So in our bible class last night we came across an interesting discussion… or at least I thought the response was interesting.
We are studying the pastoral letters to Timothy and Titus and we are in 1 Timothy 2:8 where it says: “I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.” The instruction seems rather simple and we headed off on this path of people singing and praying… with their hands in the air. At first it was at face value, but then the conversation went to more opinion and feel that it was not ok to do this because it is for show. Of all of the passages that we have gray matter on, this seems pretty black and white. I didn’t have a problem until I received the answer to this question: “The passage is pretty direct here, so what problem do we have with raising hands?” The reply for the most part: “It makes me uncomfortable.” I followed with another question: “What about it makes you so uncomfortable?” The reply: “ We don’t know if it is sincere.”
Issue 1: Is the passage literal?
We found a reference back to an old testament passage in Psalm 24:2 and James 4:8 discussing clean hands as being associated with the heart.
Issue 2: Are we really more uncomfortable about raising hands in song and prayer than the sinner who does not know salvation.
We work with people daily that don’t know God and we seem pretty comfortable with that. Really… are we splitting hairs here? Focused on the right things?
Issue 3: Doesn’t this take a judgment call?
To determine if someone is sincere, we would need to know their heart which really, only God knows unless we really are close in relationship to the person lifting hands. Key work above being judge. I have plenty to be concerned with rather than judging someone’s intent of lifting their hands toward the ceiling.
My reasoning: purely tradition. Every church family I have been associated with before college never made a point to practice song or prayer in this manner, so I never learned it as a function.
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This is my first instinct response, may not be the best. I will contemplate and read and maybe we can discuss this more this weekend. I'm already brainstorming conversation topics to keep the day rolling along. I'll add this one to the list.
I think it's okay to lift hands during song or prayer. What's the difference between that and clasping your hands to pray or kneeling to pray? And obviously, as Karl has shown us, there is precedence for it in the New Testament. I would like to look for some other examples. Having said that, we all know that it makes some uncomfortable, and we should be mindful of that. Me, personally, I would probably never do it just because I'm not that into outward displays of emotion. Do I think that someone else who does it is wrong? No. Should I question their sincerity? No more than I should question the sincerity of someone sitting next to me singing or praying with their hands at their side. I think it is a judgement call, and one we are not equipped to make. If I'm in worship with God I don't think I should be worried about other people's sincerity, just my own. That's enough to occupy my mind.
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