Music: I See You - Ashley Clevaland
Christian Dance
- Beyond the Barriers of Labels
Dance can indeed be a form of worship and sacred celebration.
The Bible cites many passages where God's people are encouraged to "praise His name with dancing". Dance
is a very natural human expression of joy and deeply felt emotions. When the act of dancing is in response to our receiving
from God or as an offering of thanksgiving, praise, or intimate gesture of worship, we can rightly term "dancing
before the Lord", (whether spontaneous or choreographed) in aiding to identify our expression. This is actually the term
used in scripture when spoken of how King David danced before the Lord with all his might as he responded to the presence
and joy of the Lord that he so yearned for.
The term "Christian dance" however does and should
have several means of identification in its concept. One thought would be dance offered in a liturgical, religious or ministry
sense. This may be where the dancer desires to express their personal devotion to Jesus Christ through dance, whereas the
dance functions as an enactment of personal worship that can be expressed both privately and publicly. The Christian
dancer may also see their dancing as a form of creative evangelism or expressive witness in offering a visual expression of
Christian faith or a Gospel theme presentation in hopes of drawing others into a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Another approach or expression of Chirstian dance is the idea of the Christian person who pursues a vocational and professional
calling within the art of dance. This dancer has perhaps discovered a natural and undualistic fusion between thier faith
and art form. They are Christian people living out their faith in Christ in their vocations as dance artists. These dancers
are pursuing dance as an art form that should bring glory to God simply by being an expression of one of His good and perfect
gifts to humanity. These dancers, though Christians, may not be led in the same path of calling as those Christian dancers
who have embraced dance for the purpose of personal and corporate worship or as a means for creative evangelism.
For these dancers, dance is their professional work and belief in Christ is their confession of faith. They are involved
in the mainstream culture of dance and are called to live out their faith with Christian liberty while being the salt and
light to the community in which they are called. These dancers, teachers, choreographers recognize the wholeness of the Lordship
of Jesus Christ and feel a great affection to display the marvelous beauty and truth of our Creator and Lord in creative offerings
that serve our world in various ways, not just devotional expressions or creative evangelism.
Jesus took a towel
to wash the disciples feet. It was not a "Christian" towel. The towel was not sacred or holy or religious by any
means. The towel was an ordinary towel in the hands of an extraordinary Savior. The towel was there as an instrument of service
to other people. The towel could be offered to help in "washing the feet of others". The towel was an
extension and expression of the grace, the beauty, the truth, the cleansing and healing offered by the Master who humbled
himself to be a servant to those he loved. The Master did this an an example to those who would follow Him, that
they too would take their towels of servitude and "go into the world" and wash the feet of of soiled and broken
humanity.
Christian dancers, Christians that are dancers, dancers that are Christians - Is the term and label so
important? What is of true importance is that we are taking up the dancing towels of our lives and washing the feet of humanity as
we walk in the path of service we have been given by grace. Whether you dance in the church, on the mission field or
on the Broadway stage, may all be done to the glory of God with passion and conviction and a clear understanding of our roles
as servants in this world given precious gifts whereby we honor God and bless our world.
By Randall Flinn - a follower
of Christ, a professional dance artist, a worshipper of God and a creative servant to mankind and not confused about it all!
The Artist's Towel and Basin
By Randall Flinn
In the Book of
John, Chapter 13, Jesus Christ leaves his esteemed position at the table of the last supper, before His death on the cross,
and completes one of the most significant acts and service of his earthly ministry. It is written in this passage
of scripture that Jesus was fully aware of all that had and would soon be taking place concerning His purpose and mission.
Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world, that Judas Iscariot would soon betray him, and that He had been
sent by God and would be returning to His Father after fulfilling the mission he had been sent to do. Most amazingly, He knew
that soon he would walk the road of suffering, and being beaten and scourged beyond recognition, would endure the death blows
of crucifixion and take upon himself the wages of sin. Even in the knowing, and with the opportunity to escape it all, He
still persevered for the joy that was set before Him, for our salvation and our restoration to God.
