Dance in the Church Today
One
way the people of God (Jews) have expressed their praise and worship to the
Lord throughout the centuries is through dance. It was, and still is, an
important part of Jewish culture and tradition. People expressed their emotions
during happy, or even sad, events through dance. They naturally expressed their
joy and love for the Lord with dancing.
The
Biblical truth of Davidic worship was lost to the Body of Christ (on a grand
scale, but there is always a remnant who hold fast to Biblical truths)
throughout the centuries following the destruction of the Temple in AD 70,
especially during the dark ages.
Davidic
worship, which includes dancing before the Lord, is being restored today. One
of the truths of Scripture that the Holy Spirit has been quickening to the Body
of Christ in the last several years has to do with the restoration of the
Tabernacle of David. This is referred to in Amos 9:11:
“In that day I will
raise up the Tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches
thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of
old.”
The
Tabernacle of David was given by revelation (from God) to King David when he
desired to bring the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem after it had been
captured by the Philistines many years before.
The
Tabernacle of David is not referring to the structure – so much – in where the
Ark was housed, but is talking more about the protocol, or modus operandi, that
David instituted to be practiced by the priesthood.
The
order of worship in the Tabernacle of David involved nine basic forms of
worship:
1.
Speaking
2.
Singing
3.
Shouting
4.
Lifting
up of holy hands
5.
Clapping
6.
Use
of musical instruments
7.
Bowing
and kneeling
8.
Standing
9.
Dancing
In
the present day Body of Christ, among many believers, a red flag goes up when
it comes to dancing. Many Christians and many churches think of dancing as that
carnal expression which is found in the world. Lora Allison, in her book
entitled Celebration – Banners, Dance and
Holiness in Worship, comments:
“It is not hard to
understand the criticism, the fear, the negativism – dance of all forms of
worship or service, most clearly reveals in transparency the flaws and flesh of
the vessel. Body language, if you will, often speaks much louder than music or
voice. For this reason, then, we find a strong tide of controversy surrounding
an issue that actually is as Scriptural as raising the voice in song.”
David
danced in worship, and advocated in the Psalms that worshippers praise God in
the dance. Today a pastor, a worship leader, and every believer must ask
himself or herself the question: “What does the Bible teach on this subject?”
Old Testament Dancing
Occasions of Great Joy
Vocal
and instrumental music, together with dancing, were employed on most occasions
of great joy. Some examples include the crossing of Israel through the Red Sea
(Exodus 15:20); David dancing when the Ark was returned to Jerusalem (2 Samuel
4:14-16). The dances of the virgins of Shiloh (Judges 21:19-23) were certainly
a part of a religious festivity. Even welcoming returning armies (1 Samuel
18:6; 29:5), the dancing maidens acclaimed God’s victory in holy war. The
ancient Hebrews must have danced on every possible occasion.
Men and Women Danced
Separately
There
is no Scriptural record that the Jewish men danced with the women, as is the
modern custom of the West. The two sexes seldom or never intermingled in dance,
except where pagan influences had crept in. The sensual dancing of the daughter
of Herodias (Matthew 14:6) before men at a banquet was the kind introduced
among the Jews by corrupt Greek influence.
For
the most part, dancing was carried on by the women with one leading, as in the
case of Miriam (Exodus 15:20-21). Occasionally, men danced as well, as in the
case of David before the Lord (2 Samuel 6:14-16).
Dancing Accompanied by
Tambourines and Singing
Dance
is found combined with some song or refrain (Exodus 15:20; 32:18-19; 1 Sam
21:11). As in the case of Miriam the prophetess, as well as on other occasions,
a form of anti-phonal singing was used. Dance is also found combined with the
playing of the tambourine (or timbrel), and other percussion instruments (Judges
11:34; Psalms 68:25; Exodus 15:20).
Old Testament Commands
and Exhortations to Dance
Psalms
150:4 “Praise Him with the timbrel and dance.”
Psalms
149:3 “Let them praise His Name in the dance.”
Psalms
30:11 “Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing.”
Ecclesiastes
3:4 “There is a time to dance.”
Jeremiah
31:4,13 “Thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in
the dances of them that make merry. Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance,
both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy.”
