ROMANS 2:1 Therefore, anyone of you who judges is without excuse. For when you judge another, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things.

Not sure when the thought popped into my head but it must have been at a wedding or some other rocking occasion where dance floors exist.

Watching people dance has to be one of the most entertaining events, don't lie you love it. I personally like to think of myself as an occasional dancer, but sometimes I just don't feel like it, I'd rather just sit and chill. Other times something rushes over me and I can't wait to cut a mean rug.

One of the weirdest things when it comes to dancing is the judgment that can occur between dancers and non-dancers.

It always surprises me how much division can exist between these two groups.

One group loves to chill and just observe, another loves to get amongst it and let their hair down.

The group that would rather just chat or make comments about those that whip their hair around or wiggle their hips have the right to just sit there and enjoy their surrounds.

The group that overcome their fears and cut sick on the dance floor they have every right to enjoy the freedom of dancing.

Neither group are necessarily wrong they just express themselves in a different way.

Sure the dancers could cross some lines with some risky moves...

But the non-dancers observing become no better as they judge the dancers.

Lets be honest behind closed doors you know the non-dancers are doing things that are way more risky than the public display of the dancers. Like dancing in front of their mirrors naked...I've never done this but I have heard of people doing it.

Neither group is more right or more wrong.

Both dancers and non-dancers alike need Jesus. Haha that makes me laugh...but seriously church life and christians around the world can be so like this.

If our position is one of judgment first always, we might just miss out on the strengths that the dancers bring and the strengths that non-dancers bring.

In the church in Rome the Jews became just as 'bad' as the gentiles as soon as they judged. Paul took it one step further and said actually not only do you judge but when no one is watching you do the same things as those you judge.

Is either party more right?

I believe Jesus said something like...Love one another...Not Judge one another.

Even Jesus said I came not to judge the world but save the world! If Jesus came to earth to do this, how much more should his followers be known for their love not their judgment?

If we need to judge, judge your own heart so that you might be strengthened in your own faith and become a brighter example for how others might live for Christ.

Dance Floor Judgment doesn't help build the church, doesn't allow believers to express themselves the way God re-created them, ultimately doesn't glorify God, boxes people in and limits the gifts God has given His people.

If you want to dance, dance.

If you want to sit and chill, sit and chill.

But don't look from the dance floor and think those guys sitting don't get it. Maybe those chilling need to get up and dance but judgment won't inspire them to do it.

Don't look to the dance floor and think those guys are weird and they should just settle down. Maybe some of the dancers do need to settle down, but judgment isn't going to inspire them to come and talk and chill with you.

Jesus is the only one who gets the balance of dancing and non-dancing right.

Don't want to push this analogy too far but I think you get the point.

Jesus is the only one who is truly right.

My take is this...lets look and see what He is doing and follow His lead.

First take the log out of your own eye in your walk with God before you speak about the speck in someone else's.

This kind of christianity could really rid the church of a whole lot of waste of time. Pastors, members, peers, leaders running around trying to manage judgments rather than focussing on the lost and those that don't know Christ.

Because behind it all, is that the world would see that Jesus is real and they would come running to a community that loves each other, where grace abides, where encouragement lives and hope is poured out without measure.

I pray we would be the kind of people that love first based on Christ's love for us. I pray we would be different to the world, that we would trust each other and the church community before we mistrust. I pray we would speak well of each other, not look on with criticism based on differences that in the end don't matter. I pray we would build on those that have gone before us and not cut down what has gone before us.

I pray in all that we do we would glorify God, whether we dance or whether we sit and chill...

Don't forget we all see the flaws, I'm not blind to them, I just try to choose to be part of the solution rather than the voice of judgment. Criticism and judgment without solution holds no weight, no matter how correct it is. Jesus always brings a solution and personally gets involved in solving the problem. He lives in us and we should now do the same. Love one another.

See you on the dance floor.

+jk

1 Corinthians 10:31- revised version JKV ;)
Therefore, whether you dance or don't dance, or whatever you do, do everything for God's glory.

Galations 3:28 There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.