Receiving the Benediction with Upward Palms

[chuckd]

Try visiting our church, then. We began the practice of lifting our eyes (not our hands) to receive the benediction after the pastor explained to the congregation that it was a blessing, not a prayer.

Yes, our previous church pastor instructed us to "look up to receive the benediction."

 

[Free Christian]

I don't do it, nor anyone I know. But I cant understand why it would be the object of ridicule!
I don't in a Christian sense get whats so funny.

 

[rekcor]

This may be of some help to you. https://calvinistinternational.com/2015/04/09/calvin-on-posture-in-worship/

We are not gnostic. Our bodies matter and what we do with our bodies matters. I can't remember who quoted him, but I once heard someone quote Calvin as apparently saying something to the effect of "we lift our hands, that our hearts may be lifted with them."

This doesn't mean that hand raising or any other posture works ex opere operato. But in every context, not just in worship, posture, body language, etc. matters because it reveals something about our heart, or will inevitably effect our heart. I am not saying that we should require folks to lift their hands during worship or anything to that effect. But, especially when I don't feel like worshipping God, lifting my hands in worship to God will often help my heart to follow suit.

Hear hear!

 

[SavedSinner]

I visited a PCA church last week in which the pastor instructed the congregation to lift up their hands to receive the benediction. I found it odd.

A reformed minister does not have the authority to direct the people to make these hand movements.

 

[earl40]

A reformed minister does not have the authority to direct the people to make these hand movements.

So what is one to do? Take it to the session, and after they rule in favor of the man they picked (and they will) does one take it to the presbytery who will do what? I ask in that I know in my current denomination nothing would happen that would curtail the command for people to lift up holy hands. I am glad we still have the liberty of conscience, though in my opinion that will not be so in the future.

 

[SavedSinner]

As worship becomes more liturgical, I think there will only be more and more of this "simon-says", which is the opposite of the regulative principle, and very manipulative.