Worship and Hand Raising or Maybe - Raise Your Hand If You're looking To Switch Churches

QUESTION RECEIVED:

Is it OK to lift your hands in praise to God during music in church service? Why do people tend to take offense at it? Would this imply trying another bible-based church that is more accepting of it? Profile:Male 18-30 North America

QUESTION ANSWERED:

Is it OK to raise your hands in church? Why are you asking me. It is God who you are worshiping .Clearly these two passages of Scripture validate hand raising in worship. These verses validate and do not mandate you do raise your hands in worship.

1 Timothy 2:8 English Standard Version (ESV) "8I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;"

Psalm 134:2 English Standard Version (ESV) "2 Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the LORD!"

The question is perhaps better asked saying; "Is hand raising a God honoring action when you do it?" Does it match the tone the Holy Spirit is setting in worship? Are you doing it to get attention? Only you and the Lord know this answer.

Worship and your affiliation with a local congregation as a member are things not to take lightly. God greatly cares about worship and how we represent Him. Example Uzza. God never told him to approach his presence and touch His abode the ark. Bad idea Uzza.

2 Samuel 6:5-7

English Standard Version (ESV)

Uzzah and the Ark

2 Samuel 6:5-7

"5And David and all the house of Israel were making merry before the LORD, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals. 6And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. 7And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God."

In 1st Samuel chapter 2 young priests Hophni and Phinehas, two young priest were taken out by the will of the Lord by how they treated worship at the altar and Israel's sacrifice.

The church is in charge of maintaining right worship, discipleship and evangelism.

The church serves locally and abroad with her missions outside the church and ministries to the body of Christ. The New Covenant is observed through the remembrance of the shedding of the blood and the sacrificed body of her savior Jesus Christ. You claimed to be joined with these people by the blood of Jesus. This is not trivial.

So over raising hands, or not, you are considering breaking fellowship and leaving over this one cultural preference of worship?

Ask yourself why do you really want to leave? Feelings or service? Is the Lord worshiped? Are disciples made? Is evangelism being done? Is the Bible the authority of your congregation?

Sometimes we move and have to change churches. Sometimes we leave as we are going to serve at another church. Know and trust the living God on what you should do. Do not make a church leaving decision on a preference on something this small or singular.You have a perfect Lord as head of your church. When you join any congregation you will be surrounded by sinners, just that these sinners claim redemption by Christ. Move slowly brother.

In Christ Alone!

Fletcher Law