Lord of the Dance

Jesus Christ’s Lordship extends to all things. As the theologian Abraham Kuyper is famously quoted as saying, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is sovereign over all, does not cry: ‘Mine!’” That Lordship includes dance. (Put the Bill Gothard manual down – for good – and take a deep breath, my legalistic-recovering brethren.) Contrary to what the fundamentalism of 20th century Christianity told us, dancing doesn’t always lead to sex. (Or, as the joke goes, "What do Baptists think sex leads to?" A. Dancing!) It can also be a form or expression of worship to God.

Dancing is an art form. And it’s a very powerful tool – for good or for ill. Yes, I would agree it’s (more-often-than-not) been used for many, many decades in Western culture to glorify the dancer and provocatively use the human body to stir the sexual passions. Actually, this  goes back a couple millennia. Remember Herod’s stepdaughter (Matt. 14.6-12)? That dance led to the gruesome beheading of the greatest Old Testament prophet. But these carnal shadows of dance are distortions of the true form that God created and Scripture celebrates. We all know about King David’s zealous dance before the ark of the Lord (2 Samuel 6.16-23). David’s son, Solomon, later followed his father’s lead – or footwork – when he said there is a “time to dance” (Eccles. 3.4). The book on Christian musical worship in Scripture commands us to “Praise [the LORD] with…dance” (Ps. 150.4).

Jesus Christ is Lord of all. So, that means – as Steve Curtis Chapman lyricized one-and-a-half decades ago – He’s also Lord of the Dance. Therefore, King Jesus’ rule must be shown by Christians to extend to this art form, too. And I praise God it is.

Recently I discovered a dynamic and Christ-loving couple who is seeking to reveal our Lord’s reign and creativity in the realm of choreography and dance. I read an interview they gave for Reach Records, the recording label for some of my favorite Christian hip-hop artists – like Lecrae and Trip Lee. (The congregants of new3c will remember their pastor throwin’ down some of the latter’s lyrics to illustrate a sermon point this past Sunday). I was really encouraged by the interview. When I watched them dance, I became a big fan.

So, ladies and gentlemen, without any further ado, I present to you the dynamic, talented, and God-loving dancers, Keone and Mari Madrid. Enjoy.

HT: Katie @ Reach Records