Hebrew Words For Dance
1. Karar (Strong’s
3769): To whirl; to move in a circle. 2 Samuel 6:14-16
2. Rakad
(Strong’s 7540): To stamp, to spring about (wildly or for joy); jump, leap,
skip. 1 Chronicles 15:29; Ecclesiastes 3:4
3. Machowl
(Strong’s 4234): A round dance. Psalms 30:11; Psalms 149:3; Psalms 150:4; Jeremiah
31:4,13; Lamentations 5:15
4. Mechowlah
(Strong’s 4246): A dance company or chorus. Exodus 15:20; 1 Samuel 18:6; 1
Samuel 21:11; 1 Samuel 29:5; Judges 21:21; Song of Solomon 6:13
5. Gul;
Gil (Strong’s 1523, 1524, 7797, 8055): To spin around, to rejoice, be glad,
be joyful. To go in a circle. Psalms 9:14; 14:7; 32:11; 35:1-2; 45:15;
89:15-16; 97:1; 118:24; Song of Solomon 1:4; Zephaniah 3:17; Zechariah 9:9.
6. Chagag
(Strong’s 2287): To march in a sacred procession; to move in a circle. Psalms
42:4
7. Dalag To
spring or leap. Isaiah 35:6
8. Pazaz To
leap, to bound, to be light, to be agile. 2 Samuel 6:16
New Testament Dancing
In
the New Testament, there is no specific order of worship given for the Church,
but Christ taught that He would fulfill in His Church all that was written in
the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Him (Luke 24:44).
God
did not promise to restore the Tabernacle of Moses. His promise was to restore
the Tabernacle of David. He tells us that we are not come unto Mt. Sinai
(Tabernacle of Moses), but we are come unto Mt. Zion (Tabernacle of David – the
Church), which is the church of the firstborn (Hebrews 12:18-23). It is in the
Tabernacle of David that we can find the order of worship for the New Testament
church.
David
Watson, author of I Believe in the Church,
says: “Dance was never written about as it was never a problem in the early
church.” He believes that when the Apostle Paul spoke of singing psalms, that
both the musical instruments and dance would naturally accompany the
psalm-singing. Certainly New Testament believers were happy people. William
Tyndale’s definition of gospel is the word Evangelio,
which signifies good, merry, glad, and joyful tidings that makes a man’s heart
glad, and makes him sing, dance, and leap for joy.
Dance
was such a common part of everyday life in the New Testament that the children
played games based on it (Matthew 11:16-17; Luke 7:32, 15:25).
The
strongest argument presented for dance in the New Testament is based on the
Greek word Agalliao, which is
translated as “rejoice”, “joy” or “glad” in English Bibles. The lexicons make a
strong argument for the word to be translated as “dance” or “leap for joy”.
Greek Words For Dance
1. Agalliao
(Strong’s 20, 21): Jump for joy, exult, exceedingly glad. To gush, to leap, to
spring up.
Translated in the KJV:
“Rejoice” – John 5:35; Acts 16:34; 1 Peter
1:6,8; Revelation 19:7
“Joy” – 1 Peter 4:13; Jude :24
“Glad” – Matthew 5:12; Hebrews 1:9
2. Skirtao
(Strong’s 4640): To skip, jump, leap for joy. Translated in the KJV: “Leap” –
Luke 6:23
3. Hallomai
(Strong’s 242): To jump, leap, spring up. Translated in the KJV: “Leap” – Acts
3:8, 14:10
Forms of Dance
Choreographed Dance
Performance
dance includes a wide range of activities from major stage productions with
pageantry and choreography to a young person simply “signing” the words of a
song.
The
Hebrew word used to describe choreographed dance is the word Mechowlah, meaning “a dance company or
chorus”. Many people today are wary of the term “dance company” in conjunction
with the Church. It sometimes brings to mind thoughts of the worldly system
(sensuality and moral decay). Dancing “the world’s way” is a good example of
how the enemy has taken something that is good and perverted it for his own
purpose … and even to the point that many believers hesitate to touch it with a
ten-foot pole.
The
word “company” simply refers to a group, a collection, or a unit of people
drawn together for a common purpose. In the Body of Christ, a dance company
refers to a group of worshippers called to minister in dance before the Lord,
just as a choir is a group of worshippers called to minister in vocal song.
Some
Old Testament example of a dance company include: Exodus 15:20; 1 Samuel 18:6,
21:11, 29:5; Judges 11:34, 21:21; 1 Kings 19:16; Song of Solomon 6:13.
The
main purpose of choreographed dance in the Church is to preach or convey a
visual message that can, at many times, be just as powerful as the spoken
message. Ministry by God in dance is a means in which God communicates to His
people through movement. It is a visual manifestation of what God is saying by
His Spirit.
