The first issue of 5Talents, an Indian Christian webzine for young believers. Opens with stewardship of talents and gifts, a puppet ministry profile of Mary Sujani, and five reasons to watch Courageous. 24 pages.
question
Accompanied by trumthat we worship God, pets, cymbals and other that we exalt His name instruments, they raised and offer Him our praise.
their voices in praise to There is biblical precthe LORD and sang: ‘He edent for both the lifting is good; his love endures of hands and the clapforever.’ Then the temping of hands as an act ple of the LORD was of worship. Psalms 47:1 filled with a cloud” (2 says, “Clap your hands, Chronicles 5:13). So we all you nations; shout to see that singing praises
God with cries of joy.” In and playing instruments this instance, both clapwere also appropriate ping and shouting out expressions of worship. joyful worship to God are Singing as worship is also urged. In 1 Timothy 2:8, found in Ephesians 5:19, we read, “I want men
“Speak to one another everywhere to lift up holy with psalms, hymns and hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.” The emphasis of this verse is the attitude of the spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord.”
worship we use. If our worship is from the heart, God accepts our worship.
The custom of raising hands during worship was a common practice in the early church, especially during prayer. In Paul’s letter to Timothy he writes, “I desire, then, that in every place the people should pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument” (1 Timothy 2.8). Indeed, according to some Jewish commentators, the Israelite practice of liftheart; however, we see
The postures of worship that lifting hands is an include standing, kneelappropriate posture for ing, prostrating ourselves, prayer and worship. Hav- eyes lifted up, eyes cast ing these biblical precedents, we can safely down, and hands raised. We do not see one speing hands during worship in the synagogues was stopped in reaction to the Christians who customarily raised their hands during prayer.
conclude that both of cific posture universally those expressions can be required in worship, and an act of worship.
What we need to ascertain is if those expressions, or indeed if any specified expression, is an actual requirement for worship. In examining specific acts of wor ship in the Scriptures, we see there are a variety of expressions and postures. We’ve already specific “authorized” ex pression of worship. We can conclude, therefore, that the raising of hands and/or the clapping of hands during worship is an appropriate expression of worship, although neither is required for worship. John 4:24 says, “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship
So, should everyone lift their hands during worship? Certainly not-there are a number of people who would feel very uncomfortable doing so. Worship is meant to be an act of praising God in celebration, and each participant must feel good about their actions in order to experience true worship. Conversely, if you feel the urge to lift seen the command to clap our hands and shout to the Lord. “The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with in spirit and in truth.” Wor- a hand during a song ship is a spiritual event, or a prayer, your heart and true worship comes from the heart. If our worship is not heartfelt, should feel free to exercise that impulse-surely God would approve.
one voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD.
it doesn’t matter what posture or expression of Premasis
July 2012