Restoring Dance....A Testimony A few (ha!) words about my experience with dance in the church.... I'll try to make this an overview. I can really get going on this subject, but then I've been involved since 1996, so I have a little history and I feel like I've learned a few things along the way. How it all started.... One day after the winter Olympics I watched my then eight year old daughter pretend to ice dance across the kitchen floor. She seemed to have a natural gift of movement and it started me thinking. It occurred to me that God had given us the gift of dance for our enjoyment and His glory and that we had let the world take it and corrupt it. Then I searched the scriptures. It's all over the place in the Old Testament. And it's not optional. We're told to do it. "Let them praise his name in the dance.." Psalm 149:3, as in "Let there be light" (Genesis). Of course, for those who pretty much think it should be New Testament all the way, it shows up there, too, although not as much. Why should it? Along with a multiplicity of musical instruments, dancing was a natural part of Hebrew life and didn't need to be re-addressed. (Story of the prodigal son....as the elder son approached he "heard.. dancing"... look it up. Luke 15:25.) So, I had a change of view and God began to orchestrate events and bring people into my life who helped me to grow in this area (real God appointments). There were many, many times that due to the difficulty and lack of acceptance (in the church) I told God "OK, I know what's true, but this is like plowing a rock bed. I don't want to do anything outside your will, so I'm laying this down unless You show me otherwise". He always gave me a very direct and unquestionable word to keep me going. That was the early days and I just took it one thing at a time. The very first thing I did, was to use some sign language and a little movement with some colored ribbons to an old Petra song, The Coloring Song. Some even said it was annointed. It was quite well received. It was done by eight year old girls and that was pretty safe. The next thing we did was a very simple circular Hebrew dance (young girls again), which raised some eyebrows and questions. However, there were those who embraced and welcomed this missing element to praise and worship, so we were limited to fringe events and special services. At first I just walked "dot to dot". Just, "show me what's next, Lord". "OK, that's done, now what?" God was so faithful to walk me through so many phases and let me learn a variety of venues (flags, streamers, scarves, some Hebrew dance, a little tambourine dance, etc.) I was involved for several years with March for Jesus, which is great! Not only does it bring people together from different churches (unity), but it's a great opportunity to worship under the open heavens, declaring God's glory in the streets and doing spiritual warfare in your city. Psalm 66:2 does say "make His praise glorious"!!! I won't go into detail about how but at a certain point, God "sealed" for me that worship dance was indeed what He wanted me to be doing. As a child I had a desire to be an artist. When God started dealing with me about worship dance, He was also doing some other things in me. He made it clear to me that I had put aside His giftings in myself for the sake of pleasing others. He burned in me the desire to please Him rather than man. I had always thought it was just a selfish desire (art), but when I realized that it was indeed a "talent" and that I had been hiding it "in the ground". I was convicted and "set my face like flint" to be obedient to whatever and however the Lord wanted to use me. Sometimes it meant laying down every bit of pride I had and being willing to make a fool of myself before others. He had given me a second chance and I was going to make the most of it! There was indeed opposition and many times, as I said before, I faced major frustration and obstacles. I would just say that I always did my utmost to submit to church leadership and thier limits and requirements. Along the way I learned much about the impact and power in artistic expression, the importance of a pure lifestyle and a scriptural foundation as well as spiritual accountability. One of the best scriptural accounts I know for praise as spiritual warfare is in II Chronicles 20 (Jehosophat). Even though it doesn't mention "dance" specifically, there were many "postures" before the Lord, including loud praise and marching music!! I believe that Satan has strategically removed much creativity (and dance specifically) from the church as a whole by promoting the idea that it is "fleshly" and "evil". There is a danger. Because dance has been SO corrupted (in the world), it has to be re-introduced carefully and prayerfully. It is beginning to be revived in a few churches here and there. I believe dance is not only an expression of joy, but also a source of joy. "I will turn their mourning into dancing." His joy is our strength! (There's a huge spiritual warfare aspect.) The church has neglected artistic expression as a valid means of communication for truth and the gospel. As a result, they have given it completely to the world, which has taken it and corrupted it totally and completely. By neglecting the arts (performing, visual, etc.), the church lost it's influence in that arena. Why is it that the church seems to copy the world's way with music and other art forms? The church, with the Creator of the universe at it's head, should be setting the standard of creativity, not vice versa. So, bottom line, the church has been robbed and for the most part doesn't even know it!! That's why over some years, the Lord led me to organize a ministry called Seeing The Arts Restored. Not that I'm any kind of expert. Definitely not! But God put it in my heart and I am committed to be faithful to do what He's given me to do. There are those who are making a fine effort to reverse the trend and use the arts as a tool for a message of truth to the world. Unfortunately, there are not many churches who see the need or the value and it is difficult to get church support. One of the greatest things that the Lord has done in my life regarding worship dance has been the opportunity I had to go to Ukraine three times in the course of one year (Nov. '02, Feb. '03, Aug '03). The Lord had put a compassion and love for the "Russian" people in my heart several years prior. The "thought" had come to me that it would be really neat to be able to go there and minister through worship arts. I was over 40 and hardly ever traveled anywhere, so the thought was absurd (to me). However, I wrote it down. Several years later my daughter began to develop an interest in Russian people, so we started to study the language and believed that the Lord would open a door for us to go at some time. It came sooner than we thought and it wasn't Russia, itself, but Ukraine, which was formerly part of the Soviet Union (all slavic people). Many people there still speak the Russian language. There were several signs that the Lord gave us (another story) confirming our going the first time, only one of which was learning that my (German) ancestors had lived there for a time before coming to America. When we landed and when we met the church people there, it was as if we had found our home. When we first committed to go, we had no idea what we would be doing, but the Lord opened the door wide open for us to be involved doing worship dance. We were welcomed warmly and learned after our first return that many were affected positively by our example and presence there. We were able to return twice after that, each time ministering, interceding and warring through worship dance. The most requested, most powerful piece we did was "Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble?". Having done it again recently, I believe it was almost, if not, prophetic at the time we were in Ukraine. Listening to the words, I realize that it speaks of all that has recently taken place in Ukraine and of what is yet to come. God is moving powerfully in Ukraine, because of the unity and fervency of the Christians there. They now have a Christian president, because of citizens (Christians & unbelievers) who weathered the bitter cold for weeks to protest wrong doing in the current government. In the public square, prayer was held for four hours each day, and this was not a "Christian" or "church sponsored" event. However, the church supported it and many were saved. Testimonials say it was like a revival! One of the most remarkable things I noticed while ministering in the Ukrainian churches was their responsiveness. It took no cajoling to get them to pray, to respond to an invitation for salvation, or to worship with all their heart and might. After years of oppression, their freedom in Christ is precious. What an example they are to us. Many times as I am challenged to live a life of worship, I am reminded of the words of King David as he was seeking to offer a sacrifice of intercession to God at the threshing floor (2 Samuel 24:24) “…. Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing.” True worship is total submission and it always costs something. How could I offer less to Him who gave everything for me. Rita |