Dancing A Sin?

[beatitude]

This morning I have had music on and been dancing around the room in my Eeyore and Piglet pyjamas while I wait for my sweet potatoes to cook. It is a real den of iniquity in here. Just as well it's Friday and there are confessions at parish.

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='i<3LSOP' timestamp='1331901758' post='2401743']
No, I do not see how dancing could be a sin. As cmotherofpirl showed, the Bible mentions it positively. I dance ballet, and I do it for the glory of God!
[/quote]

You don't see how *any* dancing could be sinful?


The only dancing I do is intended to embarrass my teenagers.

[sixpence]

now i feel guilty about argentine tango....

[i<3LSOP]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' timestamp='1331902269' post='2401746']
The only dancing I do is intended to embarrass my teenagers.
[/quote]

Well there is that too... but as long as you aren't doing some freaky/cult/immodest dance type thing I don't see how it could be a sin...

[FutureSister2009]

The Duggers don't dance. But the Duggers are crazy people. I am a Catholic and I have been dancing since I was 4. If it is a sin, then my Catholic College is a sinful place because we have a dance major here. It is more or less the only way I get exercise that I actually enjoy. Now yoga is a different story

[Cherie]

St John Vianney disapproved of dancing. I know other Saints have, as well.

[i<3LSOP]

[quote name='CherieMadame' timestamp='1331909894' post='2401804']
St John Vianney disapproved of dancing. I know other Saints have, as well.
[/quote]
But why disapprove? What is bad about it?

[SaintOlaf]

[quote name='i<3LSOP' timestamp='1331910682' post='2401808']

But why disapprove? What is bad about it?
[/quote]

Read through Cappie's post, I think he covered it pretty well

[i<3LSOP]

[quote name='cappie' timestamp='1331871721' post='2401692']
The Bible doesn't give specific instructions on dancing. It may be helpful to point out some examples of good and bad dancing, and then mention some biblical principles to build dancing standards on. Exodus 32:6; 19-25 —This is a disappointing part of Israel's history. While Moses was up on the mountain talking to God, the Israelites built an idol. In the process of the idol worship, they began to dance. This ended up in "revelry" (v. 6) and being "out of control" (v.25 says "naked" in some translations). In this case, dancing led to very sinful activity. In Exodus 15:20 (mentioned above), Miriam was dancing to celebrate the victory God's power had brought at the Red Sea. Second Samuel 6:12-16—David "danced before the Lord" to celebrate the Ark of the Covenant being brought back to Jerusalem.

Every instance of dancing that is not considered sinful was done in worship or praise to God. Here are some more principles to keep in mind in considering dancing: Ecclesiastes 3:4—There is an appropriate time to dance (and by implication an inappropriate time to dance). Psalm 149:3; 150:4—Both passages mention that we can praise or worship God through dance. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20—Our bodies belong to God, and they are the temple of the Holy Spirit. So everything we do must be honoring to Him.

Dancing to bring attention to yourself or your body therefore would be sinful. St Paul acknowledes that men have a very strong sex drive that is easy to set off. Because of this, many styles of pair dancing outside of marriage can be very tempting, especially to the man. "Flee (as in "run away from") the evil desires of youth" (2 Timothy 2:22). Any dancing that stirs up sinful desires in ourselves or in others is sinful. Matthew 18:6—Doing something that might cause someone else to stumble into sin is considered absolutely inexcusable. Dancing in a way that would cause someone else to lust would fall under this guideline. 1 Thessalonians 5:22—This is a great rule of thumb if we're not sure if a dancing situation is acceptable. "Avoid every kind of evil." If it even looks like it could be sinful, don't do it.

In the end, there is a lot of dancing that is inappropriate for believers who should be seeking to glorify God with their lives and especially with their bodies. Yet the Bible acknowledges that we can dance in a way that does not tempt others, does not tempt ourselves, and brings glory to God.
[/quote]

Avvesome post!

[cmotherofpirl]

At my cousins wedding my Baptist aunt left because the priest had a glass of wine for the toast, and he danced about 3 steps with the bride. He wasn't close to her in any way, she is 5' and he was 6'2", but he did twirl her once and handed her off to the next partner. My Baptist aunt also brought her minister for protection against us heathen.

[i<3LSOP]

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' timestamp='1331916254' post='2401851']
My Baptist aunt also brought her minister for protection against us heathen.
[/quote]

[FutureSister2009]

I can understand inappropriate dancing and I see it alot. I can see how that would be a sin. That's what I avoid. I dance for fun and for exercise. I know PLENTY of Catholics who dance. One of my dear friends who is very Catholic is a dance major

[mme_hardy]

My mom, the ex-Baptist, told me this joke:

Why don't Baptists make love standing up?
They're afraid it might lead to dancing.

[Ice_nine]

[quote name='CherieMadame' timestamp='1331909894' post='2401804']
St John Vianney disapproved of dancing. I know other Saints have, as well.
[/quote]

some saints disapproved of laughing. Perhaps not as a matter of sin, but as a matter of discipline.

So sad for them