Raising Hands in Church

[FenderTL5]

Absolutely. Or prostrating themselves face down?

metania and prostration are certainly part of Orthodox worship.

Lifting up my hands is not something I did in the Baptist churches I came from. However, there is a point in the Divine Liturgy, at the beginning of the Anaphora, where the Bishop (or in our case the priest) while standing in the Beautiful Gate says, "Let us lift up our hearts!" The people reply, "We lift them up to the Lord!" Several in our parish lift up our hands along with the priest during this exchange.

 

[Swan7]

I came from a Baptist church for most of my life and was led to a Pentacostal church, and there i saw the lifting up of hands. It was something foreign to me and I didn’t know what it meant. I asked God why they do this and in my own heart there was a sense of assuming they were like the Pharisees. God told me to never mind them doing this and to concentrate on Him instead.

I don’t believe the lifting of hands to be a commandment as 1 Timothy 2:8 says “I desire...” meaning not a command. Otherwise I would have been convicted to do so and these words would be more of a commmand.

 

[Halbhh]

Some are naturally effusive, and some are naturally reserved, and some are naturally more emotional, and some less. (some like me might rarely raise their hands in front of others, but might in private at times, when no other person would ever see, but all can praise the Lord, in so many ways)

One time I remember I felt the urge to praise the Lord for all of these wonderful temperaments, so varied. What a blessing.

This wonderful song below also shows a good sized choir full of different temperaments the song helps bring out, which you can even see clearly here and there.

Isn't it wonderful that we are all together in Christ?

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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[Ken Rank]

Yes it does.

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

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.

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

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

There is no evidence anywhere that what they were doing and lifting hands are the same. That is just an opinion of yours. Scripture has plenty of places where it speaks of raising hands before the Lord in worship.... so like it or not, it's biblical. And, this coming from a guy who generally doesn't do it and has never felt comfortable doing it.

 

[Mathetes66]

I Tim 2:8 I DESIRE that... not a command but a desire or wish of Paul's.

I Kings 8:54 When Solomon finished making these prayers and petitions to the LORD, he stood up in front of the altar of the LORD, where he had been kneeling with his spread hands raised toward heaven. (see also 2 Chron 6:13; Ps 5:7; 95:6)

Solomon did both: kneeled & lifted up his outstretched hands toward heaven.

Luke 22:41,45 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed. And when He rose up from prayer & was come to His disciples, He found them sleeping for sorrow.

Daniel 12:7 And the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by Him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, times, and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been shattered, all these things will be completed.”

Even angels lift up their hands in holy reverence. (See also Rev 10:5)

2 Chron 6:12 And he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel & spread forth his hands...

Job 11:13 If thou prepare thine heart & stretch out thine hands toward Him.

Psalm 28:2 Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle (holy of holies in the inner sanctuary).

Psalm 134:2 Lift up your hands to the sanctuary and bless the LORD!

Psalm 141:2 May my prayer be set before You like incense, my uplifted hands like the evening offering.

Lamentations 3:40,41 Let us examine and test our ways, and turn back to the LORD. Let us lift up our HEARTS & HANDS to God in heaven...

Psalm 25:1 To You, O LORD, I lift up MY SOUL... (see also Ps 86:4)

Psalm 5:3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will LOOK UP.

Lamentations 2:19 Arise, cry out in the night from the first watch of the night. Pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to Him for the lives of your children who are fainting from hunger on the corner of every street.

Psalm 28:2 Hear my cry for mercy when I call to You for help, when I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.

Ps 143:6 I stretch forth my hands unto Thee: my soul thirsts after Thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.

Isaiah 1:14-16 I hate your New Moons & your appointed feasts; they have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. “So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you, Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. Wash & cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil!

Exodus 2:29 Moses said to him, "When I have left the city, I will spread out my hands to the LORD. The thunder will cease & there will be no more hail, so that you may know that the earth is the LORD's.

Ezra 9:5 And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness & having rent my garment & my mantle, I fell upon my knees & spread out my hands unto the LORD my God.

Psalm 119:48,49 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved & I will meditate in thy statutes. Remember Your word to Your servant, upon which You have given me hope.

