Within churches across the United States of America there is a certain type of activity that some influential religious persons are introducing more and more into worship services and Christian programs. This activity is known by various names; the name very commonly used to describe this activity is "PRAISE DANCING". Many people are asking whether PRAISE DANCING is good or bad. Before deciding whether Praise Dancing is (or is not) a praiseworthy form of communication to God, let us first step through a few types of dancing. To put it another way, let us first step through some of the reasons why people in general dance.

One of the predominant reasons why people of the world dance is to win fame and/or for monetary gain. We can see the seeds of dancing for fame even in school children. In secular school at the primary level I can recall how students where always practicing dance moves and competing to gain the notoriety (fame) of being the best dancer in the entire school. Before becoming a Christian, I observed this same attitude in young adults who wanted to dance better than others present at a party or at the disco. Males and females alike were looking for their little piece of fame for having the best dance moves, the most intricate steps, or the most stylish attire. Some of the youths of my school years formed dancing groups that would dance for money, with dreams of achieving great financial gain. Even if these individuals would have become as famous and wealthy as Michael Jackson, this type of dancing would not be acceptable to God. This type of dancing is done to support one's own selfish lust for notoriety and/or financial gain and is thus the reason why people participating in such dancing are willing to dance to music that is offensive to God's principles. Also, these individuals are willing to dance using the most provocative and ungodly movements and gestures as a means of holding peoples interest; this point is easily proven by considering those performers that practice their trade from Broadway in New York to Hollywood, California and innumerable places in between (e.g. Las Vegas).

Before discussing the next type of dancing, I would like to share one scripture found in the book of Mark (Chapter 8, verse 36): " For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"

Let us move on to the type of dancing that I will call erotic dancing. Erotic dancing describes those individuals who dance in a seductive manner that has a sensual/sexual undertone. Marilyn Monroe or Elvis Presley might be considered people who have danced in this manner during their lifetimes. This type of dancing is meant to titillate and excite to sexual arousal one or more persons of the opposite sex who happen to be viewing the dancer.

These erotic dancers are not just famous persons. If we remember back in our days of sin, we may recall the seductive manner of clothing and the seductive dancing that we observed in dance halls, bars, wild parties, and etc. Do I really need to say that seductive /erotic dancing does not constitute proper praise and worship? Hopefully, it is clear that the aim of worship is not to sexually excite those present in our services. The most sacrilegious instance of dancing that I have ever heard of is a lady who claimed to perform a strip-tease dance for Jesus. Brothers and Sisters, we cannot support this type of dancing which actually promotes adultery and fornication. A Christian does not want to support the works of the flesh in the least way. Galatians 5:19 says: "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,"
 

Next Page...