I Do Not Dance

As the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart. 2 Samuel 6:16

Growing up in a conservative Christian environment, we didn’t dance. We didn’t endorse school dances, and we certainly didn’t participate in them. I’ve always blamed that for my inability to dance as an adult, but I’m not sure that’s entirely fair. Over the years, at wedding dances or even in church, I’ve witnessed other 50-year-old white men dancing – or rather trying to dance – and I’ve remembered why I don’t dance. As I see that guy awkwardly lurching, gyrating, and gesticulating, I’m embarrassed for him, and I realize that I don’t ever want people to look at me that way. I’m painfully aware of what I look like when I dance and so, I simply don’t do it – for fear of looking stupid. This is all harmless if it keeps me from wedding dancing, but I’m afraid it spills over into church and worship.

Again, growing up in a Midwest, white, conservative, Christian environment, we didn’t dance, clap, or raise our hands in church. So, when others do it now in church, I’m simply never tempted to join in. I can’t blame my past for the rest of my life though. I’ve got to admit that just like at wedding dances, I simply cannot let go and move spontaneously, without worrying about what others think of me.

There will always be those who are critical of our faith and worship. That’s the lesson of today’s passage, which tells of King David dancing in the streets. Celebrating the return of the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem, David danced and worshipped God publicly, apparently while not wearing much. The king worshipped with abandon, not caring what anybody thought. But his wife Michal saw and despised him for it.

The real reason I don’t dance is because of people like Michal – because of people like me. Critical of those who worship with abandon, I am the problem. I’m not suggesting that I need to force myself to begin waving my arms and dancing in church. I am insisting though, that for the sake of my own faith and worship, I should stop being critical of the faith and worship of others.