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This post was written first and foremost to provoke thought. Please read with an open mind.
A small group sings a music number at your church before the pastor preaches. Do you A) clap because they did well, B) clap because they didn’t do well but you don’t want them to feel bad, or C) smile and say “Amen” or thank God silently for His gift of music?
If you chose A or B, for whom are you clapping?
Clapping in recognition of a human “performance” during a worship service is a relatively new phenomenon in our culture, at least in the circles I usually rub shoulders with.  Twenty years ago it would’ve been considered terribly sacreligious, and while some groups still hold to that view, an alarming number are drifting toward a new standard. I think this drift stems from two things: a) a lack of respect for God, and b) a lack of thought. People get caught up in the emotion of a performance, so they clap without stopping to think about whom they are clapping for. There hasn’t been enough instruction on the subject of music and its place in worship, and it’s time for us to take ownership of our actions. We need some teaching on the subject!
As you may have astutely guessed by the title of this article, I’m one of the straight-laced individuals who doesn’t clap for sacred music (for the purpose of this article, I’m defining sacred music as music that is purposely God-centered). Clapping for sacred music is my biggest pet peave. Actually, to me it goes beyond a pet peeve – it provokes me to righteous anger (see the bottom of the post for an update on what I mean when I say “righteous anger”).  Strong words? Maybe…and maybe not. Here are a few things for you to ponder before you clap:
Music in church is not a performance, it’s worship. What is the purpose of music in a worship service? Music in worship is a form of worship. It is not, and I repeat, NOT a performance for your entertainment. If the musicians did an aesthetically pleasing job, the glory goes to God and God alone and should provoke an appropriate response of worship. While clapping to God can be part of worship, it needs to be done in the right way at the right time. Doing so after a musical number in today’s culture would be blurring the lines. An “Amen”, “Bless God”, or just a silent prayer to God is a great response instead.
Music should provoke thought, not just emotion. Music appeals to the emotion, but music in worship should most importantly provoke thought, specifically thought about God. Clapping has a penchant toward being a man-centered emotional response, but an “Amen” is a God-centered response that comes from an engaged mind. You’re basically saying, “I agree with what you just said through song.” As I said before, there can be a place for clapping during worship, but I believe that thought should precede emotion, not the other way around.
Worship in any form should be God-centered, not man-centered. Worship is God-centered; a performance is man-centered. You clap for a performance. Clapping after a special music number in church blurs the lines between performance and worship. Clapping gives man glory instead of God, and that’s serious business. If you want to know how seriously God looks upon men stealing the credit that belongs to Him, check out this post. (Please note that I’m not saying that clapping is always wrong; I think there can be a place for it when done for the right reason in the right attitude in circumstances outside of a worship service. There can even be some appropriate times to clap in a worship service as a way to praise God, but doing it after a special music number is associated with applause for a performance in our culture today and therefore should be avoided to “abstain from all appearance of evil” [1 Thess. 5:22].)
A personal anecdote
I recently attended a church service where a small group sang before the speaker got up to preach. After the group was done singing, someone started clapping and most of the room joined in. The clapping was a raucous change from the worshipful scene the music had been setting, and I really felt sorry for the preacher who had to get up and speak right after the abrupt change in mood. Music in worship should serve to prepare the hearts of the audience for the rest of the worship service. Clapping really detracts from that goal.
So how do we support our musicians?
You might think that your musicians will feel unappreciated if you don’t clap.  Let’s get one thing straight: if they are offended because they aren’t recognized for their efforts, you should probably get new musicians or train the ones you have. Again, music in worship is not a performance. Any musician that treats it as such is not worthy to sing or play in a worship service.  Ouch. I’m speaking to myself here; I know how hard it is to retain the right focus! That leads me to another subject about whether or not we should even have special music in church (I definitely think that most of the music in a worship service should include everyone present), but that’s for another time…
There are a couple of ways you can support your musicians. One of the best is to be attentive while they are singing, and please keep a pleasant expression on your face! Let the music provoke you to thoughts of God. Follow along in your mind. An engaged audience is such an encouragement to those singing! Another great way to encourage those who put effort into providing special music is to go find them after the service and tell them privately that you appreciated their ministry through song. Tell them how much it meant to you and share with them how God spoke to you through their songs. “Good job” probably isn’t totally appropriate for a worship setting because again, music in worship is not a performance.
