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He does have an excellent point, though. So much of how we worship is cultural - and since we come from a white, conservative, puritan/protestant background, we are most comfortable with sitting on our hands in service quietly. Not everybody is going to be comfortable - or satisfied - with that environment. I've seen it drive people away from the CofC.
How about this....If it glorifies God, then do it. If it doesn't glorify God, then don't do it? Why should it matter if you dance, clap, prostrate, etc while doing praise? Don't worry about what others think. You are praising only One. Worry about what He thinks.
How about this....If it glorifies God, then do it. If it doesn't glorify God, then don't do it? Why should it matter if you dance, clap, prostrate, etc while doing praise? Don't worry about what others think. You are praising only One. Worry about what He thinks.
I have learnt alot here - particular from DRA, crawfish DerSchweik.Thanks . . . I've already spent way more time on here than I had planned to. This place is a great resource.
I suppose one should ask what verses can be interpreted to include clapping, swaying etc?How do you know if what you are doing is "glorifying" God? The only way to "glorify" God is by doing what He said to do.
How do you know if what you are doing is "glorifying" God? The only way to "glorify" God is by doing what He said to do.
That is the major part of my concern.He does have an excellent point, though. So much of how we worship is cultural - and since we come from a white, conservative, puritan/protestant background, we are most comfortable with sitting on our hands in service quietly. Not everybody is going to be comfortable - or satisfied - with that environment. I've seen it drive people away from the CofC.
A friend who was a missionary in Africa told me of the congregation he visited - about 300 people, some of whom woke before dawn and walked hours to get there. They would swing,sway, sing, yell and dance as they worshiped the Lord, for hours and hours and hours. Their service lasted the better part of the day, and the early risers would often end up walking home in the dark. Who are we to say that we are doing things the right way and they are not? They seem to have a sincerity and passion for worship that Americans rarely match. If justification is truly found in one's heart, then I feel like a spiritual dwarf compared to such people.
Does clapping and swaying help keep you or others in rythem?These things do not add to what God said when He said sing, they only aid in singing.
According to 1 Cor. 10:31, I am to glorify God in WHATEVER I do. It doesn't tell me that I only glorify God in certain things that I am instructed to do.
crawfish said:Again, you don't address the cultural issue. If I was a missionary to a certain culture, and their singing involved a lot of physical movement (and no ties to any other religion, I should add), would I be right in telling them they had to stop?
I suppose one should ask what verses can be interpreted to include clapping, swaying etc?
If the scriptureis silent on this issue, should we do those things? But, do we have freedom to clap, sway, etc.? How do we determine where this freedom ends where scripture is silent?
How do you know if what you are doing is "glorifying" God? The only way to "glorify" God is by doing what He said to do.
The question is this; is one glorifying God when they are not doing as God has directed? No one can glorify God while acting in disobedience to His will.
I don't know what you mean by "physical movements", dancing maybe?
What if it were part of their culture that the women are topless, should they be taught to stop this?
Loving God with all your heart, soul, mind and energy and loving other, brings Glory to God. If you are being a priest, offering yourself up on the alter you carry around, at the temple then you are glorifying God. If what you are doing is in obedience to God’s commands: such as edifying others, praising God, being joyful, sharing in the joy of other brothers/sisters, comforting others, and trying to help others overcome their sorrows of the past, then you are bringing glory to God.
One of my African friend said early on in his ministry, they gave a new convert a sheet to use for her baptism and sent her off to change when she came out she had wrapped around her waste leaving her breast exposed. None of the Africans at the time saw anything wrong and he went on and baptized her.
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