Psalm 26:6,7 I wash my hands in innocence and go around your altar, O LORD, to RAISE MY VOICE IN THANKSGIVING & DECLARE ALL YOUR WONDERFUL WORKS.

Raising one's voice in thanksgiving & declaration!

Ezek 44:12 Because they ministered unto them before their idols & caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquity; therefore have I lifted up mine hand against them, saith the Lord GOD & they shall bear their iniquity. (see also Ps 10:12; Micah 5:9)

God lifts up His hand.

Lots of good insights & learning from these passages. Thanks for the questions, bobk!

Just a couple of observations. During the time of the temple, hands would be lifted up toward the Holy (Holy of Holies) inner sanctuary. God's Presence was there, in the Shekinah glory that would descend & inhabit the inner sanctuary.

Paul appeals for men to lift up HOLY hands. Since there was no temple anymore, the idea of praying with hands that were holy to the Holy One, shows that people had their hearts right before God when they lifted up holy hands.

That is when I raise my hands periodically, in worship, knowing i have repented & confessed my sins & have a right heart & mind before the Lord & when my whole being is overcome with a desire to worship Him & lift Him up by the lifting up of my hands.

A missionary I know told us when he was ministering in a Muslim country, that he would try & get away to pray to the Lord. He would kneel and then lift up his hands as he prayed alone with God.

He didn't realize that Muslims would follow him, wondering what he was doing & would observe him praying. They knew then, that he was a sincere man who sought God & they grew to respect him. It opened doors to share the gospel.

 

[Halbhh]

Some are naturally effusive, and some are naturally reserved, and some are naturally more emotional, and some less. (some like me might rarely raise their hands in front of others, but might in private at times, when no other person would ever see, but all can praise the Lord, in so many ways)

One time I remember I felt the urge to praise the Lord for all of these wonderful temperaments, so varied. What a blessing.

This wonderful song below also shows a good sized choir full of different temperaments the song helps bring out, which you can even see clearly here and there.

Isn't it wonderful that we are all together in Christ?

One more thought from this wonderful song above, is the central request of the song --

Lord, have mercy on us.

And then we, to others --

Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Luke 6:36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

 

[Mathetes66]

Thanks, Halbhh! Reminds me of Messianic songs from Psalm 133, A Song of Ascents! Hallel YAH!

Rev 5:9-11 And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
10and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.”

11Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12saying with a loud voice,

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”

13And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

 

[GingerBeer]

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?

No, I do not raise my hands during worship. I stand and sing, I sit and listen, I rise and walk to receive communion, but no hand raising is involved beyond what is required in the other actions.

 

[harko]

The Holy Spirit moves people in different ways whilst they are in Church! Raising hands to The Lord may be one of those ways .

 

[Blade]

Many dont know how Israel would worship God lol.. Hmm people move to music dance all day long.. When I hear music praising giving my Father glory .. cant stand still!.. Hands go up.. not here to please man.

 

[Calvin_1985]

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?

I recommend just focusing on your walk with Jesus. Don't worry about the worship of others. Father knows the hearts of each one of them and knows if it's for show or if it's because they are in communion with Him. Work on your walk so that you can shine the light to the lost and to our brothers and sisters in a moment that they need their burdens to be borne by another.

 

[RaymondG]

1 Timothy 2:8
I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;

To NOT lift hands is a violation of this scripture.

If we are to take this verse literally, would you say that your hands are holy? And if my hands arent, should i wait until they become holy to raise them? and how will I realize that they are holy?

 

[RaymondG]

Hand raising was a natural part of church for me all my life.....When one is being prayed for, they are told to lift there hands. In worship, many lift there hands. It is said to be a form of surrender to God.....I surrender All....Take me as I am...

I personally almost never do it and never have an opportunity to, being that I am always the musician of the church and both hands are in use.... But for the rare times Im not on an instrument I only raise when told to..

I relate hand raising more to the feelings, emotions and desires of the one raising them and do not think passed that point....e.g. I would not say one is closer to God or not by the movement of their arms.

"24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;"

 

[Bruce Leiter]

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?

