"Advent's" know how to get down. Yeha. Get those hands up and put them together.

Yes, let's do what we can to bring others to the Lord! We can let them decide for themselves if "lifting of hands" is appropiate for their relationship with God. Let's give them a chance to have a meaningful relationship in the first place. Then, if they don't think it's something God would want THEM to do, they can make that decision. Let's just get them to know God first, and let the rest be taken care of by God.

Lifting up our hands in church - is it OK? What a strange question. Is there any evidence in the Bible or the SOP that it isn´t okay? As for me, I´m too reserved or too shy or whatever to lift up my hands in church. It doesn´t even occur to me to do it. I see others around me doing it, and I think it´s kind of cool. It makes me feel like they´re being totally blessed in the Spirit. In some cases, though, I wonder about it, because those same people are living in open sin (the same can be said about other members who do not lift up their hands in church).

One day, I surprised myself. The preacher was waxing eloquent, the Spirit was moving wonderfully, and I stood up right in the middle of his sermon and said - "Jesus is altogether awesome and wonderful. Praise His holy name." Then I sat down thoroughly amazed at what had come over me. It felt right.

Aren't we ALL living in sin? Are some of us more open about it, and others more private about it? I personally don't see how being a sinner (since that includes every single person on this planet) either makes you blessed or not blessed, and more or less likely to lift any part of the body.

Oh, you are a closet charismatic Mike. LOL..

May your tribe increase!!

The lifting of hands is from the charismatic movement which some people have picked up, and IMHO just like the chanting, jumping or rolling on the floor can be a distraction or diversion from true worship...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charismatic_movement

[quote=Richard]The lifting of hands is from the charismatic movement which some people have picked up, and IMHO just like the chanting, jumping or rolling on the floor can be a distraction or diversion from true worship...

So can a crying baby, or someone with a bad cough. And if that's all it takes to distract you from the light of God, then maybe you should spend more time getting to know Him, and less time in chruch. If those things distract you and your ability to worship, then yeah, that's a problem, FOR YOU! That's not a problem for someone who is expressing the joy they find in God, it's a problem that YOU have with them.

I'm not saying that you are wrong, because in my opinion, your "feelings" can't be wrong, they are what they are. But, it is wrong (IMHO) to shame/degrade/punish or be prejudice against someone else for thier feelings. Those activites may bring them closer to God, even though it doesn't work for you.

And yes, I am accepting of your feelings, and opinions, they just aren't mine. And thats OK, and good. It's nice to be able to express our feelings in a loving, God worshiping place such as this.

I trust that you recognize you are expressing your own feelings, which have the same validity as those of folks who feel differently.

Who judges what is "true worship"? Is that not the work of the Judge of all the earth?

It seems to me that we should be very hesitant to condemn that which the Bible recommends -- the lifting of hands in prayer and worship.

Is it not far more important to teach the true work of the Holy Spirit, as expressed by Christ, than to worry about some of our members worshiping in a way that is reminiscent of those who do not understand the work of the Holy Spirit correctly?

Understanding the work of the Holy Spirit correctly! Yes, that's what we all need to do. But how do we do that? Whose version is correct? If there's only one version (as I know you'll make that argument), who can tell me which one that is?

And once I know the correct way, than am I not bound to follow that? I think most would say yes here, that once you know of God, and His way's, it's up to us to choose, Him or not. And then we are responsible for our actions, correct?

Well, then why not purposely not learn the correct way? Then I wouldn't be responsible, right? I can only be responsible for things I know, right? And as long as you don't tell me the right way, I'm off the hook. That is as long as your way is the right way. And how would I know that?

Seems to me the right way is something you work out with God, a way that no man can tell me is right or wrong! This church want's to tell other's they are wrong in their beliefs, and that they don't understand the Holy Spirit correctly! So, since we do know the right way, why haven't YOU spread the word, the way God told us to do? Are you then a sinner for not spreading the "truth?"

I do not understand how we as fallible humans, can tell another person, group, church, species or anything else, what is right and wrong for them. Why can't we work these things out for ourselves, though knowing our Lord, and spending time with Him, and prepare ourselves for His second coming? How would this church have any power if we didn't tell people what and how to believe? That's right, we wouldn't have any power, we would be as Jesus told us to be. Give it all up, and follow God, that's all we have to do. We don't have to follow rules, or doctrines, or anything else man made. We just have to follow God, and do as He tells us. And I'm not sure He's told me the same things as He's told you.

"Once again, these comments and FEELINGS are not the view of anybody but the author, the sole propritor of said point of view. The author does sincerely hope that you investigate all things, though the lense of the Lord, the only one who can clarify this murky subject for us."