Raising hands during worship

[ladyevidence]

Perhaps they are doing it with the wrong motivation and are just doing it to be noticed.

Some people do do that, and I think it's not bad to ask yourself if you are doing the same thing (I'm not saying anyone here is, just that it's good to find out if you are!)

If you do feel self-conscious, then go ahead and stop. Don't let anyone judge you for not lifting your hands! There are a lot of places that show that people lifting their hands is a good thing, but none (that I've seen) that say that NOT lifting your hands is a bad thing! But worship is a time to be focused on Christ, and not yourself or where your hands are. Don't feel like you have to force it.

when i raise my hands, i also think about a child raising up their hands to their father to be picked up. and i think about surrender. we raise our hands in surrender.

That IS a really awesome comment. I love that. Amen!

I often close my eyes during worship, because I don't need to be looking at anything.

I do, too. Sometimes things are too distracting. Closing my eyes sometimes helps me bring my heart, mind, and soul to the only thing in my life that really matters at that moment: Giving Jesus all the love, adoration, attention, praise, and worship I can give, because He is worthy.


That being said:
I actually posted in another topic my original obstacles with raising my hands for worship. I use to be polytheistic and into the occult, so I use to raise my hands a lot during those kinds of things. Doing it during service always brought my mind to those things, and I would feel ashamed that the memories even entered my thoughts when I wanted to worship with my whole being. My mindset actually changed in a single moment. It was as if someone said to me: "You would raise your hands for those things, and not for the Living God? For the Creator of the universe?" Since then, it's never been a problem. Ask yourself what's stopping you from raising your hands in adoration. If it's because pride starts to creep in, then stop until that pride or self-consciousness is gone. Those really has no place in worship. If it's because you're holding back, ask yourself what is holding you back, and ask yourself and God if that needs to change. If you think my advice is bad, then feel free to toss it! I see no reason to force people to raise their hands. I'd rather it be because their worship won't let them hold back than from an intellectual decision or because someone else told them they "should".

[UCF_blackfroggy]

sometimes I do, sometimes I don't raise my hands in worship (just depends if I really feel God's presence in my worship).

[saraek]

When I first started going to church, I didn't raise my hands...I had a view (and I'm ashamed to admit this now) that people who raised their hands and worshiped God were all weirdos. Now I envy them! I want to feel that close to God that I can raise my hands and worship Him. I went to my cousin's church with her over Labor Day weekend and almost everyone there raised their hands while singing and in worship. I did it myself... I don't see anything wrong with it...

Sara

[xrestoredx]

I raise my hands during worship all the time, i do it because its just an expression of how im feeling with God at that moment, but i think we have to be careful that it doesnt just become something we do cause everyone else is doing it.

[Meg]

Bump!

[porcupinefactory]

I've been thinking about this 'raising hands during worship' issue, and I'd like to start off by saying that generally I don't see it as wrong and neither do I jump to conclusions about the people doing it around me during worship.

However, my concern is that sometimes it is implied that if we don't raise our hands during worship, we don't have the heart for worshipping God. It seems that sometimes we're being peer pressured into doing so.
Seriously, when we are singing during worship and meaning every word with our heart when we sing, is it invalidated and insincere just because we don't raise our hands and jump and dance and twirl around?
Yes, the outward deeds can be a sign of what's in the heart. But I don't think that can apply 100% to raising hands during worship.

[porcupinefactory]

I don't know how to edit my post, but I'd like to add that I'm not directing my post at people here. It's what I've been hearing now and then IRL.

[Jolene]

I don't know how to edit my post, but I'd like to add that I'm not directing my post at people here. It's what I've been hearing now and then IRL.

I don't think it was taken that way! I agree that it shouldn't be taken that way either. I mean I sometimes raise my hands, but not all of the time, and I don't think it is required of us. It's just one way to surrender to God during worship!

