Question: Is it against the principles of the Scriptures to dance? Should a true Christian practice dancing? J. W. H.
Answer: The Lord Jesus taught His disciples that they were not of this world, and therefore the world hated them (John 15:1919If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. (John 15:19)). And again, “Be not conformed to this world”; (Rom. 12:1, 21I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1‑2)) also, “The friendship of the world is enmity to God” (James 4:44Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (James 4:4)). “Ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body” (1 Cor. 6:2020For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. (1 Corinthians 6:20)).
The music and dancing in Luke 15 was heaven’s joy over returning prodigals. The self-righteous elder brother could not dance to that music.
A young lady asked a Christian: “Is it right to dance?” “Well,” he replied, “if I saw you dancing out of real joy that you had found the Saviour, I could not blame you.”
Another asked an evangelist who was speaking to him about the eternal welfare of his immortal soul, the same question. He answered, “You are on the downward road. You may as well dance there, as walk there. Your pleasure will end in the lake of fire; the pleasures of sin are only for a season. The Christian’s pleasures are forever more.”
Think of Christian men or women dancing with the unsaved, helping them on to everlasting burnings!
But how can Christians, heavenly men (Heb. 3:11Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; (Hebrews 3:1)) dance with the world that has murdered their Lord and cast Him out? How could we be true to Him, and join with them?
Are Christians training their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, if they are bringing them up to appear before the world, and filling them with a liking for its pleasures? The gospel to the jailor of Philippi was, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved, and thy house,” Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31).
Mary rejoiced in God, her Saviour (Luke 1:4747And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. (Luke 1:47)), and we are told to rejoice in the Lord alway, and again, I say rejoice (Phil. 4:44Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. (Philippians 4:4)). And if any feel merry, let them praise the Lord in singing Psalms, not worldly music. How could a Christian be true in heart, and go on with worldly pleasures, and yet walk with God with an ungrieved spirit? Impossible!
Answer: In the New Translation it reads, “And we have the prophetic word [made] surer, to which ye do well taking heed (as to a lamp shining in an obscure Place) until [the] day dawn, and [the] morning star arise in your hearts.” It will help us to understand if we keep in mind that those the Apostle addresses were converted Jews, and this verse puts the truth in a way suited to them. The Jews look for the Sun of righteousness with healing in His wings—that is the day light for them. For the Christian, the morning star shines just before day dawn.
Prophecy was a light that shone for the Jews. This was made “more sure” in their minds by the view of Christ in His power and majesty at the transfiguration. “For the remnant of the Jews, the Sun of righteousness should rise with healing in His wings; the wicked should be trodden as ashes under the feet of the righteous. The Christian, instructed in his own privileges, knows the Lord in a different way from this although he believes in those solemn truths. He watches during the night, which is already far spent. He sees in his heart, by faith, the dawn of day, and the rising of the bright star of the morning. He knows the Lord as they know Him who believe in Him before He is manifested, as coming for the pure heavenly joy of His own, before the brightness of the day shines forth. They who watch, see the dawn of day; they see the morning star. Thus we have our portion in Christ not only in the day, and as the prophets spoke of Him, which all relates to the earth, although the blessing comes from on high; we have the secret of Christ and of our union with Him, and of His coming to receive us to Himself as the morning star, before the day comes. We are His during the night; we shall be with Him in the truth of that heavenly bond which unites us to Him, as set apart for Himself while the world does not see Him. We shall be gathered to Him, before the world sees Him, that we may enjoy Himself, and in order that the world may see us with Him when He appears.” (Extract from Synopsis. J. N. D.)
“The joy of our portion is, that we, shall be with Himself, ‘forever with the Lord.’”
The “day star,” or “morning star” is Christ Himself coming for us. The “Sun of righteousness” is His appearing with us to the world.