Who Are You Dancing For?

My parents told me that when I was a child I had an encounter with the Holy Spirit. I don't remember much about the incident (perhaps I should have asked them for the details), but I simply recall getting caught up in worship and dancing (twirling around) at a church convocation.

Without a doubt, dancing can be both spiritual and cultural, and expressive and suggestive. In Exodus 15:20, we have the first mention of dancing in the Bible. It is a celebratory dance initiated by Miriam, the sister of Aaron and Moses, after crossing the Red Sea. This prophetess with tambourine in hand, led other women in dancing to honor God's deliverance from slavery and victory over the Egyptians. Surely it was an expressive and spiritual way to praise Jehovah Mephalti - the LORD my Deliverer.

Another biblical example of dancing comes from 2 Samuel 6:14-22. David, the shepherd king, is described as "dancing before the LORD with all his might." This dance again was celebratory in regards to returning the Ark of the Covenant to its rightful place in Jerusalem. While some such as Micah and perhaps others were offended by David's joyful spinning around, his dance was indicative of the triumphant return of the Ark and his love for the LORD. The Psalms, moreover, many penned by David, go on to express thoughts about dancing. In Psalm 30:11 the Bible says, "You have turned my my mourning into dancing, you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness." Also in Psalm 130:3 it says, "Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody with tambourine and lyre." It pleases Elohim, God the Creator, when we dance to worship and praise Him.

There is a story, however, in the Bible that describes a more suggestive and sensual dance that led to murder. In the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, we find Salome, the daughter of Herodias, dancing before Herod. The text implies that this dancing incited lust that was perhaps already in the heart of the king. Herod was so "pleased" with the dance that he made an oath, "Ask of me whatsoever you want, and I will give it to you, even up to half of my kingdom." When Salome consulted her mother, who was living in sin with the king, Herodias requested the head of John the Baptist. We don't have to look far to see numerous examples of this type of suggestive dance in our society today. There exists sinful and seductive dances that purely originate from the flesh. Yes, even in our little girls. This type of dance pleases the world and does not honor God.

Most cultures have some form of dance that connects people to their heritage. The purposes and nature of these dances varies from weddings, funerals, to competition, and other occasions of celebration. In the Hebrew culture, dance was a form of joy and celebration. Men and women often danced separately at feasts and weddings. Dance was also done as part of their temple observances. Dance was viewed as a form of worship. Likewise, there exists a darkness in some cultures that use dance for more seductive and demonic purposes.

The question isn't whether dancing is right or wrong, The question is, who are you dancing for? Over the course of my life, who I danced for has changed. When I was younger, I simply danced for myself for fun and exercise. I didn't really care about the lyrics of the music, it was the beat. Later, during another season of life, there was a more suggestive element in my dance, even if I didn't realize it, and I was engaged in worldly dancing. It was dancing to assimilate with society and the culture. The lyrics of the music were sketchy and probably even offensive at times. Finally, as I've matured spiritually and returned to my first love, Jesus, the dancing is now for Him. This type of dancing is still joyful and combines a greater appreciation of the lyrics of the music and movement together. It is a dance - a rocking, a motion, a spin, a lifting of the hands, a tapping of the feet, a jump, a leap, or even a stomp. It comes spontaneously without restraint, and its origin is holy. It comes with a freedom to honor God and to celebrate the victories He has given me in life, Honestly, sometimes the dance comes with tears and bowed knees. It's all for HIM.

As believers and disciples of Christ, we are all in different stages of sanctification. We are a new creation and becoming a new creature by yielding to the Holy Spirit each and every day. Jesus desires to have our whole heart, and when He does a new life emerges from darkness to light. I still love to dance, but I'm dancing for Him now. What about you?