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Let's Hear It for Miss Manners!

By Steven Harper

The following letter and response was published on December 25, 2001 in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. I thought it was a worthwhile item to consider what "Miss Manners" has recognized, though many in denominations and so-called "churches of Christ" do not. See for yourself...

DEAR MISS MANNERS: As a child, I was taught never to applaud in church. Now it is very common in my church and others I have attended. It seems that everything – singing, speeches or any kind of performance – is followed by someone saying, 'Let's give them a big hand.' Everybody applauds except me. Is this right or wrong."

GENTLE READER: You are right, but brace yourself. A lot of angry churchgoers are going to come at you with that quote about making a joyful noise unto the Lord. Miss Manners is delighted that they have the joyful noise idea, and is all for music, speaking and other decently appropriate forms of worship. But she is afraid the good people missed the part about its being directed unto the Lord, and not unto themselves. Their pleasure may be great, but it is incidental to the purpose of worship, and they should not attempt to usurp the Lord's power of passing judgment on those who are worshiping him.

Did you catch that, friends? Miss Manners (Judith Martin) has apparently recognized what many of our so-called "brethren" and our denominational friends and associates have not: worship is supposed to be directed unto the Lord. When we applaud a preacher's words, a singer's vocal talent, or even some dramatic point during these assemblies that are supposed to be for worshiping our Lord, it is not directed at the Lord at all, is it? Can you imagine the brethren of New Testament times applauding the apostle Paul as he concluded his late-night address to those in Troas (Acts 20)? Would the crowd in Jerusalem on Pentecost have applauded Peter as he concluded his oration that convicted them of murdering the Son of God (Acts 2)? Of course, not.

When Peter went to Cornelius with the word of God, he fell at Peter's feet, to which Peter replied, "Stand up; I myself am also a man" (Acts 10:26). When the people of Antioch of Pisidia heard Paul's words of salvation, they "glorified the word of the Lord," not Paul himself (Acts 13:48). The word of God was never about the one who brought it, but everything about the word of God itself. When we get those things mixed up, as the Corinthian brethren did (1 Cor. 1-4), nothing but strife and division will result, and God will not be glorified.

My dictionary defines worship as the reverent love shown to (God). It is an expression of our love for God, His word, and all He has done for us. It is not about how well we speak, sing, or even how well we can bring the audience to tears with some dramatic and emotional story. Everything we do should be for the glory of God and showing Him our love. When we applaud those who are supposed to be merely facilitators of that expression of our love, we have missed the point altogether.

So, when we come together to truly and sincerely worship God and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, remember that it is for Him we come together – so let's do just that. Save your applause for another time.


Contact the author online at harperwest@yahoo.com.

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