Is clapping and lifting hands OK in church?

[reddogs]

This comes from a topic on another forum which I found very interesting in the answers that members gave. Is there any issues with clapping or lifting hands in church?

 

[mva1985]

Red,

Me personally don't find myself doing it, and try not to be judgmental of people who may. Unless it is really getting out of hand. Some may also see it as a stepping stone to flat out falling down in the aisles.

Just my two cents.

 

[OntheDL]

This comes from a topic on another forum which I found very interesting in the answers that members gave. Is there any issues with clapping or lifting hands in church?

Church worship service should be orderly and reverent.

Clapping mostly aims to exalt mortal men. According to the bible, the angels sing holy holy holy to the LORD. In Isaiah's vision of the heavenly sanctuary, the posts tremble at the voice of God. Would you clap for the person who sing a song if the Creator of the universe was sitting behind the pulpit? I would hope not.

In the OT sanctuary service, the only audible sounds were the dying lamb in the north, the music in the south and the officiating priests in the court. Anyone who whispered were severely punished.


And the lifting hand is from the Pentecostalism brought from the Catholic church that is rooted in pagan Sun worship.

 

[tnp2140]

I agree. Singing, listening to a sermon, or any part of a religious service is as much an act of worship as is prayer. In each instance you come humbly before God, in reverence and humility.

How do we usually pray as SDAs or Christians? We seek for peace and silence as we come before the Lord in order to sincerely deepen our relationship with Him and get the full blessing of the Holy Spirit. And as such, I don't think any of us would clap our hands or wave our hands around while in prayer now would we?

 

[Pistos Ergon]

The Review and Herald, January 1, 1880

Article Title: Praise Glorifies God.By Mrs. E. G. White.

God says by the psalmist, "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me." The worship of God consists chiefly of praise and prayer. Every follower of Christ should engage in this worship. No one can sing by proxy, bear testimony by proxy, or pray by proxy. As a rule, too many dark testimonies are borne in social service, savoring more of murmuring than of gratitude and praise.

When the word of God was spoken to the Hebrews anciently, the Lord said to Moses, "And let all the people say, Amen." This response, in the fervor of their souls, was required as evidence that they understood the word spoken and were interested in it.

When the ark of God was brought into the city of David and a psalm of joy and triumph was chanted, all the people said, Amen. And David felt that he was fully repaid for his labor and anxiety by this cheerful universal response from the people.

There is too much formality in the church. Souls are perishing for light and knowledge. We should be so connected with the Source of all light that we can be channels of light to the world. The Lord would have his ministers who preach the word energized by his Holy Spirit. And the people who hear should not sit in drowsy indifference or stare vacantly about, making no responses to what is being said. The spirit of the world has paralyzed the spirituality of such, and they are not awake to the precious theme of redemption. The truth of God's word is spoken to leaden ears, and hard, unimpressible hearts. The impression given the unbeliever by these professed Christians is anything but favorable for the religion of Christ. These dull, careless ones show ambition and zeal when engaged in the business of the world, but things of eternal importance do not engross the mind and interest them as do worldly things. The voice of God through his messengers is a pleasant song; but its sacred warnings, reproofs, and encouragements are all unheeded. Eternal and sacred things are placed upon a level with common things. The Holy Spirit is grieved. Said Christ, "Take heed, therefore, how ye hear." Those are spiritually dead who profess to worship God while the heart is not in the work. There should be a hearty, wide-awake church to encourage and uphold the hands of the ministers of Jesus Christ.

 

[AndrewK788]

I personally don't do anyy of that, however, I think we tread a dangerous line when we begin to tell people what is or is not appropriate for worship.

Some of these things could be entirely dependent on the culture, right? Compare a white church in Michigan to a Christian church in Kenya and see the difference, but aren't they both praising God?

 

[thecountrydoc]

Years ago it was a very common practice to take a course in symantics while in school. It might be well if that practice were still embraced today.

There is a fine line between what should be considered acceptable for worship, and what is accectable as praise. There is without doubt a difference but some seem unable to tell the difference.

For the moment let me ask that each of you read the definition for both of the words, worship and praise, in the dictionary. After you look up the definitions come back and tell me if you have changed your viewpoint in any way.

Respectfully, your brother in Christ,
Doc

 

[digdeep]

This comes from a topic on another forum which I found very interesting in the answers that members gave. Is there any issues with clapping or lifting hands in church?

I see no issue with this at all. "O Clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. for god is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding." Psalm 47:1, 6, 7

dd

 

[Sophia7]

I see no issue with this at all. "O Clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. for god is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding." Psalm 47:1, 6, 7

dd

And what about 1 Timothy 2:8, which talks about lifting up holy hands in prayer?

