I’ve been on a little bloggy break for the past week, so I thought I’d ease myself back into it by starting off with my favorite kinda post: the one where you do all the writing!
And, I think you may have a lot to write about this one.
Fellow faith based blogger Kristin of Messiah Mom informed me of a new kind of pole dancing in Houston, TX.
You can view the newstory for yourself here. WARNING: May Not Be Suitable for Anyone.
Former exotic dancer Crystal Deans of Houston, TX offers pole dancing classes on the 2nd Sunday of every month, to the tune of upbeat contemporary Christian music.
Some interesting things Deans mentions:
- Class is for women only; entrance granted upon submission of your church program
- Classes are held on Sundays as a continuation of the whole worship thing
- An effort to teach women to feel good about themselves and be empowered
Deans explains the purpose of pole dancing for Jesus is God gives us these bodies and they’re supposed to be our temples and we’re supposed to take care of them and that’s what we’re doing.
One participant acknowledges that when pole dancing for Jesus, she feels a spiritual connection.
It’s too bad that neighboring Christian gift shop, Lord and Nature, does not share the sentiment.
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I thought this would be an interesting tie-in to my ongoing sex series. If you’ve missed it, be sure to check out the following posts:
- Your Input Please: For Mature Audiences Only
- Let’s Talk about Sex…and God
- Let’s Talk about Sex…and God: Legitimizing Sexual Addiction, Pt. 1
- Let’s Talk about Sex…and God: Legitimizing Sexual Addiciton, Pt. 2
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So, what are your thoughts about pole dancing for Jesus?
Would you ever pole dance for Jesus, even if it was just for fitness?
What’s the most unique workout you’ve ever taken part in?
And, if you’re a blogger, link up to your best post I missed last week! I’ve got a lot of catching up to do. 
I’ll post later this week on what I did while on my bloggy break and why I did it.
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I will not be signing up for this class. Not even ever.
I will not be pole dancing for Jesus. I have danced in the Spirit, before – an overflow of joyous worship, but it was not choreographed using the prop beloved of adult entertainers everywhere.
The most unusual workout I’ve ever done was dancing, too – but it was a spontaneous dance party two of my best friends and I had. It was just us, listening to music and we started dancing and the next morning, my booty was sore! it was the most enjoyable workout I’ve ever had.
If you want to read my best post from last week, that’s one thing, the one I enjoyed the most was something different: http://messiahmom.wordpress.com/2011/03/21/do-the-blind-dream/
Okay, laughing and dancing with best friends is the BEST WORKOUT! It works the abs, the core, and the glutes, and probably the hamstrings too, depending on your dance moves, it’s pretty much a full body workout that’s excellent for the mind as well.
After I get caught up on all these comments I’ll have to check out your post.
Thanks for sending me the video, Kristin! BTW, I couldn’t get the original one you sent me to appear in my post. But, then after I published this one, it wouldn’t appear either. Weird!
I did pi-yo at the Y with a friend once. Once. I can’t sit in a class with people passing gas and not laugh my butt off. I’m 12. It’s impossible.
I’m not sure what I think about pole dancing for Jesus, I mean I literally have no words.
Not sure if this was the best post this past week, but it was definitely the most viewed: http://bensayin.com/student-access
I must admit that I didn’t know what pi-yo is, so I googled it. And, now I’m just giggling. The idea of 2 grown men doing that just makes me laugh. And, why did it make people pass gas? And, why do all roads with boys lead to farting jokes?! If there is one thing I have learned from my bloggy community, it is that all boys have an insatiable need to talk about farting. Yay for me, I have 3 sons of my own to do that as well.
Gonna have to read your post once I get through these comments.
Thanks for stopping by. You always make me laugh!
Oh come on, you’re in a yoga/pilates class…no you’re in ANY class, and the GIRL next to you farts. I don’t care who you are, you’re going to laugh. LOL
I would never pole dance for Jesus because I don’t think that there is a pole big enough to handle my big self.
Matt, you could have one custom designed!
To be honest – I’m super curious about this class. If it was local i think I would go check it out. Keri I would make you come with me and I’m pretty sure we would just laugh the entire time.
The most unique work out I’ve ever done is hot yoga — 90 minute yoga session in 105 degrees! It was amazing.
We could call it blog research.
But, yes, I’m sure we would just laugh our butts off (Oooooh, still a workout!) and be a major disruption.
I fail to see what’s wrong with this. It’s a form of exercise and it’s something that a wife could do behind closed doors for her husband. Women need to learn how do it, so a class isn’t out of line. We need to stop projecting the way the world may use something for evil and assume that all uses of it must be evil.
I think it’s a fine line. While I agree with the idea that we shouldn’t assume all things used for evil are just evil, I think it takes a lot to rise above the “evil” notions.
