For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: Is dancing a sin?
Here are the two answers which the skeptic believes shows a Bible contradiction:
Yes
“And it came about, as soon as Moses approached the camp, that he saw the calf and the people dancing; and Moses’ anger burned, and he threw the tablets from his hands and shattered them to pieces at the foot of the mountain. 20 Then he took the calf which they had made and completely burned it with fire, and ground it to powder, and scattered it over the surface of the water and made the sons of Israel drink it. 21 Then Moses said to Aaron, “What did this people do to you, that you have brought such a great sin upon them?” 22 And Aaron said, “Do not let the anger of my lord burn; you know the people yourself, that they are prone to evil. 23 For they said to me, ‘Make a god for us who will go before us; for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt—we do not know what happened to him.’ 24 So I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them tear it off.’ Then they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.” 25 Now when Moses saw that the people were out of control—for Aaron had let them get out of control to the point of being an object of ridicule among their enemies— 26 Moses then stood at the gate of the camp, and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me!” And all the sons of Levi gathered together to him. 27 And he said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: ‘Every man of you put his sword on his thigh, and go back and forth from gate to gate in the camp, and kill every man his brother, and every man his friend, and every man his neighbor.’” 28 So the sons of Levi did as Moses instructed, and about three thousand men of the people fell that day.” (Exodus 32:19-28)
“But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod, 7 so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8 And after being prompted by her mother, she *said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.”” (Matthew 14:6-8)
“An opportune day came when Herod, on his birthday, held a banquet for his nobles and military commanders, and the leading people of Galilee; 22 and when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want, and I will give it to you.” 23 And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you, up to half of my kingdom.” 24 And she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25 Immediately she came in a hurry to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26 And although the king was very sorry, because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he was unwilling to refuse her. 27 Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded him to bring back his head. And he went and beheaded him in the prison, 28 and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother.” (Mark 6:21-28)
“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, 20 idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21)
No
“Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took the tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dancing. 21 And Miriam answered them, “Sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted; The horse and his rider He has hurled into the sea.”” (Exodus 15:20-21)
“But Jephthah came to his house at Mizpah, and behold, his daughter was coming out to meet him with tambourines and with dancing. And she was his one and only child; besides her he had no son or daughter.” (Judges 11:34)
“Now it happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and with other musical instruments. 7 The women sang as they played, and said, “Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.”” (1 Samuel 18:6-7)
“And David was dancing before the Lord with all his strength, and David was wearing a linen ephod.” (2 Samuel 6:14)
““Hear, Lord, and be gracious to me; Lord, be my helper.” 11 You have turned my mourning into dancing for me; You have untied my sackcloth and encircled me with joy, 12 That my [a]soul may sing praise to You and not be silent. Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.” ( Psalm 30:10-12)
“They shall praise His name with dancing; They shall sing praises to Him with tambourine and lyre.” ( Psalm 149:3)
“Praise Him with tambourine and dancing; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flute.” (Psalm 150:4)
“There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every matter under heaven— 2 A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. 3 A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up. 4 A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-4)
“I will build you again and you will be rebuilt, Virgin of Israel! You will [a]take up your tambourines again, And go out to the dances of the revelers.” (Jeremiah 31:4)
“Then the virgin will rejoice in the dance, And the young men and the old together; For I will turn their mourning into joy And comfort them, and give them joy for their sorrow.” (Jeremiah 31:13)
“But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and [a]put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet; 23 and bring the fattened calf, slaughter it, and let’s eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate. 25 “Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.” (Luke 15:22-25)
(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)
Here’s a closer look at whether or not there is a contradiction:
- When dealing with skeptics’ claim of Bible contradictions it seems one can never be reminded enough of what exactly is a contradiction. A contradiction occurs when two or more claims conflict with one another so that they cannot simultaneously be true in the same sense and at the same time. To put it another way, a Bible contradiction exists when there are claims within the Bible that are mutually exclusive in the same sense and at the same time.
