Raising Hands in Church

bobk said:

Do you raise your hands in Church during worship? I often wonder about people who do this. Is it biblical or are they just like the hypocrites that were spoken of in Matthew 6:5 & 6:6. Opinions?

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it's a cultural expression of worship. Worship looks different in different places and times but the posture of worship is less important than the posture of our heart. if you are worshiping to be seen by others as Mat 6 exposes than indeed those words apply but the passage is not really talking about corporate worship it's talking about private worship.

We should not confuse Christ's words in Mathew 6 to discourage worship that happens when we gather together which of course is seen by others. Read Acts and see what corporate worship looks like, it's not very quiet or unseen that's for sure. It's actually a bit of a strawman to suggest Mat 6 means we should discourage corporate worship... what does that even mean? the sheer act of gathering together for the glory of God is a form of worship itself and although movements like the Quakers are laudable they are not required and all this really does is make silence the new liturgy.

Perhaps some try and be the loudest to be seen by others but is not being the quietest to be seen by others the same issue? the issue that Mat 6 is really connecting with is we should not worship to be seen by others and when we do that we can be counted among the hypocrites. If your tradition discourages this kind of worship then it's best to follow your tradition to promote unity but don't wag the finger at others who connect with corporate worship differently than you do in the name of Mat 6.

aiki said:

I have - though not in so many words. It's more insinuated than outright asserted.



And I hope you never do.



Raising your hands is not subtle, easy-to-miss sort of thing - especially when it is done right in front or right next to you. One doesn't need to "watch others so much" to observe it and the emotionality that often accompanies it.

Increasingly, worship of God is a show. Watch Hillsong or Jesus culture music videos to see what I mean.



It would be nice if all believers could get along. Very nice. But, when I'm told I ought to be raising my hands in worship, that it isn't right that I don't, agreement becomes very difficult.

In my experience, many who raise their hands are doing so for show. Not all. But many. And I agree that such a practice is absurd. Sad, but absurd.

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I didn’t say that raising hands is absurd. The thought that someone praising God is a show is what is absurd.

If it's not about impressing, or impressing yourself upon anyone, and it's between you and God alone, and as far as I know with most of them, it most of the time is... but there may be a few who are not doing "in sincerity" as God or the Bible might call it... The wolves in sheep's clothing, which means they are appearing to be something or someone else that they are not, or are intending to deceive...

Most are true sheep though...

BTW, I do sometimes raise or lift my hands during like a song, let's say, in church, or during a church worship service, but not often, or to often though, I'd say when the Spirit moves me, maybe, anyway, I also will just listen to the music and kind of lift my head up a bit with my eyes closed and sing or mouth the words to the song quietly to myself, or to God...

And it's not about other people for me, although sometimes in the past, I did not want people to see me or them think that I was something I am not, that kind of thing...

I don't want them to misunderstand, you see, and I still struggle with that a bit today, but I can hear now when the Spirit wants to lift my hands or sing along or raise my head and mouth the words to the song quietly, and I am starting to forget about those kinds of thoughts in the moment, and for the moment anyway, or do and act as the Spirit is and/or would want me to (do, act, be or behave) (like, ect), in the or that or (in) those moments kind of thing...

God Bless!

The asinine habit Christians seem to have of questioning the sincerity of their fellow believers based on ways of worshipping or cultural differences reaches a new valley with threads like this.

Lost4words said:

Matthew 6:5-6
5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

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Oh - I thought the OP said in church during worship.

Let me check that again.

bobk said:

Do you raise your hands in Church during worship?

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Oh - there it is. I thought so.

I sometimes raise my hands when I pray in my room as well. No hypocrisy there. It isn't done for reward and it wouldn't be seen by men in any case.

By the way - It seems to me also that some people do these kinds of things in worship to be seen by men. Sometimes it's also irritating to me when someone stands up in front of me so I can't see anything but their rear end. It seems a little rude and inconsiderate at times. Speaking for myself only - unless many others were standing and lifting up hands around me - I would never do so out of consideration for the people behind me. I know how distracting and irritating it can be. At times it has actually put a damper on my own worship.

But I'll leave it up to God to decide who's who.

Lost4words said:

The 'happy clappy' type churches just look so irreverent etc.

