There are many occasions in the Bible when we are told that the people danced. Some were just joyful occasions such as victory over oppression. Exodus 15:20: ". . . with tambourines and with dances." 1 Samuel 18:7: "the women came out of all cities singing and dancing . . . ." Return of a loved one – Luke 15:25 ". . . he heard music and dancing".
Dancing also occurred during ungodly worship to idols, sometimes referred to as revelry, such as Exodus 32:19 Moses "saw the calf (idol) and the dancing . . . ".
Yet other occasions were worship to the true and living God. 2 Samuel 6: 14: "David danced before the Lord." Jeremiah 31:4,13" "thou . . . shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry . . . . Then shall the maidens rejoice in the dance for I shall turn their mourning into joy."See also Psalm 30:11.
Ecclessiasites 3:4 says: "There is a time to mourn and a time to dance".
Although dancing was misused and abused in idolatry, nevertheless it was not ignored as a valid expression of worship in Bible times and we today are still encouraged to use it as a form of worship to God.
Psalm 149:3; 150:4: "Let them praise His name in the dance . . . ." Church dance is Christian if the participants seek to glorify God in the dance with appropriate dress, behaviour and attitude.
– MAUREEN GRAHAM
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