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Raising Holy Hands
- 06/21/04
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Yesterday I wrote about 1 Timothy 2:8 being the inspiration for the song �Unchanging� which includes the lyrics �so we raise up holy hands / to praise the holy One / Who was and is and is to come." I said that this verse cannot be used to prove that we are given license to raise our hands while we sing for two reasons. First, the context of the verse shows that it applies specifically to men and second, it speaks of prayer, not singing.
Since I posted that there has been a bit of discussion in the forum about raising hands in worship and I thought I would post a few thoughts on that.
I will start by stating that I have never had a real problem with people raising hands during singing. There was a time when I was encouraged to try it out and was told that it made the experience of worship more intimate. I was told that raising hands to God was similar to the act of a child reaching out to hold his father�s hand. So I thought about trying it, but the more I thought about it the more I realized that there was no way I could do it without it being very artificial. Though others may not have noticed this, I knew that I would be so self-conscious of what I was doing that it could not be a real act of worship.
The questions I would ask about raising hands in worship are:
- Why? Why do you want to raise your hands during music? What does it mean to you? Is it merely learned behavior or does it really have a profound meaning to you?
- When? When do you raise your hands? The Bible tells men to raise their hands in prayer? Are you able to raise your hands during prayer or only when the music is playing? Worship is more than music, so shouldn�t you also be able to raise your hands during the reading of the Word, during preaching and during the sacraments? Further to this question, are there certain songs that make you raise your hands while others do not? If so, why?
- Where? Where is the Scriptural proof that we are given license to do so? As a Reformed Protestant I always hold the Bible as the plumb line. If it does not line up with Scripture I can�t support it.
I know that there are many reasons people raise their hands. In some churches various gestures carry specific meanings. For example, two hands raised with palms turned inward is a posture of surrender whereas two hands raised with palms turned outward is a posture of receiving (as in receiving God�s blessing). Because hand-raising can have different meanings depending on who does it and how they do it, I guess there will be different ways of justifying the act.
So are you a hand-raiser? Were you a hand-raiser? Let�s discuss this a little bit�
I am a follower of Jesus Christ, a husband to Aileen and a father to three young children. I write books and blogs for fun while doing web design and consulting for a living. I worship and serve at 
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Comments (8)
I lift my hands to God while in bed or in a crowded room, I even do it while driving. It just feels natural to me. It is my physical acknowledgement of his presence. I really don't care what anyone has to say, I know that most times when I have lifted my hand that my focus was always on God and his attributes of mercy, kindness, love and goodness. For me reflecting on his character and his works in my life make me worship-and that is one of the ways I worship, by lifting my hands to God!
I feel somewhat the same as the original author, but with a minor twist: I do feel that the raising of hands is sometimes unnerving, and leaves me feeling exposed and as though even though I am in a room full of people that are also raising their hands, I somehow stand out as the "odd ball". That is exactly why I do it.I have spent the better part of my life in choir, singing choral music, priase music, sing-a-long's, in tune, out of tune, along with the radio, etc. In our culture, singing and the raising of one's voice be it in praise or otherwise doesn't mean as much as it ought to. While in choir, I would find myself singing along, but not actually mentally/emotionally "present". When I raise my hands, it is a physical signal to me to tune in, pay attention, focus upwards on the Lord, who He is and what He has done and stop worrying about everything else.Also, I enjoy the feeling of DOING what I am expressing through song. When we sing about kneeling before the Lord, I prefer to kneel. Honestly, I don't think there is a "wrong" way to worship as long as you truly are focused on the Lord, what you are doing is not detracting from what is going on around you, your actions are not a stumbling block to others (that you know of) and everything is being done neatly and in order.
On your note of raising hands during the reading of scripture, and other means of worship at various times: I also believe that the Word is the ultimate measuring rod of all that we should or should not do. Culturally, the raising of one's hand signifies that you have a question, which would disturb the service at my church. I don't know about yours. We are told in Acts that everthing is to be done neatly and in order and I don't think that the middle of a Sunday morning service is the appropriate time to be asking questions OR raising your hands. What you do in private is your own business. The way that you praise the Lord in your own home, on your own time is up to you, but in public settings, we are responsibe to not upset the flow of the service we choose to attend.Also, singing is a form of priase/worship, why don't we all try singing during Wednesday night bible study and see how many funny looks we get? It's because although we are called to worship in spirit and in truth, there are various types of worship and they are not all appropriate in every setting.
I fellowship at a sister church of Calvary Chapel, we don't allow speaking in tongues during Sunday morning services, not because we don't condone it, but because it would hinder some people's walk with the Lord.I think that we are to be concious of those around us, the situation we are in, and our position with the Lord. If we are all being truly sensetive to the moving of the Holy Spirit, I am confident that we will all be pleasing to the Lord in whatever means of worship and praise we choose.
To make what began as a short reply even longer....
I would like to close by saying this: I believe that we (the Church) often get so caught up by the little goings on around us (to raise hands or not, speak in tongues or not, should the seating at church be pews or individual chairs) that we lose our focus: Jesus Christ. His death, resurection, and our redemption through the Grace and Mercy of the Father. As long as you and you alone are in synch with the Lord, I don't think the minute details of your preference in worship are critical.