Congregational
Participation Dance
Congregational
worship to God in dance is “Let them praise His Name with dancing”, a general
expression of corporate worship, just as we sing together. This type of dancing
does not necessarily have a set form, as each individual will express himself
or herself in a different way.
God
is restoring joy to the Church, and dancing is a vital expression of that joy.
Even when God turns around an individual’s personal captivity of depression and
mourning, a natural response is to dance, skip or leap for joy before the Lord
(Psalms 30:11).
Dick
Iverson, in his book entitled Present Day
Truths, comments:
“Dancing before the Lord is worship on a very
high plain and should always be considered and treated as such. It is not
merely an emotional release as some have said. Truly God does and always will
come down to satisfy the emotional needs of His people, but the primary purpose
in this aspect is obedience to the known
will of God through our worship. One of the ultimate expressions of worship
in the believer’s life is the total abandonment of strength until God
completely possesses us in spirit, soul and body. Whatever gods the heathen may
worship, there is to be found somewhere in that worship the expression of
dance. This indicates that there is born in the heart of every man a great
desire to abandon himself in the worship of his god. How much more should we
abandon ourselves with all that is in us unto THE LIVING GOD.
Dancing in the Spirit
The
phrase “dancing in the Spirit” is many times associated with revival meetings
or instances when the Spirit’s anointing falls upon certain individuals and
they begin to dance. Sometimes a person may dance alone, or several may dance
together. Campmeetings of the past were characterized by enthusiasm, which many
times broke out as people danced up and down the aisles.
It
should be noted, however, that the phrase “dancing in the Spirit” cannot be
found in the Word of God. The lifting of hands, clapping, singing and shouting
are all conscious acts that are done on the basis of an understanding of the
Word of God and a willingness to obey its dictates. Dancing before the Lord is
no different. A person does not have to get a special quickening to sing or
dance.
There
are times, though, when the Spirit of God falls and most unusual things occur. For
example, I can remember back to when my grandmother was living. Due to medical
conditions which left her frail and weak, as well as living with an amputated
big toe, she normally had to have assistance when walking and even when using a
walker. However, there were numerous occasions when she would get so enraptured
with the glory of God that she would begin dancing (whirling, springing, and
stamping wildly for joy) up and down the aisles of the church (and with perfect
balance). There was even a time when she danced from the church all the way to
the parking lot. When the anointing for dance lifted, she would return to her
normal state of having physical limitations.
This
example is an extreme case. The majority of believers do have the physical capabilities to dance before the Lord, as a
conscious act of obeying His Word. Dancing before the Lord is one way to show
our love for Him. It should be considered an honor and a privilege to dance
before the King.
Guidelines for Dance
Listed
below are some appropriate guidelines when it comes to dancing:
A. In the church, dance should be initiated by
the leadership, or at least given permission by the pastor and leadership.
B. Dancing is not to please men or show off to
them, but as a way of giving honor to God.
C. Bodily expression in worship should not be
discounted, but it should not be done in a lewd or sensual manner.
D. Dance in worship should, for the most part, be
geared to involve the whole congregation. Individual or group performance must
enhance, not detract from, corporate worship satisfaction.
E. Those who dance should be modestly attired.
There are websites that sell liturgical dancewear.
F. Dancing as a form of worship must glorify God
and edify the Body of Christ.
G. Ecclesiastes 3:4 says that “there is a time to
dance and not to dance”. We need to be sensitive to the leading and direction
of the Spirit for a particular service.
In
studying what the Scriptures teach about dancing, we see that it is ordained by
God and is pleasing to Him. It is an expression of our love and joy in the
Lord. Just as children naturally dance when they are excited or happy, dancing
before our Heavenly Father is only fitting. Dancing not only is an expression
of joy, but also as a means of being filled up with joy.
Just
like singing, clapping, lifting up holy hands, or shouting, dance is also a
form of worship and the Word teaches us to praise the Lord in the dance. The
command to worship in dance is difficult for many believers to fulfill …
perhaps because of self-consciousness, or more commonly, because of one’s
upbringing or religious background. Also, culture plays a significant part when
it comes to dance. Some cultures dance all the time, in both happy and sad
times. Many Christians have been taught that dancing is a sin and have regarded
it as such. Until a believer gets a revelation of the truths taught in the Word
of God regarding dance, he or she will probably have a difficult time
expressing worship in this form.
Some
people feel hindered from dancing in their church because the leadership does
not feel comfortable with it. However, you can always dance at home before the
Lord.