A popular phrase among musicians who truly grasp music’s place in worship is Soli Deo gloria (sometimes abbreviated “S.D.G.”), which means, “Glory to God alone”. May this be our prayer in everything we do!
“Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.” (Psalm 115:1 KJV)
Edit – what I mean by “righteous anger”
I’ve gotten quite a few comments about my “righteous anger” statement so I thought I should clarify what I mean when I use that term. Some of you seem to get a different picture in your heads than I do when you see those words, so maybe a little clarification is in order here so you don’t misunderstand my intent. While personal anger is never right for a Christian, righteous anger is not centered on a person but rather the idea that God’s Name is being profaned (hillul hashem in Hebrew). This is the same type of anger demonstrated when Moses came down from Mt. Sinai after talking with God only to see the Israelites worshipping the golden calf; you can also see it in Jesus when He routed the corrupt businessmen out of the Temple. Again, this anger is not a personal anger or grudge against someone, but rather a righteous indignation that anyone would dare defame the Name of God. Righteous anger (or “indignation” if you like that word better) should not provoke any sort of personal vendetta against someone, but should rather cause you to approach the person or people involved with a heart of love and teach them what God says about the particular subject (or maybe go to someone in authority to do so if you feel it’s out of your place to do the approaching at the moment). I personally feel like we should see more righteous anger these days. I think we excuse far too many things because we don’t want to offend people, but brotherhood accountability and a heart of love and understanding is the key here. Balance, balance, balance.
In Summary: The two main points of this article are as follows:
- Worship should be God-centered, not man-centered.
- Clapping after a piece of specially-performed music in a worship service carries the connotation of applause for performance in today’s culture and thus should be avoided to “abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thess. 5:22).
Please note that I am not saying that I believe all clapping in a worship service is wrong. I think it can have its place when done at the right time in the right spirit, but I don’t believe that doing it after a specially-performed piece of music is the right time because of association in our culture today. I think I was unclear on my stance on this earlier in the post, for which I apologize (and have done my best to fix the error).
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I’ve always wondered why anyone needs to be clapped for. If they do it as unto the Lord. Then they will not personally need or desire it.
Another thing that is troubling is preachers who ask for amens. If his message is worthy. He may get one, or he may not. This begs the question. If he is asking for it, then what is the reason he is preaching? He should not be worried about that.
Personally I could care less if someone amens something or not. But we’ve been to conferences where the preachers yelled and shouted so loud, we couldn’t understand what they were saying. And people woukd get up and shout extremely in agreement. I really had lots of trouble understanding what was said. No I’m not old.. That is a style that is disorderly, irreverent etc. Nothing wrong with being excited, but there is a lot of irreverent behavior in churches today.
I read your teaching today …… I DO understand what you are trying to define, but, I dont heartily agree to all of it. ( hey, I bet neither of us whole heartedly agrees with the Pope teachings, either). Please, let US not be the judge to the CLAPPING response of others…….I think we agree that WORSHIP SHOULD BE ENGAGING!! ACTIVE!! THOUGHT PROVOKING!!, SELF SEARCHING, PRAYERFUL,THANK FULL!!! For what its worth,my church has applauded during sermons!!! I invite you and your readers to watch the video of the gospel “performance” of Elevation Worship singing”Graves into Gardens”. If that song of praise doesnt get you to STAND up, CLAP your hands, SING along, WAVE your arms in WORSHIP, APPLAUD whole heartedly after the last note is played,then you will never understand what MY soapbox moment, on your post, is trying to relay. Maybe God uses these performers to get his people in the DOOR…..Hey, remember when “THE WAY” paperback Bible was popular in the 70’s?? It was a paraphrased version. Certainly not the best study guide of God’s Holy Word, but, it got people to OPEN the BOOK. AND Read it!!! …I have attended many services where I didn’t recall the sermon but, I remembered the song. The words of the song blessed me. God Bless you and ALL of us as WE COME TO WORSHIP. Let us both ask God to guide his people into a REVIVAL of praise. WE SURE NEED IT NOW AS WE LIVE IN REVELATION TIMES!! Even the Gaithers may relate.
