Prayed Up & Pumped Up
Sacred dance has taken off in recent years but its roots go back to the 1960s—some say to the earliest days of Christianity—and its growth parallels changes in society.
Theology professor Kerry Dearborn at Seattle Pacific University believes the trend reflects "a culture and an era that highly values physicality and experience rather than just knowledge and belief."
Lyndee Kiefer Breece at 6th Day Dance, echoing a common refrain, said, "Dance is mentioned in the Bible more than any other way to worship. God gave us the whole body, so we're going to use it."
Among churches that have bought into the trend—and many haven't—some sponsor their own dance teams, while others host the occasional visiting performer.
No matter how you measure it, though, dance is increasingly welcome in a faith that once viewed it with suspicion, if not hostility.
"It's kind of popping up in places it never was before," said SPU sociologist Jennifer McKinney.
According to some scholars, the trend has its roots in the early 1960s, when an ecstatic, Pentecostal worship style began to filter into some mainline Protestant and Catholic congregations, creating the fusion known as "charismatic."
"A lot of liturgical dancing we see now," said SPU historian Michael Hamilton, "is a direct result of this charismatic movement."
Back then, charismatic churches existed in "very small pockets," and their emotion and physicality were viewed with "embarrassment" by big-name denominations, McKinney said.
Over the decades, though, a more demonstrative brand of worship has emerged—most notably, in the "seeker-sensitive" megachurches of the early 1980s and '90s, whose contemporary worship styles helped popularize Christian dance.
Evangelicals aren't the only ones on the dance floor. Many Catholic churches experimented with it in the heady aftermath of Vatican II. Since then, some have pulled back in the face of Vatican disapproval, and the issue remains controversial...
Read this fascinating article in its entirety here.
This excerpt has been quoted from Celelia Goodnow's article, "Roots of dance in worship go back to 'charismatic' style of '60s" published in the Seattle P-I.
Related
1. "Ballet For Christians: The Hope of Redemption Through Dance"
2. GodTube Video Clip: Drummer Boy. Fort Lauderdale's Calvary Chapel created this dynamic Christmas clip with an stompin' rhythm surprise. Don't miss it!
Up Next—Theology: Does Christmas Have Any Teeth?
Have you experienced dance worship?Was it effective?
Photo: Michael Soliman (Flickr)
Enjoy this article? Subscribe by email
14 Comments:
emom -- i love this! i love dance and especially when it is offered to the King.
(and flagging combined with dance can be a powerful gift to lift as well)
I always learn so much here. I am going to go watch the video now. Love you, Lynn
Love this. Thanks for posting this. Dance is a relative part of worship. I have experienced it in worship to the song Shackles and it was very powerful. Liked both videos. I think it may not be for everyone though. INterested to see what others have to say.
Blessings and much love,
Angela
Ruth: Hey, I'm glad you enjoyed this, but what is flagging? :~D
Lynn: Dance (aerobics, salsa, jazzercise) is one of my favorite forms of exercise/expression. Do you dance?
Angela: Thanks for your thoughtful comment. You're right, in a church/worship setting, dance won't appeal to everyone. I'm actually not sure about it myself, even though I love to dance so much.
We've seen dance worship in a non-denominational "megachurch" setting, and it was quite effective. :~D
Dance if you want to dance! I'll watch the video when I get a minute, I'm looking forward to watching it. For people who aren't comfortable with dancing as worship, it may be more of a cultural issue, certainly not a biblical issue, as the Bible greatly encourages dancing before the Lord. I hope people are willing to embrace this form of worship. I did spend several years in a little church (back in Port Huron!) where dance was just a normal part of the worship, and I had so much fun and truly thank God for that experience. Because otherwise, I'm normally hesitant with "new" and "crazy" (lol) things, and not for that early experience, I don't know that I'd want to incorporate dance into my worship. My husband and I have a ball with the kids dancing to worship music around the house. Even if one is uncomfortable with corporate dance as worship, I'd recommend trying it in the sanctuary of your own home.
diaryof1.com
i do the same thing as jennifer with my little 2 year old. she even has her own little flags that she twirls as she praises "JEEEEEEESUS!"
emom -- here is a link to a beautiful lady who we found worshiping God using flags.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vv93FNjQDdk
I think you already know that I enjoy dancing and singing praises to our Awesome King! My little Bo and I dance and sing often.