 

[AndrewK788]

I think it's safe to say there is a time and a place for reverance, silence, and inner communion with God, but there are also times for song, clapping, and praising God with voices raised.

The issue becomes an issue when the line between the two is blurred and becomes nonexistent. Like Doc said, there is a difference between worship and praise and I think people should be aware of it in their own hearts.

 

[TrustAndObey]

This is a non-debate area Sophia.

I'm not saying it's not a relevant question, but you could certainly ask it in the Debate section and if digdeep wants to debate it, it's his choice.

 

[tnp2140]

I agree with the praise and worship comment. While the two are can be classified as separate we must remember that one is part of the other in religious terms.

And while you may post the scripture about lifting up your hands in clapping in praise don't forget to see what that refers to. Israel, being God's chosen group of people which was called to bring the light to the rest of the world, also had had rules and regulations concerning worship and praise. I'm sure you will agree that back then God and His name were held in much bigger reverence than today, even when speaking of those who now profess to have a close relationship with the Lord.

For example, when entering a synagogue on Sabbath you wouldn't find the kind of worship and praise we are discussing right now, clapping and waving hands in the air, etc. When it came to worshipping and praising the Lord on his sacred day, utmost reverence was required and still is today. God does not look at what your emotions may be making you do, he looks at your heart. And if there's no substance and humility in the heart, you are worshipping and praising in vain.

This in turn goes back to the dangers of what you see in churches today. While there is a form of outward praise to the Lord that the Bible speaks of, its sole idea has been corrupted by the unGodliness of the world today. Like in pentecostal, evangelical, and many other churches, clapping, waving your hands, and rhythmic stomping of feet are all done with Emotion and no substance of love AND obedience in the heart.

The kind of worship and praise you see at those churches goes a long way off from the holy kind of worship and praise that God expects from us. Let us not forget that 'innocent' clapping and waving of hands is exactly how that unGodly type of worship started until it progressed to what we see now. First comes the hands in the air, then you feel the need to clap to the rhythm of the song. Next thing you know you're shifting from side to side, involving your entire body in a rhythmic movement, and it feels GREAT! Emotion overtakes the mind and soul and your focus is shifted from that which is holy, to your feelings and emotions.

Soon enough you get this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fsqxrr0AyUA&feature=related
Watch the first minute and a half to get an idea...


Something so innocent as clapping and putting your hands in the air quickly evolves into something like what we see above. We are in a period of time where the end is very close and Satan is doing his hardest to distract and pull as many people away from the God and the truth as he can. And if we open ourselves up to something that may look innocent at first, then Satan will use that to his advantage and will work ceaslessly to guide us in the wrong direction.

That's why now, more than ever, is the time to be reverent and humble before God. We can't adjust our worship to fit the culture we live in. We are to adjust our lives to the principles God had set before us at creation. Let's keep our focus on the Lord and his soon coming, nothing else.

God Bless.

 

[Sophia7]

This is a non-debate area Sophia.

I'm not saying it's not a relevant question, but you could certainly ask it in the Debate section and if digdeep wants to debate it, it's his choice.

Sorry, I had this thread listed in my subscriptions because I thought it was an interesting topic, and I had forgotten that it was in the Trad sub-forum. Still, I don't think my question would be considered debating. I really would like to know what an Adventist take on that verse is. I don't recall hearing many Adventists address it before. It's not something that I have a burden to debate.

 

[digdeep]

And what about 1 Timothy 2:8, which talks about lifting up holy hands in prayer?

I have no problem with that either. The church I attend claps, lifts up hands, stands, sings. we just praise and worship God.

dd

 

[capnator]

I don't think it makes good sense to produce an example of clapping hands appearing to be good and then to conclude that raising and clapping hands or whatever is a good thing.

And it's also not a good Idea to produce an example where it appears to be bad and then conclude it's always a bad thing.

 

[capnator]

Excitement and energy in a chuch service or worship service doesn't indicate God's presence neither does the warm fuzzies we feel from the excitement.

Neither does a somber "reverent" atmosphere indicate God's presence.

It's what's going on in the inside, in our hearts not on the outside that counts.

 

[thecountrydoc]

By Pastor Doug Batchelor Used by permission.
An Amazing Fact: The U.S. flag is a respected symbol of this nation's freedom—and rightly so. USFlag.org provides the following standards of flag etiquette, among others: it must never be dipped to any person; should not be used merely as decoration or advertising; should not be marked on or embroidered onto any temporary item. It is not to be part of a costume or athletic uniform. It must never be used as a receptacle for holding anything. It should remain clean and no part should touch the ground or any other object when lowered. It should be received with open arms and folded neatly and ceremoniously. How much more so should we treat God's Word?

