"Cheek-E-Boom" Worship?
by Harry Osborne
March 22, 2009

For two generations, mainstream denominationalism has taught that it does not matter what we believe, as long as we are sincere about it. They have replaced doctrinal teaching with the social gospel to attract crowds. How far will their social gospel craze go? What happens when people accept the concept that there is no right and wrong in worship, but that all should worship in their own way, determining God's will by subjective means? A few years ago, I came across the following article entitled "Belly Pulpit" in a Florida paper that gave the answer:

There's no mistaking Zeynep Tufekci has arrived. She sweeps into the SunshineCenter in downtown St. Petersburg with tornado-like energy, bracelets clanging and hot pink scarf flowing in the wind tunnel she creates. The activity in the cavernous room stops momentarily at the sound of her throaty, booming voice.

"Hello, LADIES! How is everybody doing TODAY?" she says, her words angled by a strong Turkish accent. "Are we ready to CHEEK-E-BOOM? Of course you are!"

The two dozen women shed business suits, jeans and khaki shorts and start rummaging through boxes of thrift-shop castoffs. They don long, silky skirts, filmy pajama bottoms and belly-baring, blousey tops. Some wrap their heads in turbans; others twirl in sheer batik wraps. They are caterpillars transforming into butterflies.

"You are uniquely DIVINE!" enthuses Tufekci.... "There's nothing to constrain you. Just open yourself to everything that comes around you."

The women close their eyes and drift into a trancelike state. Pelvic muscles contract, and arms reach toward the ceiling. In Tufekci's world, there is no right or wrong. Let the spiritual belly dancing begin.

A 53-year-old divorcee and mother of two sons, ages 18 and 21, Tufekci lives with her parents and youngest child in St. Petersburg - a "happy three-generation arrangement." She works as a hostess trainer for an Olive Garden restaurant in Pinellas Park. By day, she ties back her mass of black curls, dons glasses and wears a conservative white blouse, pants and black tie. She calls it her Clark Kent outfit. But on her own time, she says, she's Superwoman - imbued with the intoxicating powers of supreme self-confidence and self-love. She dons the attire of her native Istanbul, cruising St. Petersburg's streets and shopping malls like an urban gypsy, oblivious to double-takes and stares. "It is who I am," she says. "My inner spirit is what matters, really."

Raised a Muslim, she attends a Unity church and is a member of a Jewish renewal group. She meditates like Buddhists and embraces New Age and metaphysical teachings. In her mind's eye, all paths lead to one source. "There is only one God," she says. "And all religions have one golden thread. It's the golden rule. Treat others as you want to be treated. This is what all the messengers are telling us."

Seven years ago, Tufekci says she had a vision that God wanted her to do "something instrumental, something to make a difference." She prayed about it. The answer came a few years later when a friend who knew of Tufekci's passion for music gave her a belly-dance outfit. "I'm a hospice volunteer, so I started performing for the residents at nursing homes," she says. "I realized, 'Wow. This is making me feel better than they're feeling!' God was speaking to me, and I told him, yes. This is what I can do for you."

Tufekci dubbed her epiphany "Cheek-E-Boom," a phrase made popular by comedians Lucy and Desi Arnaz in the 1960s. It seemed to capture the spontaneous expression of passion through dance. "I tell the women to Cheek-E- Boom, which means let go, trust in themselves, create with inspiration and express joy," she says. "We've got so many barriers that keep us from loving ourselves. I want women to clear those barriers away and begin to heal."

Tufekci leads classes and gives demonstrations in churches, community centers and metaphysical bookstores around the TampaBay area. What sets her brand of belly dancing apart from the traditional is the absence of choreography. Students learn a few basic moves, then are encouraged to reach inside, connect with their spirit and let the energy flow. They create "sacred spaces" with their veils and form "circles of peace" at the close of each session.

The Tuesday night class at the SunshineCenter is coming to a close. The music softens as the women gather and hold hands in their final circle of the night. Tufekci tells the group there's a light coming through "each and every one of us" and to be a light in the world. For a few hours, strangers bonded in dance and prayer. Weary mothers and stressed- out workers found a niche of peace and a place to dance with no inhibitions. For those running on empty, it was a chance to refuel. "Now give yourself a great big hug," Tufekci orders. "And don't forget - you can CHEEK-E-BOOM wherever you go!!" (Michelle Bearden, Tampa Tribune, 7/8/04)

If one tried to parody the absurdity of modern denominational practices, there would be no way to be more ridiculous in fantasy than this is in fact! Several observations came to mind while reading this story:

1. When "there's nothing to constrain you," you really will "just open yourself to everything that comes around you." However, that is not a good thing as our friend thinks, but a way of life opposed to God's will (Rom. 12:1-2; 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1; 1 Jn. 2:15-17). When there is nothing to constrain garbage, is that a blessing or a curse? When there is nothing to constrain behavior, will society be benefited or harmed? Yes, we understand that many constraints are for our good. The same is true of God's law (Deut. 6:24). That is why we must direct our lives, not by the lusts of man, but by the will of God (1 Pet. 4:1-2). Indeed, we must "bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" (2 Cor. 10:5).

2. God has already given His vision to all who seek to "make a difference" in this world. Though God spoke in times past to the fathers in personal visions, He now speaks to man through His Son (Heb. 1:1-2 cf. Gen. 46:2). God instructs man through His Son by means of the gospel of Christ (Jn. 12:48-49). If one seeks to truly make a difference by helping others, such is done by teaching the word of God (1 Tim. 4:16), being an example of godly living (Matt.5:16), and serving others (Lk. 10:30-37; Matt. 23:11-12). One benefits the world by spiritual actions, not by pelvic gyrations.

3. God is not responsible for answering prayer by giving one the urge to belly dance. God does answer prayer for guidance if those prayers are of faith (Jas. 1:5-6). But remember that such faith comes from the instruction found in God's word (Rom. 10:17) and God's answer to prayer always involves one keeping His commandments (1 Jn. 3:22). Are the lascivious movements and immodest dress associated with belly dancing in harmony with God's will? No, they are specifically condemned in God's word (Gal. 5:19-21; Rom. 13:13-14; 1 Tim. 2:9-10). It was a dance not unlike the belly dance that was preformed before Herod long ago (Mk. 6:21-28). Was the request answered on that occasion from God or opposed to God? Even so, prayers asked amiss that aim at satisfying one's own pleasure are not granted by God (Jas. 4:3). Instead, one may well be the recipient of a "strong delusion" as a result of not believing the truth, but having "pleasure in unrighteousness" (2 Thess. 2:11-12).

4. Might it be that some members of the Lord's body have been clothed from Zeynep's boxes of "filmy pajama bottoms and belly-baring tops"? It is embarrassing to see what is worn by some in worship services, much less in other places. The belly-baring, bosom-revealing, back-exposing, thigh-flashing, skin-tight fashions being worn by "Christians" in our time look more like the dress expected on a belly dancer than of one "professing godliness" (1 Tim. 2:8-10; 1 Pet. 3:1-4). Let's get rid of belly dancer fashions and dress like Christians! Husbands and fathers, let us do our job by teaching and enforcing modesty.

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