Interesting article, the use of scripture is limited, and does not shed light either for or against the Church to utter Amens, or with regards to clapping.
-I was at a wedding 2 weeks ago, and when the Priest presented the newly wedded couple, the church was filled with applause. Was this to glorify man???? My hands were clapping with joy, as we as a church praised God for this newly wed couple.
-The article is very opinionated and does not open my eyes for nor against clapping.

If in fact we were sending our praise to God with the clapping of hands I would be less opposed to it however I have never seen it used that way. It is always used after a performance of some sort. I've never seen anyone clap after the word of God is read or after a quote from the SOP.

Redfog

no contradictions to my post of June 5? that is over 2 weeks ago? where have all the posters gone?

-There is a sound that is more sad than that of a church filled with Amens and clapping hands...That is an empty church!

Tough I have not seen this, I have heard a dozen or so recordings where the preacher would say something simmilar to this "put your hands together and thank the Lord". Quite similar to where some other pastors may ask for an Amen, and yet some other pastors may assume the church is fast asleap (or be preaching to a northern european congregation) and ask nothing at all...

/Thomas

Redfog is correct--many times it is the Pastors who are encouraging people to clap.

Dan, we have exhausted this subject and I don't plan to repeat myself. I have submitted quotes from Mrs. White speaking about clapping and all are against the practice.

I am a musician and once after the Postlude in Church, several people clapped. I just looked at them and shook my head no and they stopped. I was not playing to entertain church members but to glorify God as well as to end the Service. They never again clapped although they would stay in the Sanctuary to listen and say a hearty AMEN afterwards. Many who clap often do not know that it isn't acceptable to do this in the Sanctuary.

If the Pastors would just be brave enough to get up and ask the audience not to clap, this would put a stop to the practice.

Thomas, there are plenty of people who regularly sleep during the church service. To have clapping in order to wake them up is not according to what God would want. Unfortunately many do not get enough rest during the week and others work so hard during the week that when Sabbath comes, as soon as they relax, they tend to fall asleep. It is too bad because they miss a great blessing. It reminds me of the three disciples who fell asleep when Jesus asked them to stay awake and pray. We are to "watch and pray" which doesn't include sleeping, especially during a church service but this is off topic I suppose.

Debbie,
It seems you totally missed my pun about the quiet churches... Anyway, my post was just trying to make the point that some people are trying to give the glory to God by clapping. Maybe that wouldnt be the case in your church but in a place where the church culture is such that Amens and clappings go hand in hand with the same purpose, it would be acceptable with the post redfrog made. Whatever is done in faith... and so forth.

/Thomas

If the culture of a country was such that clapping was for God's glory then maybe it would be appropriate but at least in any place I've ever been clapping is always for the glory of the performance. Clapping in church is nothing more than a carry over of the secular practice of offering praise for a performer. We clap after a great play in sports, a great political speech or a musical performance. We never clap after a scripture reading or prayer. I think most of us when we witness the awesome power of God we tend to be silent, not noisy and clapping. When I'm moved by scripture I'm silent and reflective, when I'm backpacking and see the power of a thunderstorm on a mountain ridge or snow flakes on a ducks back I'm moved to silence at the power and wonder of the Creator. When I see the beauty of a sunrise I whisper a silent word of thanks for another day.

Redfog

But Thomas, I did "catch on" to what you said in your post. Because I didn't say something about it doesn't mean I didn't see it.

Debbie

If you had written nothing of it, I wouldnt have made my post thinking you had missed it. But you did write about it

quote:

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Thomas, there are plenty of people who regularly sleep during the church service. To have clapping in order to wake them up is not according to what God would want.

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Redfrog

Give me one country where church culture and secular culture is one and a same.. point is that these people do clapp after a bibleverse so evidently some people do so.

/Thomas

I've never seen (or heard) anyone clapping after a Bible reading or prayer. I think people find that to be irreverent. How is it any more or less irreverent than clapping after a song intended to praise God? Or maybe there is just less to praise about the presenter of a Bible reading and prayer than a singer or musician.

Adventist Church culture should never be the same as secular culture!