Something to Learn
During a recent trip to Chile, a friend took me to visit some old churches. Virtually all the towns in Latin America are laid out with a plaza in the middle with a church standing as a central focus of that town square. Once inside these mini-cathedrals, I was amazed how quickly the atmosphere transitioned from the noisy streets with the commotion of traffic and flea market vendors. Inside the church, I was met with an awesome silence. Sometimes only a handful of people would be praying, but they still maintained an air of extraordinary reverence.

In these churches, they have a deep concept of God as holy. God is to be revered; you are to come trembling before His presence. I wonder if some Protestant churches are losing an important aspect of real Christian worship by ignoring the issue of reverence. I believe there's a special message of reverence that God wants to go to the world in the last days.

An Important End-Time Message
In Revelation 14:7, we hear the first of the three angels' messages; it is a special admonition to "Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come."

We often understand the word "fear" in terms of terror—to be afraid. But the word used here as "fear" is the Greek phobeo (the root word of phobia.) It doesn't mean only to be afraid of something—like claustrophobia or some other phobia. This word also translates, according to Strong's, as "to be in awe of, to revere, to fear exceedingly and to reverence."

I believe God is telling us that in the last days, the church is to teach the world to revere Him—to be in awe of their Creator. But to a great extent, the church has lost this attitude of reverence. Reverence is also defined as "a feeling of profound awe, respect, often love, veneration, honor." The Bible tells us that it does not come naturally to the proud, fallen hearts of man. Humans need to be taught reverence for sacred things. So let's address some areas where we as Christians can better demonstrate and express our reverence for God. Titus 2:1–7 says: "But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior. … Likewise, exhort the young men to ... [show] integrity, reverence" (NKJV, emphasis added). It is obvious from these Scriptures that God wants us to be more reverent, more humble, and show more respect to Him and others.

Reverence Is Happiness and Strength
Worship is a central theme in the Bible. "For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God" (Exodus 34:14). It's very important to exhibit reverence during worship; it demonstrates your concept of the level of greatness of the one being worshiped. The devil hates when we revere God. He wants us to jeer and be sarcastic or indifferent regarding holy things—the opposite of reverence. If we do not make a conscious effort in remembering reverence, Satan is going to do everything he can to chisel away at the foundation of our worship, which is a sense of awe and respect for God and His greatness.

Yet reverence is not something that should make you sad or somber. Proverbs 28:14 says, "Happy is the man who is always reverent" (NKJV). Isn't that good news? Being reverent isn't supposed to cast a cloud on your worship experience. It's supposed to enhance the true happiness of your worship experience.

"Reverence is a sign of strength," someone said. "Irreverence is a sure indication of weakness. No man will rise high who jeers at sacred things. Real strength can be verified in reverence." This reverent strength can be demonstrated in many ways.

What's in a Name?
"Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy." —Psalm 99:3

First, let's consider this foremost sign of reverence: God's name. Psalm 111:9 says, "Holy and reverend is His name." I once had a meeting with ministers from various denominations, and I was given a nametag that said, "Reverend Batchelor." That's more like an oxymoron, isn't it? I felt really uncomfortable with it. I remembered Psalm 111 and felt convicted, so later I flipped my nametag over and wrote "Pastor Doug." That sounded more like where I belong on the scale of things.

In recent years, great prominence has been placed on Jesus as our Friend. And He is our Friend: "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you" (John 15:14). But He's also our Creator and King. We must not forget that. I believe this overemphasis of Jesus as our casual buddy has diminished our sense of awe and veneration for Him. I believe that angels are sometimes grieved by the casual and glib way some Christians speak of God.

Taking God's name in vain is a sure sign of irreverence. I have a Russian friend who, during World War II, served in Japan as a translator. He literally spoke for the Emperor when reading messages. He said, "When I spoke Japanese, I spoke as they did. But whenever I spoke for the Emperor, I used a different voice." They actually trained him to use that voice, which was supposed to sound like a god speaking. In the same way, we should never say the name of God in jest or a flippant manner.

God's name should always be spoken with solemnity on our lips—for He is the highest Monarch in all of the cosmos. We need to revere His name. The Levites were chosen as the priests of God because when other Jews worshiped the golden calf, Levi's family refused to because they revered the name of God. "My covenant was with him, one of life and peace, And I gave them to him that he might fear Me; So he feared Me and was reverent before My name" (Malachi 2:5 NKJV).

