Do We Bow Down Enough in Church?

[Mark Corbett]

I agree with you. Most of us Baptists are so afraid of hypocrisy that we strive away from things like clapping in church, bowing down, lifting out hands, etc. It is sad but it true!

Yes, but being afraid of hypocrisy might not be the only motive.

There are also may be motives related to fear of what others will think, too much emphasis on traditions, and just wanting to be comfortable.

 

[Squire Robertsson]

I don't see the lack among Anglo-American Baptists as hypocrisy, I see it as a well founded severe allergic reaction to popery.

 

[Squire Robertsson]

I say this as Baptists not kneeling during corporate prayer is not a new phenomenon. I would hazard to say not kneeling has been Anglo-American Baptist practice for well over three hundred years.

I don't see the lack among Anglo-American Baptists as hypocrisy, I see it as a well-founded severe allergic reaction to popery.

 

[HankD]

Personally though I do practice kneeling on occasion for prayer, after some consideration, to me it's not an issue.

HankD (former Catholic)

 

[TCassidy]

My problem is once I get down I can't get back up. But God looks at the posture of my heart, not my crippled up legs.

 

[agedman]

Do we bow down enough in church services?

The meaning of the Greek word most commonly translated "worship" (proskuneo) is :

worship or veneration of a divine or supposedly divine object, expressed concretely with falling face down in front of someone (Friberg Lexicon)​

This meaning is very clear in many of the uses of the word "worship" (proskuneo) in the Bible. For example:

NIV 1 Corinthians 14:25b So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!"

NIV Revelation 11:16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God,

I feel that many of our Baptist churches (including the one where I serve) may be missing something because we rarely have settings where we physically bow down before God. Of course, our heart attitude is far more important than our physical position. Still, is there something about the physical position of bowing on the floor which helps us feel and show our relationship to God? Does it more clearly show our submission to God? What do you think?

(Thanks to BaptistBoard member “John of Japan” for pointing out the meaning of proskuneo to me.)

Long ago, I served in a church that still used the kneeling benches. I thought them quite old fashioned, until I saw the assembly earnestly pleading.

As one who long ago lost the oil out of the knee joints, it is not so much a problem because the work of gravity helps me get down, but have an enormous problem with gravity not desiring me to get back up.

One of the great example of prayer is given in Exodus 33.

Here is an article that would be a good read for those serious about their own prayer life. Scriptures are used throughout it for support.

The Presence of God with His People

 

[Martin Marprelate]

My problem is once I get down I can't get back up. But God looks at the posture of my heart, not my crippled up legs.

Yep! The part of the world where I live is the retirement capital of the UK. Half my congregation couldn't get down to kneel and the other half couldn't get up again! The spirit may be willing but the flesh is decidedly weak.
At the present time I am blessed to be able to get up and down without too much problem, but how long that will last I cannot tell.

 

[Felipe Rios]

I suppose if you go to church to be entertained clapping is appropriate.

I have never been in a church where bowing of the head in prayer is not practiced.

A sadly misunderstood part of the bible. When we read in
1 Timothy 2:8 "I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting" first of all it is talking about prayer. Second it is a reference to Exodus 17 when God told Moses to stand on the hill and hold his hands in the air and as long as he did so Israel would prevail in the battle. This was to insure the people knew the victory was not due to their military skills but to God's grace.

When his arms got tired and he could no longer hold them up Aaron and Hur stepped in and held Moses' arms up and Israel prevailed in the battle.

The reference is to help others, not to indicate some self-serving "look at me! Look how spiritual I am" pride on the part of the person.

Who said clapping is for entertainment only?

 

[Felipe Rios]

Yes, but being afraid of hypocrisy might not be the only motive.

There are also may be motives related to fear of what others will think, too much emphasis on traditions, and just wanting to be comfortable.

And Baptists are afraid of being like the Charismatics.

 

[Mark Corbett]

I often take a blog post and modify it and then post it on Baptist Board for discussion. But with this topic, I started with the discussion. After listening to your thoughts and ideas I wrote a blog post on this topic. I don't think it contains much new to this discussion, but if anyone is interested in reading my attempt at sharing what I've learned from Scriptures and this discussion with y'all, you may read my blog post here.

Feel free to return here and share comments if you have any (in addition to what you've already helpfully shared).

 

[tyndale1946]

Personally though I do practice kneeling on occasion for prayer, after some consideration, to me it's not an issue.

HankD (former Catholic)

Nor me!... Here is an interesting story that happened to me in the Marines... In our church we do not have prayer benches and I don't believe I was ever in a church that did... I was serving in a funeral detail after I returned from Nam and we were told to march in and remain standing... The Marine in front of me had never seen a prayer bench either... So when we turned into the pews he hit the prayer bench which was lowered and tried to keep his balance... Me following right behind him followed suit as we both stumbled and almost fell into the front pews... Luckily for both of us we didn't end up in the front pew... That is one Marine Corp embarrassment of the past I can do without... Now I'm like TC I don't kneel anymore as it would take the congregation to get me up... I'm thankful that God looks at the posture of the heart... Brother Glen

 

[Felipe Rios]

We would be shocked the way people worship God in third world countries like many in Africa. We had a missionary come to our church to present the work. He showed us a video on their kids singing and worshipping God. They were dancing and clapping while singing to God. Most of my brethren in the states would have a fit if they did that here lol
Look, I'm against the charismatic movement because of their horrible theology, but to say that clapping, raising hands, shouting amen and even dancing cannot be issued as worship is equivalent to saying that you must wear a suit and tie to church to look the best for God.
If the bible doesn't say something is a sin, it is better to leave it as a gray area and not split hairs about it. At the end of the day, it comes down to "whatever is not from faith is sin" (Rom.14:23).