Am I being unfair?

[Lik3]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIMtj5fBHQg

Praise dancing is a wonderful thing and I don't think the dancing is harmful. However, I am concerned about the way the young dancers are dressed. I was wondering if someone who is immodestly dressed in a church whether dancing or preaching is sending a negative message to others in the congregation, especially the children. Am I being fair to these young women who seemed very sincere in their worship but does it matter what they dress?

 

[A New Dawn]

There are conservative dance dresses and more risque ones. The blue one seems more risque, and dance moves that are really innocuous in nature become accentuated and, themselves, look more risque in those types of dresses. I don't believe the white one is immodest, but can see how it could be interpreted that way. I believe that whoever OKs their offering should be more instructive in what types of outfits are appropriate for a worship occasion.

 

[Albion]

There's nothing to recommend "praise dancing" that I can see, and it certainly seems an odd topic for the "Conservative Christians" forum. But that said and out of the way, I'd say this is immodest, yes. It's not outrageous, I guess we'd agree, but any church that goes in for this kind of thing ought to have the good sense to pay better attention to the style of dress.

 

[Angelquill]

David danced before the Lord. He wasn't modest, either...his wife was not too happy about it, as I recall...

Maybe I'm wrong, here, but it seems to me that what God is concerned about is what is going on inside of their hearts. Is their praise sincere? Are they dressing that way because that is the way young girls dress today, or are they intentionally wearing those clothes in order to make the dance more seductive?

It wouldn't hurt for the church to whisper in their ears, I suppose...but honestly, I am more shocked that we're sitting here judging them than I am about their clothing.

 

[Daughter of His]

I would not say that we are sitting here judging them, only their clothing. There may have been young, impressionable boys watching and I think a more modest costume would have been more appropriate.

 

[A New Dawn]

David danced before the Lord. He wasn't modest, either...his wife was not too happy about it, as I recall...

Maybe I'm wrong, here, but it seems to me that what God is concerned about is what is going on inside of their hearts. Is their praise sincere? Are they dressing that way because that is the way young girls dress today, or are they intentionally wearing those clothes in order to make the dance more seductive?

It wouldn't hurt for the church to whisper in their ears, I suppose...but honestly, I am more shocked that we're sitting here judging them than I am about their clothing.

It doesn't have anything to do with judging, but with teaching young girls how to dress modestly. Young girls don't know what is appropriate without being taught, and without teaching them, they will just follow the pack into wearing more and more inappropriate clothing.

 

[Albion]

Maybe I'm wrong, here, but it seems to me that what God is concerned about is what is going on inside of their hearts.

I disagree...and the question put to us wasn't nearly that intricate.

The attire strikes us as inappropriate, that's all, but not because of the dresses themselves, I'd add. Were the girls simply to wear them to church, I don't think we'd have the same reaction as when we see them dancing energetically in front of the congregation. And no one here has done the first thing towards judging the hearts of the dancers.

By the way, it's clear from the video that the dancers might just as well have worn leotards...so to my way of thinking, the dresses are almost incidental.

 

[Lik3]

I figure why not in this particular forum as I am a Conservative Christian myself. Would there be a difference in how a Conservative Christian and how a more liberal Christian would view this? BTW, thanks for all of your answers. Keep them coming.

 

[Albion]

I figure why not in this particular forum as I am a Conservative Christian myself. Would there be a difference in how a Conservative Christian and how a more liberal Christian would view this? BTW, thanks for all of your answers. Keep them coming.

The forum is supposed to be for those who hold to traditionally Christian beliefs and religious practices. That's in contrast to the Liberal-only forum ("Whoever will, may come").

I don't know what post you were answering there or to whom you addressed your question, but this is what the forum is intended to be, as opposed to being a place for people who are "conservative" in a social or political sense.

 

[Lik3]

Okay, thanks. Could this be in the ethics and morality forum or does this have nothing to do with ethics or morality?

 

[Albion]

Okay, thanks. Could this be in the ethics and morality forum or does this have nothing to do with ethics or morality?

Well, since you ask, I'd say that that forum would indeed be an appropriate place. You're not asking about liturgical dance itself but about this particular example, so that would be a matter of ethics or morality IMO.

Or perhaps the "Christian advice" forum would be OK. The questions asked there usually are about personal problems, but not always. Some of the threads are about the individual's perception of something in church that disturbs them...so that's a kind of personal "problem"--what they should think about what's going on. That's pretty much what you were asking about here.

And it's not entirely a matter of where the question "belongs." You usually get a bigger, better, response in the forum where people who are geared for that certain type of discussion go.

 

[Lik3]

I get you. Thanks.

 

[Faithfulandtrue]

David danced before the Lord. He wasn't modest, either...his wife was not too happy about it, as I recall...

Maybe I'm wrong, here, but it seems to me that what God is concerned about is what is going on inside of their hearts. Is their praise sincere? Are they dressing that way because that is the way young girls dress today, or are they intentionally wearing those clothes in order to make the dance more seductive?

It wouldn't hurt for the church to whisper in their ears, I suppose...but honestly, I am more shocked that we're sitting here judging them than I am about their clothing.

There is that word again. Judging. If you read the Bible you would know that God is also concerned with the outside too. How David praised God and how these girls are "praising God" are two totally different things. it is a sin for a woman to dress like that" especially the girl in blue" because it IS going to tempt a man and I don't see how it could be pleasing to God ESPECIALLY in the church. We aren't to dress like the world but to dress for God.

 

[Faithfulandtrue]

But back to you Lik3 I totally agree with you that this isn't apporaite for these girls to dress like that, especially the girl in blue and especially in a CHURCH! The way I see it is that their are people in some churches that don't feel convicted because those people aren't saved. I can't imagine why No one was convicted by this unless they weren't really followers. Now I know some people are gonna attack me for saying that, but Im gonna say it anyway because it's true.