Augustine said, "God is not greater if you reverence Him, but you are greater if you serve Him." Reverencing God's name doesn't make God more holy—He's great no matter what you say or think. But you are greater when you revere His name.

God's Word
"For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name." —Psalm 138:2

Imagine that! This Scripture says God Himself exalts His Word above His name. So we need to treat the Bible, His Word, with particular reverence. I've watched preachers shake, pound, and throw their Bibles like some puny pulpit prop when they preach. The Bible isn't just some Christian "policy book." It's a sacred revelation from God.

At home, the Bible should be placed somewhere where you won't just pile things on it. Would you do that with a rare photograph of someone you love? Of course not! The Bible is much the same: It's a sacred love letter from God to us. During family worship, we demonstrate to our children a reverence for God's Word. We take time every day to read from the Bible.

In our church in Sacramento, we stand during the Scripture reading. The reason for this is found in Nehemiah 8:5; when Ezra opens the book in the sight of all the people, they all stand up out of respect for the sacred Word. You stand when you greet a person of honor; it's a gesture of respect and esteem. So when God is getting ready to speak, should we show Him any less honor?

The Bible is a holy book; its words are precious. They should be spoken clearly and accurately. Remember that Revelation pronounces a curse upon anyone who alters His Word (Revelation 22:18, 19).

Consider also how God placed ultimate respect on His Word when He delivered the Ten Commandments to His people. They were set in a golden safe, the ark, in the center of the temple called the holy of holies. In fact, each of the Ten Commandments addresses reverence. Think about it: They deal with respect for God's position and Person, His name, His Sabbath day, for parents and for life, marriage, truth, and property.

God's message to us in the Bible is full of reverence, so let's show His Word the kind of reverence that He expects and deserves from His creation.

Showing Honor in Worship
"God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints." —Psalm 89:7

In the conversion experience of Isaiah described in chapter 6:1–8, he sees God seated in His temple in regal holiness, and the house shakes with the voice of God. Six- winged seraphim hover around the throne of God, covering their faces and feet and perpetually singing "Holy, holy, holy." (Like that wonderful hymn!) Someone once suggested that "holy" is sung once for the Father, a "holy" for the Son, and a "holy" for the Holy Ghost. Whenever God says something three times in the Bible, He is emphasizing its eternal quality. When beholding this awesome scene, Isaiah responded by falling to the floor before the Lord, saying, "Woe is me! I am undone." Please don't miss this truth that a picture of the holiness of God brought about the conversion and the call of the prophet Isaiah! We diminish these converting powers of our services when we are irreverent in worship. Daniel and the apostle John also fell down like Isaiah when God appeared to them in visions. They revered God in their worship.

What would happen if God Almighty suddenly appeared before you right now? Would you survive? He said to Moses, "No man can see my face and live," which is why He put Moses in the cleft of the rock. He covered Moses' eyes with His hands so he couldn't see God's face. The Bible says man will someday see God the Father, but right now in our impure condition, we can't endure His blazing glory. This is the most glorious, powerful, awesome Being. When we come together to worship Him, there should be a sense of awe in His presence.

Reverence during worship means our posture and conduct too. Adults should sit up in church, and not sit with their feet up on the pew or slouching like our skeletons have been removed.

I also believe we should be respectful in our attire. Now I'm not saying you need expensive clothes to show reverence—the Bible doesn't teach that. But the Bible does say that we should come before the Lord clean. When giving His Law, God told the people, "Wash your clothes before you meet with the Lord." Furthermore, if we have good clothing—wear your best for God. Some people wear a suit through the week, yet they come to church in their gym clothes. If that's all you have that's fine, but don't give God the leftovers. Don't be more respectful for your employer than you are for your Creator.

There's a real danger that unless we remind ourselves of this awe, our sense of reverence can evaporate. How you worship God says volumes about who you think He is. If we worship God in a disrespectful manner, we send a message to unbelievers of a diminished concept of God's greatness. Josephus said in his writings, "The Jewish temple was held in reverence by nations from all over the earth." You can tell a lot about people by how they take care of their houses, can't you? A front yard can reveal much about the family that lives inside.

The Sound of Silence
"Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil. Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few." —Ecclesiastes 5:1, 2 NKJV

There are many ways reverence in worship can be demonstrated through quiet contemplation and listening. For instance, the words we say in church should be few and carefully chosen. Children should be taught to sit quietly. (I've got a litter of kids; I know it's a challenge!) People shouldn't blurt out or talk loudly in times of solemn assembly. You know, an important sign of intelligence is learning when to speak and when to be quiet. "But the Lord is in his holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before him" (Habakkuk 2:20).

