Dance in the Old Testament was not professionally choreographed but was a spontaneous expression of praise. An example of this is when David danced before the Lord as the Ark of the Covenant as it was being brought back to Jerusalem. (2 Sam. 6:14-21) It is often brought out by those who are against dance in worship that David's wife Michal despised David for his dancing.

     David responded that it was before the Lord that he was dancing. Take note of 2 Sam. 6:23. Michal was judged by God for condemning David's dance before Him. God caused Michal to be barren until her death. I believe this is saying that we should be careful not to condemn that which brings pleasure and honor to God.

(Ex. 15:20; Judges 11:34; 1 Sam. 21:11, 29:5; 2 Sam. 6:14; Ps. 30:11-12, 149:3, 150:4; Jer.31:13)

     In the New Testament there is no direct command or prescription to dance in corporate worship. This may be due to the fact that Christians met in homes and there would have been very little room to dance. There is however, no prohibition against dancing in the New Teatament.  The words leap for joy in Lk. 6:23 is an expression for dance.  Acts 3:7-9 describes what happened when Jesus healed a lame man, he got up and went leaping (dancing) in the temple.

     According to Anne Long evidence for dance in worship didn't show up until the fourth century. But Augustine spoke out against dance in worship because of its association with pagan festivities. (Long 1976) Later, after the Reformation, dance once again was unpopular in corporate worship, especially during he Victorian era. (Long 1976)

Question: Should we dance in worship?

     Is dance essential to corporate worship? No. Is dance appropriate for corporate worship? It would seem so. However, John Frames says that although God approves of dance in corporate worship, He doesn't expect it every time the church is gathered. (Frame 1996)

(Ex. 15:20; 1 Sam. 21:11, 29:5; 2 Sam. 6:14; Ps. 30:11-12, 149:3, 150:4; Jer. 31:13)

     Liturgical dance is different than what I have just written about. Liturgical dance has two main function: It tells a story and it gives bodily shape to gratitude or joy. (Boschman 1994) Dance is often used to illustrate Scripture much like drama. This type of dance is choreographed and not spontaneous. It is performed by a trained group who sees this as their expression of and
participation in the corporate worship of God.

     The purpose of these postures, physical gestures and symbolic actions is to involve the whole body in worship, since God created us mind, soul and body.

     While it is true that many throughout the years have abused and distorted the meaning of some of these postures, physical gestures and symbolic actions, we must be careful not to throw the baby out with the bath water. Perhaps we would do well to reinvest time and study, throw in education and nurture and revive the use of the whole body in corporate worship.

     BUT, there are many roadblocks to doing this in the conservative Protestant church. In the last section, I will briefly examine six roadblocks to holistic, mind, soul and body worship. They are : Philosophical differences, Fear, Ignorance, Sacred Space, Theological disputes, and Discomfort.

III. Practical Application in the Conservative Protestant Church

    Philosophical Differences: There has always been confusion among Christians as to the place of the body in the spiritual life. One root of this confusion, I believe, is found in the dichotomy of body and soul.

Question: What do you know about he Greek teaching of dualism?

     The Hebrews held to what is called 'monism', which is the unity of body, soul and spirit; and the unity is such that all parts are equal and important. This is related to how the Hebrews worship: musical, expressive, physical with raised hands, prostration, kneeing, rocking and even festive dance.

     For the Hebrews, what is felt in the heart is expressed through the body. If the body is one, then when Scripture says to worship God with our whole heart, soul , mind and strength, it is done with all of our body. Worship for the Hebrew is not cerebral  but holistic.

     This is not true for the Greeks. Greek philosophy dating back to Plato regards the body as the depository for or housing of evil. The Greeks believed that the body inhibits the soul from reaching it's divine purposes.

     The body was a hindrance to the Greeks, it was seen as getting in the way of the more noble pursuits of knowledge, truth, and wisdom. As it always has been, the prevailing philosophy of the culture infiltrates the practices of the church. This is especially true in the area of corporate worship.

     The Protestant church has been greatly affected by the Greek philosophy of dualism  and not an equal dualism, but one that is hierarchical. Many of the early church fathers were trained under those espousing this philosophy. That which is related to the mind, soul and spirit is of greater importance, of higher value and more mature than that which is related to or associated with the body; especially that of posture, physical gestures and symbolic actions in worship.

     But, it is important for the church to realize that this philosophy of hierarchical dualism developed outside the church and orthodox theology.  God created our body and said it was good. (Gen. 1:31)

     It is for this reason that the expressive use of the body, in many conservative Protestant corporate worship services, is frowned upon, if not strictly prohibited.  Westerners, Gentiles, still think and worship with this dualism philosophy neatly tucked away in the recesses of their minds. The reality is for these individuals, worship is an exercise of the mind.

    This is why many conservative Protestant churches do not encourage and sometimes prohibit the expressive use of the body in corporate worship; such as the raising of hands, kneeling for prayer, coming forward for the Lord's Supper, washing the feet, etc.  Since the body is inherently evil than the postures, physical gestures and symbolic actions  done with our bodies in worship can not be honoring to God...at the least, they are inferior types of worship and must be given over to the more mature expressions of stillness, reverence and cognitive stimulation.

It is essential that we regain the holistic view of the body-soul unity. God created us as a unity of body, soul and spirit to work together to offer Him our bodies (representative of our whole lives) as an offering of worship to Him. When we do not honor our bodies we bring dishonor to the One who created us.