It is in celebration and worship giving honor to God and His son! Would you clap at a human performance that was not giving praise and glory to God? If so why? If i am willing to clap and celebrate a group that are not praising God but then not will or see a need to celebrate even more a group that are singing praises and glory to God, what does that indicate about my depth of worship.
When i am worshiping i close my I eyes mainly so that it denies my human mind to be distracted by what my eyes are seeing and i am able to praise God and give my attention better.
God and His Son Jesus should be a reason for the greatest celebration in our lives! He is the Alpha and Omega! Thank you Jesus for Your neverending Love and Grace!
Well stated, Brianna. I can only add an amen.
I have struggled with this in recent years as more and more this is happening in church services, especially after special songs; clapping takes away so much from the meditative, God-focused atmosphere sacred singing can bring.
Thank you.
Thank you for your sincere and God-focused insights.
Soli Deo gloria!
Jeff
Tozer:
The cross of popular evangelicalism is not the cross of the New Testament. It is, rather, a new bright ornament upon the bosom of a self-assured and carnal Christianity.
The old cross slew men—the new cross entertains them.
The old cross humbled men—the new cross amuses them.
The old cross destroyed confidence in the flesh—the new cross encourages it.
Thank you for the quote – that is powerful.
I grew up in a church that did not clap after special music, but now it seems every church I attend does clap after special music. I usually join in so as not to stand out or to offend those around me, but I still agree with you that the music should be to glorify God and I always wonder if clapping might make the singers prideful. Last year I went to the Dove Awards and more than ever, I felt that many of the artists liked and maybe even coveted the praise for them and their music. I also agree that sometimes the clapping breaks the spirit of worship that the song has accomplished. I am happy to see someone as young as you are with such spiritual discernment. God bless you. For some it is easy to see the meaning of the Word, but for many it is not so easy. I have sometimes been prideful in my understanding and even in my older years still have to remind myself to be gentle and humble in my approach–I am not always successful in accomplishing that.
Your article is spot on! I always feel uncomfortable when clapping begins after special music. Thank you.
I love this article and agree completely. It takes away from worshiping God alone. I don’t think clapping is good even during congregational singing because it is showing emotion rather than worship and takes your mind off the words to the song. Thanks for sharing your article. I think we are outnumbered but that doesn’t mean I have to clap.I say Amen under my breath if anything to keep from taking someone else’s concentration away from God. I feel the same way with handraising during a service.
Beautiful spirit, tender heart… may readers recognize your intent – Soli Deo gloria!
Dear Sweet Briana: Thank you for such a wonderful blog on clapping in church after a special music number has been done. I am so thrilled you have spoken up and taught on this subject. You have done well and my heart is rejoicing to see one so young have so much wisdom. May God continue to use and grow your ministry to others.