Sometimes while the Word of God is being proclaimed, I think the devil deliberately creates a disturbance through loud children and restless teens to detract from our sense of reverence during worship. How can it not distract when a cell phone rings or someone starts to snore! It's offensive when adults are gabbing during the sacred service in God's holy place. We need to remain humble and quiet during worship, because this is how we respect our teachers in school and our judges in court. Why would we do less for God?

In Prayer
"O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker." —Psalm 95:6

It is not necessary to always kneel when you are praying. Nehemiah prayed while working, and Peter prayed while swimming. Indeed, we are to "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We'd be crawling on our knees wherever we went! But I also think that at the start of formal worship service and especially in your personal devotions, if you're physically able, you should kneel before God. Of course, some people cannot kneel because of knee or back problems. And sometimes when we get older, once we get down we can't get back up very easily. God knows that. He's a loving God. God is more interested in the posture of your heart than your body. But if you're able, it's appropriate to get down before God. Posture represents a sign of reverence, an attitude of worship. If not before Him, then whom?

And reverence in prayer needs to be taught. In the Batchelor family, sometimes before prayer, the kids are playing with their toys. We say, "Put the toys down when we pray." We ask them to fold their hands, even though the Bible doesn't command us to do that. But you know what? They're less inclined to fiddle with their siblings or toys when their hands are folded. So there's some good theology in that custom.

We also ask them to close their eyes. The Bible doesn't say you have to close your eyes. When you get older, you can pray with your eyes open. I do sometimes. You might even pray while looking up. The Bible talks about that. But when they're little and so stimulated visually, they can be easily distracted. We'll often hear, "Mom, Nathan's eyes are open." And we're thinking, "Well, Stephen, how did you know? Your eyes must have been open too." And then sometimes I catch myself: I'll be peeking at them to see if their eyes are open, and they're peeking at me to see if I'm peeking at them! This is all part of the learning process. But you know, you have to teach it. It's disrespectful when someone is speaking to you and you are not paying attention. Likewise, in prayer, when communing with God we should keep focused.

Remembering the Holy Sabbath Day
"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy." —Exodus 20:8

God calls only a few things holy; those things should absolutely be revered. The Sabbath is one of these very holy dimensions of worship to God. It's not a day for common conversation or activity.

Through the week, my mind is always racing with work that needs to be done around our house. But on the Sabbath, I say "God, it's your Sabbath now. Help my mind stay on sacred things." If you pray this, the Holy Spirit will help you. And whenever I catch my mind starting to drift away to the next construction or repair project, the Holy Spirit will say, "Doug, it's the Sabbath." I respond, "Thank you, Lord. I don't have to worry about those things now." Our minds need to rest, and to keep the Sabbath holy in your mind is where it all begins.

Keeping reverence for Sabbath is also a matter of the way we spend our time and money. The Bible says we should prepare our food and other needs in advance so that we don't scurry and hustle about on the Sabbath. In Exodus 16:23, God rained down the bread from heaven for six days, but He stopped on the Sabbath. Why? He set a precedent for gathering food in advance. "Tomorrow is a Sabbath rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord. Bake what you will bake today, and boil what you will boil; and lay up for yourselves and all that remains, to be kept until morning" (NKJV).

We should also keep the Sabbath as a sign of reverence to others. We shouldn't go out to eat on the Sabbath and hire others to work on a day when we know God wants His people to be an example to others. Having this kind of reverence is a powerful witness. Many like to argue specific points on what is permissible on the Sabbath; I believe when in doubt, don't do anything you even think might dishonor God. Pray, and God will provide the answer.

Conclusion
"And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell." —Hebrews 11:32

If space permitted, I could talk in detail about the lost reverence for life that is seen in the insensitive way the secular world views abortion and euthanasia—or reverence for creation that has been lost to the polluters and litterbugs. I could also address reverence for our bodies that would revolutionize our thinking in everything from healthful living to pornography. And I could also discuss the reverence needed in our giving that would influence better offerings and prevent the looted tithe so many bring to God. The list is a long one, and it would all be about reverence! So remember that in every thing given by our God, be reverent and respectful for what it is: a holy gift. People pay big bucks to go to the symphony. They dress up in formal clothing. They shut the doors and turn off cell phones before the concert begins. Perhaps they think Mozart's musical creations are so beautiful that they feel they owe this respect. But why are we doing this increasingly less for the Almighty?

