DANCING IN THE SPIRIT
Don Hawley
Place any normal three-year-old before a radio, tune in some spirited music, and he will dance. That's because God placed within him an urge to dance when he feels joyful. The spirit of dance is a gift from God. Can it be perverted? Of course; the devil counterfeits every good thing we receive from the Father. But that doesn't mean we should spurn the true gift.
God favored the gift of dance in his Word.
O Israel, rejoice in your Maker. O people of Jerusalem, exult in your King. Praise his name with dancing, accompanied by drums and lyre. Psalm 149:2, 3.
And David danced before the Lord with all his might. 2 Sam. 6:14.
Miriam, the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel and led the women in dances. Ex. 15:20.
I will rebuild your nation, O virgin of Israel. You will again be happy and dance merrily with the timbrels. Jer. 31:4.
Women came out from all the towns along the way to celebrate and to cheer for King Saul, and were singing and dancing for joy with tambourines and cymbals. 1 Sam. 18:6.
Such passages should make it clear that Christians who have joy in the Lord can very properly engage in dancing. It is another way to praise and honor our God. Unfortunately I spent most of my life in a denomination that outlawed all dancing, considering such activity an abomination before the Lord. I can't condone such an attitude, but I can understand it. Members of this denomination didn't comprehend or embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Instead of having the assurance of salvation through the blood of our Lord, they experienced only fear and guilt. There was little to smile about, let alone dance.
I'm so happy that in the renewal now sweeping the earth, dancing in the Spirit plays a significant role. Recently I spent a week in Toronto, and the final night of worship was awesome. The sermon, "The Dancing Bride," pointed out that God is now preparing joyful reapers to go into the harvest fields. The closing song of praise was "We Will Dance on the Streets that are Golden," and the more than two thousand in attendance were caught up in joy and love for God. I'm used to seeing a few dance during a praise service, but that night it seemed as if everyone present was dancing. I saw fathers dancing happily with their small daughters, and thought, "The devil is going to have a hard time trying to entice such children away from the Lord." Lifting my head I could see with my minds eye a great multitude of the redeemed dancing joyfully before the throne in the earth made new.
By the way, did you ever stop to think that our culture is the only one where men don't dance? Most of the dancing in renewal is done by the ladies, but a few men are being freed up. I was cheated in the past, but I'm going to be in that happy throng dancing through eternity. In fact, if I can get my feet moving properly--after a lifetime of prohibition--I'm starting now!