Let me begin with a little religious background. Oh, don’t stop reading yet! I promise this will get funny; at least, it is funny to me. Anyway, most of you from around here have heard that the Baptist (and a few other denominations) are not suppose to dance. We aren’t supposed to drink, smoke, or play cards either! At least that is what I have been told.
One of my favorite childhood memories is walking out the side door of the kitchen at Leachville First Baptist Church to find my daddy, my uncles, or my papaw. You see, this is where all the men would gather so that those who smoked could light one up between Sunday school and church. Now, they may still do that at some small country churches, but we city folks would greatly frown upon that, wouldn’t we? Still a sweet memory to me!
Now, back to the dancing… I think I have discovered the “origin” — some would even possibly go as far as to say the “necessity” — of the “No Dancing” rule. If you had witnessed with your eyes what I saw on the evening of June 29, 2012, I think you would agree. Let me try paint a picture for you.
It is 10 o’clock at night. The location is the Westin Playa Conchal in Costa Rica where we have gathered to celebrate the 25th wedding anniversary of our friends, John and Karla Jacobs. There are 18 Southern Baptist on the dance floor smiling, laughing, and having a great time. Sounds perfect, doesn’t it? There is only one problem: the majority of us are rhythmically challenged — and that is being polite. Our men were especially challenged!!!
My dear sweet husband is probably the worst. We took dance lessons ages ago before going on a cruise and even the dance instructor gave up on him! But one of the absolute best things about my man is that if I ever want to dance, he is right there with me. He may not look good doing it, but he has never shied away from the dance floor, and I love him for it.
One of my favorite childhood memories is walking out the side door of the kitchen at Leachville First Baptist Church to find my daddy, my uncles, or my papaw. You see, this is where all the men would gather so that those who smoked could light one up between Sunday school and church. Now, they may still do that at some small country churches, but we city folks would greatly frown upon that, wouldn’t we? Still a sweet memory to me!
Now, back to the dancing… I think I have discovered the “origin” — some would even possibly go as far as to say the “necessity” — of the “No Dancing” rule. If you had witnessed with your eyes what I saw on the evening of June 29, 2012, I think you would agree. Let me try paint a picture for you.
It is 10 o’clock at night. The location is the Westin Playa Conchal in Costa Rica where we have gathered to celebrate the 25th wedding anniversary of our friends, John and Karla Jacobs. There are 18 Southern Baptist on the dance floor smiling, laughing, and having a great time. Sounds perfect, doesn’t it? There is only one problem: the majority of us are rhythmically challenged — and that is being polite. Our men were especially challenged!!!
My dear sweet husband is probably the worst. We took dance lessons ages ago before going on a cruise and even the dance instructor gave up on him! But one of the absolute best things about my man is that if I ever want to dance, he is right there with me. He may not look good doing it, but he has never shied away from the dance floor, and I love him for it.
Lying in bed that night I began thinking about our adventure at the disco. I started contemplating the “no dancing” rule and it dawned on me. Our church fathers didn’t ban dancing because it was a sin. I bet they banned dancing because they were rhythmically challenged as well. I mean, they were all predominately white Anglo-Saxons so it makes sense, doesn’t it?
I can just picture it, can’t you? They all got together and said, “Now men, there is not a one of us in this room that can dance. When our wives make us dance in public we look like fools, so let’s just say it is a sin!”
Here is the real kicker. The only reason we know we can’t dance is because there is always someone on the dance floor who can.
You see, our church fathers had seen men like Emmitt Barnes who could have said, “I don’t know what you boys are talking about, because I have got some moves!” Yes, there are exceptions to every rule, and Emmitt Barnes was ours. He could really dance. The fact that he could really dance only made our attempts at dancing look that much worse.
So just maybe the “no dance” rule had a little bit to do with sin: the sin of pride!
I am just glad we all threw our pride out the window during our Costa Rica visit and danced our silly, somewhat uncoordinated hearts out. What resulted are many more sweet memoires!
I can just picture it, can’t you? They all got together and said, “Now men, there is not a one of us in this room that can dance. When our wives make us dance in public we look like fools, so let’s just say it is a sin!”
Here is the real kicker. The only reason we know we can’t dance is because there is always someone on the dance floor who can.
You see, our church fathers had seen men like Emmitt Barnes who could have said, “I don’t know what you boys are talking about, because I have got some moves!” Yes, there are exceptions to every rule, and Emmitt Barnes was ours. He could really dance. The fact that he could really dance only made our attempts at dancing look that much worse.
So just maybe the “no dance” rule had a little bit to do with sin: the sin of pride!
I am just glad we all threw our pride out the window during our Costa Rica visit and danced our silly, somewhat uncoordinated hearts out. What resulted are many more sweet memoires!