That drummer boy was awesome! Thank you for that. Merry Christmas
Jennifer: Thanks for your interesting remarks. This is beautifully said: Even if one is uncomfortable with corporate dance as worship, I'd recommend trying it in the sanctuary of your own home. Amen!!! :~D
Ruth: I'll take a look at that flag video right away. Children seem to find dance a natural expression. Ah, that we all should be so uninhibited! :~D
Lori: Awesome. You and little Bo must be quite a pair together! :~D
Donetta: You're welcome! And thanks for stopping by. Hugs.
Good post! We first experience dance worship in our former church where we attended for about 15 years. However, the way it was done was rather, well...not always in a reverant way, nor with appropriate attire and attitudes...it was kinda like a "watch me" show rather than a "give glory to God" type of thing. Now that we are in a noncharismatic church (an evangelical, large regional church) there is only dance for special events (Easter, Missions weekend) and the drama/dance children's ministry that my youngest daughter is in. They don't do hip hop but rather ballet and a bit of jazz. My family feels this is a great way to glorify and worship the Lord but dancing in the aisles is not done....we love watching the children worship this way for their special events and all the clothing is very modest. God brought us to the right place for us!
Faith: Thanks for sharing your rich experience with dance worship. Praise God you're now in the right church for your family. I'm excited for you! :~D
We've been listening to a great series on worship at white horse inn, if anyone is interested.
Obviously, worship is a hot button these days. Still, we have to be so very careful that we offer to God what is acceptable. I'm not here to say what IS acceptable and what is not, but I would say that I'm afraid many Christians today don't even take the time to ask whether or not how we worship is appropriate. We just assume that if we do it, then He likes it. (which is, I think, a very cultural attitude for us to be aware of, here in America...) I don't think that is quite biblical... example: Uzzah was sticken down in the midst of worship for touching the Ark - something done with sincere good intentions, I'm sure.
I'm NOT saying people should be stricken down for dancing!!! :) I would also differentiate between church and other places, as well. "To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven." As in all things, there are things that are appropriate here, but not there... there are appropriate times for this, and for that. For example, I wouldn't wear my bathing suit to Kroger, nor would I tell a joke at a funeral. But neither bathing suits nor jokes are intrinsically bad things.
Why do we seem to be afraid to make our churches sacred anymore, I wonder? Set apart, TRANSCENDENT. We have starbucks on every corner already. What we NEED is SANCTUARY. Sanctuary feels different than starbucks, it looks different, it IS different... and what is appropriate in one may not be in the other.
Anyway, I'm simply suggesting that worship is a WEIGHTY issue, and we ought to be reverent and God-centered in the way we go about it. Are we looking for an emotional high for OURSELVES? Who is uppermost in our minds when we prepare to worship - ourselves, or GOD Himself? And are we attempting to manipulate people in order to sustain their own emotional level? Worship has much less to do with how WE feel than it does with Who God IS. Is our method of worship distracting from that, or illuminating that? I don't know. Those are just some things I'm considering lately.
Hope that makes sense.
There's nothing like a little controversy to start a great conversation. Let the bashing begin. ;)
Jennifer: Thanks for your thoughts. I appreciate the depth of your consideration!
I've contemplated worship deeply myself for three decades. Mostly because my husband and I come from very different "sides of the pew" on the issue. eg. I'm more comfortable in a formal traditional setting, he's more charismatic, and likes to raise his hands etc. We still haven't found a church we both LOVE. (Bless him, he joins me for services at a terrific PC USA church... the "frozen chosen" as he calls it!)
I've concluded that since there are 7 motivational giftings (or personality types--Rom 12:3-8) there are probably at least seven different styles or "flavors" of worship expression. Some of us are more cerebral in our approach to God, others are more emotional. Further still, are the ones who are intensely physical in their worship--and they are the dancers.
I agree there's a time and a place for everything, and joyful exuberant expression is but one of many ways to express worship for God. It must be done with modesty, humility, and very well... no poorly choreographed numbers!
The best book I've run across that attempts to give us all the freedom to be individuals in our worship to God is What's Your God Language? I posted a review here.
Suffice to say, I'm convinced there is no one RIGHT way to worship. I admit, it's been a challenge to allow more expressive believers in the body of Christ the respect they need and deserve.
Blessings to you, Jennifer! Again, I appreciate your considered and thoughtful comments.
{{{Hugs}}} e-Mom
Well, e-Mom, I always enjoy your challenging questions! You're too sweet to let me process my thoughts on your blog. ;)
Your husband must be quite a catch! Those kind of guys are rare - the unselfish kind, I mean. I've got one - you'd better keep the other! ;)
Actually, I am blessed to know many unselfish men, but still, I find that they are not in the majority... so truly, I commend your husband. He'll be blessed for it! (actually, I'm sure he already is with such a wife...)
Jen
Post a Comment