I think you’re splitting hairs over nothing Briana. Yes, you have a point, but you’re also contradicting Psalms. where God by the Holy Spirit had written down “O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.” and again “Shout to the LORD, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy!” Clapping is a form of worship to God, and singing. To judge someone’s motives and intents at church for clapping is to play God. God knows why they’re clapping. Yes there is a wrong time to clap. But clapping during a song is the same thing as dancing with your feet. It’s making a joyful sound or noise onto the Lord. Yes it’s possible to worship God in the flesh and have Him not receive it. So let me ask you something. What good came out of this article? Did it bring anyone closer to Jesus, or did it cause us to fight over whether to clap or not clap? I feel in my spirit this article is accusatory and divisive against the body of Christ which the Holy Spirit seeks to keep in unity. How can we walk in unity with Him if half of us are against clapping in songs, and the other half are for it? What says the Bible? That’s your final authority on any matter or topic. I’m not angry. I’m surprised people would flock to this, and not search the Bible for the full answers on what God thinks of clapping. Clapping can be the praise of men. But it also can be to exalt God. If the congregation claps for the praise and worship team being humble as we’re all led to worship God more deeply together, what’s wrong with the clapping? Nothing is wrong. God receives it. Now if the congregation claps and says “you’re the best bassist, guitarist, organ player, singer in the praise and worship team.” Then yes it’s wrong to clap for them. Who made you the judge and jury of the body of Christ? I’m pretty sure that’s God’s job to judge a person’s final motives. Let me ask you something as my sister in Christ, did you seek God and His Word before posting this article, or did you do this without His approval? Or did you lean to your own understanding and become wise in your own eyes? (Both of which the Bible warns us not to be) If so, repent for not asking Him. If not, then correct me and gently put me in my place. I found this article divisive and accusatory to Christians. It’s not edifying, so you should change it or take it down. Do whatever God tells you to do with this article. I’m pretty sure He’s not pleased by it. Regardless of the discussions going on here. We’re all supposed to agree with what God said in the Word. Not with other people’s opinions over what they think truth is. The Word is truth. You want to know what God thinks about clapping hands, then search your Bible and you’ll get the truth.
Hi Daniel! The main purpose of this article was to cause people to examine their own motives when clapping after a special music number in church, and I believe it has served its purpose. As you’ll see in the article, it was not condemning all clapping, and it wasn’t even condemning all clapping after a music number. I do personally believe that it’s a good idea to abstain from clapping after special music because of unclear connotations in our culture (just like even though I wouldn’t t-total against wine, neither would I drink it in a public setting because of its connotations with possible drunkenness). You’ll find my scriptural basis for that in the article. This is especially for the benefit of those in church who aren’t Christians or are young Christians who don’t yet understand the possible pitfalls of pride in a public worship setting. To answer your question at the end, yes, I felt God leading me to write this article, and I believe it has served its purpose well. Because of your comment, I prayerfully reread the article to see if your accusations were true, and I do not feel like there is anything wrong or misleading in it. I will be leaving it up as-is for the forseeable future, but I thank you for your concerns and comment.
Thank you for this article. I agree with you on this subject. Clapping after special music is something I was taught not to do. Mainly because it gives glory to the performers rather than God. I sing specials with my husband at church, and I cringe whenever people clap for us. We sing to inspire others and also to glorify God. So when people clap for us, I feel they are giving us the glory and recognition. And I can do nothing, especially sing, without the power of God. Giving God all the glory when I sing is more of a blessing to me then hearing applause.
Well, forget clapping for a minute. What about blogging? Is that being done for God or Briana Thomas?
Something I have to remind myself of every day! 🙂
Picture a family of kids who decide on Father’s Day to sing or recite or dance or present any other type of “performance” to honor their Papa. A couple of the children take their turn and sing a song about what a good Father they have…when they are finished the whole family applauds because they agree that He is indeed a good Father and these kids have done an honorable thing as they tried to show Him that. Does that applause steal any of the joy or honor the Father received? Does His heart not swell as his children have gathered to sing His praises? Would He feel more loved if all were somber after each child takes his turn? Church is my brothers and sisters gathering to celebrate our good Father. We clap to bring glory to the One and to say well done to those who “performed.” Please just know there is another way to see the whole thing.
Briana, Thank you for sharing your thoughts with this article. My parents went to a Church of God when I was a small child, and we eventually transitioned to Baptist churches. My husband and I now attend a non-denominational church that tends to be primarily baptist in their teaching. Anyway, the Baptist churches I’ve gone to in my life have had lots of clapping. People would clap or shout after everything, even while the pastor would preach. I clicked the link to this article not thinking that I would agree, but I discovered that I do (and so does my husband)! You pointed out a lot of things that have always bothered me subconsciously but I never really knew why until today. I also get a “righteous anger” when any church I go to makes a big deal out of a performance rather than honoring God and teaching His Word. Reading your post has made me rethink how I conduct myself in service (regardless of what everyone else is doing). Keep speaking the Truth, even if people get angry about it. I really enjoy reading your blog!