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That hypocrite David sure was irreverent as he danced before the Lord at least according to Saul's daughter Michal.

"Then it happened as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart..................But when David returned to bless his household, Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel distinguished himself today! He uncovered himself today in the eyes of his servants’ maids as one of the foolish ones shamelessly uncovers himself!” So David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel; therefore I will celebrate before the Lord. I will be more lightly esteemed than this and will be humble in my own eyes, but with the maids of whom you have spoken, with them I will be distinguished.” Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death."

I'm not sure if you are desiring to have children. But if you are - I'd be careful.

Just sayin.

bobk said:

Do you raise your hands in Church during worship? I often wonder about people who do this. Is it biblical or are they just like the hypocrites that were spoken of in Matthew 6:5 & 6:6. Opinions?

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So we all should have church in secret and not meet anymore?

LynnSmith said:

The thought that someone praising God is a show is what is absurd.

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It may seem absurd to you, but this doesn't mean that showy "worship" never happens. It does, unfortunately. Humans are by nature pathologically self-centered and may turn the most sacred, God-honoring events into self-serving ones.

bobk said:

Do you raise your hands in Church during worship? I often wonder about people who do this. Is it biblical or are they just like the hypocrites that were spoken of in Matthew 6:5 & 6:6. Opinions?

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Also, I was thinking. If people are not expected to participate, is there any need to be present? We could just download the sermon, and also not participate.

Lost4words said:

Yes it does.

The hypocrits would stand on street corners making sure everyone could see them praying.

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Since when did you see those you falsely accuse standing on street corners to pray?

In todays 'modern' churches we have people competing to see who can lift their hands higher, shout the loudest, roll around the floor the most, to show people how much they are worshipping / 'praying' to God.

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Utter garbage. You have absolutely no idea what goes on in the heart of someone raising their hands towards God.

There is no real need to do so. Prayer comes from inward acts not outward signs.

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So why bother praying in church if its just an inward act?

The 'happy clappy' type churches just look so irreverent etc.

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Irreverent to your stifled mindset.

Albion said:

No one is forbidding the practice of lifting ones hands, you know. Its just that the idea that this is a command that must be followed is not credible.

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You've got it completely back to front, as many of the posts here testify.
If anything, there's an unwritten command to stand looking po-faced when the church prays. Anyone who steps out of line is immediately condemned for showing off, as the accusations here prove.

By the way, how many people who are not too self-conscious to lift their hands ARE too self-conscious to KNEEL in church?

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How can anyone be "self conscious" when just following the crowd? Kneeling when everyone kneels is the easiest of all decisions.

bobk said:

Do you raise your hands in Church during worship? I often wonder about people who do this. Is it biblical or are they just like the hypocrites that were spoken of in Matthew 6:5 & 6:6. Opinions?

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what is this? if we raise our hands or if we do not, we should do it for the glory of God. This picture looks like someone marvelling at God's creation which is a form of worship toward God. Now, this picture has been posted for all to see, how does this fit into Matthew 6, if not for God's glory then what glory does it proclaim?

Lost4words said:

Raising hands is one thing. Dancing on the spot, waving arms around, falling over is quite another.

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I would agree, but I would also make darn sure you don't know the Spirit is in whatever it is that is foreign to you before saying anything openly. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is speaking evil against. And evil against is taking a position against something God might be in. So where I, too... feel the same way when I have gone into certain congregations and seen some things that I can't line up to Scripture. Just because I can't line them up doesn't mean they aren't supported by Scripture as I am not perfected and therefore open to being wrong. So just saying, make sure.

I was at the meeting..some years ago.
- During worship, a few people were kneeling and prostrating on the floor..
waiting on the Lord.
- Some people lifting their hands..
--
A fellow next to me lifted his hands, tears streaming down his face.
- My take was that "he went through or was going through very difficult time on his journey".
---
I am not sure how many of those people ( kneeling, prostrating and lifting hands ) were trying to impress others at that meeting.
---
This was not Sunday service.
Nowadays, It seems that there is subtle control on Sunday service/meeting, even where
lifting hands are allowed.
---
I assume that some people on this thread have their favorite songs and hymns.
Sometimes, I lift my hands when one of my favorites is sung during worship.
..like this one.
"As The Deer.."

