Hand Clapping – Is It Authorized?
Categories: Bible Study LessonsToday, we are living in an entertainment crazed society that expects to be entertained almost twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Hand clapping, whistling, and yelling are expressions of approval at various sports and entertainment events, and indicate satisfaction of the entertainment presented. Unfortunately, this worldly influence has crept over into the Lord’s church where people want to clap during the worship or at a baptism, to show their approval of the “entertainment” they are receiving. As Christians, we need to realize that we are not in the worship service to be entertained, but to humbly offer our worship to God “in the beauty of holiness” (Psalm 95:6; Psalm 29:2; Psalm 96:9). Brethren, we are not mere spectators, but participants, as we worship our Heavenly Father.
Honoring God In Our Worship To Him
As we come to worship the Lord, do we not understand how great He is? The Bible tells us, “O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth” (Psalms 96:9), and we are to be “perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). Since we worship an awesome God, “Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him” (Psalm 33:8). Hand clapping may be acceptable in various entertainment arenas, but it shows utter disrespect and lack of reverence for God in our worship service. The Psalmist tells us, “God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him” (Psalm 89:7). The vast majority of the denominational world thinks their worship to God is acceptable, but Jesus says, “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Mark 7:7). When we ignore what God says and worship “our way”, then our worship to Him becomes vain or empty (Matthew 15:8-9). It becomes “will worship” (Colossians 2:23) because we seek to worship God according to our will rather than God’s will (Matthew 7:21). If we expect to be pleasing to God and go to Heaven, we must pay attention to what God says in the Bible as to how He desires to be worshipped. The Hebrew writer tells us, “Let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear; for our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-29). If our worship is not acceptable to God, then the end result will be disastrous as we spend eternity in “everlasting fire” (Matthew 25:41).
Biblical Example Of Unacceptable Worship
God has given us explicit warnings in the Bible concerning unacceptable worship of Him. One example is that of Nadab and Abihu in the Old Testament. “And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord” (Leviticus 10:1-2). Just as Nadab and Abihu were severely punished by being consumed by fire for their unauthorized worship, we also will be severely punished eternally in Hell for our unauthorized worship as we offer strange sounds of hand clapping to the Lord. We need to realize that, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).
Worship To Be Done By The Lord’s Authority
Paul admonishes us, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17). To do all in the name of the Lord Jesus is to do all things by His authority. Since we are under the New Testament law of Christ (Romans 8:2; 1 Corinthians 9:21; Gal. 6:2), where in the New Testament has God authorized hand clapping in worship to Him? The authorization is not there – it can’t be found. Hand clapping in worship is not authorized just as playing a mechanical instrument of music is not authorized in worship to God. Let’s ask ourselves this question: If we are going to clap in worship, why don’t we also whistle, yell, and scream to show our approval? Or why don’t we clap during the Lord’s Supper or as a prayer is being led? Our worship to God is not for our entertainment for God is the One being worshipped and glorified, not us. Paul tells us, “Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). We can only glorify and honor God when we do what He tells us, how He tells us, when He tells us, the way He tells us, where He tells us, and for the reason He tells us. We are to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). Jesus says that those who worship God “must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). This means we are to worship God with, (1) the right attitude and (2) by God’s truth. Hand clapping in the worship service is not in spirit and in truth. We are also admonished by Paul to “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40). Hand clapping is neither a decent nor an orderly activity in our worship to God.
Conclusion
People who clap their hands in worship may “have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they, being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God” (Romans 10:2-3). People may be sincere in their hand clapping in worship, but they are sincerely wrong and will lose their souls in eternity. It will be too late on the day of judgment if the Lord says to us, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:23). Going to Heaven must be our number one priority in this life. When we worship the Lord, let’s make certain we are worshipping Him “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24), the way He has authorized.