Thank you for your open-mindedness, Sara. It seems like a lot of people reading this article are totally missing the point of what I’m trying to say. I praise God that He used this post to make you think. 🙂
I’m going to disagree with you. I think we get too caught up in what something “means” and then we get judgmental because we think others are wrong. Clapping most certainly CAN be for the Lord. Remember everyone has different personalities. Some people are very demonstrative in their worship and life in general. You can praise Jesus with a clap, with your arms raised high, with your voice, with a musical instrument, in your head, quietly or loudly with your voice. And God is BIG enough to know each individual’s heart and that’s all that needs to be said. It’s not our job to tell others how to behave for worship to matter or be done right. You really have NO idea why someone is clapping. Is it a distraction for you? I’m sorry, then that is your issue and one you need to deal with by talking to the Lord. It doesn’t mean that person over two pews up is in the wrong. I don’t believe this falls under righteous anger. God’s name is not being profaned because someone clapped and you didn’t like it. That’s wrong. Most people in the church made a choice to be there that day, maybe it was a HARD choice. Maybe they’re struggling. The last thing they need is to be wondering if someone is judging them because they clapped at the end of a song. Let’s instead focus on those who are at church. Pray for each individual who is sitting in the pews. Because that’s something that matters. That’s important. That matters to God. Instead of assuming someone is clapping for the wrong reasons, how about thinking wow, that moved them so much they are thanking the Lord for touching them so profoundly. Let’s stop getting caught up in non-issues. Let’s love others enough to see them how God does – He’s PROUD of them for coming to church and being involved in worship! We should be too.
Excellent article 🙂 I come from a church where applause after each song is normal. I never clap, but keep my arms in a submissive place. I do this because worship is (for me) a time of adoring God, humbling myself, hearing from Him, and communing with the Spirit. Worship is a huge part of my life and so is Jesus Christ. Worship draws me in to a sacred space, where heaven and earth meet, and the presence of God fills the room. I know not everyone has this experience, but I often pray to intercede for the congregation that they too would meet God in that moment. He is so good to us, so loving. He is worth every minute of surrender and abandon to His love and grace.
Beautifully said. Thank you for sharing.
I went from attending a church that didn’t clap to a church that did. 15 years later I still feel uncomfortable when the clapping begins. Thanks for sharing.
I remember the first time I heard clapping in church. I was taken aback and didn’t know what to do. Thanks for the great thoughts!
Interesting post, thanks for writing something that could be controversial, but in a gentle way.
I am a musician and I am uncomfortable if the congregation claps after I play in church.
I often choose music during a prelude or offertory that I hope will call to mind specific words and mindset, preparing people for worship or even “matching” and reflecting on the Scripture we have read and examined. So taking time to clap I think makes people take time to think “ooh, that was really good” rather than the thoughts I was intending them to have. I do like it when people value my playing and thank me for it, but not during our worship time, which is all about God.
If I was performing a worship-ful song in a concert setting, then I do not mind applause but I hope that it also draws people’s hearts to God as well (as I would hope any music could do).
As a fellow musician, I totally agree. Thank you for sharing!
I very much enjoyed this article, I wish I had read it sooner. My husband and I feel the same way. I sing at my church and ALWAYS before I do, I first pray for God’s guidance on what song I should sing because above all else I want it to glorify Him. I then continually pray that those who hear me don’t hear me but the words in the song. To me the Amen means so much more than the clapping, because I know that Amen means they were listening to the words not the voice and person singing. Sadly today’s society has become very soft and has lost point of what God commands of us and they become offended too easily. And many who do clap are doing it out of a kindness not as a form of worship. You have done nothing wrong in sharing your thoughts where music and clapping are involved. God bless you for all you do with this blog, for me it has truly been a blessing!
While I understand what you are saying, I would just say that if ones “mood” can change because of a little clap, then ones heart may not have been as solely focused on God as one thought. I believe there are worship styles/settings for every taste and I for one am glad you have found yours. Clapping does not bother me and I feel it is done because people honestly don’t know what to do after someone sings. For me, it doesn’t distract. I think there is a difference between “special music” and a worship set. I try to stay focused on my attitude and my heart and ignore what others are doing that may take my focus off of Christ..