- One should be skeptical of whether this is a Bible contradiction given the Skeptic Annotated Bible’s track record of inaccurately handling the Bible. See the many examples of their error which we have responded to in this post: Collection of Posts Responding to Bible Contradictions. Of course that does not take away the need to respond to this claim of a contradiction, which is what the remainder of this post will do. But this observation should caution us to slow down and look more closely at the passages cited by the Skeptic Annotated Bible to see if they interpreted the passages properly to support their conclusion that it is a Bible contradiction.
- The skeptic tries to pit four passages (Exodus 32:19-28, Matthew 14:6-8, Mark 6:21-28, Galatians 5:19-21) as affirming the claim “Dancing is a sin” against eleven passages (Exodus 15:20-21, Judges 11:34, 1 Samuel 18:6-7, 2 Samuel 6:14, Psalm 30:10-12, Psalm 149:3, Psalm 150:4, Ecclesiastes 3:1-4, Jeremiah 31:4, Jeremiah 31:13, Luke 15:22-25 ) as affirming “Dancing is not a sin.”
- Ecclesiastes 3:1, and 3:4 states “There is an appointed time for everything….A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance.” This passage is important. It states there is such a thing as a right time and a wrong time to dance. Or stated another way there’s right and wrong circumstances to dance. We shouldn’t be surprised that there’s moments in Scripture that dancing is not a problem and other instances that it is a problem. Yet dancing in wrong circumstances shouldn’t be extrapolated to mean that dancing in of itself per se is always wrong.
- As always we must ask if the skeptics have interpreted the passages correctly.
- Some of the passages under “Dancing is not a sin” didn’t present dancing as either a sin or an action approved by God; that is for some of these passages the action of dancing is presented as something that historically happened without any indication of it being approved by God.
- Judges 11:34 report Jephthah’s daughter dancing to greet him when he came home. There is nothing in this narrative account to say whether his daughter’s dance was approve or disapproved by God. It’s just reported as having occurred.
- Like Judges 11:34 in 1 Samuel 18:6-7 it is also a narrative account that mention women dancing celebrating King Saul and David; it doesn’t state God’s approval of it nor disapproval.
- All the passages the skeptic cited as teaching “Dancing is a sin” actually doesn’t teaching dancing per se is a sin. That is, all four passages the skeptic cited as demonstration that the Bible teaches dancing is a sin actually doesn’t demonstrate dancing in of itself is a sin. Since this is the case we don’t have a Bible contradiction at all here.
- Concerning Exodus 32:19-28 the context was the Hebrews dancing as part of their worship of a golden calf idol they created. The sin here is idolatry. This is definitely not a time to dance! So we can’t take Exodus 32:19-28 and say God’s Word says dancing in of itself is a sin.
- Both Matthew 14:6-8 and Mark 6:21-28 record the same event. According to the Skeptic Annotated Bible “Herodias’s daughter danced at King Herod’s birthday party. Herod liked the dance so much that he granted her request and gave her John the Baptist’s head on a platter.” There’s the sin of murder of John the Baptist here. Herodias’ daughter asking for the head of Herod is the sin and not the dance per se (unless it was an inappropriate dance).
- Dancing isn’t even mentioned in Galatians 5:19-21 in the Greek.
- Since there’s no Bible verse that shows dancing in of itself is a sin logically there is no contradiction in the Bible here. There is no contradiction here. Seems the skeptic needs to learn of How to Handle Bible Contradictions.
- We shouldn’t miss that worldviews are at play even with the skeptic’s objection to Christianity. The worldview of the author of the Skeptic Annotated Bible actually doesn’t even allow for such a thing as the law of non-contradiction to be meaningful and intelligible. In other words for him to try to disprove the Bible by pointing out that there’s a Bible contradiction doesn’t even make sense within his own worldview. Check out our post “Skeptic Annotated Bible Author’s Self-Defeating Worldview.”
[…] Is dancing a sin? […]
Excellent!!
Thank you so much sister!!!!
Notice the skeptics is about quantity of verses rather than quality of interpretation
This one made me laugh! Blessings for refuting it so well.
What a thorough overview! This is the the skeptics weakest point.
