Thursday, November 27, 2008

A Time to Dance

Being invited to dance can be exciting. Many dancers lament the inability to dance as often as they would like. Other leaders may allow the dancers to go forth relatively unhindered. Keeping both scenarios in mind, it may not always be the time to break out and dance. Although the ministry of movement has made great strides, we must still exercise wisdom when visiting other locations, or even in familiar territory. We would like for the doors to continue to open for those who are willing to take the steps needed to present the ministry in excellence and with knowledge.

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. We must not take this liberty to mean the we can do anything we want, whenever we want. There are several occasions when dancing is appropriate, especially when we are invited for that purpose. Although we can exercise liberty at our seats, dancing in the aisles or in the pulpit may not be welcome in some places. If we are not sure of the appropriateness of our actions, it may be a good idea to ask about our options in advance. If we cannot inquire before we arrive, we should definitely find out before we cause offense.

If we are indeed in an atmosphere where spontaneous praise and worship is welcomed, we must still observe some basic principles of safety. When using ribbons and streamers, we must always be aware of where we are in relation to the congregation. A wayward flag used carelessly can make quite an impact. When dancing, we should be mindful of our hands and feet so as not to make unnecessary contact with our neighbor. We would not want to cause unexpected injury that can be avoided. Having the freedom to dance can be wonderful and exciting, but we must keep in mind that it may not always be the time or place.

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