Practically Speaking: Applause in Worship
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Fri, July 15, 2005
- Viewed 131
- (40) comments so far
Narrowing down the list of churches we were interested in joining became a fairly simple task, because as soon as I heard applause in a worship service, I scratched that church off my list. A church?s insistence on clapping revealed something very telling to me about its view of worship. It revealed that the church considered worship to be something that should be entertaining for us ? that the people on the platform were putting on a show, and the congregation was the audience...
A lot of people will say that clapping in a worship service is only an expression of worship directed to God, but I don?t buy that for a minute. If that?s the case, why is it that when someone sings a song incredibly well, they get more applause than someone who doesn?t do so hot? If we?re just worshipping God with the applause, shouldn?t every song get the same amount? And, as I?ve already mentioned, if our applause is really designed to honor God, shouldn?t we be clapping for the offering, the prayers and the sermon, too?
Too many times I?ve heard a vocalist or a choir sing a song that was immensely moving and honoring to God and that increased my appreciation for what God has done in my life. But rather than hearing a robust ?Amen!? at the song?s conclusion, the congregation breaks out into applause and completely ruins the worshipful atmosphere. It breaks my heart, because instead of being able to focus on the message of the song, I?m disappointed with the church?s response.
Often I think applause is common because it?s always been that way in our churches, and people don?t think through the importance of what each part of a worship service communicates. Church members don?t know how to show their appreciation during worship, so they clap.
That?s why it?s important for pastors and other worship leaders to educate their congregations about these matters. We should want our services to glorify and honor God, and applause isn?t a way to achieve that end.
I think this is key when he says: Church members don?t know how to show their appreciation during worship, so they clap.
Sometimes applause is not only appropriate, but called for. For instance, yesterday in our church service we saw a multimedia featuring the audio and words of Dr. S. M. Lockridge talking about how he describes Jesus. (You can listen to the audio here). The congregation went into spontaneous applause at the end, it is was perfect.
But I've also been in services where the applause was seemingly for the individual "performance" rather than directed to God. This is where applause is destructive to my worship experience.
So... all you worship leaders and pastors out there. Has applause ever been an issue in your church? How do you deal with this?
I hope this post doesn’t seem trivial… Have you ever been in a worship service that was extremely awesome… you were connecting with God, the music was speaking to your heart, you felt that you were really meeting with God… and then… applause totally ruined the atmosphere? I found a posting by Tim Ellsworth that told me that I wasn’t the only one who sometimes felt this way. I do not feel as strongly about this as Tim does, but… well, take a read at what he has to say…
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pjlr on Fri, July 15, 2005
Applause is a form of appreciation. I have been in church services where, I felt to not applaud would have been “wrong.” There is nothing wrong in my mind to make sure that you don’t “muzzle the ox while he is treading the corn.” When someone does a job well done (and that includes glorifying God with their gifts) there is nothing wrong with showing your appreciation for their talent or skill.
If I can encourage my brother or sister to use their gift for the glory of God by giving them a bit of applause for their effort, then I believe in the long run the church is blessed. If that person allows the applause to go to their head, there is not much I can do about it except not applaud the next time they sing.
I think there is sometimes too much criticism of everything or anything that is done in a church service. It is ok for Tim to go to a non-clapping church, but does he think he has to influence others to take his stance on this non-biblical issue? I say save your energy for the “real” issues affecting our churches and don’t get worked up about a little clapping.
matt on Fri, July 15, 2005
I actually am more distracted by people shouting, “Amen!” Yeah, I think Tim spent a bit too much mental energy on this thing…and by this point, I have, too!
bernie dehler on Fri, July 15, 2005
I think the real heart of the question is “what is worship?”
Is it a “performance?”
Is it an intimate fellowship with God?
The bigger the church, the more easily it is to morph into a “performance” because of the crowd and temptations to put on a show, I think… We all probably agree that what we want is sincere worship…
...Bernie
http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/247
Jim on Fri, July 15, 2005
Please - you actually pick a church by whether they applaud after a song? Wow - I’ll pray for you.
Tracy on Fri, July 15, 2005
Well, I agree with what Jim said above, when he said, “Please - you actually pick a church by whether they applaud after a song?”
I cannot imagine that one’s sole criteria would be over such a reason.
Sure, I think it’s fine if someone wants to go to a church that doesn’t have clapping, but please, don’t try to pass those ridiculous reasons off on someone else.
You don’t like clapping. That’s the issue! Don’t make it Spiritual.
Donna on Fri, July 15, 2005
Well, yah! The late Brother Kenneth E. Hagin dealt with this issue years ago and was practically stoned for it, but it needed to be said then and does again now.
