Should I dance at the Jewish Wedding or am I going to look like a harlot?

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Ken Rank

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I was attending a church here and there for a while in which I was advised that a Christian woman does not conduct herself in that way (meaning dancing).

David danced, but i begin to wonder if that was because he was a male and was privileged to do that without being labeled as a "loose man."

Seriously, could a Hebrew woman have gotten away with dancing before the lord like David? wouldn't she have been labeled?

Why would I be labeled as a loose woman, who is advertising herself just for dancing at a wedding?

Seems there is a thing called male privilege at work or double standards.

I have been counseled that moving your body rhythmically to the music is advertising your body.

Doesn't matter if I m in a conservative dress or not. Its the movement that is supposed to be sinful.

I don't go there any more, as I never felt so unloved and rejected for being a single woman.

The church pews on each side, left and right were full of married couples.

As an lone, single woman, I distinctly felt that I was viewed as a temptation to the happiness of the married couples.

I know other women know that look, when other women scorn you with their stares.
I am saying this respectfully, and am not trying to push one way or another. Rather, I admire your desire to be pure before the Lord. However, I do believe you are doing two things that we ALL tend to do.

1. You are imposing our modern, western, cultural understanding over and into an ancient, Semitic, near east collection of writings.

2. You are allowing bylaws, and not direct commandments from God, to dictate and steer your paradigm.

Whether you dance or not is no concern of mine... be blessed regardless of your decision. :) But go to this thing with this understanding.... if these Jewish people are practicing, then throw out any idea that they don't love the same God you do. Perhaps they don't have an understanding of messiah that we do (that he has come) but they await him as do we... we just know it as his return. My point is, they are not going to do anything that will profane the name (character, reputation, authority) of God.

My advice, go, enjoy and watch. If what THEY are doing does not stand in conflict with your understanding of God, then join them and enjoy yourself. And if it does conflict, don't and try not to look condemning in the process. :)

Be blessed regardless.
 
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Ken Rank

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It sounds like you are blindly putting a lot of trust in what people have told you. People, even church people, can be mistaken. What does the Bible say?

About dancing:

Exodus 15:20 And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.

2 Samuel 6:14 And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

Psalm 149:3 Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.

Psalm 150:4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.

Jeremiah 31:13 Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.

About Jesus (and about other people's opinions):

Matthew 11:16-19 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

About being joyful:

Galations 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

About women:

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Genesis 5:2 Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

About divorce:

Matthew 5:32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

About forgiveness:

John 8:3-11 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
Real nice post. And I add only that dance is a form of WORSHIP and that, to the practicing Jewish person, they will see marriage as a gift/blessing from GOD and will treat the event as such. Therefore, even dance at a wedding... a covenant event between the couple and God... is seen as worship.
 
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LovebirdsFlying

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Dancing *can be* sinful IF it is done to deliberately tease and provoke certain feelings. Not all dancing falls into this category.

If someone has innocent intentions and isn't violating any Scripture, but someone makes harsh judgment, the sin is with the judger, not the dancer.
 
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Greg Merrill

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King David danced unto the Lord. Some churches even use Hula dancing done in a non-sexually stimulating way. It is not dancing that is wrong, though some legalists teach that. It is sexually stimulating dances that are wrong. Folk dancing, square dancing, ball room dancing, tap dancing, line dancing could be examples of acceptable dancing, depending on the environment around them, and the accompanying music. What also is being done at the same time, getting drunk, profanity, flirting, etc., and lyrics that promote such and illicit sex, would determine if one should take part in certain dances.
I am not a "dancer" myself. I don't like dancing, though I will dance with my wife, who loves to dance. I like to keep a sense of dignity, and some dancing just seems silly to me.
 
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FutureAndAHope

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I want to get out there and dance the Hava Nagila, but will I appear to be egregiously sinning if I do?

Because dancing is a sin, right?

Jesus most certainly didn't dance at the wedding at Cana, what would people think for a man to be moving all around with his body like that?

He is our example of pious living, right?

King David danced so wildly before the Arc of the Covenant that his wife despised him.

Dance is far from wrong. There is a vast difference between dancing for joy, and dancing sensually. Here are e few verses encouraging us to dance.

Psa 149:3 Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.

Psa 150:4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.

Ecc 3:4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
 
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Andrew77

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I want to get out there and dance the Hava Nagila, but will I appear to be egregiously sinning if I do?

Because dancing is a sin, right?

Jesus most certainly didn't dance at the wedding at Cana, what would people think for a man to be moving all around with his body like that?

He is our example of pious living, right?

Huh? Since when is dancing a sin? Where is that in the bible?

I think you should go dance. Until you show me where dancing was a sin, I think you should go dance!
Ecclesiastes 3:4

I think you know the difference between a scantly clad sensual dance, and a beautiful joyful dance. I think you are mature enough, based on what you said, to know the difference.

I think you should dance. Please go and dance. Don't call dancing a sin, ever again. There is nothing 'evil' about dancing. Not in the Bible I have.

My parents who have been married 53 years, met dancing. One of the pastors at my former church, met his wife while dancing.

I have no idea where dancing is sin, came from. Sounds crazy to me.
 
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Jenniferdiana

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It was explained to me that ballerinas are dressed up in theatrical wear and with costumes and make up then they are nothing but harlots. And dancing for a performance like Hello Dolly when I did theater, was not for the glory of god but the audience-so this was a sin, right?
there's nothing wrong with ballet..its an form of art..lol
 
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dayhiker

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When I was growing up dancing was kinda looked down on. At I was thinking about it I remembered all the times I'd seen a toddler who had just learned to walk and what they did convinced me that dancing was part of our creation. They enter a room where there is music and they have to dance. They can't stand still.
 
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teresa

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Ecc 3:4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

Spot on! If wise Solomon said it, then its all good!

Straight otta the bible!

Word!

We are done here.

Thank you everybody!
 
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