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Shouting And Hand Clapping In Worship

God has always been particular in what he will accept in worship. When Cain attempted to offer unto God the fruit of the ground (Gen. 4), both Cain and his offering was rejected. When Nadab and Abihu offered a "strange fire" before the Lord (Lev. 10:1-2) they were consumed in fire from the Lord because they presumed to offer to God that which he had not commanded.

We must learn not to be presumptive in our worship to God. The very nature of worship means that we must offer to God that which He has commanded to express our love and adoration to the Almighty, Eternal, and Sovereign God. To "profane" our worship by doing that which God has not commanded is to express irreverence toward God.

Some appeal to practices in the Old Testament to find authority for shouting and clapping in worship. Certainly, we must be reminded that we do not live under the law of Moses today, but under the law of Christ (Eph. 2:14-16). In spite of this some quote from the Old Testament to justify their practice of shouting or clapping in worship assemblies. For instance, some quote 1 Sam. 4:5, "When the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again" as authority for shouting in worship. Some also use 2 Sam 6:15-16 to justify shouting as well as dancing in worship to God. Still others cite Ezra 3:11-12, affirming that Israel sang, prayed and shouted in their worship. Yet, these passages and other Old Testament passages have nothing to do with what we do in our worship assemblies in the church today.

One preacher cites Psa. 47:1-2 "O clap your hands, all ye people, shout unto God with the voice of triumph. For the Lord most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth." He also quotes Psa. 98:4-9 like this. "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, rejoice and sing praise... Let the sea roar, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together before the Lord." He then affirms, "Here is worship which included shouting and clapping the hands." What is wrong with this reasoning? Look again at the passages! Note what is left out of the quote from Psalm 98:4-9 Between the words "Praise" and "Let" the scripture says, "Sing unto the Lord with the HARP; with the HARP, and the voice of the psalm. With TRUMPETS and sound of CORNET make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King" (verses 5-6). If these verses authorize shouting and clapping of hands in our worship assemblies today, what about the use of mechanical instruments of music in worship assemblies today? Some may express joy by shouting, others by clapping their hands, others by whistling and still others by blowing on a whistle. Have we by our false reasoning justified using instrumental music in worship? Are we ready for that?

The New Testament as revealed by Christ through the Holy Spirit is our standard of authority in religion today. To "walk by faith" is to submit to what is written therein. What is wrong with clapping, shouting, whistling or blowing on a whistle in worship assemblies today? THERE IS SIMPLY NO AUTHORITY FOR IT revealed in the New Testament. In an effort to make worship fun, exciting or emotionally stimulating, let us not resort to practices that would profane our worship and render it vain and irreverent. Let us remember that "God is a spirit and they that worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth" (Jno. 4:24). Save your applause for another time. It has no place in our worship assemblies. - Micky Galloway

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