Monday, April 30, 2012

Applause In Church -Why?


Friends I want to hear from you on this.
I do not have the ultimate answer but a question to be asked.
Please read through and leave your opinion.

About applause in church.
Is there applause in church today?
Yes.
This is not the 1950's.
Worship has relaxed or been empowered in our local service.
There are many varying opinions on that.
This is not the 1950's.
We clap in church.
First churches do it and country churches do it.
Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal's, I suspect even Presbyterians do it.

Why?
It is O.K. by Scripture.

Psalms 47:1 (NASB)
"47 O clap your hands, all peoples; Shout to God with the voice of joy."

But I always feel we applaud for the wrong reasons.

Jesus said worship in spirit.

John 4:24 (NASB)
"24 "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

This is when I am confused.
Yes I can be socially awkward.
The wrong thing said or done at the wrong time is what I often do.

We clap after music.
It is said it is for the Lord.
A cute kid on display gets thunderous applause.
An erratic but heartfelt solo will get some sympathetic applause.
A "Hillsong" type polish by a singer gets a huge response "praising the Lord."

Why are we erratic in applauding in worship if God is the center and object of worship?

What should be the logical expression of worship after "The Word of Life" is read?
Back flips off the pulpit? (If your congregation has one)

What then should we do when the Word of God is read and uttered to mere people in a meeting
and are privileged to hear.
John 3:16(NASB)
   "16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."

Or

1 Timothy 1:15 (NASB)
  "15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all."

The Word of God, Jehovah, Yahweh, The Ancient of Days, The creator of Heaven and Earth has spoken to us in Scripture.
What do we do then?

Not sarcasm but a question.
Contemporary worship needs to read more Scripture.
It is not bad but right to have Old Testament, Psalms and Proverbs along with New Testament readings in our worship.

So, how do we react to the main thing?
What is our natural way to respond to the Most High?

The actual Word of Him to us in worship of Him, how should we react then?


Please respond- no critiques of non sarcastic remarks.
I want to hear from you.

So applause in church?  Yes or No?
Here is an add on question.
When and why?

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