I hope you are having a wonderful day and are being richly blessed! :o)
Bekah
What is the Biblical basis for hand raising? What isthe motivation? Does an exterior action indicate aninterior condition?
In the OT, hands pointed towards the Temple was aposition of prayer. Essentially all OT references toraised hands refer to prayer. When Daniel prayed, hemust have stretched his hands towards Jerusalem. When they were at the Temple, they must have stretched their hands up towards the Holy of Holies. In the NT the only reference is to men praying (and the emphasis is on "holy").
So what Biblical basis do we have?
I once heard Jack Hayford teach a theology of thehands, ascribing special spiritual significance to thehands, but I couldn't accept his esoteric hermeneutic.
I have been told that palms receive and transmitspiritual power. Is that Biblical? Does it trulyhappen?
I have been in meetings where the leader yelled atanyone not lifting their hands, commanding them toraise them. But why would an exterior action indicatewhat is in the heart?
I have heard that hand raising was the universal signof surrender, and we should all surrender to theLordship of Jesus Christ. But how does my exteriorhand raising improve or prove my surrender?
I have read in Charisma magazine that hand raising was the sign of the Pentecostal Spirit's presence, but I have also seen pagans raise their hands in the same way. I have seen cults doing the same. How does hand raising prove the Spirit's presence?
Why has hand-raising become synonymous with thecharismatic movement? Why do charismatics get excited about Baptists raising their hands?
Old-time Baptists, Wesleyans, Holiness, Nazarenes,etc. raised hands in the past but the meaning, theintention and the "spirit" was different. How and whywas it different?
What causes a novice, who never considered raising his hands, to join in? Is it a spiritual act? Is it peer pressure? Does it enable him to express his heart in a new way? Does the human spirit desire an outward manner of expressing spiritual realities? Is there a deep, unexplainable reason? Is it an attempt to please God? Does a hand get raised because there is no other way to show inner feelings and devotion?
We hear that "God inhabits the praise of His people"and that our praise brings God's manifest presence to our particular location. So if we raise our hands and praise God, He will visit our midst. But how does "God inhabit the praise of His people?" What is the Scriptural context? Is God not present even when there is no praise? Isn't God omnipresent?
A Baptist friend says that when he attends a CCMconcert, and the audience begins to raise their hands, he can sense a mighty rush of the Spirit's presence. Is there a connection between hand-raising and the Spirit's presence?
In John 12:32, Jesus is quoted: "If I be lifted up, Iwill draw all men to Myself," so if we lift up thename of Jesus (and sing praise songs and "lift up" our hands), we will bring the lost to Jesus. Missions is then closely connected to our praise and ourhand-raising. So hands and praise are at the center of God's heart for lost people. Does God have amissionary purpose for hand-raising?
The Hebrew root word for praise is similar to the word for hand, so it is claimed that our praise is meant to be by our hands, not merely inward. Is this a valid apologetic for hand raising? Does hand-raising spiritually enhance our praise? Does word similarity mean that God intended a direct connection between the two?
In Matthew 23:25-28, Jesus promotes the inward, notthe outward. Is hand-raising only outward or does itreflect a vital inward spiritual reality too?
If hand-raising is God's prescribed way of praise andworship, is He excited about all of it, or only thosewho have pure hearts?
I have often heard Psalm 118:24 proclaimed: "This isthe Day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it." So God's desire is for us to "rejoice" and"whoop it up" by lifting our hands and praising God.And the "Day" referred to is "today." So everyday weshould lift our hands and praise the Lord. Is thisGod's directive for us?
Or is the motive for my praise to please (flatter) Godso that He will bless me?
Why is it that hand-raising will unite acrosstheological beliefs? Oneness Pentacostals will join AG and Charismatic Catholics and Mormans into a unity. All will "worship" together with raised hands. Afterhand-raising they will embrace and laugh and cry and pray together. (At the Holy Ghost meetings in New Orleans, even Buddhists have joined in hand-raising and claimed the same spirit.) Why is it thathand-raising will break down barriers which wouldordinarily divide? Is there something "spiritual"about the practice? Does something inward happen as a result of the outward hand-raising?
Does God get excited when he sees believers raisingtheir hands? Does He value this more than obedience? Or is this a form of obedience? Or is it aprerequisite of obedience and love for Him?
The Greatest Command is to love God and our neighbor. Is hand-raising connected to love or a prerequisite of love for God and brother?
In non-charismatic churches, I notice that certainones like to be "middle and up front" and raise theirhands and dance. They can't be missed. It is obviousthey intentionally position themselves at the centerof attention. Often they are the only ones in themeeting to be raising their hands. Why? Do theybelieve they are enhancing the "worship?" They could easily find a back corner if they thought they might be offensive. Obviously they have a strong motivation. What do they think they are contributing to the meeting? Do they believe their hand-raising has a redemptive purpose for the rest who aren't"spirit-filled?"
Why is hand-raising associated with "spirit-worship?" Why is it that it is believed that hand-raising is a sign of "spirit-filled worship?" Why is there a connection made?
