Who Are You Dancing For?

My parents told me I had an encounter with the Holy Spirit when I was a child. Although I don't remember much about the incident - perhaps I should have asked them for the details - I vividly recall getting swept up in worship and twirling around at a church convocation.

Dancing holds the power to be spiritual, cultural, expressive, and suggestive. We find the Bible's first instance of dance in Exodus 15:20, capturing a moment of pure celebration. After crossing the Red Sea, Miriam—the sister of Aaron and Moses—took a tambourine in hand and led the women in dance. Together, they honored God’s deliverance from slavery and His victory over the Egyptians, offering a beautiful, spiritual praise to Jehovah Mephalti—the LORD my Deliverer.

Another beautiful example of biblical dance comes from 2 Samuel 6:14-22. David, the shepherd king, is described as "dancing before the LORD with all his might" as he celebrated bringing the Ark of the Covenant back home to Jerusalem. Even though Michal looked down on his joyful spinning, David's movements were an authentic overflow of his love for God. Many of the Psalms echo this celebration of movement. In Psalm 30:11, the writer rejoices, "You have turned my mourning into dancing," while Psalm 149:3 encourages us to "praise his name with dancing." It truly pleases Elohim, God our Creator, when we express our worship and praise through dance.

However, the Bible also warns us about a very different type of dance - one that was seductive and led to murder. The Gospels of Matthew and Mark tell the story of Salome dancing before Herod. Her performance clearly stirred up the lust already hidden in the king's heart. Herod was so pleased that he promised her anything, up to half of his kingdom. Salome turned to her mother, Herodias, who was living in sin with the king, and she, demanded demanded the head of John the Baptist. Sadly, we see countless examples of this suggestive dancing in our culture today. Seductive movements rooted purely in the flesh have contaminated society. This dance please the world, but it does not please God.

Most cultures have some form of dance that connects people to their history. The nature of these dances varies depending on the occasion, from weddings and funerals to competitions and celebrations. In Hebrew culture, dance was an expression of pure joy. Men and women usually danced separately at feasts and weddings, and dance was also a recognized part of temple worship. On the other hand, some cultures use dance for darker, more seductive, and even demonic purposes.

Ultimately, the question isn't whether dancing is right or wrong, but rather: who are you dancing for? Over the course of my life, my answer has evolved. In my youth, I danced simply for myself—for the pure fun and exercise of it, moving to the beat without caring about the lyrics. Later, during a different season, a suggestive element entered my movements as I adopted the worldly dances of the culture around me, listening to music with sketchy and offensive lyrics. Finally, as I matured spiritually and returned to my first love, Jesus, my dancing became an offering to Him. This expression remains joyful, but it now brings movement and the meaning of the lyrics together. It can be a gentle rocking, a spin, a lifting of the hands, a tap of the feet, a joyful leap, or a stomp. It bursts forth spontaneously and without restraint from a holy place. It is the freedom to honor God and celebrate the victories He has won in my life. Sometimes, this dance even comes with tears and bowed knees. It is all for Him.

As believers, we are all navigating different stages of sanctification, becoming a new creation as we yield to the Holy Spirit each day. Jesus desires our whole heart, and when He has it, a beautiful new life emerges from darkness to light. I still love to dance, but I am dancing for Him now. What about you?