[Pastor Ezekiel]

Re: Competitive Dance

Your daughter and son should avoid dancing, as it will lead to enticement and lust from the opposite sex.

Are you trying to make some pererted sexual come-on here, camel-boy?

[Ali al-Rashid]

Re: Competitive Dance

Are you trying to make some perverted sexual come-on here, camel-boy?

No, I wasn't.

[Pastor Billy-Reuben]

Re: Competitive Dance

I received this email from a concerned professional dancer / dance instructor.

Pastor Billy Reuben,

I recently was notified of a post you had made about competitive
dancing. In this article, you stated that you were unfamiliar with the
competitive dance world. I, on the other hand, have been and still am very
involved in this so called "evil doing." Its odd to me that you felt so
educated that you were able to pass judgement upon this activity with
such stong conviction with your only experience of competitive dance
being an internet website. In all my years competing regionally,
nationally, internationally, and now in teaching at a dance
convention/competition, I've never felt that it was a disgusting practice.
I understand your point in scandalous costumes. I've even seen a few
dance moves that I find inappropriate. However, when I judge kids in
competition, I judge them solely on their dance technique; tasteless
dancing as well as obscene costumes aren't rewarded. Its simply about a
timeless art that has been evolving throughout the years. Do not
misconstrue what these competition's intentions are. You seem to think that
it sends them on the fast train to whoredom. In reality, it teaches
kids confidence, how to win and lose honorably, cultural acceptance,
comradory, and teamwork. And, if they so choose, it prepares them for a
honest career. I now work as a professional dancer and teacher. I make
good money, I work hard every day, I love what I'm doing, and I am
NOWHERE near taking my clothes off for money and pole dancing.
What really bothered me about your writing was your stereotypical
nature. How dare you assume that a male who enjoys performing art is bound
to be homosexual. Should I assume that since you are a religious
leader you molest little boys? Is it not true that men outside of the dance
world are gay? I'm sure there is a great percentage of lawyers,
doctors, firemen, lumberjacks, (so on and so forth) that, too, are gay.
Homosexuality is not determined by activities. But if it is, then how is
wrestling (boys in leotards rolling around on top of eachother) not
going to "turn them gay?"
Women have strived for years to have equality in this country. Why
would you set us back 50 years by saying that we are only able to be
homemakers? And how on earth is a three day event of dancing preventing any
girls from learning these life skills? I dance every day but still my
house is spotless and I enjoy baking. I teach kids from ages 3-18,
which has definitely shown me several childcare skills. I spend more
time with kids than today's average mother does.
It worries me that a man in a position of power, such as yourself,
could be so malicious and nieve. You made comments and passed judgements
about an activity that you do not understand. It seems you are
oblivious to how judgemental you are and also to how wrong you are.
Lets not deprive children the opportunity to perform, have fun, feel
good about themselves as individuals, and "just be kids." It offends me
that you could look at a child and see a soon-to-be-whore. By no means
are these competitions stripping them of their innocence any more than
other activities avaliable to them today. Step out of 1872 (or where
ever you are) and take a look around you. Whether you choose to accept
it or not, this is the world we live in. I'd like to be the first to
welcome you to 2008, my friend.

I sent her this reply:
--------------------
Hello Ma'am, thank you for contacting me. You made many clear and concise points, and I will try to address every one of them. I pray we will find common ground. My responses are inline. Your words are in green italics, and mine are the plain black below.

I recently was notified of a post you had made about competitive dancing. In this article, you stated that you were unfamiliar with the competitive dance world. I, on the other hand, have been and still am very involved in this so called "evil doing."
I too used to be a depraved sinner too before Jesus saved me. I will add you to my prayer list and pray that He saves you, too.

Its odd to me that you felt so educated that you were able to pass judgement upon this activity with such stong conviction with your only experience of competitive dance being an internet website.
I might not know a whole lot about competitive dance, but I do know a whole lot about sin, both from studying the Bible and from my own personal experience back before I got saved.

