Why Then Do We Clap?
April 23, 2008My friend Chauncy is hilarious. I love when we get to hang out because he makes me laugh…a lot. Think of your funniest friend whose humor is way beyond their years. Now combine them with a Spanish Major who wants to get back to their roots and serve God somewhere in Latin America. Now picture him being giant. I mean GIANT – like 6′5″ – but he is a gentle giant. This is a description of Chauncy.
Chauncy had this interesting thought about worship that I wanted to share with you from his thoughts over at Team Chauncy:
Last thing before I take a nap before dinner. Sometimes people clap after praise music. Why do you do that? I don’t get it. Unless you’re clapping for Jesus, you’re confusing me. The people playing music may be good. Yes. I agree. But why are they playing music? Is it to put on a good show or is it to bring glory to God and bring people to a place of worship? I think the second one, or at least I would hope so. When we clap for them what are we saying? Perhaps we’re thanking them, but it feels less like that. It feels more like we’re getting done with praising God and then starting to praise people. Yes they have amazing talents and gifts. Tell them they played well after the service. It’s not about them, or me, or you. It’s about Jesus. Clap for Him if you’re gonna clap. I don’t like that either because He’s not putting on a show, but still it’s better than clapping for the people playing praise music. Clapping for them is like getting a present from your mom at Christmas that is handed to you by your uncle and then saying thank you to your uncle. It’s rude. Your uncle gave you the gift directly, but he didn’t buy it.
Trying to figure out how this post got tagged “Catholic Church” … Perhaps because of the clapping for the Pope on his visit?
It Italy at the funeral for JP2 3 years ago this month, clapping was common at the funeral as a sign – among the Italians – of respect for the late Pontiff… It is a cultural thing… a sort of send off.
In a normal parochial Mass in a parish setting, clapping for the choir is considered a faux pas in most places, however. (For that matter, mass choirs assembeled around the altar wearing choir robes is remarkably uncommon in Catholic Churches – normally they are unseen in the choir loft if we have them at all – to preclude a sense that they are “performing” or “in concert for us”…
Yeah, I don’t know why I clicked on catholic church. Hmmm.
Could singing in a loft be a sort of symbol of heavens voices from above? I wonder.
I guess clapping is more of a protestant thing of recent. Luther may be rolling in his grave because of the applause at times.
Shucks Ron. You’re making me some sorta big deal. Thanks for the shout out there champ.
I will only speak for myself here. I know when I am in praise and really connecting, I have difficulty because I feel like I should be doing something with my hands but not sure what (Which is why I play any instrument… it gives my hands something to do). Without that action, I just can’t connect well with God, it seems “superficial”. So maybe people clap at the end because they are in such a state of worship it calls for us to DO SOMETHING. And so we clap.
Now I know many worship leaders, that when clapping begins, no matter how good the band, they direct the praise to God. they will say “Praise God” or Thank you Jesus, some have even offered up a quick public prayer to ensure the people’s attention is directed on God and not on the band.
As for wondering if clapping for God is OK… This I do know… if, IF I get into heaven, I will be the one jumping up and down, clapping like that kid that got the BEST Christmas present from his mother!!!
I’m an active person…always in motion. Clapping to the music is a natural thing for me. In fact, for me, it would be very unnatural NOT to clap. ANd I agree with Kevin….at the end of the song, you’re so much in “worship mode” that there is a need to DO SOMETHING. And I’ll totally be like Kevin in Heavin….clapping and jumping up and down, all excited.
So I guess the answer is it is the heart behind the clapping that determines why we clap. Like Chauncy said in his post: Unless you’re clapping for Jesus, you’re confusing me.
Clapping is often used as a means to praise God in churches I have worshiped in. I suppose it is relative to the individual church. Morever, it is relative to the individual worshiper.
I do, however, see what your friend, Chauncy, is saying. Americans, in particular, are conditioned in a way that they ‘need’ to be entertained. It is unfortunate, but true, that often times the applause is aimed at the praise team instead of the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, who is worthy to be praised!
I’m not a clapper… The stuff Chauncy said is some of the reasons why, but honestly I always feel bad not clapping. Like look at that girl who is not into worship b/c she doesn’t “praise God through clapping.” I’m sure most of it is in my head and because I was on church staff, I felt like is was being watch. But I am glad to know that whether we all agree or not… that there are others who think similar to me.
“Whenever Applause Breaks Out Into The Liturgy, because of some human achivement, It is a sure sign that the esscence of the liturgy has disappeared and has been replaced by a kind of religious entertainment”