I have noticed over the last 30 years or more that applause has replaced Amen in my church. Even in acts of worship and the message of the preacher, especially if the statement is at all related to a social or political occurrence. There seems to be greater applause when the music is on the light side or with a syncopated nature then when it is more in the nature of hymns. There is very little when we sing When I Survey the Wondrous Cross or Amazing Grace. Have any of you experienced this in your church?
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When to applaud and not to applaud!
- Thread starter Berean
- Start date
I would contend that applause is very problematic for the assembly.
The "amen" (so be it) was a confirmation of that presented being both truthful and theologically sound.
Certainly, it was more often misused, but the word did not change meaning with the environment, and misuse is not part of the OP discussion.
Applause comes from the worldly sensual presentations. And in the modern worship is largely a reflection of that same sentiment.
I suspect that someone or more on the BB is going to point to Scriptures where "clap" was used.
Perhaps they will actually try to convince others that the "clap" was the same as an applause of the modern church worship.
Sort of like a person once tried to convince folks that the "clap" of thunder was like applause.
The reasoning didn't work then, either.
The "amen" (so be it) was a confirmation of that presented being both truthful and theologically sound.
Certainly, it was more often misused, but the word did not change meaning with the environment, and misuse is not part of the OP discussion.
Applause comes from the worldly sensual presentations. And in the modern worship is largely a reflection of that same sentiment.
I suspect that someone or more on the BB is going to point to Scriptures where "clap" was used.
Perhaps they will actually try to convince others that the "clap" was the same as an applause of the modern church worship.
Sort of like a person once tried to convince folks that the "clap" of thunder was like applause.
The reasoning didn't work then, either.
Psalm 47:1-2
Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph! For the Lord Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth.
And you are reading it as: Oh, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap your hands all you peoples! Shout, shout, shout, shout, shout, shout, shout, shout, shout, shout, shout, shout, shout, shout, shout, shout, shout, shout, shout, shout, shout, shout, shout, shout, shout, shout, shout, to God with the voice of triumph...
For that would be how it should read if you make it into some support for the modern view of applause.
The op seems to be a criticism of applause while assuming the motivation for the applause. It also appears to assume that the hymns are a better form of music in the church and should garner as much if not more applause if there is to be any. And it appears that it is simply a criticism of applause for the less important things that go on in the church rather than the more important things like hymn singing which have a greater value.
This is a personal opinion and a preference. What you would give applause for may not be what someone else would. And the value of these things is just as subjective.
This is a personal opinion and a preference. What you would give applause for may not be what someone else would. And the value of these things is just as subjective.
"Church is not entertainment"--not sure who the author might be.
God is probably not looking for applause--more at repentance with sackcloth and ashes. We have come a long way since meeting in the catacombs--back to the outskirts of Sodom and Gomorrah.
God is probably not pleased with praising Him with Christmas wreaths and such which seem to clutter the meeting houses this time of year. We have difficulty discerning true religion undefiled and pagan idolatry with a Christian facade.
Whatever happened to worshipping God in Spirit and in Truth by those who hunger and thirst after righteousness?
Remember Lot's wife.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Bro. James
God is probably not looking for applause--more at repentance with sackcloth and ashes. We have come a long way since meeting in the catacombs--back to the outskirts of Sodom and Gomorrah.
God is probably not pleased with praising Him with Christmas wreaths and such which seem to clutter the meeting houses this time of year. We have difficulty discerning true religion undefiled and pagan idolatry with a Christian facade.
Whatever happened to worshipping God in Spirit and in Truth by those who hunger and thirst after righteousness?
Remember Lot's wife.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Bro. James
We call her Ole Salty now......no connection to our own Salt Man in Upstate NY.
Spoken like an Ex-Lutheran.....no insult intended.
My mother (a RC) comes back from a skit put on by children at an IFB church my brother had membership in & her commentary was she couldn't understand those people.....they all in unison said Amen at the end of the skit....how bizarre!
Maybe you folks are just encountering more ex-Catholics ....maybe ex-Lutherans etc in your churches....LOL. Good luck with that! :laugh:
That calls for a good round of applause!
USN2Pulpit
New Member
Okay - as for applause in the church. Am I reading this wrong, or are the majority stating that "clap your hands, all ye people" does not mean applause?
What does it mean then? Certainly we can't ignore it. If it's in the Word, then certainly it's wholesome to do. If not with the assembly, then when? At home?
What does it mean then? Certainly we can't ignore it. If it's in the Word, then certainly it's wholesome to do. If not with the assembly, then when? At home?
You aren't IFB I am assuming?
You gots it......:applause::applause::applause:
If I'm reading agedman's interpretation of Psalm 47:1 it means you are to bring your hands together ONCE AND ONCE ONLY.