Lucien
Deiss, in her book entitled Dance For the
Lord, says: “Song is the joy of the voice; dancing is the joy of the body.
Together, singing and dancing, both created by God, must, like all His other
creatures, praise the Lord. Zephaniah 3:17 says that the Lord also rejoices
(dances by spinning around) over us.
As
a final analysis, dance in the church should be to glorify God and build up His
body. Jeremiah 31:12-13 gives us three ingredients that will help to keep us in
balance in this area: First, God restores the truths of the Word (the wheat),
for everything must be founded on the basis of the revealed Word of God.
Second, God restores the joy of the Lord (wine). Third, the anointing (oil)
comes. When the Word of God and the joy of the Lord meet up with the anointing,
then shall the Church (virgin) rejoice in the dance. When the foundation has
been properly laid in the Word of God, the expression in the dance can follow.
Sorrow Turned Into
Dancing
Dancing
is an expression of joy, and dancing also produces joy. In several Scriptural
passages, God promises to heal the brokenhearted and to restore their joy. He
said that He has turned our mourning into dancing. He said that weeping may
endure for a night (a short season), but joy comes in the morning.
He
restores the song in our hearts. Here are some Scriptures about sorrow turned
into joy:
Psalms
30:11 “Thou has turned for me my mourning into dancing; thou hast put off my
sackcloth and girded me with gladness.”
Ecclesiastes
3:4 “A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance.”
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.”
Isaiah
51:11 “Therefore, the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing
unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head; they shall obtain
gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.”
Isaiah
61:3 “To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for
ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of
heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of
the Lord, that He might be glorified.”
Psalms
30:5b “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”
Nehemiah
8:10 “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Isaiah
65:19 “And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people; and the voice of
weeping shall no more be heard in her, nor the voice of crying.”
Psalms
126:5 “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.”
Isaiah
51:3 “For the Lord shall comfort Zion; He will comfort all her waste places;
and He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of
the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and the voice
of melody.”
Bibliography
The
Holy Bible. Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version, New
King James Version, and New International Version.
James
Strong, L.L.D., S.T.D., Strong’s
Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers,
1990)
Brown-Driver-Briggs
Hebrew Lexicon (Biblesoft
PC Study Bible, Version 5)
Thayer’s Greek Lexicon (Biblesoft PC Study
Bible, Version 5)
Englishmen’s
Concordance
(Biblesoft PC Study Bible, Version 5)
Fred
H. Wight, Manners and Customs of Bible
Lands (Chicago: Moody Bible Institute, 1953)
William
Smith, A Dictionary of the Bible
(Philadelphia: Universal Book and Bible House)
Easton’s Bible
Dictionary
(Biblesoft PC Study Bible, Version 5)
J.D.
Douglas, NIV Compact Dictionary of the
Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1989)
Kevin
J. Conner, The Tabernacle of David
(Portland, OR: City Bible Publishing, 1976)
Dick
Iverson, Present Day Truths
(Portland, OR: Bible Temple Publishing, 1975)
Ernest
B. Gentile, Worship God! (Portland,
OR: Bible Temple Publishing, 1994)
Ruth
Collingridge, Introduction to Praise
(Lynwood, WA: Aglow Publications, 1981)
Lora
Allison, Celebration – Banners, Dance and
Holiness in Worship (Celebration International Ministries, 1987)
James
P. Gills, The Dynamics of Worship
(Tarpon Springs, FL: Love Press, 1992)
Lucien
Deiss, Dance for the Lord (Schiller
Park: World Library Publications, 1975)
For God so loved this world that He gave His only begotton Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
God did not send His Son into this world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him would be saved.
The thief (Satan the devil) comes only for to kill, steal and destroy. But Jesus has come to give us life, and life more abundantly, until it overflows.
I urge you to come to the Cross today and receive Jesus as your Savior and Lord. He will wash away all your sins and make you as clean and white as fresh snow.
Just pray this prayer and mean it with your heart:
Dear Lord Jesus (if you are not able to call him Lord yet, then just say "Jesus")
I receive You as my Savior and Lord. I give my life over to You. I believe that You died and rose again, and that if I call on the Name of the Lord I shall be saved.
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Thank You for washing my heart pure and clean and making me whole, and for giving me peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Thank You that now I am a new creature in Christ Jesus. The old has gone and the new has come.
And there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh (carnality and sin), but walk after the Spirit. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, I believe you got born again and are now heaven bound and will be with the Lord forever and have eternal life. Your sins are now forgiven. You are accepted in the Beloved.
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