Since it is not a commandment or requirement, I must conclude that it is an option. Although there are times when I find myself almost involuntarily raising my hands during worship. I like to think that it is Spirit motivated.

Charlene I agree with what you said about maybe it being the stigma associated with the hand lifting. I have not personally witnessed alot of this type of worship but have heard and of course seen it on TV.

Mike I do agree with you that it is not a command but an option.

I admit that I have never had the inclination to lift up my hands in worship. When I look at those few who are doing it in my church and the look of peace on their faces I can not help but wonder what I am missing. I am one of the ones who will say AMEN when I hear something in the sermon that touches me, etc. I do not think this is necessary for my salvation, however, I just wonder about it and what makes them on the inside do this at certain times.

It seems to me there might be other factors involved here. In our ordinary conversation, don't we often hold out our hands toward the person with which we are conversing? Especially if we are making a request? In conversing with God, it would seem to be a natural gesture to hold out our hands to Him.

Also in olden times, it seems those who approach a king or ruling authority also held out their hands, sometimes going so far as to kneel or bow or bend down to the floor, stretching out their hands in front of them. In those days, this type of "obeisance" would naturally carry over into the worship of God. In our day where there are no such rulers, we have gotten away from this custom in our daily lives. And since today we think of God more as a friend, our mannerisms reflect that attitude. Those who still think of God as a "master" would be more inclined to continue the practice of kneeling, closing the eyes, and either folding or lifting up the hands when they approach God.

Bob Lee

I agree with Mike, as this has also been my own personal experience, to do this when I feel that I am being led by the Holy Spirit!

I suspect that most of us know someone that uses their hands to gesture as they talk. For them it is natural. For most of us it may not be so natural. It is very rare that I have ever lifted my hands during church, yet I view it as being totly Biblical. I do raise them at times, perhaps often, when I pray at home. I find it very meaningfull during a prayer of surrender (for obvious reasons) or I may express my heart before God with my hands raised. The times I remember the most are times of gratitude and "LOVE". An awesome reflection of what a wonderful God of love that we serve. At such times raising my hands seems very meaningful. Ps. 16:11

Blessings
Forever His

Worship and praise can not be done, or at least not done well, just by sitting in a pue each Sabbath from 9:30 to 12:30. We seem to be oppressed (sp) and held back due to our culture, at least it seems that way here in the Maritimes. This is not "Maritime" culture but rather "SDA" culture. I too have experienced being in the sanctuary on Sabbath when someone would begin to raise there hands in worship, and hear comments from a few of the "regular" members...What comments would be directed to "David" if he were here and felt a desire to "dance bfore the Lord"? The bottom line is raising hands in worship to our God is not wrong, it just seems that we as a people (SDA's) have a seemingly narrow mind on how one is to worship.

I play Christian music either from CD or from Exreme 101 fm our local (Moncton) Christian (youthful) radio station. One of my favorite songs is by "True Vibe" entitled "Jump". The lyrics state "... I was standing with the Lord Can you feel the joy / Don’t it make you want to jump, jump, jump / Don’t it make you want to move, move, move / Throw your hands to the roof, roof, roof..." each word inthis song is clear, precise and focused on our Lord, a sermon in song, and most times I do Jump, Move and through my hands to the roof...(Extreme caution while driving) But the point is when I worship durring the 7 days on my own I do so without the strains of the "establishments" methodology, but when I am in church on Sabbath, it seems that our worship is in "lament mode" or so sombre that we lose the concept of worship... Thank you Lord for meeting us where we are, and accepting us...with our hands up or down, thank you for loving us, because we know that your hands were spread wide on the cross, and would today be wrapped around us...so to come Lord Jesus. God bless us all as we strive to worship and honour our Creator not only on sabbath, but also through the whole week.