Articles

Got rhythm

Got rhythm
Shutterstock
Simon Arscott
Simon Arscott Simon has been sent by the International Presbyterian Church to lead All Nations Church, Ilford. Born and bred south of the river in Camberwell, London, he studied in York.
22 October, 2025 3 min read

I'm rubbish at dancing. Ask Mrs A. I was left traumatised after being laughed at by some girls at a primary school party. Though Mrs A loves dancing, I made sure there was none at our wedding. Apparently, I just don't have rhythm. Rhythm is all about timing; it's a regular, repeated pattern, which your body is supposed to connect to. You sway, move your limbs, and click your fingers in time to the music. Apparently!

Spiritual rhythm

I find rhythm a helpful picture for Christian living. Rhythm is a helpful image because we instinctively know it isn't oppressive or guilt-inducing; it's liberating. Who wouldn't want to have rhythm?! Getting into the beat doesn't ruin you or spoil your fun; it's the magic at the heart of dance.

Well, in the gospel, Jesus sets us free to move to the beat of a different drum. He frees us to walk by a different rule to the world (Galatians 6:16). We recognise that our Creator has embedded an order into this world (Genesis 1:14; 2:2), which Jesus, the Wisdom of God, has tuned us into (Proverbs 8:30).

New: the ET podcast!