I would venture to guess that a majority of men have suggestive images in their heads of pole dancing and strip clubs-probably from movies, the media, and personally venturing into a strip club. If those images can be removed and separated from their desire to see their wife do the same, more power to ya.
This is going to make for an interesting segue into my marital sex post coming up soon.
Pole dancing for Jesus….wow. Listen, I am all for it if it is married women looking to learn some new seductive moves for their husbands, for sure. I mean, come on, what husband wouldn’t love for their wives to dance on a pole? (Wait. That came out wrong.)
Now, as to the whole “I feel closer to Jesus” mentality….well, that’s a bit out there. I like to belch at inappropriate times, but that doesn’t bring me closer, or help me “feel closer”, to Jesus. True, it does provide me with relief and amusement, but it simply ain’t something I have read about in The Scriptures. Then again, neither is pole dancing. I appear to have tripped myself up here.
I do wonder, however, if men were to be offered a class on being male dancers, ala Chippendale’s, if that would fly? Would it be comparable? Would wives dig that kind of stuff? Hmmm.
I’m all for this pole dancing thing, but only in a marriage covenant. To do it for some “feeling” regarding Jesus is kinda unsettling, at best.
Sorry, forgot to add best post from last week:
http://projectmathetes.wordpress.com/2011/03/22/discipleship-the-spirit-of-sonship-and-the-feminine-spirit-of-victimhood/
Um, wow. I don’t know what to say to that right now. I’ll have to really think about that, Donald!
I have a question for you. Why call the “bad” spirit the feminine spirit in most of your post? I know feminine seems to be the opposite of son but your later term in the post calling this same spirit, orphan, was much less derogatory towards women.
KMR…bring this question to my blog. Here is not the place. Thanks!
I think that’s where I have a real problem with it…the whole “closer to Jesus” mentality. I can’t say that if a wife wants to pole dance for her husband and only her husband that this is wrong but it’s just not for me and certainly not as a thing called Pole Dancing for Jesus.
In general, I don’t think women would encourage their husbands to learn male dancing, such as “Thunder from Down Under” or Chippendale’s. It’s common knowledge that men are much more visual than women, and that is why pornography is such a draw for men much more than women (although that is acutally changing). So, I’m guessing NO. Women connect emotionally to men, not so much visually. And, I’m also guessing that there aren’t many men who would even partake in such a class.
So, as for pole dancing within the marriage covenant…I’m not sure how I feel about it. As I mentioned to Jason above, I think majority of men have suggestive images in their heads of pole dancing and strip clubs-probably from movies, the media, and personally venturing into a strip club. If those images can be removed and separated from their desire to see their wife do the same, more power to ya. I guess to put it bluntly, a husband and wife need to determine as a couple what the appeal of pole dancing is-what makes it beneficial for them. I just really think that if there is any root or attention toward a strip club type atmosphere-objectifying women-in the end, it won’t be a good plan. Or, if there is any motivation for either partner to replicate something that is relative to anything or anyone outside of their marriage, it’s lust and lusting for something/someone outside the marriage.
Maybe I’m taking this way too far. I’m just really sensitive to any way in which the Devil can get a stronghold in our lives.
And, Donald, ROFL about the belching!
I hope you’ll respond to my thoughts because I want to know if I’m taking this too far, or just being a prude.
Keri,
Nice to see you again after such a long absence. Your cheerful postings have been missed.
I like what you were eluding to here:
“I guess to put it bluntly, a husband and wife need to determine as a couple what the appeal of pole dancing is-what makes it beneficial for them. I just really think that if there is any root or attention toward a strip club type atmosphere-objectifying women-in the end, it won’t be a good plan. Or, if there is any motivation for either partner to replicate something that is relative to anything or anyone outside of their marriage, it’s lust and lusting for something/someone outside the marriage.”
I’m sure you will be digging deeper into this for your SEX Series. But let’s take a look at it right now, shall we? Yes, let’s.
I’ll quote Jay-Z here:
“We want a lady in the streets but a freak in the bed.”
Porn is awful. It rapes the mind. But if my wife and I, my COVENANT wife and I, decided to make a porno for our mutual satisfaction, is this questionable? Do places exist where I could take her to see a porno? Sure. But it isn’t her in the porno. And I want her in my porno. Always. A secular friend of mine asked me about looking at other women, and I replied, “Dude, I have a porno movie waiting for me at home. These other chicks are just bad horror movies as far as I am concerned.”
You are dead on right that men are visual. No man would deny this. And if I am going to tap into that characteristic, it will be my bride that I am visualizing. (I can see you asking about masturbation as a married person here. If you are solely fantasizing about your spouse, is it questionable?)
I don’t think you are a prude at all, Keri. I have been to strip clubs. I worked at one while in the military for extra cash on the weekends. It’s not like the movies and how Hollywood makes it. It is a business designed to entice, excite, seduce, and make false promises, all the while sticking its hand into your….wallet.
