Hand Raising in Worship

[CF1]

What are your thoughts and choices on Hand Raising in Worship?

I know there have been other threads on this subject but no polls yet.

Check all boxes that apply.

 

[annsni]

I don't always raise my hands but certainly will at times. Most of the time I'm running the computer so it's hard to raise my hands.

 

[Alcott]

I suppose I don't even lift my hand(s) as much as chest-high-- we haven't used hymn books in years now.

 

[Ruiz]

If you tell a hispanic to be still during worship, it is like telling a cricket not to jump. I don't dance, but I love worshipping. Oh, and I raise hands too.

 

[webdog]

I don't. At times I think it can be distracting and puts the focus on the one doing it, but I certainly understand why people do and don't have a problem with it.

I do think some use it as a spirituality gauge, and to that I disagree.

 

[Amy.G]

Well I raise my hands in worship, so call me what you will. :tongue3:

Raising hands is nothing new. It was done for centuries by the Jews. They're worship was anything but quiet. They also clapped, shouted, and danced.

 

[annsni]

We all worship something. I prefer to raise my hands for Jesus over Justin Beiber. These girls however, worship Justin.

 

[seekingthetruth]

The last time I raised my hands in church they said I was volunteering to shovel the snow off of the parking lot.

John

 

[seekingthetruth]

Well I raise my hands in worship, so call me what you will. :tongue3:

Raising hands is nothing new. It was done for centuries by the Jews. They're worship was anything but quiet. They also clapped, shouted, and danced.

hey Amy

Sadly though, raising of hands has been associated with Charasmatics in recent years, Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Kenneth Hagan, ect.

It's not a fair association, but it is what it is none the less. We can thank television for that.

John

 

[Zenas]

It's undignified. Jesus is God, not a rock star. He should be approached with humility and contrition.

Oh yes, my answer to the poll is "none of the above."

 

[Alive in Christ]

I raise my arms in worship of God sometimes. It just seems to be a very natural, instinctive thing to do...considering the greatness of our God.

 

[Alive in Christ]

edit...accidental duplicate.

 

[Winman]

As a guitar player and drummer, I can't help but move to music. I don't raise my hands, but I do tap my feet and often quietly drum on the pew ahead of me with my hands. I move all over, but nothing that would draw attention. This is not for attention, I naturally feel and move to music. And we only sing old traditional hymns!

 

[righteousdude2]

If You Can Jump and Shout and Wave Your Hands....

....During a sporting event, what stops you from doing this, and more, when in the presence of the One, who died for your sin, and guaranteed that you would not die but live forever with Him in Glory. :thumbsup:

That is more than enough reasons to JUMP, SHOUT, and RAISE your hands. :applause:

 

[FR7 Baptist]

It's undignified. Jesus is God, not a rock star. He should be approached with humility and contrition.

I agree 100%. It seems that many people these days want to take any sense of dignity out of the worship service.

 

[righteousdude2]

Praise and Worship has Nothing to do with Dignity...

I disagree with Paul3134.

....If you can jump, shout, and raise your voice during a sporting event, rock concert, or some other-worldly event, WHAT is keeping you from giving the same kind of praise to the One, who died for your sin and guarantees you eternal life?

I can't think of a better time or reason to "dance like David did" and jump, shout and raise your hands like Joshua and the children of Israel when they finished their march around Jericho, and watched as the walls came crashing down.

The Israelites were known for their willingness to show their appreciation to Jehovah Jirah with the full and complete expression of praise and worship when they came into the presence of their God.

I think there will be a lot of folks in heaven getting a crash course in the art of praise and worship as they are summoned to gather around the Holy of Holies.

SEE: http://farsipraise.net/blog/2008/05/examples-of-power-of-praise.html

There is meaning behind the term "sacrifice of praise!"

 

[MicahJF612]

I'm finding Biblical fault with a few people who stand against the raising of hands. Didn't David, God's chosen king, ancestor of the King of Kings, worship in the nude? And then, when his wife rebuke him, she brought upon herself the wrath of God?

God calls us to totally submit ourselves to Him. I wouldn't dare give anything less. I've occasionally fallen to my knees and simply praised Him with all my might, my head to the ground and head facing eastward, I have poured out my heart to the most high.

Bible-beating Christians should be worshiping the most high, not wishing to 'maintain order'. If God, in His infinite wisdom, had designed us to be robots, why wouldn't he have simply given us no choice? But no, instead He calls us to give life our all, and, more importantly, to Him. We should hold nothing back.

And if the Holy Spirit doesn't put that upon your heart, then I personally believe you are missing out on an awesome way to commune with the Creator of the Universe. Not that it somehow makes you 'holier'. It is simply, in my opinion, an amazing way to worship.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

I don't. At times I think it can be distracting and puts the focus on the one doing it, but I certainly understand why people do and don't have a problem with it.

I do think some use it as a spirituality gauge, and to that I disagree.

Nothing on the poll described me,but I come real close to this opinion. I may raise a hand slightly, but it has nothing to do with whether I should or should not do. I have no issue with it. I understand why others do.

However, as Brother Carpro said, I do have a real issue with those who question the spirituality of someone because they either do or do not raise hands in worship.

 

[Luke2427]

I don't. At times I think it can be distracting and puts the focus on the one doing it, but I certainly understand why people do and don't have a problem with it.

I do think some use it as a spirituality gauge, and to that I disagree.

Wow. I agree.

Although I do occasionally life a hand in the appropriate circumstance.

I find that most of the time it is exactly as webdog says here.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

I'm finding Biblical fault with a few people who stand against the raising of hands. Didn't David, God's chosen king, ancestor of the King of Kings, worship in the nude? And then, when his wife rebuke him, she brought upon herself the wrath of God?

God calls us to totally submit ourselves to Him. I wouldn't dare give anything less. I've occasionally fallen to my knees and simply praised Him with all my might, my head to the ground and head facing eastward, I have poured out my heart to the most high.

Bible-beating Christians should be worshiping the most high, not wishing to 'maintain order'. If God, in His infinite wisdom, had designed us to be robots, why wouldn't he have simply given us no choice? But no, instead He calls us to give life our all, and, more importantly, to Him. We should hold nothing back.

And if the Holy Spirit doesn't put that upon your heart, then I personally believe you are missing out on an awesome way to commune with the Creator of the Universe. Not that it somehow makes you 'holier'. It is simply, in my opinion, an amazing way to worship.

This is the kind of attitude that bothers me on this. It should be a non-issue, a matter of personal liberty. It would be false for me to raise both hands and sway to the music. To imply that because I don't worship in the same manner as others I am somehow 'missing out' is a judgement call. There are many times when we sing some of our that I can't even sing, much raise my hands and sway, because I am on such deep worship that I am in tears of joy, adoration, and gratitude.

We are all different. We should worship according to who we are, not according to who someone else thinks we should be.