hey, so here's my summary of what I"m planning to say tonight Theology of dancing
Both my Bible College and seminary have an anti-dancing stance. Emmanuel Bible College, my alma mater is evangelical missionary church of Canada and Heritage Seminary (my current school) is strongly allied with the Fellowship of evangelical Baptists. As a Canadian, I have the right and freedom to do whatever I feel like, but as a Christian and someone called to preach God’s word, I have an obligation to give up some of my freedoms to serve God. I’m going to tell you outright, if I thought that swing dancing was impeding my ability to serve God, I would walk out of that studio and never look back.
Basically the main objection to dancing from a Christian perspective comes from sexual immorality. I’m not here to defend all types of dancing saying that it’s all clean pure fun. In fact, there are some types of dance I think are quite sexual. Sex is a taboo subject in churches nowadays and it’s causing a lot of problems when we don’t have godly teaching in these areas. In the bible sex a great gift from God to be enjoyed within marriage. Now when I came out to swing dancing the first time, I thought it looked quite salicious, now I should mention that I went to a bible college where public displays of affection could get you fined. I always thought of it as a westernized monastery. Anyways I thought swing dancing was really sexual but I reserved judgment and tried it and found out it’s quite innocent. The main coherent points against dancing from a Christian perspective are as follows:
Ephesians 5:3 says that there shouldn’t be a hint of sexual immorality among God’s people.
1 corinthians 7:1 says: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
2 Timothy 2:22 states Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
1 corinthians 10:32 tells us we shouldn’t cause anyone to sin by what we do.
1 Timothy 5:2 says we should treat older women as mothers and younger women as sisters with absolute purity.
Take note that these verses don’t explicitly forbid dancing, but it can through the implications. Being both a dancer and a seminary student, one of my goals is to avoid the appearance of sexual immorality in any situation while maintaining integrity in dancing. Basically Paul was writing to the Ephesians telling them that they should appear blameless to others outside the church to keep the integrity of the Gospel. I look to keep this standard on the dance floor so that if a video or a picture of the dance were to be posted to my facebook wall, any church member could view it and have no problem with it. By and by I’ve had people from church mention they saw photos of me dancing and I’ve never heard any of them with an objection.
Paul tells us it is good for a man not to touch a woman. Actually I took a really close look at this verse back when I started dating. The greek word used here is also used in Matthew when the woman with the internal hemorrhage touches Jesus’ clothing and was healed, however in this case; Paul’s use refers to sexual relations. Paul is telling the people at Corinth that it’s good to be abstinent, but if that poses a problem then a man should take a woman as his wife. Only the KJV translates it as ‘touch’.
Paul writes to Timothy, a young gentleman with leadership aspirations and tells him to flee from the sexual desires of youth. Instead, Paul encourages Timothy to pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace. This verse isn’t two separate ideas, but it’s flee sexual temptation in order to pursue righteousness. While I’ve never run out a partner in the middle of a dance to go to bible study, I don’t feel like it’s derailing me from my calling.
As far as I know, everyone I know is aware that I am a swing dancer and a Christian. I’ve never had anyone sin because I’m a swing dancer nor stop following God because I do it. Actually, it’s given me a chance to have some interesting conversations with people about faith.
For those of you who don’t know what swing dancing looks like; the pelvic areas aren’t in contact. Or at least they’re not supposed to be. This isn’t a grind on the dance floor, Closed position’s main points of connection are the hand of the lead’s right hand on the shoulder blade of the follow and the left arm of the follow on the lead’s arm. and the lead holds the follow’s other hand. That’s for 6 count, lindy hop, Charleston and much of blues.
Now I wouldn’t be transparent if I didn’t mention balboa. It’s a chest to chest connection lead to follow and the pelvic areas are still separate. It was developed in crowded dance rooms where there wasn’t room to swing out safely. I have learned that basic pattern, and balboa is done to faster songs. All I can say is that each person has to decide what they’re comfortable with doing in swing. Amanda our scene leader encourages people to speak up in regards to their comfort zone. I say if it’s a problem and you can’t do it with a clear conscience, no one’s forcing you to do it, if a lead leads it and as a follow you don’t like it, you have every right to speak up. I tend not to on the social floor, but that’s more because I don’t feel comfortable with it yet. I’m not the only Christian on the scene and I dance with other Christians. I’ve taken the role of follow and danced with other guys, but mainly this pertains to the women I dance with. None of them have ever pulled me aside and said ‘you know that blues hold was a little too close for me’ or ‘I feel disrespected because of how close we were dancing’.
