Throw Your Body into It!
Paul directed young pastor Timothy with these words: “I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath & doubting.” A quick rummaging through all of Scripture will show that there are abundant references to the body having a role in prayer. Solomon dedicated the temple and he prayed with hands uplifted, while standing up on his knees (1 Kings 8.22, 54). David prayed for his dying child, prostrate on the floor (2 Samuel 12.16). Jesus threw himself to the ground in grief when praying in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 15.35). On top of this there is standing in God's holy place (Psalm 24.3); and also taking bread and eating, taking the cup and drinking (Matthew 26.26-27); and the list could be expanded.
As we gather in God’s assembly Sunday by Sunday, our bodies are very much a part of our worship. We are to reign in our bodies and should throw them into our praying and worship of God Almighty. Therefore, it is very fitting and proper that we kneel in confession of sin, stand while singing our hymns, sit straight & respectful or lean over with intense attention as we pray (or kneel, or stand, etc), as well as stand out of respect to the reading of God’s Word.
Therefore, don’t look on the bodily movements of worship as meaningless religious gymnastics. Don't give in to the slouchy, slothful, flippancy of modern day hipness and irreverence. Instead, see the bodily actions of worship for what they really are: worshiping God with body and soul, which is the way God likes worship. “I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath & doubting.”
Mike
As we gather in God’s assembly Sunday by Sunday, our bodies are very much a part of our worship. We are to reign in our bodies and should throw them into our praying and worship of God Almighty. Therefore, it is very fitting and proper that we kneel in confession of sin, stand while singing our hymns, sit straight & respectful or lean over with intense attention as we pray (or kneel, or stand, etc), as well as stand out of respect to the reading of God’s Word.
Therefore, don’t look on the bodily movements of worship as meaningless religious gymnastics. Don't give in to the slouchy, slothful, flippancy of modern day hipness and irreverence. Instead, see the bodily actions of worship for what they really are: worshiping God with body and soul, which is the way God likes worship. “I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath & doubting.”
Mike
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