Can't mean at home. That does not encompass "all you people".
thisnumbersdisconnected
New Member
I have no problem with applause, and saying it is "problematic" as I noticed one member post, is pure legalism.
This past Sunday, our offertory was a piece that would have done Trans-Siberian Orchestra proud, performed by our own orchestra. It was truly amazing, and the musicians deserved the applause they garnered, to the glory of God.
I've not noted anyone applauding the pastor's sermon, though "Amen!" is still often heard in the sanctuary when he is preaching. I'm not sure any of us in our church consider that appropriate to the circumstance, though if he said something particularly and biblically profound, would applause be out of place? Probably not.
People applaud freely in our church following certain songs and at points during the message. We have no problem with it. It glorifies God.
evenifigoalone
Well-Known Member
To me clapping is less socially awkward than saying amen--I'm a shy person and tend not to speak out in a crowd.
Because I posted applause was problematic, I will respond.
"Problematic" is NOT pure legalism.
Problematic - notty, thorny, complicated...
I used problematic in the sense that it can be a thorny issue, an divisive issue, create a place in which distraction from the main focus can occur.
Look at the posted quote above and see how that very point of distraction was made.
"It was truly amazing, and the musicians deserved the applause they garnered, to the glory of God."
I have no problem with musicians cranking out their ditties with all their might to the honor of God. The time it takes to learn and develop a skill, such as true musicians have, is not an easy task - just as the skill of a professional painter, the oratorical abilities of a great actor, the visionary skills of the architect...
However, look at the wording of the statement. The musicians deserved the applause. Really? Why? At that point who was getting the praise?
Were they not doing their "reasonable service?" Does the church applaud the landscaper, the painter, the carpet cleaner, the ... for doing "reasonable service?" Romans 12 is very specific in this matter. When does reasonable service "deserve" applause?
Folks, applause is praise offered to the performers. As such, the performance was applauded.
That some want to add, "to the glory of God" doesn't it make the applause any less man glorifying if it is "deserved" by man.
At that point, the worship was toward man, not God. God was not glorified, man was. By praising the offering of humankind rather than the God of the offering.
Sort of like John, who when showed the glory of the second heaven and earth, fell down at the angel who showed him. Look carefully at the scene:
8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things. 9 But he *said to me, “Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who heed the words of this book. Worship God.”
Now I know folks were not bowing down, but they did take from the praise of God and place it upon the praise of musicians. Just as John was about to take from the praise of God and putting upon the praise of one who was also of humankind.
Folks, it is not "legalism" to state that applause can be problematic.
Just as the "amen" can be problematic when it is placed upon what is not God or in the truth of God.
When then does "Clap" become acceptable.
Let me give this scenario as ONE example.
Pretend you are destitute, and are about to eat the last noodle out of the Romain Noodle box that you have survived on the last three days.
A knock on the door brings fear that the debt collector has come to remove you from what little shelter you have.
Tepidly opening the door, you find glaring light of a camera, balloons, and a man handing you the check as winner of the large sweepstakes - you are now rich.
What is your reaction?
In joy you slap your hands together in a clasp showing thankfulness (Hebrew clap - for the word is in this manner a clasping as one grabbing hold of a bond slave, slapping a tent peg into place, hitting one up side the head so to speak). Surprise, joy, wonder, amazement - all giving out signs of great delight through body language.
But is there applause coming from you? no
Now apply that scene to John's reaction to the glory he was revealed.
Apply that to the amaze, wonder, joy, that should be a part of the worship - not human generated self imposed, but that as a reflection of what God bestows.
Applause can be problematic - and that statement is not "legalism."
Thank you for your opinion. You don't like applause so that makes it wrong for the rest of them that do. Most of the time I love to read your responses but on this you are not speaking from a Biblical wisdom but from your particular tradition. I don't like twangy church music so according to your reasoning I can say that it is problematic too.
This whole things reminds me of a CoC lady whose son played football with my son. She told me of how impressed she was that her pastor was now using power point presentations. The past Sunday he used a video of an eagle soaring to illustrate one of his points. I found it odd that they can't have a musical instrument in the worship service because they supposedly didn't have those in the New Testament. But, it's ok to have a video projector. And, funny that it's ok to say an english "amen" but it's not ok to clap. Weird!!
Applause MIGHT be praise, but more likely it is appreciation, or thanks. By applauding a musical performance people are not worshiping humans.
Sometimes at my church the congregation will applaud when the pastor makes a point. For example, if the preacher says, "We ought to be focused on Jesus 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, because when we are in Heaven that will be the focus!", and the congregation applauds are you really saying that the people are giving praise to the preacher?