There are times where it is TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE to applaud. Too many pastors don’t know the difference, and so their congregations don’t either.
This might seem like a menial issue to some, but if what we are really after is to teach and train people to KNOW GOD and be able to honor Him (and not just live like “mere men”), then we should grow to the point of knowing the difference in these things. Too many churches are regarded as “spiritual” because they are “large,” when in reality, they “wouldn’t know the Holy Spirit if he walked down the street with a red cap on”(if I may borrow a phrase).
Applauding a person is fine; applauding God demotes Him to a level where He does not belong. Exhuberant praise might at times promote this kind of reaction of the Spirit, but it is out of order in Worship or more intimate times with God.
Pastors need to know this themselves and teach their people as well. There IS a way to do it (if the Pastor knows what he’s doing) whereby you can instruct your congregation without offending or making people feel bad.
Offering brass to the Lord when he deserves gold IS an inappropriate response, and we should be concerned if we are making light of things like this. The Church today needs the power of God to be demonstrated in our midst like never before. But, it will NOT happen if we do not learn and practice appropriate “protocol” when communing with the All-Powerful One!
Ricky on Fri, July 15, 2005
“Kenneth E. Hagin?”
:(
Anthony D. Coppedge on Fri, July 15, 2005
In a seeker-targeted church, where a lot of the participants are the unchurched or formerly churched, it’s much harder to stifle this expression because they don’t know any better. They watch American Idol, they applaud. The go to a great concert, they applaud.
What bothers me more than the applause is the “peer-pressure stand”. You know, when a song hits a strong chord or it’s a peppy number and someone decides to stand. Then a few of their friends nearby stand. Then a row away sees this and thinks they should stand too. The momentum builds until nearly everyone is standing. All this without the worship prompters/leaders saying anything about “let’s stand”.
Unlike applause, which is often done when someone sings particularly well and “everyone” (the majority) break out into simultaneous applause, the “peer pressure stand” is not done quickly by the majority. Instead, as the larger the groups that begin to stand rise to their feet, the rest feel the peer pressure to do the same. In these situations, I stay seated.
Now, to the meat of the matter: I believe it’s the responsiblity of the worship leader/Pastor (whoever is up) to say something to the effect of “God deserves all of this applause, because without God’s giftings, such-n-such singer wouldn’t be able to prompt us in worship”. Or something like that.
I think we miss an opportunity whenever we fail to address this - right then - in a gentle and educational manner so that, over time, the majority of the audience will know how to react.
Admittedly, whenever you have a large amount of growth from unchurched people (which is great!), this will be harder to teach. Still, I think that this simple opportunity is missed by far too many churches (mine included).
As an aside, I remember one sermon where Pastor Ed came out from behind the closed curtains (which are rarely closed) and talked about how he’d met Celine Dion at a dinner the night before, and how she’d graciously accepted to an invitation to come and sing. Before Ed said “let’s welcome her” (he’d barely got her name out), the audience stood and started applauding wildly. Ed turned and walked back behind the curtain. After about 20 seconds, he re-emerged. Alone.
He then told us he was just pulling our leg, but that he had a point to make: why when he mentioned a “celebrity” did everyone go nuts? He then did a great short sermon (on the spot) about how that kind of worship (because that’s what it generally is - misdirected worship towards people) should be shown to God each and every time we gather corporately. It was a great “ah-ha” moment for our many unchurched and new believers.
I just wish we did that more often!
Bobby on Sat, July 16, 2005
“if what we are really after is to teach and train people to KNOW GOD and be able to honor Him (and not just live like “mere men”), then we should grow to the point of knowing the difference in these things.”
Is applause really a front runner in how well we “know God?” It seems to me that there are much bigger concerns in peoples lives than this to me. I’d rather spend my time helping people there.
Shawn Manalp on Sat, July 16, 2005
Psalm 47:1 O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.
Look guys…the last thing we need in church today is an attitude of intolerance of people who are excited about the Lord, espescially when people are excersizing a Biblically supported expression of worship. Most unsaved people won’t be caught anything but dead in a church, and it’s because of attitudes like this.