Are we losing this concept of what is truly great and awesome? Let me tell you, God is awesome! Have you ever had one of those epiphanies where suddenly you're reminded with the reality of God—like something in His creation that makes you go "Wow!" In Chile, I visited some huge volcanoes high in the Andes Mountains. Steam puffed out from these majestic, beautiful snow-capped peaks. And it is breathtaking. Seeing that splendor pulled back the veil and helped me glimpse the greatness of God, the Creator of the infinite cosmos. And I thought, "This is the God who loves me. Who died to save me!"

Would you like to have a closer relationship with Jesus? Do you want to have a joyful experience with Him both here and when He returns? Well then, don't forget that "Happy is the man who is always reverent." I believe if many of us would rediscover and experience a revival in our reverence, God will meet us in a special way. I truly believe that when we remember reverence, it will invite the angels into our homes and churches and seal God's throne in our hearts.

Publication Date Friday, March 01, 2002
Posted by AnthonyL.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
______________________________________________

Your brother in Christ,
Doc

 

[thecountrydoc]

by Bill May
Used by permission


In A.D. 1271 the famous Venetian traveler Marco Polo joined his father and uncle for his first trip to China. Together they would visit the great Kubla Khan, king of the Mongol dynasty. Marco Polo's father, Matteo Polo, and his uncle Niccolo had already made their first trip to China a few years earlier in 1266, and now, five years later, they considered Marco old enough to join them.

Kubla Khan, grandson of the great Genghis Khan, was at this time one of the world's most powerful monarchs. He ruled all of China, India, and the East. When young Marco first entered the palace for an audience with the great Kahn, he nearly got himself killed! Not understanding Oriental customs of respect, Marco did not know that to turn your back on the king was punishable by death. All of the king's attendants would bow and then walk backward when leaving his court. So when Marco carelessly turned his back on the monarch, soldiers rushed forward to slay the reckless youth. Only because Matteo Polo quickly interceded for his son-explaining that "he was young and forgetful"-was Marco pardoned. The young man never again made that mistake, and from then on in his travels Marco made it a point to learn the ways and language of the people.

Marco Polo eventually became the Khan's favorite statesman and served him in China, India, and southeast Asia until he returned to Venice in 1295. But Marco never forgot that his friend was also a great king and worthy of due respect.

Throughout the world, people demonstrate the greatness of their king or ruler by the way they conduct themselves in his presence. Yet from the way many Christians behave in God's house, it seems they have a very shallow concept of His greatness.

What is Reverence?
We are commanded in Scripture to "serve God acceptably with reverence" (Hebrews 12:28) and to reverence His sanctuary (Leviticus 19:30). But what is reverence? The definition is very broad-including profound awe, respect, love, adoration, esteem, special regard, and honor.

The wrong view of reverence usually leads to one of two extremes: cringing with fear and almost terror in God's house, or else treating God's house with no more regard than a sports arena or a secular social hall. Both extremes misrepresent our great and loving Lord.

A Christian's aim should be to "do those things that are pleasing in his [God's] sight." 1 John 3:22. Let's examine "reverence" within that framework.

Let's first address the matter of singing. Forty times in the Psalms alone, the Lord asks us to sing. Do you sing with the congregation? Or do you spend the time counting bald heads, babies, and red dresses? Sing-even if you don't have a "singing" voice. God accepts "joyful noise" (Psalm 98:6) or even just a "loud" noise (Nehemiah 12:42). He likes to hear crows as well as canaries! Since singing is as much a part of worship as is prayer, it hardly seems respectful to remain mute when God's people sing. And instead of mouthing the words from memory, try to consider the words you are singing. This will transform your singing into genuine worship.

Exercise is good, but it needs to be done outside God's house. Some saints think nothing of going in and out of the sanctuary three or four times during one worship service. The Bible says, "Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God" (Ecclesiastes 5:1), or as we say today, "Watch your step." If you were invited to a service honoring the president of the USA, you wouldn't think of disrupting that service by repeatedly going in and out. Such restless gallivanting during the divine service distracts those who are trying to pay attention to the service and is an insult to God.

Pardon me, what is that you are chewing? Gum? In the house of God? Surely not. It bespeaks a crass nonchalance and lack of respect. Not to mention it visibly lowers your perceived IQ. Talking to and listening to God with a mouth full of gum? Gum is not even considered proper in formal secular gatherings-how much less when we gather before the Almighty!