In all my years competing regionally, nationally, internationally, and now in teaching at a dance convention/competition, I've never felt that it was a disgusting practice.
Let me clarify one thing. I don't believe that dancing in and of itself is sinful. That belief wouldn't be Biblical -- dancing is a good thing when it is done for the LORD. I think if dance competitions were limited to lyricals set to church hymns, only with longer dresses and sleeves and no whorish makeup, then you'd have something I could support.

I understand your point in scandalous costumes. I've even seen a few dance moves that I find inappropriate.
Exactly -- it is all the booty shaking, skimpy clothes, hip-hop/rock beats, and whorish makeup that make the whole operation into a pigpen of sin.

However, when I judge kids in competition, I judge them solely on their dance technique; tasteless dancing as well as obscene costumes aren't rewarded.
Well, praise God for that. However, it would be even better if you would take the next step and deduct huge amounts of points or even disqualify those dances. Maybe showing bare midriffs or thighs could knock an otherwise platinum performance down to elite silver or silver depending on the age group, and doing a chin-hold with the crotch facing towards the audience could be an automatic disqualification. What do you think?

Its simply about a timeless art that has been evolving throughout the years. Do not misconstrue what these competition's intentions are. You seem to think that it sends them on the fast train to whoredom.
I can't judge intentions -- I have no way of knowing what others are thinking. I can only look at the effects of actions.

I now work as a professional dancer and teacher. I make good money, I work hard every day, I love what I'm doing, and I am NOWHERE near taking my clothes off for money and pole dancing.
Well that's good to hear. Good for you! You can't deny, however, that the girls are learning skills that they can later use, if they so choose, to work as exotic dancers. I'm not saying that all of them will; that would be absurd. But SOME of them will.

What really bothered me about your writing was your stereotypical nature. How dare you assume that a male who enjoys performing art is bound to be homosexual.
I don't believe that all male dancers are gay, but you can't deny there is a higher ratio of gay/straight guys in dance than there is in the general population.

Should I assume that since you are a religious leader you molest little boys?
Of course not. I'm a Baptist Pastor, not a Catholic Priest.

Is it not true that men outside of the dance world are gay? I'm sure there is a great percentage of lawyers, doctors, firemen, lumberjacks, (so on and so forth) that, too, are gay.
Of course that's true. There are sodomites everywhere.

Women have strived for years to have equality in this country. Why would you set us back 50 years by saying that we are only able to be homemakers?
Before I got saved, I believed men and women should be treated equally. That and other liberal ideas of mine went right out the window after I got saved and learned what God had to say about it in the Bible. I wrote a sermon on that topic and you can read it here if you like.

You might find this part interesting:
"In my experience, women seem to be just as intelligent and capable as men. If I relied on my own empathy and conscience, I would probably conclude that women and men are equals and that women deserve just as much dignity and respect as men do. I need the Bible to tell me that women are to be subjugated before men, and that men are to have dominion over women (1 Peter 3:1-6; Ephesians 5:22-24; 1 Timothy 2:11-15)."

And how on earth is a three day event of dancing preventing any girls from learning these life skills? I dance every day but still my house is spotless and I enjoy baking. I teach kids from ages 3-18, which has definitely shown me several childcare skills. I spend more time with kids than today's average mother does.
That sounds nice. If you aren't married now, it sounds like you could make a nice helpmeet for a good Christian man someday, if we can rid you of all of your liberal notions and get you saved.

If you are single, my son is the Associate Pastor at my church. When I retire he'll have my job of Senior Pastor. I think he might be able to tame you. He's just like me, but 25 years younger. If you are interested, reply with a picture and if he likes it he'll send you his picture.

Whether you choose to accept it or not, this is the world we live in.
I choose to reject the world, and allow the world to reject me, just as Jesus commands.

John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

Yours in Christ,
Pastor Billy-Reuben

[Roberta]

Re: Competitive Dance

Talk about a competitive dance--which contestant is more vile?