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Do we in this modern age find dancing offensive? If we have the Holy Spirit of the living God abiding in us, we should have an abhorrence to all things of the world, the flesh, and the devil. I'm not talking about the jumping and leaping for joy type dancing described in Scripture that is for rejoicing at something God has done, or just praising His majesty and glory. Big difference, total difference.
As a believer in Jesus Christ I have always had an aversion to dancing when I was strong in the faith. It was when I compromised that I would then think it's ok, no harm done. But it is lascivious in nature, especially the slithering slinky seductive dances of women with their alluring eyes and sensual body motions. I find this grotesque and must flee far from it, or avert my eyes if it happens to show on a screen.
Men are no different in some of the dances they do. Just as seductive and slinky, to the point of being effeminate. Repulsive.
I came across this by Benjamin Franklin; not the politician, but the preacher,
"Galatians v. 19: "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these, Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditious, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Here we have all awful catalogue of works of the flesh, and the list is not complete, for the Apostle adds to the list the words, "and such like." What is the decree of God in regard to those who do such things?" It is that "they shall not inherit the kingdom of God." "Such things" are not, then, to be trifled with; nor is the doing of them of small moment, seeing that it excludes from the kingdom of God.
The things in this list are not things difficult to determine beyond all doubt. They are works of the flesh, and manifest. They are matters clearly wrong. In this catalogue we find "revelings." The original word, komos, and the English word, revelings, includes dancing. The authorities are well agreed about it; that it embraces feasting, loud talking, music, and dancing. It is not dancing, as an expression of thanksgiving and gratitude, or in joy, in view of some signal victory or special favor from the Lord, or as a religious exercise of any sort; but dancing for amusement, pleasure, hilarity--for the sake of the dance, the, love of it, or in devotion to it. This is the dance that is reveling, and that excludes from the kingdom of God. It is a work of the flesh, and to be shunned by the children of God, as they shun witchcraft, adultery, idolatry, or murder.
The question is not whether there are not degrees in it; whether it is all to be put down alike or not. There are degrees in drunkenness, many degrees in it, but they are only degrees in the same thing. It is drunkenness, whether there is much or little of it. It is the same thing in kind, though not the same in degree. A man so drunk that he can not walk is certainly a degree further than one who is so drunk that he only staggers, but can walk. There are degrees in stealing; but then it is stealing to take one dollar without liberty, as certainly as it is to take a thousand--the same thing in kind, though not the same in degree. But he is the greater simpleton, and thinks the least of his honor, who will get drunk at all, though in the smallest degree. Drunkenness is a work of the flesh, and sin, no matter how small the degree of it, and excludes from the kingdom of God. We are not to divide drunkenness into several kinds, and then assume that Christians may participate in one kind and not in another. They are not to participate in drunkenness at all. If they do, they sin, and should be called to account.
There are degrees in adultery. He who commits adultery only a few times does not reach the same degree in it that he does who practices it regularly for twenty years; but it is adultery, sin, a work of the flesh, and there stands the law of the great King before him, that "they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Hatred is a work of the flesh, no matter whether it reaches, a greater or less degree, and may not be indulged at all. The same is true of reveling, no matter whether in a greater or smaller degree--it is still reveling, and may not be indulged. Any dancing, for pleasure, amusement, or entertainment; for the sake of the dance itself, for the love of it, and in devotion to it, is reveling, no matter how small the degree, and should be utterly repudiated. We want no philosophers, speculating on the degrees Christians may go into sin. We are on dangerous ground the moment we attempt to speculate on the degrees we may go into sin. The only safe doctrine is to keep as far from it as possible.
We can not divide the works of the flesh into different kinds, some of which may be practiced by Christians, and some of which may not be practiced by Christians. When the Apostle closes this terrible list, he adds, "and such like." This includes not only the things enumerated, but all of that kind. None included in the list can be left out, and all others of the same kind are to be included in the catalogue. It is frequently said of dancing, or reveling, and it is to be remembered that all dancing for amusement, for pleasure, for the love of it, or for the sake of dancing, is reveling, is no worse than some plays and performances, about which nothing is said. But that is a poor compliment to dancing, that it is no worse than something else that is wrong. All these other things are included in the words, "and such like;" and after making the catalogue long and fearful, in order to be sure and embrace them all, he adds, "and such like," and then pronounces that "they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Notice, he does not say, "they who do these things," but they who do such things." There is no escape from this language.
