Dancing is not specifically condemned anywhere in the Bible. In fact, if you do a search, you will find old testament passages that condone it. However, there are a number of scriptural principles that would indicate that many types of popular dancing are sinful either because of the dance itself or because of the setting in which it is done.
| Matthew 5:28 |
But I [Jesus] say unto you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. |
| Romans 6:12 |
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in
its lusts. |
| Romans 13:13-14 |
Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. |
| Galatians 5:16,19-21 |
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.... Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. |
| 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7 |
For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. |
| 1 Peter 2:11 |
Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts
which war against the soul, |
| 1 Peter 4:1-5 |
Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles --- when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. |
| 1 John 2:15-16 |
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the
love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world --
the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life -- is not of
the Father but is of the world. |
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