BriGette on Sun, July 17, 2005
I am and have been a worship leader for the last 3 years and 3 years prior to that was part of a praise team and this conversation never ceases to amaze me. As with denominations, each of us are only practicing a small fraction of what “Christianity” but we all have views of what the other is doing as “wrong”. It is biblically supported to clap but it is important to understand that there is a time for clapping and this must be taught. It also says to praise in clamorously loud foolish way, similar to the way David did when he danced out of his armor. We can not expect those who are un-churched and those churched, for that matter, to know the appropriate time to clap praise especially when their discernment has not been exercised to maturity. I would only EXPECT a matured (not in age) Son/Daughter of God to KNOW when and how to respond appropriately. They would only know this through, training, practice and personal time with the Lord. The personal time with the Lord seems to win out on importance thought. Remember, this is all practice for when those who God says are worthy go to heaven. As a worship leader, I find it difficult to deal with adults who act childlike, wanting a spiritual simon says, more than I do adults who desire to do the right thing but haven’t been taught what that right thing is. Gathering together is a time to worship and focus on our Father and what He means to us. I believe if we focus the love of Jesus and then hear what God is speaking to us that moment, we would stop judging events by our natural view and ask God how he wants to be worshipped both individually and corporately. As leaders, we would give a better example to those who don’t know. We can not be with the Lord until we (the body) are in unity. That means all of us one mind, one voice at the same time. There is a distinct difference between praise and worship also, which gets people (usually the religious ones) into judging. Praise is radical with reckless abandon toward God for what He has done. Worship is for God, who He is and there are different expressions of both. You can read Psalms and see accounts of praise and Deuteronomy to revelation are songs of Praise to God. However, over the last year I have found revelation to be the most important on praise and worship because it is our guide to what we will be doing for all eternity. It won’t be quiet and pensive, and there won’t be room for interpretation based on likes and dislikes and there might even be some clapping going on. (smile)
beej on Sun, July 17, 2005
Psalm 47:1 “O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.”
Shawn pointed out that applauding is mentioned as a Biblical form of worship, but I don’t believe the question here is about that type of applause. I think the question here is a bigger one… what roles are we all supposed to play in worship?
In many churches that I have attended/served, there existed a consumer mentality. The focus was on the congregation as consumers… the song service, the special music, the sermon all seemed to be geared towards pleasing the congregation who were dutifully fulfilling their role as audience.
I have had the privilege of being in several churches that took a totally different approach. The leadership of these churches recognized that all of our worship is for an audience of One… not for the congregation. One church in particular did away with special music unless it was integrated into the total worship experience in such a manner as to draw the focus towards the Giver of the gift instead of the person using that gift to sing.
If the applause is a result of a congregation that is being lead into a consumer driven mentality, then I not only don’t appreciate the applause, I don’t enjoy the performance. If the applause is given as an act of worship… then I am all for it.
Jim on Mon, July 18, 2005
Whatever we do in and out of church, we will always do imperfectly whether leading or following. Our Lord died to wipe away the guilt and shame of this imperfection. Why do we work so hard to restore that guilt and shame by condemning the behavior of others. God is thrilled that those “hand clapping, immature, ill informed, Christians” are in His house seeking Him. May we walk along side them with humility and grace as we encourage them toward truth. Isn’t that what God has done for you?
K. Bailey on Mon, July 18, 2005
I’m somewhat amazed at how many people, pastors included, seemingly don’t understand the valid point that being made here. Applause at the end of songs are more about expressions of approval for how good the singing and/or music was.
Certainly the Bible says, “Clap your hands all ye people” but it’s not encouraging us to applaud performances. We are to clap our hands as an expression of worship our hands like we worship with our voices in song and exaltation, and like we worship with our feet in dancing before the Lord (Ps 149:3).
We can worship God with the “clap” during the song or even occasionally after the song but the difference is purposefully clapping with the Lord on our minds and not the performance of the praise team or choir.
If we clapped at the end of the song in worship with the Lord on our mind I don’t believe the same sound would interupt the atomsphere of worship because that particular clapping would actually be worship and performance approving applause.
Many, if not most churches applaud at the end of songs because that what we did when we were in the world attending secular concerts. Applause just came with us when we came into the church and begin to hear music that sounded good.
But I certainly agree that applause can kill a move of the Spirit, the presence of God and that precious, precious time of stillness that God often seeking to cover His people with and speak to their hearts or the heart of the congretation.
It’s unfortunate that some would make light of this most important matter. It simply goes to show that there is more for us, (pastors included and especially) to learn about true worship. My prayer is that we would learn it and not allow pride, fear and old ways of doing things, to cause us to shun it.
Thanks for reading. Blessings & Peace to you.
drbob on Tue, July 19, 2005
Psalm 47:1 O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.
I am a Worship Pastor and have been for almost 20 years. I see my role is to lead and teach what worship is and isn’t. there are times of exuberant worship as the congregation sings a song of praise to the Lord that i will prompt them to “give praise to the Lord”. They are also sensitive to those moments when reflection is to take place, although they still applaud for the choir or soloist. I was at a church that back in the ‘80’s the Music minister actually had us do our very first “fellowship song” and we disrupted our service to shake hands =0!!! One lady just refused to do this simple act.
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