Christian and Modern Dancing

From: Spiritual Sword, Volume 2, Number 4, July 1971

Christianity and Modern Dancing

by Tom Eddins

All Christians are called upon to make decisions concerning the practices in which they will engage. God's expectation is that such decisions be made on the basis of Biblical instruction. One is to accept and practice what the Bible approves and reject and oppose that which it condemns. But in the modern era the weight of popular opinion often condones that which the Bible condemns. When called upon to make decisions in such matters the Christian must break either with the popularity of the world or the teaching of God's word.

One practice about which modern Christians must decide is dancing. Though often condemned in the past the modern dance has now come to enjoy a wide measure of popularity and acceptance. Is it possible that dancing is a world-approved but Bible-condemned practice about which we must decide? The purpose of this article is to evaluate the modern dance in the light of Christian ethical standards set forth in the Bible.

The scope of this discussion is limited to a consideration of the "modern dance." By such a designation I intend to include ballroom dancing in which there is continuous body contact between partners and such dancing as that which commonly accompanies modern rock music.

DANCING AND SOME NEW TESTAMENT WORDS

The basic question which must be considered is, "Does the New Testament designate as sinful such activity as is involved in the modern dance?" If dancing falls into any category of practices condemned by the New Testament, then the faithful Christian ought to oppose participation in it. The following New Testament words (which are designations of sinful activity) relate clearly to modern dancing.

(1) aselgeia--Mentioned in Galatians 5:19, this word is rendered into English by the words "lasciviousness" (KJV and ASV) and "licentiousness" (RSV). Greek lexicons define it so as to make clear that it is closely related to sensuality and sexual excesses.[1] Thayer notes that it may have reference to "filthy words, indecent bodily movements, unchaste handling of males and females." [2] The New Testament usage obviously prohibits improper sexual desires and excesses.

(2) komos--Also condemned as sinful in Galatians 5:19, this word is rendered into English by the words "revellings" (KJV and ASV) and "carousing" (RSV). The basic meaning of the word relates it to excessive feasting and carousing. Lidell and Scott note its close relationship "with music and dancing." [3] New Testament usage connects it with alcoholic excesses and it could be the result of such excesses.

(3) homoios--The phrase of Galatians 5:19 which is commonly rendered into English as "such like" is not in itself a designation of specific sinful practices and one must be careful that he not simply include in this category things he personally opposes. By this the author intends to include in his category of sins such practices as are of the same nature as those specifically mentioned before--i.e., things like or resembling lasciviousness or revelling.

Surely an honest evaluation of modern dancing would lead one to conclude that it falls into the category of these condemned practices. The body contact between males and females and the body movements associated with dances to modern rock music obviously lead to sexual arousal and sensuality. Indeed some advocates of dancing try to justify it as a possible outlet for sexual urges. It is alleged that this will help eliminate the excesses of overt sexual immorality. To the contrary, the arousal of such urges is likely to lead to further sexual activity (as numerous case histories show),not to mention the fact that improper sexual arousal is itself condemned as sinful. The obvious conclusion of this study is that the modern dance involves one in actions condemned by the New Testament.

DANCING AND GENERAL CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES

In his excellent tract entitled, "Why I Quit Dancing," Dr. John McRay explicates four general principles of Christian conduct. It is from this source that the following summary discussion is derived. Is it not true that the following principles, which extend far beyond the consideration of dancing, ought to be observed by Christians devoted to a life of purity?

(1) Any temptation which affords an unnecessary risk to the Christian's spiritual life ought to be avoided. It is clear from many New Testament passages that the Christian is in a constant struggle with sin. Even the strongest person ought to ake care lest he fall into evil (1 Cor 10:12). Who could deny that the modern dance affords an occasion for temptation? Dr. E. R. Sonners has written, "It is not safe to subject even the strongest men and women to the subtle temptations of the dance." Why should the Christian subject himself to such temptation? Should he not do his best to avoid an occasion for the intrusion of sin?

(2) Anything which tends to reduce spirituality and our awareness of God's presence in our lives should be avoided. Surely no one contends that modern dancing is conducive to spirituality! The circumstances and activities of dancing are clearly such that will be detrimental to spiritual development. One would certainly have to stretch his imagination to view dancing as an activity promoting Christian virtues.

(3) Christians should not arouse emotions which cannot honorably be fulfilled. Human sexual drives are God-given and the place of their acceptable fulfillment is God-ordained. The body contact and movement, the atmosphere, and the appealing music all lend themselves to the arousal of such desires as can be rightly fulfilled only in marriage. These presently unfulfillable desires are included in the sexual excesses mentioned in the above discussion of lasciviousness.

(4) Christians have a responsibility to preserve their influence so as to be able to lead others to glorify God (Mat 5:16). The New Testament makes it clear that we are to act so as to keep others from stumbling over us. Let us all honestly ask ourselves how participating in dancing affects our Christian influence. It may aid in our worldly popularity, but can we conscientiously say that it helps us influence others toward the Christian way? Surely it is more often the case that exactly the opposite effect is produced.

THE ASSOCIATION AND FRUITS OF DANCING

One considering the validity of dancing's claim to be Christian recreation would do well to ask himself why this practice is so often associated with other sinful activities. The atmosphere of a dance hall is totally contrary to that which would lend itself to the development of Christian character. It is a place where alcohol is consumed to an excess, where prostitutes are known to solicit customers, and where the seeds of immorality thus find a place to grow. This certainly does NOT imply that ALL who participate in dancing are guilty of these specific sins. But if dancing is an activity so wholesome as to elicit Christian participation, why are these sinful practices so often characteristic of the dance hall environment? Further, such conditions are not limited to the commercial dance hall. Surely informed students know how often high school dances have been preludes to the drunkenness and immorality which followed. Again this does not imply that all are guilty of these sins, but the atmosphere of dancing is again seen to be conduive to sinful practices. Christians are instructed to abstain from every kind (ASV "form") of evil (1 Thes 5:22). No one should lend his influence to this sort of atmoshpere. Can we honestly imagine that this is what Jesus would have done?

Finally, one ought to consider the known results of dancing in the lives of many who have participated in it. Many studies have been done among unwed mothers, searching for the things which caused them to involve themselves in sin. In some cases as high as seventy or eighty per cent of these women said it began with dancing. We all tend to say that this could never happen to us. But doubtless these mothers would have said the same thing. Should a Christian voluntarily expose himself to the temptations that have so often led others to broken and sinful lives? As noted above, any such unnecessary temptation certainly ought to be avoided.

CONCLUSION

In the above discussion we have seen...

(1) Participation in modern dancing involves one in specific sinful activities (cf., Gal 5:19).

(2) Dancing calls upon one to violate four general principles of Christian conduct.

(3) Dancing demands that one associate himself with an atmosphere that is anything but helpful in the development of Christian character.

(4) The documented results of dancing indicate that it often leads one to the other sinful practices.

It now remains for us to "face up" to what the New Testament says will be ultimate spiritual consequences for those who practice such an activity. Concerning the above-mentioned sins it is written, "They who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Gal 5:21). This clear assertion leaves no place for a situational ethic--the wirter is either right or wrong. Christians committed to an acceptance of the authority of the Bible must acknowledge it as true. Let us recognize the modern dance for what it is and for what it can do to our lives. Having done this let us avoid it as a practice foreign to the way of Christianity.

Footnotes:

[1] W.F. Arndt and F.W. Gingrich, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1957), p. 114.

[2] J.H. Thayer, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1963), pp. 79-80.

[3] H. G. Liddell and R. Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, abridged version (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1963), p. 402.