Applauding in a church service

[Salty]

What are your thoughts about applauding during a church service?
Never?
Depends?
Whenever?

Any Scripture reference for or against?

Is it encouraged or is it discouraged?

Open for discussion

 

[David Lamb]

What are your thoughts about applauding during a church service?
Never?
Depends?
Whenever?

Any Scripture reference for or against?

Is it encouraged or is it discouraged?

Open for discussion

Whom is being applauded? I have never been in a church service involving applause, but I have occasionally seen services on television which including applause, invariable after somebody (or a group of people) has put on a performance of some kind, so the applause was, I imagine, for the performers. I don't see any scriptural warrant for performances as part of a service.

 

[Salty]

Applauding is now standard procedure in a majority of American churches.

 

[KenH]

Whom is being applauded? I have never been in a church service involving applause, but I have occasionally seen services on television which including applause, invariable after somebody (or a group of people) has put on a performance of some kind, so the applause was, I imagine, for the performers. I don't see any scriptural warrant for performances as part of a service.

A lot of people want to be entertained.

2 Timothy 4:1-4
I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

 

[David Lamb]

A lot of people want to be entertained.

2 Timothy 4:1-4
I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Yes, and it is quite natural to applaud entertainers. But worship services are not to entertain us.

 

[Silverhair]

Applauding is now standard procedure in a majority of American churches.

I am not sure which came first, the applause or the preacher performing.

 

[rsr]

Preachers have been performing for much longer.

I do not like applause; probably that's because it would have been unthinkable when I was growing up.

 

[SovereignGrace]

Our church gives applause after someone sings a song, but we are a congregation of 20-25, so it’s not deafening.

 

[Reynolds]

What are your thoughts about applauding during a church service?
Never?
Depends?
Whenever?

Any Scripture reference for or against?

Is it encouraged or is it discouraged?

Open for discussion

Never really thought about it. It has just always been done in the Churches I have attended.

 

[KenH]

I was raised in the Church of Christ and in the 42 years I attended such churches, there were no choirs, no solos, and no clapping, only congregational singing.

For the few years that I attended a Southern Baptist Church, there was a choir, solos, even a band, and clapping.

Now after being regenerated and attending a Sovereign Grace Church for the past five years, there is no choir, no solo, no band, no clapping, only congregational singing.

 

[Kai]

I would say applause is permitted as long as the intent is to offer praise and encouragement among the saints.

Psalm 47
O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NASB)
Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you also are doing.

 

[Armchair Apologist]

What are your thoughts about applauding during a church service?
Never?
Depends?
Whenever?

Any Scripture reference for or against?

Is it encouraged or is it discouraged?

Open for discussion

Applause is simply the expression of approval or appreciation in the same manner that one shouts "Amen!" I was in a certain church that was big in giving "Standing Ovations" to certain men who were regarded by the pastor (and therefore to the congregation - not the connection here) as being "Heroes of the Faith" or whatever. I am all for giving such appreciation and encouragement but in this congregation, you often stood and applauded out of peer pressure because if you were not, what is wrong with you? Sort of like North Koreans not applauding for Kim Jong Un?

Our congregation often applauds the speaker for a message that has been preached. Not going to say whether it is right or wrong as I do not teach or preach for applause but I would regard such as simply being a "custom" of our congregation.