Repetitious Instructions To Clap For The Lord: Pros & Cons

[Michael37]

Given there are no New Testament verses speaking to the subject of "clap offerings", see below:

Pros:

1. Engagement: Encourages active participation, making the congregation feel more involved.

2. Unity: Creates a sense of community and shared purpose.

3. Expression: Allows people to express their joy and enthusiasm openly.

Cons:

1. Pressure: Some might feel obligated to clap, even if they don't feel comfortable.

2. Distraction: Can sometimes take away from the message being delivered.

3. Inauthenticity: If overdone, it might feel forced or insincere.

[Sower]

4 hours ago, Michael37 said:

Expression: Allows people to express their joy and enthusiasm openly.

When my wife and I and very young daughters paid a visit a different church yrs back, and it seemed most everyone were lifting up their hands when singing. I have no idea why but I have never felt comfortable doing that. My young daughter standing at my side ask me why the people were raising their hands. I told her that they were praising God by singing and lifting hands.
She said, 'dad why don't we raise our hands'...I never forgot that. I couldn't answer. I've never lifted 'holy' hands at worship.

[missmuffet]

4 hours ago, Michael37 said:

Given there are no New Testament verses speaking to the subject of "clap offerings", see below:

Pros:

1. Engagement: Encourages active participation, making the congregation feel more involved.

2. Unity: Creates a sense of community and shared purpose.

3. Expression: Allows people to express their joy and enthusiasm openly.

Cons:

1. Pressure: Some might feel obligated to clap, even if they don't feel comfortable.

2. Distraction: Can sometimes take away from the message being delivered.

3. Inauthenticity: If overdone, it might feel forced or insincere.

I have raised my hands before in a Church service in reverence to Jesus Christ when singing worship songs. Although I have never done so I don't think there is anything wrong in clapping.

[Michael37]

26 minutes ago, Sower said:

When my wife and I and very young daughters paid a visit a different church yrs back, and it seemed most everyone were lifting up their hands when singing. I have no idea why but I have never felt comfortable doing that. My young daughter standing at my side ask me why the people were raising their hands. I told her that they were praising God by singing and lifting hands.
She said, 'dad why don't we raise our hands'...I never forgot that. I couldn't answer. I've never lifted 'holy' hands at worship.

My arms are too tired to stay raised for long these days, and clapping more than once or twice in a 90 minute service is not appealing either. 

[Marathoner]

I've never heard of this, @Michael37. 

The only "forced" clapping that I know of occurs whenever one sings "Deep in the Heart of Texas." 

[Michael37]

1 hour ago, Marathoner said:

I've never heard of this, @Michael37. 

The only "forced" clapping that I know of occurs whenever one sings "Deep in the Heart of Texas." 

Some preachers punctuate their performance with things like, "can I get an Amen!", "can I get a witness!", and " give the Lord a clap, Amen, Hallelujah".

Often I find myself seated near someone who doesn't need to be told to do any of those, and they will go all out with loud spontaneous claps, exclamations, and various excited verbals, often in tandem with others spread among the congregation.

[missmuffet]

1 hour ago, Marathoner said:

I've never heard of this, @Michael37. 

The only "forced" clapping that I know of occurs whenever one sings "Deep in the Heart of Texas." 

Yes, I have not witnessed clapping very often. More of people lifting their hands to God.

[Neighbor]

And then there is the wave offering; at a moment of high emotion, with the passing  of an empty KFC chicken bucket through the crowd to receive the waved offerings.

Used to  be a cynical joke; Wave a $20 dollar bill  excitedly; and  then when that bucket approaches  drop a one dollar bill in that bucket.

I think that  if a person speaking needs to ask  for a clapping to keep attention of an "audience" they might need to work on their presentations a bit more. On the other hand; if a presentation is so interesting that one feels led in the Spirit  to clap, raise a hand, or even dance in place, or fist pump, a praise given to God by any  of those means is rather nice.

It has taken some 45 years ( for me) to get to that point, having been born again chosen and frozen KJV independent Baptist, but it is where I now am. Free to praise God at any moment and to tolerate others doing the same as they  might too be led of the Holy Spirit.

Sidenote: Better a speaker ask for a clap  to know people are listening than to be saying Right?, Right?, Right?,  throughout their presentation. Right?

Right? "I dunno, you tell me." On occasion a strong force makes me say that  if a person keeps say'n right? right?  after all their  verbal sentences and paragraphs.

But a clap offering hey it's free right? Go for it.

 

[Marathoner]

When I'm among an assembly, I'm quiet. This is because I "wait tables." What does that mean?

I am watching the assembly to serve; this service is dictated by the Lord. There is a portion for each member of His Body, and mine is to serve my neighbor. 

No hand-waving or noise... unless I have a shofar in my hands, that is. 

Edited October 30, 2024 by Marathoner

[Marathoner]

Of course, there were times when I literally waited tables, cleaned up tables, and worked out of the kitchen.