Hand-raising can be studied theologically. It can alsobe studied sociologically, psychologically andanthropologically. Have there been studies done in any of these areas, except for charismatic apologists?
My inkling is that hand-raising is much deeper than ameaningless religious practice. But I have not seenresearch on it.
But I believe that wrestling with hand-raising is abasic issue for understanding from where we have come. That is why one of the first objectives of a charismatic leader is to get people to raise their hands.
Jack Hayford once said, “If I can get a person toraise his hands, I can get him to speak in tongues.” Why? Both are external actions people perform. Once you are deceived into thinking that you can do better worship through the external raising of your hands, it is a small step to adopting another external sign like tongues speaking. Hand raising increases the emotion and intensity of feeling. However, once that wears away, you will want something else to bring on that feeling. And tongues will give you that next “rush” of feeling. And then there will need to be some other external sign. And it never ends.
How is hand raising used today? Pagan worship often raises hands. And it is a sign of pride. Today we see hand raising at rock concerts. We see it done by the winning team after sports events or after scoring a goal. Worship in both Hebrew and Greek means to bow down. It never means to raise your hands.
Charismatics start with claiming that hand raising is a sign of surrender or that God is sovereign. These seem like good reasons for doing it. But once you get to their real belief, you will find that they get into many other theories. The main purpose for which they raise hands is that they believe the hands are our spiritual contact point with God. When they raise their palms up, or hold their palms up from the middle of their bodies, as you demonstrated for us, they believe God’s power enters their hands. After they have received this power, they believe they can use their hands to lay on the sick. Or they can “bless” people with God’s power transferred through them. Often they will point their hands at a person. Why? They believe that God’s power is shooting out of them towards the person to whom they are pointing. It is amazing to read of the “theology of the hand” they have developed from the Psalms.
Anyone can raise their hands. I once was in a church with single mothers who lived immoral lives. But they had great “worship” and raised theirhands and had deep “worship” experiences. A most basic principle of Christianity is the importance of the heart, not the outward manifestations.
I grew up in a Presbyterian church in the South... very traditional and conservative. I studied abroad in Australia and ended up going to a Pentecostal/Assemblies of God church. I fell in love with this church and the openness and genuiness of the people and the worship. God felt real here, not just a tradition.... and yes, they raised their hands in worship.. which was very new to me at the time. How can we talk about God being worthy to be praised and not lift our hands? When we go to concerts and sports games, we throw our hands in the air with no second-thoughts... I think it is a great combined act of surrender, celebration, praise, and acknowledgement of God's prescence in our lives and with us every step of the way. I also think of it much like singing. When we are willing to sing God's praises, we are willing to open up to Him; when we are willing to lift our hands to our Creator, we let Him in still.
Dads Raynorson concludes his very thoughtful post with the sentence: A most basic principle of Christianity is the importance of the heart, not the outward manifestations. I couldn't agree more, which begs the question: how come those who have the biggest problem with hand raising are usually the same group of folks who are so focused on other externals such as length of hair, not having a tv, women not wearing pants, etc. I am a minister of music in a large conservative Baptist church and this argument of hand raising comes up periodically. Am I theologically dense here? There are folks in our congregation who would downplay outward manifestations when it comes to worship, but turn around and judge everyone else's outward manifestations in other areas of their Christian walk. My current biggest pet peeve is inconsistency, in my life and in the life of other professing believers. One other thought--if hand raising is only acceptable in the context of prayer, then isn't it acceptable in songs such as Change My Heart, O God, which is a sung prayer.
I had heard that hand raising was acknowledging and remembering the sacrifice of the pierced hands of Jesus Christ.
I was raised Baptist, sang in the choir, taught Sunday school, etc. I attended several different Baptist churches for almost 30 years. Almost 3 years ago, I began going to a non-denominational church for the first time. It is also non-traditional. Initially, it took some adjusting to, but I knew the first time I went, it was where the Lord wanted me to be. The very thing that I fell in love with at this church was something I had never found nor experienced at any Baptist church. It was the sincere and passionate worship and praise of their music, songs, teaching and the caring people who attend. I don't mean that other churches or people are not sincere or caring, but there was a significant difference - it felt REAL, not just going through the motions. I noticed different people raising their hands and I was curious about it. Over time, I began to try it for myself. At first, it was awkward and didn't feel genuine, so I discontinued for a while. I want my worship to be completely genuine. Noone ever encouraged or discouraged the hand raising. I don't know exactly when I began to feel differently. I just continued to try it on occassion and became more and more comfortable. I now feel that it is a very natural physical response during worship. I believe that in heaven we will praise the Lord with not only our mouths, but with raised hands. It is more like a spiritual response to a spiritual prompting to acknowledge all that Christ is. I am very comfortable with it, to the point of feeling uncomfortable if I try to resist raising my hands. I believe everyone has to decide what is comfortable for themselves, but not condemn others whether they raise their hands or not.
I guess I may be missing something, but it seems self-evident that the Psalmists were singing when they wrote repeatedly in their songs that they lifted their hands and commanded others to do so.