Why do Baptists not allow dancing?

Question

I've been told Baptists think dancing is sinful.

Is it true and is this based on some biblical principle? Or fear?

I am invited to a Baptist wedding and was told that the couple is going to have their reception outside of their church because they want to have dancing.

So is it that Baptists won't allow dancing in their church buildings, even a receptional hall? Or that members have to step outside their church building and faith to do the two step?

I don't get it. HELP!

Another thing I don't get is the self righteous attitude I recieved when I asked why they could dance outside their church but not in it? I was told, NO Baptist churches allow dancing. We could have a reception in the church hall but NO dancing.

Right then, so I asked, well if your church believes dancing is so bad, why are you going to have dancing then?????

What sort of response is it just to say, because Baptists don't allow it.

How can people not question the hypocrisy in all this or at least give a proper answer.

So again, if someone knows why, please tell me, and thanks for your replies, they are making me laugh.

My friend ticked me off this morning with all this.

Cheers!

In response to some of your replies. She said she belongs to http://www.generalbaptist.com/

and her son was told that even though the church allows wedding receptions in their hall, they will not allow alcohol or dancing of ANY kind.

Well okay the alcohol part didn't surprise me if I'm being honest, but the fact that they won't allow dancing did. Especially as this couple will now have to go outside the church and rent a hall to have a reception where they can have dancing, and no doubt champagne!

Why do people go along with that and why does the Baptist church think dancing is sinful.

I've been told MOST all Baptists have the same stand.

Seems nuts to me that they are having to go elsewhere and somehow that's ok???

But Yeah I'll go, I'm glad its out of their church if they won't allow them to have a wedding dance if they want it.

Thanks for all replies!!!!!

To Desperado, that's exactly it, my friend is confusing the issue. She is taking a holier than thou attitude with me when I ask her why no dancing in the Baptist church hall, and yet they are going to pay for the hall outside the church so their child can have dancing!?

See what I mean??

Lastly (I hope) This question is not to bash Baptists but genuinely to find out why they have this rule. Thanks!!!!

Answer 1

Not all Baptists don't allow dancing, but many do. My brother goes to a Baptist church, and they allow dancing.

As for why they don't allow dancing, it's because they are teaching the commandments of humans as though they were the doctrines of God (see Matthew 15:9). There is no biblical grounds for it, in fact, there are many examples of dancing in the Bible, to name a few~ Exodus 15:20 ; 1 Samuel 18:7 ; 2 Samuel 6:14 ; Psalm 149:3 ; Psalm 150:4 ; Ecclesiastes 3:4 ; Jeremiah 31:4 ; Jeremiah 31:13.

In most cases where dancing is mentioned in the Bible, it is in either a positive or neutral sence, rarely if ever is it mentioned as being negative. In the Psalms, we are actually instructed and encouraged to dance before the Lord as a form of worship. So this tradition in some Baptist churches actually contradicts God's commandments (Matthew 15:3).

By the way, I'm not trying to Baptist bash. Some Baptist churches are doing great things for Christ, and there are many Baptists who don't hold to some of these fringe doctrines. In fact, in most churches that do hold to these doctrines, many of the congregation members don't personally follow them, kinda like your friends who are getting married, who are holding their reception elsewhere so that they can dance.

Hope this helps, and God bless!

Answer 2

Well I am a Southern Baptist and see nothing wrong with dancing, whether it be for fun or because you feel like the holy spirit is calling you. Was the reception held outside because the people didn't think it was right to dance in the church, or because there was not enough room in the church or reception hall? Some Baptist churches are different and more strict than others. At my church people don't dance in the aisles or anything but I have no problem if someone feels the joy of the Lord and feels compelled to dance. But I won't lie the people in the church would probably look at that person funny.

Answer 3

Baptists can drink and dance. There is nothing in the Bible or the book, The Baptist Faith and Message, that would exclude drinking or dancing. The reason some Baptists exclude drinking and dancing is because they lack self-control. Instead, they lean on external controls to make up for their lack of maturity. That which lead to Prohibition should have also brought it down. Col 2:20Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21"Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? 22These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. On the other hand, admitting that you need external controls is good. For example, small children need fenced in back yards so they don't wonder into the street and get killed. It is the person that has been in the faith for 20 years and is still a "babe in Christ" that you have to wonder about.

Answer 4

There is no law against dancing. It is not necessarily a sin, neither is consumption of beer and wine. How ever you can sin in dancing if it is done for an improper reason. The same with drinking alcohol, it is not a sin to drink-but you can drink too much too often and it becomes a sin. Baptist as a denomination choose not to drink or dance because of the problems they can cause. If you vow not to dance or drink-then doing so would be a sin for you, but not for someone who did not make the vow. I see nothing wrong with drinking moderately or dancing per se, however if you dance with a girl or boy in order to get a feel of them, or drink to get drunk-then that would be sin-vow or no vow. This is what the Baptist are afraid of.
Now if your friend claims to be a Baptist and desires to marry in the church but leave to do things she thinks is a sin-what does that say about your friend? She is probably not really a Baptist, and may not be a Christian either. She is definitely confusing the issue.

Answer 5

My Baptist church allows dancing! Dancing, especially at a wedding celebration, does not break any biblical principle. On the contrary, dancing (the modest type, between couples) is absolutely OK according to the Bible.

I think there are differences between Baptist churches because they don't insist that everyone keeps certain rules and regulations. It's up to the congregation/pastor. Believe me, the Baptists I know are happy, joyful people who don't mind a song and dance or even a drink (in moderation).

Go to your friend's wedding reception and have a ball!

Answer 6

I'm not sure where they got the information. And I don't know what kind of dancing you are talking about. But I can tell you this. I went to my cousin's wedding and reception. There was music and dancing. My father was there, and he danced with some of the people there, including me. The kicker to this story is that he is a preacher at a Primitive Baptist church.

Answer 7

I don't know if the attitudes against dancing is a universal Baptist belief, but I would think that it has something to do with the pleasures of man versus a focus on the things of God, where time would be better served in other endeavors. Not that I agree with this, but theater and music would also have to get the same treatment.

Answer 8

I was raised in a Christian/Baptist family and to be honest i still don't understand why they don't allow dancing. I definitely know that dancing is not a sin! obviously, these people don't know God's word as they should! King David danced in front of God to give him praise, did God consume him with fire? The Israelites had many feats to give God the praise and honor he deserved and I'm sure they danced quite a lot, did God kill them all? I think that dancing is another way to praise God. Hey they even have dancing ministries in church, so what's there problem? Now mind you, the church that i' m a member in, didn't start with dances and party. However, as the years went by, the holy spirit spoke to them and they allowed us to have a percussion set! Now dancing is not a problem, as long as its appropriate!

Answer 9

It is an unwritten rule. Really it is a belief. Another one is that the wine Christ drank did not have alcohol. As far as I am concern all wines have alcohol.They do not believe in smoking either.

A big issue is missed about any Christian religion.For example what is the purpose of going to church if you are not going to change.I am not saying become" holier than thou".Some people go to church and say" I love you Jesus".But as soon they leave the church their attitude goes back to the "hell with everybody".
Dancing and alcohol is small stuff.

Answer 10

Baptis r allowed to dance in church, it also depends on the kind of dancing ppl mean. of course u cant be juking and shacking yo *** n church. but the couple probably want a receptional ourside of chuch because i traditional. but since it is a wedding and there will be a party afterward and there will probably be some freak dancing it will be respectful to the Lord if that is taken out of the church. but Baptist can dance in church