As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after Thee
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship Thee

You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield.
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship Thee
---
- Composed many years ago..
- Some of you might remember this song.

DamianWarS said:

what is this? if we raise our hands or if we do not, we should do it for the glory of God. This picture looks like someone marvelling at God's creation which is a form of worship toward God. Now, this picture has been posted for all to see, how does this fit into Matthew 6, if not for God's glory then what glory does it proclaim?

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I agree..
I had similar question about the picture!!
- Maybe sense of humor?

Pioneer3mm said:

I was at the meeting..some years ago.
- During worship, a few people were kneeling and prostrating on the floor..
waiting on the Lord.
- Some people lifting their hands..
--
A fellow next to me lifted his hands, tears streaming down his face.
- My take was that "he went through or was going through very difficult time on his journey".
---
I am not sure how many of those people ( kneeling, prostrating and lifting hands ) were trying to impress others at that meeting.
---
This was not Sunday service.
Nowadays, It seems that there is subtle control on Sunday service/meeting, even where
lifting hands are allowed.
---
I assume that some people on this thread have their favorite songs and hymns.
Sometimes, I lift my hands when one of my favorites is sung during worship.
..like this one.
"As The Deer.."

As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after Thee
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship Thee

You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield.
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship Thee
---
- Composed many years ago..
- Some of you might remember this song.

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I come from a Pentecostal background and I went through phases growing up trying to express worship authentically. Pentecostals have no issue with raising their hands but my issue was it was the same songs, and not just the same songs but even during certain moments of the song, typically the chorus. verse: hands down, chorus: hands go up, verse: hands go down, chorus: hands go up, lather rinse repeat. It was quite comical how well it could be predicted and it started to feel like the song was being worshiped not God asking questions like what is different with this song that people will raise their hands to over this old hymn? So I started to do the opposite, I would raise my hands when everyone put them down, and I would put them down when everyone put them up (I was a rebellious teenager). this progressed to me intently listening to the lyrics and using my hands as a way to affirm the lyrics rather than using other queues. older hymns not-surprisingly got more attention from this than anything thing else.

What I found is a lot of the songs people love are songs that talk about worshiping but not really explicit praise toward God. like "here I am to worship..." or "I'm coming back to a heart of worship..." it's confusing really to think about a worship song that we are using to worship that is about worship.

today I don't worry about those things, I come to church to give him glory, not for some other agenda and I enjoy entering in not just worship but corporate worship, or worshiping with other believers which is a lot about unity and being sensitive to the culture of the group you are with. so if everyone is rasing their hands then it is an enjoyment to join in, if no one likes doing that I can still join in their worship just as effectively.

Francis Drake said:

You've got it completely back to front, as many of the posts here testify.
If anything, there's an unwritten command to stand looking po-faced when the church prays. Anyone who steps out of line is immediately condemned for showing off, as the accusations here prove.

How can anyone be "self conscious" when just following the crowd? Kneeling when everyone kneels is the easiest of all decisions.

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It looks very much, from this response, that you are merely guessing at the nature of the worship and the thinking of the worshippers in churches that you are not very familiar with and/or do not understand. That's all right, but let it go.

Cant say I do currently. Did before at a non-denom I went to, but it was very awkward.

thecolorsblend said:

I never did it back in my evangelical days. I didn’t find it dignified, personally.

I regret nothing.

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2 Samuel 6:16-22 - What does dignity have to do with it?

Ing Bee said:

2 Samuel 6:16-22 - What does dignity have to do with it?

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Spare me the drive by scripture link. If you have something to say then say it.

Lost4words said:

In todays 'modern' churches we have people competing to see who can lift their hands higher, shout the loudest, roll around the floor the most, to show people how much they are worshipping / 'praying' to God.

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That's the thing, though it is biblical, I associate it with all that other non biblical nonsense, and it drives me away from doing it, always has.

I walked in on someone recently who did the hand thing in her church and she had her bible open and stretched out in front of here with one hand and her other hand over it as if she was trying to magically draw something out of it. I asked here what she was doing, she quit, and said "praying"...I left it at that. She was alone so though there was no "show off" intentions, I'm like...Eeesh.

Not the worst thing we can do but, still...