APPLAUSE IN THE CHURCHES

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November 9, 1996 (Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org) - The following is from "World," August 31, 1996, by William H. Smith --

[In the churches today] people aren't just flippantly "giving God a hand," in many services they routinely give each other a hand, especially in response to musical offerings.

Ministers will note that the practice has not caught on as a response to sermons. Perhaps we will have to install applause signs in our sanctuaries (or "worship centers" as they're now called) before people will get the idea. Then we'll have to learn to pause until the clapping subsides.

In this context. it's a pleasant surprise to hear a word of sanity from the secular priestess of manners, Judith Martin.

In Miss Manners Rescues Civilization, she answers a question about applause in church with. "Having forgotten church manners, people are substituting those that would be proper for a performance ... Hard as it may be to imagine, musicians in church are supposed to play or sing for the glory of God. not the pleasure of the congregation (which people interestingly slip and call 'the audience'). That is why there should be no applause in church. Not even for small children, who particularly need to have the purpose of their performance explained to them."

In response to the protest that the Bible authorizes clapping (as in Psalm 47:1), Miss Manners proves herself a better theologian than many evangelical worship leaders. "Where," she asks. "is the biblical reference by which God commands applause to honor musicians...

Miss Manners hopes she is not pressing too fine a point when she distinguishes between the clapping of hands as an "expression of religious awe or joy and the clapping of hands to denote approval and appreciation for the achievements of our fellow mortals."

Not too fine, just fine, Miss Manners.

The specific problem Miss Manners addresses is the tip of an iceberg of worship malpractice. Too many evangelical worshippers are like the man shopping for his wife's Christmas present in the Victoria's Secret catalog. He's buying a gift for himself. So we go to church expecting to be soothed, entertained, and sent home feeling good.

It hardly occurs to us to ask. "What will please God?" The subjects, not the Object of worship, are the focus. The result is that we no longer know how to conduct ourselves in God's house. We lack worship manners or even the sense that we need them.

If you invite me to your home, I'll come with my manners, which are both attitude (I respect you) and actions (I'll conform to the expectation of your household).

What attitudes should you bring to worship? God wants exuberant joy (Psalm l00:1-2) and reverent awe (Hebrews 12:28-29).

David Cloud dcloud@wayoflife.org http://www.wayoflife.org/
1701 Harns Rd., Oak Harbor, WA 98277