Posture for Prayer?

[ww]

It seems to me from my reading of Scripture that Kneeling or lying prostrate before God when praying is the proper posture for Prayer which leads me to 2 questions:

1) Is my assessment accurate?

2) Why don't we kneel or prostrate ourselves in Worship when approaching the Throne of God?

 

[21st Century Calvinist]

I have heard that standing is also a biblical posture for prayer, though I don't have a biblical reference off the top of my head.
I think that the reason we don't prostrate ourselves in gathered worship is due to one of space and "decently and in order" aspect of corporate worship. Historically in Protestant churches people have not knelt as it was considered by some to be too "roman catholic." If this is so then it is a poor argument.
I wish that we did kneel in church for some of the prayers, at least. In my own congregation we stand for most of the prayers.

 

[Rangerus]

The following "Question" was asked of John MacArthur Jr., the pastor of Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, California.

Question

Is there a correct posture for prayer?

Answer

There are many correct postures for prayer and no one posture is right or wrong. The Bible exhorts Christians to pray without ceasing and that necessitates various positions for prayer-no one can remain in the same position all day. In the Bible, people prayed standing (Genesis 24:12-14), lifting up their hands (1 Timothy 2:8), sitting (Judges 20:26), kneeling (Mark 1:40), looking upward (John 17:1), bowing down (Exodus 34:8), placing their heads between their knees (1 Kings 18:42), pounding on their breasts (Luke 18:13), and facing the temple (Daniel 6:10).

Rather than external positioning, the Bible emphasizes the posture of the heart. Whether you are standing, sitting, or lying down, the important thing is that your heart is bowed in submission to the lordship of Christ. False religion places a premium on external behavior, while true Christianity is concerned with the heart. And true prayer is characterized by an attitude of humility before God-not the physical posture of the person praying.

 

[Hamalas]

Maybe it's because of the Scottish heritage of our Presbyterianism. (The last thing I want to see is some guy in a kilt lying prostrate in front of me!)

 

[ww]

 

[Berean]

This is from Drawing Near a daily devotional by John MacArthur for March 2

"Men ought always to pray" (Luke 18:1, KJV

As a child I was taught to pray with my head bowed, eyes closed, and hands folded. Even as a young man I thought that was the only acceptable mode of prayer.

In my seminary days I sang in a quartet that traveled to various churches throughout the United States. The first time I traveled with them we had a prayer meeting in the car, and the driver prayed with his eyes open. All of us were glad he did, but I wondered if God really heard his prayer.

I have since learned that praying with my eyes closed is a helpful way to avoid distractions, but it isn't mandated in Scripture--nor are most of the other limitations people often place on prayer. For example, some people want to limit prayer to a certain posture, but Scripture tells of people praying while standing, sitting, kneeling, looking upward, bowing down, and lifting up their hands.

Some try to limit prayer to certain times of the day, such as morning or evening. But in the Bible people prayed at all times: morning, evening, three times a day, before meals, after meals, at bedtime, at midnight, day and night, in their youth, in their old age, when troubled, and when joyous.

Similarly, Scripture places no limits on the place or circumstances of prayer. It tells of people praying in a cave, in a closet, in a garden, on a mountainside, by a river, by the sea, in the street, in the Temple, in bed, at home, in the stomach of a fish, in battle, on a housetop, in a prison, in the wilderness, and on a cross.

The point is clear: there is no specific correct mode or kind of prayer, and prayer isn't limited by your location or circumstances. You are to pray always. That includes any kind of prayer, on any subject, and at any time of the day or night.

From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, Good News / Crossway Home - Christian Books, Gospel Tracts, and the English Standard Version (ESV) Bible .

 

[21st Century Calvinist]

Maybe it's because of the Scottish heritage of our Presbyterianism. (The last thing I want to see is some guy in a kilt lying prostrate in front of me!)

The mental image is not good. If I have nightmares tonight you will be to blame. I'm lost for words! So,

 

[Leslie]

C.S. Lewis thought that posture was important and that sitting was out. Kneeling or lying prostrate is very difficult if one's heart is in a state of rebellion. Standing has different meanings in different cultures.

 

[ww]

C.S. Lewis thought that posture was important and that sitting was out. Kneeling or lying prostrate is very difficult if one's heart is in a state of rebellion. Standing has different meanings in different cultures.

That's an interesting way of looking at it as the posture of lying prostrate is submissive and humbling to be sure.

 

[Hamalas]

C.S. Lewis thought that posture was important and that sitting was out. Kneeling or lying prostrate is very difficult if one's heart is in a state of rebellion. Standing has different meanings in different cultures.

So is this really a cultural issue? In America the way we show the highest respect is by standing in someone's presence. I always think of soldiers at attention when I pray in public worship and I try to posture accordingly. Some say that I am too rigid in worship, but for me it just seems to be a matter of showing proper respect.