Dance at Youth Group?

**thesteve** · 03-05-2011, 12:53 PM

Not trying to be a hater, but I can definitely bump and grind to the music in the video you just posted.

OiBoyz · 03-05-2011, 12:56 PM

YouTube proves it, thesteve. Do it!

penguinofwar · 03-05-2011, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bowstaff981

People have alternatives to dances all the time. They're called parties.

Based on my experiences in youth groups the problem with this is that no matter what occurs there will be a person that has a complaint with it. What one person perceives as just dancing and having fun is perceived as sin by others. Parents will be heavily judging an event like this. Somebody isn't going to like it and it's going to be pretty impossible for the youth pastor to come away unscathed from the event. So in his or her mind it is probably better to just avoid something like this.

Throw a party, they are fun.

I agree with this. Do what you want to do, and if this is what your youth group wants to do thats totally cool - but I feel like there are many other ways to get together that would be more attractive to the majority of your group. Not trying to hate on dances, they're a lot of fun, but just having a party or something else would be way easier, and would probably cost a lot less.

And, when you said outreach, it seems like you meant something like bringing people from outside your church and encouraging them to come to your youth group. Just my opinion, but I feel like having a dance isn't really the way the get other people interested in your youth group; rather, something like a party with fun activities where other people get to know the members and leaders of your youth group.

Of course, every time I hear the word dance, I think of my own high school dances, which is probably on a way larger scale and is probably a totally different experience from what you have in mind.

Napoleon17 · 03-05-2011, 04:57 PM

I think there are some youth and probably even more churchy adults who associate techno music with bad stuff like raves, ecstacy, etc. If I were your youth pastor I would probably say the same thing he did.

penguinofwar · 03-05-2011, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ted

I think there are some youth and probably even more churchy adults who associate techno music with bad stuff like raves, ecstacy, etc.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ambient

I have recently gotten into other Dance genres such as House/Electronic/Trance, which are all sub-genres of Techno. I would like to host a dance/rave at my Youth Group,

.............

**Rainer.** · 03-05-2011, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thesteve

Not trying to be a hater, but I can definitely bump and grind to the music in the video you just posted.

Yeah, you can grind to anything.

However, I'd probably ask the powers that be if the dance is okay. If it is, then cool. If it's not, then it's not.

As for me, I know that most folk at my church don't get into club music like I do, but I have been known to drop some pretty dope beats.

OiBoyz · 03-05-2011, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thesteve

I can definitely bump

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rainer.

I have been known to drop some pretty dope beats.

Yeah, yeah... youtube it!

RE: the actual topic... I can see why the YP would be against it. I'm not sure I'd press the issue. There are so many fun things the youth can do either at the church or another venue. Why does it have to be a dance?

Ambient · 03-05-2011, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OiBoyz

Yeah, yeah... youtube it!

RE: the actual topic... I can see why the YP would be against it. I'm not sure I'd press the issue. There are so many fun things the youth can do either at the church or another venue. Why does it have to be a dance?

Because most of the people in my Youth Group like the kind of music I like, which is danceable. I'm also not saying that the only music that will be played is Techno... I like to throw in some MC Hammer, Macarena jig, Jump on It (Sugahill Gang), and Hey Ya!

I also just think that because of the negative connotations to the word 'dance' is the reason why they aren't ever done in a Youth Group setting. It's all stereotype, but that didn't keep Metalcore bands such as August Burns Red from bringing their music to the Christian genre... Let alone that the Christian genre didn't exist until Amy Grant went against the wind and started a revolution.

OiBoyz · 03-05-2011, 07:27 PM

Amy Grant started a revolution?

Ambient · 03-05-2011, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OiBoyz

Amy Grant started a revolution?

Amy Grant was one of the main influences on Christian Music today. Michael W. Smith and her pretty much create the Contemporary Christian genre

*created*

OiBoyz · 03-05-2011, 08:33 PM

Oops... I think I hijacked another thread.

SteveDallman · 06-15-2011, 02:30 PM

Billy Graham was once asked, "Can Christians Dance".

His response was, "Well, some can...and some can't."

Dancing was (and still is) an issue for some brands of Christianity. Some denominations still forbid it. And for the reasons you describe. Dancing today seems little more than foreplay, or advertising for a sexual partner.

Don't dance in a manner you wouldn't in front of your parents (terrible thought, huh?) or in front of your pastor.

There's no need to shame yourself in an effort to let go and have fun. People have danced well for centuries without overt sexual overtones.