We have a solemn charge from the Apostle to "Give no offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the Church of God." Dancing is offensive; not to ignorant, prejudiced and weak people, but to the best informed, the most pious and devout. If there were nothing else against it, that would stamp it with the seal of condemnation. It is under ban, not only in the view of pious persons, but all classes. No one, in the Church or out of it, regards it as any credit to dance, or to be a good dancer. The view of the masses generally is, that people of the world, young and thoughtless people, may dance; the lovers of pleasure, of amusement and entertainments; the irreligious may dance."
The full message can be read here: Benjamin Franklin - Dancing
Now some might say, he lived during the 1800s, so that's just some old fashioned preaching over 150 years ago. Well, there are Christians today that know and preach that dancing is sinful. The exceptions are dancing in your own home alone for exercise, or dancing with your wife or husband alone in your home, but not with other people. Oh I recall being married and going to a couple of bars where there was dancing. They wanted to switch partners so I ended up dancing with my wife's cousin. Another time it was with a girl my wife worked at, and we were all pressed up on each other. It was licentiousness and the fruit was lust, and adultery of the heart, for the girl was married and her husband not even at that New Years party! And why did I go to a bar anyways and drink alcohol and dance? I had backslidden and compromised.
Any time I danced it was usually to some form of rock n roll, and it was lascivious. I wanted to impress girls, and I was drawn in by the way the girls danced around me. If it wasn't sensual, it became violent: stomping, slamming, smashing bottles. That is not the behavior of any Christian, and is not the type of activity Christ calls us to.
Here is some more contemporary preaching against dancing, this from Gospel Broadcasting Network, part of the Church of Christ.
"The truth about modern dancing is that it can create lust and lead to temptation, is often the very definition of the sinful behavior called “Lasciviousness.” Modern dancing between two people who are not married encourages sexual desires and intimate caressing that belongs only in marriage.
In the Book of Galatians, it says, “the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness…and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21).
Avoid the temptation of partaking in sensual dancing, and instead involve yourself in activities that promote righteous thought and pure actions that lead to glorying God. Paul writes, “finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)."
The Truth About Dancing – Gospel Broadcasting Network
As a believer in Jesus Christ I have always had an aversion to dancing when I was strong in the faith. It was when I compromised that I would then think it's ok, no harm done. But it is lascivious in nature, especially the slithering slinky seductive dances of women with their alluring eyes and sensual body motions. I find this grotesque and must flee far from it, or avert my eyes if it happens to show on a screen.
Men are no different in some of the dances they do. Just as seductive and slinky, to the point of being effeminate. Repulsive.
I came across this by Benjamin Franklin; not the politician, but the preacher,
"Galatians v. 19: "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these, Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditious, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Here we have all awful catalogue of works of the flesh, and the list is not complete, for the Apostle adds to the list the words, "and such like." What is the decree of God in regard to those who do such things?" It is that "they shall not inherit the kingdom of God." "Such things" are not, then, to be trifled with; nor is the doing of them of small moment, seeing that it excludes from the kingdom of God.
The things in this list are not things difficult to determine beyond all doubt. They are works of the flesh, and manifest. They are matters clearly wrong. In this catalogue we find "revelings." The original word, komos, and the English word, revelings, includes dancing. The authorities are well agreed about it; that it embraces feasting, loud talking, music, and dancing. It is not dancing, as an expression of thanksgiving and gratitude, or in joy, in view of some signal victory or special favor from the Lord, or as a religious exercise of any sort; but dancing for amusement, pleasure, hilarity--for the sake of the dance, the, love of it, or in devotion to it. This is the dance that is reveling, and that excludes from the kingdom of God. It is a work of the flesh, and to be shunned by the children of God, as they shun witchcraft, adultery, idolatry, or murder.
