Is it proper to applaude in church.

[~Shalhevet~]

I don't feel comfortable clapping or making a scene in church. But I'm a bit of a traditionalist.

[redwing]

My oldest sister and I were brought up in the Pentecostal church. Applause was encouraged after a song / sermon. The Baptist church she now atends frowns upon any applause. I dont go to her church very often. I dont know who is right,her church or me. I dont remember the psalm but I belive it says: oh clap your hands together all ye people".

I know this is a tough question , but please advise me on this.

To me, it depends on the church. I have attended churches where applause is the norm, and I clapped. I have attended other churches where nobody ever clapped, and I remained silent. You need to respect the beliefs of the church you are attending, and the order they have established. I don't know of any scripture that would say you were right or wrong to clap for something said in a message, but it isn't really any differen't than saying A-men in agreement. I am not as sure about clapping for a performance, but there is nothing in scripture that says it is wrong.

[redwing]

My oldest sister and I were brought up in the Pentecostal church. Applause was encouraged after a song / sermon. The Baptist church she now atends frowns upon any applause. I dont go to her church very often. I dont know who is right,her church or me. I dont remember the psalm but I belive it says: oh clap your hands together all ye people".

I know this is a tough question , but please advise me on this.

To me, it depends on the church. I have attended churches where applause is the norm, and I clapped. I have attended other churches where nobody ever clapped, and I remained silent. You need to respect the beliefs of the church you are attending, and the order they have established. I don't know of any scripture that would say you were right or wrong to clap for something said in a message, but it isn't really any differen't than saying A-men in agreement. I am not as sure about clapping for a performance, but there is nothing in scripture that says it is wrong.

[brightmorningstar]

Well there are scriptural references. Probably not good if it is being done to praise a performance, but yep sound good to me, I clap.

NB the spirit is not the same as emotion, emotion may accompany the spirit but the two are different.

Its a good test if one is hearing from God

[sPrevorb31]

My oldest sister and I were brought up in the Pentecostal church. Applause was encouraged after a song / sermon. The Baptist church she now atends frowns upon any applause. I dont go to her church very often. I dont know who is right,her church or me. I dont remember the psalm but I belive it says: oh clap your hands together all ye people".

I know this is a tough question , but please advise me on this.

I think it's fine to applaud, and it encourages the person you are applauding for - plus it makes the applauder feel right. However, if you are going to go to a church which frowns on it, you may want to follow the rules so that you don't get kicked out.

[Leonard]

Scripture indicates there was rowdy noise in many of the Jewish services, and Yahweh is '....greatly (Hebrew; LOUDLY) to be praised.'

"CLAP your hands, all ye people; shout unto God......"

[Fez]

Sometimes I stand on my chair and clap, sometimes I fall to my knees, sometimes I just bow my head and pray into the worship, sometimes I read my bible while worshiping. Sometimes I am manning the AV desk, and can't join in, but even that is a form of worship.

We worship an audience of One, and our clapping should be to Him, and not to the worship group. So in a case of worshiping our Lord by clapping, no problem!

You too brother! I'm a chair stander as well. I don't care who thinks I'm crazy.

We'll have to worship together sometime brother. I'm just as likely to leap into your lap as I am to chair stand and clap.

That would require a video ...

And a strong chair

[enoob57]

Sometimes I stand on my chair and clap, sometimes I fall to my knees, sometimes I just bow my head and pray into the worship, sometimes I read my bible while worshiping. Sometimes I am manning the AV desk, and can't join in, but even that is a form of worship.

We worship an audience of One, and our clapping should be to Him, and not to the worship group. So in a case of worshiping our Lord by clapping, no problem!

You too brother! I'm a chair stander as well. I don't care who thinks I'm crazy.

We'll have to worship together sometime brother. I'm just as likely to leap into your lap as I am to chair stand and clap.

That would require a video ...

And a strong chair

I know a Good Carpenter!!!

[The_Patriot21]

I think it depends on the reason your clapping. The point of church is to worship God-so if your clapping to worship God, say in a song-or in celebration of someone coming to the Lord-then yes I say its cool to applaud in church. However, if the only reason to applaud is to celebrate an manly deed, then I would hesitate-at least during the actual church service. If it focuses the attention on God then yes-if it takes the attention away from God, then no. Thats just my two cents anyway.

[Fez]

Sometimes I stand on my chair and clap, sometimes I fall to my knees, sometimes I just bow my head and pray into the worship, sometimes I read my bible while worshiping. Sometimes I am manning the AV desk, and can't join in, but even that is a form of worship.

We worship an audience of One, and our clapping should be to Him, and not to the worship group. So in a case of worshiping our Lord by clapping, no problem!

You too brother! I'm a chair stander as well. I don't care who thinks I'm crazy.

We'll have to worship together sometime brother. I'm just as likely to leap into your lap as I am to chair stand and clap.

That would require a video ...

And a strong chair

I know a Good Carpenter!!!

Ain't that the truth!