Significance of Colors In The Bible - Praise Dance Ministry

December 16,2008

This post is a response to a very good question about the Biblical significance of colors. When looking for the Biblical significance of colors the worst thing that we can do is over spiritualize it. There are some colors that the Bible describes which have a specific significance, but it is important to understand that all colors represent the glory of God.

When worship or praise dancers dance, are they preaching?

August 26, 2008 

When worship or praise dancers dance are they preaching?

This question was addressed to us and we will go to the Bible to answer this question. Our answer is yes as it relates to making a declaration.

First we want to establish that dancing in NO way can ever take the place of audibly preaching the Word of God. Throughout Scripture we are given the example of preaching and teaching through audible means.

“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they nave not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Rom.10:14)

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom. 10:17)

These Scriptures (and others) teach us how God intended for the Church to preach or proclaim the gospel message – by using our mouths.  There is NOTHING in Scripture that teaches us to preach the gospel message any other way than the SPOKEN WORD. In addition, Scripture gives us examples of methods adopted by certain ones. We find that prophets often demonstrated a Word from the Lord. However this demonstration did not take the place of the spoken Word. I believe it was used to amplify what was about to be said. People by nature love demonstration coupled with explanation. Why? Because it helps us learn and grasp the material better. When these prophets demonstrated the message, the words or the meaning of what they demonstrated ALWAYS followed.

“And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. And when he was come unto us he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.” (Acts 21:10-11)

In Ezekiel chapters 3 – 4, Ezekiel was used by God in demonstrating signs to the house of Israel (4:3), and the interpretation of what God did by way of demonstrations was told by spoken word to them.

Scripture teaches that there is a place for dance and/or demonstrations amongst God’s people in association with His Word. God gave many gifts to the church to use for edification purposes that are manifested in many different ways (1Cor. 12:4-6). Likewise, the way we communicate God's Word can be communicated, demonstrated, explained or taught in many different ways. It is not how we do it, but what is important is that we do it Biblically for people to understand the message.  

Sometimes as people we like to overemphasize things and make them out to be more than it really is. I call this over-spiritualizing things. As Dance Ministers we must understand that dance is a wonderful and powerful tool that we can use to comfort and encourage each other about the wonderful works of the Lord. We can even use dance, since it is a language, to amplify and proclaim through movement doctrinal truths. This is why I believe when we dance we are preaching as it relates to making a declaration. We are declaring a message using using our bodies. This is done using various methods, but one common method is by using music. Our dance is usually dependent upon our music selection. As Dance Ministers it is important that we select music that is doctrinally correct so that our movements can preach!

Music selection is very important

When we dance we usually dance to music, this is why it is very important that we size up the music with the Word. Just because the music/song is labeled as “gospel music,” does not mean that it is doctrinally correct. If a song is doctrinally correct, the words of the song will line up with the Word (Bible) and it will deliver the message to the hearers the way God has ascribed (Rom. 10:17).

As Dance Ministers we dramatically act out or interpret the message with movement. Why?

1. Because Dance Ministry (our demonstration) is a very powerful teaching and edification tool.  Demonstration coupled with an explanation, like I said before, helps us learn and grasp material better. 
2. Because we are relational created to relate. God created us to express ourselves toward Him and each other in many ways. One of the ways we express ourselves is through dance (Ps. 150) In our display of emotion, technique, life experience and knowledge of His truth we become the visions of God to the people. This means we serve as witnesses of His awesome work and when we dance, we proclaim to those we minister to that they are witnesses as well or can be (i.e an heir of salvation). 

Therefore with excitement, love and joy we dance about the wonderful works of the Lord and we celebrate Him. Our dance amplifies God and teaches individuals by making demonstrations using our bodies.

Dance Ministers, Scripture teaches us that we are to preach the Word of God with our mouths. For those who are hearing impaired of course sign language is used for them because of their inability to hear. This by the way is a wonderful example of how demonstration speaks! However, for those of us who can hear, we hear the Word audibly. When we dance the message of the gospel it should always be accompanied by the spoken Word of God. In doing so we are in line with Scripture and there will be no misunderstanding or confusion about what the dance meant or what was declared through movement.

For example: If a soul has never heard the gospel message and the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is acted out in a dance or dramatic expression, they may simply think that it is sad story. How will they know that Jesus died on their behalf? 

