Is liturgical dancing wrong?

Question:

I have a friend that goes to a church and she is a liturgical dancer. I read all your articles on dancing and understand the views. She told me that it was her calling to dance to the Lord. Is liturgical dancing wrong?

Answer:

The New Testament does not contain a commandment, an example, or even an inference that dancing was a part of the worship that God asked men to give to Him. Anyone desiring to do this is doing so by their own authority and not that of the Lord. In other words, they are adding things that the Lord did not command. Even under the Old Testament, altering God's commands was strongly condemned. "Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it" (Deuteronomy 12:32). In the New Testament, Paul said that changing what God said brings condemnation. "I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ" (Galatians 1:6-10).

Dances were a part of the Israelites' worship in the Old Testament (Psalm 149:3; 150:4). They did not do it of their own desire but were following the Lord's commands. But, like instrumental music, it was not something the Lord commanded of Christians in their worship of God. See "Why We Don't Follow the Old Testament" for more details.

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