As all these dark tragedies were soon to be upon Him, still He was able to rest
in the union and identity with His Father and the assurance of His purpose and passion for mankind. Here was the Master Artist
Himself, the Word that had become flesh and blood, the glory of the Incarnation, and without hesitation, carrying out the
sacrificial plan of His Father to reconcile the world to Him through the atonement of His Holy Son. At a time which could
have been opportune for any other person's sense of self protection, retaliation, insecurity and identity crisis, Jesus
leaves His place of authority at the table and girds himself with a servant's towel and fills a basin in order to wash
the feet of those He loves. This act of Christ's love is filled with vast and profound significance. He tells Peter
that what he does now may not be understood, but later, (when Peter is restored by Christ) he would understand. At that time
Peter had no idea how powerful and impacting Jesus' gesture would be for his own life and ministry.
Jesus was offering yet another mandate to his followers, "If I then, your
Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that
you should do for one another as I have done for each of you." Jesus washed their feet, the soiled part of their
bodies, in a beautiful example of grace being lavished upon the receiver in the washing of their souls and the affirmation
of their value as children of God. The towel and basin were simply his instruments in carrying out His divine service
and calling. The Master Artist had all he needed to offer his gift to those he loved and though this to multiply that gift
for the world to receive great blessing. Yes, the Lord of Creation washed over dirty feet in bountiful grace and beauty, with
healing and affirmation, and even prophetic acts of restoration.
Now,
here I am your artist Lord, and what are my towel and my basin? You have instructed me to follow your example, one given by
a servant-King. You have asked me to wash the feet of humanity. The life and gift I have been given can become the towel
and basin to serve this world in your name. I too, in honor to you, can bring your grace, beauty, truth, healing, peace and
joy through the offering of my life and talent. I can be a creative servant of Christ and secure in my role and calling which
will set me free to serve others in the love, liberty and power of your Holy Spirit. In you Lord, I can work in excellence
and understand my role and potential to restore lives and culture and even nations in your name.
Father, you have restored me as your son and as an artist to engage and impact, inspire and
rebuild for the sake of your Kingdom and eternal plan. Your redemptive truth and the riches of your grace can live and flourish
within me and through my creative pursuits. Oh Father, as you removed Isaiah's iniquities with the coals of your altar,
as you removed the tainted garments of Joshua the High Priest and girded him in pure vestments and as your placed your words
and anointing upon the lives of your priests, prophets, disciples and apostles, oh Lord, wash my feet as I surrender them
and the rest me to you. Lord Jesus, wash over and remove the stones, the hindrances of my sin, my pride, my lusts, my distortions
and false identities and idols that I have set above my affections for you. Jesus, you knew your purpose and you were free
to love and to serve and to obey the will of your Father. Help me Lord, in this confusing world, to know my purpose in you,
to hold secure in your plan and to obey you.
Jesus, you
are glorified as our lives bear fruit and we abide in you. You have said and given me your permission to go and bear
much fruit in your name. I am your son and I am your artist and I desire to bear fruit to the glory of your name. You called
an artist, Bezaleel, by name. You fill him with your Holy Spirit and enabled, empowered and anointed him to serve your purposes
as a skilled artist. His very name means under the shadow of God. Lord, this is what I long for, to be your son and your artist,
under the shadow of your Presence, filled with your Spirit and working in excellence to the glory of your name.
How I realize Lord that I could so easily in my flesh and fallen nature turn to
the pride of Lucifer in desiring my own exaltation. So I thank you even now for the blessings of the brokenness you have brought
into my life and the thorns in the flesh that keep me ever clinging to your grace and mercy. It is not my work, it is not
my creativity that's makes me anyone or anything. All that I am and hope to be is a gift of your grace and forgiveness
in my life.
So I return to the towel and basin Lord. It
is here that I can glorify and serve you best. It is here that I can be a true son and a true artist and give back to this
world from your gift of grace. It is only here that I am liberated to love others in your name and to serve them with the
talents you have entrusted to me.
Restore me daily Lord
as your son and your artist. Daily remove the stones so I can help build up the highway of the Lord in your path and plan
for this world. May your Spirit rest up0n me and anoint me for the tasks that you have called me to in this world and
in your Kingdom to come. My heart is yours', my art is yours'. As I am restored and healed and made whole, so then
my life and artistry will find new freedom and meaning.
Simply,
I thank you for the basin and the towel and the wonder I find in creatively washing the feet of mankind as a servant-artist.
There is so much your have for your artists Lord. Restore them my God that they may transform the distortions of this world
with the redemptive gift of art.