The association with pole-dancing and the way The World does it is valid. But…hey…as long as you are not violating the marriage bed, all things are permissible between covenant husbands and wives.
My two, no three cents. (I’m taking into account inflation.)
I think the part that concerns me most is “violating the marriage bed”. But, of course, that can be done without a stripper pole, too.
I’m reminded of the I Corinithians 6:12 here (NIV) “All things are permissible, but all things are not beneficial.” Excuse me for breaking in here, Donald and Keri, but just because you aren’t cheating on your wife or husband, or watching porn with other people doesn’t mean you aren’t violating the marriage bed. I think Keri made an excellent point. If what you are doing in your covenant marriage bed involves objectifying a spouse, then regardless whether that spouse is okay with it or not, it will still involve consequences. Objectification of another human being is not love. I’ve been married twice, one marriage involved much objectification, and the other did not. Being the “object” of another person’s lust can be fun, exciting, and every other imaginable thing under the sun, but it also makes you feel unseen and disregarded for who you are. I don’t care about stripper poles although because of my own past experience, I have no interest in learning how to use one. Luckily my husband concurs and actually finds the thought of me doing that somewhat repulsive. For people who don’t find it repulsive and want to use one to entice their husband, go for it. But I, like you Keri, think people really need to check their motives and make sure objectification is not part of the experience.
And I also want to add that I think objectification doesn’t always have to lead to bad things in a marriage. But it can. So like anything else that you play with that is fire, it’s best to be very, very careful.
@KMR…thank you so much for sharing your personal experience. You really got to the heart of what I was trying to say. I think this will be an excellent tie in to my marital sexuality post. And, it gets me thinking, what exactly is the purpose of sex within marriage as God has designed it? Is pleasure such a bad thing?
Honestly, your comments really, really get me thinking, even (or maybe especially) when we don’t agree. Thanks for taking the time to share. I appreciate your thoughts!
And as always, thanks for writing about it. When given the opportunity to articulate my thoughts, it really helps me to think through things. And yep you’re right – this would be an excellent tie in to your marital series.
>>Objectification of another human being is not love.
Seriously? Well, then, I must not love my wife, my covenant bride, the mother to my two daughters, because I objectify her many, many times and view her as an object of my lust.
Spare me the feminism speech. I lust after my wife. I objectify her. A lot. Stop looking for a reason to be offended, and deal with the reality that some of us husband some of us husbands out here enjoy eros love with their covenant wives.
Never said some husbands don’t enjoy eros love with their wives, Donald. I’m married. I’m well aware of eros love. I’m also not sure why you’re suddenly so hostile. I’m a not looking to be offended and your comment didn’t offend me. But I still stand my argument. If you’re objectifying another human being, for that moment you’re not seeing them for who they are and I think someone needs to “see” another human being in order to love them appropriately. Objectification is not needed for eros love. But if people want to do it, I don’t think it means the demise of a marriage or anything like that. I won’t even go so far as to say it’s a sin. But I do think it can be dangerous if taken to extremes.
KMR,
Noted.
I might be in the minority, but I don’t really see anything wrong with this. The class is private, there’s no men allowed in, and it could build confidence and be something a woman could use to improve her sex life with her husband. I don’t think that it’s worship…but I don’t think it’s sinful.
Yeah…what she said.
Melissa…I’m all for improving the sex lives of husbands and wives. But, I’m wondering what you think of what I wrote to Donald? Am I off base or taking this too far!? Or, perhaps this is one of those areas of “personal conviction”.
Keri,
I would say that “personal conviction” is definitely appropriate here. I have heard it said that sex between husbands and wives is strictly missionary position with the lights off. And that sex is for pro-creation and not pleasure between married folks.
My personal conviction is: every room in the house as often as possible and during all times of the day and in as many positions as possible and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS to every covenant couples I know. Oh, and use food items, as well, ala 9 1/2 Weeks.
No, really.
Filed in the “personal conviction” folder it is!
First off, glad you’re back Keri. I kinda took a minibreak as well, so I’m not going to even attempt to link up a post… feel free to browse through if you care to.
Secondly, I don’t even know what to say about the pole dancing thing. I mean, sure… but yeah… sorry, can’t even articulate my thoughts right now.
Dustin…I’m glad I’m not the only one who needed a break. I should have waited a week and called it “spring break”. LOL
Thanks for reading, bro. I’ll have to head back over to your blog once I’m caught up here.
Hey, you want to climb poles and be all sexy and all for your man.. go for it. Exercise? Sure, why not. For Jesus? huh… let’s not go there. I don’t think pole dancing glorifies God in any way. Let us keep worship within the lines of scripture.
My best post of last week?
