The Random House Dictionary of the English Language defines the word "dance" as "1. to move one's feet or body, or both, rhythmically in a pattern of steps, esp. to the accompaniment of music. 2. to leap, skip, etc., as from excitement or emotion; move nimbly or quickly: to dance with joy. 3. to bob up and down: The toy sailboats danced on the pond. 4. to perform or take part in a dance... 10. a successive group of rhythmical steps or bodily motions, or both, usually executed to music."1
I will be the first to admit that I have not found a single passage which says, "Thou shalt not dance."

    A. Many people, both young and old, have tried to justify dancing based upon the lack of a "thou shalt not" command.
    B. The lack of a "thou shalt not" command regarding dancing does not necessarily
        make dancing acceptable.
    C. Neither does giving the creedal answer, "Dancing is against my religion" make dancing sinful.
    D. The best way to answer the question, "What is wrong with dancing?" is to compare the act itself to the standards
        established by God.
I. First consider dancing that was done by people in the bible.
    A. There are three types of dances mentioned in the bible.
        1. A form of dancing is seen as a sign of public rejoicing and worship offered up to God. (Exodus 15:20-21; Psalms
            149:3 and 150:4).
        2. The return of the victors was hailed by the joyous acclaim of women of Israel (Judg 11:34; 1 Sam 18:6-8).
        3. Exodus 32:19,20, Job 21:11-20, and Matthew 14:6-8 shows a form of dancing that is lustful and sinful.
    B. The first two types of dances were done with the purpose of rejoicing and praising God.
        1. The last dance was used in lustful feasting; as well as to gratify fleshly desires.
II. Now, give consideration to the dances of today.  In what category do most of the modern dances fit?  Before answering this question, give consideration to the biblical principles that most forms of modern dance violate.
    A. The environment in which most modern dances take place is evil (Gal. 5:19-21).
        1. The term "reveling" listed in the Galatians text is from the Greek word, which means "feasts and drinking parties that
            are protracted till late at night and indulge in revelry."  (Thayer's)
        2. As is quite obvious, most dancing parties fit quite well into this definition.
        3. At most parties where worldly people are present, there is the drinking of alcohol, dancing, and other forms of
            reveling.
    B. Most modern dances promote and incite lasciviousness (Gal. 5:19).
        1. The term "lasciviousness" is from the Greek word, which means "...indecent bodily movements, unchaste handling of
            males and females."  (Thayer's)
    C. Most dances feed on the sexual desires in the male and in the female.
    D. Consider the following "attractions" of most dances:
        1. Late hours, dim lights, scanty clothes, close and/or indecent bodily contact, and suggestive music.
        2. In general, the atmosphere of most dances produce dulled moral and spiritual senses which then leads to lewd
            emotions.
    E. If you do not agree with this, then answer the following questions.
        1. Why do teenage dances require chaperons?
        2. Why is it that after proms, many teenage girls and boys loose their virginity and many of the girls become pregnant?
        3. Why do the dances involve boys dancing with girls?
        4. Why do they turn the lights down and the music up?
        5. Why do they dance dances where a boy holds a girl close to him?
        6. Most people would agree that if a male and female where to "dance" without music in public, it would be an indecent
            and lewd act.
III. The fruits of most dances are evil.  (Matt. 7:16-17)
    A. Consider the fruits of dances or dancing parties.
        1. Generally, at most dances, one finds evil companions, obscene language, drinking, smoking, adultery, fornication, and
            divorce.
    B. Are these fruits good or bad?
        1. If the fruits of dances are bad, then Christians have no business participating in them.
    C. Does dancing promote godliness?
        1. Most modern dances promote anything but godliness.
        2. Once again, consider the clothing, movements, unchaste contact, etc.
        3. When people go to most dances, godliness is the last thing on their mind.
IV. In considering how most forms of dancing violate Bible principals, let us not forget that dancing is "of the world."  1 John 2:15-17
    A. It has already been shown that dancing is revelry and lascivious.
    B. Its fruits are inevitably evil and it promotes ungodliness.
    C. It should be quite obvious that dancing is not "from above" (James 1:17), but rather, it is from the devil and is "of the
        world."
Conclusion: I realize that some people have arguments in favor of dancing; however, people often argue to justify sins in
which they wish to engage in.  What is important here is that the arguments against most forms of dancing are from the word
of God.
    A. Dancing destroys your influence just as drinking, swearing, and other sins do.
    B. Dancing should be avoided because of the environment, the unchaste touching, the ungodly movements, and the lustful
        thoughts.
    C. One need not be surprised when engaging in the vertical movement of bodies close together, leads to fornication.