Shall We Dance?

1. Shall We Dance? I. Dancing in the Bible. A. There is dancing that is not sinful. 1. It was a sign of joy. • Job 21:11-12 • Ps. 30:11 • Eccl. 3:4 • Matt. 11:16-19 Dancing in the Bible. Dancing in Our World. “But What’s the Harm?”

2. Shall We Dance? I. Dancing in the Bible. A. There is dancing that is not sinful. 1. It was a sign of joy. 2. It was connected with celebration. • Judg. 11:34 • 1 Sam. 18:6-7 • 1 Sam. 30:16 • Luke 15:25 Dancing in the Bible. Dancing in Our World. “But What’s the Harm?”

3. Shall We Dance? I. Dancing in the Bible. A. There is dancing that is not sinful. 1. It was a sign of joy. 2. It was connected with celebration. 3. It was an element of Old Testament worship. • Exod. 15:20-21 • 2 Sam. 6:13-15 • Ps. 149:2-4 • Ps. 150:3-6 Dancing in the Bible. Dancing in Our World. “But What’s the Harm?”

4. Shall We Dance? I. Dancing in the Bible. B. There is dancing that is sinful. • It was connected with idolatry (Exod. 32:17-19). • It was never practiced as an act of worship in the New Testament. 2. It was connected with sinful behavior (Matt. 14:6-8). Dancing in the Bible. Dancing in Our World. “But What’s the Harm?”

5. Shall We Dance? I. Dancing in the Bible. B. There is dancing that is sinful. 3. It was connected with “revelries.” Dancing in the Bible. Dancing in Our World. “But What’s the Harm?”

6. Shall We Dance? “Revelries” Gr. komos “Properly a village festival: a revel, carousal, merry-making… it ended in the party parading the streets crowned, bearing torches, singing, dancing, and playing frolics” (Liddell & Scott, Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon). Dancing in the Bible. Dancing in Our World. “But What’s the Harm?”

7. Shall We Dance? “Revelries” Gr. komos “A nocturnal and riotous procession of half drunken and frolicsome fellows who after supper parade through the streets with torches and music in honour of Bacchus or some other deity, and sing and play before houses of male and female friends; hence used generally of feasts and drinking parties that are protracted till late at night and indulge in revelry” (Thayer, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament). Dancing in the Bible. Dancing in Our World. “But What’s the Harm?”

8. Shall We Dance? “Revelries” Gr. komos Usually involved : • Drinking • Dancing Dancing in the Bible. Dancing in Our World. “But What’s the Harm?”

9. Shall We Dance? I. Dancing in the Bible. B. There is dancing that is sinful. 3. It was connected with “revelries.” • Rom. 13:13-14 • 1 Pet. 4:3-5 • Gal. 5:21 Dancing in the Bible. Dancing in Our World. “But What’s the Harm?”

10. Shall We Dance? II. Dancing in Our World. A. Adult opportunities to dance. 1. Bars, ballrooms, weddings. 2. Usually associated with drinking, immodest clothing, and sexually provocative movements. B. Opportunities for young people to dance. • School dances, parties., banquets. • Also, usually associated with drinking, immodest clothing, and sexually provocative movements. Dancing in the Bible. Dancing in Our World. “But What’s the Harm?”

11. Shall We Dance? II. Dancing in Our World. C. How are these not komos-type revelries? 1. If so, Christians are commanded not to participate in them (Rom. 13:13). • If so, Christians are not to spend time in them (1 Pet. 4:3). • If so, we cannot participate in them and inherit the kingdom of heaven (Gal. 5:21). Dancing in the Bible. Dancing in Our World. “But What’s the Harm?”

12. Shall We Dance? III. “But What’s the Harm?” A. You might be led into sin (Prov. 6:27-29). B. You might lead others to sin (Matt. 5:27-28). Dancing in the Bible. Dancing in Our World. “But What’s the Harm?”