Of course dancing is not a sin!! I try to dance everyday, one way or another. When God distinguished people through language and culture, dance was part of life’s expression of joy.
(Of course, man perverts this too, but that’s a different subject)
Life is often so hard, we must dance whenever possible! Even if, as an Armenian, we dance in spite of tears.
I don’t hesitate to join in with Kurds, Poles or Greeks – whoever!
Share in the joy – dance brother, dance!
What a delightful and joyful comment!! I now want to Google what Armenian dance is like!!! I am so glad that through the Gospel not only do we see nations get saved but we can also enjoy their culture, the part that is not sinful, and also in enjoying others and their culture we glorify God! I do enjoy Armenian food very much as where I live there are a lot of Armenians since we are near Glendale (don’t know if you know anything of Armenians in Southern California). I hear Glendale has the most Armenians outside ofArmenia?
Glendale!!! I’m so jealous!!!
Years ago we lived in the biggest Armenian community, Watertown Ma. That was the early wave of immigration after the genocide. Glendale came later. Also Fresno, many Armenian farmers there, they brought their own fabulous seeds!
Traditional Armenian dancing is very old, from the villages of course, like the Halle and Tamzara. Most don’t have names, but everyone knows what to do when the oud starts strumming and the dumbeg gets going!
How i wish I heard them now….😃
I can’t help but to think of Hava Nagila when reading your post!
Yes! I was thinking of the Armenian/Kurdish rally I went to in 2019. Lots of Kurds, few Armenians! Even though the situation was grave and our goal was to expose and denounce Erdogan at the White House, later they broke into a dance! They joined me in everything, “You’re our cousin!”
I frequently think of Fiddler on the Roof, esp the song line while dancing, “God would want us to be joyful even when our hearts lie panting on the floor…”
Not easy…
Have a good weekend sister ❤
Same to you and safe travels! That would have been an amazing rally to attend! Nathan from all his different times in the region has befriended some amazing Kurdish people. There will be a day when God holds those who are workers of evil accountable. So glad to be on the journey with you!!!!
Thank you so much Mandy for your encouraging and true words of God’s justice.
I too am so glad we’re on this journey… Thank you Lord!
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When you compare the dances of David and Herodias you can well see that it is the intent of the dancer as to whether it is sin. If it glorifies God, it is not sin. If it is only purient and outside of Biblical marriage, you have sin.
Well stated. The intention and mode and context matters! Sometimes it seems the skeptics are like the cultural fundamentalists they make fun of, but only far worst for there is no love of God within them and they twists the Scripture to mock God! Hope things aren’t too cold in your neck of the wood brother!!! How have things been for you this week brother?
Weather wise, things have been normal for South Texas (highs at about 82 F and lows near 65).
Excellent rebuttal Jim of this attack on the Word of God. This has got to one of the strangest attacks and definitely the weakest. It is clearly all about the context in which the dancing happens in; the motivation has got to be a Godly one. Who could forget the exuberant dancing of David bringing the Ark home to God’s House!
This is indeed strange from the skeptics! It’s low quality interpretation by the skeptics and rather forced. You are right context of circumstance, motivation and I might add the manner of dancing matters! Good point about David dancing. How have things been for you this week brother?
My fatique episode is fading off, praise God. Also my brain tumour appointment with my consultant yesterday gave us good news, the tumour even though it is still there and small has stopped growing over the last year. Our God is a good God brother Jim!
Alan, good news about your health.
Yes Mandy, it is! I am indebted to you dear sister and many others who uphold me and my family in prayer. I know that our Father God hears and answers our petitions to His Glory.
How did the fishing trip go? I pray that you and Nathan are well. May our Father God bless you richly as He guides you this coming weekend.
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Good reminder about the skeptic that “a Bible contradiction doesn’t even make sense within his own worldview”. He is trying to undermine the worldview of believers. That is why it is also good to respond to these alleged contradictions as you do.
Amen! I think it is helpful to not only response with exegesis but also a Presuppositionalist worldview critique since the skeptics’ attack that there is a Bible contradiction isn’t done in a vacuum but they are operating according to their worldview. It’s been an immense joy seeing you interacting with and posting about Presuppositional apologetics on WordPress these many past months! Or has it been over a year now? How have things been for you this week brother?