It is important to understand that every dance or dramatic expression is not done with music or words. Even if these are present in the dance (which is often limited in the song to words such as “he died for me”), still some may not understand. It is not enough to know that He died, but we also have to tell the lost WHY He died and the RESULT of it. We can not give them half of the gospel. Sometimes the dance coupled with the song is self-explanatory like “Lord we love you, we praise you and adore you,” but when it comes to the gospel of Jesus Christ- it MUST be preached using the spoken word. 

Blessings,

Sonia Kong, PDCM

Tips on Worship Banners, Flags and Streamers

Using Your Flags, Streamers and Banners 

If you feel that God is leading you to a ministry of flags and or banners, never forget that along with the anointing of the Holy Spirit, He also gave you a brain and common sense! Using flags in the church or outside of the church poses some practical issues which you should always keep in mind.

Lesson Two: Misconceptions about Dance Ministry

July 14, 2008
Misconceptions about Dace Ministry


Let’s address some common misconceptions about Dance Ministry:  

1.  Some say it was not done in the 1st century church as a form of worship.
 
According to scripture worship and praise are not the same, even though we use them synonymously. Anyone or every thing (creature) can praise God (Ps. 150:6). However, anyone cannot worship God. In order to do so, it must be done in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).

Scripture teaches us in Psalms 150 to celebrate God or to praise Him. It doesn't matter what century we live in or whether it is in the worship service or in our homes. I personally think that some believers have their own hang ups with dance in the church and that is something they will have to workout for themselves. If leadership in the local church has no problem with it and everything is done decently and in order, then who can contest it?

How To Start a Liturgical Dance | Praise Dance Ministry At Your Church

Starting an Arts Ministry

"Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: the watchman waketh but in vain."

Psalms 127:1

The truth of the matter is no one starts a ministry or should try to start a ministry. God is the one who starts ministries and gives the workers the grace to operate in it. A great example of this is in the book of Nehemiah. God made all of the provisions and graced Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of the city in Jerusalem. God had put it in his heart to do it (Nehemiah 2:12).

Lesson One: What Is Dance Ministry?

 PDCM’s Teaching on the Ministry of Dance

First let’s define Dance. What is Dance?

PDCM’s definition of Dance: Dance is a language and it communicates the expression of many things such as emotions, desires, thoughts, and beliefs through the movement of our bodies.

Webster’s Dictionary: Dance is a series of motions and steps usually performed to music. It also means to move rhythmically usually to music using prescribed or impoverished steps or gestures.

What is Dance Ministry?
Dance Ministry is simply the process by which we use our gift of dance to carry out the act of ministry (service) to encourage, comfort, and edify the saints in the faith. Nothing more, nothing less. Sometimes we like to give something a greater spiritual meaning than necessary. This introduces error, confusion, and a host of other problems that the enemy can use to distract and divide us from our sole purpose of winning souls (Matt. 28:16-20). This entire blog is dedicated to what Dance Ministry is. Please read through all of the posts and watch PDCM's Videos on Youtube to get a better understanding of what Dance Ministry is.

Lesson # 3 - Dance Ministers, who do you love? Who are you set out to please?

Dance Ministers, who do you love? Who are you set out to please?

John 12:37-43 and Matthew 5:41-44

In John 12:42-43 we read

“Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”

Pharisee- a Jewish sect- also called the “pious ones.” A society of men zealous for religion, who acted under the guidance of the scribes. They were the more popular and influential party. They had a zeal for the law – their attitude was external, formal and mechanical. They laid stress not upon the righteousness of action, but upon its formal correctness.

Dance In The Bible | Dance In The Church - Misconceptions About Dance Ministry

July 14, 2008

Dance in the Bible | Dance In The Church - Misconceptions about Dace Ministry

Let’s address some common misconceptions about Dance Ministry:    

1. Some say dance was not done in the 1st century church as a form of worship, therefore it should not be done now.

According to scripture worship and praise are not the same, even though we use them synonymously. Anyone or every thing (creature) can praise God (Ps. 150:6). However, everyone cannot worship God. In order to worship God a person must do it in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).
Scripture teaches us in Psalms 150 to celebrate God or to praise Him. It does not matter what century we live in or whether it is in the worship service or in our homes. I personally think that some believers have their own hang ups with dance in the church and that is something they will have to workout for themselves. If leadership in the local church has no problem with it and everything is done decently and in order, then who can contest it?