Soaring past the lies: http://www.betachristian.net/2011/03/23/soaring-past-the-lies/
Only because I tape pigeon’s wings and throw them from the roof.
I don’t know…I guess it depends on how you define worship, right? I’m seriously going to have to cover this in my post about marital sex. Some of the books I’ve been reading suggest that intimacy within marriage is a way of worshipping God. I’m not sure how I feel about that or what I think. We’ll see where that goes.
I’ve heard that before. And to be honest, I haven’t done a study myself, but until I see it in biblical text, I’m just going to shrug it off. But I would love to see and/or read otherwise.
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Live from New York,
Moe.
Perhaps you’ll get your wish! Could there really be something I could discover about the Bible that Moe doesn’t already know? Probably not.
I was appalled when I saw this article/video on our news site this week. Pole dancing for Jesus? C’mon…seriously? What I think I am amazed about the most is the justifications people seem to be able to do with this!
As for me, there will never, ever, be a pole dancing class in my future!
As I stated in a reply to another poster below…I don’t have a problem with a wife wanting to pole dance for her husband and needing to learn it (thought it’s most definitely not my cup of tea). What I have a problem with is the justification that it makes them feel closer to Jesus and is a thing of worship. That may just be me, it just seems out there.
I don’t think it’s just you…I think it is pretty out there.
I really appreciate you stopping by and sharing your thoughts! I don’t think I’ll ever be in a pole dancing class either!!! Trapeze? Maybe.
If you’re going to pole dance, that’s your business. Just leave Jesus out of it.
Amen!
BTW, I discovered that the reason they use a pole is because “performers” used the pole that held up the tent as a prop in early circus days. Just thought you’d like to know. Did you read Water for Elephants? I’m being random because it’s late and I just got home from book club and I’m flipping back and forth between all forms of social media and I can’t stop! Turn it off! Turn it off!
Meh…there are some things to which we should not attach the name of our savior to. One of those things is a – POLE!
No, I wouldn’t pole dance for Jesus.
Tae-Bo! Kicked my arse!
What about a flag pole? I think that would be okay.
Oh, man, kickboxing is like the shizzo workout. I once participated in a kickboxing marathon class-it was like 3 hours or something. I think I almost died.
A flag pole…..It’s still a pole!
Definitely a very interesting topic!! I personally feel that this is an area of “personal coviction” and that no one can judge another’s heart in this since to my knowledge there is nothing in the bible saying “no pole dancing”. With that said, I am all for fitness, for empowering women (or men for that matter), but as some have eluded to I just don’t see the connection to “worshipping Jesus” or “drawing closer to Jesus”. I mean I like to play soccer, which helps my body fitness, which a healthy body glorifies God, but I’m not focusing soley on Jesus at that moment, thus no intimate spiritual connection. Now I think there is some difference in “going out for a run and admiring the beauty of God’s creation.” I believe that brings people closer to Jesus in that moment. But I don’t see that in “pole dancing.” I think we do have to be careful about saying we are “doing something for Jesus.” I believe that some things we do are just for ourselves. Not that that is inherintly wrong, because as I said I love to play soccer, but I do that essentially because I love to, not necessarily as something that glorifies God.
I’m pretty sure there is something in Leviticus about no pole dancing or you have to sacrifice 5 doves. JK!
Alrighty, so you can never use the God card on me with soccer, then?
I lub u.
Hmmm, tempting…….but no I would never say”but God told me to play soccer” or “I’m playing for Jesus!” lol lol
I was prepared to dislike this, but in reading the article it does seem like it’s primarily a fitness class, and the woman in the photo looks more like she’s in workout mode, than sexy mode. Would this be happening at my church, with all our little old ladies? I’m going to say no!
I’m not a theological expert, but I think there is plenty of lusty stuff in the Bible. I’m thinking of all that, “My love is like a leaping gazelle,” stuff, and etc….Racy, really….!
Glad you’re back and hope all is well in your bloggy world and real life, too.
Maegen, Maegen! I’m so excited you commented!
Okay, mental image of little old ladies with purple hair pole dancing must be removed from my brain! Icky!
And, you’re right-Song of Solomon is an amazing picture of the eros love being spoken of in the other comments.
Thanks for reading!
I just can’t see the connection here. If you do something with Christian music playing in the background, does that suddenly make it “for Jesus”? Naah…pole dancing for Jesus just isn’t for me.
Pole VAULTING for Jesus, however…that would rock!
My fave post from this past week? Blogging may be hazardous to your health:
http://larryhehn.com/2011/blogging-may-be-hazardous-to-your-health/
Larry, Larry, Larry…did you not ever roller skate for Jesus back in the 80s? Those were some awesome times.
Pole vaulting for Jesus-that sounds like it could be an amazing Olympics themed pop parable.
Gotta check our your post! I’m still playing catch up. Thanks for reading!