QUESTION: Years ago, many churches and Christian families taught that dancing was sinful. We don't hear much about it anymore. Is it sinful or not?
ANSWER: Your question is a good one, but one not easily answered with a simple "yes" or "no."
Dancing, in and of itself, is simply moving the body, especially the feet, in rhythm, ordinarily to music. There doesn't seem to be anything inherently sinful about that.
In fact, dancing was sometimes a part of Old Testament worship. Jephthah's daughter danced alone (Judges 11:34), as did women mentioned in Exodus 15:20-21, Judges 21:19-23, and 1 Samuel 18:6. King David danced before the ark of God (2 Samuel 6:14-16); and, reportedly, a group of soldiers danced (1 Samuel 30:16). Ecclesiastes 3:4 recognizes that there is a time for dancing, as well as a time for mourning. The last two psalms speak of praising God through dancing.
Before you head for the dance floor, note that the sexes were separate during these dances. They expressed joy, victory, or worship and appear to have consisted of jumping, whirling, and turning. There was no close bodily contact. Scripture provides no examples of men and women dancing together.
Modern dances have men and women, boys and girls in close bodily contact or moving in ways that sometimes mimic sexual intercourse. Many modern dances are designed to arouse sexual feelings. Still, if a husband and wife dance in the privacy of their home or bedroom, it would appear that they do not violate Scripture.
The better questions concerning dancing involve whether it is licentious or lascivious (Galatians 5:19-21). Licentiousness or lasciviousness denotes that which is indecent, unchaste, or lewd. Thayer's Greek English lexicon defines the original Greek words as referring to "indecent bodily movements, unchaste handling of male and female."
The Bible clearly demands sexual purity (James 1:27, 4:4) and condemns fornication and adultery (Galatians 5:19). Jesus taught that a man who lusts after a woman has already committed adultery in his heart (Matthew 5:27-28). When Christians decide whether or not to dance, they must consider these issues.
Modern dances often involve close contact or mating rituals. If men and women do such things with persons other than their spouses, there is great probability of creating sinful lust. Fornication and adultery often result.
Most of today's dancing has an evil purpose. In "The History of Dance," Curt Sachs wrote that dances are designed, by and large, as an art form to express lovemaking. For this reason, the steps and positions are designed to bring into contact the most sexually sensitive parts of a man and woman. Movements are designed to be visually stimulating sexually.
In summary, Scripture does not universally condemn dancing per se. But it does condemn dances or other behaviors that cause lust, lasciviousness, fornication, or adultery. Christians must consider various forms of dancing according to these criteria.
From time to time brother Blackaby will be "exploring God's book" to answer questions. I selected this question because prom season is approaching. It perplexes me that so many Christians have difficulty with this subject. How can parents, without reservation, send their children into such situations? Young people in their late teens are experiencing changes in their physical bodies. Sadly, we place temptation before them and hope they handle it maturely. Proms always have chaperons. Unfortunately, each individual is responsible for controlling his/her mind. How can a young man and woman avoid impure thoughts when they are dancing in a softly lit room, with music softly playing, and their bodies close together? (KMG)