Saturday, August 06, 2005 @ 2:03 AM
all right i wonder how many christians and non christians know the true meaning of why we raise our hands when we sing/worship/pray? do they simply raise it cos the entire congregation is doing so or it is a "in" thing to do it? Some Christians raise their hands when they pray or worship. Many do it publicly during worship services. Some Christians like to clap their hands to worship music, others (some of us who are rhythmically challenged) would rather not. How are we to use our hands in prayer and worship? The raising of hands is certainly one of the biblically sanctioned postures of prayer. There are many postures that the Bible acknowledges as appropriate for prayer and worship such as sitting, kneeling, standing, lying prostrate, as well as lifting of the hands. There is nothing particularly spiritual about any one or the other. It does not make for greater prayer or worship. But these are all human ways of inclining ourselves to the living God, as the physical posture is brought in line with the spiritual desire. Such actions can be helpful for us in our prayer lives and worship experiences. Lifting the hands is just a way of reaching up to God to exalt Him or seek Him. It is perfectly appropriate. Some are concerned about this practice since it seems it was the charismatic movement that introduced this practice back into the modern church. That may be true but there is nothing theologically significant about raising hands in worship. One is not embracing charismatic theology by doing this any more than one is embracing Catholic theology by kneeling (Catholics kneel a lot). It is important for us always to evaluate things biblically. The Bible not only permits this posture in prayer and worship but seems to encourage it (Ps. 28:2, 63:4, 134:2, 1Tim. 2:8). If you feel led to do this in your prayer life or in our worship services, feel free. Others who are not moved to do so should not. And we certainly should not judge one another in this regard. As far as clapping hands goes, it is also true the Bible calls for this as a legitimate part of the worship experience (Ps. 47:1). This is a sign of enthusiasm and excitement, something we should have regarding the greatness of the living God. Sometimes our worship leaders will encourage to clap. This is fine. It is not something that has to be done all the time or by everyone, but it is certainly an appropriate aspect of responding to God, according to the Bible. Just as we sometimes clap and express enthusiasm we will also sometimes be still and quiet, expressing reverence. The use of "hands" in these ways in worship should not be thought of as a major worship issue. It is merely part of permitting a free and spontaneous response to the glory and greatness of God. One of the important things about life in the body of Christ is learning to discern between the mountains and the molehills, or between the majors and the minors. This "hands" business is clearly one of the minors or molehills. There should be enough freedom in our worship services to respond to God the way we desire, so long as everything is "decent and in order" (1Cor. 14:40).
