DanceMentor
02-28-2004, 04:09 PM
Dancing in partnership has really only become acceptable and popular in the last 100 years. Take a look at this excerpt from "May Christians Dance?" written in 1869. I hope not to cause any sort of religious debate here. I simply want to present the perspective showing how the church did not condone dancing (in partnership) until recent times.
Let us review for a moment the ground over which we have passed in the progress of this investigation. After stating the precise question to be discussed, noticing the apologies or excuses that are usually presented by the advocates of the dance, and examining the character of the witnesses that appear in its defence, I brought forward twelve arguments against it.
The first of these is found in the fact that dancing, as at present conducted, is forbidden by those passages of God's word which require us to "abstain from all appearance of evil." Second. It is condemned by those passages which charge us to "be not conformed to this world." Third. It was shown that the practice increases this dangerous relish for the world, while it leads to the neglect of the ordinances of religion and to evil associations. Fourth. It was proved to be inconsistent with the fundamental principles of a true Church and of church membership. Fifth. It is in direct conflict with the duties, privileges, and tastes of sincere Christians as they are set forth in the sacred Scriptures. Sixth. It is a source of grief and cause of offence to many of the disciples of our Lord, and is therefore clearly unlawful. Seventh. If "there is no wrong in dancing," as you affirmed, then no wrong would be done although your minister and ruling elders and all other members of the church should rush into the frantic whirl of gayety; but this you could not tolerate for a moment. Eighth. It is forbidden by those Scriptures which declare that the body of the Christian is the temple of the Holy Ghost, and that he is bound to live with reference to the glory of God whether he eats, or drinks, or whatsoever he does. Ninth. It invariably destroys the influence of professed Christians for good. Tenth. It is a source of unspeakable injury to those who are not Christians. Eleventh. It furnishes the most important test, perhaps, that can be made in our day, of the willingness of the young disciple to deny self in conformity with the example and precepts of the Saviour. Twelfth. Fashionable dancing, into which every form of the amusement is certain to run with the great majority of those who indulge in it at all, is essentially immoral and licentious.
Even after this was written, dancers of the early 20th century had an uphill battle showing that dancing was a classy thing to do. :D
Let us review for a moment the ground over which we have passed in the progress of this investigation. After stating the precise question to be discussed, noticing the apologies or excuses that are usually presented by the advocates of the dance, and examining the character of the witnesses that appear in its defence, I brought forward twelve arguments against it.
The first of these is found in the fact that dancing, as at present conducted, is forbidden by those passages of God's word which require us to "abstain from all appearance of evil." Second. It is condemned by those passages which charge us to "be not conformed to this world." Third. It was shown that the practice increases this dangerous relish for the world, while it leads to the neglect of the ordinances of religion and to evil associations. Fourth. It was proved to be inconsistent with the fundamental principles of a true Church and of church membership. Fifth. It is in direct conflict with the duties, privileges, and tastes of sincere Christians as they are set forth in the sacred Scriptures. Sixth. It is a source of grief and cause of offence to many of the disciples of our Lord, and is therefore clearly unlawful. Seventh. If "there is no wrong in dancing," as you affirmed, then no wrong would be done although your minister and ruling elders and all other members of the church should rush into the frantic whirl of gayety; but this you could not tolerate for a moment. Eighth. It is forbidden by those Scriptures which declare that the body of the Christian is the temple of the Holy Ghost, and that he is bound to live with reference to the glory of God whether he eats, or drinks, or whatsoever he does. Ninth. It invariably destroys the influence of professed Christians for good. Tenth. It is a source of unspeakable injury to those who are not Christians. Eleventh. It furnishes the most important test, perhaps, that can be made in our day, of the willingness of the young disciple to deny self in conformity with the example and precepts of the Saviour. Twelfth. Fashionable dancing, into which every form of the amusement is certain to run with the great majority of those who indulge in it at all, is essentially immoral and licentious.
Even after this was written, dancers of the early 20th century had an uphill battle showing that dancing was a classy thing to do. :D