What do you do when you aren't ALLOWED to use the talents God gave you?

Question

Today in my English class, we were talking about The Parable of the Ten Minas (Luke 19:11-26). I go to a Christian university, if you were wondering why that was brought up in my school.

Anyways, the story is basically about not taking advantage of what God gives you (in the story, it's money). We talked about it in the sense of special gifts or talents each of us have though...

My professor said, God gives us all talents and He expects us to use them!

But what if you aren't ALLOWED to use your talents? I used to dance. I did for 14 years and stopped when I came to this school because dancing is considered a sin (It's a Nazarene school)...There is no dance team. There is no performing arts showcase... nothing. I know it's one of God's gifts that he gave me but I feel stuck because I'm not able to use it. I feel like I'm wasting what I was given.

I feel stuck. Help?

Answer 1

GO and dance.  You can do it away from school.  No one can stop you.  

I Hope You Dance, sweet one.

I know of very few Christian denominations where dancing is not allowed.  

My advice is to change schools.

Answer 2

Be a stripper, blame them for driving you to it, problem solved.

Answer 3

dancing is not a sin. you can participate in Christian musical or performances (you get the point)...

dancing is fine and as long as you aren't doing it for a bad reason or in a way God wouldn't want you to

Answer 4

Could you be in the wrong school?

The Nazerenes are okay- just a little tight.

Maybe you should transfer to another school that is not as strict.

Answer 5

Wow,... I actually feel sorry for you...

And glad that I gave up all that religious nonsense.

Good luck to you.

Answer 6

you are stuck inside a nazarene box.  find another place to worship and praise your god.  make a joyful noise unto the lord, may your tears be turned into dancing.  think for yourself.  do not let others tell you how to worship.

Answer 7

God knows your heart's desire, and if this is what you were born to do, He can be trusted to give you the opportunity. For now, why not just ask God to show you what you CAN do for Him? There are churches that use dance to worship, and you are young...you may well have plenty of opportunities to use this as a form of worship...You may even teach it. Just be patient. Sometimes God's plans aren't all revealed at the same time. Perhaps in the future, it will be a necessary part of what He has for you.

Answer 8

Well, you have a choice.

Obey your God or obey your church.

I wouldn't think it's a tough question.

Answer 9

You were studying Bible verses in your English class... that is sad for your education.

Answer 10

Dancing is part of the human life. Any church that would deny you that is not worth attending. There are loads of ballet dancers who are very devout.

Answer 11

If their teachings feel wrong, they probably are.  I don't think God would give you a talent to dance and the desire to use it and then expect you not to.  Remember that things like Christian Universities are run by men, and men are fallible.  Their rules aren't really the rules of God, though I'm sure they're trying their best.  

Answer 12

I am an avid Bible reader.....but where in the Bible does it say that dancing is a SIN?  

Answer 13

If dancing is important to you then why did you choose this school at the first place? There are always compromise to make in life. If you have the will, you can either find somewhere outside of school to practice dancing, change school or wait till graduate to restart. Your gift may be given but the effort and  will to develop your talent must be paid or what is given can be lost.

Answer 14

It would seem you did not pick a very good school to attend.

Sorry.

If dancing is so important I am surprised you didn't ask about that first.

If I believe that playing football was really important I certainly would not have attended a college which did not have a football team.

My suggestion is to make the best of it and perhaps find a church in town which does have a dance team and then make plans to transfer to another school by this time next year.

Or even as early as the 2nd semester starting in January.

Answer 15

Maybe you should go to a different University (Christian or maybe non Christian).  I think that you can dance at Penn State, UofP, Berkeley, Stanford, and others.

Answer 16

Think of the world in a broader sense than just the tiny little college campus you're on, and you would see that the limitations on your ability to use your gift are only just that small, as well.

Sign up for a dance class.  Volunteer to teach dance to children in a residential home...go to a different school..

It's just not that difficult and I have a hard time feeling sorry for you in this matter.

Answer 17

well it depends on what type of talents your talking about,cause if they are bad and you know the are,then don't do anything that might get you hurt,listen to the people that love you and always take their advise cause they are only look in out for you,and because they love you to.

Answer 18

i have heard of religions that consider musical instruments, singing, and dancing evil...do they not read Psalms?

Answer 19

find ways in ur community that u can dance, or dance during ur free time or start up dance lessons for the community and find a gym or a building that will allow u to teach there. :) good luck! as long as ur trying, God will be happy with u! :)  

Answer 20

There's no such thing as god.  There, now go dance your little feet off!

Answer 21

My gift is to see into the eyes of people and see deeper than any over-looker can, but Christians will say that is wrong and is witchcraft. I still do it for the benefit of others, is it still wrong?

Answer 22

I have never read in the Bible that it is a "sin" to dance...I find that very strange....do you really want to throw 14 years of dance out the window?!?

Did you know this before you entered that school?!  OR did your parents know this?!

I would really talk to them about this and tell them exactlly what you have told us...There still might be an answer to this...

Answer 23

If you dance in prayer, loving God, it is totally acceptable. Look through the Bible, and you will find Jesus telling you to pray in song and dance. I hope this helps you.

                                                                              Chris

Answer 24

This is a problem I have with the Nazarene church. They consider dancing a sin, when in fact the Bible encourages us to dance and sing and make a joyful noise unto the Lord!

Transfer schools. Dance your heart out!

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

Serve the Lord with gladness;

come before his presence with singing.

Know ye that the Lord he is God;

it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,

and into his courts with praise;

be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting;

and his truth endureth to all generations.



psalm 100

I mean, they might base their argument against dancing based on the passage in the Bible where the daughter of Herodias so arouses the passion of King Herod that he promises her anything, resulting in the death of John the Baptist, but she was using her talent for an evil purpose, a result of the gift of free will that God granted to us.

Also, Pslam 150:4 says that we are to praise God with dancing!

So go, dance all you wish!  

Answer 25

Obviously religion is full of contradictions.

Dancing a sin? Might as well consider signing a sin, or any other form of art a sin.

My suggestion would be to become agnostic (which doesn't stop you from believing in whatever god you want to believe in, only you do so on your own, with your own criticism).

Answer 26

USE IT NO MATTER WHAT YOU WILL DO ANYTHIN TO KEEP THAT TALENT UP

Answer 27

use your hidden talents from the fallen angel ,lucifer.

Answer 28

As long as it's not like, dancing at parties or in public in the wrong manner. But regular dancing I think is a very talented gift. :) Try talking to your professor about it. Ask him where in the bible does it say that you aren't aloud to either use your talents or dance.

Answer 29

Is there anyway you can switch colleges? If not look for local dance studios that you can go to after class. If you have the talent don't let it go to waste.