The following is what the Bible teaches us about praise and about dance as vehicle to bring forth His praise:

We are to praise God 
Where?      In his sanctuary
Who should praise Him?    Everything – every creature
Why?    For His mighty acts and according to his excellent greatness
How?    With the sound of the trumpet, with the paltry and harp, with the timbril and dance, and with instruments.

Some other biblical expressions of praise are:
Declaring of thanks (Heb. 13:15)
Clapping hands and shouting (Psalms 47:1)
Singing praise songs (Psalms 9:11)
Psalms, hymns, & spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19-20)
Making a joyful noise (Psalms 98:4)
By lifting our hands (Psalms 134:2)
By being still (Psalms 4:3-5, 46:10)
By being loud (Psalms 33:3, 95:1-6)

The Praise Dancer’s role in the Body of Christ is simply to edify, comfort and encourage the saints (1Thess. 5:11). When we dance we demonstrate, declare, and make known, through movement the truths of God, His mighty acts, and His promises. (Please read this)

2.    Another misconception is that dance has spiritual authority.

It is important to understand that Dance in itself does not have power or spiritual ability. God can use anything to carry out His will, but the things (people, methods) in themselves do not have any power unless the truth of God’s Word is attached to it and if it is anointed [set apart for His use - and we know that we are anointed because God has anointed us with the Holy Ghost who is the Spirit of truth (Acts 10:38)]. (More on this click here)

In scripture we find that God used many things (Mosses staff, a donkey, a fish net that Jesus told Simon to use to launch out into the deep, the pots that the widow used of which the oil was multiplied in 2 kings ch. 4., pillars, alters, and the objects in the tabernacle). These things or objects were effective and played significant roles in worship and in carrying out the will of the father because they were anointed and set apart for holy use. The key here is that these objects were set apart. Being set a part implies that the object has no other usage. Like these objects, our lifestyle must have no other usage but to glorify the father. We must be sold out to Jesus! If not we will not be effective in our ministry. Understanding this truth will help us not to fall into the misconception of thinking that the power are in the things or objects themselves. Thinking that the power is in the objects themselves is dangerous because we can then begin to make idols out of objects and people. We can begin to worship them and put our faith and trust in those things instead of in the power of God – and we can do it without even knowing it.

So if we think that the source of power is in the dance or in the objects, in our case the person dancing, then we make the power of God of no effect. We are all vessels and anything God chooses to use are only objects, but when it is energized by His power through our OBEDIENCE to His Truth (His Word obeyed habitually in our lives), then our dance is made alive and powerful having spiritual substance and impact because of the anointing (the process by which we are set apart for God’s use).

With that said it is important to understand that, for some most of us, our talent of dance is a natural gift from God. Now that we are born again, we use this gift or our talent to the glory of God. However, this is not to be confused with spiritual gifts that are given to us upon conversion (Rom 12:6). Scripture teaches us that “all things were created by Him and for Him” (Col. 1:16) and that includes our natural abilities and talents. NOW that we are His (1John 3:2), we use those abilities for His glory. NOW, when we dance we are praising the Lord and we are serving or ministering to one another and encouraging each other with a natural talent that God gave us NOW coupled with our spiritual gift which brings substance (the knowledge of the Truth of the Doctrine of Jesus Christ and every action and work empowered by the Holy Ghost) to our dance.

It is very important to understand that if there is no TRUTH there is no ANOINTING (we are anointed with the Holy Ghost who is the Spirit of truth -John 16:13), and if there is no anointing, then there is no spiritual impact. If there is no spiritual impact we are just performing.

On guard with the Word,

Sonia Kong, PDCM

Is Mime Ministry Biblical? (Pantomime) Re-examining Artistic Ministry

Updated on August 4, 2012

Originally Posted Jan. 7, 2008

The more we desire to be holy and study the Word, the more God reveals. 

I have removed the original post because of my own convictions about mime ministry. Not all of it is wrong, but some of it is not right according to the principles of Scripture...to be clear I am not talking about Mime as a form of praise. I am addressing the issues a commenter made about the presentation of some Mime ministries. The same holds true for Dance Ministry as well. For example, some Dance Ministries have not been taught the proper way to dress so that they can avoid being a distraction and detraction from their purpose. 

Why was I convicted? This is why: