Evaluating Worship Practices (Part 3)

Is Hand Clapping Acceptable Worship?

The use of hand clapping during congregational singing and/or giving God a “round of applause” are becoming more and more popular. Are these practices involving hand clapping Scriptural? Before going any further, let us realize that all hand clapping, even if done in a church building, is not the same. For example, clapping hands at an announcement that little Johnny made the honor roll or even after a baptism is not the same as clapping hands as part of our worship to God. These occasions of hand clapping fall under the realm of judgment (even if it is bad judgment), while hand clapping in worship falls under the realm of doctrine—worshiping God “in spirit and truth” (Jn. 4:24,NKJ)! Does hand clapping as a means of worship violate the “in spirit and truth” principles that the Bible teaches, which have been brought to light in previous bulletin articles?1

Is Hand Clapping the Same as Saying “Amen”?

One of the more popular justifications of hand clapping in worship is to claim that hand clapping is the twenty-first century way of saying, “Amen.” While on the surface this argument may seem reasonable, there is a big difference: saying “Amen,” or verbally approving a message from God, is authorized by the New Testament (1 Cor. 14:15-16 cf. Neh. 5:13; 8:6). Concerning communication in worship, God’s way always involves words and actions that are to be clearly understood. For example, the language in singing and/or in prayer must be understood in order for the worshipers to teach, admonish, and be subsequently edified (cf. 1 Cor.14:11-19). Even partaking of the Lord’s Supper is to be clear communication of “proclaim[ing] the Lord’s death till He comes” (1 Cor. 11:26). However, what is communicated when clapping is done as worship to God? Is the applause for God? If so, by what authority? Is the applause for the person who led singing or who preached? If so, why are hand clappers praising men when they ought to be praising God? While clapping may be appropriate after a secular speech in a secular setting (and there may be some leeway in the meaning of “secular”), it is certainly unauthorized and inappropriate as a means of praising God! Remember, “whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Col. 3:17)!

What About Bible Verses That Mention Hand Clapping?

It must first be pointed out that every Bible verse that mentions hand clapping is found in the Old Testament. Any attempt, therefore, to justify hand clapping as worship from these verses is doomed to failure since we no longer live under the old covenant (cf. Mt. 5:17-20; Rom. 8:3-4; 10:4; Gal. 3:24-25; Col. 2:14). Of the nine Old Testament verses that mention hand clapping, five reveal that hand clapping was a way of expressing contempt and disdain (Job 27:23; 34:37; Lam. 2:15; Ezk. 25:6; Nah. 3:19). Three of the verses depict hand clapping as an expression of excitement and jubilation associated with the enthronement of a king (2 Kgs. 11:22; Ps. 47:1; 98:8). Of course, it must be noted that Israel was both a religious and a civil state—its religious law was combined with its civil law. Because hand clapping was done in civil ceremonies when a king was enthroned in ancient Israel, does not mean that hand clapping is authorized by the Lord as an expression of worship—New Testament worship must be authorized by the New Testament (Col. 3:17)! The remaining verse that mentions hand clapping is in a figurative passage where Isaiah exhorts his readers to follow the Lord’s ways (Isa. 55:12). “Exodus” imagery is used to show that only those who obey God’s word will “go out with joy” and “be led out in peace”! Like the psalmist, Isaiah personifies nature as rejoicing; thus, this passage would only authorize “the mountains and the hills...and all the trees of the field [to] clap their hands”!

Where Does the Bible Say, “Thou Shalt Not Clap Hands as Worship”?

This represents another common means of attempting to justify hand clapping (and many other innovations) in worship. The main premise of this question is, “Only that which the Bible explicitly condemns is forbidden.” Such a theory, of course, is false and will not work in any area of life, yet people still try to use it for religious authority. Imagine God’s having to tell Noah all the kinds of wood from which he could not build the ark! How long would that list be? Authority is not found in what the Bible does not explicitly say! Rather, God’s telling Noah to “Make yourself an ark of gopherwood” (Gen. 6:14) gives Noah authority only to use “gopherwood.” To use any other wood, Noah would have to have authority, but since no other passage authorizes another kind of wood, Noah has authority only for “gopherwood”! If the “I can do anything in worship that the Bible does not explicitly say, ‘Thou shalt not...’” standard of authority were true, then we would have authority for such things as belly dancing, hop-scotch, or jumping jacks as expressions of worship. The truth, however, is that God-authorized worship involves praying (Acts 2:42), singing (Eph. 5:19), preaching/teaching (Acts 20:7), and on the first day of the week, giving of our means (1 Cor. 16:1-2) and partaking of the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:23-29). For anything else, we must have Bible authority! What Bible passage or principle authorizes hand clapping as a means of worship? Let us be content to worship God by His authority, “for the Father is seeking such to worship Him” (Jn. 4:23-24)!

Endnotes

1 In addition to the 2009 bulletin articles on worship, additional information on hand clapping can be found on our website from articles that were written in November 2004.