Christian Living

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There is under one circumstance that my husband can’t stand to be in the same room with me. It’s when I’m glued to “Dancing with the Stars”, a TV show he loathes and I love.

I love the glittering gowns and the way the man sends his partner spinning across the stage. How does she move with such grace—especially in those skyscraper shoes?

I wish I could dance like the contestants on that show do. The waltz, the tango—ballroom dance is beautiful until I imagine myself giving it the old college try. I’m afraid my attempt would be more like a skit on the Carol Burnett Show, one that would see me awkwardly spinning straight through a window.

If given the chance to be on Dancing with the Stars, I would decline despite my good reflexes. Not to boast, but you should see what a great save I can make when a slice of pizza falls towards the floor. You wouldn’t believe my ability to leap when a bug lands on my leg or my talent for quickly jumping to conclusions.

At such things, I excel, but pulling off a ballroom blitz? Sorry—this ballroom ditz knows that some things just aren’t going to happen.

There is something else that just doesn’t happen and its consequences are tragic. Not everyone accepts the gospel of Christ, no matter how it’s offered. In Matthew 11: 16-17, Jesus said, “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’” (NIV)

Jesus was speaking of people rejecting the Gospel no matter how it’s presented or by whom. In verses 18-19, He continued, “For John {the Baptist} came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and ‘sinners.’”

Though Jesus’ ministry was spot on the truth and held people accountable, He embraced them with a message of love, hope and joy (the flute and dance); John was more of a fire and brimstone guy (the dirge and mourning), bold and confrontational with a thundering approach to ministry. Either way, people chose not to choose the message of salvation and responded neither to Jesus or John.

Sounds like a lot of folks making up today’s generation, the ones who consistently decline God’s invitation to dance. Perhaps their dance card is promised to worldly pursuits. Maybe they don’t like the music or perceive the dance as old fashioned or too complicated. They might be dancing a different dance that’s out of step with the invitation at hand.

When dealing with people who refuse to hear the Truth, Jesus said, “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.” (Matthew 10:14 NIV)

So--just what did He mean by that? Are we really supposed to walk away from witnessing? How does this impact evangelism and the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations? (Matthew 28:19)

I think Jesus was teaching us not to be become disheartened by those who reject or ridicule our message. Knowing that some people will never accept Him, Jesus doesn’t want us to be like the poor guy who gets shot down every time he asks a girl to dance—bitter, fearful and so discouraged that he decides to never again risk hearing “no.”

Jesus doesn’t want us to bang our heads against walls that refuse to yield. We can still plant seeds, pray and let our lives serve as a witness, but let’s not be hamsters spinning in a stationary wheel. We’re to keep moving and seek those who might be open to receiving the Good News.

Those who refuse to dance should not stop us from asking someone else to give the music a chance. Many people are seeking hope and joy, and there is none better to give it than the true Lord of the Dance--the One who turns “wailing into dancing.” (Psalms 30:11 NIV).

For those who have already accepted the invitation to dance, we know it doesn’t matter if we’ve got two left feet and the coordination of a noodle--as long as Jesus takes the lead, we won’t go spinning through any windows.


©Donna G. Morton November 2007

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