The question is not whether there are not degrees in it; whether it is all to be put down alike or not. There are degrees in drunkenness, many degrees in it, but they are only degrees in the same thing. It is drunkenness, whether there is much or little of it. It is the same thing in kind, though not the same in degree. A man so drunk that he can not walk is certainly a degree further than one who is so drunk that he only staggers, but can walk. There are degrees in stealing; but then it is stealing to take one dollar without liberty, as certainly as it is to take a thousand--the same thing in kind, though not the same in degree. But he is the greater simpleton, and thinks the least of his honor, who will get drunk at all, though in the smallest degree. Drunkenness is a work of the flesh, and sin, no matter how small the degree of it, and excludes from the kingdom of God. We are not to divide drunkenness into several kinds, and then assume that Christians may participate in one kind and not in another. They are not to participate in drunkenness at all. If they do, they sin, and should be called to account.
There are degrees in adultery. He who commits adultery only a few times does not reach the same degree in it that he does who practices it regularly for twenty years; but it is adultery, sin, a work of the flesh, and there stands the law of the great King before him, that "they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Hatred is a work of the flesh, no matter whether it reaches, a greater or less degree, and may not be indulged at all. The same is true of reveling, no matter whether in a greater or smaller degree--it is still reveling, and may not be indulged. Any dancing, for pleasure, amusement, or entertainment; for the sake of the dance itself, for the love of it, and in devotion to it, is reveling, no matter how small the degree, and should be utterly repudiated. We want no philosophers, speculating on the degrees Christians may go into sin. We are on dangerous ground the moment we attempt to speculate on the degrees we may go into sin. The only safe doctrine is to keep as far from it as possible.
We can not divide the works of the flesh into different kinds, some of which may be practiced by Christians, and some of which may not be practiced by Christians. When the Apostle closes this terrible list, he adds, "and such like." This includes not only the things enumerated, but all of that kind. None included in the list can be left out, and all others of the same kind are to be included in the catalogue. It is frequently said of dancing, or reveling, and it is to be remembered that all dancing for amusement, for pleasure, for the love of it, or for the sake of dancing, is reveling, is no worse than some plays and performances, about which nothing is said. But that is a poor compliment to dancing, that it is no worse than something else that is wrong. All these other things are included in the words, "and such like;" and after making the catalogue long and fearful, in order to be sure and embrace them all, he adds, "and such like," and then pronounces that "they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Notice, he does not say, "they who do these things," but they who do such things." There is no escape from this language.
We have a solemn charge from the Apostle to "Give no offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the Church of God." Dancing is offensive; not to ignorant, prejudiced and weak people, but to the best informed, the most pious and devout. If there were nothing else against it, that would stamp it with the seal of condemnation. It is under ban, not only in the view of pious persons, but all classes. No one, in the Church or out of it, regards it as any credit to dance, or to be a good dancer. The view of the masses generally is, that people of the world, young and thoughtless people, may dance; the lovers of pleasure, of amusement and entertainments; the irreligious may dance."
The full message can be read here: Benjamin Franklin - Dancing
Now some might say, he lived during the 1800s, so that's just some old fashioned preaching over 150 years ago. Well, there are Christians today that know and preach that dancing is sinful. The exceptions are dancing in your own home alone for exercise, or dancing with your wife or husband alone in your home, but not with other people. Oh I recall being married and going to a couple of bars where there was dancing. They wanted to switch partners so I ended up dancing with my wife's cousin. Another time it was with a girl my wife worked at, and we were all pressed up on each other. It was licentiousness and the fruit was lust, and adultery of the heart, for the girl was married and her husband not even at that New Years party! And why did I go to a bar anyways and drink alcohol and dance? I had backslidden and compromised.
Any time I danced it was usually to some form of rock n roll, and it was lascivious. I wanted to impress girls, and I was drawn in by the way the girls danced around me. If it wasn't sensual, it became violent: stomping, slamming, smashing bottles. That is not the behavior of any Christian, and is not the type of activity Christ calls us to.
Here is some more contemporary preaching against dancing, this from Gospel Broadcasting Network, part of the Church of Christ.
"The truth about modern dancing is that it can create lust and lead to temptation, is often the very definition of the sinful behavior called “Lasciviousness.” Modern dancing between two people who are not married encourages sexual desires and intimate caressing that belongs only in marriage.
In the Book of Galatians, it says, “the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness…and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21).
Avoid the temptation of partaking in sensual dancing, and instead involve yourself in activities that promote righteous thought and pure actions that lead to glorying God. Paul writes, “finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)."
The Truth About Dancing – Gospel Broadcasting Network