The services at our church in Sacramento are videotaped, and occasionally we take shots of the audience listening to the service. The directors in the studio try to avoid any pictures of people chewing gum because it looks sloppy and disrespectful. When I was a boy, my mother taught me this perceptive little poem:

"The gum-chewing boy and the cud-chewing cow."

Are somewhat alike, yet different somehow.

But what is the difference?

Oh, I have it now.

It's the thoughtful look on the face of the cow.

Letting God Speak
Now here's a big one. What about our words in God's house? Solomon built the most glorious earthly temple ever constructed for God. Here are his comments on speaking in God's house: "Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words. ... Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands? For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God." Ecclesiastes 5:1-7. In other words, we should talk sparingly, softly, and sympathetically when in God's house.

When we talk during the sermon, we may unintentionally be acting as a tool for the devil to distract those around us. We might even be an obstacle to their salvation! For one thing, talking during the worship service demonstrates an attitude of unbelief that God is present and watching. It also shows that we do not think that God is speaking through His Word or His servant. What kind of image does this convey to visitors? When you talk while someone else is talking, it shows disinterest for what that person has to say.

Even if the sermon was dull, boring, and far too long, does it show proper love and respect for God if we openly criticize His servant or read some magazine or simply sleep during the sermon? Sleep shows a lack of perceived urgency. We should plan our day so we are rested and alert during that sacred time.

"Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, 'What? Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.'" Matthew 26:40, 41, NKJV. We attend church to commune with God and to hear His words that strengthen us against temptation. If we keep that in mind and pray earnestly for God to speak to us, He will do so every time-no matter how boring and dull the sermon may be. If we come to church seeking a blessing, we will always find one (Matthew 7:7).

Do you remember the Scripture that says, "The Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him" Habakkuk 2:20? This is not a cringing silence for fear that the Lord might strike us if we make noise, but rather the hushed silence of joyous expectation. The Saviour of the world, the King of kings, my Lord and my God is present and has something to say to me today. I don't want to miss even one word He may quietly whisper in my ear. He may speak to me at any time-during a congregational hymn, prayer, the lesson study, special music, the offering, the organ prelude, the announcements, the sermon, or the Scripture reading. What if I am busily whispering to someone when God is trying to reach me? Likewise, those who arrive late and leave early can easily miss God's Word to them. But those who greet visitors with a touch, a smile, a warm handshake, or a hug tend to hear God's voice saying, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Matthew 25:40. And visitors so greeted will receive a warm, loving impression of God.

Now if we see someone chattering in church during the sermon, we must be very careful about assuming the role of "corrector of heretics."

One night as I was greeting the guests after my evangelistic message, a lady said, "I liked what I was able to hear, but I'm not coming back because a row of youth in front of me talked and laughed through the entire service." I apologized and asked her to please come back and sit up front. The head deacon told me he'd handle the problem. And did he ever! The next evening he marched up to the young people who had arrived early, selecting their same pew and loudly excoriating them in front of everyone. He closed with the words: "And if you are not reverent, I'll bodily throw you out-and I'm big enough to do it." The young ring leader promptly left the building, telling people on the way out that he'd never come back. I nearly had a coronary! The deacon's action was first-degree irreverence. The whispering, irreverent youth were novices in comparison.

The next day I rushed to the young man's home, and he received me coldly. I apologized for the deacon's offensive action and told him that young people were my favorite part of the audience. The young man promised to return (and did) and was baptized as the series closed.

Do you have an urge to correct those whom you feel are irreverent? Be careful! The Bible warns, "Be not rash with thy mouth." Ecclesiastes 5:2. Most of us are not gifted in correcting others. We can make the problem bigger and drive souls away by our finger pointing, which God condemns (Isaiah 58:9). Let those handle the situation who can do so in a gentle way that will please God and save souls instead of destroying them.

Look at it this way. When the church furnace needs to be repaired, we usually ask a qualified member to do it. A novice could damage the furnace or cause an explosion. But far more serious, sensitive, and technical is the task of correcting people. How many horrendous "explosions" have been caused by some well-meaning blunderer who tried to correct something that should have been left to a gentle, capable, loving specialist.

Our Response to Him
And what has happened to "Amen" in most of our churches? The pastor shouldn't have to ask, "Would you say Amen to that?" God says, "Let all the people say, Amen." Psalm 106:48. Yet, it almost never happens. Why not?

Saying "Amen" means one of three things: (1) Yes, I agree with you, (2) I'm being blest, or (3) Thank you for sharing that. A chorus of warm "Amens" from the congregation when key points are made blesses and encourages the pastor or singer, the people themselves, and even the visitors.