Jimmy,
I had to laugh as well. It isn’t only misguided Christians that fall prey to fallacies like this one, but that’s a tendency towards legalism whereas the mockers/skeptics are invested in making believers seem prudish rather than pious. Hope you are having a wonderful day with our Lord.
pax,
dora
Good point and observation about how skeptics does make believers seem prudish in a riduclous fashion rather than genuine God given sensible piety. How has your week been so far Dora?
Grateful to our Lord for His sustaining grace, without which I would surely be faithless and fall. He is so good to us.
Thanks for the thorough analysis and rebuttal of this alleged contradiction! Yes, context is everything, unless you’re cherry picking for the desired “proofs.” By the way, my old IFB church taught that ALL dancing was sinful.
Wow did the IFB church use any of these verses?? Sometimes it seems cultural fundamentalism overlaps with skeptics outlook. Obviously one believes in the Bible but one doesn’t. I think some skeptics never stop being fundamentalists…it’s just they are now secular humanists variety. How goes your day???
The pastor never went through a Bible teaching on the sin of dancing, but mentioned it often along with the sins of drinking and smoking. Watching Hollywood movies, women in pants and short hair, and men with hair over the collar were also oft mentioned sIns according to hardcore IFB standards at the time, but our pastor didn’t mention those because he or his wife violated them.
The day’s going well, thanks! Did a few to-doos and just got done picking up a few grocery supplies for the work weekend. Couch time from now until lights out.
How’s your day starting out?
“Dancing isn’t even mentioned in Galatians 5:19-21 in the Greek.” The atheist are so ridiculous! Now I seen it all.
In the short moment when y our comment was approved and others could see it, what did that have to do with this post?
Great job, saw the title of this and laughed. So glad this was not a difficult one for you! To be honest my first thought was David had no issue dancing and embarrassing himself more before the Lord!
My first thought was David too! For some reason when I saw this on the Skeptic Annotated Bible I also chuckle. Doesn’t it seems the skeptics are the very caricature of fundamentalists they claim to despise??? Irony…it’s always weird how people can hate something so much in an idolatrous way and become like those very things! I was just praying for your future time at WTS earlier today! Keep us posted yeah? Is Hava Nagila Armenian dance??
It’s Jewish based of Psalm 118 it means “let us rejoice.” Thanks for praying have a zoom meeting Monday at 1:00pm my time 10:00am your time for a half an hour.
This skeptic sure seems to be trying to stir up more confusion than let us in on something he claims we don’t know about. Thanks for this, Jim!
Thank you.
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I believe much of it has to do with the intentions of the heart. If one is dancing happily without being lustful, or is dancing with their spouse, it is fine. Yet if one is dancing to seduce others, then it is a sin. This is my opinion.
Well put! The skeptics are stretching it here and lack nuances. Hope the rest of your Friday night is going well? God bless you and thanks for reading this!
I think fanaticism arises from “cut & dry” thinking. It can become dangerous.
My Friday has been a blessing of calm and peace. But I am a bit sad bcuz I need to put my 16 yr old Australian Shepherd down within next couple weeks or so. It is painful.
Well done Pastor Jim! When dancing is associated with praise and celebration, the message is clear and free from sin. Other times dancing is associated with a sinful act such as the murder of John the Baptist. Murder is obviously the sin.
As with pretty much everything in life, what is the motive? God made everything good, and Satan seeks to twist it and make it bad. Dancing is no exception.
Exactly! Doesn’t it seem sometimes the Skeptics are like the very fundamentalists they claim they reject so thoroughly? Have you notice how sometimes unbelief result in people become the very opposite they claim to be???
[…] Dancing isn’t even mentioned in Galatians 5:19-21 in the Greek original text, the skeptic doesn’t know that since he assumed it in the objection brought up in Is dancing a sin? […]
[…] Is dancing a sin? […]
Thanks for sharing this discussion. With so many actions in life, there is a right time and a wrong time.
[…] Is dancing a sin? […]