- Feb 5, 2002
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When Christians lift their hands during worship, pray publicly or share Scripture online, are they expressing genuine devotion — or performing for the approval of others?
That question was at the center of a recent episode of the “Ask Pastor John” podcast featuring theologian and pastor John Piper, who addressed a listener's concerns about Jesus’ warning in Matthew 6 against practicing righteousness “to be seen by others.”
The listener asked whether expressive acts of worship, such as raising hands, closing eyes or displaying emotion in church, could cross the line into hypocrisy, the very behavior Jesus condemned when He warned against public displays of prayer done for human praise.
Piper, the 80-year-old founder of Desiring God and longtime pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, said the issue Jesus raises in Matthew 6 is not primarily about outward actions, but about inward motives.
Continued below.
www.christianpost.com
That question was at the center of a recent episode of the “Ask Pastor John” podcast featuring theologian and pastor John Piper, who addressed a listener's concerns about Jesus’ warning in Matthew 6 against practicing righteousness “to be seen by others.”
The listener asked whether expressive acts of worship, such as raising hands, closing eyes or displaying emotion in church, could cross the line into hypocrisy, the very behavior Jesus condemned when He warned against public displays of prayer done for human praise.
Piper, the 80-year-old founder of Desiring God and longtime pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, said the issue Jesus raises in Matthew 6 is not primarily about outward actions, but about inward motives.
Continued below.
John Piper on whether raising hands in worship is 'showing off'
John Piper recently addressed concerns raised by a listener about Jesus warning in Matthew 6 against practicing righteousness to be seen by others