It’s similar with blues. Typically blues has a tighter hold and it’s slower. I could come up with a million different defences to this like I’ve danced with guys or it’s like giving some a hug and rocking back and forth in the rhythm. I’ve had close blues dances in the past and in writing this I’ve been forced to look at my standards and make sure that I’m upholding godly standards in my dancing. And what it comes down to is with any activity at all, there will be potential for sexual thoughts and ogling others. I have Christian friends who I trust will keep me accountable and the girls there will tell me if they’re uncomfortable or if I’m leading too tightly. I also have my own conscience. I know what God’s word says about sexual immorality and dancing and for me it comes down to whether or not this is negatively impacting my walk with God. I’ve often said to myself and to God that if swing ever gets in the way of my serving him, I will leave it in the dust and never look back. That’s how important my spiritual walk is.
But you’d be really hard pressed to find anything immoral with six count, lindy hop or Charleston. I’ve danced it with my own mother, friend’s mothers, even with daughters in front of her fathers. Most parents will take a picture or film the dance. Actually, this past year I went to a friend’s wedding and I danced with her sister in front of her Christian parents and they thought it was fantastic. We went out to a late night blues party and I actually asked her parents permission to escort her out (she is 21). When I’m dancing I take it upon myself to treat younger women with all purity because it might be my daughter or mother or wife that someone is dancing with and I want them to behave.
From a biblical point of view Dance was a common component of ancient Jewish life, both social and liturgical. It appears and reappears throughout the biblical text. It appears in the psalms and poetry of the canon as a way of worshipping God: “praise him with tambourine and dancing” (Ps. 150:4). It appears when God’s nation celebrates, as when Miriam led the women of Israel in praise, song, and dance after the crossing of the sea. (Exod. 15:20-21) It appears in the courts of rulers, as in the stories of David. Ecclesasties reads There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
A time to morn and a time to dance. Dancing was done in celebration. God freed the people from centuries of slavery; they danced in worship. David was successful in delivering people from the enemies of Israel and the people danced! Our culture tends to stick to weddings for dancing because it’s a celebration of two people becoming one.
You say ok, so what reason do we have to celebrate nowadays? If you have to ask yourself that question, then maybe you should spend some time serving in a soup kitchen with Ray of Hope or something. What reason is there for us to mourn? We’re just coming out of Christmas and New Year’s. For me, Jesus came to save people and reunite us to God, so I can celebrate that when I dance. Historically the first Christmas in 312 AD ended 200+ years of brutal persecution for Christians. You? You’re alive! We live in a country that you can have an opinion and a job and vote and have a say in how your country is run. You’re in the upper echelon of the world. You have riches other only dream of. Now there are people out there who suffer from depression and other problems, in fact, I’ve suffered from depression and anxiety in the past and sometimes you can’t get away from it, and I’m not going to suggest that their problems aren’t real, but getting into swing dancing helped my keep joy in my life through the tough seasons and it helped me get over some social anxieties. Maybe you’re listening to this and you’re feeling down and out. Studies suggest that the 3rd Monday in January is the most depressing time of the year because bills are coming in and the snow becomes burdensome and you’re back at work and life is getting you down, but don’t give up. This past year of swing dancing has taught me there is joy still in life and you lose when you refuse to get back up.
So to all you who need a little sunshine, here’s on the sunny side of the street
If you have two left feet, celebrate that fact and teach them to triple step. If you tap your feet to the beat or nod your head, that’s moving to the music, next step, get your legs and hips into the mix. Get up and move and feel the beat and you know what? Swing dancing is meant to be silly, where else can you have pointing or acting like a chicken a legit dance move? Dancing is good for the brain and it’s like taking up a new sport; it takes time before you get really good, but you shouldn’t let that discourage you. I’ll have off days or times when I don’t feel the beat, but everyone has off days, we were all new and it’s all about having fun and doing what your brain is hardwired to do. And if you still don’t like it, at least you tried it. If you still have theological issues, I’m down for discussion, so find me on the dance floor; I tend to wear a fedora, a dress shirt and tie.