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The fact that they are self-reporting about it still leads me to believe it is a modern man centered show. Sorry.
Do you also think that about prayer, Bible reading, and going to church, since those aspects of Christian living and worship are also widely self-reported?
Do you also think that about prayer, Bible reading, and going to church, since those aspects of Christian living and worship are also widely self-reported?
Probably, most modern gospel Christians are very "me" centered, it is more about what "I" can do than what Jesus did.
While lifting hands doesn't guarantee that your heart will be pure and worshipful before God, I have found that it is often a physical manifestation of what is going on in my heart. Physical posture is definitely linked to the posture of our heart and lifting hands is one way to foster total surrender before God.
If it works for you, then great! I just don't like/feel comfortable in that charismatic form of worship. Gives me the willies!
I went to a Presbyterian church for 8 years and there were many who lifted their hands, myself included.
I'm sorry you feel comfortable with it. It's a beautiful thing. We all worship differently, but I cannot just stand there song after song and not show my emotions to the Lord! I am excited to praise Him! I feel compelled to lift my hands and if I ignore it (I used to when I was young because I was embarrassed), I cannot worship God fully because I feel a strong urgency to raise them. It doesn't just go away by ignoring it. I respect those who aren't comfortable with lifting their hands and you should respect those who do. They aren't doing it for show. We all worship differently!
Then we're in agreement. I don't think it's wrong in any way, it just doesn't work for me personally. I think it's more of a cultural thing, but there's nothing wrong with that.
Then we're in agreement. I don't think it's wrong in any way, it just doesn't work for me personally. I think it's more of a cultural thing, but there's nothing wrong with that.
The problem I have with it is the pear pressure involved, it is a badge of who is the "better" Christian for many and if you don't do it in some churches you are looked down on. I had a friend who would have people stand behind him and pull up his arms to conform wth evryone else.
Of course, no one should lift their hands because of peer pressure or for other people. Worship is for God. No one else. That being said, we should be careful about stating that someone is raising their hands for the wrong reasons because, for all we know, they are doing something very pleasing to GOD, and who would dare say something negative about something that pleases God? We all should be willing to give our all to God during worship, even doing things that make us uncomfortable. The standard of worshipping God has nothing to do with what makes us comfortable; God regularly calls us to do things that make us uncomfortable. Comfort has nothing to do with worship. Worship is about complete surrender, complete submission, complete adoration of God. During worship, we decrease, God increases. Worship is not about what we want, but what God commands and wants. It's not about what makes us comfortable.
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