“Everything” would include the use of dance in worship. Paul noted that “everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way” in the church (1 Corinthians 14:40). It should be done in a way that is helpful to the entire congregation. Worship dance is a far cry from the seductive dance of the daughter of Herodias (Mark 6:17-28).įinally, it is important to understand that dance in the context of worship is not simply self-expression. As long as dance is worshipful, God-focused, and praiseworthy, it can have a proper place in worship. Christians can and should utilize dance as they do any other art form such as music, painting, drama, or filmmaking. The Amalekites’ dancing in 1 Samuel did not prevent David from dancing in 2 Samuel. However, this is not necessarily the case. The idea is that, if dance is used in worship, it could be seen as approving dance in other situations that do not honor God. Most early Christians were Jewish and likely would have incorporated Jewish forms of worship in their praise to the risen Messiah.Īnother concern has been the association of dance with sinful activities. However, this is an argument from silence and is not based on clear biblical teaching. Since dance is not mentioned as a method of worship in the New Testament, Christians should not worship in this manner. Some have argued that dance is an Old Testament form of expression. In Psalm 30:11, the psalmist says, “You turned my wailing into dancing.” Psalm 149:3 encourages the use of dancing to worship God: “Let them praise his name with dancing!” Likewise, Psalm 150:4 urges, “Praise him with tambourine and dancing!” just like Miriam. The Psalms offer a unique look at dance as an act of worship. Other instances of dancing in the Bible include 2 Samuel 6:16, which has David “leaping and dancing before the LORD.” Also, the Amalekites danced in celebration after plundering Judah and Philistia (1 Samuel 30:16) theirs was a short-lived dance, however, as David and his men soon defeated them (verses 17-20). Thus, dancing is a mode of expression that can be used for good or for evil. On this occasion dancing was part of a wicked, idolatrous carousal. “When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, his anger burned and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces at the foot of the mountain” (Exodus 32:19). Soon after Miriam’s dance of praise, the Israelites were found dancing before a golden calf in worship. However, dancing is not always presented in a positive light in the Bible. The first appearance of God’s people dancing as an act of worship is found in Exodus 15:20: “Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing.” This joyful dance to the Lord, led by Miriam, followed Israel’s crossing of the Red Sea and celebrated Israel’s newfound freedom from slavery. Dance is mentioned on many occasions in Scripture.
0 kommentar(er)