That’s very true, and we should be able to maintain a heart of worship through anything (fussy kids included). However, I believe it’s a good idea to make a worshipful atmosphere as attainable as possible because I know that sometimes it’s easier for me to focus than others!
As I said in the post, my bigger problem with clapping after a special music number is because it can be confusing to the world watching us because they might think we are contributing glory to man rather than God. 🙂
I guess I’ m thinking of a particular church when I read this post. This church literally “split” over this very topic. I kinda think both sides dont really understand the Gospel when it would come down to something as silly as this . I realize you are not saying you are leaving a church over this, I’m just wanted to point out that in the big picture of things, how ridiculous our worldly views can become. Again I hear what you are saying, about everything should point to God and not man , and I totally agree, I guess for me this is just a non issue and I like to clap. 🙂 I have charismatic background, so we are probably on opposite sides of the style of worship issue, but I do applaud a beautiful worship moment
“Oh clap your hands, all ye peoples ; Shout unto GOD with the voice of triumph.” (Psalm 47:1.)
You are so right, Briana, that in a worship service ALL the glory must go to GOD alone. There could be a place in a worship service for the people to give a clap offering to the Lord, but that is different to applauding the performance of a performer. Thank you so much for clarifying this for some of us.
Thanks for understanding exactly what I was trying to say. 😉
I agree with you. I think it is one more example of how we in the church have conformed to the ways of the world.
Thank You! As a child in the public schools, 50 years ago, I remember a teacher telling us before a Christmas program, “Now we don’t clap after a religious song.” Of course, today we could not even sing that Christmas song in a public school, yet everyone knew that it was inappropriate to clap.
Today, my church claps. Often, they even say, “Let’s clap unto the Lord”, or some such thing. I think that started when ministers didn’t quite know what to do with the clapping. I am so glad to see others feel this way! It is not a performance, and I will raise my hand or voice to God in praise!
Psalms 47:1 (KJV)
“O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.”
I believe clapping or not clapping is a response of the heart of a person toward God. Since I can’t determine the hearts of others, I can say that sometimes I clap in response to the awesomeness of my God, and sometimes I don’t clap. But I certainly don’t condemn those who do clap or who don’t clap. With that said, I would hope that all the praise, whether by voice or clapping the hands or bowed head in worship, goes to the One who deserves it.
I’ve clarified some of my positions in the post because I think I was a little unclear. Thanks for reading!
While I agree that people should search their hearts about why or for whom they are clapping, I don’t believe it is your place to be in judgement of why they are clapping. I especially don’t understand your righteous anger. Be careful that you are focusing on/and condemning how someone else is responding to worship, instead of your own heart during worship. Amen is a word that means “so be it”. I believe many of God’s people are clapping unto the Lord in agreement with what has been sung. I believe what your Grandpa said could work both ways. Your theology about clapping could be an idol of self righteousness, since there is no way for you to know the hearts of those worshipping.
Psalm 47:1 O clap your hands, all ye people! Shout unto God with the voice of triumph!
Hi Lisa! I think some people are misunderstanding my intent behind the “righteous anger” comment, so I’ve added an edit about that at the bottom of the post for you to read if you’re interested. What you said is very true as well, and is definitely something that should be considered. I think there’s a balance there.
I agree, but having said that, “righteous” anger toward other believers does not come into play , imo, since all of us are walking out our faith journey , at different paces. When it comes to clapping along with congregation singing, clapping is a form of worship, that the Holy Spirit leads me too, as is raising hands, bowing my head and dancing – all as if no one is watching!
Hi Verna! I think some people are misunderstanding my intent behind the “righteous anger” comment, so I’ve added an edit about that at the bottom of the post for you to read if you’re interested.
And I agree that clapping along with music as a form of worship (when done in the right spirit) can be perfectly fine!
Thank you for sharing this! I never thought of it in this way before!
