Can we clap our hands in church?
According to this scripture, we certainly can. The
psalmist calls for people/nations to clap their hands to God. Yes, clapping can
be done in ways that don't glorify God, but anything can be turned into
something which doesn't worship God if done incorrectly. I remember a pianist
bragging that he snuck The Old Gray Mare into his playing at church. In
this, the people listening might have been thinking about God and praising him
but I doubt the pianist was. However, when it comes to clapping the action
itself is not wrong.
Does this mean if your church doesn't clap you should do
it? No, as Paul teaches we shouldn't offer offense in matters that aren't
important (Romans 14). If some do, then rejoice with them. If you're
uncomfortable then don't clap because at the end of the day if we aren't doing
it for God it doesn't matter.
Outside of the teaching on clapping, this psalm is a
beautiful song of praise to God, who is king over ALL the earth.
Psa 47:1-9
(1) To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.
(2) For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.
(3) He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.
(4) He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.
(5) God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
(6) Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.
(7) For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.
(8) God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.
(9) The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted.
Photo by Anna Louise on Unsplash
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