What’s Up with Dancing in the Church?

By Russ Hewett

Some churches now are using dance in a variety of ways. What? Dancing in church? What would my grandmother have thought? Well, first I’m not talking about holding dances in the church where people come to dance with each other, but rather, is there any place for dance in the contemporary Christian church as either an art form or as some other means of expression? Let’s look at five things that the Bible has to say on the subject.

First, in Exodus 15, Miriam led a procession of women dancing in celebration of God delivering them from Pharaoh’s army by parting the Red Sea.

“Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out after her with timbrels and dancing.” Ex. 15:20 NIV

At ALC, we recognize the awesome deliverance that God has worked, and is working in our lives. God has saved many of us from life-controlling habits, from serious illnesses, and most of all from the eternal penalty of sin. Are these not sufficient reasons to dance, just as Miriam did in celebration of God’s saving power in our lives?

Second, in 2 Samuel 6 David danced before the Lord with all his might while he and the house of Israel brought the ark of the Lord back to Jerusalem.

“David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets.” 2 Samuel 6:14-15

The ark carried the very presence of the Lord, and it was a joyous day for the children of Israel when the ark was returned to Jerusalem. For Christians, Jesus tells us in Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” NIV This is a wonderful fact of life for the Christian; that when we come together in Jesus’ name, his presence is right there with us. This is certainly another reason to celebrate with dancing, just as David did when returning the ark (God’s presence) to Jerusalem. Interestingly, Michal, Saul’s daughter saw David dancing and criticized and mocked him for dancing before the ark. The bible records that Michal then bore no children her entire life.

Third, dancing is an appropriate response to God’s healing of our emotions.

“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy”… Ps. 30:11

“Then maidens will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.” Jer. 31:13

“a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance”… Ecclesiastes 3:4

Life invariably deals us difficult situations that cause emotional stress and strain. God provides a way through these difficult times, and ultimately he provides emotional healing. The transition from the depths of mourning to the liberation of total emotional healing can certainly be justification to celebrate with dancing!

Fourth, the bible exorts us to praise God with dancing.

“They should praise him with dancing. They should sing praises to him with tambourines and harps.” Ps. 149:3 New Century Version

“praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute”… Ps. 150:4

“I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel. Again you will take up your tambourines and go out to dance with the joyful.” Jeremiah 31:4

We find it quite natural to give adoration to our favorite musicians or our favorite sports teams, but knowing how to give adoration and praise to God sometimes requires some instruction. God’s word provides this instruction for us. Dance is just one of the ways that we can praise God.

Fifth, Jesus validates dancing as an appropriate way to express our praise to God in two passages:

"To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:" 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not cry.” Luke 7:31-32

In this passage, Jesus is speaking of the Pharisees, experts in the law that rejected Jesus and the baptism of John the Baptist. Jesus and John the Baptist were providing the “music”, but the Pharisees refused to dance. We must be on guard not to be like the Pharisees, which will keep us stuck in our legalism – unable to dance to the lifesong that Jesus is playing in our lives. Another passage:

"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' Luke 15: 25-27

This is the story of the prodigal son. When a wayward son came to his senses and returned home to his father, his father put on a celebration that included music and dancing. When God, in his mercy, welcomes us back even after we have turned our backs on him, it is truly a reason to celebrate. No doubt the prodigal son was not the only one dancing. Most all of the family and servants were celebrating, but the older brother was not. He became jealous and complained to his father. Like the Pharisees in the previous story, the older brother didn’t dance to the “music”.

We recognize that dancing in the church is not typical, however at ALC our desire is to please God by being obedient to praise him in the ways that he instructs us to in his word. These ways include, among others, singing, clapping, raising our hands, shouting and yes, dancing. We endeavor to use dance in ways that are appropriate, that point others to God, and that express the shear joy of knowing and experiencing God in our lives.