First, I don't raise my hands because it would cause more pain. Second, please don't judge people for outward actions since you don't know their hearts.

 

[Monk Brendan]

So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. - Psalm 63:4

Thank you for giving the verse.

Raising hands (sometimes spontaneous, sometimes traditional) happens all the time in the services of the Pre-reformation churches.

 

[SaintCody777]

Yes, it's absolutely true that many people who raise their hands in church are no more than hypocrites. Just a look at one of the American idol looking churches where they say just "ask Jesus into your heart" people raise their hands, thinking that they are spiritual and that they have this alter call. Look at Joel Osteen's service. About 30,000 people in that church every Sunday. You get the picture right? And I bet you that most of these church goers don't even have the will or want to turn to the things of God.
TOP 10 WAYS THAT UNSAVED PEOPLE THINK THEY’RE SAVED
Even At the Catholic Church I went to, especially in the crowded Spanish mass, people would be lifting their hands. But Roman Catholic dominated Miami is actually one of the LEAST religious cities in the US.
Miami is America's 10th Least Religious City
Miami is obviously known as a party city filled with women who look like strippers, especially at South Beach. I bet you many of these stripper-looking woman and clubbers are professing Christians that raise their hands in church every Sunday, literally only hours after they have been clubbing and indulged with carnality. These people and even do good for the community just to show off themselves as righteous. (Matthew 6 :1-5; Matthew 15:8 which echoes Isaiah 29:13)

 

[SaintCody777]

However, don't get me wrong. Praising the lord and lifting hands is certainly not wrong and is especially commended in Scripture if that person really wants the things of God and wants to not be in their sins anymore. 1 Timothy 2:8 and throughout Psalms is filled with lifting hands to praise the Lord.

 

[Lulav]

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?

There is one theory, that when worshipping in a congregational situation that you are facing forward towards the leadership. Are you singing praises to them? or the one above. This could be an indication of that.

So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. - Psalm 63:4

Yes, blessings are done with hands raised.

The most well known called the Aaronic Blessing
22 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

23 Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,
24 The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
25 The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26 The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
27 And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them.
​

This priestly blessing was known by the Jews as the 'raising of the hands'.
The Jewish Sages stressed that although the priests are the ones carrying out the blessing, it is not them or the ceremonial practice of raising their hands that results in the blessing, but rather it is God's desire that His blessing should be symbolized by the Kohanim's (priests) hands.

​

1 Timothy 2:8
I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;

To NOT lift hands is a violation of this scripture.

I believe the OP is speaking of worship, singing, not praying. I've seen it done during the leaders prayer but it is hands held upways to receive it. Different than the posture in singing.

Our church setting is in a hotel conference room, so lifting up your hands while sitting would be a little awkward imo.

That is why most stand during the praise part.

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.

This isn't speaking of a congregational gathering, it is speaking of being out in public.

Yes it does.

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

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.

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

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

Again, worship and prayer are two different things.

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

I regret nothing.

I guess you would have chastised King David when in his exuberance to celebrate the bringing of the Ark of the Covenant he danced and shouted for joy. It was considered undignified back then, but he didn't care. And he was the man whom God said was after his own heart. Go figure.

metania and prostration are certainly part of Orthodox worship.

Lifting up my hands is not something I did in the Baptist churches I came from. However, there is a point in the Divine Liturgy, at the beginning of the Anaphora, where the Bishop (or in our case the priest) while standing in the Beautiful Gate says, "Let us lift up our hearts!" The people reply, "We lift them up to the Lord!" Several in our parish lift up our hands along with the priest during this exchange.

Is that considered worship?

 

[Willing-heart]

When the Spirit of the Lord is upon my Soul I will dance like David Dance. End of story.

 

[Jair Crawford]

It really boils down to an issue of the heart, which is really what Jesus was addressing in that Matthew passage.

Basically, if the Holy Spirit is compelling you to respond to Him in worship in a certain way, selflessly, then it is absolutely correct and appropriate to do so. Even if it seems silly! King David springs to mind here.

If you are doing it to show off, then you’re not giving Him all the glory and He will eventually point that out to you. I’ve felt this conviction before.