What About All of This Hand-Clapping?
It seems that hand-clapping has caught on among some of our brethren. Where did all this come from? Is it good? Does it matter? Is it much ado about nothing? Clapping at worship assemblies has been going on a long time in denominational churches. It started with their musical presentation (Choir/Quartet etc.) and then moved to the sermon. Those singers and preachers certainly didn’t discourage it. Perhaps it gave them some prestige or satisfaction that they were approved by their audience. Some of our brethren saw this on television and perhaps thought, “Wow! This gives us some excitement.” Hand-clapping has no place in the worship assembly of the saints. Here is why.
The worship is not an entertainment program. The scriptures reveal, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (Jn. 4:24). Why do those who clap only do so after a song or some point made by the preacher? Why not clap after a brother leads a prayer? Why not clap when a brother has an exceptional message at the Lord’s Table? Our purpose in worship is to praise and glorify God, not applaud man.
It is putting the emphasis in the wrong place. The emphasis in worship is on God and not man’s performance. God rejected Cain’s worship. Why? It was not of faith (Heb. 11:4). Notice that God said to Cain, “…sin lieth at the door…” (Gen. 4:7). Those congregations who have observed the denominations and developed a desire to be like them will soon move from just hand clapping to other innovations as well. Our emphasis in worship is God.
It is not decently and in order. The church at Corinth had problems in their assemblies (1 Cor. 14). Paul instructed the women to keep silent (1 Cor. 14:34). He instructed others to keep silent as well (1 Cor. 14:30). Then he concludes the chapter by saying, “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Cor. 14:40). When one is listening to a sermon and the person sitting next to him/her starts clapping, it is disruptive to their train of thought. When this occurs, others begin to clap, and at that point, the service is disrupted. If hand clapping is done to show approval, what would hinder someone else from bringing a party horn and blowing it?
Many have adopted the practice of clapping after a baptism, why? Baptism is obeying the form of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (read Romans 6). Would you have clapped at the crucifixion? Why not sing a beautiful song that reflects what a person has done in obedience. Why not sing, “Oh, Happy Day” or “Trust and Obey” or “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow.” You want to show your approval when someone is baptized? Rather than clapping, why don’t you stay around for a few minutes and go shake that persons hand or give them a hug and sign the back of their baptismal certificate instead of being in such a hurry to get to Golden Corral?
If you want the preacher to know you approve his lesson; then, get to work doing something in the kingdom. All hand clapping does is make a lot of noise.
Larry