In recent years some churches have fallen into the habit of applauding the pastor and special music. An article from Newsweek speaks well to this. "Music intended to venerate a country or deity cannot 'star' its performer. ... Rather, the genre's hallmarks are the de-emphasis of performer and the elevation of the subject matter."1
Neither pastors nor singers should expect applause for lovingly and warmly uplifting Jesus. They are not putting on a production! They are delivering a moving, heartwarming testimonial to focus the hearts of the hearers on the King of kings.

What about our dress in God's house? The Bible does teach that the right clothing for the right occasion is important. "And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 22:11-13.

In this parable, the wedding garment is a symbol of the righteousness of Jesus. But it still serves to illustrate the fact that we can offend God by coming into His holy presence on His holy day, wearing our common clothes. I am not saying that it is required to have fancy clothes to be accepted by God. Oh my, no! But God does ask for our best-our firstfruits. If we are poor, God accepts us in our best, even if it's a burlap tuxedo. But we offend our Lord when we reserve our nice clothes for functions with fancy friends and come before God wearing whatever we find on the floor of the laundry room.

Our clothes should also be humble and modest. If it is a sin to look on the opposite sex with lust, then what about those who deliberately dress in tank tops, skimpy clothes, and short skirts to attract attention to their bodies? In heaven, the angels worshipping around God's throne cover everything-even their faces and feet (Isaiah 6:2)! So let's make sure our clothing is long enough, loose enough, and high enough to cover the subject.

We go to church because God wants our attention. Those who dress to impress or behave to be seen of men are competing with God! They long to hear the commendations of people instead of the voice of their Creator.

On the other hand, let's not be quick to judge people by their outward appearance. One night during my evangelistic series, a very tall and extremely disheveled hippie walked inside the open-air tent during prayer. When the service closed, several members descended upon me, criticizing the hippie who was "so irreverent that he didn't even close his eyes" while he stood inside the door during prayer. The man searched me out and apologized. He'd been injured in an accident and now, when he closed his eyes, he'd get dizzy, lose his balance, and fall. That's why he kept his eyes open. He ended in tears, saying, "I won't be back. Your people don't want me!" He was correct. They didn't! What a sad misrepresentation of God. What horrendous irreverence! Jesus must have wept. God forbid that any person-no matter how shockingly clad-should ever feel unwanted in God's house. God says, "Mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people." Isaiah 56:7.

Think about it. Do we lovingly and warmly welcome to our services gaudily bejeweled visitors as well as those whose overdress (or lack of dress) may be displeasing to God? Can we bring ourselves to the place where we can lovingly give people time to adjust while they are finding their way to Christ?

True Reverence
Sabbath is family day, and it is good for families to sit together in church. Teaching children reverence takes time and effort. Provide some Bible books or quiet busywork for the tiny tots so they do not begin to dread the worship service. It is a good plan for the parents with babies to sit near an aisle so that if their little one begins to cry or fuss during the service, they can make a discreet exit. But be careful not to let the little children keep you out of church by their persistent complaining. They need to be gently trained to sit through the service. If they cry and have a legitimate need or plumbing problem, take care of the need and then bring them back inside the sanctuary. If they are crying just so you will take them out, give them a government-approved spanking and bring them back in as soon as they've stopped crying. After a short time they will learn not to complain in church unless they have a good reason.

Youth may be old enough to sit with their friends when they are mature enough to show proper respect for God by their conduct. In many Hispanic congregations, the teenagers sit on the front rows, their radiant faces fastened upon the speaker and their response electrifying. You can read it in their bright, shining eyes-"Heaven came down, and glory filled my soul." What a blessed portrayal of true reverence!

To summarize, when visitors fellowship with us during our church services, they should go away rejoicing at how gloriously warm, different, and awe-inspiring the experience really was. They should leave with a deep conviction that "I have been in God's presence and can't wait to get back." When visitors are thus impressed with your congregation, it is evident that your congregation understands true reverence. __________
1. John Barylick, Newsweek


Publication Date Sunday, June 01, 1997
Posted by AnthonyL
________________________________________________

Your brother in Christ,
Doc

 

[OntheDL]

The Psalmist was not talking about the sanctuary service.

There is different between impromtu rejoicing in the LORD and the sanctuary service.

I see no issue with this at all. "O Clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. for god is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding." Psalm 47:1, 6, 7

dd

 

[OntheDL]

Isn't this the proof text? I hope no one's religious practice is based on an isolated verse appearing to say something he/she is looking for.

The context suggests nothing about liturgy but about Christian conduct.

1 Tim 2
8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

And what about 1 Timothy 2:8, which talks about lifting up holy hands in prayer?