 WHAT ABOUT HAND-CLAPPING IN WORSHIP?
Dear Bobby:
Thanks for your question regarding clapping at a baptismal service. This is a new practice that has only emerged among us in recent years. For some 200 years, here in America, our brethren have not done so.
There is no mention in the New Testament of the early Christians doing so. Whence then did the practice arise? It can be found mentioned in the Old Testament. Ps. 47:1 reads "O clap your hands, all ye peoples; Shout unto God with the voice of triumph." Of course the fact that something was done under the Mosaic system does not authorize it for Christian worship. Under that system we find instrumental music, a separate priesthood, priestly garments, incense, animal sacrifices, Sabbath Day worship and numerous other things Christ did not choose to incorporate into his new system. I suspect that the practice had it genesis among us from those who watch and admire the theatrical type of preachers and services on the religious broadcast networks. Perhaps some of them have visited Pentecostal and emotional type Protestant services and observed first hand such emotional response to religious impulses. Such is not a very worthy foundation on which to base one's religious practice. Having attended the Lord's church all of my life, and having been a preacher some 46 years, I find clapping at a service of worship to be distracting, disconcerting and offensive. True, that alone does not make it wrong. But those who wish to make changes in the way we worship must exhibit some maturity and responsibility beyond what feels good and is exciting to them.
If clapping is, as they think, neither right or wrong, then they should abstain from doing so if it is offense to their fellow-worshipers (I Cor. 10:23-24). This practice can easily slip into other forms of emotional expression that result in confusion and disorderly conduct. This Paul shows us is unacceptable (I Cor. 14:33,40). We are under obligation to do everything in our power to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace (Eph. 4:3). If such unauthorized practices cause unhappiness and discord among brethren, those who introduce them are failing to maintain that unity. Since our commitment is to worship and serve as did the earliest Christians, those who want the excitement of clapping must acknowledge that such is not mentioned in the New Testament. There, outward expressions of approval in worship were with a vocal "Amen" (I Cor. 14:15-16). I prefer to think that those who clap at a service do not do so for malicious reasons or to harm the body. It is primarily because they don't know any better, likely they have not been taught better. Perhaps a kindly word of concern spoken to your elders or preacher would be sufficient to stop this practice. I see this as part of a trend away from simple Bible based worship toward an emotion-based and sensational type of service. That we don't need and Scripture certainly does not approve of. JHW |
