More on hand shaking a/o or hugging during worship service

Can't stand it. I'd rather do my fellowship when I can actually talk to someone for more than a few seconds while a song is playing.

 

I don't know why we have to do it during the worship time. Why not before or after the service?

 

I agree. It should not be during worship. At the beginning of our service we do have a welcome, announcements, and a time of greeting - where you can shake hands, hug, kiss/kiss, whatever. Personally, I like it as it gives you a chance to greet someone you may not know - though I typically don't hug or kiss/kiss people I don't know.

Then, we have a call to worship - usually (but not always) using the Psalms. Here, technically the worship service begins. From that moment on until the the pastoral blessing at the very end, it is a "worship" service. We don't tell jokes, we don't sing happy birthday to Mrs. Jones on her 85th birthday, etc. We sing hymns & songs of praise, we read the Scriptures - sometimes responsively, we pray - sometimes in unison, we give tithes & offerings and we listen to the sermon. In other words, during the worship service, we worship. I know that might sound like splitting hairs, but IMHO it's an important point.

 

Expressing love for God's children, our family in Christ, is part of worship.

 

Exactly! I'd rather have someone invite me to lunch, or just go to lunch with some people afterwards (which some of us do).

I don't like shaking hands (some people have terrible habits) that much, but I will look for people who seem new and introduce myself, and ask them their name. Afterward the service, if I can catch them, I try to find out more about them and see if they want info on the church. I also invite them back.

 

I don't have to wait until the service and do it with a handshake and a hug. I only do that if I am told to. I express love in so many other ways outside of the service.

 

Hey, bay--beee.

If this were the case, I would love it and be careful to sit near that good looking guy I was interested in.... talk about sharing love.......:tonofbricks:

 

Really? When's the last time you kissed another believer who was not related to you, simply because scriptures tells you too? We don't usually go around kissing people do we, but we can at least shake their hands and perhaps hug a few, we aren't better then them, or at least I know I'm not. God commands interaction of a personal nature among believers. Whats wrong with it being a part of worship, isn't worship involve obedience to Gd?

 

We kiss others on the check all the time, as it is the custom here to do so. Just like it is the custom in many areas to shake hands.

 

Really? Did they give you a big check? :laugh:

 

"at least shake their hands?" "At Least perhaps hug a few?" That is all nice and well and good, but unless I care enough to "wash their feet"--what is a hug or a handshake??

God commanding interaction--if that is the wording you choose--is more than a shallow hug or handshake. It goes beyond to hurt when people hurt. I don't know that the handshake or hug during a worship service completely does that. It is almost like saying "Oh, I have done my interaction for the week because I shook someone's hand."

Is doing that really an act of worship?? You answer that question.

 

Sorry Donna. Don't agree at all. Greeting each other & saying hello may be a time of fellowship, but it is not worship.

 

Our 'greeting each other and visitors' time is right before the worship part of church begins and I always enjoy it.

We also have 'greeters' that shake your hand as they hand you the bulletin and give visitors cards to fill out.

I agree with Marcia, I try to welcome all visitors and find out more about them and then try to visit them and invite them back, or witness to them if the Holy Spirit leads.

We are not instructed on what to do, but the men hug the men and the women hug the women (if they want to). No kissing and no male to female hugging. Men and women shake hands though.