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The 1970’s rapper, Big Bank Hank from the Sugar Hill Gang, encouraged everyone to join with him in the song 8th Wonder:
“Clap your hands everybody. And everybody just clap your hands.”
Sometimes, in church. Christians do not want to join in with clapping.
Here at First Baptist Church, we are blessed with many talented musicians, singers, liturgists, and worship leaders. Often, when one of these types of people, most often singers or musicians, gives worshipful God given talent (a solo for instance) many people want to applaud. Sometimes, when I speak to congregants about a particular musical performance, a few are weary of the practice of clapping for people. Those who are fearful of clapping in worship say, “I don’t like to praise a singer with clapping. We praise God in worship.”
While I can understand the objection, I would encourage those to think more deeply about what is happening in worship. When someone gives a solo, it is a worshipful act that is lifted up to God in praise. When people are moved by a soloist’s song, there is something that is stirring inside of them that has moved them. Their spirit is spoken to because they know that God was worshiped in a beautiful way. They want to say, “Amen!” or they may want to clap, to express their appreciation to God for such a worshipful moment of praise (to God).
Some might say, “Clapping during worship is not biblical!” Hold on there, yes it is. Check out these scriptures where clapping and worship went “hand and hand” (pun intended):
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