Dance is mentioned many times in the Bible, mainly in the Old Testament. The Bible speaks of dancing as an act of worship, praise, thanksgiving, and joy before God. Here is an overview of some of the main biblical passages that reference dance in worship and what we can learn from them.
Dancing before the Lord
In the Old Testament, we see instances of God’s people dancing before Him in worship. For example, after the Israelites crossed the Red Sea and escaped from the Egyptians, Moses and the Israelites sang a song of praise to God. Part of their worship included dancing: “Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and dancing” (Exodus 15:20). Here, dance was an expression of joy and thanksgiving for God’s mighty deliverance.
Later, when the Ark of the Covenant was brought back to Israel, David “danced before the Lord with all his might” wearing a linen ephod (2 Samuel 6:14). This energetic dancing was done in celebration of having the symbol of God’s presence back among His people. King David set an example of freely expressing praise through dance.
In Psalm 149:3, we read: “Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!” This shows how dance continues to be associated with praise music and worship. Psalm 150:4 also says to “praise him with tambourine and dance.” Biblical worship often involved dance as a way to glorify God with joyful movement and rhythm.
Dancing in celebration
Dance was also a way to celebrate God’s goodness. For instance, after David’s victory over the Philistines, “the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments” (1 Samuel 18:6). Their dance was an expression of triumph and gladness over how God had helped David defeat Israel’s enemies.
In Jeremiah 31:4, 13, God promises that after restoring Israel from exile there will once again be dancing as a sign of joy: “Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel! Again you shall adorn yourself with tambourines and shall go forth in the dance of the merrymakers […] Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry.” Dance will be part of the celebration of Israel’s redemption.
Cautions about dance
While the Bible affirms dance as an act of worship and praise, there are some cautions. For example, dancing could become idolatrous, as when the Israelites danced around the golden calf (Exodus 32:19). Dance could also be sensual, as when Salome danced before Herod and asked for John the Baptist’s head (Mark 6:22). And Ecclesiastes reminds us there is a time for every activity under heaven, including a time to dance (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4). The context and motives behind dancing are important.
Some also point to prohibitions against cross-dressing (Deuteronomy 22:5) and injunctions for modesty (1 Timothy 2:9) as reasons to be careful about how dance is practiced, especially in mixed company. As with all elements of worship, biblical principles should guide dancing, keeping it centered on exalting God rather than the self.
Dancing with reverence and order
The New Testament references dance primarily in the context of reverent order in worship. For instance, James warns against favoritism in worship gatherings: “My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” (James 2:1-4). This warns against valuing external appearances over worshipping God in humility and unity as Christ’s body.
Likewise, Paul instructs the Corinthians about maintaining order when they come together: “When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. […] For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church” (1 Corinthians 14:26-27, 33-35). So dance, like all aspects of worship, should be done in a God-honoring way.
Dancing before the Lord’s return
The Bible concludes with another scene of dance and worship. In Revelation 19:1-8, there is great rejoicing in heaven over the fall of Babylon and God judging the notorious prostitute. A vast crowd shouts praise to God: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just […] Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory.” And this worship involves dancing and music: “And again they shouted, ‘Hallelujah!’ The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” And from the throne came a voice saying, “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great.” Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory…” (Revelation 19:1-7). The final victory of Christ leads to worship expressed through anthems, prostration, and dance.
Guiding principles for dance in worship
Drawing from these biblical passages, we can summarize some guiding principles for dance in worship:
- Dance is an acceptable way to worship God with our bodies that involves using rhythm and movement to praise His name.
- Dance enables creative expressions of joy, thanksgiving, and triumph in the Lord.
- Cautions against dance becoming idolatrous, immoral, prideful, or chaotic need to be heeded.
- Order, propriety, and gender roles should shape how dance is practiced in church settings.
- The primary focus should be glorifying God rather than self-display or entertainment.
- Dance is ultimately eschatological – we will dance before Jesus when He consummates His kingdom.
The Bible shows dance can absolutely be part of worship when done with biblical wisdom and the right heart motivation focused on the Lord. Churches have freedom to discern how dance can be incorporated into services and utilized for God’s glory.
Different views on dance in worship
There are some differing perspectives in the modern church when it comes to dance in worship. Here are a few common views:
- Permissive view – This view fully embraces dance as a worship art form. It emphasizes the many examples of dance in Scripture and encourages spontaneous, creative movement as part of services. More charismatic or contemporary churches tend to hold this view.
- Cautious view – This view is more hesitant about implementing dance in corporate worship. It stresses the need for order in the church and points to Paul’s instructions about worship. There are concerns dance could be immodest, chaotic, or distracting. More traditional churches often hold this cautious perspective.
- Suspicious view – This view rejects dance being mingled with worship altogether. It sees dance primarily associated with pagan rituals or sensuality in the Bible. There are concerns about drawing attention to self rather than keeping focus on God. More fundamentalist or conservative churches tend to hold this perspective.
- Integrative view – This view seeks to thoughtfully incorporate dance in worship while avoiding extremes. It sees biblical precedent for dance leading people to praise God, but wants to do so with wisdom and order. More liturgical churches may take this integrative approach.
There are merits and pitfalls to each perspective. Churches seeking to be faithful to Scripture need to study the issue carefully and aim for an approach that both celebrates the arts before God as well as shows deep reverence for His holiness.
Practical considerations about dance in worship
Churches incorporating dance into worship should weigh the following practical considerations:
- Consider the church context and whether dance will be a distraction or aid to worship in that setting.
- Have guidelines for modesty and appropriateness in movements and attire.
- Decide if segregated dancing (men with men, women with women) would be wise to implement.
- Train dancers to focus on worshipping God rather than performing.
- Utilize dance sparingly rather than making it a dominant part of the liturgy.
- Emphasize expressing joy and reverence through dance.
- Remind dancers and the congregation that God sees the heart behind why one dances.
Wise oversight can help maximize dance for God’s glory and minimize concerns in a church’s particular context.
Cautions and exhortations
The Bible does not explicitly prohibit dance in worship. Biblical texts show dance as an artistic expression that can deeply honor God. However, churches must exercise caution and discernment to ensure dance upliftsJesus Christ rather than distracts from Him or descends into immorality.
Colossians 3:17 reminds us: “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” This applies to the arts, including dance. Dance should point people to the beauty, love and splendor of our Savior. Churches must reject self-glorifying performances or entertainments that do not ultimately glorify God.
Wise oversight, modesty, order, and keeping Jesus at the center will enable dance that honors God. With wisdom and humility, churches can thoughtfully incorporate dance in a way that serves the lordship of Christ and contributes to the discipleship of believers.
