Raising Hands @ Prodigal Returns!

Raising Hands

Posted on August 30th, 2010 Richard 7 comments

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I was raised Southern Baptist, okay?! I’m not sure why I felt obligated to say that up front or why this topic makes me so tense. I’m a worshiper, in fact, it was listening to “worship” music that I remembered from more than 20 years prior that was partially responsible for the end of my lengthy prodigal run. God intervened directly in my life — that was unmistakable — but I was left with this question: Which God intervened directly in my life? Bad experiences in Christian church buildings had contributed to my disenchantment with God so I was prejudiced against this God being that God, the Christian God.

I made a CD of some old Christian songs that I remembered, mostly simple choruses and hymns, and noticed that ;my heart would soar listening to them. Now I knew that it was that God after all. I would listen to this music when I was driving alone and often raised my available right hand. This was noteworthy because I was not a hand raiser in my youth.

When I finally worked up the nerve to walk into a church building again, I walked into a building full of hand raisers. I did not want to conform at any level because I still held some bitterness toward Christian congregations, I, of course would not raise my hands. I assumed that anyone who did desperately needed attention and I despised them.

I had a dilemma, I found that raising my hands was a spontaneous expression of worship for me but I did not want to appear to be “one of those”, whatever “those” are. I sought seats at the rear of the congregation so I could raise my hands at will and yet make it clear to everyone else that I did not need attention. This felt disingenuous — I use that word because it sounds much better than “fraud-like” or its dreaded twin “hypocritical”. I’m not sure why I was surprised that holding strong resentment toward Christians in general and hand raisers in particular impeded my worship. It took me months to unravel this truth while I repeatedly tried to reconcile the difference between the spontaneous, unfettered Richard and the uptight, contemptuous one.

Now I raise my hands when I feel it and don’t when I don’t. I most often raise just my right hand, bending it at the elbow over and over in celebratory praise. Of course, if you are new to our local congregation, this appears a great deal like a really big guy angrily shaking his fist at God. I’ll call this “cognitive dissonance” because it sounds more Christian than “frightening the children”.

I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. \o/

Psalm 63:4

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Also of Interest, God's will, Humor, Prodigal Baptist, Christian, God, hymn, music, praise, raising hands, worship
7 responses to “Raising Hands”
1. Brenda August 30th, 2010 at 18:09
  
  Richard,
  I learn more and more from you as time passes.
  I too remember (not as a child) I was an adult a friend whom we had been out of touch with, we ran into while my then husband was in the hospital. He told us he was in school to become a minister and would be preaching at a church in our town (his former home town). He asked us if we would come.
  My husband and I said yes, as we sat down and the sermon began and praise started we would see hand go up, hear an AMEN and as singing started
  more ands would go up. This was our first experience with this and my husband and I looked at each other in shock “what on earth”.
  Now, I to find myself raising my hand to show my Praises to the Lord.
  Thanks for sharing your experiences.
  Brenda
2. Linda August 30th, 2010 at 20:19
  
  Richard, I’m thankful I didn’t have to “unlearn” the raising of hands since I found the Lord due to a “hand raiser” kind of Christian and went immediately into that kind of church.
  Frankly, when the praising gets really good I don’t see how anyone can keep their hands down and their feet from moving.
  Love reading about your experiences.
3. Rose August 30th, 2010 at 20:40
  
  Well, I hope your dear wife stands to your left in worship so as to avoid your ‘angry fist’ gestures
  
  I fully understand the reluctance, with the ‘them’ and ‘those’ people although at my church, it is more of the opposite situation. It has long been a ‘conservative’ church and even with many of the changes over the years, many people are just not comfortable doing that ‘liberal’ sort of thing. It took quite a while to get over the ‘fear’ of being different and raising hands in praise when most of the congregation is not.
  
  Now I am ‘one of those’ and hang out with the ‘others’ of like ilk in the rear where there is more room! Praise God!!! \o/\o/\o/
4. mcProdigal August 30th, 2010 at 21:30
  
  It’s good to expand spiritual horizons and discover new things. It makes me wonder what else God might reveal.
5. Marie September 2nd, 2010 at 23:18
  
  I’m a people watcher and I love watching people worship. Our church many of the men will do exactly what you describe while many of the older ladies will stand (even if everyone is seated because it is a special group singing) with both hands raised in the air. And then, there are others that will stand and or sit quietly with eyes shut, slight smile – and you can see their hearts adoring their Lord. And then there are those that are the “shouters” in the church, that have no problem shouting Amen or Praise the Lord, during song services or preaching. I will “amen” (usually loudly, cause i naturally have volume) or raise my right hand during the music, much like you describe. When I’m driving – or sitting at my desk I’ll catch myself raising my right hand as well.
  
  The main thing is to truly be praising the Lord for HIS greatness, not drawing attentions to ourselves. HE must increase, we must decrease.
  
  @spreadingJOY
6. Franchesca November 22nd, 2010 at 10:56
  
  Raising Hands is the one thing that brings me back. Something about the song remembers when (and older country song) rings true to my soul. When my mind is out of whack it can come to a truce with my soul when the right worship tune arrives. My hands instinctively go to God. AND I remember in searching for God, I saw an infomercial by TIME for a Audio Cassette (HA) with a Worship Blend. I ordered it and it for 19.99 and it changed my life one tune at a time. Thanks for sharing you are always inspiring! Blessings
  Franchesca recently posted..Church Shopping for Dummies
7. Vikvienne Maragh December 1st, 2010 at 15:23
  
  I found myself raising my hands at the age of 16, i fel.t very natural to me and the Church that i worshipped at were a lot of hand raisers…Later on in life after backsliding and going back to Church, i realized that a lot of people look at me when i raise my hands, which would bother me. I often wondered y arent’t they raising their hands until i found out that u have to b baptized by the Spirit of the living God to make such proclaimation.. Once baptized by the Spirit of God, there is no other way of proclaimation but through the raising of ur hands… I drive n raise my hands while i am driving. For me this isz just acknowledging God that He is up there and Hid Spirit lives within me n this is just a sign of RESPECT, HONOUR, AND SALUTATION….
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