Applause!

Dancin'

I am tryin' to operate a refined church here, why would I go and do somethin' like that thar.

Besides, if I got all this belly mass to movin' too fast and the wrong way it would not be a pretty sight. Also, I don't want to die of a heart attack BEFORE I preach, I want that for after so a few more people would get right with God.

 

Man I just had an ugly thought about me dancing!!! Talk about a disgrace!!

I also think it is a cultural shift.. people are replacing one type of response (shouting) with another (clapping). I've done both, and both came from the same deep down moving of the Holy Ghost.

There was one time about a year ago though, that was kinda awkward..
A teenager had just been saved the week before.
She had just started to church, and I preached a moving sermon on the crucifixtion... as soon as I finished praying at the end of my sermon, she started applauding, when no one else did....

Of course If I had to sit through my sermons, I would probably applaud when I was finished also!!!

But she thought that was what she was supposed to do. It was the end of a show for her.

I think that was it....

Yeah....

hmmmm.

 

When I applaud after special music, I am applauding the words of the song that praise God. I am not applauding the singer.

If the song moves me, I will applaud whether the singer has any talent or not...

 

Yep, I have thought about that. Still makes me uncomfortable. I recognize that it has to do with the church culture I was reared in.

 

I've noticed the way we were raised effects us even when we know better. When I was young I was always the chubby kid, made fun of and everything. For some reason I could never even remember, maybe something extremely embarrassing happened, I was extremely shy so it could have been anything, so to shorten the story, I had never claped my hands, ever, not even when my children graduated. I couldn't, it felt emotionally painful for me. One day in prayer I knew God wanted me to applaud for Him. I could not do it. a few weeks later the youth preformed some song, don't recall what it was, it was a hymn, they did the stick routine and used sign language, it was gorgeous, I cried. I wanted to just jump up and clap my hands it was so wonderful. But I didn't because I would be the only one. i thought, I'll wait till they're done, everyone else with applaud surely it was so good. Well they did, and I couldn't, I said next time I will for sure. And plain as day I knew God was telling me, no now you have too. SO I did, and it wasn't painful at all like it had been in the past just trying. Now I don't mind it all, clapping my hands, but I only do it for worship, nothing else seems worthy.:godisgood:

 

I think a lot of our preferences have to do with the way we were raised. It's hard to leave behind those things that were simply a matter of practice and we never really questioned them. Like birds flock together so we get into our little groups of folk who think the way we do and no one really knows the reason for the decisions in the first place. It's just the way it has alway been done!

Them preferences though can cause a bunch of trouble when someone new comes in and does sumtin differ'nt!

 

I hear you, but what I notice is that slow quiet songs get amens in my church, and lively songs get applause. So it doesn't SEEM like the words are what is being applauded.
To me, it gets uncomfortably like applauding a performance on a stage.

 

Isn't it great when new believers know what they are saved from and to?

Ever notice how it is seldom if ever the new believers who complain about not understanding a sermon.

 

Playing devil's advocate...what's wrong with applauding the singer? If God has gifted them with the ability to sing, besides applauding the Word, and God, why not the fact the individual is using their gifts for the Kingdom?

 

My O P I N I O N

:saint: raying: I will simply state that I personally am not comfortable with the use of applause in a worship service. I have no scripture one way or the other to back this up...it's just that I have ALWAY'S used applause as a response to being entertained or to congratulate someone's achievements. I just feel it is an inappropriate response to matters of worship or being blessed with the hearing of uplifting songs of faith. I feel there HAS been a "cultural shift" of sorts that this generation many times comes to church seeking to be entertained. That is also why I reject much if not all of the CCM that is infiltrating many of our churches since it is,In MY OPINION,(which I am entitled to)nothing more that performance-based "entertainment" for the purpose of making money(see 1 Timothy 6:10) If you pay to go to a concert the applause is an appropriate response if you enjoy what you hear. If the kids in church get up and do something they have been coached to do...then that is also an accomplishment that may deserve applause. Funny thing is though....I currently go to a small SBC church where they applaud at just about everything (I do like a good hearty AMEN...or THAT'S RIGHT...but I rarely applaud...just don't think it is the right response). Feel free to do as you feel the Lord leads you...but as for me....naaaaaaa...............AMEN!!!!:laugh: :saint:

Greg Sr.

 

Sometimes I suppose it is fine. But I don't like it, I admit, when I have been listening to the words of a song, and then the pastor or speaker follows it with "Thank you for sharing your talent. This church is blessed to have such talented musicians." True, but then everybody starts thinking about that instead of the words they were singing.

 

Curious...why would an "amen" or "that's right" be an appropriate response...but not clapping?

 

a cultural thing

 

It must be. I would be more distracted by hearing people talking during a service than hearing applause. Normally when people talk, it is done with the intention of someone listening to THEM. Hearing someone shout "that's right" would turn my focus away from the message to whoever has the case of biblical Turrets Syndrome.

 

Again....Just my opinion

Webdog,
I don't have time right now to get into and indepth thing about it but I do believe the "shouting baptists" have a more "scriptural" leg to stand on when it comes down to RESPONSES in worship.For the time being though I'll just have to maintain my opinion as what it is. I feel right in my heart about it.If I get time to dig out some scriptures on the subject I'll post'em later....I know I have seen some that address the subject. I don't believe Heaven is going to be a quiet place.

Greg Sr.:saint:

 

I've told this story before on the BB, but it illustrates why I suspect that some worship music is not designed for worship, but to arouse emotions.

I attended a charismatic church service with a friend. Before it started people were fellowshipping. Then suddenly a heavy drum beat began, and the worship leader began clapping his hands to the beat. An electric guitar kicked in with a couple of other instruments, and a few folks began clapping as well. It was apparently not enough, because the worship leader shouted, "Come on, we've got to get in the spirit. C'mon!"

Pretty soon, everybody was clapping, dancing, jumping up and down, the choir swaying, hands waving all over.

These folks were in a frenzy, yet not a word of music had been sung, not one scripture had been read, the sermon was still 30 minutes away. Nothing had been done to produce an adoration of God. What was going on was in response to a heavy beat, in my opinion.

To me, this was not the Spirit of God coming down, this was some kind of spirit being worked up. Ever since, when I see these high-energy "worship" services, can anyone blame me for being a bit skeptical?

Spontaneous expressions of worship and adoration? Fine, even if applauding my solo makes me uncomfortable.

If it's contrived like the service I have described, then it's not worship, IMHO.

 

I don't think we'll be restricted from clapping either in heaven.

 

the charismatics I know wouldn't have this kind of music in their church or homes.

 

It is usually quite evident that "Amen" is directed to that which is said or preached. It means "so be it." The person saying "amen" whether aloud or in his heart, is agreeing with what is being said, and is being blessed by the message.

On the other hand, applause or clapping, by its very definition is praise being given to man or the messenger. It is not directed to God. This is one of my biggest criticisms of watching the Bill Gaither Gospel Hour. A song is sung and the audience claps, not for God, but for the performer, and the beautiful entertainment that he has provided. The glory is given to man, and not to God. Clapping is horizontal--manward. Saying amen is veritcal--Godward. The only time we hear clapping in our church is after some little children put on a small program, and that is mostly for their encouragement. But preachers aren't little children.

1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

 

So it is ok to encourage children, but not your pastor or other adults.

At what age do we have to stop encouraging each other?