Todd Clippard

Topic(s): Christian Life

One thing that must be determined is this -- "What does the New Testament say (if anything) about dancing?"

We do know that Herodias' daughter danced before Herod in Matthew 14:6 (cf Mark 6:22).  Her dancing pleased Herod greatly, insomuch that he was willing to give her up to half of his kingdom.  After consulting with her treacherous mother, the request was made to behead John the Baptist, whom Herod had imprisoned for condemning Herod's marriage as unlawful.  The daughter's dancing excited some emotions within Herod, as this is one of the primary definitions given for the word translated "pleased" in this text (Strong's #700).

Though not condemned directly in the New Testament, we can make some determinations about the nature of dancing through a study of some New Testament words, particularly the word translated "lasciviousness" in Galatians 5:19.  This word comes from the Greek aselgia, which is defined in Thayer's lexicon as "indecent bodily movements . . . unchaste handling of males and females, etc" (Thayer's Lexicon, entry # 766, p 79-80).  Thayer's work was first published in the late 19th century, so there can be no perceived bias against modern dancing, which is certainly more lewd than that of the late 1800's.

Dancing would also be condemned as a work of the flesh under the definition of the Greek word translated "uncleanness" in Galatians 5:19.  This word refers to any type of physical or moral impurity.  Dancing certainly incites lusts and appeals to the baser desires of man. 

Some years ago, I wrote an article on some of the issues facing Christians today.  One of these issues was dancing.  In my research, I came across a book by Judith Lynne Hanna titled Dance, Sex, and Gender (1988).  In the promotional summary of the book, the following remarks were made:

"Through this inherently sexual art form, men and women express and question their sexual identity and roles...And in every society, dance expresses erotic fantasies and realities...and fluctuating boundaries between the male and female worlds."

This statement comes from an anthropologist with no axe to grind concerning the moral implications of dancing; she simply states the facts!

Finally, the summary statement of the works of the flesh reads as follows, "and such like."  Is dancing more closely affiliated with the fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23, or with the works of the flesh in verses 19-21?  I think the answer is a "no brainer." 

Since dancing is so closely associated with the works of the flesh, and since "those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God," Christians should avoid dancing altogether.