancing. I remember making fun of one young lady because she would not dance or go to school dances. I have found that most professing Christian teens dance and defend dancing, believing that dancing is good clean fun. Even professing Christian adults today tend to not see anything wrong with it.
This poses some questions. If dancing was wrong in 1915 can it be right in the 21st century? Is right and wrong variable and dependent on our culture and on society’s changes and adaptations? Do Scriptural interpretations and applications depend solely on the characteristics of our day and age and what the majority of churches allow, or do they depend on the character of God and His will for man?
Ecclesiastes 3:4 tells us that there is "a time to weep, and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance." There are four Hebrew words translated "dance" in the Old Testament.
1. Chagag--to move with turns, as turning around in tokens of joy.
2. Machowl--similar to chagag but more frequently used--to turn around in celebration, praise, and joy.
3. Karar--to move about quickly and lightly (skipping).
4. Raqad--to jump, leap, or skip for joy. This is equivalent to the Greek word orcheo which is translated "dance" in our New Testament.
In the Bible there are examples of dancing that lay down the following three basic guidelines:
1. It should only be done in gender-separated events. This is to prevent lust and temptation forming in the hearts and minds of the participants [2 Timothy 2:22; 1 Corinthians 6:18-20]. Most dances today are co-ed that are done in darkness [John 3:19], close physical contact, and with women wearing mini-skirts or other immodest clothing [1 Timothy 2:10].
2. It should only be done to sacred, melody-based music, as compared to the fleshly, rhythm driven “music” that is used at most dances today. [Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:19]
3. It should only be done to praise and honor God [Psalms 149 and 150].
Also read Exodus 15, Exodus 32:6-7, Judges 11, 1 Samuel 18, 1 Chronicles 15, Mark 6:14-29 to find out more examples and reasons for these guidelines. If your dancing does not line up with these Biblical guidelines, you should obey 1 John 1:9 and get right with God.