Ideology is Idolatry;
Ideology is a belief system that makes its own rules, even in WORSHIP…..Eph. 5,9 says; The fruit of the spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth; Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness , But rather reprove them. It is sad; But we have replaced true worship with Idolatry and praising the talents of humans over what Really belongs to God alone. Idolatry is so subtle. It masquerades as an angel of light ! Thank you grand daughter for setting this straight…. Grandpa
Thank you for your godly example, Grandpa!
Thank you Briana for posting this. I was raised to not clap at the end of special music. When I was a child only a few people in the congregation clapped and now most of the congregation clap. Once or twice the church has clapped after one of the congregational songs and the mood in the room was full of worship to the Lord. You could really feel His presence so those times I believe the church was clapping to the Lord not to the people. But as someone who sings on the worship team and does special music it makes me feel uncomfortable when they clap after singing because it does feel like they are praising the person, not the Lord. I do not get angry when the congregation claps after a special because each of us are at a different place in our walk with the Lord. I agree that a lot of it may be from a lack of thought. Just like my children were trained from the time they sat through the service that they could not leave to use the restroom during the service. Because that was disrespectful to the pastor and disruptive to the people around you. I mentioned that in a parents Sunday School group and several moms came up to me after saying that the appreciated that I shared and they had never thought of it that way and now they take their kids potty before the service starts. Thank you for sticking you neck out and sharing this. Hopefully many will read your post with an open mind and change how they respond to special music.
I strongly agree with you, Briana. We say, “Amen” at my church instead of clapping. All the glory belongs to God, not the singers or musicians. Thanks for writing about this subject. More people need to think through what their actions really mean.
AMEN!!!! music to my ears!!! hehehehe
I so agree with you, Briana! I feel the break in the spirit of worship when the clapping starts. I also feel that it is all about the performance and is an automatic response for most. Music moves me and causes a mindset of worship that is broken when the clapping starts.
I agree the time for applause is outside the worship service when the setting IS a performance. My convictions align with yours in this area of worshipping our Heavenly Father.
Thank you Briana~* I grew up with my family church in our front yard (literally), church was my second home (next to my grandparents farm), and I often wondered why the elders never clapped after special music. You’re absolutely right when you say, “There hasn’t been enough instruction on the subject of music and its place in worship, and it’s time for us to take ownership of our actions. We need some teaching on the subject!…”
Thank you for “sticking your neck out”, for caring, for sharing your faith, and love for the Lord.
Very much needed reminder.
Amen girl!! I knew my heart was drawn to you. I have been saying this for years and get agry as well. I have gotten “the look” before for not standing/clapping with the others. I’m sad to say in the past I have joined in because I didn’t want to not fit in, but got even more angry because I followed the crowd. I sing in the choir and don’t really have a great voice but to God it’s beautiful because He created it and I’m singing to Him. I was discussing this with someone once and she said she prays that God will hide her behind the cross so they only see Him. And don’t get me started on the “performances” with the light shows & effects or the one or two “performers” that are considered the choir. Thank you for speaking up on this issue! Would it be wrong if I stood up and clapped for your stand on this? ?
I feel like I’m kind of sticking my neck out with this article, but I think it needs to be talked about! As for clapping for my stand on this, “Soli Deo Gloria”. 😉
Ms. Marmelejo,
I attend a pretty big church (big for our city). One of our services is a blended service with our choir & our wonderful music minister. One service is with our praise band. While each are really different & different people are more comfortable in each service, they hear the exact same message in each service which is Jesus!! I have watched our church grow but not change the message at all!! We can’t be so legalistic that if someone is moved to clap, they are then made to feel guilty. Shoot, we even clap at times concerning the words that God has given our Pastor! Thankfully, people feel comfortable to come in our doors & that is what we want. Get them in the doors so they will hear & learn about Jesus!! Too many focus on the wrong things!!
Hi Brianna, I actually clap after the song because the spirit of the Lord has overwhelmed my heart during the song. I am a Baptist with a contemporary worship leader and I don’t clap for them, they play for an audience of One. I am glad you brought this point up because there are the mega churches that seem to be a concert every Sunday. God bless you young lady.
I’ve clarified some of my positions in the post because I think I was a little unclear. Thanks for reading!