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JMJ_coder
Guest
Why do members of some Protestant groups raise and wave their arms while singing hymns and songs? Is there a specific significance to this? And how did this develop?
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kimg901
Guest
Ive seen this also at my mother in laws church. Drives me crazy. To me its a little uncalled for along with the loud music, but hey…
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Neildown
Guest
I’ve seen this at my non-denominational Bible study - I find it a bit perplexing as well, though I kind of take it as incorporating emotional experiences with spiritual ones.
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Snowwhite16
Guest
Like you wrote, many non-denominational do this. Also, I can say from my personal experience down here in the south Baptist are known for this. They made me very uncomfortable. When I watched older time Billy Grahmn revivals…same thing there too.
Now growing up between Luthern and United Church of Christ…they were very traditional and serious. We would have NEVER EVER acted like that.
Some of the music in our parish is becoming more like a thigh slapping event…makes me want to run out.
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Honour
Guest
I do not understand how you could be driven crazy by something that happens at someone else’s church that is so innocuous. I mean if you don’t like it…don’t go. It’s one thing to say that what they preach drives you crazy because it it not true…but the volume of their music?
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Salusa
Guest
Lifting up ones hands is a sign of praising.
I’ve seen charismatic catholics do it as well.
4 To win thy favour is dearer to me than life itself; my songs of praise can no more be withheld. 5 So, all my life long, I will bless thee,** holding up my hands in honour of thy name**; 6 my heart filled, as with some rich feast, my mouth, in joyful accents, singing thy praise. Psalm 62
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Honour
Guest
Many reasons, same why some sway or clap or stand… it is a physical way express themselves.
Plus there are lots of references to raising hands when praying to or worshiping God in the Bible. A quick search finds some listed here:openbible.info/topics/lifting_hands
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Gospel_of_Chaos
Guest
This man knows what’s up!
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ltwin
Guest
It’s an act of worship. It is a sacrifice of praise to God. It could even be considered as a prayer in and of itself, as when you are so frustrated and you don’t know what do to and so you lift up your hands in supplication and prayer to God.
Psalm 134:2: “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD.”
Psalm 141:2: “Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and** the lifting up of my hands** as the evening sacrifice!”
Psalm 28:2: “Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy, when I cry to you for help, when I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary.”
Lamentations 2:19: “Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the night watches! Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord!** Lift your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint for hunger at the head of every street."
1 Timothy 2:9-10: "I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands** without anger or quarreling”
There are many other verses besides this that talk about lifting of hands as part of worship.
The raising of hands is a very ancient act of worship. It’s not just a Christian or Jewish thing either. I believe pagans in the Mediterranean world would have prayed with outstretched hands as well.
It sort of experienced a revival in the 19th and 20th centuries with more revivalistic and Pentecostal type traditions developing.
If you want to know more, look at the Wikipedia entry on the Orans.
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svid2
Guest
Maybe they want to be excused to use the bathroom.
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bzkoss236
Guest
I believe it is also used as a sign of surrender to God.
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kimg901
Guest
I dont attend no more. I told my mother in law they were some fake people running her church and guess what? They were. The pastor (his wife and kids) was taking the church money to go on trips and one of the sons was watching kiddie porno at church on the church computer. It didnt help that I told him to **** off in the middle of church too. I enjoy music, but when you cannot hear yourself speak, its too loud.
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kimg901
Guest
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ltwin
Guest
I don’t even know how to respond to this post. The whole thing, including your response to the pastor’s son, is completely bizarre. SMH.
And yet, I don’t see out of all of that craziness why the fact that people lift their hands to God should be what bothers you.
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kimg901
Guest
Its one thing to raise your arms while singing and give God praise. But whe your throwing your body around and gyrating on the floor, thats a bit much. The old pastor and his family were a bunch of frauds. The new pastor and I guess what would be his deacon (and their families) are wonderful people that I respect.I don’t even know how to respond to this post. The whole thing, including your response to the pastor’s son, is completely bizarre. SMH.
And yet, I don’t see out of all of that craziness why the fact that people lift their hands to God should be what bothers you.
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AbideWithMe
Guest
Along with what others have said, it’s a gesture of surrender, supplication, and openness. It’s a type of the ancient orans posture, as previously noted.
I’m pretty introverted and quiet, and it took me awhile to warm up to using the orans posture in worship. But when I finally did do it, I realized just how appropriate and natural a gesture it is. It’s as instinctive and meaningful as kneeling in worship to me now.
I’m pretty introverted and quiet, and it took me awhile to warm up to using the orans posture in worship. But when I finally did do it, I realized just how appropriate and natural a gesture it is. It’s as instinctive and meaningful as kneeling in worship to me now.
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Publisher
Guest
I must have missed something…where are we discussing “throwing” onesl selves around and “gyrating”? I thought we were discussing raising one’s hands in praise while singing?
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andrewstx
Guest
For many Pentecostals (not all) they go hand in hand.I must have missed something…where are we discussing “throwing” onesl selves around and “gyrating”? I thought we were discussing raising one’s hands in praise while singing?
Back in the 70s I attended Catholic Charismatic prayer meetings and Masses, but they were quiet and reverent, people including me raised hands but we did not get racous. It was a lot like Quaker Worship people sat quietly until moved by the spirit to speak.
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ltwin
Guest
Really??? Do tell?
In reality, raising one’s hands is quite different from “throwing oneself around” and “gyrating”. One involves the lifting of one’s hands. The other involves, well “gyrating.”
And another thing, “gyrating” is a word with some negative connotations. It suggests “suggestive” movements, and it is ridiculous to say that any one moved to worship God with their whole body, mind, and soul is “gyrating” provocatively.
There is a time and place for everything. Sometimes its good to wait on the Lord in the stillness and splendor of His holiness. Other times, it is good to lift up your voice and dance before the Lord.
I’m sorry to burst everyone’s bubble, but when David was before the very presence of the Lord he did offer God praise by “leaping and dancing.” Of course, not everyone could tolerate such openness and vulnerability. David’s wife told David he was “vulgar,” but David was not phased or troubled. He told his wife, “I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes.” (2 Samuel 6:16-23)
Who said that praise to God had to be dignified or acceptable to the sensibilities of bystanders?
I’m sorry for making a big deal about this. But I find it odd that so many people have so many ideas about what is the proper and right ways to worship God that in reality often contradict examples we are shown in Scripture. If its good enough for King David to praise God in a dance and a shout, why not for me?
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kimg901
Guest
Yeah I went off track there Pub. It just left me with a bad image. Sorry. Not all churches are like that, so for that, im sorry.I must have missed something…where are we discussing “throwing” onesl selves around and “gyrating”? I thought we were discussing raising one’s hands in praise while singing?
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