If you have been anywhere near Instagram or Facebook in the last week, you’d know that many schools just had their proms. The school where my older children attend has a dance-like function this month, as well.
Seeing all this dancing, I am reminded that one of the biggest reasons I am Baptist is that people never expect you to dance anywhere or anytime. But seriously, though, I was never, nor could I ever, be a good dancer. I’m could not, for example, become a Fred Astaire, and I would not (thankfully) be a Kevin Bacon in “Footloose.” To put it bluntly, I am more of a “loose-foot.”
That being said, there seems to be joy to be found in appropriate dancing and “a time to dance” (Ecc. 3:4), even this Baptist can admit. The best kind of dancing, of course, is done unto the LORD as worship (2 Sam. 6:14; Psalm 149:3). It is also a special joy to see when children, even the youngest, enjoy moving to music in Sunday School class and other settings (Even fundamentalist Christians who oppose dancing entirely seem to be okay with young children dancing).
Other kinds of dancing that inspire include ballet and other classical expressions. Other forms, like waltzing or square dancing, many Christians would argue, can be harmless fun and lead toward innocent happiness.
On the other side of the equation, we know about dancing that is base and low, appealing to all that is worst in men and women. I don’t need to go into detail about dirty dancing and other forms of dancing that no Christian should abide.
All of this talk of dancing, though, makes me wonder, will there be dancing in heaven? I am not alone in this. MercyMe’s Bart Millard, in his mega-hit song, “I Can Only Imagine,” says:
“Surrounded by You glory
What will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus
Or in awe of You be still
Will I stand in your presence
Or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah
Will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine
I can only imagine”
Until we all get to heaven, we will just have to imagine. For now, I am content being a “loose-foot” Baptist that will never be asked to dance. In the here and now, I and my two left feet will simply applaud from the sidelines those who are dancing well and unto the Lord.