[Michelle]

There is many different ways to worship and I think that most* are acceptable. I, personally, very rarely raise my hands but it has nothing to do with thinking it is wrong or that it has the wrong "image". I don't even think about raising hands when I'm singing, I'm the type of person who gets lost in the lyrics and thinking about what they really mean to me. To an outsider, it may seem as though I am not "worshipping" because I may just be standing there but in my mind as I'm singing I am going over what each verse means to me.
In my church we normally sing 5 songs before the sermon. Normally the first 3 are more "up-beat" and the worship Pastor asks us to stand for those but the last 2 are more mellow and he asks us to sit. I have no problem with people raising hands and dancing during the first 3 songs but I find it very distracting and somewhat inconsiderate to stand after the Pastor has asked us to sit. That's when I question motives; You have to know that nearly ever person behind you is seated and you are now blocking their view.

[hopefulliehope]

I raise my hands a lot when I worship. For me, that's just the way that I experience God's presence. Anyone who knows me can tell you I'm a pretty motion-filled person. I fidget, bounce my leg when I'm sitting, and occasionally dance at random times to the music in my head lol. In that sense, it's only natural for me to worship with my whole body by lifting my hands or dancing. If I'm in a situation where that would be distracting, I try to contain myself to toe-tapping or something or if possible move to the side or the back to be out of people's line of view.

I think it is perfectly fine to not raise your hands in worship. People experience God in different ways. Whatever gets you engaged with the words and focused on God, I feel that's what you should do. It just may look different for each individual person.

[Rose]

This thread is so beautiful. It is wonderful how our bodies were designed for worshiping Him!!

[jmljasmine]

There are some people in my church who used a comparison for raising our hands and shouting out prayers. Although it was initially in the context that we should do those things, for me it explained that it is alright not too. (I just don't think they have met many people like me )
They used sports games as an example but it could be video games or anything you may get excited about.
Imagine you are watching one of these and something happens to make you excited. What would you do? Most people's answer is shout, cheer, jump up. They why not do that for God who should make you more excited then any of those things.
The trick for me though is I don't shout, cheer, of jump up if I get excited or am touched by an event or performance. I smile, clasp my hands, hug myself... I tend to naturally do the quiet things. I use to shout and jump up in high school when I was trying to copy the "in crowd".
So, I do what is natural. I do do what I would with any thing else that touches me when I'm worshiping God, I just don't force myself to do things because it's natural for everyone else. I just need to remind myself not to let it bother me when people question me that I'm not spiritually growing because I'm not doing those things. I need to remind myself that it's what God thinks of my actions only that matters.

[Skaramouche]

What a great way of explaining it all!! I've never heard it explained like that.
I used to think that those people who were raising their hands were having a better worship session than me who was quietly singing with my arms around me, even though I know that we all worship God differently.

You wrote "I'm worshiping God, I just don't force myself to do things because it's natural for everyone else. I just need to remind myself not to let it bother me when people question me that I'm not spiritually growing because I'm not doing those things. I need to remind myself that it's what God thinks of my actions only that matters."

Amen to that sister!!!!!!!!

[LilysMama777]

Praying with one's arms outstretched is definitely Biblical and historical, especially for women. In the catacombs in Rome, one of the most commonly depicted figures is that of a female with her arms outstretched, the Orans, meaning "one who prays." This position for prayer is as old as Christianity itself.

Because I'm Catholic I don't use it during Mass; we believe that that posture for prayer is reserved for the celebrant of the Mass alone (the priest). But Catholics are certainly able to use this posture while praying in private. You will still see some Catholics praying in the orans position during Mass, but it is technically not appropriate.

Anyway, all that to say that I don't raise my hands to worship personally, but if you do, you have a ton of history and tradition behind you!! Which is great!

[Ericka_Renewed]

I often feel moved to raise my hand. I used to be intimidated, scared that others would like at me, and question me, similar to how you feel...

Until I started focusing on God, and speaking to him, and praying, as if no one was around, and it's like I feel it, especially during worship, it just seems like something so natural.

[ladyevidence]

I know I posted before, but here's more... lol

Perhaps they are doing it with the wrong motivation and are just doing it to be noticed.
The thing is, if we concern ourselves with what another person is doing in a way that isn't going to draw us closer to God, or even cause them to pull farther away from God we need to keep ourselves from being so concerned over it.

Indeed. Only God knows the heart, and we shouldn't assume that we know anyone's reasons for doing anything.

1 Samuel 16:7 "...Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

It's biblical to do it, as others have shown. Regardless of what anyone else says or does, God tells us time and time again that it's ok, even good, to raise your hands!

We can't know other's motives, but we should look at our OWN.